Five Things You Need To Remember Before Starting a Small Business
Everyone knows someone who has decided to go into small business but did you know that 70% of all small businesses fail within the first 12 months of operation. In some countries that failure rate is as high as 85 to 90%. Small Business is one of the toughest industries you can ever decide to take on and most people who go into small business go into it for the wrong reason.I have started 4 small businesses over the last 10 years and every single one of them has been started from scratch and survived into a thriving business. Just recently I have decided to sell one of the businesses off cause it had done what I expected it to do which is the first issue you need to think about.Issue 1. Have a Clear Understanding of What You Want To Achieve In Your BusinessThe majority of people, who actually go into business, go into it for the wrong reasons. Even I have been guilty of that. So what is this wrong reason, most people start a small business because they believe they can do a better job then their current boss. Maybe this is true, maybe it is not but what most people really want is better working conditions and better pay. No one can blame you for wanting that. If that is all you want, then I strongly suggest you stay away from small business.One of the key issues you must remember before evening thinking about starting a small business is this. Do you know what your business will look like? If you were walking down the street, how would you want to be found? What impression do you want to give to your clients? What clearly do you what to achieve in this business?The second clear understanding you must have of your business is, when will you know when it is finished? When you have built what you want to achieve and more importantly, how will you get out?See most people when they go into business have no exit strategy and that is one of the worst things you can do. Before you ever start a business, the first thing you must work out is how you are going to get out of the business.Two years ago, I started a small car cleaning business. My wife and I both started it because she wanted to see if she could build a business. Our exit strategy was to sell the business once it was done. How we would sell it was something we were not sure of?See we could have taken a number of approaches to this. Our exit strategy could have been to franchise the business, sell it to a single owner or to float it on the stock market. We chose that we only wanted to sell it to another owner, but we still built the business in such a way that there was still plenty of growth and opportunity in the business for the new owner, but we had removed the risk for them on how to run the business by clearly documenting everything they needed to do to run that business.Before ever starting a business, always think about how you will exit the business, when you have achieved your objective for that business. If you do not have an exit strategy in mind, then you will never get out of the business.Issue 2. Keep a Strict ScheduleSmall business is consuming. Unlike in large corporations where you can hire many people to do a range of tasks, small business requires the small business owner to do many of the tasks themselves. Some of the tasks include doing your books, lodging trademarks, doing the ordering etc. Often when you start in small business, you can not afford to hire people to do these tasks.What I have personally found is that if you do not keep a tight schedule and document your meetings and tasks you have to do then it will not take very long before you will be swamped by all the things you have to do in the business every day. It is this phenomenon that often leads small business owners to quit and fail in the first twelve months. Let me tell you this, the warning signs that this is starting is when you say to your wife on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon that you are going down to the office to catch up on paperwork for a few hours. Once you get into this habit, you will never stop doing it and the business will consume you really quickly.I strongly recommend all small business owners keep a diary. My preference is to use Microsoft Outlook, simply because it includes a calendar and you can make sure that each day you schedule your work plus your appointments to make sure you do not forget anything. If you do this, then you will find over time you can get through this plus you will learn how long it should take to do the various jobs that make up your business and whether it is worthwhile in getting someone to actually do those tasks for you.Issue 3. Build Your Own Mastermind GroupI read a book a little while ago called Think and Grow Rich and is written by a gentleman called Napoleon Hill and he talks about the thirteen secrets to success and obscene wealth. One of the things that I learned both from this book and being a small business owner was that I needed a Mastermind Group.The Mastermind Group is simply a group of professionals who can help me achieve my objectives for my business. Literally anyone can be part of your mastermind group and some of those would be people like a lawyer, an accountant and other people like your peers who can help you in building your business but it may also include people who are not in business as well to help you keep that balance. The Mastermind Group are really those people you turn to for advice and direction. You do not necessarily have to take their advice but a good mastermind group will allow you run through scenarios on what is happening and the potential outcomes.Issue 4. Have one night when you do something on your own for you!One of the big issues that I have had over the last ten years is that I have not been doing every single week is something on my own but I say that I am in the process of changing that. Often when you start in business, with the excitement of building your own business you get so consumed that you forget about a life outside of your business and your business becomes your life.This is really not a good thing nor is it healthy. Even multi-billionaires do things for themselves outside of business. Look do not get me wrong, business is fantastic and fun and can be both enjoyable and a nightmare however there are other things out there outside of business.When you start a small business, do not neglect your sports, do not neglect doing something social, if you do, in the long run you will find that you business suffers. Plus, in small business it is very easy to become bitter and twisted but by maintaining those none business activities it will help you to balance your life.Issue 5. Don’t neglect Your Partner or your FamilyI would love to see the divorce statistics for small business owner’s because I am quite sure that the divorce rate in small business would have to be about 70 or 80%. The majority of married couples (and I am talking about 90% of the small business people I Know) that I know who have gone into small business in their 30′s have actually been divorced within 18 months of them starting the business.Look there are lots of reasons why this happens, but in a lot of the cases, the partner who has gone into business neglects their family and money gets tight. In the partners case it is not their fault it is simply because the person gets consumed into the business and they forget they have a life outside of the business.If you have a family, make sure that you do at least one activity a week as a family. Whether it is having a family night at home such as a video night or games night, or even just going to the park to play once a week, make sure that you do it. PLUS, you must ensure that at least one night a week must be for just you and your partner. If you do not do that your marriage or relationship will suffer.One thing I share with all the people who come through our training business is that if you want to go into business that is cool but you must be prepared to accept two things -1. You must be prepared to start from scratch if your business does not work
that is you must be prepared to start with just the shirt on your back.2. You must have 100% support of your partner and familyIf you cannot accept these two things, then do not go into business because too many people who I see that start on this journey fail and end up miserable and have such a downward spiral which leads them to doing something silly, like take up drinking, drugs or try to commit suicide. Remember, 70% of all small businesses fail within the first 12 months. If you were a betting man would you back something that only had a 30% chance of winning, not likely, yet people still go into small business.The bottom line is this, small business can be the most awesome ride of your life, but it can be also the most difficult and when you choose to go into small business, take your time and plan what you want to achieve. Remember the old saying if your Fail to Plan, you Plan to Fail.
