Pros & Cons of E-Commerce

Riding the information highway is a bit like riding a bike or driving a car. You can get somewhere quicker and easier than you could if you just walked, but there are risks that come with the associated speed and convenience that you need to take into account.

Some of the Pros...

eCommerce is fast! If you are connected to a broadband cable network then there are few things faster in this world than the access that you can get to a world of information and industry. A click of a button and a few flashes of light across your screen and your there! Compare that to the hours of commuting, parking, walking, browsing, negotiating, signing, paying and returning home that regular commerce entails and there is just no comparison.

I hardly shop at regular stores anymore because the convenience of shopping at home FAR outweighs the hassle of going store to store at the mall or supermarket for most things and I don't mind waiting for delivery. If I am organised then except for the few things that a I need RIGHT NOW (or in the next 10min - 2hr, depending on the commuting, parking etc etc involved in making an emergency trip to a store) I can get something online in a few minutes and have it delivered next day in 95% of cases.

eCommerce is safe! The fears that many people continue to harbour in regards to the security of their information are unfounded in the majority of cases.

Yes, if you want to buy something from a site promising something for nothing and the language of the contract or sales letter is written in less than perfect english or is rife with spelling mistakes or vague details then you are asking for trouble - and you can't blame problems that come from this sort of activity on eCommerce just as you wouldn't blame the retail industry for problems that you encounter if you buy something from someone at bar!

If you are running firewall software and you have a clean system and shop on reputable sites then saving for the most unfortunate of cases you and your information is just as safe as if you had bought something from a bricks and mortar store.

eCommerce is cheap! Common sense says that someone who is operating a website with hundreds and thousands of customers across the world will be able to sell for less than someone who has less customers and higher rental and utiltiy expenses from operating a physical premises. Take eBay for example - there are millions of sellers selling millions of products that they sell from the comfort of their homes or small business premises and they sell for about 50% of the price of the big department stores with their huge buying power simply because their overheads are next to $0!

Sure, you will pay the same for an Ipod shopping from Apple's website as you would from Apple's Stores, but they are not exactly about to undercut themselves when they are making heaps of money as it is. There is plenty of competition in cyberspace to keep price at ground level.

eCommerce is global! Where else do you get retailers in Australia competing with small businesses in America and individuals in Japan all in the same industry and over the same products and services. And how else could the average person expect to be able to get access to goods and services from anywhere other than their immediate locality if not for eCommerce! It is the wonder of the modern age and a blessing for businesses and consumers the world over.

Some of the cons...

eCommerce is constantly changing! As I mentioned above there are many traps for people who don't take the time to negotiate the fraudsters that are prevalent in cyberspace. The old saying that 'a sucker is born every minute' has particular meaning in eCommerce because all of the old suckers who had been sucked into every trap and scap in the real world were immediately exposed to the same scams again online when they ventured online for the first time.

As with anything new there is a need for people to get themselves educated and sadly education is one of the biggest small parts of people's lives (though hopefully some of these articles with help with that in some cases). Don't think that just because something exists then it is safe. Learn about the internet and stay with the proven safe roads before going for the road less travelled by and that will make all the difference.

eCommerce is competitive! As with anything where there is the potential for profit and the necessity of competition there is a lot of sharp practice online just as there is in the real world. Advertising, with the same subliminal and blatant enticements is just as prevalent online as it is in the real world and people are getting sucked into spending more than they can afford because access to payment by credit card and buy-now-pay-later schemes are everywhere.

eCommerce should be seen as a blessing to be able to take some of the hassle out of real world business and strict planning and budgeting should be invested in shopping and doing business online just as it has to be done in the real world to avoid defeat.

Personally I don't think that there are many cons in the world of eCommerce - only the same cons that exist in any business or commercial environment - buyer beware - look before you leap - there are a lot of principles that apply in real life that need to be taken online but are left at the login page for some reason. eCommerce is not a computer game where you can just restart if you didn't like the score that you got. Take is seriously and you will only reap the benefits!

See Also : Buy SHOES Now and Pay Later my blog magic

Creating the Ultimate Salon Experience

It happens and you can make it happen for your clients as well. There are a few, and I mean only a few stylists that really research how to make the right visual accents so when a customer walks in they just sense that the salon is in tune with what they really want to do, and that is to visually excite people when they walk in to a room. Isn't that what you're offering? To make them that visual reference point that others are in awe of when you cut or color their hair?

How can you do that without breaking the bank? It's really simple, just take a trip to allposters on the web and find some pictures that will enhance your studio. There is so much there that you'll probably have to make a couple of visits before you can decide on what you want to use.

