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    Entrepreneurialism - The Power of a Decision
    I have heard it so many times from so many successful people, "I made the decision and that’s when everything changed". Then they go on to tell us how they made millions of dollars in business, their car never breaks down, their dog was healed from cancer, their pet rat survived a week in the sewer, and basically everything in their lives is perfect.Yet you sit there in your easy chair with nothing but debt, and a J-O-B that is one step below misery and torture. You can’t tell what went "wrong", or when it happened, but you know that "wrong" is definitely alive and well in your home. If you don’t figure something out soon, you may need to move in with the in-laws. Your spouse keeps telling you to “make a decision”… there’s that word again… DECISION.You ask yourself, "What is this decision"? You would make the decision, if you knew what it was. The one thing that you have done is “decided” that you need more money.Well, I feel for you, and I know where you are coming from. I have been there too. Fortunately, I made the DECISION to get out of my own way. Quite often the biggest problem is that we can’t get out of our way to take action. Humans seem to be lazy by nature. If a person would simply take action, even if
    rochures can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Because there are so many variables involved in producing a brochure such as quality of paper, number of ink colors, use of photographs, number of brochures printed, etc., it is difficult to estimate the final costs until all the specifications are determined.

    Four color process printing, varnishing and special treatments such die-cutting, foil stamping can add additional costs to producing a brochure, and may well be worth it if they enhance your brochure and the image you wish to project. Other cost considerations are whether you need professional photography, help with writing or editing copy for your brochure.

    Even if you don't know all the details of your brochure when getting started, it's a good idea to create a budget. Start with determining how many brochures you will need to use during the next twelve months including mailings and sales meetings. If you have seen a brochure with a similar amount of information and photographs as you need for your brochure, a designer can use it as a model

    Returnable Plastic Packaging: Thermoformed Plastic Trays and Pallets - 10 Money Saving Tips
    Heavy gauge thermoforming is as much a staple to the returnable plastic packaging industry as Chevy is to General Motors. It's always been there, not known for its cutting edge design but more because it is solid, durable, and dependable. Thermoforming plastic trays and pallets can also be misunderstood. It remains one of the longest lasting and reasonably priced returnable packaging products available yet customers are reluctant to try it. Why?Research has shown that many people assume plastic trays and pallets made via heavy gauge thermoforming have the same high priced tooling as injection molding. Further, many folks are convinced the tooling takes just as long to produce. This is not true. Returnable plastic trays and pallets come with a moderate tooling charge (usually less than $7500) and can be made in 4 weeks or less, depending on the design.Here are 10 tips regarding thermoformed plastic trays and pallets your salesman would rather you not know about:1. Provide the actual product you need packaged to your supplier. This allows the supplier to see, touch, and feel the product and design the plastic tray or plastic pallet accordingly. You’ll get a better initial design and a firmer price quote.
    Why go low tech?

    Today, in the age of E-Mail, multi-media presentations and the Internet, it's easy to assume that a website can take the place of a printed brochure. Printers today are producing more printed marketing materials than ever. In fact, with people spending so much time in front of computer screen, going through the mail or reading printed materials can be a welcome diversion—and an opportunity for you.

    Let's face it, letters take a lot of effort to read through and there are usually no graphics beyond the sender's logo and signature to break up the blocks of copy. A cover letter sent to prospects or handing out a business card to a potential client can make a quick impression, but these two marketing vehicles can only present only a small fraction of information about your business. Meeting prospective clients face-to-face takes time and effort, and sometimes you need a creative way to introduce yourself and your company.

    Brochures are a great way to package and deliver a lot of information about yourself, your business and expertise into a format that is easily mailed or handed out at a business meeting. Brochures can be given to current clients to pass on to possible referrals or even left in brochure holders in different locations.

    What is a brochure, exactly?
    Brochures range from a simple two-fold design using one sheet of 8-1/2 inch x 11 inch paper to elaborate 9 x 12 inch pocket folders with pages stitched in and insert sheets. There is one standard size or configuration, but over the years several sizes have emerged, either to fit mail envelopes or to fit printing presses.