Small Business Technology – Tips on How to Pick on the Right One
Nowadays it is almost impossible to run a business without technology. It has become part and parcel of every business. It is a tool that is designed to make your work easier so that you are able to concentrate on other matters involving the business. It also helps you save time and money. When you use technology in your small business, you will also be in a position to work competently and effectively. It is all about working smarter not harder.Whatever piece of technology you choose to apply in your business has to be stable. It should be able to work with minimal support which is excellent and readily available. Small business technology has to be easy and accessible. This empowers the employees to focus on your business since they can easily access any company information.The software that you use should be helpful to your employees needs. When you are looking for the technology, ensure that it comes with a reliable support system. There will always be times when technology will fail and it will need support. This support includes qualified technicians who can help solve any problems. You need to be assured by the company that you are purchasing technology from. The way for these companies to do this is to refer you a team of experts should any obstacles arise. If there are any on site technicians in your company, then they should charge reasonably, be of good character and also be punctual.When you invest in small business technology, you have to be ready to train your employees. A few hours of training will ultimately improve your business for many years to come. So do not hesitate to enlighten them about any new advances in technology since it is constantly changing.
The 10 Most Influential Internet Marketers (Part 1)
This article is a subjective list of the ten most influential Internet marketers. I could have easily included more than ten marketers, but I had to draw the line somewhere. So, if you don’t see your favorite Internet marketer on the list, please don’t be offended. I purposely excluded individuals whom are known primarily for one particular talent.For example: copywriting and SEO. I wanted to sing the praises of those individuals whom are known as great marketers – first and foremost. And while this list is subjective, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to argue against any of the selections included on the list, as they are all proven excellent and have stood the proverbial test of time.1. Jay Abraham’s uncanny ability to increase business income, wealth and success by uncovering hidden assets, overlooked opportunities and undervalued possibilities has captured the attention and respect of CEOs, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs and marketing experts. Jay’s clients range from business royalty to small business owners. But they all have one thing in common – virtually all have profited greatly from Jay’s expertise. A number of clients each acknowledge that Jay’s efforts and ideas have lead to a profit increase of millions of dollars. [See our Testimonial pages]Jay has identified the patterns that limit and restrict business growth. He’ s one of only a very few people who realize that most industries only know and use one particular marketing approach – even though there may be dozens of more effective and profitable strategies and options available to them.Jay shows his clients how to take different success concepts from different industries and adopt them to their specific business. This gives Jay’s clients a powerful advantage over their competition.Jay has been acknowledged as a unique and distinctive authority in the field of business performance enhancement – and the maximizing and multiplying of business assets. He’s been featured twice in Investors Business Daily both on the front page and in the Leaders & Success Section – saying Jay, “Knows how to maximize results with minimum effort”. The March 6, 2000 issue of Forbes Magazine listed Jay as one of the top 5 executive coaches in the country saying jay’s specialty is, “Turning corporate underperformers into marketing and sales whizzes.”In addition, Jay has been written up in USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, OTC Stock Journal, National Underwriter, Entrepreneur, Success, and Inc. magazine, and many others. [See our Press articles]He has over 10,000 individual business success stories from around the world. Many of the world’s preeminent trainers and consultants have sought out Jay’s advice and counsel in growing their organizations.As a proven business leader with energy and vision, Jay has demonstrated the critical ability to stimulate true breakthrough thinking and execution throughout organizations, in all 4 vital areas of performance enhancement: strategy, innovation, marketing, and management. He understands how to focus on the upside leverage in an organization, while effectively controlling and minimizing the downside risk. He understands the implications, correlations, applications, opportunities and vulnerabilities in a given situation from a “catscan” perspective that is exceedingly rare.He sees overlooked opportunities, hidden assets (both tangible and intangible), and underperforming areas of a business no one else recognizes. His depth and breadth of empirical experience has facilitated exceptional judgment, communication, and collaboration skills, the vitally essential traits necessary to establish, lead and effectively contribute to any organization. These are the prime abilities required to add new life and strategic vision to a company that is struggling, or one that needs to redefine or better distinguish itself in the marketplace.His forte, which is the ability to think “way outside the box” and prepare for multiple potential scenarios, has enabled him to find and successfully implement creative, preemptive solutions to very complex problems in order to generate high-performance results. He has successfully established beneficial relationships with key strategic partners and developed strategic business plans for companies that have consistently been met or exceeded. He has been instrumental in raising performance even while working with adverse business environments.As the founder and CEO of Abraham Group, Inc. in Los Angeles, California, Jay has spent the last 25 years solving problems and significantly increasing the bottom lines of over 10,000 clients in more than 400 industries worldwide. Jay has seen and dealt with every type of business you can imagine. And he’s studied and solved every kind of business question, problem, challenge and opportunityJay has been extremely successful at what he does for others. He’s produced many thousands of success stories and made Billions for others as well as millions himself. He’s spawned an entire generation of marketing consultants and experts who credit him as their primary mentor as a result of his past Protégé and Consultant Training programs. Nearly 2,000 websites reference his impressive work on the Internet alone.2. Mark Joyner is a #1 best-selling author of over a dozen books translated in almost as many languages. He is widely recognized as one of the early pioneers of e-commerce, responsible for inventing, pioneering, and popularizing many of the technologies we take for granted today (including remotely-hosted ad tracking, electronic books, Integration Marketing, and more …)- One of his books (MindControlMarketing.com) shot to #1 within 36 hours of its release.- One of his websites became the 37th most visited website on the planet within 6 weeks of its release.