How Video can be used Effectively Online

A powerful way to convey your communication messages to your audience is to be able to have your promotional video available on your website.

Yet, we have probably all experienced visiting a website and clicking on a video only to have to been irritated that the content is not viewable or that the sound is inaudible. The result is we leave the website in frustration.

So how do you make sure the video content on your website can be watched by your audience? It all boils down to how you want your viewers to access your video file and the level of video quality you want your movie to be played at.

There are two different ways of sharing your video file on the web:

1. Streamable Video

This is where the viewer is able to download sections of your video (otherwise known as "streaming"), while the video is playing. The main benefit of this method is that the user does not have to spend time downloading the complete video before viewing.

There are three major streaming video formats ? RealVideo (RM), QuickTime (MOV) and Windows Media (WMV). These are playable on Real Player, QuickTime Player and Windows Media Player respectively. Windows Media Player is widely available on most PC's, as it is part of Windows Operating System. The other players need to be installed.

The only negative with streamable video is that the quality of the video is dependent upon Internet connection. In addition, it has the annoying habit of dropping video frames because the streaming software has to adjust the data rate based on the speed of your Internet connection, in order to keep playing the video.

2. Download and Play

This is where the viewer needs to download the entire video first, then play it on their video player application. The main advantage is that the video quality is not affected by Internet connection speed.

However, it can take some time for the video to download if the file is large.

So which format do you choose?

In a world where first impressions always count, it is extremely important for companies to appear professional and trustworthy at all times. Marketing videos with poor picture quality are likely to reflect a poor quality company in the mind of the viewer. Consequently, we always recommend the download and play option. This is because it allows for high quality video content to be viewed.

However, as you don't want viewers to give up on downloading your video, we only recommend that short video clips are inserted onto your website.

This means your website users will be able to download a short video at a high quality picture resolution that will portray your company in the best possible way.

(c) Marie-Claire Ross 2004. All rights reserved.

Marie-Claire Ross is one of the partners of Digicast. Digicast works with organisations who are not satisfied that their marketing and training materials are helping their business grow. She can be contacted on 0500 800 234 (Australia wide) or at mc@digicast.com.au. The website is at http://www.digicast.com.au.

Universal Thought Systems

The Mind in an Advanced Thought System:

The center of our Thought System, today, is believed to reside in our brain. The brain is thought to be synonymous with our mind. The brain consists of millions of neurons and cells. Data is stored in the cells and transmitted via the neurons to our senses. We think our Thought System works something like this: We absorb data through our senses. The brain stores the data. When our senses perceive the need to act, we access the data stored in our brain, we examine the data, we make a decision or a choice, and we act out the intentions of the decision and choices. We repeat these steps 100's and 1000's of times per day.

We take courses. We learn. We fill our brain with all kinds of information. The more information we learn, the more confident we become in our ability to deal with any issue. We take memory courses to improve the ability of our brain to recall data that helps us to process questions, and problems. We study philosophy and psychology to open our minds. We attend school to expand the ability of our minds to process more complex concepts. But still we are limited. We have an incomplete picture of the whole on which to base our decisions.

Each person is believed to have a Thought System that is their own. Individual Thought Systems take different paths. Everyone perceives things somewhat differently. Each person absorbs different data and, therefore, arrives at very different conclusions. Those differences, lead to different beliefs, different actions, and conflict.

What if this is not the way our minds work? We do know that our stored data is not complete. We do know that we never truly see a complete picture because we are not involved in all the circumstances or all the activities that make up our environment. Therefore, our perceptions are bound to be limited. And many of our decisions are based on incomplete perceptions. Part of the time we make good decisions. Part of the time we make bad decisions. And, so we move back and forth from joy to unhappiness, from contentment to frustration. What if our thought system is actually not composed in the way that is generally perceived? What if we actually have a thought system that is far more dependable? A thought system that relies not on some partial perception, but, on a wholeness of knowledge that makes decisions much more precisely and completely accurate? What if there is an Advanced Thought System?

