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DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693155
Reply to the Letter: 'Homeopathy and Nanomedicine: Alien Twins'
Publication History
02 June 2019
06 June 2019
Publication Date:
01 August 2019 (online)
Homeopathy Seen as Personalised Nanomedicine
Homeopathy and Nanomedicine: Alien Twins
I am thankful to the authors for their comments[1] on my recent article.[2] It seems that they, being pharmaceutical nanotechnologists and working in conventional biomolecular medicine, may have an inherent 'plausibility bias' against homeopathy.[3] The article 'Homeopathy seen as personalised nanomedicine'[2] was an attempt to find a critical common platform, highly necessary for the advancement of homeopathy as an effective scientific method based on research findings. The action of nanoparticles (NPs) on biological systems is not based merely on their size and shape but also depends on their potential energy.
Content uniformity might be a necessary criterion in the pharmaceutical nanotechnology of conventional medicine. In homeopathy, the preparation of various medicinal potencies is not a linear process as adopted in the preparation of NPs in conventional medicine, a very recent innovation. The purpose, process and principles of nanomedicine in conventional pharmacology and homeopathy are entirely different, and hence not comparable. Therefore, the title of the article 'Homeopathy and Nanomedicine: Alien Twins' seems to be proper and justified in the context of comparing between nanomedicines, as it is evolving in conventional medicine and that of homeopathy.
Nanoscience and technology are budding sciences with potential to evolve in a multitude of directions. Therefore, any attempt to delineate nanoscience as a wholly developed and completely known subject would lead to faulty and premature conclusions.
It is a very important suggestion from the letter's authors to combine electron microscopy (EM) with dynamic light scattering (DLS) or nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). It is certain that combining EM with any of these techniques would assure double verification and reconfirmation of the results. The homeopathic method of drug preparation is not one tailored to ensure the uniformity of the size and shape of NPs in the drug solution. The two centuries of clinical experiences of homeopathic physicians show that the curative action of homeopathic medicines (HMs) does not depend on the size and shape of NPs. Moreover, a given HM does not always show remarkable heterogeneity in size and shape. For example, the study of Nat-m LM1–LM30 and 6c–CM showed a uniform size of NPs at around 1 to 6 nm[4] (except LM1 [1–14 nm]), which is only a negligible variation at nanoscale. It is meaningless to assume that the NPs of the drug materials, in all the dilutions of a multitude of HMs,[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] and studied in different laboratories, are 'nothing but contaminants'.
Finally, the finding of NPs in HMs is not the only reason to propose that homeopathy is a 'personalised nanomedicine'. It is based on three reasons: (1) the universal presence of NPs in HMs; (2) the numerous facets of scientific evidence that HMs have the ability to initiate a variety of modifications in the genetic system;[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] (3) the fact that the homeopathic drug provings with 30C potency produce signs and symptoms in healthy human beings. It is a logical proposition to test whether the therapeutic effects of HMs are retained even after the removal of the particles present in drug solutions. Similarly, to test whether the same concentration of identical NPs, prepared by methods different from those used for HMs, has the same therapeutic outcome would be useful in shedding more light on to the therapeutic effect of HMs.
I wholeheartedly appreciate the suggestions given by the letter's authors to further fine-tune the research process related to potencies of HMs.
- 1 Farvadi F, Hashemi F. Homeopathy and nanomedicine: Alien twins. Homeopathy 2019; 108: 294-295
- 2 Rajendran ES. Homeopathy seen as personalised nanomedicine. Homeopathy 2019; 108: 66-70
- 3 Rutten L, Mathie RT, Fisher P, Goossens M, van Wassenhoven M. Plausibility and evidence: the case of homeopathy. Med Health Care Philos 2013; 16: 525-532
- 4 Rajendran ES. Nano pharmacological aspect of homeopathic drugs – a comparative study of different scales of ultra-high dilutions based on HRTEM analysis and NP characterization of homeopathic drug Natrum muriaticum 6C-CM and LM1–LM30. Saudi J Med Pharm Sci 2017; 3: 89-106
- 5 Chikramane PS, Suresh AK, Bellare JR, Kane SG. Extreme homeopathic dilutions retain starting materials: a nanoparticulate perspective. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 231-242
- 6 Bell IR, Muralidharan S, Schwartz GE. Nanoparticle characterization of traditional homeopathically - manufactured Gelsemium sempervirens medicines and placebo controls. J Nanomedine Biotherapeutic Discov 2015; 5: 136
- 7 Bell IR, Muralidharan S, Schwartz GE. Nanoparticle characterization of traditional homeopathically - manufactured Silver (Argentum metallicum) medicines and placebo controls. J Nanomed Nanotechnol 2015; 6: 311
- 8 Bell IR, Schwartz GE. Enhancement of adaptive biological effects by nanotechnology preparation methods in homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy 2015; 104: 123-138
- 9 Upadhyay RP, Nayak C. Homeopathy emerging as nanomedicine. Int J High Dilution Res 2011; 10: 299-310
- 10 Konovalov AI, Ryzhkina IS. Highly diluted aqueous solutions: formation of nano-sized molecular assemblies (nanoassociates). Geochem Int 2014; 52: 1207-1226
- 11 Nandy P. A review of basic research on homeopathy from a physicist's point of view. Indian J Res Homeopathy 2015; 9: 141-151
- 12 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Potentized homeopathic drugs act through regulation of gene expression: a hypothesis to explain their mechanism and pathways of action in vitro. Complement Ther Med 1997; 5: 43-46
- 13 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Bhattacharya SS, Paul S. PLGA Nanoparticle encapsulated plant extract (Gelsemium sempervirens) enhances cellular uptake and increases bioactivity: novel findings from an in vitro study. Tsitol Genet 2009; 14: 15-18
- 14 Samadder A, Das S, Das J, Paul A, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. The potentized homeopathic drug, Lycopodium clavatum (5C and 15C) has anti-cancer effect on HeLa cells in vitro. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2013; 6: 180-187
- 15 Mondal J, Panigrahi AK, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Anticancer potential of Conium maculatum extract against cancer cells in vitro: drug-DNA interaction and its ability to induce apoptosis through ROS generation. Pharmacogn Mag 2014; 10 (Suppl. 03) S524-S533
- 16 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Current trends in high dilution research with particular reference to gene regulatory hypothesis. Nucleus 2014; 57: 3-17
- 17 Samadder A, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Nanotechnological approaches in diabetes treatment: A new horizon. World J Transl Med 2014; 3: 84-95
- 18 Saha SK, Roy S, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Ultra-highly diluted plant extracts of Hydrastis canadensis and Marsdenia condurango induce epigenetic modifications and alter gene expression profiles in HeLa cells in vitro. J Integr Med 2015; 13: 400-411
- 19 Mandal SK, Biswas R, Bhattacharyya SS. , et al. Lycopodine from Lycopodium clavatum extract inhibits proliferation of HeLa cells through induction of apoptosis via caspase-3 activation. Eur J Pharmacol 2010; 626: 115-122
- 20 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Towards understanding molecular mechanisms of action of homeopathic drugs: an overview. Mol Cell Biochem 2003; 253: 339-345
- 21 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Karmakar SR, Banerjee A. , et al. A follow-up study on the efficacy of the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum album in volunteers living in high risk Arsenic contaminated areas. Indian J Res Homeopathy 2009; 3: 43-51
- 22 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Sikdar S. Condurango 30C induces epigenetic modification of lung cancer-specific tumour suppressor genes via demethylation. Forsch Komplement Med 2015; 22: 172-179
- 23 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Bhattacharyya SS, Paul S, Dutta S, Boujedaini N, Belon P. Modulation of signal proteins: a plausible mechanism to explain how a potentized drug Secale cor 30C diluted beyond Avogadro's limit combats skin papilloma in mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011; 2011: 286320
- 24 Das D, De A, Dutta S, Biswas R, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Potentized homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album 30C positively modulates protein biomarkers and gene expressions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to arsenate. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao 2011; 9: 752-760
- 25 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Chakrabarti J. Effects of sonication on chromosomes of mice, Mus musculus, and modifying effects of a homeopathic drug, Arnica Montana on them. Tsitol Genet 1998; 9: 333-340
- 26 Khuda-Bukhsh AR. An evidence-based evaluation of efficacy of homeopathic drugs in mice during induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Tsitol Genet 2007; 13: 177-185
- 27 Khuda-Bukhsh AR, De A, Das D, Dutta S, Boujedaini N. Analysis of the capability of ultra-highly diluted glucose to increase glucose uptake in arsenite-stressed bacteria Escherichia coli. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao 2011; 9: 901-912
- 28 Marzotto M, Olioso D, Brizzi M, Tononi P, Cristofoletti M, Bellavite P. Extreme sensitivity of gene expression in human SH-SY5Y neurocytes to ultra-low doses of Gelsemium sempervirens. BMC Complement Altern Med 2014; 14: 104-124
- 29 Sunila ES, Kuttan R, Preethi KC, Kuttan G. Dynamized preparations in cell culture. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2009; 6: 257-263
- 30 Preethi K, Ellanghiyil S, Kuttan G, Kuttan R. Induction of apoptosis of tumor cells by some potentiated homeopathic drugs: implications on mechanism of action. Integr Cancer Ther 2012; 11: 172-182
- 31 Mukherjee A, Sikdar S, Bishayee K, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Flavonol isolated from ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja occidentalis arrests the cell cycle at G2-M and induces ROS-independent apoptosis in A549 cells, targeting nuclear DNA. Cell Prolif 2014; 47: 56-71
- 32 Bishayee K, Chakraborty D, Gosh D, Boujedaini N, Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Lycopodine triggers apoptosis by modulation 5-lipoxygenase, and depolarizing mitochondrial membrane potential in androgen sensitive and refractory prostate cancer cells without modulating p53 activity; signaling cascade and drug-DNA interaction. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 698: 110-121
- 33 Bishayee K, Paul A, Ghosh S. , et al. Condurango-glycoside-A fraction of Gonolobus condurango induces DNA damage associated senescence and apoptosis via ROS-dependent p53 signalling pathway in HeLa cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2013; 382: 173-183
- 34 Friso S, Choi SW, Girelli D. , et al. A common mutation in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene affects genomic DNA methylation through an interaction with folate status. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99: 5606-5611
- 35 Baylin SB, Herman JG, Graff JR, Vertino PM, Issa JP. Alterations in DNA methylation: a fundamental aspect of neoplasia. Adv Cancer Res 1998; 72: 141-196
- 36 Olsen S. Effects of ultra-high dilutions of sodium butyrate on viability and gene expression in HEK 293 cells. Homeopathy 2017; 106: 32-36