- His pioneering ebook (Search Engine Tactics) was downloaded over 1,000,000 times years before e-books were common.- He turned a fledgling one-man operation into a multi-million-dollar International corporation with customers in every internet-connected country on the planet in two years time.Other Interesting Facts About Mark JoynerEarned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology through independent study while simultaneously serving in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence Corp (he speaks Korean fluently graduating at the top of his class at the Defense Language Institute).Is a cold-war veteran of military intelligence and a former U.S. Army Officer. He held a Top Secret SCI clearance (the highest clearance level in the US) for several years.Was awarded for his military service by the U.S. Army, the Republic of Korea Army, the Korean Consulate General, and the President of the United States.3. Dan Kennedy, a Phoenix-based entrepreneur-extraordinaire has won international recognition as a “millionaire-maker,” helping people in dozens of different businesses turn their ideas into fortunesEntrepreneur Magazine says that Dan Kennedy has “at least 101 moneymaking ideas for any business owner.”Dan Kennedy moves with remarkable ease from one very different field to another, working with clients in 62 different businesses, industries and professions, earning as much as $250,000.00 in a single month providing unusual direct-response advertising and direct marketing advice, strategy, copywriting and marketing materials, video production and infomercials, and profit improvement systems.Kennedy’s clients include everything from sole entrepreneurs to huge corporations. Here are just a few examples – there’s the husband-and-wife couple who came to Dan with an idea, a mountain of debt, and failing advertising. Less than two years later, they have zero debt and a home-based mail-order business generating over $200,000.00 a month at about a 40% profit margin. Or, there’s the now-giant Guthy-Renker Corporation, famous for its celebrity infomercials with Victoria Principal and Vanna White, and its Tony Robbins infomercials. Guthy-Renker is a 200-million dollar+ a year business now, and Dan’s been a key member of their brain trust since their very first infomercial (Think And Grow Rich). Or there’s U.S. Gold, a company that has twice increased its sales by millions with Dan Kennedy provided marketing breakthroughs. And the list goes on and on and on.Kennedy is the “hidden genius” behind full-page magazine advertisements you’ve undoubtedly seen, direct-mail campaigns you’ve received and TV infomercials you’ve seen. In addition to all the advertising and direct-mail Dan prepares for his own products, services and businesses, there are hundreds of clients using marketing materials Dan has prepared for them. His full-page ads have appeared and do appear in magazines like Inc., Success, Entrepreneur, Moneymaking Opportunities, Nations Business, the airline magazines, the tabloids, USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, and countless trade magazines. One of his client’s full-page ads is now in its 10th consecutive month, appearing in over a dozen national magazines. In any given month, clients spend over 1/2-million dollars running ads, much more mailing sales letters, and still more airing infomercials that Dan has developed.And, Dan is one of the most popular, in-demand speakers on marketing-related topics. Ironically for a marketing guru, Kennedy gets almost all of his clients with no marketing! Some come to him after hearing him speak – in 1995, he addressed over 200,000 people, including audiences of thousands in many cities, in his 5th year on tour with famous motivationalist ZIG ZIGLAR. Others come after getting and reading one of his books available in bookstores, receiving his newsletter or listening to his cassettes. But most are referred to him.4. Joe Vitale is Founder & President of Hypnotic Marketing, Inc. He has written books for the American Marketing Association and the American Management Association. He wrote the only business book on P.T. Barnum, in There’s A Customer Born Every Minute. He also wrote The AMA Complete Guide to Small Business Advertising for the American Marketing Association. His most recent book, co-authored with Jo Han Mok, is The E-Code: 47 Secrets for Making Money Online Almost Instantly. Be on the lookout for his next book: Meet and Grow Rich!He recently created a software program to help anyone write better sales letters, articles, news releases, speeches and even entire books. It’s called Hypnotic Writing Wizard. He also has a brand-new membership program for those who are serious about learning marketing at HypnoticGold.com.Besides being one of the five top marketing specialists in the world today, and the world’s first hypnotic writer, Joe is also a certified hypnotherapist, a certified metaphysical practitioner, a certified Chi Kung healer, and an ordained minister. He also holds a doctorate degree in Metaphysical Science and another doctorate degree in Marketing.5. Dr. Jeffrey Lant has been a top achiever for a VERY long time. He published his first article at age 5. An afternoon newsboy, he started his own newspaper at age 10, sold stock and, yes, paid dividends! Even then media and communications intrigued him. This has never stopped!
Editor of his high school newspaper, editor of his class book, editor of the literary magazine, he also wrote a weekly column. That continued in college — and so did the awards accumulated along the way.Graduated with highest honors from University High School, Los Angeles, he graduated summa cum laude (one of only 11) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Along the way, he spent his junior year at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, where he won the University Prize in Philosophy and became the first American ever elected to the Students Representative Council.At UCSB he became the University’s first-ever Woodrow Wilson Fellow and was actively recruited by over 60 graduate schools, each offering him full doctoral fellowships. He chose Harvard, where he also became a Harvard Traveling Fellow, Harvard Teaching Fellow, and winner of a Master’s Award for special achievement, en route to graduating with both a Master’s and Ph.D.Upon graduation he took a third post-graduate degree, the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Higher Education Administration at Northeastern University, where he became the first student to cite his own published work (by now very extensive) in footnotes to his class papers.After a stint as Assistant to the President of Radcliffe College, Dr. Lant decided to set off on his own. He set up a consulting practice for non-profit organizations in 1976 and published his third book, Development Today: A Fund Raising Guide For Nonprofit Organizations. (Previous books had dealt with English Court ceremonial in the age of Queen Victoria. Entitled, Insubstantial Pageant: Ceremony and Confusion at Queen Victoria’s Court, Dr. Lant became the first American ever granted access to the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle. Another book, Our Harvard, dealt with the memories of eminent Harvard grads, including Dr. Lant himself.)Development Today launched a busy consultancy, international travel, workshops and direct assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations nationwide. It also spawned a series of how-to books that turned Dr. Lant into a millionaire and brought his detailed, hard-hitting, practical advice to people worldwide. (Click here for information about all of Dr. Lant’s books.)Along the