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Showing posts with label article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label article. Show all posts
Carbonless paper uses a chemical reaction between two different contacting coatings to transfer an image when pressure is applied. A paper that is most often used for multiple part forms, it contains a chemical coating on the front side (designated as CF) or on the back side (designated as CB), or on both sides (designated as CFB). When a handwritten or machine impression occurs on the first sheet of multiple parts, the impression transfers from one page or ply to the next due to the bursting of tiny microcapsules in the chemical coating used to release a darkened copy of the impression occurring on the first sheet.

A method and apparatus are provided for producing a foam wrapped package for protecting a roll of pressure-sensitive carbonless copy paper. Interleaved foam and film are wrapped under tension around the outer periphery of the roll of carbonless paper by selectively rotating the roll and separately feeding packaging foam and stretch film toward the rotating roll.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a foam wrap package, and, more particularly, to a process for wrapping and protecting a roll of pressure-sensitive carbonless copy paper by simultaneously wrapping interleaved layers of stretch film and packaging foam onto the roll of carbonless paper.

Heretofore, stretch wrapping machinery manufacturers have marketed equipment which combines spiral wrapping of stretch film with limited non-spiral wrapping of a single face corrugated medium or a kraft wrap. Traditionally, machines have been developed which provide foam wrap in one operation and then kraft wrap in a second operation, and have required a substantial amount of the wrapping process to be performed by hand.

Problems have occurred in the prior art with the existing foam/kraft packages. Specifically, these packages using kraft wrap cannot apply foam over the edge of a roll of pressure-sensitive carbonless paper without producing a bulky edge that makes roll stacking difficult. The absence of foam over the edge of the roll of carbonless paper leaves the roll subject to edge damage. Prior to this time a sufficient wrapping procedure or a final wrapped package has not been achieved in the art which would require only a relatively limited capital cost and produce a resultant packaged product which is easy to handle. 
A computer network is a collection of two or more computers with communication between them through a medium. The communication medium can be through radio waves, wires, infrared, optical fibers etc.

Computer network is an integral part of our daily lives, with the most important reason being that of communication. The use of computer networking is to share resources like fax machines, printers, modems, files etc., and its other uses are database server, computer server, email, chat, internet etc. The computer to which the resources are attached is called the server and the other computers that access the resource are called clients. In peer-to-peer computer networks there are no servers.

The sharing of fax machines, printers, and modems amongst many computers and users reduce the operational cost. A database on a computer network is a very important application as it stores and runs many important data and jobs. Emails and chats can be used for instantaneous communication and sending of files on a computer network.

The computer networks are classified, depending upon the size, as Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) and Personal Area Networks (PAN). The topology (topology is the way the computer networks and network resources are connected) of the networking can be classified as Bus Network, Ring Network and Star Network.

The networking hardware basically consists of wiring, network cards and a hub. Computer network cards are required so that one computer can understand what the other computer is "talking". Network cards have a unique MAC address to identify computers on a computer network. Hubs connect all the computers in the network. Hubs can also be used to connect to other hubs to increase the size of the computer network. Two computers can be connected using Ethernet cards or phone lines or power lines for communication, with hardware kits available at roughly a cost of $100.

As the number of computers in an office or a home increases, so do the number of cables, so wireless networking is a viable solution. In wireless networking radio transreceivers or infrared signals are used to communicate between computers and devices. Examples of wireless networking include Wi-fi and Bluetooth technology, though there may be security issues involved in wireless networking. However there definitely is a stronger preference towards wireless networking nowadays among consumers.

Computer networks have added a new dimension to the 21st century. Today the cyber world is much faster and wider than the real world. This has all been made possible due to computer networks. Computer networks have revolutionized business, communication, travel, research, defense, society and almost all human endeavors. The evolution of computer networks has helped the technological revolution take a big leap forward.
You're almost done with the whole article. You should feel relieved. Instead you feel like you've written a bunch of junk.

It's funny, though. At other times you've felt that you've written something worthwhile.

Now, however, you feel the urge to read several more articles, add more footnotes, edit it some more, or check your email. Anything but wrap it up and send it in.

It doesn't matter if it's a "revise and resubmit" article for a journal or a draft chapter to show to your dissertation advisor. There's something anxiety-provoking about letting go of your work and putting it out there for the wider world to see.

One very brilliant client of mine told me how she had a similar feeling when she was 9 months pregnant. The baby's room wasn't ready, and she had so much more to do. She tried to will herself not to give birth yet. Luckily, her body didn't cooperate. Now she tries to do the same with journal articles.

This reluctance to release one's work is so common in academia, that it may well be the norm. In some cases, though, it can become crippling.
Reasons for Reluctance to Release Writing
Here are the kinds of statements that I hear from academics in regards to this issue. Each statement is followed by an alternate way to look at the situation. If you've found yourself saying anything like this to yourself, try the alternate way of thinking on for size.

· Who am I to make that definitive a statement?
o If not you, then who? What makes someone else an authority and not you? Where and when did the current authorities start having the authority to make their statements?
· I have an idea, but I can't find any references to cite that say what I'm thinking.
o Maybe that's because it's an original idea! Sometimes new ideas really are leaps. Run it by some colleagues and see what they think.
· I'm intimidated by the fact that others have written about my subject for much longer than I have.
o Sometimes people who are steeped in a subject can't think about that subject in as clear a light as a newcomer.
o A new voice is always welcome (and if it isn't, too bad for them.)
· My viewpoint doesn't fit the mental maps of academics in my field, so they will disagree with what I say.
o Try to welcome disagreement! The best scholarly contributions often incite others to argue vociferously against the new ideas. By generating discussion you're advancing the field.

o The critical nature of academia is paralyzing to some. It's important to realize that academics enjoy thinking and puzzling things out. The "devil's advocate" approach that looks for holes in your logic is just part of the process. Try not to take that part personally.
o Remember that some of the most famous theorists, even the ones with scads of data to back them up, invited the most invective. Charles Darwin comes to mind – I'm sure you can think of others.
· What if I just don't know what I'm talking about?
o Then finish the piece, have others read it, and find out! Chances are you're not completely out of your mind.
· Everything I've written is junk. It doesn't make any sense to me any more.
o It's time to finish the up the part you're writing, give it a rest, and let someone else look at it. Either fresher eyes or new eyes will help you see it in a new light.
o If you're not totally burned out, push past that feeling. Trust the process. As one client said, don't flip out just when you're at the cusp of turning it from cream into butter. It seems like nothing is happening, but if you perservere, you will see that you have produced something worthwhile.
· I can see that it's not perfectly written. I'm a sham and a charlatan and I don't deserve to be in this field.
o It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be good enough.
o You don't have to be perfect. If you've gotten this far, you ARE good enough. Besides, everyone in academia feels that way every once in a while.
o Looking over already published papers will remind you that imperfect writing still gets published. And has some value!
· There's so much more I could say about this subject.
o You can use this excuse never to complete a project about the subject.
o It's OK to keep writing about the subject. In your next paper, chapter, or presentation, that is. Finish this one – you've probably said enough for now.