Plan my friend, exactly what type of atmosphere you want to create... and then put it together. I'll never forget the "experiences" I had as a young twenty something in the clothing boutiques of the late sixties and early seventies. I mean the sights, smells, and sounds just kept me wanting to hang around and look at clothes for hours. Did I buy? Most of the time and the total experience was a big part of why.

The next area to discuss is your sound system, not that you have to have some elaborate stereo system but I'll tell you that now with the XM capabilities it's easy to import just exactly the kind of music that pleases you and your customers with just a small monthly expense to pay for the monthly subscription. That's just one of the possibilities. Another is of course you loading your iPod with all kinds of music and setting it in a cradle that delivers stereo to your studio. Is there other ways?

Oh yea, actually too many to even mention them all. But the point is that you want to incorporate music into your salon.

Even right now while I write this I'm listening to Chris Botti so I keep the creative juices flowing, and I know that you can find your source of inspiration as well. Were you even aware that there is such a thing as music therapy? It's real and you know it to be so as music can put you into all kinds of moods... right? Right!
I promise you that your customers will like it as well. You might try to have some different genres available as you'll have a variety of clients in your salon, so be cool and deliver some awesome sounds to your clients.

The last thought today is for kinesthetic or "feeling." How can you create a feel in a studio? Visual and audio will certainly set the stage so to that add some good smells and create a sense of feeling by you presenting yourself as the expert and with your confidence to make your customer into what they wish they were. Can you do that? Don't people fantasize about how they really look and act? Of course they do and when you help them with their hair it gives an incredible edge to that client to go attack their world when they leave you. Learn to touch in ways to adds to your customer's experience. I just wrote an article about a 5 minute shampoo that absolutely makes me feel wonderful.

My normal yearly exercise is to visit as many different salons as I can so I can get as many different ideas as I can as to what exactly is going on in this industry. And then I write about it to you. So I sort of do the research for you and then give you all the best things to build your business with. With all that being said, I can tell you that there are some very good stylists in this industry but as I told my wife last night the very one that I think cut my hair the best wouldn't listen to a single marketing strategy that I gave her. I could have brought in more traffic for her than she could have ever handled but she was stuck in a rut with her own perceptions of how to bring in customers. The interesting thing is that now being 3 years later, she's still trying different things to get customers in the door. I like to keep up on her and her shop, just to see if she will ever find the answer.

You can have so much more by utilizing proven marketing strategies... if you will. But if you won't... well then you're be like my favorite stylist, still looking for more customers for years to come. It doesn't have to be that hard.

Thanks To : Buy SHOES Now and Pay Later my blog magic

Secrets of Successful Traders

How would you describe a successful trader? Is it someone who makes lots of money, is it someone who stays at home and makes their money in their underwear? No, to me a successful trader is someone who loves what they do and "Makes lots of money". I have met many stock traders that hate their jobs, but do it because it pays the bills, and I don't consider them successful.

There are some secrets to how people become successful traders, and it all starts with learning and it ends with learning. Everyday you will learn something new and if you don't then you are falling behind your competition. The great thing about the stock market is the competition is yourself. If you can't beat yourself at a game then why play, right? Now I don't want you to think I am not going to tell you the secrets of how to become a successful trader, so here they are. Make sure you save this or at least write them down.

Keep records: Any successful trader keeps records of every trade they do. They know when they bought in, the highs, lows, splits and mergers of the company while they were watching the stock or holding it, and they know when they sold and what the return was. You need to keep great records, because you never know when that very stock may hit a trend and you can profit from a second go around of the stock.

Stay Focused: Many market traders watch the news daily and are always reading what the press is saying about certain companies, but the biggest thing that drives the market is FEAR. There are 3 emotions that drive the market, greed, uncertainty, and FEAR. Fear is where you make your money, you buy when nobody else wants to and when the price is low and sell when everyone else is being greedy and buying at higher prices. But stay focused, the market over exaggerates news so don't trade on over exaggerated news.

Trade Daily: Many successful traders trade stocks daily, and this is because if you are only trading every few days you are losing out on lots of money that you could be earning. Think of trading as your job, you clock in at the opening bell and you clock out a little after the closing bell. Take the time to trade daily, it will pay off big and you will thank me later.

Look Back: The only time I ever tell people to look back is when the day is over. You need to look back at the end of the day and see what you missed and how you can improve the next day. Don't look back on the bad things, take your losses and learn from them. Take your gains and figure out how you can make a bigger gain.