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44 Plantains
Gravel crunched under Simon's worn-out Sketchers as he took the walk of shame up his neighbor's driveway. The street was deserted and quiet.
Simon wanted to be mad at his friends, but he would've bolted , too, if one of them had thrown the football into Mr. Martinez's yard. Unfortunately, he had made the unlucky pass. Simon paused next to one of Mr. Martinez's ornate , handmade mirrors that he sold from his front yard. Glittering shards of broken glass reflected the warm springtime Colorado sun.
Even Simon's best friend Sawyer had refused to stick around.
There's no way I'm going with you. Mr. Martinez loves those mirrors! Besides, what if he's still mad about the other day? Then Sawyer had vanished.
Simon froze on Mr. Martinez's stoop, remembering "the other day." He was sorry about the broken mirror today, but he was more ashamed of what had happened last weekend.
He and Sawyer had been in Simon's front yard "studying" Spanish.
?Donde esta el mercado? Sawyer had begun to quiz him.
"?Donde esta el mercado? (西班牙语:市场在哪里?)"索耶开始出题考他。
Simon stretched. "Um, let's see. El mercado esta en mi casa."
西蒙伸了个懒腰说:"嗯,让我想一想。El mercado esta en micasa.(西班牙语:市场在我家。)"
Get serious! laughed Sawyer. "I asked you where the market is, and you said it's in your house. Last time I checked, your mom wasn't running a Piggly Wiggly outta here. You've never been all that great with the Espanol."
"严肃点儿!"索耶乐了,"我问你市场在哪里,你回答在你家里。上次我检查你西班牙语的时候,你妈妈并没有在家里开Piggly Wiggly大型超市。你的西班牙语还没好到那个地步吧!"
Simon groaned. "I don't get it. We live in A-ME-RI-CA! Why does Ms. Perez think we need to know how to speak Spanish? I'm not going to Mexico! Are you?" Sawyer shook his head. "If people want to speak Spanish, they should just go back to Mexico. Spanish is totally stupid!"Simon was so wrapped up in his rant that he hadn't noticed the color drain from Sawyer's face. His friend cleared his throat loudly. "What?" Simon turned around.
Mr. Martinez stood there looking surprised and angry. Simon's stomach flip-flopped.
Oh, hi, Mr. Martinez. Mr. Martinez was Latino, spoke Spanish, and had lived next door to Simon his whole life. Simon's foot was crammed so far into his mouth that he could taste his ankle.
Hello boys. Simon, where is your mother, please? Mr. Martinez asked politely, even though he still looked angry.
She's around back, Sawyer piped up . Simon opened his mouth to apologize, but Mr. Martinez was off, a new mirror under his arm.
Sawyer shook his head. "Dude, you are toast ."
Now Simon stood on Mr. Martinez's stoop with a sense of dread. Mr. Martinez had always been nice to him, and Simon had basically told him to get lost . Nervously, Simon rang the bell. Mr. Martinez's normally cheery face darkened when he saw Simon. "Yes, Simon?" he asked civilly.
Simon started apologizing to his shoes. "I'm sorry, but I broke your mirror."
The old man looked thoughtful. "Football?" Simon could barely nod.
Come. Mr. Martinez headed down the hall. Curious, Simon followed. A sweet, warm smell filled the air. Mr. Martinez went to the stove and flipped something in an iron skillet .
Platanos maduros, sweet plantains, he said when he noticed Simon staring. "Sit."
"Platanos maduros (西班牙语:甜芭蕉),香甜的芭蕉,"他注意到西蒙盯着看,对他说,"坐吧。"
Simon's hunger battled with his guilt as Mr. Martinez produced a plate piled high with what looked like banana chunks fried a deep golden brown. Simon sampled the first bite hesitantly, but wolfed down the next two. He swallowed his shame with his last bite and said, "I'm really sorry about your mirror and about, you know, the other day. I'm glad you're not in Mexico."
Me too, since I am from Cuba! Across the table, his neighbor's eyes twinkled with mischief as he ate a platano. "You know, where I'm from it is believed that anyone who breaks a mirror will have seven years bad luck."
Oh great, Simon groaned. "Just what I need!"
Mr. Martinez laughed. "No te preocupes, don't worry my friend. I actually think you are a very lucky boy!"
马丁内斯先生笑了:"No te preocupes (西班牙语:别担心),别担心,我的朋友。我倒觉得你是个幸运的孩子。"
How am I lucky? I can't speak Spanish or throw a decent pass! Simon eyed his empty plate, wishing he could ask for more.
Mr. Martinez carried the plate into the kitchen. "Ah, but if you had not broken my mirror and come to apologize, you would not have found the perfect Spanish tutor. And," Mr. Martinez returned the refilled plate to the table, "You would have never tried my platanos! How do you like them?"
Simon's mouth was so full he could barely smile. "Excelente!"
(By Morgan Perez)

subset: commoncrawl


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Leesburg, VAHome Menu
Public Transportation
Public transportation within the Town of Leesburg is operated by Loudoun County Transit, including Commuter Bus Service, Local Bus Service, the free Leesburg Safe-T-Ride and Paratransit Service for people with disabilities.
Commuter Bus Service
Loudoun County Transit operates rush hour bus service from park & ride lots in Loudoun County (including the Leesburg Park & Ride on Sycolin Road) to West Falls Church, Rosslyn, the Pentagon and Washington DC. For complete information, please visit the Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services Commuter Bus Service webpage.
Local Bus ServiceMV Transportation is the operator of the local bus service in Leesburg and eastern Loudoun County, under a contract with Loudoun County. Four routes serve Leesburg:
- Route 55 Exeter/Tuscarora
- Route 56 Rust/Ida Lee/County Complex
- Route 57 Village at Leesburg
- Route 70 7-to-7-on-7
Route map and schedule available here. (Rutas de autobuses).
All routes connect at the Loudoun County Government Center, which is also a transfer point for the Purcellville Connector, operated by Virginia Regional Transit.
All routes operate from 7am to 7pm, Monday through Friday. In addition, Route 57 (Village at Leesburg) operates on Saturdays, from 10am to 9pm.
All routes are $1.00 per trip.
For more information about the Leesburg bus routes, and other routes in eastern Loudoun County, please visit www.loudoun.gov/localbus.
Leesburg Safe-T-RideDon't risk crossing on foot . . . take the bus! The Leesburg Safe-T-Ride is a free shuttle providing continuous service between locations on the east and west sides of the Route 15 Bypass. The Safe-T-Ride operates seven days a week:
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Stops include the Shenandoah Building, WalMart, Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets,Target and the Battlefield Shopping Center. The Safe-T-Ride route map is available for download as a PDF.
Paratransit ServiceLoudoun County Transit provides paratransit service for people with disabilities on the local bus routes in Leesburg and eastern Loudoun County. Please see Loudoun County's Paratransit Bus Service webpage for more information.


text: Summer is almost over and it's time to get ready for back to school! I get how stressful back to school shopping can be so, I've teamed up with Zaful and put together a few pieces to inspire you that are super simple like this Star Print Ruffle Wrap Dress. Zaful is currently having a … Continue reading 2017 Back to School Wishlist with Zaful: Star Print Ruffle Wrap Dress