So Give Birth To That Baby!
The world deserves to hear what you have to say. Don't deprive the universe of your ideas! Release them from your brain and get them out there!
As doctors and scientists learn more about the aging process, they are finding that many things in the body are interconnected. Doctors used to treat a problem individually, but now research shows that it may be better to take a holistic approach with preventative medicine.

For example, almost everyone knows that calcium is needed for strong bones and teeth. However, now it is being discovered that calcium also can contribute to a healthy heart. Perhaps that is because calcium helps control weight, which is a contributing factor in heart disease.

Calcium also reduces the risk of colon cancer and is beneficial for people who have diabetes. Both conditions are affected by the level of calcium in our bodies.

Clearly, calcium supplements are beneficial for an aging America. But many prefer not to take those large chalky-tasting pills on a regular basis. For some, loading up on low-fat dairy products is a less-than-ideal alternative.

So Mosaic Nutraceuticals of Dallas introduced a novel way to get the recommended calcium supplement - in a butter-caramel soft candy chew.

"America needs calcium and America likes candy," said Charles Townsend, chief executive officer of Mosaic. "We just combined the two and now it's fun and tasty to take your calcium." The product is available in regular or sugar-free varieties.
You know, it's not everyday a fellow like me gets to announce a major paradigm shift, much less concerning diabetes …or any other medical condition.

You don't know what a paradigm shift is? Well, if I mentioned events and names like: Gutenberg, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Louis Pasteur, and Werner von Braun …you would probably guess a paradigm shift is major shift in thinking…and you would be right.

Back in the 1960's, Thomas Kuhn wrote a famous book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. In it, he destroyed the common misconception so many of us have about science.

We tend to think scientific progress is ushered in by a slow, line upon line, piece by piece development of thought over time.

Thomas Kuhn showed that, historically, scientific progress occurs in leaps …and is always confronted by a struggle with an "old guard." The old scientific theorists hold tenaciously to their (usually tenured or profitable) positions and array themselves against the new discovery, attempting to drive it away.

But, the new guard - the new discoverers, inventors, explorers- takes the new discoveries and advances it over the thinking of the old establishment. Rarely is the old guard converted to the new patterns of thinking (new discovery). They just die off. The new position wins by attrition …truth…and perseverance.

Diabetes: The $132 billion dollar pandemic

Diabetes is on the front edge of such a paradigm shift.

Diabetes now afflicts over 18 million Americans. That is double the number of people with diabetes just since 1991 alone.

According to the CDC, one in every three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Let that sink in…one in every three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

It is estimated over 40 million Americans can be classified as "pre-diabetes" meaning they have blood sugar levels higher than normal but still below the type 2 diagnosis level which helps to define diabetes.

By anyone's standard that is pandemic (goes far beyond epidemic proportions). The cost for this carnage is over $132 BILLION DOLLARS. So much expense, grief and sorrow…and unnecessary.

Diabetes: A reflection of our culture.

We are a fast food, sedentary, "get-our-fix-now" generation. More than one in every two Americans are overweight. We don't exercise as we should. All of which affects glucose levels. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease…and we've got the lifestyle.

Diabetes: The important announcement

That said, diabetes is a condition which CAN be turned around. Glyconutrition is the new discovery shaking the medical and scientific worlds. There are four Nobel Prizes and MIT testifying to the fact that glycobiology is one of the 10 technologies/discoveries which will shape our world.

Glyconutrition is more than just a promising new treatment for diabetes. Many are starting to whisper "VICTORY" over diabetes in their approach to disease.

Whether that is the case, time will tell.

Oh no… The problem is not a failure of glyconutrition. It is the building block VITAL to healthy cellular function and it is extremely vital to the proper functioning of the IMMUNE system. Those are known facts.

Diabetes is an auto-immune disease meaning, your body's immune system gets misguided messages. Thus, it starts attacking the islet cells in the pancreas which produces insulin. Voila...diabetes!

But, the problem is NOT whether glyconutrition really works. Anecdotal evidence (market buzz!) is already overwhelming in favor of glyconutritional therapy for diabetes. As is the professional research.

No…the actual science is NOT the problem. The problem is the old guard again. Thomas Kuhn's book is almost prophetic. The old guard, the medical and pharmaceutical establishment, just can't accept the findings of (their own) research… "What! A nutrient… to treat diabetes?" "Hogwash," one can almost hear them say.

Actually, I wish they were saying that out loud. The reality is, they just ignore the issue. You see, too much is at stake. Like billions of dollars…uh…a $132 billion dollars. All of that money (read, "business") disappears if glyconutrition continues to "pan out" the way the research shows us. But, for now, the only thing "panning out" is a diabetes pandemic.

Yet, glyconutrition gets shunned as an official diabetes treatment approach.

A study published in the 1997 issue of the Proceedings of the Fisher Institute for Medical Research showed that people with type 1 diabetes who were given glyconutrients "…reported a dramatic improvement in their health, including a decrease in vision problems, better wound healing, less infections, and lower blood pressure." (Miracle Sugars, by Rita Elkins, M.H., Woodland Publishing, p. 26)

"Glycobiology has achieved critical breakthroughs in the medical field, primarily by addressing what could be the greatest plague in health care today -- auto-immune diseases. Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn's disease and colitis are just a few of these diseases." - Dr. Neecie Moore, Ph.D. (cf. Rita Elkins, M.H.
Miracle Sugars, Woodland Publishing, p. 18.)

Also, mannose (one glyconutrient) can stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin "…thus lowering the amount of insulin needed to control this disease." (Miracle Sugars, p. 27).

Reality Check: The lives of 1 out of every 3 Americans are affected directly by diabetes and there is a $132 billion dollar diabetes pandemic running amuck in our midst. So, I sure hope this paradigm shift - glyconutrition - gets less opposition from the "powers that be" (the "old guard"), and is given its rightful place in the sun…soon.

But, with the money being made by the pharmaceuticals and their drugs, and the astoundingly simplistic view of disease treatment ("Blast that disease with technology and drugs!") it is doubtful if Thomas Kuhn's "paradigm shift" will work out any differently for diabetes across the land.