Now that you know these secrets of the successful traders you can go out there and start trading to make money. Don't just trade because you are scared or because you don't like to see losses. "Trade to make money".

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New Ways to Market on the Internet - Get Paid to Advertise?

In today's age of advertising overload, one would think that they have seen just about everything out there when it comes to marketing ploys. Hardly a minute goes by during our day when we aren't bombarded with some sort of hype or propaganda. Pick up any print media and you will find more ads than substance. Turn on the TV and nearly 25% of the content will be devoted to separating you from your money! So is it possible that there is really a new way to market on the internet? Well, as surprising as it may sound, the answer is "YES"!

In order to understand this new way of internet marketing, one must first understand a simple yet widely-used form of advertising known as Pay-per-Click (PPC) marketing. Most of you are probably familiar with this already, but just in case, here's a quick review. PPC advertising is offered by all of the major search engines and it allows a company to basically buy their way onto page one of any internet search. Say, for instance, that you sell shoes. The internet search for the keyword "shoes" is going to be highly competitive and it could take years for your website to get to page one of that search (if you ever get there at all). However, you can buy your way on to page one if you are willing to pay every time someone "clicks" on your link. That's PPC advertising. Now, let's continue...

Obviously PPC is not a new way to market on the internet. Google, Yahoo, and others have been doing it for a long time and it generates BILLIONS of dollars for them annually. So what's the big deal? Well, what if YOU were actually the one getting some of that PPC revenue. Yep, that's right. What if some of the money from all of those PPC's was actually coming to you? Hmmm... Now we have your attention. Maybe this is a new way to market on the internet. Let me tell you that it absolutely exists, but very few people know about it (until now).

There is a software application on the market today that you can actually give away to anyone. Give it to friends, family, customers, clients, prospects, use it for advertising your own business, website, or idea. The application downloads in seconds and a mobile version will be available soon. It allows the user to save time and money whenever they shop online. Since nearly everyone shops and compares prices online for items ranging from pants to airline tickets, this application has some serious value for the online shopper- and you can give away as many copies as you'd like. OK ready for this? Here comes the good part. Every time a person does an internet search for anything (that's right, any keyword search) your name, info, or logo appears on their computer screen with a link directly to your site! Wait a minute, did I just say that your link comes up on their computer whenever they perform any internet search? Yes, that's what I said. That really is a new way to market on the internet. Can't get any better than that, or can it?

How about this... Along with your link, there are other links that appear which people can use to compare prices, find internet deals/specials/coupons, and even find locations of brick and mortar stores in their area where they might find the items they are seeking, all in just one mouse click. Any time someone uses any of those links, they generate PPC revenue that gets shared with you. OK, time out here. Let me get this straight. You give away an application and any time the person uses it they save time and money, they see your link, and you get paid if they click on any of the other links. That's unbelievable. Yes, it truly is unbelievable but you better believe it because if you don't, your competition will find out about it sooner or later.

The average person performs between 75-100 internet searches per month. That means if you use this software application and give it away to just one person per day, after just 6 months that's 180 people times 75-100 searches per month! Your link appears up to 18,000 times per month on other people's computers. What would that do to your business? Yes folks, it is a new way to market on the internet.

It must be expensive? Nope, less than $30 per month and with the income potentially generated through PPC, you can actually make money. You do have to buy the license rights to the software but that's only a one-time fee of $199. All of this is far less than what you would actually pay to buy an ad from one of the major search engines.

So here's the bottom line. There are new ways of marketing on the internet being developed every day. The key is that not everything is going to be immediately released to the main street public. You need to be networked with the proper people who have the newest information otherwise your competition could crush your dreams of being a successful entrepreneur. Yes, sometimes there is a cost in order to become educated. But if you think education is expensive, consider the cost of ignorance! If you don't take the first step toward progress, no one will take it for you. Tired of the same old, same old? Then take action today!

See Also : Buy SHOES Now and Pay Later my blog magic

Peek A Boo

Every day I, along with millions of women put on a bra, usually beige but sometimes black It's sensible, satisfactory, and comfortable. Then soon after moving to France I became more and more hypnotized by all the French woman wearing assorted colored bra straps that were peeking out of their sundresses and T-shirts. Every day I would survey bra straps; the clear bra straps the young girls were wearing with tank tops, the gingham check with lace on the grocer's wife, the green ivory the neighbor wore, the purple with roses on a friend, elegant black at night, and silky pink under a rose colored dress. Rarely, if ever did I see a plain white bra strap.

