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Article Check - Yes, You Must Self-Market
The Good And Bad of Franchising
The starting point, we believe, for anyone trying to get their head around how and why franchising works, is to read everything you can get your hands on before parting with your life savings! Do not believe what franchisor's advertisements say. Try to be as unemotional as possible as to what you really want from a franchise relationship. Like most things in life that look simple on the surface, franchising is a complex Pandora's Box, as often it is not the obvious stuff, you really need to understand.Let's start with, why do businesses choose to franchise? The frank answer is they want your money as their franchisee to grow their sales/service distribution system. What type of business can be franchised? Just about anything. So what type of business makes the best franchise system? Well, that's not easy, but let's start with the reality that a franchisor is a self appointed leader, and they want you as a team player and dedicated follower to join their marketing system. Yes, you have to commit your hard earnt dollars to join that franchise system and hopefully in doing so you have bouht yourself a good insurance policy! As your start down the part as a small business person, which will not end up in disaster? Yes it is true, technically the franchisor has a strong vested interest in your long term success as one of their franchisees, so you will be safe?Most people buying a franchise have not been in business before, however they have dreamt about doing so many times and are at a very personal crossroad in their lives, looking for a way to do so, that will minimise their risk. Let's look at this franchising decision from the franchisor's poi
are. No wonder that the idea of self-promotion may evoke some discomfort. So, before you tackThe starting point, we believe, for anyone trying to get their head around how and why franchising works, is to read everything you can get your hands on before parting with your life savings! Do not believe what franchisor's advertisements say. Try to be as unemotional as possible as to what you really want from a franchise relationship. Like most things in life that look simple on the surface, franchising is a complex Pandora's Box, as often it is not the obvious stuff, you really need to understand.Let's start with, why do businesses choose to franchise? The frank answer is they want your money as their franchisee to grow their sales/service distribution system. What type of business can be franchised? Just about anything. So what type of business makes the best franchise system? Well, that's not easy, but let's start with the reality that a franchisor is a self appointed leader, and they want you as a team player and dedicated follower to join their marketing system. Yes, you have to commit your hard earnt dollars to join that franchise system and hopefully in doing so you have bouht yourself a good insurance policy! As your start down the part as a small business person, which will not end up in disaster? Yes it is true, technically the franchisor has a strong vested interest in your long term success as one of their franchisees, so you will be safe?Most people buying a franchise have not been in business before, however they have dreamt about doing so many times and are at a very personal crossroad in their lives, looking for a way to do so, that will minimise their risk. Let's look at this franchising decision from the franchisor's poi
What Are Gerber Files For Printed Circuit Boards-And Who Needs Them?
When an electronics design engineer has completed their circuit design for an application, the next step towards completing the product design is to enter the schematic details into a computer based schematic capture program. The schematic capture program, which is usually part of an Electronic Design Automation, EDA or Computer Automated Design, PCB CAD, software design package, will create a net list from the completed schematic that details every electrical connection between each electronic component.This net list is used by the printed circuit board or PCB designer in the process of designing the printed circuit board with the EDA or PCB CAD software. The finished printed circuit board will provide the physical assembly and interconnection platform for the various electronic components required by the schematic.The printed circuit board is made up of one or more conductive layers of copper plating that is etched to form the component pads and interconnection traces and one or more layers of insulating material such as epoxy-filled fiberglass to separate the conductive copper layers and to provide the mechanical strength for the board.A single layer board would have components on the top side of the board and connecting traces on the bottom side of the board. A double layer board could have components on the top side only or have components on both the top and bottom sides of the board along with connecting traces on both sides of the board. A multilayer board would have both top and bottom sides with components and traces along with a number of internal layers used for interconnections and for voltage and ground plane layers.The EDA or PCB CAD program provi
