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    Casual Articles - How to Create Your Own Mail Order Products

    The Value of Stocks of a Company
    The debate rages all over Eastern and Central Europe, in countries in transition as well as in Western Europe. It raged in Britain during the 80s: Is privatization really the robbery in disguise of state assets by a select few, cronies of the political regime? Margaret Thatcher was accuse of it - and so was the Agency of Transformation in the Republic of Macedonia. At what price should the companies owned by the State have been sold? This question is not as simple and straight forward as it sounds.There is a gigantic stock pricing mechanism known as the Stock Exchange. Willing buyers and willing sellers meet there to freely negotiate deals of stock purchases and sale. Every day new information, macro-economic and micro-economic, determines the value of companies.Greenspan testifies, the economic figures are too good to be true and the rumour mill starts working: interest rates might go up. The stock market reacts with a frenzy - it crashes. Why?A top executive is asked how profitable will his firm be this quarter. He winks, he grins - this is interpreted by Wall Street to mean that they WILL go up. The share goes up frantically: no one wants to sell it, everyone want to buy it. The result: a sharp rise in the price. Why?Moreover: the price of the stock prices of companies A with an identical size, similar financial ratios (and in the same industry) barely budges. Why didn't it display the same behaviour?We say that the stocks of the two companies have different elasticity (their prices move up and down differently), probably the result of different sensitivities to changes in interest rates and in earnings estimates. But this is just to rename the problem. The question remains: why? Why do the shares of similar companies react differently?Economy is a branch of psychology and wherever and whenever humans are involved, answers don't come easy. A few models have been developed and are in wide use but it is difficult to say that any of them has real predictive or even explanatory value. Some of these models are "technical" in nature: they ignore the fundamentals of the company. Such models assume that all the relevant information is already incorporated in the price of the stock and that changes in expectations, hopes, fears and attitudes will be reflected in the prices immediately. Others are fundamental: these models rely on the company's performance and assets. The former models are applicable mostly to companies whose shares are traded publicly, in stock exchanges. They are not very useful in trying to attach a value to the stock of a private firm. The latter type (fundamental) models can be applied more broadly.The value of a stock (a bond, a firm, real estate, or any asset) is the sum of the income (cash flow) that a reasonable investor would expect to get in the future, discounted at the appropriate discount (usually, interest) rates. The discounting reflects the fact that money received in the future has lower (discounted) purchasing power than money received now. Moreover, we can invest money received now and get interest on it (which should normally equal the discount). Put differently: the discount reflects the loss in purchasing power of money not received at present or the interest that we lose by not being able to invest the money currently (because we will receive it only in the future). This is the time value of money. Another problem is the uncertainty of future payments, or the risk that we will not receive them. The longer the period, the higher the risk, of course. A model exists which links the time, the value of the stock, the cash flows expected in the future and the discount (interest) rates.We said that the rate that we use to discount future cash flows is the prevailing interest rate and this is partly true in stable, predictable and certain economies. But the discount rate depends on the inflation rate in the
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    - DON'T COPY ANYONE ELSE! You are a unique individual.
    Express your own individuality in your Mail Order business.

    - CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING!

    - CREATE SOMETHING USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE!

    - CREATE SOMETHING YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BUY!

    Copyright by DeAnna Spencer 2004

    This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

    DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

    DeAnna Spencer - EzineArticles Expert Author

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      Internet Marketing is all About People
      I’m in marketing and advertising and naturally, my responsibility is to help my clients make more money. Is making money the be-all and end-all? I never thought money was the end. With greater wealth comes greater responsibilities. The World Internet Mega Summit Singapore 2007 held in Singapore from 26 to 29 May 2007 allowed me to catch a glimpse of the power of viral marketing at it’s bestInternet guru Stephen Pierce was given the challenge to raise USD100,000 within 72 hours to feed 1 million hungry children. We broke the record by the 64th hour and that was a joyous moment for all of us who were present at the seminar. How did it work?It is best summarized in Jim Collins’ The Hedgehog Concept . It is not the goal to be the best, a strategy to be the best, a plan to be the best. It is an understanding of what you can be the best at. What are you best at? What drives your economic engine? What are you passionately about? Stephen Pierce excels in the methodology of churning out millions of dollars via the internet. That’s what he is best at, that is how he cranks his economic engine and that’s where his passions lie. He used his knowledge and experience to get really rich and he is empowering his proteges to make money online. But he did not stop there.With the support of his wife, family and local supporters, the team emailed fellow internet gurus to propagate the “Feed the Children” charity drive. I knew they responded because I received an email from Yanik Silver. We, the participants, at the summit were urged to download “The Influence of Third Power” report so that he would donate a plate of food in our names. After I had downloaded, I was given a chance to multiply my gift by feeding more children and receive a nice collection of marketing resources from top experts like Jay Abraham, Robert Kiyosaki, Mark Joyner, Mike Filisaime etc as a ‘thank-you’ gift.Why did people response? Credibility, Value and the bigger picture of Doing Good. Those who came in touch with Stephen Pierce in person will feel the sincerity in him. I heard him speaking at WIS twice. He would talk in length about the methodology about making big on the web, but he would also talk about doing good, using knowledge, fame and wealth. “The future is not an optional event, everyone is going to be there. The big question is how you are going to show up.”Sure, his success report “The Influence of Third Power” are excerpts from his book and some have accused him of using that as a bait to sell his book. But, there are values and lessons you can take away in that short report. If you decide to buy the book because you benefited from 1 or 2 tips you picked up, why deprive the man from earning the money he deserves?Netizens trust Stephen. His fame and credibility not only got him the downloads, it also helped the “Feed the Children” solicitation email being circulated. I sent a short message to my social network, blogger friends, friends, colleagues and contacts. That’s how it flows. Some people don’t know Stephen Pierce but they know me. People who trust me would value my opinion that the download is for a greater cause. Perhaps they may not contribute $8, $24 or $30 but they would send the email to another 2, 3 ,5 or more people. The charity drive will take on a life of it’s own. The multiplying effect kicks in without anyone spending a dime. And in less than 72 hours, we achieved our goal.As a marketer, you may say: “OK, I have credibility. My clients trust me and have a relationship with me. My products/services are great and definitely a good solution to their problem. But I don’t see the bigger picture beyond this, so how?” The big picture need not be as ambitious as to feed 1 million children. It is the understanding that by offering integrity in product development, marketing, communications and every aspect of business transaction, you are contributing to the entire
      Pick up almost any book or report on Mailorder Selling and
      invariably you will find the same advice. When you select a
      mailorder product, select one which:

      - appeals to a large segment of the population
      - is not readily available in stores
      - is easy to ship by mail
      - is worthwhile
      - and a product that lends itself to repeat orders

      Most mail order writers will also tell you to try to acquire
      exclusive selling rights to your product. Most writers will
      agree that a dealer has a better chance of succeeding in the
      mailorder business if he has created the product himself.

      All of this is certainly good advice. The trouble with it is
      that it does not go far enough. It does not tell you HOW to
      create a product that is exclusively you own. In what follows,
      I would like to show you, step by step, HOW to create your own
      mailorder product.

      I would like to begin by making a very revolutionary statement.
      THE FIRST STEP ON THE ROAD TO MAIL ORDER SUCCESS IS NOT THE
      SELECTION OF A PRODUCT! That may sound like a very strange
      statement, but there are three things you must do (if you want
      to be successful) before you ever select a product to sell by
      mail!

      FIRST, you must ANALYZE YOURSELF. You will only succeed in
      selling a product, or a line of mailorder products if you really
      enjoy selling them, if you can be honestly enthusiastic about
      them, and if they are products you yourself would honestly want
      to buy.

      SECOND, you must SELECT YOUR MARKET. Once you have analyzed
      yourself, you will want to sell to people who have interests
      similar to your own. Only then will you be comfortable in your
      mailorder business.

      THIRD, you must thoroughly ANALYZE YOUR MARKET. Before you
      ever select a product, you should KNOW what your market is
      buying, what it would like to buy, if available, and what it
      will buy form you, in the very near future.

      Once you have analyzed yourself, selected your market, and then
      thoroughly analyzed your market, you will have no trouble
      selecting or creating a product to sell by mail. It will almost
      select you! Now, let's go back and study these three steps, one
      by one.