The old guard will attack and ignore the discovery - arguably, the greatest in medical history in over a hundred years - and, a la Kuhn, they will simply go the way of the Dodo Bird and diabetes treatment will receive its due.
They say pain and stress go together. If you have pain, you may have stress. But if you have stress, you need not have pain. But your stress may cause pain to others! Those around you! Those who have concern for your health!

Back pain management depends upon what type of back pain you have! Is it your regular visitor? Or do you have the pain for the first time? If it was your regular visitor, how did you treat it? How did you get rid of it? Did you take some painkillers and got relieved? No, not well done! You are inviting more troubles for you, through your back.


Back pain and muscle pain go hand in hand. Sometimes, you do not know whether you have back pain or the muscle pain. In any case, their biological cause is identical-inflammation in the proximity of the pain area, that results in internal pressure and the pain receptors are activated in the nerve endings. Brain gets the relevant signals depending upon the intensity of the pain.

Avoid the painkillers and try to understand the root cause of the back pain. Some of the painkillers report the narcotics content up to 4 %. What to say about the Wise-Solomons in the Drug Controlling Departments, who certified such drugs as pain killers! By the time, the back pain is cured due to such drugs, if at all it is cured, you have created another incurable patient-the drug addict!

Therefore, I repeat again, understand your back again. If you are having it for the first time, don't rush to your doctor straightaway. It could be due to any silly reason! A jerk while traveling in the bus or auto, lift any object in the wrong way, a stumble over the street puddle-such back pains will automatically heal themselves with a bit of co-operation from your end. Get your back massaged properly, again not in the wrong way, and try to get a comfortable sleep. Don't be determined to watch your favorite TV program with the weight of your back on a pillow!

If you have a weak body, exercise-less body, you are likely to get back pains quite often. For this state, the right living is the answer! Try to find out from a yoga expert, which types of asana (postures) are suitable for you. By doing those exercises regularly, your back and front will become stronger to resist any sort of pain. It is your body. It requires service and maintenance, just as you provide that kindness to your car!

When did you have a morning walk last? If you are not willing to come out of your car, even for doing small jobs in the market, you will have one sort of pain or the other.
Building the body strength and power of resistance, is the best way to prevent back-pain.

Scientifically speaking, do exercise-and a natural antidote to pain, endorphins is released. It combats the negative afflictions in your body. Laziness and inactivity are the main causes of pain of all sorts especially the back pain.

Prolonged back pain may give rise to serious other pains and it may disable the body in parts. Do not neglect it. But mostly rely on the natural remedies. I am not telling you to neglect the doctor. Take his advice as well. Sometimes, his experience and expertise may solve your problem!
It's in every classified ad and most job descriptions: must have excellent communication skills. Worse yet, once hired, it reappears annually at review time: Improve communication skills. What's a worker to do? Communication skills don't require a graduate degree, just some common sense, a bit of homework and a better understanding of the role communication plays - in everything:

Listen. Don't assume that better communication skills mean you have to speak like John F. Kennedy or orate like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Listening skills are the most ignored aspect of good communication skills. More misunderstandings occur due to poor listening than to misstatements.


To be a good listener, suspend that urge to speak while others are speaking. Don't begin to prepare what you'll say next. Listen intently, with ears, eyes, mind and body. Are you following what's being said? If so, nod in agreement. If not, a furrowed brow indicates you're confused. Your speaker needs these cues. If you truly heard and understood, repeat it back in your own words. This lets both parties know they're on the same wavelength.

Mind Your ABCs. Some people turn complex topics into simple explanations. Sadly, others' talents lie in the opposite direction: making simple topics complex. I strive to mind my ABCs: Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur once remarked that even more important than giving orders that could be understood was issuing orders that couldn't be misunderstood. Whether or not lives are at stake, your reputation as a communicator may be. People appreciate short sentences; they are often confused by long, convoluted ones. Keep it succinct.

Don't get labeled missing in action. Some excellent communicators are deemed less so for not contributing in meetings. A coaching client of mine from overseas was culturally uncomfortable speaking up, so others monopolized the meetings, often rudely interrupting to make a point. Her timidity, coupled with self-consciousness surrounding her command of English, resulted in her
wallflower demeanor.

Now the night before meetings she reviews the agenda, composes her thoughts and rehearses making powerful yet concise statements about items of the day. To others her remarks appear off-handed. She's thus perceived as a more powerful and effective communicator. She's also developed a nice yet firm statement when she's interrupted, which reminds people she hasn't yielded the floor yet. After a few invocations of this phrase, others respect her opinions better. Her boss has noticed and applauded her new assertiveness.

It takes two. I knew a worker who was fired for her boss's inadequacies as a communicator. Don't pay the price for another's communication shortcomings. It may require some work on your part, but it's worth the effort.

I once had a boss who listened, but never asked questions. After a while I anticipated the questions that needed to be asked and posed them myself, or simply provided responses as if he'd asked them. I would go prepared to each meeting with a list of project-related questions, which showed my foresight and attention to detail. It benefited us both.

Write speech. It sounds like a Buddhist precept, yet remember, writing is a big part of communication. Let e-mails, weekly reports and other writings reinforce your clear thinking, organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to express important ideas.

Make your writing easy to read. Spelling matters, even in e-mail. Use white space, numbered lists and bulleted items to communicate more effectively. Titles, subtitles and lists similarly add cogency. Write your piece, set it aside for a spell, then review it and strike out 25 percent to say it more
succinctly.

Speak up. Consider taking a public speaking class, joining a local Toastmasters club (www.toastmasters.org) to improve your oral communication skills. The new skills, offline practice and confidence gleaned will help you in meetings, in giving reports and in making presentations.

Excellent communication skills help in many ways. With practice you can confidently give a speech, make a cold call, train others; conduct a meeting, make a sales presentation, interview someone or be interviewed.

Improved communication skills can open many doors, both within and beyond the workplace. It's time you sharpen your CQ - Your Communication Quotient!
RSS, or Really Simple Syndication as it is generally known, refers to a family of file formats that is used for web syndication. It is normally used to automatically deliver newly posted content from websites – including forums, blogs and news sites, among others - to its readers. However, RSS is also useful for other things aside from delivering written content thanks to "enclosures" or media attachments. Wherein in its most basic use, people who are subscribed to RSS feeds gets updates from their favorite websites, media enclosures to RSS feeds is like attachments in emails sent between people. Files are "enclosed" in RSS items and then automatically delivered to the RSS subscribers. These attachments could be an image, an audio file, a video, and even an application or program.