Methodology of Advanced Thought Systems:

How can we learn to use a truly Advanced Thought System? To begin, a simple practice can be applied. Each day sit in silence whenever time permits, close your eyes, and generate thoughts in the form of questions. Ask specific simple questions. Do not try to analyze the question. Do not interfere with the content or try to suggest some meaning in your imperfect perceptions. Let the thoughts, the questions, pass from your mind smoothly and easily. Focus on the concept that you are letting these questions pass within, into your mind, into your brain out into the universe and beyond. After you have asked the questions for the day, proceed about the day in your usual fashion. But, be alert! Listen carefully! The answers to those questions will come in various forms. The form may be a book that someone recommends. The form may be a story in the newspaper. The form may be some words from a friend. The answer may be in the form of a thought you come up with after you've processed information during the day. Be alert! You will receive the answers. By now everyone has heard about people who always find a place to park their cars, even when the parking lot is crowded. The reason is they visualized a parking place before they arrived at their destination. They manifested their own parking place.

Universal Law and Physical Law:

We truly govern ourselves by our thought system. At the core of each thought system are a set of laws. In the dominant thought system of today, the laws are set by the beliefs in our minds. Because they are filled with doubt, we form committees to decide which laws should govern our behavior toward one another. We have a set of Physical Laws to govern our behavior and our lives. Not everyone always believes in each law, therefore, behavior must be adjusted, to fit the norm. When the law no longer applies, we either revise the law or add more laws. As behavior begins to modify and more of us believe in the opposite of a law, the law is deleted, changed or ignored. In general, the number of laws continue to accumulate as our perceptions continue to divide and expand. The result of all these changes is more turbulence and conflict.

At the core of an Advanced Thought System there is also a set of laws. However, these laws are not determined by our beliefs. Committees can not modify or add to the laws. They are formed as if in concrete. There is no doubt contained in these laws. They work in any situation. They are 100% dependable. They cannot be fooled. They do not depend on what we believe. They are Universal Laws. Their application, consistently, reduces conflict and increases peace and joy, individually or collectively. Their application are the means to fulfill every positive purpose that man has ever desired. What are these laws? We must discover, document, and apply these laws to create peace.

About Us:

Our newsletters are our means to reach out to others who are in search of basic truth. This search began almost 30 years ago with one question: How can we balance our lives? The summary of the answer to this question was compiled in a book titled 'Creating Your Personal Journey'. The book was published in 1996. The search has continued as we adapt to a new question: What is the truth? We are guided by the thought that, 'The best way to learn anything is to teach it.'

? Copyright 2005 Roger Paradis

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Roger L. Paradis-"We R One"
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mail to paradisrjs@were-one.com
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Creating a New Vision for the 21st Century

Going the Extra Mile and Getting Referrals

Successful salespeople have the ability to turn the customers they serve into advocates. They don't directly ask for assistance, they do it by going the extra mile when providing service. It is only natural for satisfied customers to refer their friends and business associates to someone they know they can trust to take good care of them.

Your ability to provide quality service after the sale is critical in developing "lifetime relationships" with your customers. Top salespeople have learned that the key to their success is "service with a smile." They understand that their referrals and follow on business is in direct relationship to the service they render on a daily basis.

Here's how you can do it:

1. Always under promise and over deliver. Develop a reputation for reliability; never make a promise that you can't deliver.

2. Stay in contact and keep good records. Consider sending a personal note or an article of interest once or twice per year.

3. Pay attention to the small things. Get in the habit of returning phone calls, e-mails and other correspondence quickly.

4. Give your customers a promotional gift. You might want to consider sending them a book, or any gift with your picture and contact information.

5. Establish a feedback system to find out how your customers perceive the quality and quantity of the service you provide.

Gordon Goh is author of the free, informative website Simply Motivation offering quality useful tips for Motivation.

Anxious About Your Public Relations?

Shooting from the hip always creates anxiety.

Especially when managers order a communications tactic here, another there, but fail to base them on a realistic public relations goal and strategy. One that could increase the chances they'll get the results they want.

Why waste resources this way when a little more effort can bring public relations success?

I mean, firing off communications tactics without knowing precisely how that target audience perceives your organization, and who your tactics should be aimed at, then failing to decide what changes in perception, and thus behavior you need and want, is like pouring resources down the you-know-what.

How much better to do it this way.