      ANALYZE YOURSELF

      To help you understand yourself, sit down and, as honestly as
      possible, write out your answers to the following questions:

      1. When I go to a newstand, what kind of magazines appeal to ME?

      2. What kind of books do I really like to read?

      3. When I daydream, what do I daydream about?

      4. What do I do with my free time? (How do I spend my
      evenings? What do I do on weekends?)

      5. What do I do on my vacation?

      6. What one subject interests me more than any other subject in
      the world?

      7. If I didn't have to work for a living, how would I spend my
      time?

      8. If I could go back to college, what subjects would I take?

      9. What kind of products do I like to purchase by mail?

      Once you have HONESTLY answered all these questions, you will
      see an amazing pattern emerging. When you have finished, pay a
      visit to your local library. Go to the Reference Desk and ask
      to see the latest edition of the WRITER'S MARKET. Sit down and
      study the Table of Contents, which lists all the main categories
      of magazines currently being printed. Decide which CATEGORY
      interests you beyond all others. It is in that mailorder market
      that you will be most at home . . . and it is there that you
      will be most successful

      Now go back to the Reference Desk and ask for two other
      publications. Either one will provide you with the information
      you need. They are:

      - THE STANDARD PERIODICAL DIRECTORY and
      - ULTICH'S INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL DIRECTORY

      I, of course, have no idea what your interests really are, but
      let us, for the sake of illustration, say that you have a
      compelling interest in Astrology. With a little search in the
      Standard Periodical Directory, you will find the name and
      address of at least a dozen or so Astrology magazines. In
      Ulrich's you will find even more, since it lists magazines
      published in foreign countries as well.

      Jot down the names and address of each and every publication.
      Write to each of them, on your letterhead if possible. If you
      don't have a letterhead, you will still hear from most of them.
      Tell them you are starting a mailorder business, specializing in
      Astrological products, and ask them for a sample copy of their
      publications, along with their ADVERTISING RATES.

      When you start receiving your sample copies, save them . . . and
      save the advertising rate cards. They will be invaluable to you
      in the future.

      While you are waiting for these to arrive, go to the nearest
      second-and magazine store and buy a few dozen old astrology
      magazines. (The cost? Probably a dime apiece!) Get as many
      different magazine titles as possible and be sure to get copies
      with MAIL ORDER ADS in them. Issues that are ten or fifteen
      years old will be valuable to you, but also try to obtain some
      of the more current issues. You are now ready to start . . .

      ANALYZING YOUR MARKET

      Start a notebook. Pick up one of the magazines which you have
      purchased at the second-hand magazine store. Read the first ad
      . . . every line of it. Read it slowly and carefully. When you
      have finished reading it, see if you can describe what is being
      sold in five words or less. If you can't, go back and read it
      again. If you can, record your description under one of three
      headings in your notebook:

      - Merchandise
      - Information
      - Service

      All mailorder offerings come under one of the three headings
      listed above. If the ad was for an Aquarian Necklace, it should
      be listed under Merchandise. If it was for a treatise on Flying
      Saucers, it should be listed under Information. If it was an
      offer to chart your horoscope, it should be listed under Service.

      After you have analyzed the first ad, go on and study the next
      ad. Continue until you have thoroughly analyzed every single ad
      in the magazine, including the classifieds. When you are
      through, you will have three lists:

      - A list of Astrological Merchandise for sale
      - A list of Astrological Manuals (Information) for sale
      - A list of Astrological services for sale.

      As you read, watch for:

      UNDEVELOPED IDEAS -- Especially in older issues, you will
      find really good ideas that were, for one reason or another,
      never developed. Perhaps the originator lost interest or didn't
      have the capital to develop his idea. He may have died or he
      may have run off with a chorus girl from Las Vegas and forgotten
      all about the mail order business. If you can develop the idea,
      you have a mail order product.

      WHOLESALE SOURCES -- Watch for ads that say "Dealers Wanted"
      (in more current issues, of course). Here may be the perfect
      source of mailorder products for you.

      STUDY THE ARTICLES -- They will show you what the readers are
      interested in and they will give you clues as to what the
      readers want to buy. Remember the articles are doing two things
      -- they are printing articles about subjects which the readers
      are already interested. But they are also CREATING NEW
      INTERESTS in the minds of the readers. CAN YOU CREATE A PRODUCT
      THAT READERS WILL WANT AS A RESULT OF READING THOSE ARTICLES?

      You will be amazed at what you will discover when you read
      magazines from the viewpoint of a mailorder man!

      While researching this manuscript, I analyzed three totally
      different magazines from the viewpoint of a mailorder man. I
      would like to share some of my findings with you. Don't worry
      if the fields are different from those which interest you.
      MAILORDER PRINCIPLES ARE THE SAME FOR EVERY MARKET!

      The first magazine which I analyzed was ASTROLOGY - YOUR DAILY
      HOROSCOPE, December 1975. I would like to begin with the
      Merchandise Offerings.

      ASTROLOGY (MERCHANDISE)

      The first ad is for personalized stationary. Any mailorder man
      knows you can sell personalized stationary to any market. But
      this dealer took a commonplace product and adapted it to the
      Astrological market. Next to the name and address which he
      prints on the stationary, he prints the Astrological sun sign
      and he calls it ZODIAC STATIONARY.

      The next ad is for another very commonplace product -- soap!
      You can buy soap in any grocery store. But this soap is
      special. It has YOUR ZODIAC SIGN imprinted in it, and it lasts
      as long as the soap lasts. Here is another good example of
      adapting a commonplace product to the special interests and
      desires of your prospective customers.

      If you are now selling a product by mail and you would like to
      increase you sales, make a list of the kinds of people you would
      like to sell it to. (For example, doctors, waitresses, farmers,
      gun collectors, etc.) Then go back and ask yourself what you
      could do to your product to make it appeal to each individual
      group. You'll be amazed at how you can turn commonplace items
      into red hot mailorder sellers just by taking the time to put
      yourself in your customer's shoes for a while.

      The next merchandise offering is for "SEASHELLS FOR VIRGOS AND
      SCORPIOS". Brother, this is a fantastic idea. Had this
      advertiser offered plain old seashells in an astrology magazine,
      his mailbox would probably have been empty. Had he advertised
      "Seashells for Astrologers", he MIGHT have gotten a few orders.
      But he made his seashells special, exclusive, and very, very
      desirable, because they are only for Virgos and Scorpios. He is
      catching the attention of one reader out of every six and I
      would bet that ad was a mailorder success! Here is an idea
      worth remembering. Try to apply it to YOUR product!

      Another merchandise offering was a "Hand Bio-Rhythm Computer".
      For the past few years, Astrology magazines have been running
      article after article on the Bio-Rhythm Theory (i.e. every male
      and female person has emotional, intellectual and physical
      cycles, which can be predicted in advance). The Astrology
      magazines, in effect, have been creating a mailorder market for
      this kind of new product. The ad promises, "it reveals your
      emotional, intellectual and physical state . . . EVEN BEFORE THE
      DAY BEGINS!" This dealer was clever enough to do something
      about this new interest. If he had not studied his market, he
      could never have discovered the NEED for a Bio-Rhythm computer!

      ASTROLOGY (INFORMATION)

      People who read Astrology magazines are very interested in Love,
      Money, Success, Power, Miracles, Prayer, etc. One enterprising
      dealer has written six "personal guidance" manuals, and runs
      full page ads in Astrology magazines, selling them form $2.00 to
      $11.00 each! His ads have been running successfully for years.
      Back in 1960, when I first became interested in selling by mail,
      this dealer was running small ads in mail dealer magazines,
      selling mailorder manuals!

      Here are some of the other information manuals which dealers
      have written and are selling by mail:

      - How the Maya Indians Foretold the Future - $15.00

      - Powerful Words to Be Recited Daily to End Your Money Worries
      - $4.00

      - How to Spiritually Heal Your Pets - $5.00

      - A Manual on Etheric Astal Projection, written "especially for
      the Neophyte" - $3.00

      Can you create a WORTHWHILE manual for this market? (I predict
      that the first dealer who writes a good manual on Bio-Rhythm
      will make a fortune!) If you need ideas for manuals, study the
      subjects being offered in the Astrology magazines. Remember --
      the readers are interested in those subjects! In the issue of
      ASTROLOGY - YOUR PERSONAL HOROSCOPE which I read, the following
      information articles appeared. (This is only a partial list.)

