November 28, 2007

Get Your Family and Friends to Help You Advertise... Create a
Map to Find Success When Talking to Anyone, Part 2... The
Real Cost of Living the Good Life... Don’t Let Sleeping
Purchases Lie... and More.

** Get Your Family and Friends to Help You Advertise
By Adrian Newman, Founder of e-Wealth Daily

Small business owners should constantly be on the lookout for ways to advertise their operations. Marketing strategies are essential to the development and success of any business, so you need to make room in your budget for it.

However, when you're starting out, you might not have a huge budget set aside for advertising. You might not be able to put your name on the side of the cross-town bus or a huge billboard downtown, for example. If you have a small advertising budget, then you're going to have to find ways to get your name out in an inexpensive manner.

If you want your message to reach a lot of people, then you'll want to consider enlisting the help of your family and friends. Next time you're at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green, take a look around you. I have no doubt that you will notice a vehicle or two with a decal on it. If you have a vehicle and know other people who do, why not advertise with them?

Vehicle wraps and decals are a great way to get your business' message all over town without spending a lot of money. Your vehicle is a great moving billboard for sure — and a nice start — but if you can enlist the help of your close friends your spouse, or even your kids, then you can get them in on the advertising effort as well.

It doesn't have to be a full wrap, either. You can get a small decal with your company name and phone number put on the back window or the side of the car, which will still be effective. Most decals can be removed and even reused on other vehicles, so it's not going to do any paint damage and it won't be permanent.

I always notice what people have on their cars. Sure, it might not always be something that I need, but I always notice, and I wager that I'm not the only one, either.

Now, even though your buddy offers his vehicle to be adorned, it doesn't mean that you have to take him up on the offer. For instance, if your friend has a pick-up truck that is missing the tailgate, and has more rust than paint, then you might want to pass. Remember you have to constantly think about your brand image and how you want consumers to perceive your business.

If you don't have a lot of money to advertise, then consider getting a decal on your vehicle and a few others around town. It's a great way to get word of your business out to a lot of people. Just make sure that you make the most of this type of advertising. Be certain that you have the correct information included in the decal, such as your business' location and phone number, and that people can easily read it. No matter what the advertisement, if the information isn't clear, then it's a waste of your money.

Last week, I talked about creating a map that could help you find success when having a conversation with anyone.

Today, I want to reveal some of the methods that professional speakers use to ensure the message they convey makes the strongest impact on their audience. Here they are:

— Be Articulate. Express ideas in a logical manner; stay focused on primary messages and key issues.

— Show Your Knowledge. Have a good understanding of your topic. Educate yourself about the appropriate terms and speak intelligently, stating sources and proof to provide credibility to your communication.

— Listen Carefully. The root of misunderstanding is confusion about what you've heard. Listen clearly without speaking. Hear the issues that others are sharing with you. Ask questions to clarify and focus your attention on the responses you get. An intuitive person will get a vibe about the kind of reaction they are causing when they speak. They will see and hear the subtleties that they invoke in another person and therefore will be able to anticipate what their next move should be.

— Be Personable. Even when you're speaking to a crowd of people, know that you have to make one-on-one contact with key members of the audience, or you will make no impact at all. Tailor your message to the person you're speaking with if it's a one-on-one conversation and they won't lose focus.

— Buoyancy. We pay attention to entertainers, politicians, and other key figures because they are charismatic, dynamic, and upbeat. We even listen when the message they are giving does not coincide with our beliefs for the sole reason that we are compelled to hear their passionate and energetic message.

The way people speak influences your emotions, beliefs, and even your effectiveness. It can build your relationships with people or can break things apart. How many times when you were younger did you hear the admonition, "Think before you speak?" How many times throughout your life should you have heeded this warning?