Who's the real public relations target? Is it not that external audience whose behaviors have the most important impacts on your organization? Shouldn't you eagerly court such people and focus your public relations efforts directly on them because your enterprise may be at stake?

Of course.

One way to approach the challenge is to decide up front which groups of people ? which external audiences ? really DO affect you the most.

Could it be those residents in a certain geography? Or those folks you know regularly use your services or those of your competitors? Or those who are members of trade unions? Or those between the ages of 21 and 35.

Doesn't really matter which, as long as you have solid reasons for targeting that #1 target audience. Namely, that their behaviors, good or bad, really DO have the most serious impacts on your organization.

What now? Take nothing for granted. Get out there as soon as possible and interact with members of that key audience. Monitor their perceptions by asking questions. What do you think of our organization? How about our products and services or, if you are an association or non-profit, our programs? Do you sense an undercurrent of negativity? Probe deeper to see if some basic misconceptions are at work. Or inaccurate perceptions or damaging rumors that may be at fault.

The answers to such questions should be studied carefully and a public relations goal created that, when achieved, corrects the problem you uncovered. It might be as simple as knocking down that trouble-making rumor once and for all. Or, you may want a goal that clarifies an unfortunate misconception, or an inaccurate belief about your organization. Even a "confused feeling" about your people will need attention.

Your brand new public relations goal leads directly to your next step ? a strategy that shows clearly how to reach that goal. Will you attempt to create opinion (perceptions) where none may exist? Or will you strive to change existing opinion? Occasionally, you'll even decide to reinforce a slightly positive perception so that it grows to a strongly positive belief about your organization.

That's right! There's just three strategic choices ? create, change or reinforce perceptions. That simplifies things.

Now, with your chosen strategy in hand, what will the corrective message you wish to convey look like? It must be persuasive, and that requires candor, clarity and directness, if there is such a word. Be brief, to the point and, of course, completely straightforward so that further misunderstanding is just not possible.

At last in their proper role, we come to the "beasts of burden," the communications tactics that will carry your crystal-clear message to the attention of members of your key target audience.

The list of such tactics is, literally, endless. You could start with letters-to-the-editor, press releases and broadcast interviews, then proceed to making speeches as well as arranging community briefings and open houses. You might even decide to ratchet up the tactics effort with special events, a series of targeted emails or face-to- face meetings with a thoughtleader segment of that key target audience.

Now up to this point, after two or three months of vigorous communications, what do you really know? Not much, until you determine whether you've actually impacted those target audience perceptions.

Sorry, but that means monitoring opinion all over again. So fan out again among key audience members and ask lots of questions one more time.

What are you hearing? Playback or feedback suggesting that a misconception has been clarified? That a damaging inaccuracy no longer dominates? That a rumor has been disarmed?

Remember, your public relations goal implies that perceptions and, thus, behaviors among your #1 external audience must be altered before you can declare victory.

So, when your remonitoring activity clearly reflects perceptual and behavioral movement in your direction, you have achieved your public relations goal.

If remonitoring reflects otherwise, you must consider increasing the mix and frequency of your communications tactics. And your message must be reanalyzed again for believability and impact.

Either way, you are no longer wasting your public relations resources because you have a proper plan with a proper strategy, message and communications tactics.

And that suggests you will not fail because you are no longer shooting from the hip. So last step? Bag the anxiety!

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

Why Creativity and Self-Expression are Important to Little Kids

Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider themselves artistic. Parents do, however, worry about their toddler's art abilities. As a child care provider for the past 10 years, I've had many discussions with parents about 'how their toddler is doing' as far as getting ready for preschool or kindergarten. They worry a lot about the final product of their toddler's art projects. I try to explain to them that art is not just knowing how to draw a flower or a puppy, or whether or not little Jason colors in the lines. Little kids need to experience self-expression and the 'doing of art' more than having a page from a coloring book to hang on the refrigerator.

When a two-year old puts his chubby little hand in a tub of finger paint and happily smears all of the colors together on the paper or when he makes yet another 'snowman' out of play-doh, he's creating. Granted, he will certainly tell you that his painting is his dad's truck even though you 'just can't see it.' The important thing to remember is that by allowing our little kids to experience art in their own way, we let them show us how they see the world around them, how they feel and think.

