Archive for April, 2008

No Marketing Budget? No Problem! 9 Free and Cheap Marketing Ideas You Can Use Today

Monday, April 7th, 2008

By Kristen King Forget “bang for your buck.” You can market yourself and your services for free with these easy self-promotion tips: 1. Create a signature line and append it to all outgoing e-mail messages. Include your name, the name of your business or something to identify your services, your website address, and contact information. Make it very easy for potential clients to contact you and pass your name along to others. 2. Participate actively in free e-mail discussion lists and online forums related to your target market or area of expertise. Asking questions makes you approachable, answering them gives you credibility, and reading others’ comments is like a dozen free marketing and business courses rolled into one. Include your signature in every post. 3. Submit your website to the major search engines and indexes: Google, MSN, Yahoo!, Open Directory, Looksmart, and others. It’s not particularly difficult to do it manually, but you may benefit from checking out a service like the one offered by Robert Woodhead at SelfPromotion.com. He provides straightforward search engine optimization (SEO) info and explains the entire submission process. The articles and advice on the site are fantastic, and a free account there is, well, free! 4. Start a blog or free, subscription-based e-mail newsletter to build recognition, credibility, and relationships, and to drive traffic to your website. 5. Write letters to the editor and op-ed columns about subjects that may interest your potential clients or that establish you as an expert. Be sure to include your URL or professional e-mail address in the author bio blurb. 6. Sell or volunteer articles for newsletters and websites read by potential clients. Include a bio that identifies your business and expertise and include your e-mail address and/or URL. 7. Write a few short “evergreen” articles and submit them to content distributors like EzineArticles.com. You may pick up a few dollars along the way, and you’ll increase your visibility as your articles are reprinted by various publications. 8. Take advantage of www.PRWeb.com’s free press release distribution services to get your name out there and keep your business in front of your audience. 9. Visit Craigslist.org and post a short, well-written ad in the Services section for your city or region. Include a link to your website, and use your real e-mail address (not one of those anonymized ones). Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive. Bite the bullet and shell out a few bucks for your website and a new batch of business cards every now and then — but otherwise, save your money for things that aren’t so easy to get for free. Kristen King is a freelance writer-editor and consultant from Northern Virginia, and the author of Inkthinker (http://www.inkthinker.blogspot.com), which was named one of the top 10 blogs for writers in 2006. Subscribe to Kristen’s free e-newsletter at http://www.notes-in-the-margin.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_King http://EzineArticles.com/?No-Marketing-Budget?-No-Problem!-9-Free-and-Cheap-Marketing-Ideas-You-Can-Use-Today&id=453034 cheapest phentermine pharmacy net phentermine without a prescription order phentermine overnight phentermine & no prescription

