Bell Will Offer The White Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Before Holidays

You are in an Android Post

Canada's Bell has released the Samsung Galaxy S II on July 21 and, even though the phone was only available in its black flavor, it was reportedly selling great. How great? Enough for the carrier to consider another variant, this time in a pale shade.

According to recent reports, the carrier is planning on adding the white version of the Samsung Galaxy S II to its line-up. There are no details of exact availability, except for "way before the holiday rush". Given the black variant goes for $149.99 on a three-year contract, we expect the white one to cost the same amount of cash.

Source: MobileSyrup

Previous Page Next Page

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

BlackBerry WiFi Hotspot Coming to OS7 Before Year's End?

You are in a BlackBerry Post

Where, oh, where is mobile hotspot functionality in the current batch of BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry OS7 was rumored to include the feature, but it's yet to materialize. A newly-leaked Sprint memo now gives us some insight into the feature?s coming availability.

In response to customers wondering why the box for the BlackBerry Torch 9850 on Sprint mentions hotspot capabilities, the carrier has distributed said memo to its employees to enable them to answer customer questions. The official word, according to this, is that the phone will gain the ability via its first major software update, which is currently expected to arrive sometime in Q4 of this year.

While this only specifically concerns the Torch 9850, we'd expect to see other current-gen BlackBerry models get the same treatment when their updates arrive. As should be no surprise, you can bet on carriers locking-down this functionality and charging extra access fees above and beyond the data you're already paying for. At least it's something to look forward to.

Source: CrackBerry

Previous Page Next Page

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

7 Strategic Things to Consider Before You Choose After-Sales Service Management CRM Solution

In today's age of consumerism, Warranty/Service/Repair Management has become more challenging and critically important than ever. Where the marketplace is flooded with bouquet of equally good products, under-performance of after-sales service operations can delude the customers from buying your products and cause substantial opportunity loss.

Choosing the right after-sales Service Management Solution can be challenging; especially when multiple run-of-the-mill Customer Service Management providers fail to bridge the gap between business units, service channel, third-party service providers and end-customers. To help you manage your after-sales business processes effectively, this article focuses on 7 key strategies you should consider before choosing your service management solution.

Know Your Business Requirements- Evaluating your business needs is the first right step towards choosing a Customer Service Management CRM. What do you want from your service software? How do you want to improve after-sales service, minimize overhead costs associated with sales, or decrease the turn-around-around of repair process? Do you want to pay your vendors through the system? Or do you want to gather the customer data and repair history data for any future improvisation in the business process or do you want to integrate any 3rd party analytical tool for some customer behavior research? A step by step evaluation & analysis will help you simplify the buying process and proper utilization of the system.
Scalability and Usability- Checking for the scalability and usability of Customer Service Management CRM is crucial. So, check whether the proposed CRM system would help you to meet newer business processes that may arise in future. Is the system easy to upgrade? Also check the suitability of the software. Meaning, how far the software is suitable to be used as it is, without having to make any major changes.
IT Resources- How much strain will the Customer Service Management Software put on your IT team? You require a competent IT team to tackle the implementation and maintenance of either the web-based or offline application. If you are short of the technical staff that can troubleshoot errors, you must pause and re-think. The right move would be to choose a CRM vendor who offers the Customer Service Management CRM with AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) and has a strong after-sales support team and process in place. This shall help you ease yourself from the stress of implementation, maintenance and also be cost-effective.
Technology Infrastructure- Make sure whether you want to integrate the Customer Service CRM with any other ERP or accounting software you might be using. Ask your Service CRM vendor if the software will enable you to continue leveraging your existing software and integration is easy between the different systems. At times, you may get a service management system that already has important modules that can take care of functions which are currently done by legacy software. In such case, a complete shift from the current to the new system shall be very useful but proper study should be done before going ahead with the decision, because at times unforeseen technical challenges can be showstoppers.
Industry-Specific Experience- Howsoever suitable the software may appear, check if the vendor you are choosing has the right mix of experience & know-how about businesses similar to yours. Have they implemented such software specifically for your industry? A vendor who has an understanding of your business line would be better able to structure your processes to maximize the value of the Customer Service Management Software.
Complexity of Business Processes- Another important criterion of selecting a Customer Service Management Software is to evaluate how complex are your service models. For example, if you are a mobile handset manufacturer, looking for a Service Management System vendor, analyze if you want to make the CRM available to your ASPs (Authorized Service Partners) and/or other business partners like suppliers. This will help you to gain a thorough understanding of what kind of features/modules would befit your business needs.
The Software Cost- Finding a right balance of affordability and functionality could be challenging. Cost of the Customer service management CRM may depend on several factors including the extent of customization required, 3rd party integrations, and the complexity of system modules/features. Determine your specific needs and how much you can spend as per your business model and what ROI can be built out of that in a given time-period before finalizing with the short-listing process.

If you cannot invest in fixed cost CRM models, you can also look-out for vendors who offer SaaS model (software-as-a-service) which can help you keep your expenses controlled and without much risk. Saas Model is more suitable for start-up businesses because you pay as you grow and you get everything (after-sales support, hosting, maintenance, software upgrades) pre-packaged and pay no other additional recurring cost except the monthly license cost.

Choosing the right Customer Service Management Software can mean the difference between success and failure of your CRM & MIS initiative. Though, there can be many more things that can be considered, if you are assessing these seven areas, you will be at least be confident about your decision and will not burn your monies on a solution which may appear to be very lucrative but a mis-match to your business processes.

Rakesh Kumar is a business consultant of Zed Service?. Zed Service? is a leading service management software in India. Zed Service? has lots of innovative features including repair management software, customer services software etc. To know more visit our website http://www.service-management-software.net now!

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Before Choosing an Executive Car Service

Toronto is Canada's capital and is known for having many immigrants from many parts of the world. Toronto leads in transportation services due to a rewarding business environment, which includes; minimal crime events and a large population. Toronto has a modern car service industry that is thriving. The main car used is limousines. These limos favor a person's needs. One is able to read and work while riding. There are numerous limousine companies in Toronto and one has a wide variety to choose from.

