Business & Finance Tips » Business & Finance

Is an SBA Small Business Startup Loan Right For Your Business?

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:23:15 +0000

The SBA is not primarily a direct lending institution; instead it guarantees small business startup loans made by private institutions. In other words, they back a portion of a loan made by SBA partners to eliminate some of the risk. Partners agree to structure their loans by SBA requirements in order to participate in the programs, and the amount of backing that partners receive can vary based on the federal government fiscal policies.

SHOULD YOU SEEK A SBA LOAN?
Because there is one more organization involved, it can take longer to get an SBA small business startup loan than it does using a traditional lender. But if you have been unsuccessful in getting a small business startup loan traditionally, an SBA loan may be your best choice. However, realize that even if the SBA backs the loan you want, the lender is not obligated to give you the loan.

LOAN PROGRAM OPTIONS
BASIC 7(a) LOAN GUARANTEE

The 7(a) loan program is the most popular and most basic program offered by the SBA. Most banks and sometimes other lending institutions participate in the program. The process begins with a typical application to a bank. If the bank thinks the small business startup loan would be high risk, they submit it for consideration in the SBA program. The SBA can guarantee a portion of the small business startup loan if the lender would not get paid. The business borrowing money however, would still be obligated to pay the debt. Even if the SBA decides to offer a guarantee, it is still up to the lender to determine whether a loan will be granted.

ELIGIBILITY
To become eligible for a basic 7(a) loan guarantee, you must meet the size restrictions, be a for-profit company, not have other sources of financing available for the use of funds needed, and have the ability to repay the loan under the terms agreed upon.

CONDITIONS
Repayment ability from the cash flow of the business is the most important consideration in the decision of the SBA to approve or reject a loan. Management capability, collateral, character, and the owners equity contribution are also taken into consideration. Some variations of the 7(a) program may require other things.

PURPOSE
The SBA 7(a) loan proceeds may be used to start a business, assist in the operation or expansion of a current business, or to acquire a business. This means loans may be used for working capital, equipment, land, buildings, refinancing existing debt that have no other good refinancing options, or to purchase an existing business.

504 LOAN PROGRAM FOR A CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
The CDC/504 loan program provides long term fixed rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings. A certified development company (CDC) must be non-profit company designed to contribute to the economic development of the community. The CDC works with the SBA and other lenders from the community to finance small businesses. A personal guarantee by the principal owner is required along with the project assets being financed as collateral.

PURPOSE
In general a company must create or retain one job for every $50,000 provided by the SBA, except for small manufacturers where the number is $100,000. The funding is not available for working capital, refinancing, and consolidating or repaying debt.

ELIGIBILITY
A business must be for-profit, not exceed a tangible net worth of $7.5 million or an average net income of $2.5 million, and not be a real estate investment or speculation based company.

MICROLOANS A 7(m) LOAN PROGRAM
This program provides smaller small business startup loans (up to $35,000) to startup businesses or growing small businesses. The SBA directly gives the local community lenders who disburse the money according to their own eligibility requirements. The following link provides a list of Microloan Intermediaries by state.
[http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage?serv_fa_microloan.pdf]

Bank of America Customer Service – How Does Bank of America Compare With Other Banks?

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:53:25 +0000

If you have an issue or problem with some aspect of your finances, then the bank of America customer service can usually help you get it resolved very quickly. To find the one nearest you, all you have to do is look then up in the yellow pages or the internet, and many results will come up, and you won’t have any trouble at all finding somebody to talk with immediately.

The thing to remember is that bank of America is known for their customer service, so you probably won’t have much trouble getting your issue taken care of soon. I you aren’t already doing business with Bank of America, I would definitely recommend it, for the simple fact that they do have excellent customer service, and in addition, offer many feature that other banks do not.

Take, for example, their online banking option. You’re no doubt come to expect online banking available anywhere, so this probably doesn’t sound too impressive, but there’s is ahead of the competition, for the simple fact of how easy it is to use.

For example, they have a feature that inputs the most popular companies in your area such as electrical, gas station, etc, and enables you to just select them from a list and make your payment right then and there. If you are doing business with a smaller firm not listed, still no problem-just input the info, and the next time you need to pay them, they will be among the choices to select.

