Web Design 102 – Why?
Web design is such an exciting foundational thing for the beginner, but it can be scary. Here are some things to think about before you start your web design.Consider the reasons users would come to a site like yours. What do they hope to get from your site? What specific information would they be seeking when visiting a site like yours? Generally, it’s a good idea to have something that will grab your users’ interest within the first three seconds they are on the site. By the first ten seconds, you need to have them hooked or they will probably seek their information elsewhere. Make sure your homepage clearly delineates what your site is all about. You don’t want your users to have to dig for that information. On the other hand, you want them to want to explore your site further, so don’t lay everything out there on the homepage. The homepage should outline a purpose and inspire enough curiosity that the visitor will want to look around some more.You will also want to consider how you want your visitors to interact with your site. Is your site simply a vehicle for conveying information such as the dates and times for upcoming events? Is it me

Project Selection - Ready, Aim, Fire!
If all other things such as project outlining, defining deviations and correction measures using the famed DMAIC, training the personnel, assessment and audit are on one side, then the project selection on the other can outweigh all of them. It doesn’t matter that the improvement project is not more than academic interest; it’s success depends entirely on the selection of the project itself.What Does It Mean To Select a Wrong Project?What does it mean to select a wrong project? Well, this question has arisen not because projects are selected wrongly by design or because the project selection teams are incompetent. This question can’t be misconstrued as something willful when especially it dawns at an advanced stage that the project is out of track and control and as a consequence, doomed to fail.Fail-Proofing the Projection ProcessIn Six Sigma, project selection is based on two foundation cornerstones that are ‘total customer satisfaction’ and ‘maximization of ROI.’ We can use the analogy that a home is only as good as its foundation.Look for projects in your annual strategy documents that have roadmaps with various business objecti

How the World Sees Us
Unless you hold a mirror to your face each time you speak with someone, you really have no way of identifying what messages and signals the listener is receiving. This, by the way, applies not just to face-to-face sales calls, it applies to telephone conversations too. You see our voice tells just as many things about us as our face.The world and the people population of it, is a mixed group so we really have no way of knowing if what we say is getting understood. This is especially true if we cannot see the listener. Our voice manner, tone and modulation send subtle messages about where our mind and thoughts are when we speak. Our prospect or customer, whether they are aware of it or not, is making judgments and assessments about us every time we engage in dialogue with them. Subtle messages received by them can be potent allies in our quest for effective communication.The question before us should be ‘what do I want prospects and customers to see about me?' This requires introspection, the right brain soft skill of observing and analyzing oneself.If in a face to face call we know attention is being paid to our body movement, hand and facial ge

Do You Have A Defining Statement?
A defining statement is a very specific and precise elevator statement. It combines all of the necessary ingredients so that when a prospect walks away from an elevator conversation with you they know; who you are, what you do, how they will benefit by doing business with you.A defining statement * should include all of the following.1. It must use common one syllable words that are easy to understand. If you stick to the language an 8th grader (and I am not referring here to slang) would understand you are in good shape.2. It must be conversational. It is not an advertising them or slogan it is a conversational answer to, "What do you do?"3. It must create some attraction on the part of the other person. It should make people want to talk with you, be with you, learn from you.4. It must have a dream focus. If it helps the prospect see the future as better than the present in any way you have a dream focus.5. It must contain the what and the who. It defines outcomes and who would be served by working with you or buying from you.6. It must have a duel focus. Create a two part statement that has two outcomes and you w

10 Tips to Sell More Books with a Sales Letter, Part 2
First things first; words sell not graphics or flashy websites. Pretty pictures and web design have never sold anyone anything; only words can do that. You must write to convince people to take action. Most prospects will never pull out their wallets because they like your web design; they do so only when your words convince them to. Here are some tips and a template to create compelling sales letters that sell your book:6) Gather testimonials.Strategically sprinkle them in your copy. They help build creditability and are important to achieve maximum sales. If you having problems getting some, consider offering your product free to 3-5 people to get some good written testimonials.7) Make your copy error-free.If you have misspelled words or incomplete sentences, you will lose sales. Design your copy to be specific. Vague copy will also hinder your sales. It will prompt a lot of questions. If you are getting sales without questions, you know you have done a good job with your sales copy.8) Make your copy effective.If you have written your sales letter in one sitting; it's not as effective as it could be. Write it one day and t

Are We Really So Different To The English
In the biggest survey of its kind a recent survey conducted by Personaliteye.com has measured the personality profiles of over 6,000 people from both sides of the pond. The primary purpose of the research was to see if there was any scientific validity behind many of the popular myths that each group has for the other. The survey is still open so if you want to discover your personality profile, try it out. As the personality profile is based on pictures rather than words, the process takes no longer than 60 seconds. It’s done that way to avoid the obvious language differences so not only will you be adding to the understanding of both cultures, you’ll receive a ‘Myers Briggs’ style personality profile as a thank you for your participation.The first belief to be researched was the American belief that the Brits are known for their ‘stiff upper lips’ and reserved nature. Or the corresponding British view that Yanks are loud and too familiar.From a personality perspective these ‘reserved’ or ‘loud’ traits can be measured by the propensity of an individual to have a preference for either Introvert or Extrovert behaviour.Introverts prefer to be alone