There are different categories of transportation services in Toronto and their grouping depends on the service one needs. There are wedding service, airports service, casinos and night out car services. Other services include business travel, corporate meetings, conventions and trade shows.

Before choosing an executive car service, one should ensure the car is comfortable. One should make sure the service offered meets the required deadline. The qualities of business transportation services are business friendly. They allow one to conduct business matters while still riding from the airport or office.

An executive car service offers transportation service to big groups of people. They have fleets of buses and mini buses. The buses are modern and transport groups of people to their destination on time. The bus coaches carry up to fifty seven passengers while the min buses carry twenty four passengers. Other types of vehicles owned by these companies are passenger vans, SUVs and corporate limousines. Corporate limo companies have advanced limos which can accommodate many business partners. Partners are able to meet and discuss business ideas as they travel.

One may wish to have a luxury business tour. The favorite choice is executive business car services. They offer a service where one conducts business transactions while on holiday. They are time conscious and professional. Apart from offering transportation services, the executive business car service makes reservations for the next trip.

Another car service is the luxury limo. These are designed for party lovers. They have champagne cabinets, music and television sets. They are ideal for nights out, bachelor parties and theater parties. This service is available from the limousine companies and is ideal for dating.

For the casino lovers, there are transportation services that are provided by the casino. The limo chosen should provide top-notch services to the client. Some limos and buses have all leather seats and loud music for those not looking for a quiet ride. Limousine car services are plentiful and one should not struggle trying to find a good service provider.

There is also a large variety of wedding limousines to choose from. Limousine companies have diversified tastes for different customers. An executive limousine service will have a red VIP carpet that comes as part of the package. Every wedding limousine should have a big umbrella and bridal crisis kits in case of a wedding day emergency. For a wedding limo service, it is important for one to rent a limo that comes complete with chauffeur services.

Transportation services have improved a great deal; therefore, while choosing the car for transportation purpose, it is prudent to ask for quality service.

Rafi Ghanim Michael is owner and writer of videobabylon. Currently, he is writing on Toronto transportation Services and Toronto Limo transportation.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Local Phone Service - Before You Switch Guide

Many people lately appear to be confused as to what all these new local phone services mean to them. Yes, there are great rates and deals floating all over the place, but there are definitely some issues that need to be cleared up and some questions to be answered. Few even think to ask half the questions to the answers that will be presented here in this article.

New Service Installation

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about many of the local phone services offered out there today. The thought is that these services can be installed into their homes without any current phone service previously installed. The majority of local phone service offerings are "Switched Services", not for new installations.

A qualifying customer must first have local phone service from a Bell Carrier (SBC) or other qualifying regional carrier in place before going through a discounted provider. The services these other local phone companies provide are "Switched Services" for the sole purpose of switching you from your current provider. They in no way install new services.

DSL Lines

If you have DSL this is very important. Switching local phone service while having DSL service can cause automatic cancellation of your DSL triggering cancellation fees and discontinued service. Many switched local phone providers are aware of this and will not switch your service if DSL is present, but some may not check and this can cause quite a few problems.

If planning a switch, contact your DSL provider to see what you may be able to do. There may be different solutions negotiable with your DSL provider to enable the switching of your phone services.

There is a new DSL service that offers DSL without having to have a phone line installed. SpeakEasy offers this service and is a highly ranked DSL provider in the broadband community. This is perfect for broadband phone subscribers.

Past Due Phone Bills

Many consumers now believe with all of these new phone options that they can forget their previous obligations to the last carrier and move forward with a new one. Stop! All switched local phone providers do a check with your last local carrier before providing services. If you even have one month behind on your previous service, you more than likely will be denied. All bills must be paid up and current before you switch.

Credit Checks

All local phone providers do a credit check. While it cannot be said entirely everything they check for in your credit, you can be assured that any previous due balance to a long distance carrier will be counted against you.

If you know you have bad credit, you might want to start working on repairing it for yourself. There should be credit repair counseling services in your area that are free of charge. Take advantage of these services, credit checks are only gaining popularity and can only further limit your purchasing power as a consumer.

Phone Numbers

If you were planning on keeping your old phone number, expect to pay your current local carrier some extra charges before the switch. Costs vary, but if you don't mind carrying a new phone number then this is nothing to worry about.

One Size Bundled Services

One size doesn't always fit all, especially if you're on a budget. Almost every switched local phone provider offers lower cost alternatives to their main bundled packages. So if an unlimited long distance calling plan is too costly for you, there usually are other options that give you a preset amount of monthly minutes at a lower overall package cost.

Do your research, including on your previous bills to see what amount of local and long distance usage you typically use. If it makes sense to buy into a lower package, you can really save as long as you stay within the limits of your calling package.

Business Packages

If your business has more than 5 business lines you will not be able to switch your local phone services. However, check with the carrier to make sure. You may still find an option for your business that works for you.

PIC Freezes

If you had a PIC, which basically is a lock on your long distance service, you will need to unlock the service for it to be removed for your switched local phone package to be installed.

Hopefully this article has helped you understand what may stand in your way of switching your local phone service. While the opportunity to save and consolidate bills is great, make sure you have taken care of and understand all the above issues and you should have no problem switching to a great new level of service and features.

This article was written by Aaron Siegel of TopSavings.Net which offers Local Phone Services to both households and business.

Local Phone Providers at TopSavings.Net

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Ten Things to Think About Before You Start a New Business

The tux fits perfectly. The boutonniere is jauntily pinned to your lapel. All of your friends and family are patiently watching and waiting for you... and then you see her, waiting at the other end of the aisle - it's your new business.

Much like expectations of wedded bliss upon getting married, high hopes and expectations abound when you are starting a business. But, like so many others in life, starting your very own business is a lifelong commitment. Before making the plunge, here are 10 questions to consider:

1. Is it a viable business? This is the big one... that's why I put it first. So many people rush into a business just because it sounds like a good idea or it's something they really want to do. The question to ask yourself is "Do I really want to risk hundreds of thousands of dollars on a hunch or a feeling?" The answer will come from your due diligence.