      "Yearly Forecast for Sagittarians"
      "Basic Astronomy for the Astrologers"
      "Sybil Leek Analyzes YOUR Dreams"
      "How to Make Your Dreams Pay Off"
      "How Mercury Inspires Your Creativity"

      A study of OLD Astrology magazines will provide you with a
      wealth of subjects for New Mailorder Manuals (or folios).

      ASTROLOGY (SERVICE)

      If there is one thing people who read Astrology magazines love,
      it is this . . . They LOVE TO BE ANALYZED AND COUNSELLED BY
      PROFESSIONALS. Do you have specialized training in the art of
      Horoscope Reading? If so, you can sell your services by mail.
      Here are some of the headlines form ads offering such services:

      - "Let an Expert Discuss YOUR Life!"

      - "This Horoscope is about YOU"

      - "Now . . . a serious study of YOU!"

      - "Now there is a Horoscope written for the TWO OF YOU! . . .
      One for you, one for your loved one! It could mean the
      difference between a Happy Marriage and a Painful Divorce!"

      - "1976 - 1977 - 1978! Is one of these YOUR Year of Destiny?"
      (This had been running in Astrology magazines for at least ten
      years. Every year, the advertiser simply changes the dates!

      Other services being offered in this magazine include:

      - Personal Questions Answered by Psychics and Mystics
      - Spiritual Readings
      - Tarot Readings
      - Palm Readings
      - Handwriting Analysis
      - Questions answered through Astro-Extra Sensory Perception

      Are you trained to offer such services through the mail? Or are
      you interested in receiving such training? (You will find many
      such offers to train you in a newstand magazine called FATE.)
      If you answer is Yes . . . this is where you should begin your
      mailorder career.

      The next magazine I analyzed was the November 1975 issue of
      FIELD AND STREAM. Since this magazine is aimed at two mailorder
      markets, hunters and fishermen, I analyzed only those ads
      pertaining to Hunters.

      HUNTERS (MERCHANDISE)

      Men who hunt for wild game spend a lot of money on their hobby.
      They buy top quality hunting clothes. (Who wants to go hunting
      in a CHEAP pair of jungle boots?) They spend a lot of money on
      their guns, their hunting knives, and on top quality binoculars.
      There are several dozen well-established mail order companies
      selling this kind of merchandise to hunters. If you ar planning
      to establish a one man mail order operation, you would be well
      advised not to try to compete with these companies. Instead,
      look for something unique that a hunter can USE, and begin you
      mailorder business there.

      Here are a few merchandise offerings being made by enterprising
      dealers:

      "Deer Hunter's soap" (Bathe in soap scented with the aroma of a
      female deer and you will attract a Buck. Only $1.50 per bay!)
      Notice how a smart dealer ADAPTED a commonplace item to a
      specialized market. Notice too, that he adapted it to ONLY ONE
      KIND OF HUNTER. HE DIDN'T OFFER IT TO BEAR HUNTERS, TO COON
      HUNTERS, TO QUAIL HUNTERS, OR TO GAME HUNTERS IN GENERAL. He
      offered it to deer-hunters! If you are a deer-hunter, you would
      notice that ad!"

      "Curtain rods for HUNTING Vans - $3.95 a pair." (Sure, you can
      buy curtain rods in any dime store, but not curtain rods for
      HUNTING VANS! Another excellent example of taking a commonplace
      item, adapting it to a specialized market, and creating a new
      mailorder product.

      Also offered:

      - Gun cleaning cloths (10 for a dollar)

      - Brass Nameplates for HUNTING DOGS (not for just any old dog!)

      - ID Tags for Your Hunting Dogs

      - Handwarmers and Bodywarmers (Boy, could you use these when
      you get lost in the snow!)

      - There was a small classified ad offering "Fish and Game
      Rubber Stamps." I hope this dealer got a lot of orders, but if
      he didn't, I suspect it was because his offer was too general.
      First of all, it would have sold better with an illustrated
      display ad. But even better . . . let us go back to the Virgo
      and Scorpio concept above. How about rubber stamps for Coon
      Hunters? Or for Pheasant Hunters? Or rubber stamps for
      Taxidermists? You will always get more orders if you direct
      your ad to specific people.

      HUNTING (INFORMATION)

      Frankly, I was amazed at the amount of Information Folios being
      sold to Hunters. Here are some examples:

      "How to Build Your Own Gun Cabinet"

      "Duck Calling Instructions" (30 minutes on tape!) A lot of
      information, in every field, is now being put on cassette tape
      and sold by mail. If you would rather talk than write, this
      could be an aspect of mailorder selling for you to consider.

      "Chart showing Life-size Tracks of 38 Animals in the Adirondack
      Mountains" (Incidently not all information is written. A lot
      of people buy plans, diagrams, etc. To digress, recently a
      dealer advertised plans to build your own flying saucer
      detector!)

      "How to Build Box Traps - $1.00"

      "My Secret on Coon Trapping, after 50 years. Guaranteed, $1.00"

      "Mount fish for Fun and Profit - Easy instructions - $1.00"

      "Tan Your Own Hides - Hair on or off - Complete, easy to follow
      instructions and Formulas - $1.00"

      "Build (meat, fish, sausage) smoker! Inexpensive, protable..
      .. easy plans, $1.00"

      "Wild Game and Fish Recipes - Deer, Bear, Rabbit, Trout, Salmon
      and dozens more - $1.00"


      Can you write an information manual for hunters? Can you tell
      him how to shoot ducks? Or how to hunt buffalo? . . . Or what
      to do for snake bites? . . . Or how to sign up for a Big Game
      Safari in the wilds of Africa? If you can, write a good manual
      (or put it on tape!) and sell it by mail!

      HUNTING (SERVICE)

      Unlike the readers of Astrology magazines, Game Hunters don't
      give a damn about being analyzed or counselled! But if you can
      teach his hunting dog how to chase a bear up a tree, then he
      will probably pay you for your services. Can you repair his
      gun? Or can you stuff and mount his catches? If so, you can
      build a mailorder business offering such services.

      The final publication analyzed was the WRITER'S DIGEST of
      November, 1975.

      WRITING (MERCHANDISE)

      If you are interested in the craft of writing (or if you have
      done well in creative writing classes) you might decide to build
      a mail order business catering to the needs of hundreds of
      thousands of persons who dream of becoming professional writers.
      here are some of the merchandise offerings being made to
      writers:

      - "Copyright and Related Laws for Writers"

      - "Grants and Aids to Individuals in the Arts - 1500 Sources."
      (What writer isn't looking for a grant?)

      - "I receive checks every week for features, fillers, news.
      Free details."

      - "Gagwriters Guide"

      - "Secret Way to Make Money Writing - $2.00"

      - "Make Money Writing Fillers! Up-to-Date Filler Directory."

      - "International Directory of Little Magazines and Small
      Presses."

      If you can produce an information manual showing writers how to
      write better, or how to sell their manuscripts, then write it
      and sell it by mail. You will have CREATED a new mailorder
      product! (To get ideas for subjects of interest to writers,
      study the articles in such publications as the Writers Digest,
      The Writer, Saturday Review, etc.)

      WRITERS -- (SERVICE)

      Some of the largest mailorder business in the world sell
      correspondence courses teaching people how to write for a
      living. There are also a dozen or more large printing companies
      (called "Vanity Publishers" in the trade) whose sole business is
      printing books for authors, whose works have been rejected by
      the regular publishing houses.

      If you are a serious literary person, with a gift for writing,
      you could very possibly establish a business offering your
      services to writers. Here are some of the services which were
      being offered in the November 1975 issue of Writer's Digest:

      - Literary Counseling
      - Literary Criticism
      - Literary Editing
      - Short Story Evaluation
      - Manuscript Analysis
      - Article Evaluation (No Fiction)
      - Ghost Writing
      - Newspaper and Magazine Reference Service (Authors often need
      such a service.)
      - Manuscript Typing

      Are you qualified to offer any of these services by mail? If
      you are, you have found a service to sell by mail! If you are
      not now qualified, why not acquire professional training . . .
      and then offer your services by mail?

      IN CONCLUSION

      I realize that I have just touched the surface of three
      different mail order markets. There are hundreds of other mail
      order markets for you to explore! Analyze yourself and then
      select the market that is best for you.