The best thing about the bank of America online banking is that you don’t lose the money from your bank account until the company you are paying actually gets it deposited into their account. The majority of banks do this as soon as you pay, even if they won’t receive it for another four to seven days, as is of ten the case.

This gives you a chance to continue earning interest off of it until it actually processes, and while this might not seem like a big deal now with the low interest rates, when they do go up, this money can really add up, particularly if you make a lot of payments via the net.

The bottom line is, few banks stack up to Bank of America, and if you have any issues with them, just call up or email Bank of America Customer Service, and you can expect a response fairly quickly.

Business Management

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:36:13 +0000

Business Management characterizes the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). Early twentieth-century business management writer Mary Parker Follett defined management as “the art of getting things done through other people.”

One can also think of business management functionally as the action of measuring a quantity on a regular basis and of adjusting some initial plan, and as the actions taken to reach one’s intended goal. This applies even in situations where planning does not take place. From this perspective, there are several major management functions, namely: planning, organizing, leading, coordinating and controlling.

Management is known by some as “business administration”, although this then excludes management in places outside business, e.g. charities and the public sector. University departments that teach management are nonetheless usually called “business schools”. The term “management” may also be used as a collective word, describe the managers of an organization, for example of a corporation.

Today, we find it increasingly difficult to subdivide management into functional categories in this way. More and more processes simultaneously involve several categories. Instead, we tend to think in terms of the various processes, tasks, and objects subject to management.

One consequence is that workplace democracy has become both more common, and more advocated, in some places distributing all management functions among the workers, each of whom takes on a portion of the work. However, these models predate any current political issue, and may be more natural than command hierarchy.

All management is to some degree democratic in that there must be majority support of workers for the management in the long term, or they leave to find other work, or go on strike. Hence management is becoming less based on the conceptualization of classical military command-and-control, and more about facilitation and support of collaborative activity, utilizing principles such as those of human interaction management to deal with the complexities of human interaction.

Low Rate Business Loans – Commercial Money Advance at Cheap Rates

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:05:27 +0000

Everyone who is running a commercial venture has got the sole aim, to make money and when he gets into trouble because of some lack of cash, he goes for finances. However, if you want finances, as a commercial person, your pursuit is obviously to grab cheap finances and it is here, with low rate business loans.

These cheap finances advance money for any commercial venture, be it a big or small or a medium. Also, you can take the help of them when you are going to build up a new venture even. So, apart from the old ventures, new ones also get money in these schemes.

You can take the money for any industry need. You may want to spruce up your factory premise, may want to buy a new land for the industry, want to new machineries and want to put some capital for any other reason or for any of the commercial needs you can have the finances.

There are finances for all running businesses. You may be able to pledge security for the finance or may not; in every case you can have the aid. There are both secured funding and unsecured finances too. In secured finances, the money you can have against a security placing and this rivets benefits of cheap rates and flexible repayment terms. While the unsecured options do not ask you to pledge any collateral and this makes the loans burden free.

However, you can have the low rate business loans for a term ranging from 12 months to 10 years while the amount ranges between £ 50000 and £ 100000. However, in case of bad credit holders, these loans warrant more interest rates than the average.

Online is the best way to go for these finances. You can apply there free of cost and applying is also no obligatory in nature. You need to apply through only a simple application form here.

Low arte business loans with their cheap finances make the way of your business. They give you the chance to achieve a new height with the aid of low rate loans.

High Paying Jobs With MBA Degrees – The Right Business Education

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 08:12:51 +0000

Gone are the days when entrepreneurs used to learn business on the job. This was the most prevalent way of getting business education, though informal. There are numerous successful entrepreneurs who succeeded in business field without any formal business education.

One can learn business on the job as has been demonstrated by a large number of businessmen. That route takes longer and is fraught with uncertainties.

With the complexities of modern business, business education has now been formalized. In order to do business, it is necessary that one should be conversant with so many business practices. Any business is now interdependent on other national and international factors. Formal business learning is now necessary in order to understand business environment as a whole.