Examples of RSS feeds with enclosures are podcasts (spoken content), Vlogs (video), MP3 Blogs (music files), and appcasts (programs).

Podcasting is perhaps one of the most famous of the mentioned uses of RSS for content delivery. It is the method of distributing audio content by attaching audio files of spoken content to the RSS feed. Podcast's popularity is helped in part by the very device on which the term was based – the iPod. Podcast is a combination of iPod and Broadcast. In its early stages, podcasts allowed users of handheld audio players such as the iPod to automatically download spoken content from independent internet-radio talk show publishers to their computers, and then listen to them on their iPods at a later time. The capability to "postpone" listening to your favorite radio talk shows proved to be a very attractive feature and soon became a huge success.

This new-found way of content delivery quickly evolved paving the way for additional multi-media file formats to be used as media enclosures. Image enclosures to RSS feeds opened a window of possibilities for sharing photos over the internet. Photo-sharing sites, such as Flickr, featured RSS feeds for people's photos. Flickr's RSS feed enabled people to subscribe to other peoples' photo albums so that their favorite photographer's latest shots or friend's latest vacation pictures are automatically delivered to you as they are posted. Avid fans of online web comics also benefit from image enclosures to RSS. A reader can subscribe to a web comic's RSS feed and daily updates are automatically delivered to the readers' RSS syndicator of choice.

Video enclosures to RSS, on the other hand, gave rise to an evolution of a type of blog called the video blog, which is sometimes referred to as Vlogs. Video blogs uses videos as its primary content and is usually accompanied by a supporting text, image, or additional data to provide context to the content. Vblogs are slowly rising in popularity in thanks again to the introduction of this time, video-capable iPod.

Appcasting is a type of RSS feed wherein there are attached executable programs to regularly deliver new versions of software programs. Appcasting, though not as mainstream as podcasting and video blogs, is important and very significant, especially for those in the IT industry.
"Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them."

- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, Scene i (58-90)


Hamlet may not have been talking about network marketing, but his words do apply. Almost every network marketer has experienced the "slings and arrows" of the naysayers, those often well-meaning friends and relatives that stand in the way of our making an "outrageous fortune!" Experienced network marketers, clothed in the armor of past success, are less vulnerable to outside influences. The new distributor, however, is vulnerable, and that "sea of troubles" can act as a barrier to reaching their true potential.

What did the knights of old do to prevent an injury? That's right – they armed themselves. Their armor was heavy and cumbersome, and they needed a squire to help them prepare for battle. Well, the same is true for your new distributors. While the armor they must use is less cumbersome than that of the knights, you must help them arm themselves for success. In other words, you must be their squire.

What do I mean by "arming for success?"

When a new distributor joins your network marketing organization, they are moving into an environment that demands strong armor. There are a lot of "slings and arrows" that can hurt their chances for success and create a sea of troubles -- of doubt, disbelief, even failure.

As Rich Dad, Poor Dad author Robert T. Kiyosaki points out, most people in this world are afraid to experience success. They are held back by negative thinking, and consequently suffer the pain of mediocrity. Because they have not been armed for success, and are more focused on security and survival, they subject themselves to a life of servitude and poverty and being someone else's employee

Arm your new distributors from negative thinking and potential disaster. How? By understanding why so many people are negative about network marketing and the prospects of the success it can bring.

Let's face it. There are a lot of people out there that do not want you to become successful. When you are successful, you point out the lack of success in their lives. When you take away any excuses they've been hanging onto and you force them to look at their lives as they really are, it makes them very uncomfortable. You've heard of the expression "Misery loves company." Well, it's true.

Doug Firebaugh, network marketing guru, calls it the "Unspoken Understanding," which is simply the silent agreement that most people have with each other, namely "don't mention my mediocre life, and I won't mention yours." Your success and the success of your new distributors, just points out the naysayers' mediocrity.

Leaders help others. If you are going to be successful in network marketing, you must arm your new distributors against people who will try to convince them their business won't work. Show your downline you want them to be successful. Encourage them. Show them how the most successful network marketers have achieved their success, and teach them to model those attitudes, habits, and actions. Remind your distributors that they are the CEO of their lives. Arm them with the power of positive thinking so they don't let others live their lives for them with their negative attitudes.

To paraphrase Hamlet, by opposing negative thoughts, we end them.
Has Google thrown the cyber world a curveball? Let's fill in some blanks and connect a few dots regarding the recently-filed patent application for Google's latest Search Engine algorithm - Search Engine 125. For those unfamiliar with the inner workings of search engines, each Search Engine uses its own unique formula for determining that all-important ranking for each web site. Remember, users who query a Search Engine rarely look beyond the first page, so if you want to increase visitor traffic, step one is to develop your website in a way that matches the major search engine's ranking algorithms. You need to find out what the search engines like and make sure you feed it to them.

Now, over the years, the formulae used by search engines to rank a site have grown more complex. Pre-2000, search engines didn't do much more than count keywords on a site. The more times the words 'limburger cheese' appeared on the site, the higher the site's limburger cheese search engine ranking position (SERP). Of course, the key then became to develop SEO text with limburger cheese mentioned in every header, twice in subheads and at least once in every paragraph. Hardly compelling reading, except for the most avid of limburger cheese fans.

So, the Google, Yahoo, and MSN search engines moved to improve the quality of their SERPs, to provide users with helpful, expert information. Changes were made to the keyword algorithms (the weighing formulae), awarding more points for things like the quality of inbound and outbound links to and from a site. This meant that quality links from a relevant 'authority' site - a highly-prized designation, will move your site up in the SERPs.

Well, on March 31, 2005, Google applied for a patent on its latest search algorithm. For those who have no fear of their brains exploding from buzzword overload do a search on "Patent Application 0050071741" to read the entire patent. The patent application describes "a method for scoring a document comprising: identifying the document; obtaining one or more types of history (sic) data associated with the document; and generating a score for the document based on the one or more types of historical data."

Apparently (or not), Google has determined that historical data associated with each site is an essential ingredient in developing the highest quality search results for users who query. And just what kind of historical data are we talking about here? Well, things like:

* the site's inception date (more likely the date the Search Engine noticed you)
* how frequently documents are added and removed from the site
* how often sites change over time
* number of visitors over time
* number of repeat visitors
* number of times your site is bookmarked
* how often keyword density is changed
* the rate at which the site's anchor text is revised
* inbound/outbound links - how long in place and high trust (quality) links

The list goes on and on. Factors associated with your domain include: how long your site has been registered, has the domain expired (ghost sites), is the domain stable - as in not moving from one physical address to another.