      Study your market thoroughly . . . AND NEVER STOP STUDYING IT.
      Most successful mailorder people read dozens of magazines every
      month. They KNOW what their customers are thinking about, what
      they need, and what they will buy.

      Successful mailorder people are interested in the NEEDS and
      WANTS of their customers FIRST. They understand that if they
      concentrate on those, profits will flow naturally. Those who
      think only of profits soon pass by the wayside.

      In the beginning of this manual, I asked you to write to every
      magazine in your chosen field. Subscribe to as many as possible.
      When you have created your first product, then start
      advertising in those magazines (which is why I said to keep
      their rate cards.) Never run an ad unless you can run it in
      three consecutive issues. Then CONTINUE running it for as long
      as it continues to produce new customers for you. Slowly add
      new (but related) items to your line. Whenever possible, expand
      your business by inserting your ads in new publications.


      Remember these simple guidelines:

      - DON'T COPY ANYONE ELSE! You are a unique individual.
      Express your own individuality in your Mail Order business.

      - CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING!

      - CREATE SOMETHING USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE!

      - CREATE SOMETHING YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BUY!

      Copyright by DeAnna Spencer 2004

      This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

    DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

    DeAnna Spencer - EzineArticles Expert Author

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      FOREX - the Psychology of Currency Trading
      As every successful Forex trader knows, it is not enough just to have the technical knowhow of the actual mechanics of trading the Forex (foreign currency exchange) market, but to recognise that to be a winner relies also on the psychology of trading – Forex requires mental discipline.While the aim is to capture as many Pips (Price Interest Points) as possible, in order to make your profit, your head needs to rule your heart in Forex trading. Don’t get carried away by the thrill and excitement of the moment! Have a plan or strategy in place before you start trading, and predetermine your exit point.Within the Forex trading experience, you will have losing trades (every Forex trader does). But the art is in knowing when to let go of these, and not hang on in the hope that they will turn around and start making money. Don’t keep lowering your stop-loss order in anticipation of an upturn in the market that may not come for some while, and don’t persist just to try and prove yourself right! Smart traders know there will always be another trade along soon. Equally, know also when to exit from profitable trades.A golden rule is always to place a stop-loss order, along with every entry order, to prevent any loss from sinking too far. Anyone who doesn’t place a stop-loss order is going to lose probably a lot of money. An acknowledged maxim is to cut your losers, but let your winners ride.Apply discipline and emotional control when trading, and follow the rules. Try not to be too greedy. While it is great to be passionate about what you do, patience can be a virtue when Forex is concerned. Don’t let your emotions hold sway, and resist the urge to gamble! Have the courage to stick with your plan and stay with the rules. Believe in yourself for that winning system.Most of all, gain an understanding of the charts, for they represent so much and are relatively easy to interpret and use. Forex trading develops strong trends, and although a more volatile market, predictability is one of the advantages of this market over others such as futures and stocks. Technical analysis is the most precise way of trading Forex, with charts showing the historical data, which over time has patterns repeating themselves, and can be used reliably for predicting future trends.The key, of course, is recognising these price patterns to know when to place orders in present-day trading. Research has shown that those who trade ‘with the trend’ improve their chances of success. Don’t cloud your mind with non-essentials such as wondering about the reasons for price movements. In other words, if the market trends show your judgement to be correct, stay with the market for the maximum gain, according to your own risk-to-profit boundaries. If the market starts to go against you, take your profits and get out.It is wise to open a demo account and to practise trading ‘on paper’ first before risking your money. If you’re unsuccessful in this, it is unlikely that you will suddenly become an expert trader in a ‘live’ account, when using your own finances adds to the pressure to succeed. Never risk more money than you can afford to lose.Having said all of the above, however, Forex trading, when good strategies are in place, is an amazing and rewarding way to make money! So why not decide to have a go today. Good luck!Penelope HousdenFor lots of free information on Forex, and to download an invaluable FREE eBook, Forex Freedom, on how to turn $300 into $30,000 in as little as 6 months, go to: www.firstclassforex.com
      or less. If you can't, go back and read it
      again. If you can, record your description under one of three
      headings in your notebook:

      - Merchandise
      - Information
      - Service

      All mailorder offerings come under one of the three headings
      listed above. If the ad was for an Aquarian Necklace, it should
      be listed under Merchandise. If it was for a treatise on Flying
      Saucers, it should be listed under Information. If it was an
      offer to chart your horoscope, it should be listed under Service.

      After you have analyzed the first ad, go on and study the next
      ad. Continue until you have thoroughly analyzed every single ad
      in the magazine, including the classifieds. When you are
      through, you will have three lists:

      - A list of Astrological Merchandise for sale
      - A list of Astrological Manuals (Information) for sale
      - A list of Astrological services for sale.

      As you read, watch for:

      UNDEVELOPED IDEAS -- Especially in older issues, you will
      find really good ideas that were, for one reason or another,
      never developed. Perhaps the originator lost interest or didn't
      have the capital to develop his idea. He may have died or he
      may have run off with a chorus girl from Las Vegas and forgotten
      all about the mail order business. If you can develop the idea,
      you have a mail order product.

      WHOLESALE SOURCES -- Watch for ads that say "Dealers Wanted"
      (in more current issues, of course). Here may be the perfect
      source of mailorder products for you.

      STUDY THE ARTICLES -- They will show you what the readers are
      interested in and they will give you clues as to what the
      readers want to buy. Remember the articles are doing two things
      -- they are printing articles about subjects which the readers
      are already interested. But they are also CREATING NEW
      INTERESTS in the minds of the readers. CAN YOU CREATE A PRODUCT
      THAT READERS WILL WANT AS A RESULT OF READING THOSE ARTICLES?

      You will be amazed at what you will discover when you read
      magazines from the viewpoint of a mailorder man!

      While researching this manuscript, I analyzed three totally
      different magazines from the viewpoint of a mailorder man. I
      would like to share some of my findings with you. Don't worry
      if the fields are different from those which interest you.
      MAILORDER PRINCIPLES ARE THE SAME FOR EVERY MARKET!

      The first magazine which I analyzed was ASTROLOGY - YOUR DAILY
      HOROSCOPE, December 1975. I would like to begin with the
      Merchandise Offerings.

      ASTROLOGY (MERCHANDISE)

      The first ad is for personalized stationary. Any mailorder man
      knows you can sell personalized stationary to any market. But
      this dealer took a commonplace product and adapted it to the
      Astrological market. Next to the name and address which he
      prints on the stationary, he prints the Astrological sun sign
      and he calls it ZODIAC STATIONARY.

      The next ad is for another very commonplace product -- soap!
      You can buy soap in any grocery store. But this soap is
      special. It has YOUR ZODIAC SIGN imprinted in it, and it lasts
      as long as the soap lasts. Here is another good example of
      adapting a commonplace product to the special interests and
      desires of your prospective customers.

      If you are now selling a product by mail and you would like to
      increase you sales, make a list of the kinds of people you would
      like to sell it to. (For example, doctors, waitresses, farmers,
      gun collectors, etc.) Then go back and ask yourself what you
      could do to your product to make it appeal to each individual
      group. You'll be amazed at how you can turn commonplace items
      into red hot mailorder sellers just by taking the time to put
      yourself in your customer's shoes for a while.

      The next merchandise offering is for "SEASHELLS FOR VIRGOS AND
      SCORPIOS". Brother, this is a fantastic idea. Had this
      advertiser offered plain old seashells in an astrology magazine,
      his mailbox would probably have been empty. Had he advertised
      "Seashells for Astrologers", he MIGHT have gotten a few orders.
      But he made his seashells special, exclusive, and very, very
      desirable, because they are only for Virgos and Scorpios. He is
      catching the attention of one reader out of every six and I
      would bet that ad was a mailorder success! Here is an idea
      worth remembering. Try to apply it to YOUR product!

      Another merchandise offering was a "Hand Bio-Rhythm Computer".
      For the past few years, Astrology magazines have been running
      article after article on the Bio-Rhythm Theory (i.e. every male
      and female person has emotional, intellectual and physical
      cycles, which can be predicted in advance). The Astrology
      magazines, in effect, have been creating a mailorder market for
      this kind of new product. The ad promises, "it reveals your
      emotional, intellectual and physical state . . . EVEN BEFORE THE
      DAY BEGINS!" This dealer was clever enough to do something
      about this new interest. If he had not studied his market, he
      could never have discovered the NEED for a Bio-Rhythm computer!