Without a business degree from a renowned business school, it is difficult to undertake a business career.

Basis of business education are business and economic practices and theories. These comprise of courses in fields like business accounting and bookkeeping, business strategy, business intelligence, business law, business writing, business consulting, financial management, organizational behavior, business marketing, business planning, international business, micro and macro economics etc.

Business education leads to important degrees like bachelors and masters (MBA). These two are the most important business degrees and are in high demand amongst companies and business establishments.

A university level business qualification leading to an MBA degree is the crown of a business course. MBA programs have been in high demand because of their clout in the market. While business concepts get clear at bachelor’s level, master’s education is a more specialized form of business education.

Generally an MBA program is spread over a two year period after bachelors. Most renowned MBA universities are in North America, UK and Australia. There are certain institutions like Indian Institutes of Management (IITs) in India which are equally reputed.

Some universities also have executive MBA programs which can be completed in one to two years. Executive MBAs are specific to working executives and managers who have been practicing in business field or at jobs for a number of years.

Executive MBA candidates have mostly bachelor level degrees and experience of a number of years. Essential qualifications for an executive MBA program are a combination of education and business experience. Executive MBA programs are generally employer supported and have a shorter duration than regular MBAs.
It is estimated that MBA salaries are generally higher by about 35 per cent than regular graduates. They hold prestigious jobs. They position their businesses strategically and help in the growth of companies and economies.

MBA degrees can be obtained at a university campus, through distance learning MBA, MBA online and part time MBA. With the spread of internet, it has become easier to pursue an MBA degree. It is no longer necessary now to be a full time student at a campus, although this is most desirable.

Almost 43 per cent of MBA universities also have online MBA degree programs. About two thirds of MBA degrees get awarded through distance MBA programs and part time MBA education.

Though expensive, one can study an MBA course on part time basis or through distance learning MBA while on the job. An MBA course enables a person not only to have a successful MBA career, but also helps one to establish own business consulting or any other independent business.

Top Ten Online MBA Programs

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 02:53:26 +0000

Do you want to pursue an MBA but can’t find the time? Maybe you don’t feel like being out of a job for 2 years is worth the investment? Maybe all the online MBA programs you know seem too generic? Do you feel that you want a quality MBA without sacrificing your job, your family, or your earnings? This is a quick summary of the top ten online MBA programs based on rankings/reputation, structure, networking opportunities, gained skills, and tuition investment.

1. Instituto de Empresa (IE)

Location: Madrid, Spain
Program: Global MBA
Ranking*: #11 by Financial Times, # 12 by The Wall Street Journal, # 6 by Forbes.
Description: IE offers an 18 months Global MBA program for English and Spanish speakers. The program allows students to connect to the virtual classroom from anywhere in the world. In addition to virtual lectures and videoconferences, students are required to participate in “blended sessions” in different cities including Madrid, London, New York, Santiago, Shanghai, and other cities.
Networking Opportunities: Students from 48 countries with background and expertise in a diverse variety of fields including financial markets, banking, marketing, and technology.
Gained Skills: Strategy, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Information Systems, Intercultural Skills.
Tuition Investment: € 33,000 (approx. $ 43,000 USD)

2. Thunderbird School of Global Management

Location: Arizona, USA
Program: Global MBA
Ranking: #1 in International Programs by U.S. News & World Report, # 1 in International Business by Financial Times, # 1 in International Business by The Wall Street Journal.
Description: Thunderbird offers a global MBA program where students participate through virtual classrooms and on-site seminars in the USA, China and Europe.
Networking Opportunities: Students have lived and worked in over 16 different countries with backgrounds in a wide variety of companies ranging from Coca Cola to Boeing to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Gained Skills: Cross-Cultural Communications, Global Political Economy, Global Finance, Global Operations, Global Marketing, Global Negotiations, Global Leadership, Global Strategy.
Tuition Investment: $ 57,000 USD (includes on-site costs for international study trips except airfare)