I always enjoy art time with my toddler and preschool age groups. Yeah, they can make a mess, but they just wiggle with excitement when I take out the 'arts & crafts' tub of supplies! Having been a military wife and lived in a few different places, I've always returned to providing home day care. As a result, I've had to make do with whatever space I can find in the various homes we've lived in. There's not always a lot of room, but art can take place just about anywhere. I've found that the activity is most effective when it's pre-planned and when I've set goals for the activity.

Art is important for toddlers because of the way it makes little kids feel special and good about themselves. When your toddler finishes a magazine cut-out collage and holds up his masterpiece to you with that beaming smile doesn't that make you feel good about both of you? Through creating simple art projects, that same toddler is not only learning to take pride in his accomplishments, but also to think and refine his hand-eye coordination and physical skills. Through art, children learn to identify colors, cause-and-effect, shapes, problem solving, sharing and cooperation among many other skills.

Parents must remember to ask toddlers or preschoolers questions about their projects that will make them think about what they've made rather than ask them 'What is that?' For example, 'C.J., tell Mommy about your painting.' C.J will start to talk about his work or anything else he feels important at the time! This also shows your child that you are interested in what he thinks and aren't' just confused about what you see! Make sure to hang the art work up in a prominent place in your home so the entire family can enjoy it.

Art experiences are a major part of a toddler's daily activities. They have grown enough to grasp objects and tear paper and hold crayons and brushes. Naturally they are thrilled with the anticipation of a new art project, and most importantly, with the quality time spent with the important adults in his/her life.

About the author: Sherry Frewerd is a WAHM who has provided Registered Home Child Care for over 10 years. She is a wife and the mother of 3 expressive children ages 21 years, 13 years and her busy toddler age 2 years.

Make sure to visit her website http://familycrockpotrecipes.com where you will find various ways to not only create quick and delicious meals for your family, but creative activities to keep your little ones busy as well. Start a New Family Tradition Today!

How Successful Is 3G REALLY In The UK?

How successful is 3G REALLY in the UK? I'm getting mixed messages about 3G take-up in the UK. On one hand, 3 announce that they have added 3m subscribers (http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/article/0,2763,1449689,00.html), and then on the other that Vodafone is thought to have attracted fewer than 200,000 customers in the UK to date (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1438432,00.html), and Virgin Mobile have announced that they are pulling back from a a major launch of 3G due to a sensing a lack of interest (http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/article/0,2763,1441419,00.html)among subscribers for the new technology.

The mobile operators have spent a small fortune, enough to wipe out the debt of a third world country on launching 3G, and an even bigger fortune on acquiring licences. I was personally part of the Vodafone Live! launch in 2002, so I know that Vodafone have spent more on launching 3G given the extra coverage it has had.

So, despite spending millions launching their services why aren't consumers switching to 3G? Do the operators need to offer cheaper voice minutes to get people to take 3G handsets in the hope that consumers will start to use data services?

Maybe the operators have made a fundamental mistake - there's no point persuading users to upgrade to 3G to make videocalls, only for them to realise they have no one to call! If none of your mates have got a video-calling handset then it's useless.

Until 3G penetration reaches some sort of critical mass then I think users won't get excited about video calling.

Connected runs a blog following developments in the internet and mobile internet sectors. Connected has over 10 years experience in strategy consulting and business development, and has seen and lived through the highs, and the lows of the industry.

Based in London, Connected can be contacted on admin@connectedinternet.co.uk and his blog can be found at http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk

How to Find a Cheap Debt Consolidation Loan

If you're shopping around for a cheap debt consolidation loan, then you're going to want to try to find the one that has the lowest interest rate that you can get. The interest that you pay will depend largely on the collateral that you can offer to secure your cheap debt consolidation loan, as well as your credit history and the amount that you want to borrow. With a bit of legwork and some careful shopping, going around and comparing quotes from various lenders to find the lowest interest rate and best terms available to you, it shouldn't be too hard for you to find a cheap debt consolidation loan even if you have less than perfect credit. After all, if you need to consolidate your debt that's probably what you're looking for, isn't it?