      ASTROLOGY (INFORMATION)

      People who read Astrology magazines are very interested in Love,
      Money, Success, Power, Miracles, Prayer, etc. One enterprising
      dealer has written six "personal guidance" manuals, and runs
      full page ads in Astrology magazines, selling them form $2.00 to
      $11.00 each! His ads have been running successfully for years.
      Back in 1960, when I first became interested in selling by mail,
      this dealer was running small ads in mail dealer magazines,
      selling mailorder manuals!

      Here are some of the other information manuals which dealers
      have written and are selling by mail:

      - How the Maya Indians Foretold the Future - $15.00

      - Powerful Words to Be Recited Daily to End Your Money Worries
      - $4.00

      - How to Spiritually Heal Your Pets - $5.00

      - A Manual on Etheric Astal Projection, written "especially for
      the Neophyte" - $3.00

      Can you create a WORTHWHILE manual for this market? (I predict
      that the first dealer who writes a good manual on Bio-Rhythm
      will make a fortune!) If you need ideas for manuals, study the
      subjects being offered in the Astrology magazines. Remember --
      the readers are interested in those subjects! In the issue of
      ASTROLOGY - YOUR PERSONAL HOROSCOPE which I read, the following
      information articles appeared. (This is only a partial list.)

      "Yearly Forecast for Sagittarians"
      "Basic Astronomy for the Astrologers"
      "Sybil Leek Analyzes YOUR Dreams"
      "How to Make Your Dreams Pay Off"
      "How Mercury Inspires Your Creativity"

      A study of OLD Astrology magazines will provide you with a
      wealth of subjects for New Mailorder Manuals (or folios).

      ASTROLOGY (SERVICE)

      If there is one thing people who read Astrology magazines love,
      it is this . . . They LOVE TO BE ANALYZED AND COUNSELLED BY
      PROFESSIONALS. Do you have specialized training in the art of
      Horoscope Reading? If so, you can sell your services by mail.
      Here are some of the headlines form ads offering such services:

      - "Let an Expert Discuss YOUR Life!"

      - "This Horoscope is about YOU"

      - "Now . . . a serious study of YOU!"

      - "Now there is a Horoscope written for the TWO OF YOU! . . .
      One for you, one for your loved one! It could mean the
      difference between a Happy Marriage and a Painful Divorce!"

      - "1976 - 1977 - 1978! Is one of these YOUR Year of Destiny?"
      (This had been running in Astrology magazines for at least ten
      years. Every year, the advertiser simply changes the dates!

      Other services being offered in this magazine include:

      - Personal Questions Answered by Psychics and Mystics
      - Spiritual Readings
      - Tarot Readings
      - Palm Readings
      - Handwriting Analysis
      - Questions answered through Astro-Extra Sensory Perception

      Are you trained to offer such services through the mail? Or are
      you interested in receiving such training? (You will find many
      such offers to train you in a newstand magazine called FATE.)
      If you answer is Yes . . . this is where you should begin your
      mailorder career.

      The next magazine I analyzed was the November 1975 issue of
      FIELD AND STREAM. Since this magazine is aimed at two mailorder
      markets, hunters and fishermen, I analyzed only those ads
      pertaining to Hunters.

      HUNTERS (MERCHANDISE)

      Men who hunt for wild game spend a lot of money on their hobby.
      They buy top quality hunting clothes. (Who wants to go hunting
      in a CHEAP pair of jungle boots?) They spend a lot of money on
      their guns, their hunting knives, and on top quality binoculars.
      There are several dozen well-established mail order companies
      selling this kind of merchandise to hunters. If you ar planning
      to establish a one man mail order operation, you would be well
      advised not to try to compete with these companies. Instead,
      look for something unique that a hunter can USE, and begin you
      mailorder business there.

      Here are a few merchandise offerings being made by enterprising
      dealers:

      "Deer Hunter's soap" (Bathe in soap scented with the aroma of a
      female deer and you will attract a Buck. Only $1.50 per bay!)
      Notice how a smart dealer ADAPTED a commonplace item to a
      specialized market. Notice too, that he adapted it to ONLY ONE
      KIND OF HUNTER. HE DIDN'T OFFER IT TO BEAR HUNTERS, TO COON
      HUNTERS, TO QUAIL HUNTERS, OR TO GAME HUNTERS IN GENERAL. He
      offered it to deer-hunters! If you are a deer-hunter, you would
      notice that ad!"

      "Curtain rods for HUNTING Vans - $3.95 a pair." (Sure, you can
      buy curtain rods in any dime store, but not curtain rods for
      HUNTING VANS! Another excellent example of taking a commonplace
      item, adapting it to a specialized market, and creating a new
      mailorder product.

      Also offered:

      - Gun cleaning cloths (10 for a dollar)

      - Brass Nameplates for HUNTING DOGS (not for just any old dog!)

      - ID Tags for Your Hunting Dogs

      - Handwarmers and Bodywarmers (Boy, could you use these when
      you get lost in the snow!)

      - There was a small classified ad offering "Fish and Game
      Rubber Stamps." I hope this dealer got a lot of orders, but if
      he didn't, I suspect it was because his offer was too general.
      First of all, it would have sold better with an illustrated
      display ad. But even better . . . let us go back to the Virgo
      and Scorpio concept above. How about rubber stamps for Coon
      Hunters? Or for Pheasant Hunters? Or rubber stamps for
      Taxidermists? You will always get more orders if you direct
      your ad to specific people.

      HUNTING (INFORMATION)

      Frankly, I was amazed at the amount of Information Folios being
      sold to Hunters. Here are some examples:

      "How to Build Your Own Gun Cabinet"

      "Duck Calling Instructions" (30 minutes on tape!) A lot of
      information, in every field, is now being put on cassette tape
      and sold by mail. If you would rather talk than write, this
      could be an aspect of mailorder selling for you to consider.

      "Chart showing Life-size Tracks of 38 Animals in the Adirondack
      Mountains" (Incidently not all information is written. A lot
      of people buy plans, diagrams, etc. To digress, recently a
      dealer advertised plans to build your own flying saucer
      detector!)

      "How to Build Box Traps - $1.00"

      "My Secret on Coon Trapping, after 50 years. Guaranteed, $1.00"

      "Mount fish for Fun and Profit - Easy instructions - $1.00"

      "Tan Your Own Hides - Hair on or off - Complete, easy to follow
      instructions and Formulas - $1.00"

      "Build (meat, fish, sausage) smoker! Inexpensive, protable..
      .. easy plans, $1.00"

      "Wild Game and Fish Recipes - Deer, Bear, Rabbit, Trout, Salmon
      and dozens more - $1.00"


      Can you write an information manual for hunters? Can you tell
      him how to shoot ducks? Or how to hunt buffalo? . . . Or what
      to do for snake bites? . . . Or how to sign up for a Big Game
      Safari in the wilds of Africa? If you can, write a good manual
      (or put it on tape!) and sell it by mail!

      HUNTING (SERVICE)

      Unlike the readers of Astrology magazines, Game Hunters don't
      give a damn about being analyzed or counselled! But if you can
      teach his hunting dog how to chase a bear up a tree, then he
      will probably pay you for your services. Can you repair his
      gun? Or can you stuff and mount his catches? If so, you can
      build a mailorder business offering such services.

      The final publication analyzed was the WRITER'S DIGEST of
      November, 1975.

      WRITING (MERCHANDISE)

      If you are interested in the craft of writing (or if you have
      done well in creative writing classes) you might decide to build
      a mail order business catering to the needs of hundreds of
      thousands of persons who dream of becoming professional writers.
      here are some of the merchandise offerings being made to
      writers:

      - "Copyright and Related Laws for Writers"

      - "Grants and Aids to Individuals in the Arts - 1500 Sources."
      (What writer isn't looking for a grant?)

      - "I receive checks every week for features, fillers, news.
      Free details."

      - "Gagwriters Guide"

      - "Secret Way to Make Money Writing - $2.00"

      - "Make Money Writing Fillers! Up-to-Date Filler Directory."

      - "International Directory of Little Magazines and Small
      Presses."

      If you can produce an information manual showing writers how to
      write better, or how to sell their manuscripts, then write it
      and sell it by mail. You will have CREATED a new mailorder
      product! (To get ideas for subjects of interest to writers,
      study the articles in such publications as the Writers Digest,
      The Writer, Saturday Review, etc.)