way, Dr. Lant developed an internationally syndicated column carried by several hundred publications, a syndicated radio show on the Business Radio Network, and a string of special reports on specialized business- building subjects.So it might have continued but for the creation of the Internet and a series of eye-opening phone calls from George Kosch and Sandi Hunter, two Edmonton-Alberta- based entrepreneurs who were way ahead of their time. They persuaded Dr. Lant to come to Edmonton and see the future — the Internet — for himself.He did. And the rest, as they say, is history.What he saw in Edmonton, back in 1993, was that anyone, anywhere in the world with a computer and access to the Internet could transmit unlimited amounts of information to people worldwide. In a moment, the glimmer of an idea took form that is still being developed right now.This new technology opened the possibility of staying at home and helping people worldwide at little or no expense! As a result of that trip, Worldprofit Inc., a company which has opened the Internet to business people worldwide, people who want to enter and profit from new markets across the universe for their products and services, was born!These days Dr. Lant, still publishing articles just like he’s been doing for over 50 years, helps business people worldwide understand how the Internet can benefit them.6. Marlon Sanders, CEO of Higher Response Marketing, Inc. is a prolific internet marketer, with a dozen internet marketing products and services to his name. He uses his Master’s degree in psychology to great effect by writing great ad copy.Marlon’s products and services include The Amazing Formula That Sells Products Like Crazy, Push Button Sales Letters, Associate Program Marketing Handbook, Gimme My Money Now, Amazing Ad Copy Secrets Revealed, Create Your Own Products In A Flash, How to Automate Your Web Business, The Web Site Power System, Web Business Operations Manual, Secrets of Speed Publicity, The Cash Like Clockwork System, Daily Stats Software, and The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide.Marlon has spoken at over 120, $3,000 one-day marketing seminars and commands $1000 an hour for consulting. His reseller program for The Amazing Formula is one of the top-ranked systems on the Internet.7. Corey Rudl (1970-2005) was an American marketing strategist, and founder and President of the Internet Marketing Center. He was also an author, speaker, and software producer.Rudl started his first online business in 1994, turning it into a multi-million-dollar business based on Internet marketing. In response to the demand for his advice, Corey founded the Internet Marketing Center, where he taught techniques and strategies that stemmed from his own experience. His Internet marketing guide is sometimes described as the “Internet Marketing Bible”.Rudl’s articles appeared in publications such as http://Entrepreneur.com, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s -SCORE.org, the Direct Marketing Association, MarketingProfs, Opportunity World, Money ‘n’ Profits, Dig-IT Now, and Home Business Journal.Before beginning his business career, Rudl was a motocross driver, winning a 2002 Vancouver Molson Indy sports car event.On June 2nd 2005, Rudl was riding in a Porsche Carrera GT driven by Benjamin Miles Keaton, on a track that was also being used by a local Ferrari sports club. Keaton, trying to avoid a queued car, hit a concrete barrier on the passenger side, killing Rudl.8. Joe Robson, owner of “The Newbie Club” is a Brit and lives in the beautiful County of Yorkshire, England.He is responsible for the overall Promotion and Marketing of The Newbie Club, and is deeply involved with his team of Techies, Writers, and Designers on several unique and ground breaking Newbie Club Products and ServicesUntil he went online in 1998, he owned his own Direct Marketing company, and is a professional Advertising Copywriter with 30 years Sales and Marketing experience under his belt. He is widely acknowledged by many Internet Marketers as one of the Internet’s top Sales Copywriters, and his Copywriting Solutions Website is one of the most respected Web Copywriting Tutorial Websites on the Net.One of his strengths is his ability to reduce highly technical marketing copy, into easily understood Plain English. And he is a avid campaigner against the use of Jargon in writing materials. Hence the birth of The Newbie Club.His Copywriting and Internet marketing articles and Tutorials have been widely published across the Web, and he is the author of several books, including the Internet Copywriting blockbuster “Make Your Words SELL!” – MYWS – co-authored with Ken Evoy of MYSS fame.Joe is a Founding Member of iCop – The International Council of Online Professionals, the highly respected organization dedicated to protecting Internet consumers from the dishonest practices of unscrupulous Internet marketers. He is also a Member of the iCop International Advisory Council.9. Dr. Evoy is also the author of a series of widely-acclaimed “best on the Net” e-commerce books and courses for SOHOs (Small Office Home Office) and small businesses (1-10 employees) who sell (or plan to sell) products or services online. The SiteSell product line has empowered hundreds-of-thousands of people and small businesses around the world to succeed on the Web.A successful entrepreneur, Dr. Evoy has designed over 23 products that have sold internationally, generating 100′s of millions of dollars in revenues for various companies. He also developed several software products including one for the stock market sector.Dr. Ken Evoy is also a Canadian physician who formerly taught and practiced emergency medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He was born in Montreal, Canada and holds degrees in science and medicine from McGill University.Dr. Evoy’s business philosophy is to offer the absolute best tools and information available on the market in the most accessible format and at the most affordable price. He feels strongly that every small business can be empowered to use the Internet to leverage their income-building potential — whether it is to build an e-business, grow an existing offline business, or create a secondary income stream.It is with this in mind that SiteSell has developed its breakthrough Web site-building, hosting, e-marketing solution that delivers real traffic and guaranteed results to novices and savvy pros alike. Some call Site Build It! “The Next Generation of Web Hosting.”Through Dr. Evoy’s spearheading efforts and fanaticism for quality and customer “OVERdelivery,” the SiteSell brand is highly-respected by top influential Internet business personalities around the world.10. Mel Strocen is CEO of the Jayde Online Network of websites. The Jayde Network currently consists of 12 websites, including ExactSeek.com and SiteProNews.com, two of the most popular sites on the Internet.”SiteProNews” an ezine for business owners and site developers containing articles and advice on how to get the most from your website. SiteProNews (SPN) has a subscriber base of over 500,000!”Another of Mel’s sites – GoArticles – is an immensely popular article directory where you can search for free content for your website.In addition to providing a great resource for webmasters looking to find free content the GoArticles site also provides authors with an excellent platform for promoting their articles. You can submit articles for free that will then be read and used by other websites owners.ExactSeek is a fast-growing search engine and directory and alternative advertising platform that receives over 30,000 new submissions daily.