Finding an amount for your loan

Before you go off in search of quotes for a cheap debt consolidation loan, you should sit down with your bills and other debts and determine exactly how much you owe. Once you have a figure in mind, write it down; this is your total debt, and the amount that you'd like to be able to consolidate. You should then figure up exactly how much you make in a month, subtracting cost-of-living expenses such as groceries, rent, utilities, and fuel. Set aside a portion of the remainder for incidentals, and subtract what's left from your total debt. The amount that you just subtracted is how much you can reasonably afford to pay each month, and is useful in determining monthly payments for your cheap debt consolidation loan as well as the amount that you can pay toward your total debt. If you can't get your total debt consolidated, then you can use this amount to determine the lowest amount of debt you can consolidate and still be able to handle your finances.

The right collateral

When trying to get a cheap debt consolidation loan, you're likely going to be offering an automobile or a piece of real estate as collateral. Not only are these common forms of collateral, but they are usually some of the highest value property that people own and are easy for lenders to sell in case a borrower doesn't repay their loan and they have to repossess. Using collateral that has a high value in relation to the amount borrowed tends to make lenders more willing to offer low interest rates, making it easier to secure a cheap debt consolidation loan. Get quotes from several lenders using the same collateral, as this helps you to determine the value that they give your collateral and is also a good way to compare interest rates between lenders and choose the lowest. Explore all of your options to determine what's best for you, and choose the lowest interest rate and best terms for your cheap debt consolidation loan.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

About The Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Misery Can Eat You Alive

This is a true story about a woman I worked with for several years.

I'm sure we all know at least one person who cannot find a good thing to say about anything or anyone. Your typical "miserable" person who could have $10 million handed to her and would complain that it wasn't $10 million and $1.

This was such a person.

The sky would be blue, the temperature warm and the flowers in full bloom. She would point out one small cloud that loomed in the horizon, that it was two degrees warmer in another town and that the petals on the tulips were wilting prematurely.

She had nothing good to say about anyone we worked with, and I thought we had a great group of people.

I eventually started to avoid her because try as I would to get her to find something good in the world, she would strike down my every effort.

When we would learn of anything new in the workplace, she would immediately react with anger and start venting her opinion to anyone within earshot.

I decided to distance myself from her because I could not raise her energy and she was bringing mine down.

Science has proven that the way we think, feel and react has an impact on our health and physical well-being.

When someone is constantly sick or suffering from one ailment or another, this may often be a reflection of what is going on in his or her thoughts.

Of course, there are always exceptions; however, I have observed that many of those who live in a constant state of negativity, and who react to many situations based on their judgments, suffer more maladies and chronic illnesses than those who don't.

I often contemplated this theory when thinking of my co-worker and I wondered if some day she would suffer a fatal heart attack or terrible illness because she was so filled with anger and negativity.

While working a Tuesday afternoon shift, she booked off duty early and went home because she had a small bruise on her leg that was causing her intense pain.

Later that same evening, she was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with flesh eating disease.

Wednesday her leg was operated on and it was learned that the disease had spread into her other leg and abdomen.

Thursday she was given her last rights.

When I heard of this series of events, I was shocked and saddened. I listened to others saying, "How could this happen? She's young and so healthy."

I couldn't help but think to myself that her thoughts and negative feelings might have finally manifested themselves through her physically. Somehow I was not so surprised anymore by the terrible news.

She remained in Intensive Care for many months and even though she was not expected to live more than four days from her diagnosis, she remains with us today.

She has very little left of her legs, endured numerous operations on several organs, and spent many months in physical, mental, spiritual and emotional agony. Many months passed before she was able to see her two young children.

I often think of her when I am inclined to react to certain situations in a negative way, or when I am tempted to fall into a negative pattern of complaining or criticizing.

One of the great powers we have is the power to choose, and when I'm faced with the choice of complaining or making the best of a situation, I take the high road.

Do I do it consistently? Not always. After all, I am human and do make mistakes. But, every day I continue to strive to be better than I used to be.

What can you do today to create a more positive outlook on life?

Laurie Hayes, founder of Where the Heart Is Life Coaching, is a Life Strategy Coach and author of several articles and an e-book designed to promote excitement and inspire action in others to pursue the best life has to offer. To secure a copy of her free e-book, "10 Guidelines for Attraction," visit http://www.wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com

Choosing the Right Fly Fishing Rod

Choosing a good rod is a major decision for the fly fishing angler. Shopping for that new rod can also be allot of fun. But how do we know what the right rod is? Here are some tips to help you make your purchasing decisions.