Links remain a key component of Search Engine 125. Links have to be relevant to your site. Links to your site increase in "SERP Power" as they age. Link growth should be slow and steady. A sudden influx of inbound links - especially links that have no relationship to the content of your site - is a surefire way to drop in the SERPs. Google gives such sites a much lower score.

How about data on your visitor traffic? How will Search Engine 125 weigh that? Number of visitors, growth in visitor rates, spikes in visitor rates, the length of each visitor's stay, number of bookmarks to and favorite rankings of your site - all enter into Google's new Search Engine algo according to the patent application.

Another weighing factor is search results. The number of searches using a given query word or phrase, a sudden increase or decrease in click through rates, an exceedingly large number of quick click throughs (which might indicate 'stale' content), again all factors that Google believes will increase the quality of its search results.

Other factors are also listed as part of the patent application. A site with frequent ups and downs in traffic will lose points for untrustworthiness (even if your site sells only seasonal items!). Keyword volatility, focus change and other variables will also be employed in Google's never-ending quest to quantify the quality of each site its Search Engine delivers to users based on their queries.

So, okay, where's the mystery? The intrigue? The disinformation? The e-commerce community is abuzz with speculation - speculation that Google's well-publicized patent is nothing more than a plant to throw off the competition, disinformation intended to keep the competition and SEOs off balance. So why the speculation? Well, even a quick scan of the patent application reveals large areas of gray, vagaries and downright inconsistencies within Google's proposed ranking criteria. For example, sites are penalized for changing content often (untrustworthy) and rewarded for the frequent addition of new content (freshness). A paradox, you say? Or all part of Google's master plan to feint right while going left.

The object, in the end, is quality search results. That's what Google, Yahoo and the other popular search engines want - that perfect equation, the ideal formula that will provide high quality search results. And for site owners and designers who, in fact, do keep their sites fresh, who have quality links useful to visitors, who deliver the information the user is looking for - there's no reason for concern. However, the owners of links farms, keyword dense sites and cyber garbage dumps should sit up and take notice. In the end, quality search engines will inevitably improve the quality of content available on the Internet.
To get optimal listings in search engine and directory queries, keywords and key concepts must be placed strategically throughout your web pages. To summaries, you need these words and phrases in:

1. Title tags

2. Meta-tags (keywords and descriptions)

3. Headings (if used)

4. Body text, and

Alt-attribute in the image source tags
When online marketing professionals optimize a web site for search engine and directory queries, they should not spend most of their time redesigning the layout (in HTML) or submitting the site to the search engines. Most of their time should be spent on researching, writing good copy that will index well in search engines, and writing thorough, accurate descriptions for directory submissions. Good web copy must contain well-researched and varied keywords and key concepts based on a web page's topic; accurately reflect the web pages' content; and be strategically placed throughout a web page as mentioned above.

Most sales and advertising "fluff" should be eliminated.

Here's an example (and one of our pet peeves). How many of you have seen this scam, "Put your printed brochure on the web!" Print advertising copy contains a lot of "fluff" phrases such as "service that is second to none." Search engine analysis? "Service" is a stop word in some search engines and will be ignored in a search query. "Second to none?" How many people do you know really search using that phrase? When we are looking for something on the web, we are going to type in exactly the type of product or service we are looking for, not sales and advertising "fluff."
Web copywriting should contain keywords and key concepts without all the "fluff." Web copy has to flow and be strategically placed to get your web pages ranked well in search engine and directory queries. Your potential customers will also appreciate being able to find what they are looking for as quickly and easily as possible. That's just good customer service.


The one time that web copywriting is extremely important is your site submission to Yahoo. Although Yahoo reserves the right to change or modify the site description you send them, if you can submit a well-written description containing your most important keywords and key concepts without word stacking, Yahoo will likely keep most of your description intact.

Good copywriting is a necessary element of both online and offline marketing. If you do not have experience in writing good copy for the web, we recommend that you hire an online marketing consultant to initially write the copy for you. Then you can learn from the copy you paid for. The more practice you get at web copywriting, the better you will get at it.
Blogs and Bloggers have certainly made their presence known over the past couple of years. For the politicians and celebrities they have undeniably become a valuable force to pay attention to but...

Is A Blog Right for Your Business?

Wikipedia defines the term 'blog', short for web log, as a web based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles, most often in reverse chronological order...blogs often focus on a particular subject...Although blogs are typically a text medium, there are also non-text versions such as audioblogs (podcasts), photoblogs and videoblogs."

It is my intention in this article to present a list of pros and cons, and sources for more information, should you be considering adding a blog to your marketing mix.


PROS:

-Blogs, like newsletters, can enhance a companies credibility if done correctly. As a blogger you're out there in the blogoshpere providing information about your industry and answering questions. You are the expert.

-Blogs can also be a useful customer service tool-they provide a medium to respond to your customers in an open dialogue and to solve problems before they become problems. If a blog, yours or someone else's, posts a review of your product and there is a problem that needs to be fixed, you can post the fix on the comment section of the blog.

-Blogs increase your exposure in a variety of ways. A simple trade-advertise on my blog and I'll advertise on yours' is an easy method to increase exposure. Additionally, by monitoring and posting on other blogs relative to your industry you can increase brand/website awareness.

-Blogs can also be a tool to direct traffic to your website or storefront. By listing links to your site, your readers can click through and possibly become customers.

CONS:

-Blogs require constant updating and monitoring. According to the Blog Squad, "if you can't commit to writing short posts 2-3 times a week, and if you're not open to dialogue with your potential customers, then blogging might not be for you.
Results from blogging are difficult to track and generally slow to come. It takes a while to develop a presence in the 'photosphere' and tracking reader to customer conversions are difficult.

-It takes a concentrated effort to produce creative, interesting, and intelligent content is difficult to come by. Because anyone who wants to blog can, there is a lot of information out there and thus a lot of competition. The good news is that if you are committed to providing quality content, you have a better chance of getting noticed.

-Distribution and publicity are also challenges. Making people aware of and interested in your blog is a marketing campaign in and of itself. Since people have to search for blogs, and they're not sent to them like other forms of marketing, you have to be proactive in your attempts to get noticed.