• The idea

First, is it a workable business? For example, you can't mine for diamonds on Pluto. No one even knows if there are diamonds there, and unless you have a spaceship handy, you can't get there. Similarly, you can't grow oranges in Alaska. As much as you may want to, they just won't grow there. Go to Florida or California instead.

Your business has to be based in reality. It has to be doable, and it has to have a large enough market willing to pay the price for your product or service.

• The market

For example, take a store filled with fancy dog collars. Yes, dogs wear collars. But will you really find 10,000 people a year willing to spend $100 for a bling-ed out dog collar in a town of 1,000 people? Doesn't sound like a good bet to me!

As I stated above, you need a target market that is large enough to sustain you-plus the ability to convert enough of that market into customers on a continual basis.

• Profit Potential

OK, so if the idea is workable and there's a market, that's great. Next you have to see if it will be profitable. It's not enough to open the doors. The only thing that's going to keep those doors open is customers-lots of them.

This is going to require a little more work to figure out. You need to estimate as accurately as possible every single expense involved in this business-from the rent to the inventory to the marketing to the payroll, even the licensing fees.

Usually, you'll have start-up and operating costs. As in, it takes $1.5 million to open the doors of a typical McDonald's. What it takes to run it every month-that's additional. And so you'll have to make enough money every month to not only cover those monthly expenses but also to recoup your investment plus turn a profit. It can be a tall order! So that leads me to the other side of the equation-projected sales or revenue (the money you will be bringing in). Since there are so many hands in your pocket as a business owner (the employees, the taxman, the utility companies, your inventory suppliers... you name it), you get to keep only a fraction of every dollar you make. That's why it's critical to find out what that profit margin will be. Thirty percent? Twenty percent? Ten? The answer is: It depends on the business.

Let's take a look at the latest information available as of this writing. Of course, it only includes publicly traded companies, as private companies tend to keep their information, well, private!

First, if you take the information all together, the median profit margin across all industries in the United States is currently about 4.6%. The average is a little lower, at 4.4%. That's right, less than 5 %! Meaning that the average business makes about 4 cents profit out of every dollar in sales. That's not so great, is it? You'd have to do a huge volume of sales-or have an extremely high-priced product (4% of $1 million isn't too bad) to get by on that profit margin.

Now, obviously, some businesses are more profitable than others. Near the top of the list are Internet Information Providers with an average profit margin of 22.7%. Hmmm... very interesting! Could it be because of the low overhead required for that sort of business? Most likely-with lower expenses, you get to keep more of the money that you make.

How about your McDonalds? While I'm not sure what your individual store would do, overall the restaurant category had a 9.1% average profit margin. It beat the 4.4% average profit margin!

This-and any other general information you may find-can give you a rough idea of your profit margin.

But it's no guarantee.

I should know. I had a home-improvement store (I call it a hardware store, but whatever). According to the latest numbers, the average home-improvement store has about a 4% profit margin. Well, I didn't. In fact, in my last full year (2009), I lost $100K... which put my profit margin in negative territory. Because of where my store was located and what was going on in my area's economy, I lost money in a big way. I was not alone. Other industries that are in negative territory right now include music and video stores, residential construction, radio broadcasting, surety and title insurance, recreational goods, and resorts and casinos. And that's just the short list!

• Do Your Due Diligence

So as you can see, there is A LOT that goes into determining whether your business will be viable or not! But it's important to take the time to find out nonetheless. And better now than later when you're struggling to pay the bills. When you've spend your life savings. When you're in debt up to your eyeballs!

Obviously if the business is already running, this whole process is much easier. Still, don't make assumptions based on what you see and hear. Do your due diligence on any business you are interested in buying. That basically means that you need to find out everything about it:

A complete financial picture-You need to know about everything. Gross sales, expenses, profit margin history... going as far back as you can get. Don't take someone's word for it. Get the tax returns and actual financial records of the business (this will also ensure that they've been honest with the government-you don't want to get sacked with a huge, delinquent-tax bill). This also includes any debts the business owes, the insurance they carry, the licenses they must hold, etc.

Legal Matters-Is the business involved in any lawsuits? Has it received any "cease and desist" letters? Does it have a checkered past? Check it out yourself.

Labor Issues-You need full disclosure on the employees' salaries, benefits, contracts (even verbal promises made), history, etc.

Property-Do they own the property or rent? How long is the lease for? This expense can mean the difference between profitability and poverty, so make sure you can afford it. Beware of a lease that may be expiring soon. You'll need to negotiate a reasonable new contract in writing so that you don't get whacked with an increase that you cannot afford.

You just can't be too thorough when you're determining a business's viability. So take your time and get it right. Remember, don't wait until you are up and running to find out what is wrong. It's better to walk away than to make a mistake that has lifelong ramifications. Don't rush it!

2. Is it recession proof?

You may be thinking that there is no such thing as a recession-proof business. I suppose if the world economy were to permanently collapse and there were no recourse, it would be true. But somehow, somewhere across the globe I think we'd find a way to get through it.

The point is that there are some businesses that are more recession proof than others. It's really a continuum. One extreme would be a business that is highly susceptible to economic conditions, for example, construction. It seems that one of the first things people do is stop unnecessary projects. The other extreme would be food... as in a grocery store or a restaurant. People have to eat. And the way our society is right now, most people can't grow or catch or raise enough to feed themselves. Therefore, they have to buy their food.

So where would your business fall on that continuum?

One note here: Just because the business you are considering is not completely recession proof doesn't mean that you have to toss out the idea. You just need to be aware of that vulnerability. And when the good times come, stash away a hearty reserve so that you can make it through the bad times.

3. What about the competition?

How competitive is the marketplace you are going into? Once again, there's a continuum between a completely open market (you'll be the only one) to overcrowded (it's difficult for the consumer to even be aware of, much less distinguish between, all the companies out there).

