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By Sandra Martini I recently needed to contact a vendor regarding a delivery question. Without naming names, I can tell you that the vendor is a small business and I do a not-insignificant amount of business with them. The person who answered the phone (not the owner) sounded as if my call were an interruption in her day (ever have this happen to you?). She was not pleasant and wanted to get me off the phone as quickly as possible. She was able to answer my question and off I went not feeling appreciated and not feeling valued. So be it. I went about my day and needed to contact another vendor to see if I could use an American Express card for payment as their invoice didnt state. This should have been a minute-long phone call. It wasnt. The accounts payable person also apparently having a rough day based on her tone told me that they did indeed accept Amex. Great more points! is what I thought and happily gave her all the information. About an hour later my phone rang. It was the same woman, clipped tone and no sense of friendliness whatsoever, now telling me that they do not accept American Express and I would need to pay in another manner. Not a big deal and I gave her another credit card. Once she had the information, she said goodbye and hung up the phone. It obviously wasnt my day to call vendors. These two companies one large and one small have forgotten to train their employees in the art of common courtesy. There are several ways that both of these employees could have made me feel, their customer, feel valued: Answer the phone while smiling (people really can tell) Be helpful without making me feel that I was an intrusion on their day I wont even mention that had their respective ordering and invoicing documents been done correctly, there would have been no need for my calls. Say thank you for calling And, in the case of the confused accounts payable person, apologize for not knowing whether or not the company accepted a certain credit card (whether her fault or not, she should have apologized to me on behalf of the company). This very easily could have turned into an amusing part of the day for both of us. Companies of all sizes need to understand a very basic concept: Everyone in the company is involved in marketing. Every customer/client contact is a chance to positively OR negatively affect how the customer feels about the company. Do it correctly and a customer is happy. Screw it up and they may forgive you screw it up too many times and you lose the customer. Let me tell you another quick story: A client of mine recently had several cartons of brochures delivered from a printer. There were four different types of brochures. The driver, smiling, wheels in several cartons and asks where he should leave them. My client asked him to just leave them in a corner of the store room as they needed to sort them by brochure title before placing them on the shelves. Turns out the driver had already done that and put the names of the brochures on the sides of the cartons (not just on top where you can never read them) to make them easier to read while on the shelves. As he was leaving, he thanked my client for his business. Surprising? It shouldnt be. This is common courtesy and what a good company instills in each of its employees. Every employee who has the slightest contact with a customer or client should know that each customer/client is THE most important person to the company. The truck driver in the above story gets it. Be sure that you do as well. Courtesy is often overlooked as a means of getting, and keeping, clients. Another example is the doctor who calls a patient at home the evening after a treatment; just to be sure everything is okay. Want to really impress your clients? Take it a step further and thank them for their business. People like, and need, to feel appreciated and valued show them gratitude for doing business with you and watch them turn into great sources of referrals. Some simple ways of saying thank you include the following: Send birthday cards/gifts depending on the size of the client and your budget. In the U.S., send Thanksgiving cards or letters everyone sends holiday cards, be a little different. If you are located near your clients, occasionally drop in with a small surprise gift. Be sure your invoice includes a line thanking your clients for their business. If it works with your business, have some type of a customer appreciation event. In this world of running here and there, email, voicemail, blackberries and MDAs, the personal touch combined with a little courtesy and gratitude goes a long way. Thank you for taking time from your busy day to read this today. Online Business Manager & Entrepreneur, Sandra Martini, publishes the ‘Effective Entrepreneur’ weekly e-zine. She also coaches small business owners to more efficiently manage their businesses while increasing profits and having fun. Sandra’s coaching programs are available via teleconferencing, emails and telephone calls. For more information or to sign-up for Effective Entrepreneur, visit http://www.online-biz-coach.com today. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Martini http://EzineArticles.com/?Want-to-Be-a-Client-Magnet?–Try-This-Little-Used-Technique&id=269370 brothers pharmacy phentermine buy phentermine overnight delivery buy phentermine in canada global pharmacy phentermine