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Rivalry aside
FHS cancer patient's fundraiser includes Bearden High students
Not only did students, teachers and families show their support Friday, Dec. 21, by wearing Farragut Admirals Navy blue colors to the varsity basketball games, but earlier in the week (Sunday, Dec. 16) a 5k run and fun walk fundraiser was held in his honor at Orange Theory Fitness in Bearden.
The event actually was the facility's Second Annual Ugly Sweater Run, but this one was dedicated to Motley and his family. An estimated $2,800 was raised in donations to the GoFundMe page set up for them.
Any money not used for medical expenses will go to East Tennessee Children's Hospital, where Motley is undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and to ETCH Hematology/Oncology Patients and Parents program.
"I can't begin to say how grateful we are for the love and support that we have received," said his mother, Kristin Motley.
Farragut resident Leah Braden, who owns Orange Theory, organized the event after learning about Mason's situation from one of her Orange Theory clients who works with Mason's parents (father is Tim Motley) at Discovery.
Braden noted "more than 50 percent" of the more than 70 who turned out for the run did not even know Mason or his family.
"We had the Bearden dance team here, who were helping with the Kid's fun run" among the many volunteers, she said. "We hold a lot of community events, and it proves time and time again how supportive we are of each other, no matter who it is or where they live.
"I know in these situations that families can really feel helpless, but we are here saying 'we've got your back,'" she added.
Mason and his parents were joined at the event by his brother, Carson, and sister, Cali, along with Mason's grandparents and many friends.
"A lot of kids from Bearden Mason does know because they played AAU basketball together," his mother said. "But it is amazing, the support we have received from pretty much everywhere.
"That first race (Mason's Mob, a group of about 100 who ran Aug. 11 in support of Mason at the ETCH Butterfly Dash 5K run), there were lots of different schools involved and people from lots of different places," Kristin added. "Today we have about a dozen people from (Mason's grandparent's neighborhood) Rarity Bay, and people from all over Knoxville.
"This is just a huge testament to Farragut and the community and how supportive they have been, and continue to be."
Mason was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his lower leg in May, requiring chemotherapy and surgery. The family went to Dana Farber Institute in Boston — a leading cancer treatment center — to begin treatment before his surgery at Boston Children's Hosptial.
Kristin established a Caring Bridge page to update Mason's progress, and in a recent entry dated Dec. 13, she shared that a recent surgery showed cancer cells within the removed tumor "appear to be dead.
"That was a huge victory and a true blessing," she added.
Mason will continue his chemo at ETCC for about another month, and remain on crutches for up to nine months while his leg continues to heal, Kristin said.
"But it certainly hasn't stopped him from getting out and being with his friends," his mother wrote. "I think what has kept him going is being able to spend time with his friends.
"It is basketball season now so whenever he's not in the hospital, he is trying his best to get to his high school basketball games. His teammates and friends mean everything to him.
"I want to let you all know how grateful I am for all of you that have reached out with your encouraging words, prayers and positive thoughts," she continued. "It has been so touching to see so many people rallying around Mason to give him support throughout his treatments.
"We are so extremely blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives and I know that Mason will never forget what everyone has done for him."


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text:
As an authorized dealer and service center, we carry and support Miele products and will help you every step on your journey towards the new vacuum you've been wanting.
Not familiar with Miele? Here's a short introduction to their new HomeCare Collection:
Stop by the Electric Hospital at 988 S Broadway in Coos Bay to see these machines in person and try one out yourself!


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GMR Group announced on March 9 that it has entered into an agreement with JSW Sports for a 50:50 partnership for GMR Group's Indian Premier League team Delhi Daredevils.
The sale is subject to approval from BCCI and satisfaction of other customary conditions precedent.
"This relationship between GMR and JSW opens up powerful synergy going forward for both the groups. It is symbolic of immense potential for sports and cricket in particular in the region. After having nurtured the Franchisee for the last 10 years, we believe the time is right for us to take it to newer heights. We believe JSW as a partner will bring significant value to the franchise with their wealth of diverse experience," GMR corporate chairman Grandhi Kiran Kumar said in an official release.
ALSO READ: JSW Signs MoU With Uttarakhand Govt For Reconstruction Of Kedarnath
"We are very happy to announce this new partnership with GMR. This is something that we as a group are excited about and the DD team will add to our existing portfolio of sports investments. We look forward to bring our experience and expertise to take the team to new heights," said JSW supremo Parth Jindal.
The JSW group who also owns the runners-up in Indian Super League Bengaluru FC.
March 9, 2018


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I learned about something wonderful recently. I think it's going to be revolutionary. I mean, REALLY revolutionary. I got it from the book I haven't been able to stop talking about: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Check out her blog at:The Happiness Project
As she goes through her year-long experiment of trying all kinds of "how-to" tips on being happy, she employs a very effective tool: The Resolutions Chart. So here's mine:
The way this works is the days of the week are listed along the top row and the resolutions I've made are listed down the column on the left. I've bought shiny metallic stars (gold, red, green, and blue!) to award myself every time I complete something. At the end of the week, I can see how many of my resolutions I have kept. For someone who likes visuals and who likes checking things off, I can tell this is going to be a fun way to keep of the things I want to employ in my life.
Feel free to take this template and update it for yourself. If you look at my resolutions on the left, I will tell you what my rationale was:
1. Build in some wins.
There are some things I already do every day. Since I don't deal well with failure, I've put in some things that I know I will do. Instamatic Win-o-matic.
2. Focus on the whole package.
I didn't want this to become all about my weight, or all about clutter. I wanted something more holistic. Yours can be totally different. Maybe what you really want to focus on is improving your finances. Your life should be your guide.
3. Think about your ideal self
I came up with a lot of these resolutions by thinking about the traits I would most like to have. Then I built actionable steps to get me to that place. I want to be a tidy person, thus all the decluttering resolutions.
Here's another resolution. I am going to take a picture of my resolution chart at the end of each week and post it here every Monday so you can see how I am doing. Will you share with me also? We'll keep each other accountable!
I realize it's kind of unfair for me to post this thing the day I'm starting, so if you like, give yourself a week to get prepared, and then start with me next Monday. But if you're ready to jump right in, c'mon!!
Let's do this together.


text: 2017 You are hereYou are here: Home / 2017 Historical Belgian War Museum benefits from spray foam insulation's air sealing propertiesMay 3, 2017 - 8:00amOpened in 1976, the Historical Center of Bastogne is a World War II memorial that recognizes the support from United States troops during the Battle of Ardennes in 1944-45. The complex 'American Star' shape of the building allowed Icynene Classic address condensation, mold and rot concerns discovered by contractors. Tags: belgiumhistoricalmuseumclassic spray foaminsulationicynenemoldcondensationmoisture managementmoisturespray foam insulationeurope Achieving energy efficiency in schools and how spray foam insulation can play a roleApril 27, 2017 - 2:59amSchools and other educational facilities such as colleges and universities can sometimes be the pioneers in changing how buildings are designed and constructed. Tags: LEED for Schoolsschoolsuniversitiescollegesspray foam insulationLEED creditsleed pointsLEED creditsLEEDinsulationCHPS How does insulation contribute to energy efficiency?April 17, 2017 - 4:39pmInsulation provides thermal insulating value that helps keep building occupants comfortable, but how does energy efficiency fit in? Tags: energy consumptionenergy efficient insulationinsulationspray foam insulationicyenensprayfoam.orgquebecHVAC equipmentHVAC Top 5 LEED categories which spray foam insulation contributes towards in new constructionApril 12, 2017 - 2:29pmThe LEED certification program has quickly become the most widely recognized green design/building programs among architects and builders. Here are 5 areas where spray foam insulation can contribute to LEED credits in new construction. Tags: LEEDLEED for New Construction and Major Renovationsarchitectural designarchitecturespray foam insulationinsulationicyneneLEEDUS Green Building Council How Much Does Spray Foam Insulation Cost?April 12, 2017 - 10:22am'How much does spray foam insulation cost?' This is one of most typical questions architects and builders will be asked by their clients when they've been recommended the modern insulation solution. The answer is varied.Tags: cost of spray foaminsulation prices Pages« first ‹ previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 next › last »


text: Strategic planning is the formal consideration of an organization's future course. All strategic planning deals with key questions: "Why do we exist?" "Where are we going?" "How do we excel?" In many organizations, this is viewed as a process for determining where an organization is going over the next year or more typically 3 to 5 years. In order to determine where it is going, the organization needs to know exactly where it stands, then determine where it wants to go and how it will get there. The resulting document is called the "strategic plan". This highly interactive program equips you with the knowledge and tools of how to develop vision, mission and core values statements, identify value proposition, position your organization and implement the strategic plan.


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When buying or managing a building, water treatment may not be the first thing on your mind. But for Maintenance Leads and Facilities Managers, it's a common concern: which water treatment technology is best for boilers and cooling towers?
Clearly, there are many options to consider. Many of them consist of heavy liquid material handling equipment like drums and totes when introducing liquid chemicals into systems. These chemicals act as disinfectants and scale/corrosion inhibitors, which reduce bacteria and prevent mineral build-up and metal removal in boiler or cooling water systems.
Maybe your facility's water isn't contaminated, but you're noticing a lot of pipe corrosion or scale build-up. That could mean the water needs to be adjusted and chemicals may be necessary.
Boiler chemicals combined with reverse osmosis or softening is another, albeit complicated way to go, so it's no surprise that giant drums of liquid chemicals have been the standby method for many years.
While standard liquids have certainly worked, they aren't without downsides. One downside is that liquid chemicals are much more likely to spill or leak either in transport or storage, causing dangerous toxic messes. Though this may be a somewhat obvious risk, it can be entirely avoided with a solid water treatment chemical solutions: same benefits minus the risk of spills.
Aside from the risk of spills with liquids, many people don't realize the added energy (and therefore cost) it takes to actually transport those liquids. They're heavier and bulkier than the solid water treatment solutions because they require added caustic chemicals to maintain the pH levels. By eliminating this added weight, it's less expensive and better for the environment to ship solids.
Another important benefit of a solid solution is that it can help buildings become more sustainable and can qualify for LEEDS certification, because the water treatment technology uses eco-friendly products, eliminates exposure to hazardous chemicals, and does away with drums that may not always be recycled and end up in landfills.
Speaking of those 55-gallon drums: they typically weigh about 500 pounds. Why choose to move those around (and perhaps risk injury to yourself or employees while doing so) when you can handle our 10 lb. solid containers (a case of four containers weighs about 40 lbs.)?
Water treatment technology is an important aspect of building maintenance and ownership. Consider all options before choosing your preferred method, and choose solid-chemistry as the safe and more sustainable choice.