5 Web Development Frameworks To Look For
The continuous evolution of mobile technology has changed the pathway of web technologies. Gone are the days where a simple UI website or web application yield you results. The current trend of Mobile websites need some sophisticated web frameworks to meet the competitive needs of customers. The web frameworks which have robust features and functionalities can support the complex environments have gained the top-notch positions in “Web Development” category. We are not sure about the due date of a technology, there might be a chance that a new technology may emerge within no time and you have to rework on your complete web development strategy. For this ever-evolving web technologies, we suggest you go through the best and required web development technologies which will meet the needs of your customers. Let us have a look at the named 5 web technologies.1. AngularJS: This Google’s baby deserves to be in the top position of web frameworks. This framework is designed primarily for single page application. The current version of AngularJS is 5.0. It has enhanced its features in a short span of time to meet the demand of the market. So what is this framework is all about? AngularJS is an open-source and structural framework for dynamic web applications. The new version of AngularJS has been released with advanced features and bug fixes. In simple terms, AngularJS is smaller, Faster and easy to use.2. Laravel PHP: Laravel is a framework of PHP (Hypertext Processor). It is an open-source (Zero Licensing Fee) framework with Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. 2011 is the year of Laravel’s inception, since then it has given promising outputs for the developers. Laravel is a user-friendly web framework, which helps to develop the application with an elegant syntax. The robust features of Laravel have made it to the top list in PHP frameworks and second in web framework list. The MVC features, Beautiful templating, Rapid pace of development, RESTful Services and better code foundation are some of the known features of Laravel PHP.3. React.JS: This is a front-end JavaScript library developed by Facebook. Most of the major applications are currently running on React.JS. The applications which required data changes constantly are using React.JS. Because it will update and render the right components when the data changes. It is used extensively in developing user interface (UI) of the web application. You can develop enclosed components that manage their own state, then compose them to make complex user interfaces. It allows us to create reusable UI components. The current version of React is 15.0.4. Symfony PHP: Symfony is a framework of PHP. The Symfony framework is built on model-view-controller (MVC) architecture. The current version of Symfony is 4.0. With Symfony, developers need not write the repetitive coding and they can control the coding very well in this framework. The Symfony components consist of decoupled and reusable components on which best PHP applications are developed. Drupal, eZ Publish are some of the examples of Symfony PHP5. ASP.NET MVC: ASP.Net is a web development framework developed by Microsoft. You can develop dynamic websites using ASP.Net MVC framework. ASP.Net MVC is an alternative to ASP.Net Web forms pattern. ASP.Net MVC is a lightweight framework which is integrated with ASP.Net web forms features. The developer can have full control over the application as it does not use view state or server-based forms. You can use any of this web technologies ASP.Net Web forms and MVC based on your need. The features and components of ASP.Net MVC make it easier for the programmers to develop the complex applications easily.Conclusion:The above-discussed web development frameworks are the most loved and used by the large pool of programmers and companies. Being a part of the Web development marketing team, I have interacted with most of my clients who have asked to develop their applications on these technologies. There are insights available on SimilarTech where you can understand the different aspects of these technologies also.
How You Can Make Money Online With a Blog on General Entertainment
After websites that gather buyers and sellers, blogs or websites on general entertainment is probably the next most productive method of making money online through providing information. There are sites that actually do both, like Amazon, which sells products and provides information through articles too. Salon.com and IGN.com are two examples of websites that focus on the entertainment niche. These websites are both really successful sites.When blogging about general entertainment, there are a few rules that should be followed and things are a little different. With this guide, you’re bound to learn the basics to make money online with a blog about general entertainment.What Will You Blog About? There are a few guidelines about what you should blog about, but the basic premise is that you should be writing about topics in entertainment that truly interest you. If you write about what really excites you, you’re most likely to end up with your best writing. You’re also more likely to drive more readers to read about your articles or blog posts if you write about current issues. You can review, comment or just write about the latest in entertainment. If you really can’t write about the latest topics, then you can also consider hiring or asking a guest blogger to write about it for you.On Reviewing TV Shows. TV shows are almost always popular. So, you probably won’t go wrong when blogging about the recent popular TV episodes. You can write posts about the new characters in a certain TV show, the new episodes, upcoming seasons that are released on DVDs and other related things. Due to the fact that almost everyone watches TV, TV show reviewing can be a very profitable field for blogging about general entertainment.Reviewing Others. Of course there is more to general entertainment than TV shows. There are entertainment sites like Salon or IGN that also talk about other things like books, anime and movies. It takes some skill to write about reviews, and writing these solely on your blog may be a bit risky. So, write about other subjects, too and you can also do a little research to find out which topics readers like the most.Commenting. Commenting on the most popular issues in Hollywood can also be a good way to earn some money online. This is like reading about the latest stories and offering your own opinion. Commenting will let you add a personal touch to a non-fiction story. You can add your opinion to the popular stories that are circulating around.Keeping Up With the Latest and Hottest News. With blogging about general entertainment, it’s important that you keep updated with what happened in the past as well as what’s happening today. What’s the newest TV series? What’s the newest bestselling book on the shelves? Who are the most promising stars? Who’s becoming more popular? Issues like these are just some of the things that you need keep up with. This isn’t very hard to do though, because all you will need to do is to read the entertainment section of your local newspaper or just read about it on the internet.Blog and Make Some Money. So, how will you make money with your blog? It’s simple. Set up your entertainment blog, write about the latest issues in entertainment, keep up with what’s new and popular and then, sell ad space on your blog for those who are willing to pay you for it. Maybe, there’s a new movie who wants to promote it on your blog. You can also earn money from small commissions from the reviews that you write, because there are places who will actually pay for people to write reviews.