Most of us were taught as children not to draw attention to ourselves, show off, or even talk about ourselves. In addition, there are all sorts of negative stereotypes about sales and marketing people as being pushy, intrusive, obnoxious, and dishonest. Also, we can all recall being trapped with people who dominate conversations and brag incessantly about how wonderful they are. No wonder that the idea of self-promotion may evoke some discomfort. So, before you tacklWhen an electronics design engineer has completed their circuit design for an application, the next step towards completing the product design is to enter the schematic details into a computer based schematic capture program. The schematic capture program, which is usually part of an Electronic Design Automation, EDA or Computer Automated Design, PCB CAD, software design package, will create a net list from the completed schematic that details every electrical connection between each electronic component.This net list is used by the printed circuit board or PCB designer in the process of designing the printed circuit board with the EDA or PCB CAD software. The finished printed circuit board will provide the physical assembly and interconnection platform for the various electronic components required by the schematic.The printed circuit board is made up of one or more conductive layers of copper plating that is etched to form the component pads and interconnection traces and one or more layers of insulating material such as epoxy-filled fiberglass to separate the conductive copper layers and to provide the mechanical strength for the board.A single layer board would have components on the top side of the board and connecting traces on the bottom side of the board. A double layer board could have components on the top side only or have components on both the top and bottom sides of the board along with connecting traces on both sides of the board. A multilayer board would have both top and bottom sides with components and traces along with a number of internal layers used for interconnections and for voltage and ground plane layers.The EDA or PCB CAD program provi
The Misconceptions of the Value Of Disclosures in Franchising
Disclosure laws in franchising are suppose to help the consumer. They don’t. The FTC, which over sees franchising has in fact created a rule, which makes 5 lb. Disclosure documents for franchise buyers, which is so huge that no one ever reads it. I know when I personally meet a franchise buyer whose application form is approved and hand them a UFOC, Uniform Franchise Offering Circular with attachments and watch their jaw drop and then their hand drop when they clutch it in their hands (due to the weight of the 155 to 200 pages), I see a blank look. I apologize every time for my unreasonable government and the US legal system for the rules.I tell them it is to protect them and put up my shoulders and they usually say something like “Yah Right.” A franchise buyer who wants to buy a franchise is not going to read and expect to understand every clause, nor are most franchisors going to enforce every clause. You can’t, you would not have any franchisees left. There are too many laws in franchising and too much regulation. Many times a franchise buyer will ask me, “What the hell does this have to do with washing cars?” I really cannot answer what I really think, I would launch into a tirade that would last four hours full of more examples than I care to write in this brief letter. I could write a book over disclosure and franchise law.The fact is that we are a mobile car wash franchise for the most part and that is a relatively easy and simple business. As much as the professionals care to argue to the contrary, all these disclosure laws just are not needed. Neither is all this regulation and surely not anymore than already exists. You can sit and argue why the rules and all
about ourselves. In addition, there are all sorts of negative stereotypes about sales and marketing people as being pushy, intrusive, obnoxious, and dishonest. Also, we can all recall being trapped with people who dominate conversations and brag incessantly about how wonderful they are. No wonder that the idea of self-promotion may evoke some discomfort. So, before you tackDisclosure laws in franchising are suppose to help the consumer. They don’t. The FTC, which over sees franchising has in fact created a rule, which makes 5 lb. Disclosure documents for franchise buyers, which is so huge that no one ever reads it. I know when I personally meet a franchise buyer whose application form is approved and hand them a UFOC, Uniform Franchise Offering Circular with attachments and watch their jaw drop and then their hand drop when they clutch it in their hands (due to the weight of the 155 to 200 pages), I see a blank look. I apologize every time for my unreasonable government and the US legal system for the rules.I tell them it is to protect them and put up my shoulders and they usually say something like “Yah Right.” A franchise buyer who wants to buy a franchise is not going to read and expect to understand every clause, nor are most franchisors going to enforce every clause. You can’t, you would not have any franchisees left. There are too many laws in franchising and too much regulation. Many times a franchise buyer will ask me, “What the hell does this have to do with washing cars?” I really cannot answer what I really think, I would launch into a tirade that would last four hours full of more examples than I care to write in this brief letter. I could write a book over disclosure and franchise law.The fact is that we are a mobile car wash franchise for the most part and that is a relatively easy and simple business. As much as the professionals care to argue to the contrary, all these disclosure laws just are not needed. Neither is all this regulation and surely not anymore than already exists. You can sit and argue why the rules and all