Wacky Water Games For Your Kids party

Sunday, April 6th, 2008

By Patricia Jensen BUBBLE POOL Set up a kiddie pool and fill with bubble solution. Supply kids with an assortment of bubble blowers. Stretched coat hangers are great for giant bubbles. Have each child stand in the middle of the bubble pool inside a hula hoop. Pull the hoop upward to create a mega-bubble with the child inside it! COLD POTATO Have players stand or sit in a circle outside. A water balloon is passed from player to player. However, the balloon is not passed around the circle as in traditional “hot potato”. It is thrown across the circle from player to player. If a players fails to catch the balloon, or it breaks when he or she attempts to catch it, that player is out. If a players intentionally throw the balloon hard to make it explode in another’s hands, he or she is called “out”. Older kids can spread farther apart if necessary. The game proceeds until there is one dry person left. WATER LIMBO Set up a water hose in a grassy area. Line kids up as in traditional limbo. An adult is in charge of the water hose, shooting a powerful stream of water for kids to limbo under. Adult starts with the hose high, then lowers the steam of water after each round. Losers, of course, get soaked! MUSICAL SPRINKLER Hook up a sprinkler to your water source, but don’t turn it on yet. Instruct players to move around the sprinkler area, dancing, hopping, or striking funny poses. When the sprinkler is turned on, kids must freeze in position without moving until the sprinkler is turned off again. Bathing suits a “must” for this game. WATER BALLOON VOLLEY You’ll need a bucket full of water balloons for this game. Divide kids into two teams and pair them up. Each pair gets a beach towel and each child holds two corners of the towel. One side begins by placing a water balloon in the center of their towel. The object is to toss the balloon from one pair of kids to another, with the opposing side catching the balloon in their towel. This can be played with a net, or simply pace off a distance between opposing teams. Kids volley back and forth till someone misses and the balloon breaks. This gives the other team a point. For small children, use a sheet or blanket instead of towels. Divide into two teams and have each child hold onto the edge of the one of the sheets. Volley until one of the teams misses. WATER BRIGADE Divide players into two or more teams of about 4-5 kids. Place empty buckets for each team about 25 paces away. Each team gets their own full bucket of water at the starting line. The object of the game is to transfer water from the starting line to the finish line bucket, with whichever means is available… Traditional - Each player gets a small cup to transfer water from the starting line to the finish line bucket. Variation - Each player gets one of these items - spoon, cup, bowl, pie plate, Tupperware container Sponge version- Each player gets a sponge to suck up water at the starting line and squeeze it out into the finish line bucket. BUCKET BRIGADE Divide players into two teams and line them up from start to finish line. Players each have a bucket in hand. A kiddie pool or large bucket is available at the starting line. The player closest to the water source scoops up a bucketful and pours it into the next closest player’s bucket. That player turns and does the same, and so on down the line. The last player dumps whatever water is left into the finish line bucket. The first team to fill their bucket wins. Kids will get excited and try to go fast, spilling water onthemselves and each other. Good for a nice hot day. SPONGE TAG A twist on traditional tag, this game is played with a big soft sponge like the kind used to wash your car. The player who is “It” must use the wet sponge to tag another player, who then becomes the new “It”. There will be no doubt about who is tagged because they’ll be wearing a big wet splat mark on their back! EXTERMINATOR This is an outdoor party game, especially great for a hot day. Set off a game area and spread several beach towels on the ground in various locations. These are the anthills. One child is designated the “Exterminator” and is armed with a spray bottle of water. The other guests are ants. The Exterminator must get rid of the ants by spraying them with his bottle of insecticide. When a player is sprayed, they must lay on the ground with arms and legs in the air - like a dead bug! The other players rescue the dead ants and bring them back to life by carrying them by the arms and legs to one of the anthills. (While an ant rescue is taking place, the Exterminator cannot spray any of the rescuers.) Once placed on an anthill, the dead ants come back to life and can rejoin the game. This game can go on for quite awhile! ICE CUBE MELT Divide players into two teams and line them up. The first player on each is given an ice cube. The child must rub the ice cube between his hands for as long as possible to try to make it melt. When he or she gets too cold, the ice cube is passed to the next child in line. The first team to melt the ice cube wins. FABULOUS FROZEN FEET Have kids sit along the edge of a kiddie pool filled with water. Each player has their own empty bucket or bowl beside them. Now dump a big pile of ice cubes into the pool. At the starting signal, players must pick up as many ice cubes as they can and put them into their own buckets. The catch is that they must use only their feet. The player who collects the most ice cubes within a designated time period is the winner. WATER WAR Arm kids with an arsenal of water weapons, such as squirt guns, squirt bottles, turkey basters, sponges, water balloons - anything that can hold and/or shoot water. Let them go wild! Copyright 2005 Kids Party Paradise All Rights Reserved Patricia B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party enthusiast. She is the webmaster and owner of Kids-Party-Paradise.com - a complete resource for kids party ideas including invitations, cakes, decorations, games, costumes, favors, and food. For all the latest party news, read her Kids Party Blog. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Jensen http://EzineArticles.com/?Wacky-Water-Games-For-Your-Kids-party&id=19300 cheapest phentermine pharmacy net phentermine pills without prescription direct pharmacy phentermine order cheap phentermine

Newest Bridesmaid Gifts of 2007

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

By Yolanda Nash Do you want your bridesmaids to just fall in love with the bridesmaid gifts that you give them? Do you want to break the norm and get the hottest and newest bridesmaid gifts around? Well then you must read on. Below I have listed the newest bridesmaid gifts of 2007 that will soon be on the shelf of the many retailers online in the days to come so be on the look out for these. Brushed Oval Beaded Jewelry Box his brushed nickel jewelry box is the perfect combination of vintage style and modern appeal. Lined with black velvet and trimmed with an embossed beaded edge, it’s large enough to hold lots of your jewels or keepsakes. Lid may be engraved with a script name or word of your choice(up to 14 character max)or a script monogram. Most retailers will personalize this item for free. 3 Pc Pamper Me Terry Bag Set The sweetest set of three! This set of terry cloth cosmetic bags will give all your toiletries a home. Features an easy clean lining, pink trim details and zip top closure. Available in white terry with pink trims. Embroidery design features a spa beauty equipped with mask, cucumbers, ruby red lips and “Pamper Me” text written below. Large bag measures 10 x 7 x 3. Medium bag measures 7 x 4 x . Small bag measures 7 x 3 x 1 . Beveled Glass Jewelry Box Have a jewelry box as precious as your jewels! This Beveled Glass Jewelry Box provides sleek lines with silver trim and a darling heart charm on the lid. Glass lid may be engraved with a script name or an interlocking monogram. Measures 6 x 4 x 3. Hanging Cosmetic Case Organization never looked so good! This travel bag has everything youll need to travel in style. This black and white polka dot bag features four easy zip compartments, a pocket flap for smaller brushes or jewels, frosted easy clean lining, leatherette handles and trim, and a hook attachment for hanging. May be embroidered with a script name or script monogram in your choice of Medium Pink, Apple Green, Aqua, Lavender or Red. Most retailers will not charge for personalization. These are just a few of the very many new bridesmaid gifts that are expected to go on sale in mid to late January. Many retailers will sale these items so be sure to be on the lookout for these latest bridesmaid gifts. Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas wedding favors and wedding planner. She enjoys seeing all the different table decorations and wedding party favors that go along with the reception. She also sales a very nice line of bridesmaid gifts such as beveled glass jewelry box, pamper me gift sets, brushed oval jewelry boxes and many more bridesmaid gifts. So be sure to check out Yolandas wedding favors for all of your wedding needs. Yolandas wedding favors will beat anyones price guaranteed! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yolanda_Nash http://EzineArticles.com/?Newest-Bridesmaid-Gifts-of-2007&id=414878 prescription phentermine 37.5 buy phentermine in california phentermine hcl no prescription buy phentermine no rx

What Can Star Wars Teach You About Creating a Buzz for Your Business?