By Joseph Kenny One of the hardest things that young couples report during their first year of marriage is getting to grips with joint finances. While most are willing to share what they have with their partner, they are not sure on the best way to bring this sharing into effect so that they can share with their new partner, but at the same time maintain financial security and a degree of independence. Some couples resolve this by resorting to separate finances and others find a way to keep things together, but it is generally reported as one of the biggest strains on newly married couples. As well as this, there is also the problem that many people find it difficult to budget and control their finances. It is one thing to fail to keep track of expenditures when you are single, but when you are married you have more to answer to than just yourself. This is especially true once you have children. If one partner fails to keep control of their spending while the other is forced to worry about finances, it can create an enormous strain on the relationship. Family Budget One of the best answers to this dilemma is to create a family budget. This should outline what is allowed for the various expenses, which is to be responsible for what expenses and how much each partner can spend on discretionary expenses. While this may seem like a drastic response that takes away all the responsibility and financial independence from both partners, all it is really doing is getting both parties to sit down together beforehand and work out how much they can afford to spend on what, and then sticking to this. It is about being in control of your expenses rather than letting them have control over you. Other ways of taking care of difficulties between married couples is to divide out the family expenses depending on how much each partner earns. This way both will feel responsible for the security of the family and will feel like they are an important contributor to the family finances. Financial Matters While each partner should have a degree of financial freedom, and also privacy, finances should be discussed openly and with without shame. Past debts or mistakes that one party has made should be put in the past and should be forgotten. At the same time, if one partner shows that they are unable stick to the budgets they have agreed, their financial freedom will have to be taken from them and they should be given a tight leash in financial matters. Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the UK credit card comparison site http://www.creditcards121.com/, where you can find a selection of credit card articles. He also writes for the comparison site http://www.cardguide.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Kenny http://EzineArticles.com/?Family-Finance&id=125396 phentermine online no perscription where to buy phentermine 37.5 buy phentermine online consultation rx pharmacy phentermine

By Richard Romando Tea is the most popular beverage in the world and was first consumed by the Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung around 2737 B.C. China started growing tea shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago and is referred to it as the homeland of tea. From the hundreds of varieties of Chinese tea, six of them are the major ones. Wu-long tea is amongst the six famous types. Wu-Long Tea is also known as an Oolong in colloquial. Oolong is a partially fermented traditional Chinese tea and tastes somewhere between green and black tea and combines the best qualities of both. After being picked, the tealeaves are withered to remove moisture. Then the leaves are left to dry in the shade before the semi-fermentation process begins. Wu-Long, also known as Oolong, is refreshing and delicious and has a range of aromas and tastes quite distinct from green or black tea. Oolong is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols that prevents cancer, keep the heart healthy and aid in general well being. There are also some researches that say that Oolong tea can help in weight loss and prove useful in bodybuilding. It is also known to help in lowering cholesterol. Oolong is good for the teeth because of its antibacterial properties and can reduce flatulence. The term Oolong or Wu-Long is literally ‘black dragon’ or “black snake” in Chinese, but has nothing to do with dragons or snakes in the literal sense. Rather, it was named after the person who discovered it, Wu Liang. Oolong has been around for a long time, but became more popular in recent years because of its ability to help in weight loss. A Japanese journal claims that this tea can increase the body’s ability to burn fat. This declaration has increased the demand of Oolong, but it remains scarce in supply. Oolong can be found easily in Chinese markets and most health food shops. Oolong tea is also most commonly served in Chinese restaurants with food. It is also available all over the globe due to its health benefits and recognized as a world famous natural health drink. Tea provides detailed information on Tea, Green Tea, Herbal Tea, White Tea and more. Tea is affiliated with Benefits of Green Tea. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Romando http://EzineArticles.com/?Wu-Long-Tea&id=429634 buy phentermine 30 mg order phentermine 37.5 i want to buy phentermine phentermine foreign pharmacy