    Good brochure design involves not simply producing an expensive-looking, flashy design, but a careful analysis of your target market, what level of sophistication is needed and consideration of your market niche in order to make a great first impression. And, last but certainly not least, your brochure should leave a potential client with something he or she is hesitant to throw away.

    Getting started
    If you have never created a brochure before, start by collecting a number of brochures (including competitors') that represent a wide range of quality—from simple one and two-color on textured stock to slick 4-color glossy brochures.

    By asking yourself what it is that makes a brochure attractive and effective to you, it will be easier to make a brochure for your own business which will convey the message and level of sophistication you require.

    Next, you will need to create some basic brochure copy about your business. Even if you're not a professional writer, putting some thoughts and facts about what your business does on paper will help make more concrete what information your brochure needs to convey.

    When writing copy ask yourself:

    • Is my company an industry leader?
    • Does my company have a market niche?
    • What distinguishes my company from my competitor?
    • Do we offer better value, service or selection of products?
    • Do we have anything new or different to promote?

    Questions to ask yourself should include:

    • Who is your target audience?
    • What message will get a potential client's attention?
    • What kinds of brochures and what level of sophistication are typically crossing your client's desk?
    • Does your product or service require photographs or illustrations to help convey your message?
    • Will the brochure need to be a self-mailer?

    Key information to include in your brochure:

    • Mailing address.
    • Phone number (and 800 number if you have one).
    • Fax number.
    • E-Mail address.
    • Website address.

    Be sure not to include in your brochure any information which is subject to changing in the next 12 months or so. Also, be wary of using a specific person's name as a contact person unless he or she is someone you know isn't going to leave in the next year. The same goes for printing photographs of people. There's no sense in spending several thousand dollars to create a brochure only to have it become out of date because someone leaves the company.

    What does a brochure cost to produce?
    Brochures can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Because there are so many variables involved in producing a brochure such as quality of paper, number of ink colors, use of photographs, number of brochures printed, etc., it is difficult to estimate the final costs until all the specifications are determined.

    Four color process printing, varnishing and special treatments such die-cutting, foil stamping can add additional costs to producing a brochure, and may well be worth it if they enhance your brochure and the image you wish to project. Other cost considerations are whether you need professional photography, help with writing or editing copy for your brochure.

    Even if you don't know all the details of your brochure when getting started, it's a good idea to create a budget. Start with determining how many brochures you will need to use during the next twelve months including mailings and sales meetings. If you have seen a brochure with a similar amount of information and photographs as you need for your brochure, a designer can use it as a model

    The People are the Brand
    While on the road delivering seminars, I stopped at a large restaurant chain for breakfast. Some of their employees were on break eating the competitor’s food at a very centrally located table. EVERY guest that was entering, leaving, refilling a soda, or placing an order saw an employee of this restaurant eating out of a bag adorned with a competitor’s logo. What kind of message does that send?Having worked 18 years for a chain restaurant, I understand how people can grow tired of their company’s food and need a change of pace—no argument there. The startling revelation was the fact that the manager was oblivious to the message his employees were sending to the arriving guests—nothing like advertising for the competitor within your own restaurant! At the very least, the employees should have eaten their meals in the back of the restaurant after discarding the competitor’s bags.Marketing is focused on brand impressions—how many people see your message. While restaurants work long and hard creating a brand, all that work can easily be undone by the actions of employees. Imagine how many brand impressions are created by thousands of guests interacting with your people, product, and facilities every day in every u
    t that is easily mailed or handed out at a business meeting. Brochures can be given to current clients to pass on to possible referrals or even left in brochure holders in different locations.

    What is a brochure, exactly?
    Brochures range from a simple two-fold design using one sheet of 8-1/2 inch x 11 inch paper to elaborate 9 x 12 inch pocket folders with pages stitched in and insert sheets. There is one standard size or configuration, but over the years several sizes have emerged, either to fit mail envelopes or to fit printing presses.

    Good brochure design involves not simply producing an expensive-looking, flashy design, but a careful analysis of your target market, what level of sophistication is needed and consideration of your market niche in order to make a great first impression. And, last but certainly not least, your brochure should leave a potential client with something he or she is hesitant to throw away.