      WRITERS -- (SERVICE)

      Some of the largest mailorder business in the world sell
      correspondence courses teaching people how to write for a
      living. There are also a dozen or more large printing companies
      (called "Vanity Publishers" in the trade) whose sole business is
      printing books for authors, whose works have been rejected by
      the regular publishing houses.

      If you are a serious literary person, with a gift for writing,
      you could very possibly establish a business offering your
      services to writers. Here are some of the services which were
      being offered in the November 1975 issue of Writer's Digest:

      - Literary Counseling
      - Literary Criticism
      - Literary Editing
      - Short Story Evaluation
      - Manuscript Analysis
      - Article Evaluation (No Fiction)
      - Ghost Writing
      - Newspaper and Magazine Reference Service (Authors often need
      such a service.)
      - Manuscript Typing

      Are you qualified to offer any of these services by mail? If
      you are, you have found a service to sell by mail! If you are
      not now qualified, why not acquire professional training . . .
      and then offer your services by mail?

      IN CONCLUSION

      I realize that I have just touched the surface of three
      different mail order markets. There are hundreds of other mail
      order markets for you to explore! Analyze yourself and then
      select the market that is best for you.

      Study your market thoroughly . . . AND NEVER STOP STUDYING IT.
      Most successful mailorder people read dozens of magazines every
      month. They KNOW what their customers are thinking about, what
      they need, and what they will buy.

      Successful mailorder people are interested in the NEEDS and
      WANTS of their customers FIRST. They understand that if they
      concentrate on those, profits will flow naturally. Those who
      think only of profits soon pass by the wayside.

      In the beginning of this manual, I asked you to write to every
      magazine in your chosen field. Subscribe to as many as possible.
      When you have created your first product, then start
      advertising in those magazines (which is why I said to keep
      their rate cards.) Never run an ad unless you can run it in
      three consecutive issues. Then CONTINUE running it for as long
      as it continues to produce new customers for you. Slowly add
      new (but related) items to your line. Whenever possible, expand
      your business by inserting your ads in new publications.


      Remember these simple guidelines:

      - DON'T COPY ANYONE ELSE! You are a unique individual.
      Express your own individuality in your Mail Order business.

      - CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING!

      - CREATE SOMETHING USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE!

      - CREATE SOMETHING YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BUY!

      Copyright by DeAnna Spencer 2004

      This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

    DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

    DeAnna Spencer - EzineArticles Expert Author

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      How to Get 10%+ Conversion Rates and Inceased Profits by Simply Breaking Even: Part 1
      It's becoming common knowledge the next big thing in Internet Marketing is video. Already many internet marketers have started doing this and there conversion rates are jumping from 2% to over 10%. So what exactly are they doing with these videos? Putting it simply they are replacing the written testimonial with video testimonials.Which would convince you to buy more?1) A testimonial in a big yellow box written by someone you don’t know, telling you how great the ebook is and how much they have earnedOr2) A video created by the Publisher, showing you invoices of how much he/she earned by using the methods outlined in the ebook.It’s obvious that the conversion will be much higher for number 2).With this high conversion rate we can increase product price by 50% and increase profits further. This is the power of video. The big boys are already doing this, its easy for them, they have made huge sales with there products. So they simple get their clickbank or paypal receipts and demonstrate them on video. But the small fish can’t do this because they haven’t made the sales so they can’t prove on video how much they’ve made, which effectively won’t allow them to increase their conversion rates. Well there is a simple way they can do this and it’s all about breaking even.The key ingredient in all this is, psychologically customers do not think of cost. If you have a video showing your clickbank receipts, all the potential customer is seeing is how much you’ve made. If you produced a clickbank cheque worth 8,000 for the month of May, the customer automatically assumes you made $8,000 profit selling your product. Roughly 80% will never stop and think that you spent $7,000 on costs to promote your ebook. They will see what they want to see, $8,000 in product sales. If a potential customer can see exactly how much you have earned using your product it will give him the confidence to do so and ultimately lead to purchasing the product.In part 2, I will show exactly how you can make huge sales numbers, blast your conversion rates over 10% by breaking even and producing videos.
      ccessfully for years.
      Back in 1960, when I first became interested in selling by mail,
      this dealer was running small ads in mail dealer magazines,
      selling mailorder manuals!

      Here are some of the other information manuals which dealers
      have written and are selling by mail:

      - How the Maya Indians Foretold the Future - $15.00

      - Powerful Words to Be Recited Daily to End Your Money Worries
      - $4.00

      - How to Spiritually Heal Your Pets - $5.00

      - A Manual on Etheric Astal Projection, written "especially for
      the Neophyte" - $3.00

      Can you create a WORTHWHILE manual for this market? (I predict
      that the first dealer who writes a good manual on Bio-Rhythm
      will make a fortune!) If you need ideas for manuals, study the
      subjects being offered in the Astrology magazines. Remember --
      the readers are interested in those subjects! In the issue of
      ASTROLOGY - YOUR PERSONAL HOROSCOPE which I read, the following
      information articles appeared. (This is only a partial list.)

      "Yearly Forecast for Sagittarians"
      "Basic Astronomy for the Astrologers"
      "Sybil Leek Analyzes YOUR Dreams"
      "How to Make Your Dreams Pay Off"
      "How Mercury Inspires Your Creativity"

      A study of OLD Astrology magazines will provide you with a
      wealth of subjects for New Mailorder Manuals (or folios).

      ASTROLOGY (SERVICE)

      If there is one thing people who read Astrology magazines love,
      it is this . . . They LOVE TO BE ANALYZED AND COUNSELLED BY
      PROFESSIONALS. Do you have specialized training in the art of
      Horoscope Reading? If so, you can sell your services by mail.
      Here are some of the headlines form ads offering such services:

      - "Let an Expert Discuss YOUR Life!"

      - "This Horoscope is about YOU"

      - "Now . . . a serious study of YOU!"

      - "Now there is a Horoscope written for the TWO OF YOU! . . .
      One for you, one for your loved one! It could mean the
      difference between a Happy Marriage and a Painful Divorce!"

      - "1976 - 1977 - 1978! Is one of these YOUR Year of Destiny?"
      (This had been running in Astrology magazines for at least ten
      years. Every year, the advertiser simply changes the dates!

      Other services being offered in this magazine include:

      - Personal Questions Answered by Psychics and Mystics
      - Spiritual Readings
      - Tarot Readings
      - Palm Readings
      - Handwriting Analysis
      - Questions answered through Astro-Extra Sensory Perception

      Are you trained to offer such services through the mail? Or are
      you interested in receiving such training? (You will find many
      such offers to train you in a newstand magazine called FATE.)
      If you answer is Yes . . . this is where you should begin your
      mailorder career.

      The next magazine I analyzed was the November 1975 issue of
      FIELD AND STREAM. Since this magazine is aimed at two mailorder
      markets, hunters and fishermen, I analyzed only those ads
      pertaining to Hunters.

      HUNTERS (MERCHANDISE)

      Men who hunt for wild game spend a lot of money on their hobby.
      They buy top quality hunting clothes. (Who wants to go hunting
      in a CHEAP pair of jungle boots?) They spend a lot of money on
      their guns, their hunting knives, and on top quality binoculars.
      There are several dozen well-established mail order companies
      selling this kind of merchandise to hunters. If you ar planning
      to establish a one man mail order operation, you would be well
      advised not to try to compete with these companies. Instead,
      look for something unique that a hunter can USE, and begin you
      mailorder business there.

      Here are a few merchandise offerings being made by enterprising
      dealers:

      "Deer Hunter's soap" (Bathe in soap scented with the aroma of a
      female deer and you will attract a Buck. Only $1.50 per bay!)
      Notice how a smart dealer ADAPTED a commonplace item to a
      specialized market. Notice too, that he adapted it to ONLY ONE
      KIND OF HUNTER. HE DIDN'T OFFER IT TO BEAR HUNTERS, TO COON
      HUNTERS, TO QUAIL HUNTERS, OR TO GAME HUNTERS IN GENERAL. He
      offered it to deer-hunters! If you are a deer-hunter, you would
      notice that ad!"

      "Curtain rods for HUNTING Vans - $3.95 a pair." (Sure, you can
      buy curtain rods in any dime store, but not curtain rods for
      HUNTING VANS! Another excellent example of taking a commonplace
      item, adapting it to a specialized market, and creating a new
      mailorder product.