Obviously, with a completely open market, you will have a larger share of customers. You will have to work hard, however, to get the word out about what you do. It may take some time and marketing dollars to gain traction in the marketplace. Once you do though, it can be a quick rise to success! With a crowded marketplace, you'll need to do a careful analysis of the competition. See who is doing well and who is flailing. Then you'll need to try to find out why. And you'll need to look for a way to compete-can you do it better/faster/cheaper?

Or maybe you can find a new use for an old product and tap into an entirely new market. Either way, being able to state your competitive advantage is key to your ultimate success.

4. What about the target market?

Who are your most likely customers? Find out who they are, what they think, and what they like. Solicit their opinions on your business idea. You can use a focus group or simply run it by people you know (or people they know) who fit the demographic bill.

It's essential to get a read on whether the target market will actually like and buy your products and services. Don't skip this step... it's important!

5. Will technology make this obsolete in 10 years?

Here you need to employ foresight.

Imagine being the long-time owner of a camera and film-developing establishment. People have digital cameras now, which they can pick up at WalMart for under $80. Then they transfer their photos directly to their computers and print them out on their own printers. The quality? It can be amazing! This is how a store that was profitable for decades can seemingly suddenly become obsolete in a matter of a few years (sometimes less). Travel agents are another example. Customers cut them out of the loop when they went online to book directly. It's a dying industry now.

And that's not all. Thanks to NetFlix and video on demand, video rental stores are biting the dust. Newspapers, yellow pages... they are in the painful throes of death, too. They just can't compete with the Internet. Even the post office is feeling the pain with online bill paying!

Whatever business you ultimately choose, make sure it's of enduring interest to your target market-and that, as far as you can see, it will stay relevant no matter what technological advances come our way in the next 10 years.

The next 5 questions to ask before you start a business zero in on you. A business can be viable and recession proof. It can be the only one in the marketplace or have an unbelievable competitive advantage. It can have a large target market that loves its products and is willing to pay the price for them, and it can be immune to technological advances.

But all of that means nothing unless you are ready, willing, and able to do what it takes to make that business successful, unless you have the right mindset and support.

So take a few moments to ask yourself the next 5 questions to see whether you and this business are meant to be... or if you should keep looking for the right one.

6. Can you see yourself doing it for the next 20 years? You need to love what you are doing every day. You will work harder owning your own business than you ever would working for someone else. Being passionate about your business will help carry you through the tough times.

7. What kind of commitment will it take to make the business successful?

There are 2 types of commitment: time and financial.

How many hours and days of the week will this new business require of you? 40? 50? 80? 100? Are you willing to give it that?

Also consider the location. If it's a retail business, you'll need to be away from your family or significant other for those hours and days of the week. Think about the impact it will have on your personal life. You need to be willing to make the sacrifice if you have any hope of having your business succeed.

Financially, can you start this business without taking a loan? I had a mortgage on my hardware business. It was almost as much as my rent, and it handicapped me to a great degree. With my new Internet business, on the other hand, I was able to cover the start-up costs in cash. Without that debt hanging over my head, profitability was a lot easier to achieve!

Even when you form a corporation that is separate from your personal finances, you still feel the burden of any business loans taken out in the name of that corporation. It hangs over your business like a dark cloud. It's always best to limit debt in order to maximize profit. Consider also the operational expenses-what it takes to keep it running.

This leads me to the next question!

8. Can you survive for a year or more with no income?

When you tally up the numbers for start-up and ongoing expenses for one year, do you have enough to cover it? Many times, it takes at least a year to get the business chugging along to the point where a profit is made.

Do you have enough to live on for that first year while you are getting your business started? You'll have enough pressures with running the business; you certainly don't need personal financial issues adding to them. Having a financial cushion gives you peace of mind and increases your chance of success.

9. What's your Plan B?

OK, so let's say that it's year 2, and the business is not turning a profit. You need to access your Plan B... and maybe Plans C and D. You need alternate sources of financing in place and-hate to say it-an exit strategy as well.

An exit strategy that doesn't depend on someone else rescuing you by buying the business, either. We can't control that. But know what you will do if the worst happens.

It's better to think through this BEFORE you start the business. First, it'll give you that peace of mind that no matter what happens, you know what to do. That you have resources-that you have a plan.

Trust me, lack of planning for "the bad times" has sunk more businesses than anyone would ever want to count. You can't overdo planning!

10. Is my spouse/significant other on board?

And finally, if you are in a committed long-term relationship, it's not just you getting into this business.

I know what you might be saying: "But it's just my name on the business. It's just my finances on the line." No, it's not!

Your spouse or significant other has to ride in the same train with you. I'm sure your income contributes to the household in some way-well there you go. No matter how you slice it, you are tied together financially.

And remember that time commitment we talked about? That affects your loved ones, too... a lot. It may be fine with you that you are spending 11 out of 12 hours a day away, but it may not be fine with the other person! You need to figure this out in advance, or you may find yourself in a situation where your business is going great-the profits are rolling in-but your spouse is resentful, growing distant, and your primary relationship is in danger. I don't know about you, but to me that's too high a price to pay for success.

Congratulations! Believe it or not, some people never analyze the business they want to start or buy this deeply. Just by walking yourself through these 10 questions, you are much more prepared to take on a business. It's one of the most challenging things you'll ever do in life but also one of the most rewarding. Here's to being in charge of your own destiny!

By Michael A. Woolf

Author of Small Town Meets Big World How a Former Retailer Transformed His Business-and His Life-with an Internet Business... and How You Can, Too

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Five Things You Need To Remember Before Starting a Small Business

Everyone knows someone who has decided to go into small business but did you know that 70% of all small businesses fail within the first 12 months of operation. In some countries that failure rate is as high as 85 to 90%. Small Business is one of the toughest industries you can ever decide to take on and most people who go into small business go into it for the wrong reason.

I have started 4 small businesses over the last 10 years and every single one of them has been started from scratch and survived into a thriving business. Just recently I have decided to sell one of the businesses off cause it had done what I expected it to do which is the first issue you need to think about.