Build Brand Equity And Get Ahead
As a website owner, you should know the importance of building an effective brand for your site that encourages customers to return. A strong brand can mean the difference between running a small business and creating something which sticks in the mind and promotes your company more effectively than any other kind of marketing. If you thought that a brand identity just revolved around the colors and logos on your site, then you should think again, because building brand equity is an essential part of the branding message, and needs to be put into place before you can hope to make a great deal of money from your business.Effective brand equity involves not just the physical appearance of a site, but involves the deepest part of your company’s identity, its potential for attracting customers. Equity relates to the marketing effect of your current brand, while comparing that to the effects which would occur if the brand did not exist. This equity is considered to be the long or short term impressions that customers receive of the brand, these impressions affecting their decisions about whether to use the company operating the brand. Customers also receive values, which is again reflected in the equity, and may also be influenced by things such as a Brand Promise, which involves their beliefs and expectations concerning the performance of the brand.Far too many companies have a brand equity which is too low, because their brand identity is just not pulling its weight. Building brand equity means creating a more effective marketing campaign, and many websites can struggle to raise their equity due to the block created by their early identity, both in the minds of customers and in their own minds. These companies often suffer problems with retaining clients, and there may be no long-term relationship between the business and its customers. Low levels of equity suggest that the website is not keeping hold of as many clients as it could, and also that it is losing visitors early on in the process, meaning that they are losing sales. In order to ensure that your website fulfills its potential, you need to work on building brand equity.If you are curious about the benefits of building brand equity for your website, and are wondering how you can benefit from improving this rather abstract notion, you should consider the brands which are good examples of brand equity, such as Microsoft, D&G, and Sony. Even websites that you might not associate with brands, such as the New York Jets fan site, still has good brand equity because of the clear associations between the company (the sports team and website shop) and the brand.If you have decided that you would like to improve your brand equity, then you need to think about the ways in which you can improve your brand, and the way that it is appearing to your customers. One of the most effective ways of building the brand and its equity is through the brand promise. This is not the company swearing to uphold the law, or similar, but involves an emotional connection to the customer, giving them a feeling that it upholds their values, or stands for a set level of values which the customer appreciates and reacts positively to. By creating a brand promise you increase the client’s trust in your products or services. This trust is also passed on to potential traffic to your site, bringing more notice for your brand.A second method of improving the levels of brand equity is through creating category-specific types of equity. These relate to the customer’s expectations about specific areas of your business, so for example your client might expect your product to be made from recycled paper, or made using environmentally friendly processes. You could encourage the clients to believe that you provide an extra-quality level of care for their purchases, giving them a more positive experience of your brand, and improving the equity.Increasing brand equity involves improving your position through positive marketing to your clients. You need to do this by developing a better relationship with them, and if you are operating via a website, you should do this through online promotions of your products and services. It is not always easy for a company to create better brand equity on their own, since they have already built the brand. This means that the best step they can take to positively improve their equity is by employing another company to work on marketing and relationship-building.
Degree Programs – Nurse Online Education
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average income for a registered nurse as of May, 2005 was almost $57,000. Further, the 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses revealed that there is a shortage of registered nurses. Nursing is a growing career and online education degree programs make it an attainable goal even for those who are currently in the workforce.Every state has its own Board of Nursing that determines the licensing requirements for nurses to practice in that particular state. State nursing boards base their criteria on the Uniform Core Licensure Requirements, the Model Nursing Practice Act and the Model Nursing Administrative Rules developed by the National Council of State Nursing Boards (NCSNB). Nurses are required to periodically renew their licenses and certain states mandate continuing education for renewal.There are several types of nurses and degree programs nurse online education that potential students can choose:Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). An LPN is required to take eighteen months to two years of education in areas such as physiology, anatomy, patient care and medications. To become an LPN, an individual must pass state or national boards and periodically renew their license. The exam all LPNs are required to pass is called the NCLEX-PN. An LPN can handle all aspects of basic care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician and with the assistance of nursing assistants and orderlies. Bureau of Labor Statistics show there are over 700,000 people employed as LPNs today. Online education makes it easy to work in the field while obtaining necessary educational credentials.Registered Nurse (RN). A registered nurse is a professional nurse who holds an associates degree (two years of study), specialized nursing diploma (three years of study) or bachelors degree (four years of study) and pass the state board exam. The exam all registered nurses are required to pass is called the NCLEX. Registered nurses are also required to have many hours of clinical training and experience prior to graduation. There are less RN programs offering a diploma because many employers prefer registered nurses to hold a bachelors degree. A registered nurse provides direct care to patients, makes decisions about plans of care and supervises LPNs, orderlies and nursing assistants. Registered nurses often pursue a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Science to take on advanced roles in the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that RNs have become the most popular health care occupation in the country, with over 2.3 million people working as registered nurses. Often LPNs decide to pursue their RN for advanced career opportunities. Because there is a great need for additional registered nurses, quite a few employers offers tuition reimbursement and other educational incentives. Online education programs simplify the process of obtaining an advanced degree while gaining necessary experience in the field.Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). An advanced practice nurse is a registered nurse who has advanced skills, experience and education. An APN holds a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing, as well as possible additional certifications. An APN is required to fulfill continuing education and take re-examinations periodically to maintain their license. APNs perform as a nurse practitioner (NP), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse midwife (CNM) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS). Busy registered nurses can pursue advanced degrees online while maintaining their current positions.Continuing Education. To maintain certifications, certain types of nurses in some states are required to fulfill continuing education requirements. Online education programs make is easier for nurses working various hours in the field to complete necessary educational requirements conveniently.Financial Aid. Nursing is a growing career with more jobs available than people to fill them. The US Bureau of Health Professions state that by 2020, the United States will need over 1.7 million nurses and only 635,000 are anticipated to be available. As a result, there are many opportunities to pursue financial aid such as scholarships and tuition reimbursement. Hospitals and schools have a variety of incentive programs available to students who want to work and remain in the nursing profession. Nursing students call also pursue standard state and federal financial aid such as grants, as well as student loan programs such as Stafford.Career Opportunities. Nursing offers a wide variety of settings to work in, such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, schools, military, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, the Red Cross, hospices and businesses. Nurses can become forensic specialists, business nurses, legal nurses or even teach other nurses. Nursing has become a diversified, flexible career with many specialization options available.Career Prospects. The United States Department of Labor reports that Registered Nursing is the top occupation with regard to job growth right through the year 2014. Further, surprising results of the 2006 Harris Poll reveal that nurses, doctors and firefighters are seen as the most prestigious occupations in the United States, while stockbrokers, real estate agents and business executives are perceived at the opposite end of the spectrum. A nurse with a 4 year degree has the potential to earn one of the highest starting salaries in the health care field, with the ability to earn in excess of $100,000 annually.Online education nursing degree programs offer students an opportunity to gain an advanced education while obtaining necessary experience in the field.