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October 3rd, 2013
The Dodgers finally make a return to the post-season on Thursday, for the first time since 2009. The Boys in Blue will be going up against the NL East Champion Atlanta Braves. The Braves finished 96-66, while LA was 92-70. Atlanta also won the season series with the Dodgers 5-2, but all of those games took place before LA's historic winning streak. The Dodgers cooled off quite a bit in September, going just 13-14, but they may have caught a break. Atlanta cooled off just as much, going 12-15. Even though the Braves have home field advantage and the best home record in baseball, the Dodgers posted baseball's best road record.
This Dodgers have a major advantage here. In games 1 through 3, they'll be sending Clayton Kershaw, Zach Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu to the mound. The Braves will counter with Kris Medlen, Mike Minor, and Julio Teheran. Medlen is nice, but he's going up against the best pitcher in baseball, and Greinke is the best #2 starter in the game. Any questions?
Advantage: LA
The Braves have an explosive offense. They have a notable advantage at catcher with all-star Brian McCann, who has great power, more consistency at 3rd base with Chris Johnson, and in the outfield with Justin Upton and Jayson Heyward. Atlanta lead the National League in home runs, and they have two of the league's top 3 hitters with Johnson and Freddie Freeman. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are missing some power in their lineup with Matt Kemp out, and Andre Ethier limited to pinch hitting duties. Even with Kemp, their offense has struggled to score runs in the last month. They'll need Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, and Adrian Gonzales to come through.
Advantage: Atlanta
The Dodgers have quite a bit of depth here. Andre Ethier can supply some solid hitting off the bench, and Michael Young can come in to play either corner infield spot. Nick Punto is also a very solid utility player, who is capable of coming up with clutch hits. The Braves don't have much here. Just BJ Upton, who has played more like Kate Upton this year.
Advantage: Dodgers
The Braves have had the best bullpen in baseball all season. They posted the lowest ERA in the majors, and suffered just 15 losses all year. Their bullpen is also anchored by Craig Kimbrel, who led all NL closers in saves and ERA. If he gets the ball, the game is over. The Dodgers bullpen isn't exactly chopped liver though. Kenley Jansen, Brian Wilson, and JP Howell were lights out in September. The Dodgers are counting on their starters working deep into the game.
Advantage: Braves
The Braves are capable of hitting the ball out of the park, but they also struck out more than any other NL team. This means they sit back and wait for the long ball, instead of manufacturing runs. This could be big problem against the best starting pitching staff in the game. Remember, pitching has always been the great equalizer in the post season. The Dodgers will also have to start Skip Schumaker in center field, with Andre Ethier injured. However, Schumaker has championship post season experience with the Cardinals, and has even hit well against Medlen. If the Dodgers can return to the timely hitting we saw in July and August, they should be able to win this series easily. Dodgers in 4.


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Home > Tree Removal > IA > Grace Hill
Updated: 23 May 2020
The cost of tree removal in Grace Hill, 52353 varies depending on the size of your tree, it's location on your property and access.
The biggest factor affecting price is the local tree service in Grace Hill you use for the job.
The average tree removal cost in Grace Hill is $827 which is -5% below the countrywide average of $1,171.
Whether you need a permit to remove a tree in Grace Hill Zipcode 52353 will depend on the size and location of the tree itself.
Grace Hill has a set of tree ordinances that indicates whether your tree can be removed.
Normally if the tree is dead, hazardous, planted too close to your home or not considered significant due to its small size you should be able to remove it without a permit.
Click here for the local tree ordinance in Grace Hill, 52353, Iowa.
Grace Hill is located in Plant hardiness zone 5b.
The state tree for Iowa is Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa which can be found in abundance in one of the 68 State forests or 0 state parks.
With 8.43% of the state is forested, there are approximately 3,000,000 forested acres in Iowa. With a population of 3,155,070 and an estimated 750,000,000 trees statewide, there are 238 trees for every person in the state.
Unfortunately, there are some endangered species of trees, 0 to be exact, as well as 5 threatened species and 26 invasive species. The worst offender endangering native trees in Grace Hill is the Emerald Ash Borer and Bur Oak Blight.
Map of Grace Hill.
Grace Hill coordinates are , and the average weather readings are the following:
Nearby AreasWellmanCedar ValleyNordstromRockwell CollinsAegon USAClifflandAgencyHitemanAbingdonEvans JunctionWalfordViningCarnforthVan HorneTroy MillsToddvilleHavenCou FallsStanwoodKinross


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Glen Coe
I'm just back from three fairly wild days based at Lagangarbh with a Falkirk Outdoors Mountaineering and High Tops Trip. On Wednesday Gillian, Linda, Neil and I ascended a soggy Zig-Zags (crampons not required). Whilst Craig, Mike and Wilson traversed Beinn a'Chrulaiste. On Tuesday the mountaineers adjourned to The Ice Factor for some indoor rock and ice climbing, whilst the walkers took in The Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. Today the mountaineers made up a couple of routes high on the west face of Gearr Aonach including one, which had an interesting tight through route; meanwhile the walkers visited Beinn Bhan above Ballachulish before deciding the weather was unpleasant enough to make for a short day.
The weather gave significant precipitation on all three days. The freezing level went above the summits on Thursday on a southerly wind and then dropped down to around 600m today with the wind becoming westerly. We only reached circa 700m today, but there was considerable accumulation of fresh wind blown snow at this level. The snow at this height was moist and will firm up with colder temperatures. There are more photos on The ClimbNow Facebook page.
MacGillycuddy's Reeks and The Dingle Peninsula
Jen and I are just back from Ireland. Having visited family in Wicklow we headed out to Kerry for a few days and based ourselves in Killarney. On Wednesday we climbed Carrauntoohil in windy conditions from Hags Glen via Brother O'Shea's Gully and descended via The Zig-Zags.
Thursday we drove out to the Dingle Peninsula and after seeing the famous Fungie the Dolphn headed up Cnoc Breanainn (Mount Brandon) from An Baile Breac in wet and cloudy conditions. Friday saw us back in the Dingle area for an afternoon's sea kayaking with Irish Adventures.
Saturday we were back in The Reeks with occasional heavy showers and strong winds climbing Cnoc na Peiste from Cronin's Yard before taking in Maolan Bui and Cnoc an Chuillinn before returning over Maolan Bui and down The Bones. We had superb hospitality throughout and thoroughly enjoyed our time in Ireland.
Cairngorms and Glen Coe
On Saturday and Sunday I was out with Andy and Rob and the weekend proved to be a microcosm of this winter season in that we had cold snowy conditions with quick changes to rain and freezing levels above the summits and back again.
We met at Aviemore on Saturday to make the most of the later arrival of the warmer temperatures in the East and headed to Creagan Coire a'Cha-no in cold sunny conditions. After abseiling in we climbed Anvil Gully and as the snow was now starting to get soggy we then climbed the rocky Duke's Rib before heading down and across to Fort William.
The weather was then rain above the summits through the night and in to Sunday morning with the freezing level forecast to drop to 800m on Sunday afternoon. Given this we opted for a late start on Sunday and climbed up on to Gearr Aonach via the scramble of The Zig Zags. After this we walked along to Stob Coire nan Lochan and climbed part way up Broad Gully on soft snow. By this time the temperature had dropped and things were starting to firm up and occasional snow showers were falling. We climbed out of Broad Gully on snow to gain Dorsal Arete before it's crux rocky fin and climbed up this to the top before descending Broad Gully. This worked well as a good mountaineering day and had the added benefit of taking in the fin, which Andy and I had bypassed on a previous occasion due to high winds.
There was a dusting of fresh snow above about 800m as I drove through Glen Coe this morning, but this is likely to change through the day with freezing levels falling and snow forecast to lower levels.
Northern Lights and Classic Mountaineering
Andrew flew up on Wednesday and I picked him up from EICA Ratho, where he'd visited Alan Lockhart who's working with him to solve some long term injuries. We then headed North with the aim of four days of mountaineering/climbing. Andrew is planning some long term goals in the Greater Ranges and the idea was to improve Andrew's efficiency of movement on alpine terrain, look at some specific skills and also have a good time ticking some Scottish classics without aggravating any injuries. As we drove North we were lucky enough to get a great view of the Northern Lights along Glen Dochart and North of Crianlarich. On Thursday we climbed North Buttress on Buachaille Etive Mor and descended Curved Ridge taking in Crowberry Tower. We had sunshine at times and the rock was surprisingly dry with most of Rannoch Wall looking dry enough for climbing.
We then headed up to Skye as Andrew had never been in the Black Cuillin and was keen to get a feel for the ridge. The weather on Friday was unfortunately worse than earlier forecasts, so Andrew didn't get much chance to see the hills. However, we ascended Sgurr Dearg via Coire na Banaichdaich and it's North-West Flank; climbed the Inaccessible Pinnacle by it's East Ridge and descended the South-East Flank of Sgurr Dearg to the An Stac Screes. Having been in constant steady rain and cloud for most of the day we then decided to bail down the screes and out via Coire Lagan.
With the forecast not looking great on Skye for Saturday we had an early start and made for the Cairngorms. Here we walked in to Coire an t-Sneachda. After a pleasant chat with Glenn and Euan who were headed for Hell's Lum Crag we climbed Pygmy Ridge. We approached this via the line of Central Gully Left Hand and it's worth noting that there a couple of sizable perched blocks in this area at the moment. Once on the plateau we headed down Coire Domhain and around to Stag Rocks where we climbed Afterthought Arete, sticking to the ridge as much as possible to maximise the climbing.
We had accommodation booked over in the West for Saturday night and needed a shortish day to allow for flights on Sunday, so the final day saw us back in Glen Coe. We climbed Barn Wall Route on the East Face of Aonach Dubh, this requires a steady approach as although there are excellent positive holds throughout there isn't a lot in the way of gear. We then headed around under Stob Coire nan Lochan, so Andrew could get a look at this as a potential future winter venue, before heading out along Gearr Aonach and descending The Zig-Zags.
Four days of Classic Mountaineering in mostly very good weather for the time of year with the exception of Friday. If you're heading out it's worth knowing that we haven't had a proper frost yet and hence the midges are still around and biting, thankfully for me they seemed to prefer Andrew.
The Zig-Zags and Stob Mhic Mhartuin
Yesterday morning I drove from South Queensferry to Glencoe. This took five hours including two hours stuck in the snow on the A82 in Glencoe. This hopefully gives a good idea of how much new snow has arrived in the area over the last couple of days.
Once I arrived in Glencoe I met the team and headed out to the Zig-Zags on Gearr Aonach. We climbed and descended the route looking at short roping and abseiling skills. The route was a popular option with quite a few teams around trying to avoid the worst of the weather by staying at lower altitudes.
Today I have been out on Stob Mhic Mhartuin looking at winter skills such as ice axe arrest and emergency snow shelters. There is a lot of new snow around making movement time consuming and significant wind transportation increasing the avalanche risk on certain aspects.
Unfortunately my camera broke on Sunday and so my blog posts will be without photos until the weekend.
Ben Nevis and Glen Coe
I've just spent an excellent weekend based in Fort William with Rachel and Sabine.
On Saturday we had an early start to walk up to Ben Nevis and climb Tower Ridge in time to be off the ridge and summit well before the forecast thunder storms.
The thunder storms never appeared as they tracked further East, but we did have the best of the weather on the day, only encountering cloud on the upper part of the ridge and some light showers on the way down.
Today we were out in Glen Coe climbing Barn Wall Route on the East Face of Aonach Dubh. After the overnight rain and early low cloud the rock was initially very wet, but dried with height and rising cloud levels. The route gives a good long climb at the grade, but is fairly sparse on protection.
We then headed up to the summit of Aonach Dubh before traversing underneath Stob Coire nan Lochan and descending Gearr Aonach and The Zig-Zags.