Issue 1. Have a Clear Understanding of What You Want To Achieve In Your Business

The majority of people, who actually go into business, go into it for the wrong reasons. Even I have been guilty of that. So what is this wrong reason, most people start a small business because they believe they can do a better job then their current boss. Maybe this is true, maybe it is not but what most people really want is better working conditions and better pay. No one can blame you for wanting that. If that is all you want, then I strongly suggest you stay away from small business.

One of the key issues you must remember before evening thinking about starting a small business is this. Do you know what your business will look like? If you were walking down the street, how would you want to be found? What impression do you want to give to your clients? What clearly do you what to achieve in this business?

The second clear understanding you must have of your business is, when will you know when it is finished? When you have built what you want to achieve and more importantly, how will you get out?

See most people when they go into business have no exit strategy and that is one of the worst things you can do. Before you ever start a business, the first thing you must work out is how you are going to get out of the business.

Two years ago, I started a small car cleaning business. My wife and I both started it because she wanted to see if she could build a business. Our exit strategy was to sell the business once it was done. How we would sell it was something we were not sure of?

See we could have taken a number of approaches to this. Our exit strategy could have been to franchise the business, sell it to a single owner or to float it on the stock market. We chose that we only wanted to sell it to another owner, but we still built the business in such a way that there was still plenty of growth and opportunity in the business for the new owner, but we had removed the risk for them on how to run the business by clearly documenting everything they needed to do to run that business.

Before ever starting a business, always think about how you will exit the business, when you have achieved your objective for that business. If you do not have an exit strategy in mind, then you will never get out of the business.

Issue 2. Keep a Strict Schedule

Small business is consuming. Unlike in large corporations where you can hire many people to do a range of tasks, small business requires the small business owner to do many of the tasks themselves. Some of the tasks include doing your books, lodging trademarks, doing the ordering etc. Often when you start in small business, you can not afford to hire people to do these tasks.

What I have personally found is that if you do not keep a tight schedule and document your meetings and tasks you have to do then it will not take very long before you will be swamped by all the things you have to do in the business every day. It is this phenomenon that often leads small business owners to quit and fail in the first twelve months. Let me tell you this, the warning signs that this is starting is when you say to your wife on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon that you are going down to the office to catch up on paperwork for a few hours. Once you get into this habit, you will never stop doing it and the business will consume you really quickly.

I strongly recommend all small business owners keep a diary. My preference is to use Microsoft Outlook, simply because it includes a calendar and you can make sure that each day you schedule your work plus your appointments to make sure you do not forget anything. If you do this, then you will find over time you can get through this plus you will learn how long it should take to do the various jobs that make up your business and whether it is worthwhile in getting someone to actually do those tasks for you.

Issue 3. Build Your Own Mastermind Group

I read a book a little while ago called Think and Grow Rich and is written by a gentleman called Napoleon Hill and he talks about the thirteen secrets to success and obscene wealth. One of the things that I learned both from this book and being a small business owner was that I needed a Mastermind Group.

The Mastermind Group is simply a group of professionals who can help me achieve my objectives for my business. Literally anyone can be part of your mastermind group and some of those would be people like a lawyer, an accountant and other people like your peers who can help you in building your business but it may also include people who are not in business as well to help you keep that balance. The Mastermind Group are really those people you turn to for advice and direction. You do not necessarily have to take their advice but a good mastermind group will allow you run through scenarios on what is happening and the potential outcomes.

Issue 4. Have one night when you do something on your own for you!

One of the big issues that I have had over the last ten years is that I have not been doing every single week is something on my own but I say that I am in the process of changing that. Often when you start in business, with the excitement of building your own business you get so consumed that you forget about a life outside of your business and your business becomes your life.

This is really not a good thing nor is it healthy. Even multi-billionaires do things for themselves outside of business. Look do not get me wrong, business is fantastic and fun and can be both enjoyable and a nightmare however there are other things out there outside of business.

When you start a small business, do not neglect your sports, do not neglect doing something social, if you do, in the long run you will find that you business suffers. Plus, in small business it is very easy to become bitter and twisted but by maintaining those none business activities it will help you to balance your life.

Issue 5. Don't neglect Your Partner or your Family

I would love to see the divorce statistics for small business owner's because I am quite sure that the divorce rate in small business would have to be about 70 or 80%. The majority of married couples (and I am talking about 90% of the small business people I Know) that I know who have gone into small business in their 30's have actually been divorced within 18 months of them starting the business.

Look there are lots of reasons why this happens, but in a lot of the cases, the partner who has gone into business neglects their family and money gets tight. In the partners case it is not their fault it is simply because the person gets consumed into the business and they forget they have a life outside of the business.

If you have a family, make sure that you do at least one activity a week as a family. Whether it is having a family night at home such as a video night or games night, or even just going to the park to play once a week, make sure that you do it. PLUS, you must ensure that at least one night a week must be for just you and your partner. If you do not do that your marriage or relationship will suffer.

One thing I share with all the people who come through our training business is that if you want to go into business that is cool but you must be prepared to accept two things -

1. You must be prepared to start from scratch if your business does not work

that is you must be prepared to start with just the shirt on your back.

2. You must have 100% support of your partner and family

If you cannot accept these two things, then do not go into business because too many people who I see that start on this journey fail and end up miserable and have such a downward spiral which leads them to doing something silly, like take up drinking, drugs or try to commit suicide. Remember, 70% of all small businesses fail within the first 12 months. If you were a betting man would you back something that only had a 30% chance of winning, not likely, yet people still go into small business.

The bottom line is this, small business can be the most awesome ride of your life, but it can be also the most difficult and when you choose to go into small business, take your time and plan what you want to achieve. Remember the old saying if your Fail to Plan, you Plan to Fail.

Our team at the One-on-One Learning Center provides Business Training Courses throughtout Australia as well as online training courses such as our Copywriting Courses. Check out our Meditation Music to help you master this important program.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Things to Consider Before Starting Your Own Business

Deciding which small business to invest in is only part of the equation. The first and most important step is finding a business that's right for your personality, which has a direct effect on your entrepreneur style and how successful you will be with your business.