Bottom Line:

Many marketing specialists will recommend adding a blog to your marketing plan, if you can afford the time to make valuable contributions 3 or more times a week. For more information on how and where to market your blog see Marketing Optimization 101 for Blogs. http://rssdiary.marketingstudies.net/content/marketing_optimization_101_for_blogs

If you're considering adding a blog to your marketing campaign or are interested in more information you may find the following links helpful:

"Tapping into the Blogosphere"
http://www.forbes.com/2006/01/24/google-apple-microsoft-cx_tt_0125straightup.html
"Can Blogging Help You Market your Product Online?" www.bly.com
"The Blog Squad" www.nextlevelpartner.typepad.com/bbab/

And

"Business Blogging or Not" www.webpronews.com


For more information on marketing your business please visit me at www.AMBCreative.net.

Sincerely,

Annette Elton
AMB Creative, LLC
HDL, LDL, triglycerides - the acronyms and terms of the cholesterol debate are becoming part of our everyday language.

Americans are bombarded with reports to raise their HDL (the "good" cholesterol) and lower their LDL, or "bad." While the terms can be difficult to remember, many already know that cholesterol levels need to be controlled to improve heart health and overall wellness.

To do this, many are watching their diets while also checking with a health care professional for the best strategies. But for many, maintaining a healthy cholesterol level is difficult and often expensive. Prescription treatments for cholesterol can cost several hundred dollars per month, by some estimates.

In response to these concerns, Mosaic Nutraceuticals, a Dallas-based company, has come up with a way to address the cholesterol issue. Wrapped in a soft candy chew, "Lipotrene," Mosaic's aid in promoting cholesterol health, is an option for those wanting to control their cholesterol without pills or expensive prescriptions.

"People have to watch their cholesterol in order to maintain good heart health. People also like candy," said Charles Townsend, chief executive officer of Mosaic. "We took these two issues and combined them into Lipotrene, which is loaded with the natural cholesterol control agent Policosanol."
Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, feel like you have the gift of gab or just don't know how to make small talk, networking know-how is very important for your business success. There is a notion in business that I believe most of us subscribe to that says "all things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those they know, like and trust." And the key to this is obviously being able to develop relationships.

Think of networking as the cultivation of mutually beneficial, win-win relationships. In order to be win-win, there must be GIVE and take (notice the emphasis on give). Networking shouldn't be viewed as "events" where you go to sell your business. When effective networking is taking place, the parties involved actively share ideas, information, resources, etc.

Ok, so you know that you should be networking because it is one of the most cost-effective lead generation activities when used wisely, appropriately and professionally. But, maybe that seems easier said than done. Here's a seven step plan to really get going with networking for your business.

1. Check out several groups to find the best chemistry and perceived value. Most groups will allow you to come and visit at least a couple of times before you have to join. Go and ask around to find out why others have joined and what value they get out of belonging.

Resist the urge to just go join the Chamber of Commerce simply because everyone tells you that's what you need to do. If that's not where your target group can be found, then you might just be wasting a considerable amount of time (and money).

I'm not telling you not to join the Chamber. Just be clear about what you'd like to get out of this or any other group. If it's to find prospective clients or referral sources, then you need to be networking where those resources can be found.

2. When you find a group or two, join and go to all the meetings you can. Don't go just once or twice expecting things to happen and then if they don't quit. Building mutually beneficial, win-win relationships will take some time.

The contacts you make need to constantly see your face and hear your message. Continual contact with others over time will open up opportunities for you to go deeper and learn more about each others thoughts, ideas and capabilities in regards to your respective businesses.

Know, like, and trust generally only happens over time. Being regular and persistent will pay off.

3. Get involved - be visible. Do as much as you can to make yourself more visible within the organization. Volunteer to help with meetings, be on committees, or become a leader or board member.

Being involved does a couple of things for you and your business. First, you'll get more opportunities to establish connections and get to know some of the contacts you've made even better. Secondly, the higher the visibility you have in the group, the less you'll have to work to make new connections. Instead, as new people come into the group, they will likely seek you out because they view you as a leader within the organization.
4. Keep your circles of contacts informed. Don't just assume that running in to someone once a month (or even once a week) will cause them to start doing business with you or sending it your way. You need to let them know what's going on when you're not at that particular group in order to inform and educate them.

Send them invitations to your events or open houses. Send them email or letters to share big news or success stories, especially anything of relevance to them or those in their networks of contacts. If you believe that you have valuable ideas, information and resources to share with others, then doesn't this just make sense?

5. Work at GIVING referrals and sharing valuable information. That's right, you need to be willing to GIVE before you get. That means you need to get to know other members and what makes a good prospect for them. What kinds of information might you have access to that could be useful to them?

You may initially think you don't have much of value to share with others (besides your business and what you provide). Part of the key to getting good at giving is to not make assumptions. For example, don't assume that some basic resource (e.g., a web site) that you're aware of is familiar to someone you might be talking to just because they are the "expert" in that field. Be willing to ask if they know about the resource and ready to share if they don't.

Want to get better at actually giving referrals? Here's a simple question to ask someone you're connecting with. "How am I going to know when I meet a really good prospect for you?"

Just the fact that you are willing to explore giving will elevate your know, like and trust factor.

6. Focus on Quality, not Quantity, Quantity, Quantity. It's not necessarily about the number of connections you make, but about the quality of the ones you do make. Are they mutually beneficial, win-win relationships?

Quality connections will be identifiable because all involved parties will be actively sharing ideas, information, and resources. Yes, it is true that you need to spend some time and effort getting to know the other person(s) and what's important to them. But, you also need to be clear and actively thinking about what information or resources you want and need.

Staying in touch with and following up with a smaller number of quality relationships will generally be much more productive than trying to follow up with a larger number of superficial contacts.

7. Be persistent, but be patient. The goal of a networking event shouldn't necessarily be to come away with prospects every time you go out, but to come away with great connections. Networking usually takes time to get the relationships developed and nurtured.

Don't approach networking as a scary proposition or a necessary evil for being in business. Take the pressure off yourself and really focus on how you might be able to connect with someone you meet. Focus on them first and look for ways to be useful to them. As you become known as a connector you'll eventually be ready to reap what you sow.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process by which webmasters or online business owners utilize strategic copy on their websites, together with offsite linking strategies to increase their website's status in the eyes of the search engines. (You can find out more about this at http://www.001sitepromotion.com) As the internet has grown, so equally fast has the competition for the best search engine positions. This has created the search engine optimisation market, which helps webmasters (that's YOU!) to improve the exposure of your web pages to targetted internet users.

And therefore a better understanding of the fundamental elements of Search Engine Optimization is vital for any online business' success.

Ok. So what is search engine optimization?