Advergaming – Playing to Win
From automobiles to personal hygiene, advergaming can promote a product and capture the time and attention of potential consumers of any age. While adult consumers have the disposable income to spend, consumers under the age of 18 are big marketing targets for companies and the millions of products and services offered. There's no denying the influence a child has on the spending habits of a parent, and advertisers are aware that pulling in the kids pulls in the parents – and their money.According to a recent brandingvoodoo.com posting, nearly 33 million kids and teens between the ages of 3 and 17 use the internet regularly, and it is projected that number will grow to 38 million by 2008. Further, between 72%-81% of kids ages 8-18 are playing online games when they are using the computer.While the kids may be playing the games, parents are very aware of how their kids are spending their time on the internet. Most parents check on their kids regularly to make sure kids aren't involved in dangerous activities, so parents become aware of the games kids are playing and the products they promote nearly as much as the kids.But kids aren't the only ones playing online games, which is one of the big appeals of advergaming to marketers. In a recent study conducted by the Interactive Digital Software Association, 42% of frequent game players are over 35, while another 30% are age 18 to 35. With such a huge demographic, advergaming has just begun to scratch the surface of its possibilities.Advergaming isn't cheap, though. Advertisers spend an average of $100,000 to $500,000 for a custom-designed game for use in an advergaming campaign. Most marketers who use advergaming fe
eting people as being pushy, intrusive, obnoxious, and dishonest. Also, we can all recall being trapped with people who dominate conversations and brag incessantly about how wonderful they are. No wonder that the idea of self-promotion may evoke some discomfort. So, before you tackFrom automobiles to personal hygiene, advergaming can promote a product and capture the time and attention of potential consumers of any age. While adult consumers have the disposable income to spend, consumers under the age of 18 are big marketing targets for companies and the millions of products and services offered. There's no denying the influence a child has on the spending habits of a parent, and advertisers are aware that pulling in the kids pulls in the parents – and their money.According to a recent brandingvoodoo.com posting, nearly 33 million kids and teens between the ages of 3 and 17 use the internet regularly, and it is projected that number will grow to 38 million by 2008. Further, between 72%-81% of kids ages 8-18 are playing online games when they are using the computer.While the kids may be playing the games, parents are very aware of how their kids are spending their time on the internet. Most parents check on their kids regularly to make sure kids aren't involved in dangerous activities, so parents become aware of the games kids are playing and the products they promote nearly as much as the kids.But kids aren't the only ones playing online games, which is one of the big appeals of advergaming to marketers. In a recent study conducted by the Interactive Digital Software Association, 42% of frequent game players are over 35, while another 30% are age 18 to 35. With such a huge demographic, advergaming has just begun to scratch the surface of its possibilities.Advergaming isn't cheap, though. Advertisers spend an average of $100,000 to $500,000 for a custom-designed game for use in an advergaming campaign. Most marketers who use advergaming fe
My Experiences in DIY SEO
Or ‘why it is easier to pay for it, but not necessarily as satisfying as doing it on your own’Oct – I had an idea for a business venture and having had some successes with the main element of it, namely sourcing hard to find, unusual or just urgent building materials, I decided to go for it and progress it further.To start I needed an internet presence, promptly purchase the domain source4me and sourceforme, amongst others.Great, a friend of mine is a computer programmer for Sky he will be able to offer up some advice, err No! apparently computer programming and html are like not the same thing? This was news to me and I am already giving away my ignorance.I only had Frontpage on my machine so that had to be my starting point.My first attempt can still be found on free web pages (of which more later). If you know enough to view the source code you already know more than I did when I made these pages. No alt tags, no meta tags, no keywords, wording not optimised etc.Then the real blow – my brother thought it looked amateurish. Aargh my poor ego, I’d spent a month of evenings on it. Since then, more research.So we lose the freebie web page as the search engines don’t like them and purchase a hosting package.Dec – Having secured my father as my partner in this venture, I work on optimising the pages (all 6 of them). Keywords, alt tags etc, we are crawled a lot but still not indexed. Yes I did submit the URL to the major players (which some schools of thought think is a bad idea).So we have cost per click with Google! A week later I realise that this will cost more than our combi