By Ashley Thomas The first important key to help us unlock our understanding concerning our inheritance, is to know ” what is the hope of His calling”. If you know anything about hope, hope always envisions something better. Our election and our choosing was predesigned by God, who called us in hope. He has envisioned something better for us. That’s right, from the foundation of the world it has been God’s plan to set aside something so marvelous, for us receive. While it is true that we have such blessings of immense proportions, we have a counterfeit scheme orchestrated by the enemy of our soul to detract us. This scheme is called “profit” (to gain advantage), it is likened to a coin - it has two sides. Heads you win and tails you lose. With such an appeal, we all desire to win. This is a trap that feeds our ego, because when you gain something, you scarcely want to lose it or give it up (the casinos fully understand this nature). In fact you will do anything to keep it, because you know the loss is often painful. However the ones who are called in hope, understand that they are called to suffer loss first. Jesus said if you save your life, you will wind up losing it, but if you lose you life for my sake, you will wind up finding it. The apostle Paul said it himself, what was profitable to me, he said I now count loss. He wasn’t merely talking about his wealth, he was indeed rich man, but he was talking about his self - life. Everything that pertains to the self life was to be counted loss. The one who is willing for such pain, and may I add sometime much pain, stands to gain much in the end. I’ve said all of this, to share with you and to affirm this truth, that God who called you in hope, called you not to lose but to gain. Again in the words of the apostle Paul, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Every child of God has so much to gain because that is the pleasure of His “Will” . Therefore this calling is with purpose, meaning and definition, it is for you to receive His highest and best. If you are one of those who has suffered loss, don’t despair but just know the hope of His calling because you stand to gain so much in the end. Let me say that the pleasure of God’s Will, is for you to be the beneficiary of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. You may ask how do I know this is true, there are two witnesses in which every truth shall be established. One you have the written testament in your hands and two you have the seal of the Holy Spirit who is the guarantor of that promise. It is signed, sealed and delivered. Remember it is written “Fear not little flock, it is you Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”: (Luke 12:32) , therefore may we boldly say “Thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen! Ashley Thomas http://www.ariseshine.org.au is the lead pastor of an emerging church in Brisbane Australia and is the writer of Praise The Lord It’s Friday a weekly article of life and encouragement. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Thomas http://EzineArticles.com/?Our-Inheritance-part-2&id=226321 where to buy the lowest price phentermine purchase phentermine diet pills cheap non prescription phentermine to buy phentermine 37.5

By Denise Sanger When organizing your wedding there are several things that will consume your time. When worrying about all of the little things couples can become extremely stressed out. One of the areas that I find couples hold a lot of emphasis on are wedding favors. These are extremely important to the couple as well as to the guests that receive them. I think that one of the most important issues that couples have with the whole gift giving process, is originality. Anyone that has been to a lot of weddings knows that it can be somewhat difficult to find gifts that original and specific to that wedding. Most guests end up with very similar gifts from every wedding that they attend. This article is designed to give a few helpful ideas to ensure that the gift that you give will represent you as well as remind your recipient of the time that you shared together. Bubbles are known to be an extremely traditional party favor. I can think of countless weddings that give these out, the guests can blow bubbles on the bride and groom, and then they are left with a bottle with beads attached to it. I think that a unique way to step this idea up is to change the actual look of the bottle. Bubbles can now come in hundreds of variations. It is important to roll with the times, and if bubbles are important to you, and you want them to look unique, change the vessel that carries them. Personalizing a favor is also a way to make it unique. The more personalized a favor gets, the more that it then relates to the guests that receive it. Unique gifts that share the name of the bride and groom are a good way to relate to your guests. However, if you are looking for extremely unique party favor, then Bottle dresses and Koozies are the answer for you. These favors seem to be one of the more interesting party favors. These can be used immediately at the reception, and are aesthetic. I am sure that these will also be used in the future, and it is a good way to relate to your guests. I hope that you have gotten some ideas by reading the ways that you can make your favors personal to you, as well as your guest. The main thing with giving a gift is ultimately being happy with the gift that you have selected to give. There are so many options out there, just find something that you are eager to give, that represents your taste. Denise Sanger, President http://www.buyweddingfavorsonline.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_Sanger http://EzineArticles.com/?Unique-Wedding-Favors-Ideas&id=360338 phentermine 37.5 mg diet pills order phentermine 37.5 tree top pharmacy phentermine cheap phentermine no prescription required