Fly rods are about the action, casting speeds, weights, and many more factors. You generally want a soft or slow casting rod. Softer is often better because the line will land in the water with less impact. The faster your rod is the harder the impact.

You need to purchase a rod that suits the type of fishing you do. If your into bass fishing you will need a strong rod and one that's longer. Fishing for more active fish will generally require a much stronger and longer rod.

Shorter rods are great when your around trees and objects. You need a much shorter length in order to avoid getting caught in objects.

If you like to fish where there is lots of action and rough waters your going to need something that is much heavier. This will provide a much faster casting speed. The only problem with this is that its not beginner friendly. If your new to fishing start by fishing for small fish in a calm environment.

These are just some beginner tips for choosing the right rod. Remember to ask the stores sales person when buying your rod. If you plan on buying one online most stores have guides to help you with your decision. Don't be afraid to email them with a question either. Most online stores will be happy to respond.

Tyler Casselman Reviews fly rods at Fly Rods Guide.

Understanding Your Rights Under The Equal Credit Opportunity Act

It wasn't all that long ago that lenders blatantly discriminated when it came to approving credit for women and minority groups. Women were actually asked personal and demeaning questions like, how many children do you plan to have in the future or are you on birth control?

Despite the fact that they were entering the workforce in record numbers, single women were often required to get a cosigner or denied credit altogether. Members of minority groups were denied credit as well, even though they were fully qualified.

Today thanks to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, millions of consumers from all walks of life are given and equal chance to obtain and use credit to finance educations, buy or remodel homes or get small business loans.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which was passed by congress in 1973 first banned discrimination in credit access on the basis of sex or marital status and was later amended to include race, religion, national origin and age. Of course, this doesn't mean all consumers who apply for credit get it. Factors such as income, expenses, debt and credit history are considerations for credit worthiness.

But the law protects you when you deal with any creditor who regularly extends credit, including banks, small loan and finance companies, retail and department stores, credit card companies, and credit unions. Anyone involved in granting credit, such as real estate brokers who arrange financing, is covered by the law. Businesses applying for credit also are protected by the law.

When You Apply For Credit, A Creditor May Not.

Discourage you from applying for credit because of your sex, marital status, age, race, national origin, or because you receive public assistance income.

Ask you to reveal your sex, race, national origin, or religion. A creditor may ask you to voluntarily disclose this information, except for religion if you're applying for a real estate loan. This information helps federal agencies enforce anti discrimination laws. You may be asked about your residence or immigration status.

Ask if you're widowed or divorced. When permitted to ask marital status, a creditor may only use the terms: married, unmarried, or separated.

Ask about your marital status if you're applying for a separate, unsecured account. A creditor may ask you to provide this information if you live in community property states, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington. A creditor in any state may ask for this information if you apply for a joint credit account or one secured by property.

Request information about your spouse, except when your spouse is applying for credit with you. Note: your spouse will be allowed to use the credit account. You are relying on your spouse's income or on alimony or child support income from a former spouse; or if you reside in a community property state.

Inquire about your plans for having or raising children.

Ask if you receive alimony, child support, or separate maintenance payments, unless you're first told that, you don't have to provide this information if you won't rely on these payments to get credit. A creditor may ask if you have to pay alimony, child support, or separate maintenance payments.

A Special Note To Women

A good credit history, a record of how you paid past bills often is necessary to get credit. Unfortunately, this hurts many married, separated, divorced, and widowed women. There are two common reasons women don't have credit histories in their own names: they lost their credit histories when they married and changed their names, or creditors reported accounts shared by married couples in the husband's name only.

If you're married, divorced, separated, or widowed, contact the credit bureaus to make sure all relevant information is in a file under your own name.

Copyright ? Credit and You | All Rights Reserved |

To find additional rights you have, what a creditor may not do: when deciding to give you credit or evaluating your income for credit and what to do if you suspect discrimination visit http://www.creditandyou.com/yourcreditrights.html it's free information website!