Firstly, to begin with, understand that making use of effective seo techniques will improve the page rank of your website. This is one of Google's measures of the importance of a site on the internet, and whether or not it is considered an 'authority' site.

There are many tricks that can be used to increase page rank; the most effective method is to provide high quality content consistently.

This seems like a simple concept but there are many websites that fail to provide content that visitors find interesting.

The bottom line is that sites which provide content that is interesting, well-written and regularly updated create highly engaged visitors who are more likely to return to the website in the coming days. So, if you can set your website apart from those boring, lifeless sites then do it. You'll surely then be a step closer to achieving high page rank (and more importantly high positions on the search engines) through search engine optimization
There are secrets on how to rank highly with the major search engines, but effective search engine optimisation is now an immense task, because the search engine algorithms are constantly changing and over 100 factors (at least) go into deciding where a web page should rank for a particular search term. So the 'secrets' are also constantly in a state of flux.

Search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN, are in the business of providing their users with the most relevant and up-to-date information to match the search term that was being searched for. To do this they utilise sophisticated technology which allow users to quickly find relevant websites by searching for a word or a phrase. Search engine results are useless to users if the information doesn't relate to the search term, or if the results are too old. People expect up-to-date and fresh information that is readily useful to them. And so the search engines are constantly on guard for 'sneaky' search engine optimisation techniques that don't return their users with 'useful' results.

Updating your website everyday and adding great new material will help you to get noticed by the search engines. The bottom line is that if you are going to sell any type of product or service online (or even if you just want more visitors for your personal website), it definitely pays to optimize your website for the search engines, in order to quickly provide a boost of traffic, sales and hopefully profits!

Face it. Over 90% of your business will likely come directly from search engine results. And for that reason, it is absolutely vital to optimize your site and attract as much relevant traffic as possible.
Information technology has transformed the way we live and the way we do business. ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning, is one of most widely implemented business software systems in a wide variety of industries and organizations. In this short article, we'll try to concisely explain the basic yet important concepts relevant to ERP.

What is ERP - ERP is the acronym of Enterprise Resource Planning. ERP definition refers to both ERP software and business strategies that implement ERP systems. ERP implementation utilizes various ERP software applications to improve the performance of organizations for 1) resource planning, 2) management control and 3) operational control. ERP software consists of multiple software modules that integrates activities across functional departments - from product planning, parts purchasing, inventory control, product distribution, to order tracking. Most ERP software systems include application modules to support common business activities - finance, accounting and human resources.

ERP Systems - ERP is much more than a piece of computer software. A ERP System includes ERP Software, Business Processes, Users and Hardware that run the ERP software. An ERP system is more than the sum of its parts or components. Those components interact together to achieve a common goal - streamline and improve organizations' business processes.

History of ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the evolution of Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP) II in 1980s, while MRP is the evolution of Inventory Management & Control conceived in 1960s. ERP has expanded from coordination of manufacturing processes to the integration of enterprise-wide backend processes. In terms of technology, ERP has evolved from legacy implementation to more flexible tiered client-server architecture.

Benefits of ERP - ERP software attempts to integrate business processes across departments onto a single enterprise-wide information system. The major benefits of ERP are improved coordination across functional departments and increased efficiencies of doing business. The implementation of ERP systems help facilitate day-to-day management as well. ERP software systems is originally and ambitiously designed to support resource planning portion of strategic planning. In reality, resource planning has been the weakest link in ERP practice due to the complexity of strategic planning and lack of adequate integration of ERP with Decision Support Systems (DSS).

ERP Failures - We couldn't conclude our brief guide to ERP without mentioning ERP failures. The failure of multi-million dollar ERP projects are reported once in a while even after 20 years of ERP implementation. We have identified the four components of an ERP System - 1) ERP software, 2) Business Processes that ERP software supports, 3) Users of ERP systems, and 4) Hardware and Operating Systems that run ERP applications. The failures in one or more of those four components could cause the failure of an ERP project.

Copryright @2006, 4th-Media Corporation
These days, if you have something to say and want to share it with others, there's an easy way to do it: Start a blog. If you thought only the young or computer-savvy create blogs, think again. Just about anyone can start a blog-and people of all ages are doing so.

What is a blog? A blog, short for Web log, is a Web page where you write about things that are important to you. Many people use blogs as online journals. Some bloggers write about their hobbies. Others use blogs to share their opinions on politics and serious issues, often adding their own comments to news stories.

To start your own blog, just follow these three simple steps.

1. Select a Topic and Blog Hosting Site-The first step is deciding what you want to write about. Next, find a blog hosting site. Many portals, such as Google, Yahoo and MSN, offer free hosting. Also, there are specialized blogging sites focusing on specific topics, such as family and business. Do a search to find a site that best fits your topic. Once you've selected a site, you'll fill in some basic information about yourself and your blog topic. Now you're ready to start writing and posting to your very own blog.

2. Add Video to Your Blog-The next step is to add a video to your blog. This is called a vlog, short for video blog. To create one, you can use software such as Vlog It!, from Serious Magic. The software lets you create videos that look like a TV news show. First, connect a Webcam or camcorder to your computer. Next, import pictures or video from your computer, digital camera, camcorder or cell phone. Finally, read your script from the teleprompter included with the software. Because the Webcam or camcorder is positioned directly above your monitor, it will look as if you're staring into the camera.

The program offers special effects and graphics similar to those used on television, so your production looks professional. The technology also has a wizard feature that makes the entire process relatively simple. To learn more, visit www.VlogIt.com.

3. Share Your Blog-Decide if you just want your friends and family to see your blog or vlog, or if you want more people to view it. If you want it to be available to the general public, register with search engines-such as www.technorati.com-that specialize in tracking the blogging universe.

Now that you know the basics, it's time to get creative and join the blogosphere.

Create a vlog and transform your blog into a TV news show.
This information comes from Asthma Society of Canada

"Doctors define asthma as a "chronic inflammatory disease of the airways" . It is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions affecting Canadians. Asthma can be diagnosed at any age, but often starts in childhood. Its prevalence in Canada has been increasing over the last 20 years and it is estimated that currently over 3 million Canadians have asthma.

"The three strongest risk factors for developing asthma are family history, exposure in infancy to high levels of antigens such as house dust mites, and exposure to tobacco smoke and/or chemical irritants.

"We're all pretty familiar with allergic triggers of asthmatic symptoms, such as mould, animal dander, pollen, dust mites, etc., but perhaps less familiar with non-allergic triggers such as certain drugs, chemicals, fumes and odours, respiratory viral infections, certain weather conditions, strenuous physical exercise, tobacco smoke, and air pollution.