      Also offered:

      - Gun cleaning cloths (10 for a dollar)

      - Brass Nameplates for HUNTING DOGS (not for just any old dog!)

      - ID Tags for Your Hunting Dogs

      - Handwarmers and Bodywarmers (Boy, could you use these when
      you get lost in the snow!)

      - There was a small classified ad offering "Fish and Game
      Rubber Stamps." I hope this dealer got a lot of orders, but if
      he didn't, I suspect it was because his offer was too general.
      First of all, it would have sold better with an illustrated
      display ad. But even better . . . let us go back to the Virgo
      and Scorpio concept above. How about rubber stamps for Coon
      Hunters? Or for Pheasant Hunters? Or rubber stamps for
      Taxidermists? You will always get more orders if you direct
      your ad to specific people.

      HUNTING (INFORMATION)

      Frankly, I was amazed at the amount of Information Folios being
      sold to Hunters. Here are some examples:

      "How to Build Your Own Gun Cabinet"

      "Duck Calling Instructions" (30 minutes on tape!) A lot of
      information, in every field, is now being put on cassette tape
      and sold by mail. If you would rather talk than write, this
      could be an aspect of mailorder selling for you to consider.

      "Chart showing Life-size Tracks of 38 Animals in the Adirondack
      Mountains" (Incidently not all information is written. A lot
      of people buy plans, diagrams, etc. To digress, recently a
      dealer advertised plans to build your own flying saucer
      detector!)

      "How to Build Box Traps - $1.00"

      "My Secret on Coon Trapping, after 50 years. Guaranteed, $1.00"

      "Mount fish for Fun and Profit - Easy instructions - $1.00"

      "Tan Your Own Hides - Hair on or off - Complete, easy to follow
      instructions and Formulas - $1.00"

      "Build (meat, fish, sausage) smoker! Inexpensive, protable..
      .. easy plans, $1.00"

      "Wild Game and Fish Recipes - Deer, Bear, Rabbit, Trout, Salmon
      and dozens more - $1.00"


      Can you write an information manual for hunters? Can you tell
      him how to shoot ducks? Or how to hunt buffalo? . . . Or what
      to do for snake bites? . . . Or how to sign up for a Big Game
      Safari in the wilds of Africa? If you can, write a good manual
      (or put it on tape!) and sell it by mail!

      HUNTING (SERVICE)

      Unlike the readers of Astrology magazines, Game Hunters don't
      give a damn about being analyzed or counselled! But if you can
      teach his hunting dog how to chase a bear up a tree, then he
      will probably pay you for your services. Can you repair his
      gun? Or can you stuff and mount his catches? If so, you can
      build a mailorder business offering such services.

      The final publication analyzed was the WRITER'S DIGEST of
      November, 1975.

      WRITING (MERCHANDISE)

      If you are interested in the craft of writing (or if you have
      done well in creative writing classes) you might decide to build
      a mail order business catering to the needs of hundreds of
      thousands of persons who dream of becoming professional writers.
      here are some of the merchandise offerings being made to
      writers:

      - "Copyright and Related Laws for Writers"

      - "Grants and Aids to Individuals in the Arts - 1500 Sources."
      (What writer isn't looking for a grant?)

      - "I receive checks every week for features, fillers, news.
      Free details."

      - "Gagwriters Guide"

      - "Secret Way to Make Money Writing - $2.00"

      - "Make Money Writing Fillers! Up-to-Date Filler Directory."

      - "International Directory of Little Magazines and Small
      Presses."

      If you can produce an information manual showing writers how to
      write better, or how to sell their manuscripts, then write it
      and sell it by mail. You will have CREATED a new mailorder
      product! (To get ideas for subjects of interest to writers,
      study the articles in such publications as the Writers Digest,
      The Writer, Saturday Review, etc.)

      WRITERS -- (SERVICE)

      Some of the largest mailorder business in the world sell
      correspondence courses teaching people how to write for a
      living. There are also a dozen or more large printing companies
      (called "Vanity Publishers" in the trade) whose sole business is
      printing books for authors, whose works have been rejected by
      the regular publishing houses.

      If you are a serious literary person, with a gift for writing,
      you could very possibly establish a business offering your
      services to writers. Here are some of the services which were
      being offered in the November 1975 issue of Writer's Digest:

      - Literary Counseling
      - Literary Criticism
      - Literary Editing
      - Short Story Evaluation
      - Manuscript Analysis
      - Article Evaluation (No Fiction)
      - Ghost Writing
      - Newspaper and Magazine Reference Service (Authors often need
      such a service.)
      - Manuscript Typing

      Are you qualified to offer any of these services by mail? If
      you are, you have found a service to sell by mail! If you are
      not now qualified, why not acquire professional training . . .
      and then offer your services by mail?

      IN CONCLUSION

      I realize that I have just touched the surface of three
      different mail order markets. There are hundreds of other mail
      order markets for you to explore! Analyze yourself and then
      select the market that is best for you.

      Study your market thoroughly . . . AND NEVER STOP STUDYING IT.
      Most successful mailorder people read dozens of magazines every
      month. They KNOW what their customers are thinking about, what
      they need, and what they will buy.

      Successful mailorder people are interested in the NEEDS and
      WANTS of their customers FIRST. They understand that if they
      concentrate on those, profits will flow naturally. Those who
      think only of profits soon pass by the wayside.

      In the beginning of this manual, I asked you to write to every
      magazine in your chosen field. Subscribe to as many as possible.
      When you have created your first product, then start
      advertising in those magazines (which is why I said to keep
      their rate cards.) Never run an ad unless you can run it in
      three consecutive issues. Then CONTINUE running it for as long
      as it continues to produce new customers for you. Slowly add
      new (but related) items to your line. Whenever possible, expand
      your business by inserting your ads in new publications.


      Remember these simple guidelines:

      - DON'T COPY ANYONE ELSE! You are a unique individual.
      Express your own individuality in your Mail Order business.

      - CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING!

      - CREATE SOMETHING USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE!

      - CREATE SOMETHING YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BUY!

      Copyright by DeAnna Spencer 2004

      This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

    DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

    DeAnna Spencer - EzineArticles Expert Author

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      When Networking, Little Things Can Count as Big Things, Too
      With networking, you don’t always have to help people in a significant way (like finding them a job or helping them make a sale). In reality, people also appreciate little acts of kindness (like making them feel good about themselves, opening doors and paying for meals).While these details may seem trivial to you, they are important factors on how people perceive you and your networking style. Pay attention to how you interact with others because you want to make a good impression. Over time, these acts of good behavior will be second nature to you (unless they already are).Make People Feel Good About ThemselvesWhen talking with people, make sure to let them know that you are genuinely interested in the conversation. Give them cues that you’re a good listener by having good eye contact, smiling and asking questions.By showing a sign of interest, people will feel that you care and have a good impression of you. In return, most people should also show interest in what you have to say.In addition, validate their feelings by trying to understand their situations. By doing so, people will feel comfortable talking with you and will perceive you as a good conversationalist.Make sure to congratulate or compliment others when something positive happens to them. By going out of your way to do this, people will appreciate your thoughtfulness and will remember you.When introducing people to others, make sure your introductions include nice comments about these people. By portraying these individuals in a positive manner, they will appreciate you and feel good about themselves.While it seems like this is an obvious way to introduce people, many people don’t act this way. Make sure to spend time getting to know people by showing an interest in what they have to say. When you introduce them to others, you will have some positive information to share.Exercise Good MannersThough having good manners usually goes without saying, some people need to be reminded in certain situations. Pay attention to how you interact with others in various circumstances.When walking in and out of buildings, make sure to open doors for other people. People often forget to do this. Make this a regular habit. It will show others that you have good manners (even if they insist on opening doors for you instead).When dining or having drinks with others, offer to pay the entire bill (especially if you invited the person). People will often insist on splitting, which is just fine. So long as you make the gesture, you are showing good manners.If someone asks if would like coffee or water during meetings or even interviews, always accept. Even if you don’t want anything to drink or if don’t like coffee, it’s still important to take the drink because you’re showing respect to the person who is being a good host.Remember BirthdaysWhen you meet people, try to find out important dates in their lives (such as birthdays). Make sure to immediately record this information in your calendar so you won’t forget these dates.When it’s someone’s birthday, send this person an e-mail, call them on the phone or mail a card. Whatever you decide to do, it will show that you were thinking about this person.Most people won’t expect you to remember their birthday. Doing so will often surprise them. You will stand out by making the effort to acknowledge people on their birthdays.By remembering details like birthdays, you’re showing that you genuinely care about others and take an interest in their lives. With networking, building relationships is everything.Think About OthersOther than remembering birthdays, you should always be thinking about ways to connect with others. Contact people when you come across something that may interest them.Let your contacts know about important items
      P>

      "Duck Calling Instructions" (30 minutes on tape!) A lot of
      information, in every field, is now being put on cassette tape
      and sold by mail. If you would rather talk than write, this
      could be an aspect of mailorder selling for you to consider.