By Yolanda Nash Well, youve done it. Youve gotten engaged and now the real fun starts. Planning a wedding should be done around a few key factors: the church/temple/or other location of ceremony and the location of the reception. Once these key factors have been decided, everything will begin to fall into place. The location of the ceremony and the location of the reception are two decision makers as to what day the marriage ceremony will happen on. If you want a spring/summer wedding, know that these are very popular times of the year to get married; therefore booking your chosen location on your chosen date may not be as easy as you think. Really any time from about May through October is more popular months, but the peak is generally between May and June. Wedding bookings tend to fill up at least a year before the scheduled events. If you are willing to or had already counted on at least a year before the actual event, it will not be as difficult to book your locations, but it is not something you should wait on either. Once you have decided where youd like the ceremony to take place and have at least some ideas where youd like the reception to take place, it is time to start calling around. Call to find out what dates are available in the time period in which youd like to get married. Hopefully, the availability will be the same for your ceremony location and reception preference. If this is the case wonderful, book it without delay. If youre a little more particular about the date, be ready to shop around. Unless you are calling well in advance of the date, at least a year, possibly two, be prepared for disappointment. The location that youve chosen may already be booked by someone else. Its hard to believe, I know, but there are other brides out there with the same agenda as you. If youre absolutely set to a date, you may have to compromise on the location of the ceremony and/or reception. Be wary of reception locations that add into their contract that a fee per dish may changed in a certain time period. Thats their way of letting you know that prices may, and often will, go up before your event so that the price youre being quoted now may not be the price you receive on the day of the event. There are plenty of restaurants or halls that you can choose to hold your reception in and you want to be sure that the one you choose gives you the price they are quoting whether the ceremony is 12 months or 24 months into the future. If a reception hall is pressuring you by saying that they dont know if they can hold the space or pressuring you by having only your day available and dont know how long that day will stay open, they are not worth your time. With three major decisions knocked out, ceremony, reception, and date, you are well on your way to planning a beautiful event. This is an exciting time in your life and the planning process should also be exciting, not stressful. Once these important decisions have been made you can put your feet up and rest for a little while anyway, the rest should go quite smoothly. Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of wedding favors such as, love glass coasters, two peas in a pod salt and pepper shakers and many many more. Yolandas Wedding Favors also carries many different wedding accessories and wedding gifts such as guest books, unity candles, ring pillows, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and many many more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yolanda_Nash http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-Your-Wedding-Date&id=510626 buy phentermine online no prescription needed phentermine no prescription mastercard purchase phentermine online order phentermine online without a prescription

By Paul Duxbury One of the hardest parts of any weight loss program is staying motivated throughout it. Recent studies have shown that being able to maintain your motivation whilst trying to lose weight is is absolutely critical to success in losing weight. In fact some studies have suggested that it is the essential success factor. If you are like me it is a lot easier to say that you will stay motivated than to actually do it. There are always setbacks and bad days during the course of any diet. Learning how to deal with those will help you tackle the tough times, when you can feel your motivation slipping away, head on. So what are the best ways to stay motivated during your weight loss program? One of the first good ways to maintain your level of motivation throughout the long months of a weight loss program is to create a strong plan before you ever begin your weight loss program. A goal setting session as you get started will help you to understand where you are headed when you’re in the middle of your program. Your goals should not only be the basic things like I plan to lose five pounds, they should also be