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Branding Your way to Success by Logo Nerds - HTML preview
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.
Brand Your Way to Success
Table of ContentsBuild Your Brand & Get Noticed! www.LogoNerds.comEight Tips for Effective Brand Positioning! 4
Online Tools that Build the Brand Power of Your Business! 7
Use Promotional Products to Enhance Your Brand and Build your Bottom Line! 10
Turn Pennies into Profit with Affordable Promotional Products! 12
Cartoon Logos, Mascots, Grab Attention and Build Your Brand! 14
The Top Ten Internet Brands: Learn from their Success Strategies! 16
Differentiate Your Business and Rise Above the Competition! 20
Compelling Design + Smart Placement = Successful Banner Ad Strategy! 23
Creative Networking and Brand Building with Business Cards! 26
Use Guerrilla Marketing Tactics to Make Your Small Business Perform Like a Giant ! 29
Join the Network! Using Social Websites to Build a Powerful Brand! 32
Building a Buzz with Word of Mouth Marketing! 35
BONUS: Effective Logo Design! 38 2/37
Brand Your Way To SuccessProduced By: www.LogoNerds.com
You Are permitted to give away this ebook provided none of the content is changed.
You Are permitted to bundle this ebook as a bonus provided none of the content is changed
These rules have been established to protect the rights and ownership of the authors and to ensure that their work is upheld as their own.
Copyright © 2009 LogoNerds.com, Net Biz Ventures Inc.
Published by LogoNerds.com, Net Biz Ventures Inc.
All rights reserved.
All content contained within "Brand Your Way To Success" & "Effective Logo Design" is copyright © 2009 LogoNerds.com, Net Biz Ventures Inc.
Believe it or not, You Can get a professional custom logo designed for under $50. Build your brand and get
noticed, visit www.LogoNerds.com today!
Eight Tips for Effective Brand Positioning
No matter how long you !ve been in business, chances are good that you are engaged in developing and promoting your brand positioning strategy. You!ll invest plenty of time in the process of evaluating your products or services in terms of market share, sales and customer base and comparing this information to that of your competitors. You!ll work to determine how your customers perceive your business and its major offerings and use the detailed findings to establish your business at the proper place within that all important target market.
Your business position within the target market will determine your business !s degree of success. If you think you can maneuver into a more profitable place, do so by adjusting your products or services to more closely match the desired position (known as re-positioning), or pursue strategies that change customer perception of the products and services offered by your competitors (de-positioning).Here are some strategic tips that can help you to be as effective as possible during your brand positioning process:
1. " Understand brand positioning as fully as you can, especially in the way that it directly affects your business. Businesses, especially smaller ones, are very diverse in their needs and offerings, and it might take quite a bit of effort to even be sure that you are positioning yourself within the correct market. Look closely at the businesses sharing your pool of regular customers, their purchasing patterns and the roles that your business plays in their everyday lives.
2. " Develop the most efficient method possible for gathering customer information. Remember that you!re trying to get inside their heads and back out again with an unvarnished look at how they see your business in terms of the benefit that it provides for them. You might consider questionnaires, phone surveys or online surveys and offer a small bonus to compensate customers for their valuable time.3." Determine which of your products and/or services are the most popular or powerful, so that you can use them to build on or adjust your overall positioning strategy.
4." Rank all of your products and/or services in terms of positive customer review and in relation to those of your competitors.
5. " List the most popular group of attributes that describe your business and products from the viewpoints of your customers and combine them to reach your ideal vector…the position in your target market from where your business can operate at the highest possible level of strength.
6. " Product-based businesses can complete the positioning process more easily than service based businesses. After all, your customers can see, touch and watch demonstrations of your products to see how they work and visualize their benefits. Here are some hints for exploring how customers perceive your business and its services:7." Create simulations, descriptions or case studies showing proven results.
8." Find out how customers view your services in terms of value, results and convenience.
9. " Regardless of your business type, take the information about customer perception that you!ve gathered, determine your top benefits and attributes and use them to determine your current positioning and how far that point is from your ideal vector in the marketplace.
10. " Decide whether you are satisfied with the current positioning of your business, or whether you need to change your strategy. Consider your target market and decide if your business is positioned in such a manner that it maximizes every opportunity for visibility in that market.
Finally, keep in mind that positioning can be either an active or passive process. If you choose not to fully engage in it – it will still take place. Don!t give up the valuable opportunity to monitor and influence the process and increase profitability.
"Your business position within the target market will determine your business"s degree of success"
Online Tools that Build the Brand Power of Your Business
Brand building is a fundamental part of building a successful business – on or offline. An effective brand building strategy creates a memorable impression that serves to establish your business as a field or industry leader. These days, even brick and mortar businesses are compelled to have an online presence, so whether you are selling handmade jewelry exclusively online or seeking to expand your professional practice with a new website, it makes sense to use these online tools to build your brand and expand your reach.
Your Domain Name
Even before you create a company website, you!ll choose a domain name, also known as a URL. When you purchase it, choose carefully – it will be the Internet address for your business. Choosing your domain name wisely can give your website a leg up in the SEO process – and can mean the difference between getting noticed by potential customers and coming in on page ten of the search engine results. Use your business name to increase brand power, and consider additional names to increase web traffic using keywords related to your business.
Signature File
Create a signature file that includes your business name, tagline, and if possible, logo and use it in all of your emails, when posting on blogs and in online forums. A well developed signature file establishes your brand around the Internet and builds it by attracting visitors to your website.
Some business advisers frown upon spending a lot of time and money on logo design, but a quality logo builds online branding instantly and powerfully. Here are some guidelines for using your logo to make the right impression with your online audience:
" •" Be sure that your logo is professional in design, has a high quality appearance that includes readability and attention to detail.
" •" Select a logo design that sparks interest in your business along with excitement and energy.
Keep in mind that whatever images and thoughts are evoked in the minds of your viewers when they see your logo will be associated with your business automatically, so use this very powerful online brand building tool with care.
Web Site Design
Your web site is your most important online branding tool. It represents the place where all of the elements of a highly recognizable brand come together. If your business is already running successfully in an offline capacity, you!ll need to extend the elements of your offline strategy to your website, because uniformity is key to avoiding confusion in the minds of your target customers.
Pay special attention to the appearance and readability of the font size and type that you choose for your text, to the colors used in your graphics and page backgrounds, and to any photos and images that you decide to post. Not only do these elements attract or repel visitors in terms of aesthetics, they are a vital part of an effective online branding process. For example, you might favor orange, a color that conveys happiness, but if your website offers professional services, you are better off with a shade of blue that conveys trustworthiness and loyalty.
You may like the look of an ornate font, but if readers have a hard time scanning your pages, the brand building power is lost.
Bringing it all together
Building a powerful online brand for your business is a truly comprehensive effort that requires careful planning and execution. Be sure that the visual elements of your brand are consistent wherever they appear. As you expand your online presence to such areas of the Internet as blogs, social networking sites, article directories and forums, be sure that your logo, colors, contact information and quality of content remain consistent in their representation of your business as a trusted industry leader.
"An effective brand building strategy creates a memorable impression that serves to establish your business as an industry leader"
Use Promotional Products to Enhance Your Brand and Build your Bottom Line
Promotional products provide a valuable and inexpensive way to enhance your brand and expand your customer base. A useful, quality gift leaves a positive impression on current and future customers contributes to your company!s image. It also works as an enduring testimonial/ advertisement that remains in the home or office, ready to generate new or repeat business or valuable word of mouth recommendation.
There are literally thousands of promotional products that you can use to build your brand recognition. Here are some points to consider when you are leafing through the catalogs or scrolling through the websites in search of the most effective value for your promotional dollar:
! •! Choose a product that relates strongly to your type of business. Your logo and contact information might look good on a super sponge, but if you!re a professional, an attractive ball point pen in your company!s colors will convey your image more effectively. For a business that sells specialty coffee, a sturdy and ample mug is a natural choice. The point to remember here is that brand power is achieved more readily when your new customer recognizes who and what your business provides immediately, whenever they look at or use your promotional gift.
! •! Don"t skimp on quality. If your budget is small, distribute a small token such as a pad of printed posted notes rather than an umbrella that turns inside out when the user gets caught by a wind gust. Rational, fair or not, people will judge the quality of your goods or service by the quality of your promotional gifts. If you!re going to use this method to instill trust in your corporate image and inspire people to buy from you, give them the same quality that you would provide if they were paying for the product.
! •! Choose a useful product. Potential customers tend to be very pleased when they receive a promotional gift that they can actually use. They feel as though it was chosen especially for them, and this appreciative sense of intimacy creates a closer business relationship and generates trust in your brand –building it while attracting new revenue. Most people have more fridge magnets than they will ever actually use. A magnetic note pad with attached pen or pencil is more likely to be used, and your brand is more likely to grow in recognition.