g trapped with people who dominate conversations and brag incessantly about how wonderful they are. No wonder that the idea of self-promotion may evoke some discomfort. So, before you tackOr ‘why it is easier to pay for it, but not necessarily as satisfying as doing it on your own’Oct – I had an idea for a business venture and having had some successes with the main element of it, namely sourcing hard to find, unusual or just urgent building materials, I decided to go for it and progress it further.To start I needed an internet presence, promptly purchase the domain source4me and sourceforme, amongst others.Great, a friend of mine is a computer programmer for Sky he will be able to offer up some advice, err No! apparently computer programming and html are like not the same thing? This was news to me and I am already giving away my ignorance.I only had Frontpage on my machine so that had to be my starting point.My first attempt can still be found on free web pages (of which more later). If you know enough to view the source code you already know more than I did when I made these pages. No alt tags, no meta tags, no keywords, wording not optimised etc.Then the real blow – my brother thought it looked amateurish. Aargh my poor ego, I’d spent a month of evenings on it. Since then, more research.So we lose the freebie web page as the search engines don’t like them and purchase a hosting package.Dec – Having secured my father as my partner in this venture, I work on optimising the pages (all 6 of them). Keywords, alt tags etc, we are crawled a lot but still not indexed. Yes I did submit the URL to the major players (which some schools of thought think is a bad idea).So we have cost per click with Google! A week later I realise that this will cost more than our combi
10 Tips to Maximize the Success of Your Holiday Business Gift-Giving
Your business holiday gift, if sent in a thoughtful manner, can be a subtle but effective marketing tool to solidify business relationships and let your clients know they are valued.Tip #1: Know YOUR company's gift-giving policy as well as your CLIENT'S gift policy before sending a gift.Many companies have a formal or informal policy of "No Gifts" for a variety of reasons. These clients usually include government agencies, government contactors, and businesses that purchase items through a bidding process.TIP #2: Plan early in the FALL by updating your business contact mailing list and finding your gift suppliers.Avoid the holiday rush by giving your (updated) mailing list as early as possible to your supplier, specifying the date you want your gift mailed. Most suppliers will allow some changes to the mailing list up to a week before the mailing date.TIP #3: Mail your business gift early, preferably immediately after Thanksgiving.Food or wine gifts will be especially appreciated if mailed early, as they can be used for holiday entertaining.TIP #4: Personalize your business holiday gift with a note.Most gift companies will send a personalized note with the gift. Your note should mention a word of appreciation, an accomplishment by the client, or a task you've accomplished together during the year. For example, "Enjoyed working on X project with you this year. Looking forward to working with you again in the future."TIP #5: Downplay any corporate logo on business holiday gifts.Corporate logos, while a great way to promote your company, should be discreetly printed or engraved on
are. No wonder that the idea of self-promotion may evoke some discomfort. So, before you tackle the career management strategy of self- marketing, you need to develop a comfortable style that suits your personality. Self-marketing is actually assertiveness about who you are, what you want, and how your abilities can benefit others.Your business holiday gift, if sent in a thoughtful manner, can be a subtle but effective marketing tool to solidify business relationships and let your clients know they are valued.Tip #1: Know YOUR company's gift-giving policy as well as your CLIENT'S gift policy before sending a gift.Many companies have a formal or informal policy of "No Gifts" for a variety of reasons. These clients usually include government agencies, government contactors, and businesses that purchase items through a bidding process.TIP #2: Plan early in the FALL by updating your business contact mailing list and finding your gift suppliers.Avoid the holiday rush by giving your (updated) mailing list as early as possible to your supplier, specifying the date you want your gift mailed. Most suppliers will allow some changes to the mailing list up to a week before the mailing date.TIP #3: Mail your business gift early, preferably immediately after Thanksgiving.Food or wine gifts will be especially appreciated if mailed early, as they can be used for holiday entertaining.TIP #4: Personalize your business holiday gift with a note.Most gift companies will send a personalized note with the gift. Your note should mention a word of appreciation, an accomplishment by the client, or a task you've accomplished together during the year. For example, "Enjoyed working on X project with you this year. Looking forward to working with you again in the future."TIP #5: Downplay any corporate logo on business holiday gifts.Corporate logos, while a great way to promote your company, should be discreetly printed or engraved on
Why is self-marketing a critical skill? Nadia learned its importance the hard way. Nadia secretly wanted to become manager of her
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