    Getting started
    If you have never created a brochure before, start by collecting a number of brochures (including competitors') that represent a wide range of quality—from simple one and two-color on textured stock to slick 4-color glossy brochures.

    By asking yourself what it is that makes a brochure attractive and effective to you, it will be easier to make a brochure for your own business which will convey the message and level of sophistication you require.

    Next, you will need to create some basic brochure copy about your business. Even if you're not a professional writer, putting some thoughts and facts about what your business does on paper will help make more concrete what information your brochure needs to convey.

    When writing copy ask yourself:

    • Is my company an industry leader?
    • Does my company have a market niche?
    • What distinguishes my company from my competitor?
    • Do we offer better value, service or selection of products?
    • Do we have anything new or different to promote?

    Questions to ask yourself should include:

    • Who is your target audience?
    • What message will get a potential client's attention?
    • What kinds of brochures and what level of sophistication are typically crossing your client's desk?
    • Does your product or service require photographs or illustrations to help convey your message?
    • Will the brochure need to be a self-mailer?

    Key information to include in your brochure:

    • Mailing address.
    • Phone number (and 800 number if you have one).
    • Fax number.
    • E-Mail address.
    • Website address.

    Be sure not to include in your brochure any information which is subject to changing in the next 12 months or so. Also, be wary of using a specific person's name as a contact person unless he or she is someone you know isn't going to leave in the next year. The same goes for printing photographs of people. There's no sense in spending several thousand dollars to create a brochure only to have it become out of date because someone leaves the company.

    What does a brochure cost to produce?
    Brochures can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Because there are so many variables involved in producing a brochure such as quality of paper, number of ink colors, use of photographs, number of brochures printed, etc., it is difficult to estimate the final costs until all the specifications are determined.

    Four color process printing, varnishing and special treatments such die-cutting, foil stamping can add additional costs to producing a brochure, and may well be worth it if they enhance your brochure and the image you wish to project. Other cost considerations are whether you need professional photography, help with writing or editing copy for your brochure.

    Even if you don't know all the details of your brochure when getting started, it's a good idea to create a budget. Start with determining how many brochures you will need to use during the next twelve months including mailings and sales meetings. If you have seen a brochure with a similar amount of information and photographs as you need for your brochure, a designer can use it as a model

    Words Of Wisdom From A Top Network Marketer!
    Copyright (c) 2007 Bruce SeahWords of wisdom from a top network marketer! There are no secrets to success in network marketing or multi-level marketing( MLM). Seek and you shall find! To be successful you must learn from those who are successful and model after them, think like them and do what they are doing!Being a top network marketer I have the opportunity to attend international conventions and learn from many successful entrepreneurs, business consultants and top network marketers who went on stage to share their inspirational stories and words of wisdom!A mentor shared with me this Chinese saying: "Wise man do not drink from poison well twice!" Learn from your mistakes and do not commit the same mistake!Thousands of people have joined the wrong company because they didn't do their due diligence or seek advice from a top network marketer who will be able to teach them how to identify a good company. If 5 persons tell you that is a horse, get on it and ride it!You may be a good horse rider but you can't go far if you are riding a sick horse! Learn how to choose the right horse. Choosing the right company is critical to your success.Be willing to fail your way to success! Many top network m
    that represent a wide range of quality—from simple one and two-color on textured stock to slick 4-color glossy brochures.

    By asking yourself what it is that makes a brochure attractive and effective to you, it will be easier to make a brochure for your own business which will convey the message and level of sophistication you require.

    Next, you will need to create some basic brochure copy about your business. Even if you're not a professional writer, putting some thoughts and facts about what your business does on paper will help make more concrete what information your brochure needs to convey.

    When writing copy ask yourself:

    • Is my company an industry leader?
    • Does my company have a market niche?
    • What distinguishes my company from my competitor?
    • Do we offer better value, service or selection of products?
    • Do we have anything new or different to promote?

    Questions to ask yourself should include:

    • Who is your target audience?
    • What message will get a potential client's attention?
    • What kinds of brochures and what level of sophistication are typically crossing your client's desk?
    • Does your product or service require photographs or illustrations to help convey your message?
    • Will the brochure need to be a self-mailer?