Once you !ve selected and purchased your promotional gifts, distribute them at every possible opportunity. Give them away at trade shows, conferences, in your office or shop. Offer them on your website in exchange for contact information or to attract sign- ups for your email newsletter. Package them with merchandise shipments and give them to clients, customers and business colleagues.
Before long, you !ll see the results in the form of more new and returning customers, and a broader recognition of your business as a trusted leader in your corner of the consumer marketplace. Carefully choosing and distribution promotional products is just one way to build your brand – but as you can see it is a powerful as well as an investment that reaps rewards far into the future.
Turn Pennies into Profit with Affordable Promotional Products
Are you looking for an affordable way to reach out to your target marketplace, expand your brand and increase sales? Consider these promotional products – especially if you are a small business with a limited budget. They are surprisingly affordable and have shown great results in terms of brand building and creating customer goodwill. They also give you the advantage of a constant presence in the home or office of your customer, ready to recommend your products or services whenever the need arises.
Magnets remind people that your business is out there, ready to serve them at a moment!s notice. They are so popular that many people keep collections on their fridge, filing cabinet, or desk – wherever they can find a metal surface to adhere them. They are often used to keep photos or papers attached to the surface, but more often become a sales or service directory for quick reference – a great value for minimal cost.
Key chains are always useful for car, home, office and garage keys. Every time your customer uses keys, he or she is reminded of your business. New customers develop an awareness of your brand and returning customers are reminded of their past experiences or perhaps that they need to do business with you again soon.
Pens , ball point or felt tip are favorites, especially for businesses where they are a staple tool. Banks, professional offices, educational institutions, booksellers, arts and craft stores and websites find that their customers appreciate writing tools as a promotional gift. Make sure it is a high quality pen that will last as long as you want your business to remain on the radar of its user. Mouse pads are wonderful, especially for businesses related to computer sales, repair, or IT services, or that cater to business or professional offices such as supply stores. They serve as a desktop billboard that advertises your business 24/7.Stickers are versatile and can be collected or placed in strategic places as a reminder of your products or services as well as to develop brand recognition over an extended period of time.
Calendars are very useful – everyone needs them, refers to them regularly and dislikes the chore of going out and buying them. Customers appreciate your business providing them and gain a positive image of your brand.
Mugs are the promo product with nine lives. They are always useful to someone. When people accumulate too many in their home or office, they give them away, and those bearing your logo start a whole new promotional life. Nobody throws a good mug into the trash.
Hats are especially popular among collectors and children of all ages. You can tailor the design to a specific event – such as a visor for a sporting event – or choose an all purpose favorite that can be worn for years, building brand recognition in your community.
T-Shirts are much appreciated for a variety of reasons, and if the color, style and logo are impressive enough – they!ll advertise your business everywhere the wearer goes. People will notice – and your brand will grow stronger.
Post it Pads printed with your company logo are low cost and valuable because people use them. They also get passed along with the note – so each sheet in the pad can potentially count as a contact with a new client.
These promotional devices can turn pennies into profit. They build lasting brand recognition and advertise on a continuous basis. Purchase quality items that present your company logo, taglines and contact information in an attractive and eye catching manner you!ll realize maximum return and sent into motion maximum brand and profit building power.
Cartoon Logos, Mascots, Grab Attention and Build Your Brand
All too often, the difference between sluggish sales and rousing success for small business can be found in the advertising and branding programs. One small adjustment in the strategy can make a major difference in terms of getting noticed over and above the competition.
Small business owners are finding that a cartoon character logo and/or mascot often makes the difference, especially in industries and markets where the competition is already tight, with economic conditions making it even tighter. Cartoon character logos are often more costly, especially for a quality product, but companies that are willing to pay a little extra are often surprised and pleased when the extra attention and business more than make up for the initial outlay.
Take for example the Canadian dentist who made the news recently after winning a Marketer of the Year Award. After assessing his completion, he realized that most dental advertisements were nearly identical. He set out to differentiate himself by creating an animated character of a man with an obvious toothache. He wrote cartoons and translated his character to a mascot that appears at local events and marches in parades, breaking out of the #Happy tooth & toothbrush! mold used by most other dentists who chose to build their brand using a character. His branding effort paid off in terms of attracting plenty of attention and new patients as well.
Consider also the iconic logos that have been around for decades, such as Mr. Clean and the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Major companies have long accepted the effectiveness of choosing the right animated character mascot for their logos. They knew that:
" •" Cartoon character mascots and logos achieve instant recognition for your brand and
" •" Using a character to promote your business conveys a unique personality picture of your business, and a level of intimacy that extends beyond words.
" •" Character images enhance product images – for example, the Mr. Clean character is strong and shiny, suggesting product power and an appealing result that will not disappoint.
" •" Competitive advantage is key. Once the markets began filling up and the competitive field grew larger, the importance of getting enough brand attention to differentiate determined the companies that would grow to multinational giant or stay regional. Character logos and mascots generate more conversation and attention than their unanimated counterparts." •" Character logos and mascots exert greater memory power. And getting customers to remember that you exist and what you provide is a good part of the battle.
" •" A mascot benefits your business directly – in terms of boosting morale among your employees and creating a team spirit.
It is important to select the right mascot for your business. With a little creativity, most small businesses can find a character that brings their product or service to life in the minds of their potential customers. A pet food company can use a dog or cat, craft supplies sellers can animate a pair of scissors, anything that connects and solidifies the brand. Try it – your small business might just end up with a big reputation.
The Top Ten Internet Brands: Learn from their Success Strategies
A review of the top ten Internet brands brings to light a group of successful branding strategies. These are companies that researched their markets extensively, developed their products and services to meet consumer need and preference, and then planned and executed the brand building strategies that propelled them to the top of the industry – the most recognizable and popular businesses on the Internet.
Here are the top ten companies in terms of brand recognition, strength and profit potential. They all operate globally, taking full advantage of available web media to promote themselves and sell their products. They all provide products and services targeted toward business and consumer use, and aim to improve the fortunes and the lives of the consumers they attract. Consider their beginnings, strategies and current industry standings and see what you can learn about brand building from their stories.
" •" Google – not a surprise, really. The company began as a user-friendly search engine and branched out by offering other services- all geared toward the user. It continued to grow by partnering with other entities and acquiring smaller companies to increase offerings. Google marketed itself as a user dedicated, non –greed oriented company that was considerate of the environment and has benefited from positive, wide spread word of mouth publicity. Its logo is widely recognized and is customized for special occasions and holidays. As with most of the Internet services based companies, it offers free products that can eventually lead into paid services that users #graduate! to purchasing. Much of the company!s revenue comes from innovative advertising sales programs.
" •" Yahoo – This older Internet access portal survived the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s by partnering with other companies and making wise acquisitions and additions to its range of services. The brand remains vital, some say, because it recognizes that brand building on the Internet largely depends on offering logically simple products that work well for the all important user. Advertising services account for about 88% of Yahoo!s revenue.
" •! MSN/Windows Live - The current brand, Windows Live, was formed by Microsoft when the company rebranded MSN and many of its services, adding new ones that dovetail with its VISTA operating system. It covers information, personal connections and special interest software. There was some initial confusion in the rebranding, but as VISTA use spreads, it appears to be diminishing. As with other Microsoft software, brand dissemination is enhanced by programs preinstalled on new computers.
" •" Microsoft – This software giant began operation in 1975 and became widely known as the market for home computers accelerated. Today, it operated three divisions – Business, Entertainment and Devices. A long history of acquisitions, legal disputes and innovative product offerings have resulted in both positive and negative publicity, and some say that the company!s strategy of emulating and then eliminating the competition has gained it almost singular status in its field, but at the cost of much customer goodwill.
" •" AOL Media Network – AOL began as one of the first paid internet portals. The company found its niche market by catering to the non-computer literate customers at the advent of personal computing. Over the years, reports of dubious practices involving issues like customer service, billing, etc cost the company subscribers, but brand loyalty has carried the company through troubled times and it remains one of the largest service providers in the industry.
" •" YouTube – The appealing concept of video sharing for everyone brought YouTube to the forefront of Internet companies. Some services rank only Google and Yahoo ahead of YouTube in terms of online traffic. In fact, it is now a subsidiary of Google, and is banned in some countries due to its unregulated content. This brand has succeeded by making the user its complete focus.