The Importance of Social Networks for Job Search
In years and decades gone by, and as recently as 30 years ago, there was no Internet. Career Networking has always been “social,” and that hasn’t changed. It was always about “who you know.”But compared to today, networking was far more “local” than today’s incredible ability to zoom around the globe in a New York minute via the Internet AND reach out and connect with an absolutely massive social network pool of people.In days gone by, career and professional Networking was restricted by the size of your immediate circle of contacts as an individual or in groups. These groups were all or mostly based in your local community.Networking was just a tool one used when one needed a job, and it wasn’t even always necessary. After you landed a job, you put networking back on the shelf until the next search. Those with a wide circle of business contacts enjoyed a substantial competitive advantage.Traditional “candidate flow” to fill job openings depended to some extent on referrals from employees or others within your industry. But firms leaned heavily on placing classified ads in newspapers and select trade/business publications-then waited to see what flowed in. If the resume return yielded a poor quality ‘harvest’ the process was repeated, perhaps multiple times, often lengthening the time it took to fill openings.Social networks and social media have radically changed the mechanism of candidate flow and effected a huge expansion in the use and importance of online social networking as well as in conducting your ‘people search’.The more engaged you are with social networks and in using social media channels to craft and promote your “message” about what you have to offer, the more you increase your odds of a successful career search outcome.With people changing or losing jobs far more frequently now than in the past, it is absolutely essential that you get plugged into and continually grow your own social network of contacts.Social networks have truly opened up the candidate pool to HR departments, and hiring managers as well as to third-party recruiters and headhunters. The time to locate candidates and fill jobs has decreased dramatically.There has been a corresponding and increasingly startling increase in the number of hiring managers and recruiters who report using social networks such as Facebook to source job candidates.Utilizing social networks in recruiting also includes conduct reputation, background checking, and digging further into a candidate’s background, skills, and experience–not to mention their choices in networking partners.Don’t be a spectator. Get involved. Contribute. And reap the rewards. With a properly conceived, well executed and ongoing ‘people search’, you can dramatically enhance your odds of obtaining a new job quickly when you are “temporarily displaced,” “downsized,” “right-sized,” or whatever they choose to call unemployment in the future. With an active social network, you’ll be ready for anything.
Five Steps to Fitness Success
Despite what you might see on TV infomercials or in newspaper ads, there is no magic bullet or miracle pill that will get you fit overnight. No matter what any glamorous hard-body spokesperson says about the newest “revolutionary” exercise machine, diet, or supplementation program- the fact is that achieving fitness success takes time and energy. You can bet that the spokesperson did not get his or her physique by using the “new, amazing de-fat-alizer” machine for 30 seconds a day! He or she is undoubtedly engaged in a fitness program that includes sensible diet and lots of exercise.On the other hand, we believe that achieving fitness success is well within everyone’s reach. This article will provide you with powerful, effective steps you can take RIGHT NOW that will jump-start your fitness program and get you on track to fitness success.THE FIVE STEPS TO FITNESS SUCCESS1. Make Changes TODAY!2. Decide & Commit3. Define Goals4. Design Your Road Map5. Feel Good!Step 1: Make Changes TODAY!Achieving FITNESS SUCCESS is all about making consistent incremental improvements over time. Like the power of compounding interest, implementing even small improvements can result in a cumulative snow-balling effect that generates momentum, enthusiasm and results!There are specific, immediate changes you can make that will deliver meaningful results:MOVE!It sounds obvious, but it’s truly amazing how much potential is in this simple step. Park at the far end of the parking lot; take the stairs instead of the elevator; chase your grandchildren around. Our bodies were built for movement, and the simple act of moving more is a great way to start your fitness program. Walking is a vastly underrated form of exercise. So is dancing!DRINK WATERYou’ll hear different target quantities from different experts, but a good rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses of water per day. It’s a good practice to drink a glass ½ hour before and after meals. Substituting water for less healthy drinks (like soda) will cut calories and reduce intake of artificial flavoring, coloring, etc. Also, increasing water intake will help curb your appetite.EAT LESS, MORE OFTENStudies have shown that our bodies operate more efficiently when we spread our food intake our over five or six smaller meals per day, versus the three larger meals to which we’ve become accustomed. And what grandma told you about eating your vegetables was right on target! Most Americans do not consume enough fruits and vegetables regularly. It’s surprisingly easy to shrink the size of meals when you increase your water intake and include more fruits and vegetables.KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU EATAnother simple yet very powerful tip! Whether you go “all the way” and actually maintain a log of everything you eat, or simply try to do a mental recap periodically during the day, this is a great way to manage your diet. For example, when you get ready to eat dinner, doing a quick review of what you’ve eaten so far that day will help you make intelligent menu choices.STRETCHFlexibility is a very important component of overall fitness. A daily routine of basic stretches can greatly improve your mobility in a very short period of time. Just remember: stretching movements should be gentle and gradual, and never jerky or bouncy.Once you’ve made the simple lifestyle changes listed above, you will begin building the positive momentum that will empower you to move aggressively toward your fitness goals!Remember:It’s not about big, sweeping changes: the fact is you CAN NOT become fit in one day. But you can decide TODAY to make a commitment to incremental, consistent improvement that will get you on track IMMEDIATELY.Step 2: Decide to Take Better Care of YourselfYou probably know someone who has experienced health problems that could have been avoided if the person had taken better care of him or herself. How many times have you resolved to begin taking better care of yourself?But what does that mean?Ask virtually anyone what it means to “take better care of yourself”, and undoubtedly you’ll hear something like “Get more exercise and eat sensibly”. Everyone seems to know that exercise is important to overall health and well-being, and is a big part of taking better care of yourself. We’ve all seen the reports on TV, in magazines, on the internet: it’s an irrefutable fact that people of all ages and fitness levels can reap compelling physical and psychological benefits by engaging in a sensible exercise regimen.So…Why are so many people neglecting to engage in an exercise program, when they KNOW that this behavior will improve their health, appearance, attitude, and overall quality of life?The answer is simple. They have not yet DECIDED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEMSELVES.You already know many good reasons to begin an exercise program. You have probably heard (or even used!) at least one of the most common excuses for not beginning a fitness program:”I don’t have enough time”. (probably the number 1 excuse)”I won’t feel comfortable working out with a bunch of “hard-bodies”.”It’s too expensive”.Let’s BUST these mythical excuses right now!”I don’t have enough time”.
There are plenty of busy people who are fit, and plenty of fit people who are busy. The fact is that people who DECIDE to make the time, make the time. It’s hard to imagine there are many things in your life more important than your physical well-being, which is what enables you to enjoy all other aspects of your life.”I won’t feel comfortable working out with a bunch of “hard-bodies”.