Nike / Sears / Kmart

The Sears-Kmart merger hopes to fabricate some sort of silver lining for both retailers but instead seems to embody the inevitable philosophy of "going down together." Kmart, an already sinking ship, certainly worsens conditions for Sears, and Sears does not have a strong enough current to keep Kmart afloat when there are enterprises like Wal*Mart and Target constantly blasting holes in the stern with brand messages of "smart and classy."

On the opposite end of the branding spectrum, Nike sits at the top of the todem and watches the plethora of other brands struggling beneath. Nike is the only brand of shoe for which people are willing to pay two to three times more just to bear the swoosh emblem in the gym. Nike is the only athletic brand creating new and original advertising (i.e. the Nike Pro Apparel "Warriors" campaign) while Adidas, Reebok, Puma, New Balance, and countless others attempt to "be like Mike" and copycat concepts to boost their market share. In reality, Nike only becomes more powerful and valued despite the efforts of brand emulation.

Before Sears merged with Kmart, Sears carried several Nike products, shoes, clothing, a few sporting goods...etc. However, when Sears announced the agreement with Kmart, Nike announced to Sears that they would no longer be needing their shelves. If Sears was opening up to Kmart, Nike was closing off to Sears. There is a simple equation and contingency of Nike's brand conservation.

Kmart is known for "lower quality, but dirt cheap," and Nike is a premium, high quality brand that can inflate prices based on brand equity and reputation.

What can brands like Sears and Kmart learn from brands like Nike?

Unfortunately not much can be accomplished at this point because when it comes to brand, this market does not allow much time and space for second chances let alone acts of desperation. Nike "got it" from the beginning, and continues to grow their market share by being the father ship. Consumers can see themselves inside the Nike brand and feel a sense of pride and confidence. Sears and Kmart cannot even even make consumers feel like consumers. Being loyal to these brands feels more like a public service.

Molly Sunderdick
Brand Strategist
Stealing Share, Inc.

Become a Storyteller Not an Advertiser and Watch Your Traffic Increase

When you read the newspaper, do you read advertisements as closely as you read news stories? Do you believe advertising as readily as you believe news stories? I don't and neither do most people I know.

Because we have advertising shoved at us from every angle we tend to ignore it, but we pay attention to news or public interest stories. Not only do we pay more attention, we also are more likely to believe news stories than your basic advertisements. When your news is published either online, on the radio, TV or in newspapers people automatically feel that since it's being published it must be worthy information.

I read somewhere that "Advertising is what you pay for. Publicity is what you pray for". This is so true. You can spend a fortune on advertising and yes, it will bring you some traffic but traffic is only part of what you need and it stops when the advertising stops.

What you really need is PUBLICITY - free publicity so that your information reaches your potential customers and people will begin to get to "know" you. When people see and hear your name over and over they will begin to think of you as an expert in your field. They will trust your judgment and buy your products or the products you endorse. They will also recommend you to others which in turn cause a chain reaction and the process starts all over again. One of the best ways to get free publicity is by writing articles and press releases then submitting them to the third party sites and newspapers for publishing. Plus with a price like FREE, why not take full advantage of it?

The most important thing to remember when writing news is to write a STORY not a sales pitch. Don't you hate it when you ask someone about a product and instead of them telling you what it is and how you could benefit from it they go into this "elevator speech" about its features and why it's a good product ("it comes with this and that, plus as an added bonus you get?.") Please! If I wanted to hear a sales pitch I'd turn on the TV.

Sales people call it "selling features instead of benefits" but among news editors this is called, "selling the store, not the story" and it's the WRONG way to get your news published.

You should be trying to sell a STORY connected to the product instead of trying to sell the product itself. Why you ask? Because people love stories! We've been listening to and telling stories for centuries and we will continue to for a long time to come. People will pay attention if they think they're going to hear a good story but will turn away if you give them a sales pitch.

By writing like a storyteller, you will get free publicity which will increase your traffic and your sales.

** Melody Spier is a work at home mom of two teens. She is the owner of Ballyhoo Virtual Services a Virtual Assistant business catering to women in business. She specializes in business marketing and promotion with article and press release submissions, blog maintenance as well as many other services. You can contact Melody by visiting http://www.BallyhooVA.com or by email Mel@BallyhooVA.com