" •" Fox Interactive Media – a conglomerate brand created by its parent company, Newscorp, this brand is basically an umbrella set up to organize the media arms of Fox TV, Fox Sports and Fox News, and offer advanced interactive media services online to support those media outlets.
" •" Wikipedia – the online encyclopedia is the only top media brand that is a non-profit enterprise. Worldwide reach and language translation has built the brand, along with Interactive principles similar to that of YouTube. Despite criticism of it reliability, Wikipedia remains popular as a quick and straightforward information source. Its unique logo pictures a puzzle piece globe, partially assembled with contributions from around the globe.
" •" eBay – this popular brand has become the gold standard for online auctions and shopping. The company also owns Paypal, the online money transfer system that has greatly assisted its own operation. Charity auctions and auctions of famous objects have created publicity for the business, which operates around the globe, offering buyers and sellers the advantage of a worldwide audience.
" •" Apple – The computer hardware and software company that began with a niche as an educational leader, the company established its brand with hardware innovations such as the laptop, ipod, iphone and other products. Apple built its brand with innovation and created a reputation as a maverick company. The Apple logo, a silhouette of the fruit with a bite missing has evolved from multi color to monochromatic over the years and is one of the most easily recognized in the world.What do most of these companies have in common in terms of branding that can be used to step up your company!s brand building efforts? Here!s a short list, see if you can add to it:
" •" Brands convey a user-centered company image
" •" Most brands offer at least some free or low cost services
" •" Brands suggest highly innovative products and/or advertising
" •" Brands suggest some philanthropic or community involvement – building loyalty
" •" Brands have developed memorable logos
" •" Companies have developed unique products or missions as a foundation upon which to build their brands.
Differentiate Your Business and Rise Above the Competition
One vital component of building a highly recognizable brand for your business is to find its unique attributes, and then build upon them. Take a look at the highly successful companies in the business world and you!ll see that they have something in common – they!ve discovered how they can provide their customers with products and service that they can!t get anywhere else. They provide quality and a customer relationship that keeps customers returning and purchasing.
The first step in the differentiation process is competition research. List your major competitors and gather all of the business intelligence available about their products, services, corporate structure and size, corporate culture, mission and vision statements, pricing structures and customer service policies. Don!t forget copies of their ads, brochures, business cards and any other collateral materials that you can access. Evaluate all of this and ask yourself the following:" •" Which competitors represent the closest match to your business?
" •" What are the strengths of these competitors – product range, price, years in business, established customer base, excellence in customer service?
" •" What are your competitor!s chief weaknesses? "
" -" Are they in an out of the way location? Do they operate a mediocre website or no website at all?
" -" Do they suffer from a lack of strategic advertising, or leave something to be desired in terms of service?
" •" Is there anything absolutely unique about your competitors and the way they conduct business? Read testimonials, if they are available, and find out the things that their customers appreciate most. Is there anything that they do that you can!t offer?
Make a list of all of this information, and then turn your attention to your own business. Gather your own information together and compare it. Include all the documentation listed above. Spread everything out and honestly evaluate your business from a comparative viewpoint.After you!ve taken some time to let it all sink in, ask yourself:
" •" What unique qualities do you see in your business that the competition lacks? " -" Do you offer discounts and special promotions more often?
" -" Do you offer a larger product range with hard to find items?
" -" Is your service department more extensive? Do you offer deep shipping discounts? " -" Do you have a more modern and appealing storefront or website? " -" Have you adopted a community issue to sponsor or champion?
" •" What are you able to promise and deliver to your customer base that you!re competition cannot?
" -" Do you have network connections that can deliver merchandise at a lower price?
" -" Can your company innovate and create new products or services that enhance your current offerings?
" -" Can you partner with a related business to offer dual promotions and increase your exposure?
" -" Is your service team uniquely qualified to offer training and consultation? These suggestions are meant to get your analytical juices flowing. The actual questions you!ll ask will depend upon the type of business you own, your distinctive market and methods of promotion and delivery.
Next, make a list of all of the differences between your products or services and those of your closest competitors. Consider selection, price, quality, speed and method of delivery. Then consider ways to use these differences as a way of positioning your business as special, unique and able to handle the needs and preferences of your customers as no other business can.
"Take a look at the highly successful companies in the business world and you"ll see that they have discovered how they can provide their customers with products and service that they can"t get anywhere else"
Compelling Design + Smart Placement = Successful Banner Ad Strategy
Banner ads have been getting a bad rap for quite a while now, as online marketers turn to pay per click strategies and other more appealing, higher return methods of boosting website traffic and sales. Marketers and viewers complain that they are annoying to the point where frustrated users ignore them deliberately. But technological advances have made problems with loading and viewing ads disappear, and new targeting technology offers some of the flexibility of PPC programs along with the brand recognition building power of an attention grabbing visual display.Here are some strategic pointers for creating and placing banner ads that will help you save time and money while building your brand and growing your business:
! •! Design customized banners for each website. If they are TOO identical, they will blend in and not grab the necessary attention from users. If the design is too discordant, however, it conveys a lack of consideration to the website owner and a careless attitude to the potential customer. Colors, images and fonts need to complement the site instead of cloying with its design.
! •! Use compelling images and copy. Banner copywriting is a skill and more time consuming than you may think. It involves distilling a message that is normally conveyed by a paragraph into a few short words or one very short sentence aimed at compelling viewers to click. Choose images carefully – find the most relevant and logical match to the copy possible. Research shows that banners that communicate the benefits of your product/service clearly are most effective at their purpose – getting users to click on them.
! •! Use new technology wisely. Shifting, blinking and dancing banners are easier to create and view with widespread technological upgrades, but don!t abuse the technology and annoy users. Use them to enhance the impact of your message, not to obliterate it. If you want really useful technological help, take advantage of targeting programs that use ISP tracking to display your ads to users with a high likelihood of interest in your products and services.
! •! Test for functionality. Be sure that your banner ad operates properly and that it links to the correct landing page. Nothing defeats brand building efforts on the Internet like substandard quality, dead links and non functioning website applications.Once you"ve created your banner ads, follow these hints for placement.
" •" Spend time locating the websites where your banner ads will stand out and be most relevant. Smaller sites, with fewer ads but frequented by visitors with a strong interest in a related product or service are good choices. These placements usually cost less, saving you money." •" Don!t avoid websites where text ads dominate – use them to make your banner stand out even more.
" •" Be sure that your ads are placed on the correct page within a website – the wrong placement risks losing relevance.
" •" If you don!t have the time to research websites to find the best placement, hire someone, if you can. If you are a small business with a limited budget, focus your cash allotment on placement. A clear, simple and professional design will suffice, for branding purposes you logo can suffice – it is more important initially to be strategically placed and get noticed. You can add flash as your business grows.
" •" Lower costs by arranging for banner exchanges with complementary online businesses. Other placement options include banner networks that will handle placement for you or affiliate networks that charge on the basis of a completed user action that is specified in the network policy. You can earn extra cash to cover marketing expenses by selling ad space on your website or creating an affiliate network of your own.Follow this formula and your business will benefit from a powerful brand building strategy using cost effective banner ads.
Creative Networking and Brand Building with Business Cards
Business cards are a readily available, low cost way of promoting your business and developing and expanding your network of customers and professional colleagues. They introduce your brand to people around the world, or your city, increase the brand recognition of your business. Be creative in developing a plan for creative use of your business cards and you!ll increase traffic to your website, sales, profit and the reach of your business network with a small investment of time and money.
First of all, inventory your current supply of business cards. Are they packed away in a box or gathering dust in a corner? How many do you have? Are you happy with the design? Is all of your contact information on the card – is it correct and up to date? Does the card bear your company logo?
Do whatever you need to do to stock up on a healthy supply of business cards. Be sure that the design is uniform in comparison to your other branding materials to boost brand recognition. Beyond that – here are some other ideas to help you get the most from this often overlooked advertising/branding/sales tool within the business world and your community.
" •" Add value to your business cards on the next reprint, or print a special batch with a value added offer on the back. Include a discount offer, special coupon, admission to an event, punch card device or another premium benefit. Give it some thought and customize a promotion that fits your business, and be sure to set a deadline for use.
" •" Use your cards to drive traffic to your website – not merely by listing your URL. Add a line or two of text that gives users a reason to visit your site---the promise of coupons or a special offer or the impending arrival of a new product.
" •" Differentiate your business by including a creative tagline or single sentence that performs like a tiny ad publicizing a truly unique product, service or attribute of your business designed to generate or attract interest.
" •" Take the design of your current business card and expand its use to include promotional items such as pens, mugs, coasters, etc. Again, be creative in terms of matching the promotional gifts to your unique business purpose and in your methods of distribution.