Think of a time when you were angry with someone else. What was the power behind your words? Did you intentionally use the words "hate," "despise," or "enraged?" What if you had used the words "disappointed," "hurt," or "betrayed" instead? Would the outcome have been different? When you choose the right words, your physiology and the subsequent behavior of those around you will change dramatically.

Learn how to lower the intensity of your emotions. Take out your thesaurus and find words that offer varying degrees of expressing yourself. We often say that people who curse are ignorant or illiterate because they cannot find another way to express their emotions. They apply the same profanity to every situation they encounter and every emotion that they experience. Don't allow yourself to be pigeonholed; choose the right words and you will connect with others in a positive, effective way.

Remember that the words you say and the way you say them can be influential — and they could get you the results that you desire in any situation.

** The Real Cost of Living the Good Life
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher

When people tell me about their personal and financial goals, you can almost always be certain that somewhere on their list they will want to someday be rich.

And it seems to me that the desire to become rich is getting closer and closer to the number one goal on many people’s lists. But, is being rich really more important than being happy and healthy?

Now, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be rich, but you have to ask yourself what it is that you really want to achieve when say that you want to be rich.

So then, what exactly does it mean to be rich?

When you think of what a rich person looks like, you probably picture them driving in a luxury sports car, living in a million dollar home and spending a good portion of their time in exotic, sunny places working on their tan.

That certainly sounds like a fantastic life. And the costs of maintaining that life are certainly going to be incredibly high. It would take an income of hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep up with the costs of servicing that car, making those extra home repairs and paying for those pricey vacations.

Now take a look at your life right now. What would you have to change and possibly sacrifice to help you fulfill that image of being rich? And you have to ask yourself if, in the end, whether or not it all would be worth it.

Now, don’t go and cross that goal off your list right away. Take a few minutes and think about what your completely personal and unique definition of being rich could be.

Being rich can mean anything you want it to. It can mean having the money in your pocket to always pay cash no matter what you buy. It can mean paying your bills on time and living as debt-free as you can. It can even mean that you are comfortable and happy with the knowledge that you are able live day-to-day without giving up the things you love.

Now figure out how much more money you would need to reach your new vision of being rich. Is it an extra $5,000, $15,000 or $25,000 that you need? You can then replace your goal of one day becoming rich with that actual dollar amount.

By making one simple change to your goals, you’ll actually have a tangible goal to work towards. And being able to visualize a specific goal could certainly increase your chances of one day reaching the things you truly want.

** Don’t Let Sleeping Purchases Lie
By Michael Newman, the "Money Finder"

Have you ever bought something then walked past the same store where you made the purchase, only to discover that the item you paid full price for had gone on sale? I bet it bugs you, doesn’t it? And it should. After all, why should you have to pay full price for something that everyone else gets at a discount?

Well, here’s a word of advice: don’t let sleeping purchases lie.

What I mean by that is that once you’ve paid for something, don’t assume that the currency you handed over is final. Many retail outlets have what’s called a “price guarantee,” which enables customers to be reimbursed the difference when an item they’ve purchased at full price goes on sale.

Of course, you will have to produce a receipt to take advantage of the price guarantee and you will also have to adhere to a certain timeframe instituted by the outlet. Usually, this timeframe will be anywhere from two weeks to a month after the initial purchase.

I stumbled upon this little-known secret a few years ago when I was walking through a local shopping mall. About a week earlier, I had purchased a new jacket from a store in the mall for $125. However, when I walked by the store on this trip, I noticed that the jacket was on sale for 25% off. I approached a sales associate and told her about my situation, to which she replied, “That’s fine. Just go home and get your receipt and we’ll cover the difference. Just don’t wait too long because we only guarantee prices for two weeks.”

Anyways, the following day I returned with my receipt and, sure enough, I was reimbursed the 25% difference.

In order to make sure you don’t get the short end of the stick on the purchases you make, inquire about price guarantees when you make a purchase and keep your receipt at least until that time period has expired. You never know, maybe you could end up making money on yesterday’s expenses!