The insurance agent wearing a red sleeveless dress had a matching fire engine red bra strap sidle outside the sleeve glancing up at me as to say, "Aren't I beautiful?" Wow I thought that bra strap really does have something to say.

I was used to buying my staple Wacoal beige bras at Nordstrom's once a year. A comfortable bra to wear under white T-Shirts or work suits. No imagination and definitely no mystery. Being tantalized to find out more about French women and lingerie especially the bra, I began my own personal investigation.

Frenchwomen spend nearly twenty percent of their annual clothing budget on lingerie. In the U.S. the average clothing budget is $1759 a year. Twenty percent means that an average American woman should be spending $345 a year on lingerie. I personally am falling way below the average. Why is that I wonder. A product of the 70s when we were burning our bras? It was now thirty years later and I wanted something more, something these French women secretly knew and loved.

My various interviews with French women, proved my instincts right, every French woman believed with her heart and soul that wearing a beautiful lace or satin bra with matching underwear was the essence of looking and feeling good. It isn't about the man (which some say it is), but about how they feel wearing cool silk on their warm skin, and a demi-cup where their cleavage glistens in the summer heat. After all the bra was invented in 1889 by a French woman who cut the midriff off her corset to allow for more waist movement. The French should know.

My personal research continued at the local mini-department store in Uzes. Trying on selected bras in the mid-price range in black and white lace, pink satin, and purple and blue flowers I decided upon all three. After all I have a budget of $345.

For the next week I wore each bra under a T-shirt, tank, and summer dress taking time to match the bra with the color top. I felt different somehow; more put together, more elegant, more French. Next I decided to pick up a few of the colored bras in the local marché (open market) for a mere 5 Euro a piece. Soon I found out you do get what you pay for and the marché 5 Euro bras were fun but vexatious and ill fitting. A 10 Euro experiment, I told myself.

Passing the two French lingerie stores in town I stared in the windows drooling over the beautifully designed Chantall and Aubade bras displayed in the window with the book "L'Art d'Aimer" Lessons in Seduction, tucked in close by. A white lace bra with green leaves and plum cherries and an orange and white gingham bow and straps edged in black jumped out at me. I loved that bra. It made me feel jubilant and impish and I was only looking in the window. Opening the door I boldly walked in and asked to try on the bra in the window.

Slipping into the dressing room I wiggled into the bra and realized it was a demi-cup, something I don't usually wear. But wow, did it look flirtatious and whimsical. It held me firm while showing off my upper half and oh how soft it felt against my skin. I turned and twisted in the mirror seeing if I could run to the bus (not that I ever run to the bus), dance, and jump without falling out daring it to say "you shouldn't buy me." Do I dare. At 75 Euro ($100 with exchange rate) it was going to put a big dent in the lingerie budget I just formed.

The woman shopkeeper was kind and politely asked if I would like to have matching underwear. Personally I'd wondered about all the matching underwear I saw, but had been too thrifty to buy it. My Victoria Secret three for $10 had done just fine up to now. For now I'd pass.

The next six months I pranced around in my economical, moderate and expensive bras and loved every minute. Jean loved it too and especially admitted the tres cher bra was the most beautiful on me. So money does pay I thought keeping that in mind for the next shopping spree.

Underwear however was another thing. So my investigation took me further. I tried a string bikini but could never get the hang of it even though I read recently that it is not the breast that is getting the most attention these days but the fessé, otherwise known as the buttock. I soon came to find out that the French would no longer wear underwear that didn't match the bra then wear two different color shoes. It was unheard of. Did it really make a difference if you wore matching underwear? Was it more important to feel elegant and sexy than to be sensible? Evidently the British are thinking so ever since Bridget Jones. One report stated that the British are now spending more than the French, Germans, Italians, and Spanish on lingerie and definitely more than the Americans.

Returning to my favorite lingerie store during their January winter sale when the coveted 75 Euro bras were on sale for 50% off, I wondered if now was the time to indulge in matching underwear as well. A leopard silk bra trimmed with beige lace was just waiting for me in my size. The saleswoman smiled as she proudly brought me a matching pair of underwear on sale as well. "C'est bon prix." It is a good price. Yes I thought I have to have it. Instead of wrapping up the package I told the saleswoman I wanted to wear it. Bien Sur, Of course she said with a smile that insinuated, "You must be meeting a man.".

Walking out of the store and down the street in my leopard lingerie I was concentrating on how it felt; soft, silky, playful, and sexy. I swayed to miss a dog and danced around a tree whistling a song I just heard on the radio. I then realized I was smiling at everyone I met. Bonjour monsieur, Bonjour Madame. They smiled back, and I wondered if just possible they knew my secret of the matching leopard bra and underwear.