" •" Include them in your mailings. Though many businesses have cut down the amount of paper sent through the postal services, there are still letters to send, bills to pay, promotional kits to deliver and packages to ship. And that!s not even counting your personal mailings. Include a business card in every one of them.
" •" Give a business card with every customer receipt, place them in bags with merchandise, and put them in library books and books on the shelves in local bookstores – especially those that people interested in your business might pick up and read.
" •" Distribute business cards to the people you meet daily. Keep a supply on hand and visit other local businesses to find out if they will allow you to display your card in their shop or office." •" Place your cards in designated areas of shopping malls, supermarkets, waiting rooms, toll booths---any place where potential customers gather and spend time.
" •" Whenever you give a business card to a new acquaintance or colleague – give them an extra to pass on and widen your network even further.
Finally, carry your business cards everywhere you go. Have them printed up for your employees. Be sure everyone distributes them at meetings, conferences, conventions and trade shows. Remember that having a ready supply ensures that you can utilize any creative distribution opportunity that comes up at a moment!s notice – and benefit from the results!
"Business cards can introduce your brand to people around the world, or your city, and increase the brand recognition of your business"
Use Guerrilla Marketing Tactics to Make Your Small Business Perform Like a Giant
Guerrilla market concentrates on relationships. When small businesses devise creative ways to initiate and expand their networks of customer relationships, they often use guerrilla marketing tactics that can help even the playing field when it comes to competing with large, big budget companies that might seem far removed from the consumer and use traditional marketing techniques to promote their brands and products.
Guerrilla marketing strategies and tactics have evolved since Jay Conrad Levinson first introduced the concept in his 1984 book, Guerrilla Marketing. Small businesses have drawn inspiration and courage to break with the rules of tradition and take their companies to levels of success that they!d never before expected.How can you spot a guerrilla tactic in action? Here are some characteristics to look for:
" •" A small financial investment requirement; but a substantial output of time and effort
" •" It contains the element of surprise
" •" It is designed to generate a high profit
" •" It focuses exclusively on ONE particular product or service
" •" It often results from the collaboration of two or more businesses with similar objectives.
" •" It takes smart advantage of technological advances to reach an audience and increase profits.
Basically, any marketing tactic that breaks traditional marketing rules or combines them in a nontraditional way can be considered guerrilla. Here are a few general tactics that you might consider when planning a guerrilla marketing strategy for your small business:
Alternative Marketing tactics – distribute flyers publicizing your business or special event in strategic places such as parking lots of places where people gather, ask grocers to stuff them into patron!s bags, place them in community newspapers or newsletters, all company mailings and place them in places with waiting areas such as beauty salons and professional offices.
Grassroots Marketing tactics expand your sales force and create a roster of brand ambassadors that help spread the word about your products and services. One way to do this is to create a free event that provides a benefit (free samples, promo gifts, introductory services) that inspires the #ambassadors! who attend to pass on the good word about your brand.
Viral Marketing tactics –require intelligent use of technology that has already been created. A low investment product such as an e-book, computer game, or innovative ad that delivers your company message or features your products can spread the news about your business as quickly as the name suggests, especially when you take advantage of the power of social networking. Once again, investment is low, but effort may be intensive as you identify your target market and prepare the perfect medium for launch. The results can be intense, but don!t expect them to last for very long.
Experiential Marketing tactics seek to create and emotional connection with your target group of consumers. Perhaps the most common use of this guerilla tactic is to give out product samples at a gathering of a large group that represents your target audience. Companies that give free samples or demonstrations of cosmetics at teen oriented concerts, or offer free technique lessons at craft fairs, are some of the most common examples. Consumers meet your ambassadors, try your products and discuss them with other attendees, forming an emotional relationship with staying (and purchasing) power.
Of course, the types of tactics that you choose and implement will depend on the type of products or services that you sell, where and how you sell them, your budget and your level of technological expertise. But virtually every business can find a creative way to use guerrilla marketing tactics to generate positive results.
Join the Network! Using Social Websites to Build a Powerful Brand
Social networking websites are a natural tool for small businesses that have not yet reached their goals of building an easily recognized and respected brand. Users invest their time and attention in sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter with one obvious purpose – to elevate their profile – and the site owners focus on providing users with all of the support and tools they need to get noticed in the online community.
Social network success takes time and effort, from account setup through building a following and nurturing online relationships to the point where discussing your business and its offerings becomes a comfortable and natural next step. If you have a few hours to spare on a regular basis, you can make real progress using social networking technology to build your brand and raise your reputation above that of the competition.Log onto social websites and use them to:
" •" Build anticipation ahead of the release of a new product and publicize its addition to your current line.
" •" Create a stir about your business among members of a social networking community.
" •" Gather feedback from other users about your business as well as opinion about special issues that affect it.
Social Networking sites create an interconnected web of users who pass along information and opinion within their websites and between them, as most users who use accounts on one site are set up on several. Blog sites (Blogger, WordPress), mini blogs such as Twitter, personal sites like Facebook and My Space, media sharing sites (YouTube) and bookmark sharing sites like StumbleUpon and Digg each do their part to create a complete online presence.Here are some ways to make use of this vast marketing potential to the benefit of your own business.
" •" Use blogs to create your own information and opinion center on the web. Create your own, post on others and establish a reputation while getting to know your buying public personally. In addition, blogs offer great SEO benefits and are the foundation of many social networking activities." •" Use Facebook, MySpace, etc. to locate potential customers by using search features that allow you to separate users by location, interests and preferences.
" •" Tout your own achievements by creating online profiles that list your awards, achievements and hard earned credentials.
" •" Connect with colleagues to exchange info and advice on professional networking sites such as LinkedIn.
" •" Send potential customers to your website using link strategies. Bookmarking sites are especially friendly to this task, especially if your website hosts a knowledge base or article directory.
" •" Use microblogs like Twitter to build a following of users based on common interests. Real time conversational features allow access to users who are willing to connect to you and form conversational relationships that can help promote your business.
Social networking website accounts are mostly free, at least during the setup stage. When you are ready to make use of advanced services, you may need to make a small investment. Take your time, try them out and do a lot of reading at first to get to know how things work and get a feel for the style of communication.
Careful understanding and regular use of Social Networking expand the horizons of your small business and provide low cost methods of developing your business brand and building an online reputation as an industry expert – bringing in more business and greater profits.
"You can make real progress using social networking technology to build your brand and raise your reputation above that of the competition."
"Building a Buzz" with Word of Mouth Marketing
Before technology changed the way we do business forever, Word of Mouth marketing was limited to local communication – usually verbal, telephone or over the fence conversations – or written correspondence. Today, Word of Mouth marketing describes a larger group of marketing techniques that includes buzz, viral and social media marketing. Businesses can choose from a wide range of tools designed to foster and spread a positive customer referral to potential customers nearly anywhere in the world.Here are some basic ways to use word of mouth techniques to grow your business and build your brand:
" •" Find the online communities that will be most receptive to receiving information and forming positive opinions of your products or services. Create an article or write a blog posting and join. See if you can!t get a discussion started.
" •" Pinpoint the heavyweights on each network that is closely relevant to your business. You!ll recognize them as the members with the largest group of connections. Get to know them and gain their trust, you!ll want their help in spreading the word about your business." •" Seek out industry recommendations and use them to bolster your reputation. Funnel their recommendations into a small niche community and let the buzz grow accordingly.
" •" Recruit interested parties and offer them free product or service to use and then post about online within the context of their social connections. This technique works well offline as well as online." •" Seek out consumer opinion forums and post on them. Start the conversation and learn from the responding posts.
" •" Expand your sales force using friends, family or even employees to post in online forums and at other strategic points on the web.
" •" If your business operates a website and you are not making use of email – get started now! Create an email newsletter and send it to all of your satisfied clients, who can then pass it on to others. Offer sign up to web visitors and grow a contact list, many of which are social networking, increasing your reach exponentially." •" Be sure that all of your web pages have some variation of a Tell a Friend feature that can be used to pass on the news about your business.
" •" Add an online chat to your website to facilitate discussion and add SEO power.
Finally, you may discover that it pays to keep a loose leash on your word of mouth marketing program. Don!t exert too much control over its spread or your strategy may backfire. If your business provides quality products and services and you introduce yourself and your business to the appropriate consumer communities, all you need to do is initiate the conversation and watch your brand and sales grow, because the buzz will grow, and as always, #people will talk!.


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