      "Chart showing Life-size Tracks of 38 Animals in the Adirondack
      Mountains" (Incidently not all information is written. A lot
      of people buy plans, diagrams, etc. To digress, recently a
      dealer advertised plans to build your own flying saucer
      detector!)

      "How to Build Box Traps - $1.00"

      "My Secret on Coon Trapping, after 50 years. Guaranteed, $1.00"

      "Mount fish for Fun and Profit - Easy instructions - $1.00"

      "Tan Your Own Hides - Hair on or off - Complete, easy to follow
      instructions and Formulas - $1.00"

      "Build (meat, fish, sausage) smoker! Inexpensive, protable..
      .. easy plans, $1.00"

      "Wild Game and Fish Recipes - Deer, Bear, Rabbit, Trout, Salmon
      and dozens more - $1.00"


      Can you write an information manual for hunters? Can you tell
      him how to shoot ducks? Or how to hunt buffalo? . . . Or what
      to do for snake bites? . . . Or how to sign up for a Big Game
      Safari in the wilds of Africa? If you can, write a good manual
      (or put it on tape!) and sell it by mail!

      HUNTING (SERVICE)

      Unlike the readers of Astrology magazines, Game Hunters don't
      give a damn about being analyzed or counselled! But if you can
      teach his hunting dog how to chase a bear up a tree, then he
      will probably pay you for your services. Can you repair his
      gun? Or can you stuff and mount his catches? If so, you can
      build a mailorder business offering such services.

      The final publication analyzed was the WRITER'S DIGEST of
      November, 1975.

      WRITING (MERCHANDISE)

      If you are interested in the craft of writing (or if you have
      done well in creative writing classes) you might decide to build
      a mail order business catering to the needs of hundreds of
      thousands of persons who dream of becoming professional writers.
      here are some of the merchandise offerings being made to
      writers:

      - "Copyright and Related Laws for Writers"

      - "Grants and Aids to Individuals in the Arts - 1500 Sources."
      (What writer isn't looking for a grant?)

      - "I receive checks every week for features, fillers, news.
      Free details."

      - "Gagwriters Guide"

      - "Secret Way to Make Money Writing - $2.00"

      - "Make Money Writing Fillers! Up-to-Date Filler Directory."

      - "International Directory of Little Magazines and Small
      Presses."

      If you can produce an information manual showing writers how to
      write better, or how to sell their manuscripts, then write it
      and sell it by mail. You will have CREATED a new mailorder
      product! (To get ideas for subjects of interest to writers,
      study the articles in such publications as the Writers Digest,
      The Writer, Saturday Review, etc.)

      WRITERS -- (SERVICE)

      Some of the largest mailorder business in the world sell
      correspondence courses teaching people how to write for a
      living. There are also a dozen or more large printing companies
      (called "Vanity Publishers" in the trade) whose sole business is
      printing books for authors, whose works have been rejected by
      the regular publishing houses.

      If you are a serious literary person, with a gift for writing,
      you could very possibly establish a business offering your
      services to writers. Here are some of the services which were
      being offered in the November 1975 issue of Writer's Digest:

      - Literary Counseling
      - Literary Criticism
      - Literary Editing
      - Short Story Evaluation
      - Manuscript Analysis
      - Article Evaluation (No Fiction)
      - Ghost Writing
      - Newspaper and Magazine Reference Service (Authors often need
      such a service.)
      - Manuscript Typing

      Are you qualified to offer any of these services by mail? If
      you are, you have found a service to sell by mail! If you are
      not now qualified, why not acquire professional training . . .
      and then offer your services by mail?

      IN CONCLUSION

      I realize that I have just touched the surface of three
      different mail order markets. There are hundreds of other mail
      order markets for you to explore! Analyze yourself and then
      select the market that is best for you.

      Study your market thoroughly . . . AND NEVER STOP STUDYING IT.
      Most successful mailorder people read dozens of magazines every
      month. They KNOW what their customers are thinking about, what
      they need, and what they will buy.

      Successful mailorder people are interested in the NEEDS and
      WANTS of their customers FIRST. They understand that if they
      concentrate on those, profits will flow naturally. Those who
      think only of profits soon pass by the wayside.

      In the beginning of this manual, I asked you to write to every
      magazine in your chosen field. Subscribe to as many as possible.
      When you have created your first product, then start
      advertising in those magazines (which is why I said to keep
      their rate cards.) Never run an ad unless you can run it in
      three consecutive issues. Then CONTINUE running it for as long
      as it continues to produce new customers for you. Slowly add
      new (but related) items to your line. Whenever possible, expand
      your business by inserting your ads in new publications.


      Remember these simple guidelines:

      - DON'T COPY ANYONE ELSE! You are a unique individual.
      Express your own individuality in your Mail Order business.

      - CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING!

      - CREATE SOMETHING USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE!

      - CREATE SOMETHING YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BUY!

      Copyright by DeAnna Spencer 2004

      This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

    DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

    DeAnna Spencer - EzineArticles Expert Author

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    Most Viewed EzineArticles in the Home-Based-Business: Category

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    2. Online Proofreading Jobs
    3. How to Start A House Cleaning Business In 7 Simple Steps
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    5. How to Start Greeting Cards Home Business
    6. How to Become an Event Planner
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      5 Tips For Increased Website Traffic
      There are lots of ways to get traffic to your website however most people are interested in getting the most traffic for the least amount of money, preferably for free.While it's difficult to get anything for free nowadays there are still a few good ways to help build your web traffic and still pay nothing.1. Build a second content-rich website.Because content is king on the internet many have adopted the idea of building a content-rich site in addition to their original sales site.If you set up your title, description and keyword tags carefully and find a good balance for your keyword saturation, you may be better able to achieve high search engine rankings with a site that contains only good content and information.Once you have built your content-rich site you can then use the content to point your viewers to your sales site.2. Add an article page to your existing site.By adding article pages to your web site you can once again point your readers to your sales page.For example, let's say you have a website that sells vitamins. Set up a few article pages that reference vitamins such as a page on the benefits of vitamins, how to take vitamins, the effects of vitamins, etc. Allow each of the articles to reference links to your sales page.This can be a very effective sales tactic because you've attracted the attention of someone interested in your topic. If they read your article and like what they've read they're more apt to check out your links and you've increased your chances of making a sale.Also, with proper meta tags and keyword usage, an article page is much more likely to make it to the top of a search engine listing than a sales page.3. Submit your articlesAny articles that you write should be submitted to as many sites that accept articles as possible. This is important because sites that accept and include your articles in their article banks establish links for you and you are not obligated to reciprocate.4. Build your links through reciprocal linkingBy establishing reciprocal links you are verifying to the search engines that you have credibility. If high ranking sites link to your site then the search engines will find you worthy of high ranking as well.Find sites that rank well and request a link exchange. This can be done manually or you can purchase linking programs that will automate this for you. Either way spend a few weeks focusing on creating quality links and you will soon see your link ratings go up as well.5. Join and participate in online forums.The internet is full of discussion forums that cover hundreds of business and non-business topics.Find a forum in your topic and look over the discussions. Ask questions, contribute your expertise and get to know some of the forum members. This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet others and introduct your website. It also helps build trust while helping you learn how others have found success.
      >

      - DON'T COPY ANYONE ELSE! You are a unique individual.
      Express your own individuality in your Mail Order business.

      - CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING!

      - CREATE SOMETHING USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE!

      - CREATE SOMETHING YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BUY!

      Copyright by DeAnna Spencer 2004

      This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

    DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

    DeAnna Spencer - EzineArticles Expert Author

    Other Recent EzineArticles from the Home-Based-Business: Category:

     

     

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