This is an easy one. If you’re not comfortable working out in any particular health club, THEN DON’T! There are so many different venues in which you can exercise that you are certain to find the right one with a little homework. See “Should I Join a Health Club”.”It’s too expensive”.
The expense associated with a fitness program can vary from a multi-thousand dollar investment in home exercise equipment to a zero-cost program that includes walking, jogging and/or calisthenics. If you decide to join a health club, or seek out the services of a personal trainer, then there are of course associated costs. But once again, there are many health clubs with varying fee structures. Do some comparison shopping!Consider the following:a) What is the ROI (return on investment) for an effective fitness program? How much is it worth to you to improve your overall health and wellness; to have more energy and stamina; to feel better? What is the long-term price of NOT engaging in a fitness program?b) What constitutes “expensive”? A health club costing $60 per month breaks out to roughly $14 per week. That’s something like $3 per workout, or what most people spend on coffee every day.c) Perhaps you fall into a category that qualifies for a discount at a local health club. For example, many clubs have discount membership programs for seniors, employees of local companies (“Corporate Memberships”), referral discounts, etc. Again, doing a little homework can really pay off!Now it’s just a matter of making the decision that you will Take Better Care of Yourself. That means making a commitment to take action.Remember:We’re using the word “commitment” here for a reason. The dictionary defines “Commitment” as “an agreement or pledge to do something in the future”. A commitment is a PROMISE. We’re talking about making a promise to yourself that you will begin taking better care of yourself. And nothing is as gratifying as fulfilling a promise!Step 3: Define Your Fitness GoalsStart with YOUR definition of fitness. What does it mean to you? It could be reaching and maintaining a more healthy body weight. It could be lowering your blood pressure, gaining lean muscle mass, or being able to walk a brisk mile without getting overly winded. Your goal could be being fit enough to carry your grandson up the stairs. For some, it’s bench-pressing 400 lbs. or running a marathon. It doesn’t matter.Define what you want out of a fitness program.It might be helpful to talk to people you know who are already actively engaged in exercise, or to have an assessment consultation with a Personal Trainer/Fitness Specialist at a local health club.Make sure your goals are realistic, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Keep in mind that fitness is REALLY about one thing: feeling better!So, when you define your goal, be sure to think about how reaching this goal will make you feel physically, mentally and emotionally. That will make the goal feel more “real”, and give you a motivational tool you can use throughout your fitness journey.Hard vs. Soft goals:
It really pays to establish “hard” goals. That is, goals that are as specific and measurable as possible.
“Soft” goals on the other hand are more vague and general.For example…Soft Goal:
I want to get in shape. (how will you measure your success? What does “in shape” mean?)Measurable, Specific Goal:
By June 30th, I want to lose 10 lbs, and increase my endurance to the point where I can jog two miles without stopping.Setting specific fitness goals is also a great motivator, because you can track your success and see progress as you move toward your goal.Step 4: Lay Out Your Road MapYou’ve decided to make a real commitment to take action, and to start taking better care of yourself. AND you’ve taken the next important step by defining your fitness goals.For many people, those first steps are the most difficult. It’s important to understand that without a real commitment (Step 2) and clearly-defined goals (Step 3), there is no way to develop a plan. That would be like building a house without a blue-print!But once you’ve completed these crucial steps, you are ready to develop your road map.Your fitness road map must answer the BIG THREE questions:What is my goal (where am I going?)What is my plan (how do I get there?)How to I track progress (how do I tell where am I now?)It is absolutely critical that you lay out a road map that addresses these BIG THREE questions. The road map should outline the actual exercise routines to be performed, the scheduling of workouts, and a procedure for measuring progress at prescribed intervals.
The best approach is to start with a high-level outline, and then fill in details as you gather information. The outline should include:workout frequency (e.g. 4 times per week)approximate mix of flexibility, strength and cardio training (based on goals)actual exercise programs (*)check points (e.g. weigh-ins every 3 weeks)The more specific you are in this planning phase, the BETTER your chances for success!(*) There are many sources for help in designing your exercise program. Workout programs are available over the internet or in book stores. Our best advice is: GET HELP. Whether it’s from a fitness-minded friend or trained professional at a health club, by getting skilled assistance you can easily build a road map that includes enough variation to ward of the potential boredom of a fixed routine.Also consider whether you’d like to enlist someone as a workout partner. Some people find it motivating to have a partner; it might even occasionally “guilt” you into working out when you know your partner is counting on you. And two heads are usually better than one!Once you have your road map, you can determine what workout venues will make sense. Depending on your goals, there may be several effective paths for you to follow. You might join a walking club, or sign up for dance lessons. You might begin an independent exercise program at home, or join a friend who jogs regularly.Remember: You should consult your physician before beginning an exercise regimen.Step 5: Feel Good!Fitness is, above all, about FEELING GOOD!Once you have designed a fitness road map, the best way to succeed is to enjoy the challenge. Our bodies WANT to be fit! And once you start your program, you will feel the exhilaration that comes when you get moving.Nothing is more motivating than knowing that you’ve defined a goal, have an action plan, and are WORKING YOUR PLAN. While you’re working your plan, always remember to:Enjoy the rideTrack progressSet challenging new goals for yourself.That last point is important: you’re not “done” when your reach your goals. Fitness is not a destination, it’s a lifestyle. So, when you reach a goal, congratulate yourself and raise the bar!You’ll find that you will look forward to workout days, and even on those rare occasions when you have to “force” yourself to work out, you’ll be glad you did. Enjoying the ride is the biggest key to success in fitness.Remember:
It’s also important to mix in some patience with your enthusiasm. You might miss a workout or two, or get side-tracked for a week. This happens to even the most dedicated fitness devotees. If and when you slip, or your progress slows, it’s important to remember how much long-term benefit you will get from your fitness program. And even after a “slip up”, nothing feels better than getting right back on track.RecapBy following the FIVE STEPS TO FITNESS SUCCESS, you can realize IMMEDIATE improvements in your overall fitness jump-start your journey toward your fitness goals ENJOY getting the most out of your fitness programRemember:The FIVE STEPS TO FITNESS SUCCESS
1) Make Changes TODAY!
2) Decide & Commit
3) Define Goals
4) Design Your Road Map
5) Feel Good!