See Also : Buy SHOES Now and Pay Later my blog magic

Shed Designs - How To Build A Storage Shed You Will Be Proud Of

Many people wonder how they can build their own shed. With all of the shed designs and instructions available today, it's really quite easy! Here you will learn a little about the basics of building a shed, and find out about some of the shed designs that are available for you to choose from.

Some people try to go to their local home improvement or hardware store, buy a few tools, some lumber and begin to build their own shed. This is NOT the proper procedure, if you want to do it right. With thousands of storage shed designs available that include step by step instructions, there is no reason to throw up a ramshackle shed. Do it right, and you will be proud of your effort!

You really should begin by deciding where your shed will be located on your property. Make sure you find the most level spot, and that you're not overstepping the boundaries of the roads or someone else's property.

The next step should be deciding what type of foundation you will build your shed on. Concrete or wood is fine, but remember that should you ever decide to move your shed, you will have a concrete slab to deal with later. Many shed designs are now built using a wood foundation which works very well.

Once you have chosen a good location and decided what type of foundation you will use, decide what kind of shed design you want. There are many styles to peruse, from a simple square shed to much more elaborate styles. Make sure you have the perfect plan to suit your needs before you begin to build your storage shed.

Another thing to consider - how large your shed needs to be. If you are only going to store a few small items such as flower pots, garden tools, and a push mower, a small storage shed will probably do. But if you have big equipment like riding lawn mowers, four wheelers and things of that nature, you will want to build a larger shed.

Using your storage shed as a work area also needs to be considered. You will need plenty of room to move around your work bench, get to your tool location, etc. Think about these types of things when choosing your shed design and layout.

There are many other things to consider when you decide to build your own storage shed, but these tips will help you get started. With the proper planning, organization and tools, you will be able to build a shed that you will be proud to call your own for years to come! Storage shed plans are easy to come by, so do yourself a favor and do it right.

Thanks To : Buy SHOES Now and Pay Later my blog magic

Best Practices in Negotiation - Sharpen Your Skills 24-7

There are several ways to make any deal, yet for the most part, 99% of bargainers select the obvious path, which often leads to an impasse. Business negotiators should practice their skills 24/7, and especially when they have their consumer hats on. This enables them to try new tactics while matching wits with others, from whom they can learn in a low-threat environment.

Let's say you want a stylish pair of shoes that is ridiculously overpriced. Passing by the store, you notice a hopeful sign: "Clearance!"

You scavenge for the pair that you like and they're a perfect fit. But they aren't marked down. Having asked to speak to the manager, he comes by with an imperious expression and you wonder aloud why these aren't on sale. "These never go on sale," he smirks with impatience, chastising you for even asking.

Here are 15 options for getting that discount:

(1) You can attack, claiming his "clearance" sign is misleading advertising, fraudulently inducing passersby to come in. "Now, how much are you going to take off?"
(2) You can smile back and ask: "Is this price the best you can do?"
(3) You can make a specific offer of what you're willing to pay.
(4) You can bake a bigger cake: "What if I purchase two pairs?"
(5) You can start leaving the store. Some sellers will chase you down and reel you back in, especially if they have invested a lot of time with you (car dealers are famous for doing this).
(6) You can make a ceremony out of writing down the make and model number of the shoe and say you'll shop for a better price, especially on the Internet.
(7) You can ask: "Is the store closing? I can come back for the final sale."
(8) "My friend, Megan comes in all the time, and she gets discounts!"
(9) "What other stores around here carry Bally?"
(10) "Do you have an outlet store?"
(11) "Can you sell them to me for your employee discount?"
(12) "These are scratched. Are they SECONDS? They should be marked down!"
(13) "I'll find them for less, but I'd rather find them HERE for less and give you the business. What can you do for me?"
(14) "And what's the CASH price?"
(15) "If there's another markdown later, will you refund the difference?"

Typically, retailers look for a "keystone," which is two times the wholesale value they paid for inventory. So, if the shoes retail for $240, this means the store MAY have invested $120, and perhaps even less. This leaves them a lot of wiggle room to discount and to still make a profit.

And please note, if you are a retailer, there's no harm in rewarding your customers, especially if they're trying so hard to buy something from you. After all, isn't this why frequency marketing programs have been so successful in generating customer loyalty?

Practice bargaining 24/7, and you'll improve quickly.

Thanks To : Buy SHOES Now and Pay Later my blog magic