far more specific. For example, make sure you plan includes the number of minutes you intend to exercise each week as well as what you will do to achieve each goal. If your biggest goal is a number of pounds, outline the things you will do to reach that goal, look at the problems that might crop up as you attempt to meet that goal, and think about how you will face those problems as they come up. The second good way to help bolster your motivation during your weight loss program is to change your method of thinking. Staying motivated means becoming an optimist, even if it is not in your normal nature. Studies show that what you think truly changes the way you do things. For example, if you are depressed, all of your actions will reflect that. You will not be as productive at any of your tasks as a direct result of your depressive thoughts. If you want to stay with your weight loss program, think positive thoughts. Think about how much good you are doing for your body as you exercise each day. When you eat healthier foods, imagine your heart thanking you. You will derive some great motivation just by thinking happy thoughts. The third way to stay motivated as you fight to meet your weight loss goals is to vary your routines. Your mind is quite likely to get bored if your weight loss program never varies. If you have to eat the same foods all of the time, or if you are required to stick with the same exercise program on a regular basis, you may find yourself completely uninterested in what you are doing. As a result, you are far more likely to leave the program for something that keeps you interested in whether that means going back to your fast food habits or finding a new favorite television show while you should be exercising. The best way to prevent this is to start a different exercise program that you might enjoy every few months. Moreover, to keep from being bored with your diet, buy some new healthy living cookbooks or search internet recipe sites for dishes to make that fit in with your weight loss program. This can help to keep you within your calorie limits without boring you. Making a list of the positive aspects of your life from lost weight will also help you to stay motivated during your diet. What about your life will change when you’ve lost the weight? Will you be able to drop a prescription because you’ve become healthier? Will you have a better self-image because you can finally fit into that dress you’ve been admiring? Whatever will change about your life, list it. Post the list where you can see it on a regular basis. Remind yourself of the great benefits related to your weight loss, and you will feel better about your program. The final way to stay motivated while you are trying to lose weight is to offer yourself a rewards program. People need rewards in all aspects of life. For example, we go to work so we can get a reward a paycheck. If we get that reward, we get other rewards homes, cars, clothes, and entertainment. This rewards style motivational program should carry over to your diet. If you meet your exercise goal all week, buy that new album you’ve been reading reviews of. If you stay within your calorie limits, go see a movie on Saturday afternoon (just be sure to take some dried fruit or some other healthy snack). Little rewards along the way will help keep you motivated. Keeping your level of motivation high during your next diet will help you to lose the weight. Paul Duxbury writes extensively on dieting and weight loss and publishes a Free Weight Loss Newsletter on a weekly basis Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Duxbury http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Keep-Your-Motivation-High-When-You-Are-On-A-Diet&id=489595 order phentermine online phentermine with online prescription phentermine without prior prescription buy cheap phentermine online

By Avery Manko The good news is that advertising works. Ive witnessed real, measurable results making me a big believer in advertising. The bad news is that its the most expensive way to grow your business you are literally buying new customers. Dont get me wrong, adding new clients to your customer base is critical to the success of your business and advertising is the means to do that. While so much attention is focused on growing your customer list, what is often overlooked is that your current customer base is your best source for additional revenue. Its most likely to be the most valuable asset of your business and unfortunately every year a percentage of that customer base stops doing business with you. What you need to do is limit that loss because the longer you hold on to a customer, the more money you make. Consider this: 1. It costs six times less to retain an existing customer than to acquire a new one. 2. Your customers know your business and are comfortable doing business with you. Youre the incumbent supplier, a known quantity and inertia usually prevents them from switching. Most likely, they are less price sensitive (and picky) than new customers and prospects. 3. Loyal customers usually place bigger orders because they trust you. 4. Loyal customers give you referrals. So, whats the secret to keeping your customers and how do you prevent them from defecting? You have to give them exactly what they want. And how do you find that out? You ask them. That sounds so simple, but when was the last time you picked up the phone, called a customer and said Hey Bob, how are we doing? Think about it, an objective, marketing-minded customer survey for your company could pay huge dividends. Heres what you need to find out: 1. What are your customers’ perceptions of your company? 