Determining your entrepreneur style requires that you take an honest look at your business skills and motives for starting your business. For example, if you don't like social settings and aren't comfortable speaking with people, it's not a good idea to invest in a company that requires constant face to face interaction with the buyer. Some companies to consider starting if you fall in this category may be housekeeping, commercial window washing, lawn care and even janitorial services.

If, on the other hand, you enjoy networking and speaking to others, direct sales (business to business or business to consumer) services may be best suited for you. In addition to your personality and entrepreneur style, there are several other areas to consider before starting your own business.

Ease of Entry - Industries and businesses vary in respect to the ease with which new competitors can enter. Some barriers of entry to consider would be over-saturation of businesses already offering the product you are looking to offer. Another main barrier to entry is cost. Will you have to save up or take out a serious loan before you know what type of profit to expect? What about cost of education or licenses? These are all serious questions to consider. That's why some of the best small businesses don't require much capital or experience and there is still ample growth in the industry for you and several other business owners. However, just because a good business doesn't require much capital or experience to start doesn't mean you will not have to eventually devote some time and capital developing your knowledge and experience in the field. To continue to grow and provide the best service, you will need to invest some of your profits back into the business and yourself.

Start-up Capital - Many small businesses call for thousands of dollars to get started. Many of us want a business to free up our time and bring in the necessary income to support our families. Businesses that require massive capital take much longer for the business owner to realize a return on income. They also require much more devotion of time away from family and other leisure activities. There are several small business owners with franchised restaurants and other business that did require a lot of capital that are now nicely reaping the benefits of all the hard work they put into it. However, many will also tell you that it came at a great price - time with family, friends and sacrifice of self-development. What's strange is these are the exact reasons why individuals start their own businesses.

Before starting your own business make sure to develop a well thought out business plan that outlines what you expect to gain from this business and what resources, including time, money, etc. you plan to use or will need to really make your business profitable and bring to you the free time and other benefits you desire.

Ability to Make Money when not Present - In order for you to own your business and it not own you, you must find a way to make sure that your actions can be replicated. Whether it's an insurance agency, a flower shop or network marketing company, it's very important that you be able to leave that business for a day or even a month and know that it'll still run smoothly and make money for you.

To do this, it's imperative to have a system in place that allows your business to continue without your presence. You can do this by hiring employees and developing that will enable your workers to become copy cats of what you do and bring to the business in regards to service and profits. All employees, through the resources they provide, should in some way bring value and profits to your business. If they do not, you should either train them or terminate their position.

One important thing to consider in order to encourage your employees to bring profit to the business would be to reward them with incentives for certain behaviors, like great customer service or specific sales results. Determine what type of incentives will motivate your employees and what type of actions you would like reward. Estimate, track and compare the cost of incentives, as well as the other expenses associated with hiring an employee, to the profits gained by the business from the employee.

Another option is to consider looking into a business that has a proven system for doing business and making money without the expense of hiring employees. In other words, find a business you can replicate or copy that uses an automated, electronic email or internet marketing campaign. Remember though that even though you may save by not hiring employees, you will more than likely have a higher marketing expense than other small businesses. If you're not sure about the cost of this type of campaign, do a search on the internet to compare prices of companies that offer this type of service. If you chose this option, it's good to have at least three different types of automated leads coming into your business. For example, take note of the monthly cost for postcard, survey or email marketing campaigns. This will give you an idea of what type of expenses to expect if you choose this route. No matter what you decide, make sure you have plan that will enable you to grow your business without tying you to the office or computer all day.

Businesses that keep giving through "Residuals"! - The very best businesses keep rewarding you with profits by either providing you with return business or residuals. Residual income is profits that keep paying you over and over at certain intervals as a result of the customer continuing to use your service or product. With many businesses, nothing further is needed by you other than a great product. The business keeps renewing because the customers value the product, need the product and can't get better service, prices, etc. through any other company. Even though these business and services are definitely out there, I encourage you to always strive to provide superior service. If something in the market or industry changes, this ensures that the majority of your customers will continue to stay with your company not only because they value the product but also because they greatly value the service. With other businesses it's a given that you'll need to continually service your customers to keep the business and keep getting paid residuals. The key is in duplicating your work habits by either hiring an employee or having some type of system in place that provides service and products through an automated service.

The Product - First and foremost, the product(s) being sold have to be good stand-alone products. This means that the product could sell on its own because people actually need and desire this type of product. There are countless of network marketing and direct sales companies that are built only on the compensation plan or creating downlines, and not on the product itself. Run very fast from these types of companies. If the product or service is not valuable enough to sell on its own, you're going to have a very difficult time building and growing that business.

Attitude - Finally, you have to be passionate about whatever you're selling or doing. If you are, you'll be more eager to share your business and service with others. You can not be successful if you do not have pride in what you're offering. For this reason, choose a business which provides a service or product that helps others or brings joy in some way to their lives. I would personally like to thank all the pizza shops in Indianapolis. They bring so much joy to my life because nothing makes me happier than a good slice of pizza. Do you see where I'm going? Your idea or business doesn't have to change the world but if there are people out there that you know would get value and joy out of whatever it is you're offering, then that's a big step.

To really choose a business that will be profitable, take a close look at what you're getting into and what you may have to sacrifice for the business. Sometimes, the business you always dreamed that would free up your time and give you the life you always wanted, can actually rob you of the things you value most.

Anitra Myrick is a mother, mentor and business owner. She provides a mentorship program to help her customers and small business owners with self-development and spiritual enlightenment. She owns an Insurance Agency and is a Business Owner with AmeriPlan. For more information about Anitra and her businesses, please visit http://www.deliveringonthepromise.com/myricksbenefits and http://www.farmersagent.com/amyrick

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Before You Take the Entrepreneurial Plunge, Consider Various Business Models

There are some business models that are more accessible than others, to individuals who have little or no collateral, little or no cash, little or no entrepreneurial experience, little or no training, and little or no choice but to pursue an entrepreneurial dream without the benefit of resources which would ordinarily be nice to have. The purpose of this article is to briefly review some of the alternatives.