"Urbanization appears to be correlated with an increase in asthma. The nature of the risk is unclear because studies have not taken into account indoor allergens although these have been identified as significant risk factors.

"Experts are struggling to understand why prevalence rates world-wide are, on average, rising by 50% every decade."

At first reading, there isn't much extremely shocking in this report. But with a little research, in my opinion it becomes alarming.

First of all, the report was updated in April of 2005, yet most of the footnoted references are from the mid to late 90's. So the report is about "Canadians" in general; children are still not identified as a unique segment of the population, their needs, habits and susceptibilities are not taken into special consideration, even though the studies all concur that asthma often starts in childhood.

Next, approximately 3 million Canadians have asthma. You have to put that into the context of how many Canadians there are, which in the year 2000 was about 31 million, with an annual growth rate of approximately 1%. So about 9.6% of all Canadians have asthma. Almost one out of 10. If one out of 10 Canadians were in a wheelchair, or wearing a cast, we would take notice. Alarming, since we treat it so casually. It's a chronic disease, which means lifelong constant management and medication

The world's current (overall as well as natural) growth rate is about 1.3% per year, while prevalence rates of asthma world-wide are, on average, rising by 50% every decade. So asthma is occuring over 3 times more than can be accounted for by population growth. These are rough figures, just to give us an idea of what we're looking at.

And this is only about asthma. It isn't about illness from chemical poisoning, or deaths from poisoning, or lung cancer, or...

So it's time to take steps to prevent asthma and other illnesses and diseases. At the very least, search for and buy the least toxic cleansers for household use. Get educated! Then, store all chemicals safely and securely away from children and pets.

Don't allow smoking in your home, and be aware of and avoid air pollution, both inside and out. Air out your home completely three times a day. Did you know that cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemical agents, including over 60 carcinogens? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Science's National Toxicology Program, and the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have all classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen-a category reserved for agents for which there is sufficient scientific evidence that they cause cancer.

The U.S. EPA has estimated that exposure to secondhand smoke causes about 3,000 lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers and is responsible for up to 300,000 cases of lower respiratory tract infections in children up to 18 months of age in the United States each year. If you have to smoke, just dig your own grave, don't drag others with you!
The stethoscope that is worn around the ears of any health professional, doctor or nurse may look simple, but it is really a hallmark of quality and brillant creative invention. The Littmann Stethoscope stands tall among all the various brands of stethoscopes, and has been the choice of doctors and nurses worldwide.

For the doctor or nurse starting his career, it is not enough just to select the littman stethoscope from among the various types in the range of stethoscopes under the Littman brand. His problem is further compounded by the need to consider the spare parts and accessories for the Littman stethoscope that he is going to purchase.

What are the spares and accessories the medical, health practitioner or nurse have to consider when he or she is purchasing a littman stethoscope? These are the parts that are easily subjected to wear and tear due to daily use.

Look at some of these parts and accessories that you need to consider as well when buying the 3M Littman stethoscope:

1. Littman stethoscope identification tag
2. Soft Sealing Snap-Tight Replacement Eartips for Littmann Stethoscopes
3. Firm Replacement Snap-Tight Eartips for Littmann Stethoscopes
4. 3M Littmann Stethoscope Nonchill Bell Sleeves
5. 3M Littmann Stethoscope Rims - Snap On
6. 3M Littmann Stethoscope Diaphragms
7. 3M Littmann Tunable Diaphragm and Rim Assembly
8. 3M Littmann Stethoscope Special Procedure Adaptors
9. 3M Littmann Replacement Stethoscope Binaural Assemblies
10. 3M Double Stick Discs with 11/32" Aperture

The best way to get help on these is to research your options online- not just any online store but from the official distributors of the brand. You can also talk to them over the phone, and discover some surprising discounts especially from stores that do give discounted on selected models and their spares from time to time. Nurses will be delighted to know that there are also nurses kits comprising the littman stethoscope that is available at discounts, and spares may also come at a discount too.

One thing you must know about spares are that they often come in pairs or in a batch. So you need to purchase them in pairs or in batches and to keep them ready for a rainy day when the part has to be replaced. This would normally be the eartips, the rims and the sleeves of the stethoscope. The good news is that these spares are normally easily available.

It is not beneficial or cost effective to keep the old stethoscope with a view to cannibalise it for spares, even if the model is the same.

Like in any purchase, quality and price are the main determinants, and when you are looking for a branded stethoscope such as the Littman stethoscope, the quality is basically ensured and it is price that needs your attention. While there are no hidden costs, one must also take into consideration the cost of spares and that depends on wear and tear which is difficult to anticipate.

There is a limit to reducing the need to replace the frequently used parts such as the rims and diaphragms of the stethoscope, because no matter how gentle you are with the stethoscope, wear and tear cannot be avoided.
They are crazy about video games, rebellious towards their parents and apathetic about politics – so far, typical. But these cell-phoning, karaoke-singing post-Generation X-ers are setting the trends at increasingly younger age. They even comprise most of the buying public these days. From funky cell phones to the latest in fashion, they just want to spend most of their money on these products.

The teen market is very confusing and diverse. Teens live in their own world with their own set of values, likes, dislikes and attitudes. That is why it is often difficult to reach this elusive market. Hence, business owners seeking to increase their teen market need to carefully consider and plan their marketing strategy to be able to effectively entice these kids to buy.

Brochures have been around for quite sometime and they have been efficient in promoting a product. They help improve your business visibility in the community. You can send them out to potential and existing clients or display them in your store reception area. These way kids can browse through them and see if they spot something that interests them. So if you are selling more mainstream products from clothing to home furnishings, you may find that high school and college kids are worth sending your brochures.

Teens who make brochure purchases are often first time buyers developing long term brand loyalty. So if you are able to get hold of them on their early shopping spree, you can have their loyalty for longer periods of time compared to the one-time older buyer. Perhaps the best place to look for teen customers is to look through magazine listings because many teenagers subscribe to magazines. But teenagers often change address frequently so catching up on them to send your brochure can be quite difficult. Nevertheless, keeping an update of their address once in a while can greatly help in keeping contact with them.

However, to keep your teen prospects really interested you have to create a brochure that appeals to their style. Teen fashion is highly diverse but you need not measure up to this diversity. Just remember the old marketing tactic: simplicity. It is still better if you are able to create a brochure that is simple and informative. Offering extra percentage off can also make your brochure more effective. Keep in mind that teens love receiving offers through the mail, so by getting right in their faces, you can create brand awareness.
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