2. What can you change to improve the overall customer experience? 3. What kinds of products or services they are looking for? 4. What is the likelihood that your current customers will purchase from you again? 5. How are you viewed in relation to your competitors? 6. Are you making decisions based on your most vocal customers or your entire customer base? Use the data from your customer survey to help you understand how your relationship is currently perceived by your customers and what actions you may need to take to improve the relationship - and to enhance customer satisfaction, loyalty, and desired business outcomes with all customers. Avery Manko is the owner of The Manko Company, a marketing firm in West Chester, PA. His firm develops and implements marketing programs for small and medium sized businesses. Contact him at 610-725-9844 or avery@mankocompany.com. For more about The Manko Company, go to http://www.mankocompany.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Avery_Manko http://EzineArticles.com/?Client-Surveys—How-Something-So-Simple-Can-Make-Such-A-Huge-Impact&id=130824 buy phentermine cash on delivery buy phentermine now order phentermine on line online pharmacy that sells phentermine

By Steve Jackson I watched Roy Williams in a quite literally amazing presentation about society’s 40-year Pendulum recently. His presentation was a delightful hidden bonus in the agenda from the Call to Action seminar hosted by Bryan and Jeff Eisenberg at the Wizard of Ads Academy 1 in Buda, Texas. Roys presentation explained a phenomenon that happens every 40 years where folks attitudes gradually shift over time in an opposite direction to that of the previous generation. He finished by predicting that in the next 2-3 years were going to see radical shifts in the way people buy and what they are influenced by. I am labeling this shift for the purposes of this article Reality Branding. The shift starts with the arts Roy described how music and art is the first indication that times they are a changing. Typically music precedes this social shift before the whole idea goes mainstream. If you think about it, looking at music and the arts is a reasonable indicator of what people think. Im not talking about the reaction to one hit wonders, but the general trends. Why does everyone suddenly get the same kind of groove, coast to coast, continent to continent? I remember reading a CaveChat (bulletin board) thread from 5000BC 2 a few months back where one post compared Eminem to Elvis. I thought it was a strange comparison at the time because it was not explained in the context Roy described. I now understand that it wasn’t that these icons were comparable as artists; it was that they are comparable in the shift they reflected in the “mainstream” in society. Take Elvis Since the late 50’s we’ve had rock and roll in one form or another and it all started in 1957 with Elvis Presley curling his lip and shaking his knees in a fashion that made the young ladies of the time pass out with excitement. Or did it? Rock and roll has its roots well before Elvis as Im sure all the musical historians will tell you, however when Elvis and his iconic charm came along the music went mainstream and that is the point. For the next 40 years music was in one form or another, an iteration, imitation, categorization, blend or copy of a rock and roll based rhythm. So what about Eminem? Eminem and probably a few others brought hip hop to the masses. In 1997 (40 years exactly from 57 when Elvis emerged on the scene) the hip hop generation was becoming very popular. Eminem was one of the emerging talents of the time, but the white guy in a predominantly black musical genre signaled the approach of the mainstream. It reads like a script when you compare how Elvis before him was preceded by less famous Rock and Roll artists that were the true pioneers. Eminem and Elvis can be compared because they hit the scene around the time that people were ready for it and made history. Ever heard the saying there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come?3 Eminems brash, hard hitting, realistic and edgy approach has the latest generation of young ladies screaming “That shit is bumping” 4 but they wouldnt pass out because it isnt cool. And its whats cool thats the point isnt it? What do hip hop artists sing about? Trouble on the streets, too many guns, poverty, sex, saving the world, where is the love - The Black Eyed Peas and their rap about social conscience? In addition other bands which aren’t hip hop are of a similar vein in their lyrical content. Think Coldplay from the UK and their lyrics in Lights out…. “Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities (am I) A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease”. Am I a part of the cure or a part of the disease?? Right now, its cool to be talking about real problems people have or reflecting on the reality surrounding them. Fantasy is out of the window, dreaming is for hippies, Can you imagine Coke releasing Id like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony without causing