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

By Mical Johnson Many people think marketing is some type of mystery that only a few select people know the secret too. In fact if you look at the entertainment industry you will find some of the best models to follow. Lets look at George Lucas and Star Wars. How long before the movie came out did you know it was coming? How many different places did you see an ad for it, someone talking about it, or writing about it? How many different ways does he tie in to advertise his movies that are outside the entertainment industry? Find your source The first thing you need to do is find out where your people hang out in the real world or surf on the internet. There are many sites that people go to and many place that the visit everyday. With the internet you have many niche products and places for people to talk about them like blogs, or forums or different ezines that are published. Even though Star Wars has become somewhat of an icon they still market to very specific niches first. From there they will start to create a buzz everywhere else. Find out where the people who absolutely love the type of product you are marketing hang out and advertise there first. Marketing on the internet you can do this rather quickly. There are plenty of search engines like Google, MSN, and Yahoo that will index what you are looking for quickly. **Tip: Use quotes around you search term to get a more specific result** For example if you were trying to sell Star Wars memorabilia in your search you would put Star Wars memorabilia. Also the more specific you get the better. Instead of doing Star Wars memorabilia you would do Star Wars action figures and get a laser focus group of people wanting to buy your product. When they get excited about your product they like to tell the world about it. Announce it to the world Any time you have a new product or are just starting your business. Make sure to announce it to the world. In fact anything that is news worthy can be done this way as well. There a plenty of free press release sites out there for you to get your message out. You must come a crossed as providing a solution to someones problem and not a sales letter to get a better response. Being creative is the key to this type of free marketing. If you just dont feel that you are creative enough for a modest fee most places will even write it for you and guarantee distribution for you. How many times did you see that Star Wars was going to be in theaters? How many different spins did they put on it? Do you think we would know when it was going to be in the theater if they didnt announce it first? Get your product or service reviewed With all the consumer watchdog groups out there and people giving their opinion on your product and service make sure you give them something to talk about. Contact these people and ask them to review your product or service so you not only can get them to publish what they think, but also find out what suggestions you can do to improve on it. This is a great way to get an honest opinion about your product or service. How many sneak previews of Star Wars happened all a crossed the country and the world for people to give their opinion and write a review about it? Be the expert In your field of expertise you want to be the expert. The only way to do that is have your voice heard. Do everything you can to offer you opinion in such a way that it creates value to the public. Give them a reason to keep coming back to what you say is true. One of the best ways to do that is to write articles, like this one, on what you are an expert in. Nobody knows how really great you are until you tell them what you have done and what your ideas are. Another way to do that is to publish your own newsletter. Make sure that the information you are giving them will help and edify them. This will build your credibility and loyalty from your subscriber and other people as well. You can also do interviews or hold informational free seminars to educate the public on your product. Did you see George Lucas on The Tonight Show, Oprah, or Good Morning America? How many times did he talk about Star Wars on these shows? There are literally thousands of T.V. shows and radio shows that are always looking for people to speak with. Find the ones that deal with your topic and contact them so that they can interview you. The Plan Each one of these things individually can generate a lot of publicity for you. When ever you do them one right after another in a short span of time you will find that you can create a Buzz about you and your business. The key is to get exposure in multiple places in a very short period of time. Make sure you plan exactly when everything is going to take place. Then all you need to do is watch your business grow from there. I can guarantee you that before Star Wars was even finished being edited George Lucas already had a plan for when it would come out and what he had to do. This is the short version to the masterful plan executed by George Lucas to promote Star Wars. Do you think he was successful? Consider this; most films need to make $100 million to be considered a block buster. In the first weekend Star Wars was in theater it grossed over $106 million. So take it from the pros like George Lucas, create a buzz for you product and the payoff will make you a blockbuster. Mical Johnson is an entrepreneur, speaker and business builder. He specializes in helping Home Based Business Owners, Affiliate Marketers, and Network Marketers to build their businesses. Giving you what you need to succeed in a home based business and make a profit from the start. Sign up for our ezine and receive you free bonuses to build your business. http://www.MyHomeBasedBusiness101.com/ezine Copyright 2005 - Mical Johnson. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mical_Johnson http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Can-Star-Wars-Teach-You-About-Creating-a-Buzz-for-Your-Business?&id=39004 zolpidem receptory ambien blackout ambien and elderly and bad rxn ambien