    Key information to include in your brochure:

    • Mailing address.
    • Phone number (and 800 number if you have one).
    • Fax number.
    • E-Mail address.
    • Website address.

    Be sure not to include in your brochure any information which is subject to changing in the next 12 months or so. Also, be wary of using a specific person's name as a contact person unless he or she is someone you know isn't going to leave in the next year. The same goes for printing photographs of people. There's no sense in spending several thousand dollars to create a brochure only to have it become out of date because someone leaves the company.

    What does a brochure cost to produce?
    Brochures can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Because there are so many variables involved in producing a brochure such as quality of paper, number of ink colors, use of photographs, number of brochures printed, etc., it is difficult to estimate the final costs until all the specifications are determined.

    Four color process printing, varnishing and special treatments such die-cutting, foil stamping can add additional costs to producing a brochure, and may well be worth it if they enhance your brochure and the image you wish to project. Other cost considerations are whether you need professional photography, help with writing or editing copy for your brochure.

    Even if you don't know all the details of your brochure when getting started, it's a good idea to create a budget. Start with determining how many brochures you will need to use during the next twelve months including mailings and sales meetings. If you have seen a brochure with a similar amount of information and photographs as you need for your brochure, a designer can use it as a model

    Sample Florida Articles of Incorporation
    A Florida Articles of Incorporation has the following sections.TitleThe title starts with ?Articles of Incorporation of? the name of the corporation, and then states the nature of the corporation, whether it is a business or a non-profit organization.Article One. NameIn this section, the name of the corporation is specified.Article Two. Statement of Corporate NatureSection two is where the nature of the organization is specified, whether the corporation is a business or a non-profit organization.Article Three. PurposesIn article three, the purpose of the corporation is stated. Was the corporation organized to be a business? What type of business? Is it a charitable non-profit organization? If so, what does it support? All these details need to be specified.Article Four. Dedication of AssetsThis section is a declaration of what assets the organization has and what efforts the organization is devoted to. If the purpose of the corporation is business, then the assets exist for the profit of the stockholders and for their best interest, but if the corporation is a non-profit organization, then the type of institution this corporation supports should be listed.Arti
    will get a potential client's attention?
  • What kinds of brochures and what level of sophistication are typically crossing your client's desk?
  • Does your product or service require photographs or illustrations to help convey your message?
  • Will the brochure need to be a self-mailer?
  • Key information to include in your brochure:

    • Mailing address.
    • Phone number (and 800 number if you have one).
    • Fax number.
    • E-Mail address.
    • Website address.

    Be sure not to include in your brochure any information which is subject to changing in the next 12 months or so. Also, be wary of using a specific person's name as a contact person unless he or she is someone you know isn't going to leave in the next year. The same goes for printing photographs of people. There's no sense in spending several thousand dollars to create a brochure only to have it become out of date because someone leaves the company.

    What does a brochure cost to produce?
    Brochures can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Because there are so many variables involved in producing a brochure such as quality of paper, number of ink colors, use of photographs, number of brochures printed, etc., it is difficult to estimate the final costs until all the specifications are determined.

    Four color process printing, varnishing and special treatments such die-cutting, foil stamping can add additional costs to producing a brochure, and may well be worth it if they enhance your brochure and the image you wish to project. Other cost considerations are whether you need professional photography, help with writing or editing copy for your brochure.

    Even if you don't know all the details of your brochure when getting started, it's a good idea to create a budget. Start with determining how many brochures you will need to use during the next twelve months including mailings and sales meetings. If you have seen a brochure with a similar amount of information and photographs as you need for your brochure, a designer can use it as a model

    Why Sam's Club and Other Stores use Membership Cards
    Sam’s Club stores use plastic membership cards that look and act in some ways like a credit or debit card to identify members. There are several reasons why membership cards are used for these private membership cards. At first glance, it would seem the idea of the private membership store was an idea that flies in the face of conventional retail logic. Most retail locations are obsessed with trying to attract customers to shop with them rather than with a competitor.The truth is that the private membership store is just as interested in attracting customers as other retail stores and our using the membership concept to accomplish just that. The idea is to create an idea in the customer’s mind that such good bargains are to be found at the store that only a special and select group of consumers are going to be allowed to take advantage of them. This subtle psychological approach is telling the customer that he is going to be excluded from these advantages and bargains unless he has a membership. The plastic card is the tangible proof that the customer is going to be included and not left out. In the case of Sam’s Club, even the use of the name club creates this idea that you are either included in the club or excluded from it.rochures can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Because there are so many variables involved in producing a brochure such as quality of paper, number of ink colors, use of photographs, number of brochures printed, etc., it is difficult to estimate the final costs until all the specifications are determined.