an entire generation to throw up? In 1971 people actually sang along! Cool right now is all about reality and social conscience, where as for the last 40 years we’ve gone from individual rebellion (rock and roll), to free love (individual dreaming), to rebellion (punk rock), to material girl (the individual success story) to free your mind (90s acid rock). Interestingly if you take Madonna as a survivor of this social pendulum notice how her style and lyrics have changed? She started off as rebellious material girl, all vogue and power icon but now has shifted to a real mum with a social conscience (ray of light album). Social conscience and getting things done Were switching from an idealistic society where it is Ok to dream, to a social society where getting things done is more important. The shift in society will have profound effects on branding and advertising over the next 20 years at least. Youre now in a generation that doesn’t respect individual achievements, rebellion or going it alone, mocks hype and doesn’t think James Bond is da man! You’re now in a generation where people are tired of hype, tired of dreams and want to work together to get things done. Your peers want to do things that make the world a better place to live in rather than just dream about it. They recognize the problems around them and seek solutions to make things happen. Stars today wear ordinary clothes; remember Elvis on stage in his glittery white suits? Now think Eminem and Coldplay. How do they look in comparison? Todays stars want to be portrayed as real. Notice the sudden trend in reality TV shows? Paris Hilton and her pal in The Simple life? I bet when you watch the Simple life you think Paris and her pal are morons. Is that because they are morons? Or is it because you think that living the false lifestyle of credit cards, flash cars and a $10,000 Louis Vuitton handbag is crass? Its an interesting question. Would todays reality focus have worked back in 1971 when all we were dreaming about was giving peace a chance? Reality branding is whats cool today Understanding this shift in social attitudes is the good news because now you can apply that to your own business. Relentless repetition used to be the only requirement to drive the branding message home, now it isnt quite as easy as that. Dove is a great example of this shift in thinking. Yes they still do repetition, but they get the message across to real women by showing them ads with real women in them. Gone are the stick like models, because our social conscience wont allow us to let our daughters grow up thinking that skeletal is beautiful. In are normal looking women with real curves and different types of skin showing that Dove is good for them. To communicate with todays audience who are completely sick of advertising, you need to communicate facts and real benefits, not features and value based statements. Communicating facts and benefits in your copy If you write copy like your business school teacher taught you 20 years ago you will be out of sync with the current trend of thought. Below, Roy Williams describes how value statements can be seen as hype; Modern advertising overflows with values-based statements: “Big selection.” “High quality.” “Low prices.” “Easy credit.” Even though these statements may be true in the mind of the advertiser, the public has heard them all before. The left hemispheres of our brains detect fact-based statements and prefer them to statements that are values-based. Having been suffocated by hype for the past 40 years, we hunger today for statements of fact. Roy Williams Monday Morning Memo 5 Values based statements still have their place but backing it up with facts will cut through the clutter more effectively. If you see low prices in website copy will you read on? Maybe, maybe not, but if you see a price which is attractive for a product you want then youre looking for your credit card. Take your PPC ad which says MP3 players Exceptional quality, high storage capacity and low prices. That might and probably will attract a lot of people who are seeking information about an MP3 player. However selling the same product with fact based statements you could give your reader a much better idea and make your ad stand out from the crowd MP3 players High quality with 100GB storage for thousands of tracks $399. Of course the second ad will attract far less traffic than the first because youre pre-qualifying people. Hmmm, well isnt that what you want from a PPC ad? People that know what you have and wants to buy what you sell? Sources 1 The Wizard Of Ads Academy 2 5000 BC Post on the membership forum. 3 Victor Hugo French dramatist, novelist, & poet (1802 - 1885) 4 Wikipedia - A list of slang terms used in the Hip Hop culture. 5 Monday Morning Memo for September 26, 2005 Author: Steve Jackson, Editor - Conversion Chronicles Steve Jackson is CEO of Aboavista, editor of The Conversion Chronicles and a published writer. You can get a free copy of his e-book sent to you upon subscription to the Chronicles web site (http://www.conversionchronicles.com). Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Jackson http://EzineArticles.com/?Reality-Branding—Are-You-Taking-Advantage-Of-The-40-Year-Social-Pendulum?&id=82088 get a prescription for phentermine buy phentermine without physician cheap phentermine without a prescription buy phentermine usa