First, there are product oriented businesses versus service oriented businesses. In the case of the former, questions arise as to the source(s) of supply, how the inventory is to be managed, whether the product is perishable, and how the product is delivered into the hands of the customer. The business may need a substantial physical infrastructure. In the instance of a product like new cars, you need a lot, a parts department, service and cleanup capacity, and a sales, financing, and administration area. You will also need lighting, security, and other amenities to ensure that buyers have a sense of confidence in the business. If you're selling ice cream, you need to keep it cold; this implies freezers and refrigerated trucks, perishibility, and substantial energy bills. If you're selling clothes, you need display and storage space for a variety of sizes and styles. In all of these cases, you need the product itself in inventory. You might also wish to categorize this type of business as having one other similarity among others of like kind: these are "brick and mortar" businesses.

Service businesses may also require "bricks and mortar," so just because a product is not physically stocked or otherwise identified as tangible, one must not jump to conclusions. A day spa, a bank, or a hotel, are all examples of service businesses that are also brick and mortar businesses. Generally speaking, brick and mortar businesses rely on a "place" where they must exist, and acquiring such a place requires capital. The "place" characteristics of a given business may carry great weight in the eyes of its customers or clientele. It should not be a surprise that many hotels and apartment complexes invest heavily in lobby and entrance areas when designing their facilities.

One might expect that professionals such as attorneys would charge significantly more, or less, simply judging by the type of offices in which their practices are located. Let's compare two hypothetical situations. The first is the instance of an attorney whose office comes complete with marble floors, collectable paintings, and an attractive, albeit somewhat pouty, reception area representative. We could then compare this to another attorney, whose office is combined with an income tax service and a small engine repair business. The difference between the two is about $300 an hour. There's a reason that high profile celebrity defendants hire so-called "dream teams" for representation: they get positive results.

Some businesses sell undifferentiated products or services. This means that the product or service offered by one business is the same, or substantially the same, as the one offered by competing businesses. A gallon of gasoline is probably a good example. (At the present time, it appears that every provider has the same goal: reap substantial profits from consumers.) One station may attempt to distinguish itself from another through slight pricing differences. Oil companies may proclaim "we do research to protect the environment with clean burning fuels that are better for your car"; but, a gallon of gas is a gallon of gas in the eyes of most consumers. Any slight price differences, auxiliary services such as clean rest rooms and a convenience store, and location largely determine where consumers will ultimately spend their money (in ever increasing amounts, it seems).

All business models require some form of promotion. The "person on the street" typically confuses terminology that is actually quite specific. The terms promotion, advertising, and marketing are often incorrectly used interchangeably, for instance. Marketing is inclusive of price, product, place, and promotion. A business can be promoted through word-of-mouth and referral; therefore, a good reputation and testimonials should be cultivated by any business. Some products require heavy paid advertising. "Paid" is the critical word here, in that it suggests that the advertiser has some choice in placing a message before a desired audience. By definition, advertising is paid, non-personal communication; ordinarily it is underwritten by an identified sponsor; it is meant to be informative, if not persuasive in nature. By far, most advertising is local, even though one might tend to first think of national advertisers and brands in an advertising recall test (a test of what someone remembers).

Another way to promote a product is through personal selling efforts. Some types of businesses use independent representatives for this purpose, because it makes sense. For example, suppose that one has a line of porcelain figures that are sold primarily through gift stores. However, as a small business, it would be hard to afford a staff of in-house sales representatives to call on thousands of gift stores nationwide. One could use a firm that represents several product lines (such as greeting cards, writing pens, and silver) and simply add the porcelain figurines to the list of products that might be presented to gift store owners and buyers during sales calls. In a small business, it is the management team's job to make sure that someone is doing the selling. It helps if the owner is comfortable with this role, as his or her passion for the business can usually be leveraged. However, if you are a prospective business founder, and you are not comfortable addressing audiences one-on-one, in small groups, or behind a podium, you'd better enlist one or more individuals who are competent in this area, for the sake of your future success.

After reviewing more marketing and business plans than I can any longer count, I can just about bet that material under the heading "Promotion," will be the Achilles' heel in a majority of plans. Authors of these plans, who are often lacking adequate financial wherewithal, tend to sum up an entire treatise on promoting a proposed product, service, or business with: "We will use word-of-mouth to advertise [sic]..." Word-of-mouth is a fantastic way to promote, if is nurtured. A large "buzz" can be created with a great product that is professionally represented through an in-house sales force, or independent representatives. Companies selling encyclopedias, vacuum cleaners, and cosmetics were built through independent representatives who approached consumers directly. More recent examples have utilized network marketing, where an emphasis on building organizational teams has been made. Senior representatives' roles are to mentor the development of new representatives.

There are labor and equipment intensive businesses, and there are knowledge intensive businesses. Either can be relatively easy, or relatively difficult for a competitor to duplicate. It all depends on the degree of investment and specialization necessary to get into a business. This concept also suggests that there are certain "entry costs" into a given line of business or industry, and these costs represent barriers that must be overcome. The opening statement to this article, where I outlined various "little or no" scenarios, should be reiterated here. You should find a business that meets the "little or no" test according to your set of circumstances. A personal service or consulting-type business is far less expensive to launch than a restaurant or a retail store. If you have speaking skills and a set of overheads and hand-outs, consider a training and development business. If you're good at matchmaking, become a recruiter or a dating expert.

Most of my own prior business endeavors have been service oriented businesses that required some specialized knowledge. Building a clientele and personally servicing that clientele has been a central premise in each of these entrepreneurial instances. That has often entailed long hours, scheduling dilemmas, and few breaks in between: clients want what they want, when they want it, which, more often than not means "yesterday." With the advent of the Internet, an entirely new realm of entrepreneurial opportunity was opened to me and millions of other would-be entrepreneurs around the globe. Recognizing some fundamental differences in business models, I registered the Internet domain name, "WebPreneurship.com," along with numerous others.