    Four color process printing, varnishing and special treatments such die-cutting, foil stamping can add additional costs to producing a brochure, and may well be worth it if they enhance your brochure and the image you wish to project. Other cost considerations are whether you need professional photography, help with writing or editing copy for your brochure.

    Even if you don't know all the details of your brochure when getting started, it's a good idea to create a budget. Start with determining how many brochures you will need to use during the next twelve months including mailings and sales meetings. If you have seen a brochure with a similar amount of information and photographs as you need for your brochure, a designer can use it as a model for determining printing and production costs.

    Another consideration when designing a brochure is postage. Larger brochures will be more expensive to mail and if you are planning on doing a large mailing as part of your marketing, an oversized brochure may be expensive to mail. Larger brochures don't fare well through the postal system and often end up wrapped around other mail. Brochures which fit in a standard #10 business envelope give you the best buy in terms of postage and protection while mailing. Using a business envelope also allows you to mail a cover letter and business card as well.

    Updating an existing brochure
    I worked with a client once who had sales of over a million dollars a year, but was still using a very dated, unsophisticated brochure produced by a printer nearly ten years earlier. While reputation alone helped the company's sales, their brochure was doing very little to promote them as a cutting-edge company to potential customers who had never heard of them.

    If you have a brochure you produced a few years ago, it might be a good idea to have your brochure evaluated by a someone outside your company to make sure it projects the image of your company today and sets you apart from your competition. Often, a small company will produce an inexpensive brochure just to have something for a trade show or for telephone inquiries. While short-term needs are fulfilled, not having any kind of long-term plan for a package of coordinated materials will lead to a "hodge-podge."

    As a business grows, the image of the business can outgrow the first brochure's image. Often other collateral such as pocket folders, product inserts, etc. are produced at different times by different printers and the result is a corporate image that is not coordinated, with different kinds of paper used and ink colors that don't match—not professional at all.

    Fix It—Before It Breaks
    It is tempting to take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach and leave an existing brochure alone—for years. However, now could also be the ideal time to produce a truly professional brochure which will set you apart from your competition and give your potential clients something they will keep on their desk to serve as a memory jogger when you do a follow-up call.

    Why have a graphic designer involved in creating your brochure?
    Many businesses are producing promotional and sales materials internally or are relying on a printer to put a brochure together for them. There's nothing wrong with either of these approaches, provided you have the time and expertise to make all graphic design decisions that will produce a sophisticated brochure that's right on target.

    It's rare to find a printer who has a graphic designer on staff who will put a creative spark in your brochure, and relying on your in-house talent probably won't save you money when an unprofessional design can actually costs you lost sales.

    Using a graphic designer can free you from having to make all decisions about your brochure by yourself and will provide you with an outside perspective on how to communicate to your audience. A designer can provide you not only expertise on typography but can help you with selecting ink and paper and some direction with your brochure and help guide you through the process from start to finish.

    In addition to making design decisions, a graphic designer can serve as your project manager and will see the brochure from concept through successful completion. Most designers work with several different printers and can provide you with a printer that has the capabilities to print your brochure. If you need help with writing your brochure copy, many designers work with freelance writers and photographers.

    Some Parting Advice . . .
    Carpenters have a saying, "Measure twice, cut once," which applies to creating your brochure. By defining what your brochure should do and doing some research first, your brochure can be effective, informative and get prospective clients' attention. By utilizing design and printing professionals and by paying close attention to details, you can have a brochure that truly represents your business and is something you can be proud to hand out and mail to potential customers.

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