The main difference in Internet business models has to do with the fact that one can create an online presence, with the capability to represent numerous types of products or services, many of which can be entirely transacted and delivered using the Web as a facilitator of that process. Digital products can be downloaded; physical products can be delivered through contracted fulfillment services. A related concept, known as drop-shipping, can allow an Internet business to overcome this latter obstacle as well. Drop-shipping means that when an order is generated on an entrepreneur's Web site, the product supplier or manufacturer will receive the order and send the shipment directly to the consumer. There is a virtual presence facilitated by technology and strategic relationships, as compared to a physical presence with associated brick and mortar costs. Hence, my own working definition of "webpreneurship" began to take shape.

Information products such as electronic books and reports have also created yet another new term in our vocabulary, known as "infopreneurship." Infopreneurship has to do with making a living (on the part of the infopreneur) by providing information of value. Prior to the advent of the Internet infopreneurs did exist, although they operated under a whole different set of constraints that had to do with the costs of advertising, mailing, shipping, printing, and other expenses that the Internet has largely eliminated.

Even those business types that cannot complete the full product or service creation, selling, and delivery cycle, can enhance their presence over the Internet. For example, you can't get a haircut on the Internet, but you certainly can look at styling options, pricing and service options, and location information (including interactive maps and directions); subsequently, you can book an appointment time and date. Basic Internet businesses can be created at relatively low cost, and can be maintained with a flexible schedule, assuming that they are fully automated and sell a product such as information and reports as compared to one that requires a physical product to be shipped. An entrepreneur may exercise the drop-shipping or fulfillment services mentioned above, or handle this for him or herself in-house. Of course the latter situation, relative to business models, entails providing availability to customers that confines the entrepreneur to the business during its publicized hours of operation.

Franchises and business opportunities (including buying an existing business) provide one major advantage over other business ventures that are started from scratch: greater certainty derived from a formula that is "tried and true." If you have no idea where to start, but you are trainable and ambitious with a few dollars to spend, consider a franchise. There are some franchises that use what amounts to a "promote from within" approach, favoring successful managers as candidates for franchise ownership (and providing a helping hand toward financing the franchise fees). Bootstrapping and sweat equity go hand-in-hand, and if you really want a piece of the action, there are individuals out there who are looking for partners--you could quite possibly earn your way into owning a share, or even all, of an existing business.

As for me, I have come to enjoy having multiple roles and avenues for personal as well as professional fulfillment. I teach entrepreneurship at a university, write, and engage audiences as a public speaker. I have invested in several Internet sites. I have created several of these sites myself, while others are turn-key sites. (A turn-key site is one where a system is already in place to provide a product or service as well as technical support, transaction processing, and customer service.) For instance, I have one site that provides Internet domain names, and that is a turn-key site which I purchased for less than two hundred dollars. I am also an independent consultant for a network marketing firm that offers consumable health, wellness and beauty products. A network marketing structure offers me the opportunity to develop, train, and mentor persons who are interested in growing a business opportunity. Meanwhile, as a continual learner myself, I can enhance my skills and knowledge and benefit from peers and individuals who have already blazed a trail before me.

Every business model implies trade-offs and unique characteristics as well as lifestyle choices. I enjoy teaching, but I also think that staying connected as an entrepreneur makes me a better teacher. I like to learn, so I am always pursuing new insights through casual as well as formal research (which I share through writing and speaking). I enjoy helping others, and teaching, mentoring, and guiding others is essential, to me. As a person of humble beginnings whose accomplishments have often been the result of starting from scratch, my most profound lessons have been acquired from the "school of hard knocks." If I can smooth out someone else's path, I'd like to do that. I also have enduring financial obligations, like most people, as well as responsibilities and love for friends and family members. Thus, any entrepreneurial decision has a direct impact on every aspect of my life.

In your own way and given your own set of circumstances, you will have to juggle to achieve your own unique entrepreneurial and lifestyle solutions. Before you take the entrepreneurial plunge, consider various business models and their implications completely. Your decisions will impact your life in ways that are to be considered just as seriously as the business models that you scrutinize. The right model will serve as a pattern for your fulfillment and success. Whatever you do, I suggest that you seek spiritual, emotional, and professional balance as a guiding light in your entrepreneurial journey. Making the right choices will enable you to find your "groove," gain your freedom, and live the kind of life that you've always wanted, both on and off the entrepreneurial playing field.

Dr. Robert Lahm is the founder of several businesses and Web sites, an entrepreneurship professor, a public speaker, and a writer. His typical topics include creativity and innovation, careers, start-ups, and small business marketing. Webmasters and other article publishers are hereby granted article reproduction permission as long as this article in its entirety, author's information, and any links remain intact. Copyright 2005 by Dr. Robert J. Lahm, EntrepreneurshipClearinghouse.com.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Google+ Project: Get Social Like Never Before [Videos]

Ads by Google | Posted on 29/06/2011

Google+ Project is the latest initiative by Google to connect you with your friends, relatives and coworkers. After the Google buzz fail and a challenge to take on Facebook, Google+ promises a new way to socially interact with your social connections like never before.

Circles lets you  share different things with different people.

Sparks searches for videos and articles it thinks you’ll like, and when you are free, it lines them up to watch, read and share. On any topic you want, in over 40 languages.

Hangouts lets your friends know that you’re hanging out, and easily drops by for a face-to-face live multi-person video chat and spend time with your Circles.

Huddle helps in coordinating with friends and family in real-time. Huddle provides a group messaging experience that lets everyone inside the circle know instantly what’s going on.

Instant Upload lets your photos upload themselves, without the hassle of getting photos off your phone and on to the web. Google+ lets you add your location to every post.

Get ready. Google+ will change your life and the way you network socially. Has Google challenged Facebook the right way this time? [The response was so huge, that they have switched to invites now. Get on the waiting list]

After reading this article, readers liked these articles Create Google Chrome Icon Project VideosHow Social Media is Changing Our Lives [Videos]Google Idol : Online Google Videos ContestUpload Secret, Hidden, Private Videos as Unlisted Youtube VideosGoogle Project 10^100 Calls for IdeasGoogle India Internet Bus Project100 Best Google Videos by Ranking
All comments are moderated. No HTML.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.