3. Duke University

Location: North Carolina, USA
Program: Cross-Continental MBA
Ranking: #11 by U.S. News & World Report, # 23 by Financial Times, # 11 by BusinessWeek.
Description: The program lasts 20 months blending Internet-enabled distance learning with 9 one-week residential sessions that take place in North Carolina, Europe and Asia.
Networking Opportunities: Students from 23 countries average 3 to 9 years of experience and are currently employed full-time in a variety of industries.
Gained Skills: Finance, Accounting, Decision Models, Cross-Cultural Communications, Marketing, Strategy, Global Financial Management, Global Economics.
Tuition Investment: $ 93,450 USD

4. Manchester Business School

Location: Manchester, UK
Program: Distance Learning MBA
Ranking: #22 by Financial Times, # 15 by MBA Career Guide Survey.
Description: This flexible 2 year program combines self-study with face-to-face workshops in one of six destinations worldwide – UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Malaysia and Jamaica.
Networking Opportunities: Students are located in over 90 countries worldwide and possess years of work experience in industries such as construction, engineering, and finance.
Gained Skills: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Managerial Economics, Quantitative Methods, Corporate Strategy.
Tuition Investment: £14,400 (approximately $ 28,383 USD)

5. Indiana University

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana – USA
Program: Master of Business Administration (Kelley Direct)
Ranking: #23 by U.S. News & World Report, # 65 by Financial Times, # 18 by BusinessWeek.
Description: This two-year program focuses on general administration, but can be tailored to meet the needs of individual students. The program is offered almost exclusively over the Web with two in-residence courses that last one week in Indiana.
Networking Opportunities: Students in the program come from almost every state in the USA as well as over 20 countries from around the world. Almost all students have several years of corporate or military experience.
Gained Skills: Accounting, Finance, Economics, Quantitative Analysis, Project Management, Strategic Marketing, Human Resources, Global Business, Business Law, Strategic Capabilities.
Tuition Investment: $ 42,000 USD

6. Pennsylvania State University

Location: University Park, Pennsylvania – USA
Program: Penn State’s Online MBA
Ranking: #38 by U.S. News & World Report, # 43 by Financial Times, U.S. Second Tier Programs by BusinessWeek.
Description: This 2-year program combines online courses with 2 residency experiences – the first one at a U.S. company (anywhere in the USA) and the second one at Penn State’s University Park campus.
Networking Opportunities: Penn State iMBA students represent employers from 37 states and 5 countries.
Gained Skills: Finance, Accounting, Organizational Behavior and Change, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Marketing, Corporate Strategies, Global Operations, Global Management.
Tuition Investment: $ 49,000 USD

7. University of Florida

Location: Gainesville, Florida – USA
Program: Internet MBA
Ranking: #41 by U.S. News & World Report, # 13 by The Wall Street Journal.
Description: The Internet MBA program at the University of Florida provides students with two options: The Two Year MBA and the One Year MBA option. The Two Year MBA program starts in February, offers a 27-month curriculum and requires 8 weekend campus visits at the end of each term. The One Year MBA option is provided for students with a business degree and 2 to 7 years of work experience. It starts in January, offers a 16-month curriculum and requires 5 weekend campus visits at the end of each term.
Networking Opportunities: Students in these programs average 6 years of work experience in a variety of industries such as telecommunications, banking, and international trade.
Gained Skills: Personal Finance, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Marketing Management, Professional Writing, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, E-Commerce, Brand Equity, Business Policy, Business Law.
Tuition Investment: $34,000 USD – One Year MBA option; $39,000 USD – Two Year MBA option.

8. Babson College

Location: Boston, Massachusetts – USA
Program: Fast Track MBA
Ranking: #1 in Entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report, # 1 in Entrepreneurship by Financial Times, #49 Overall MBA by U.S. News & World Report, # 89 Overall MBA by Financial Times.
Description: This 24-month program combines face-to-face learning, web-based learning, and field-based projects. Face-to-face instruction is based on two day sessions that are held at Babson or in Portland, Oregon approximately every six weeks – all day on Fridays and Saturdays.
Networking Opportunities: Students in this program average 10 years of work experience and come from almost every state in the US and approximately 10 countries.
Gained Skills: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Creativity, Human Behavior, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Ethics and Law.
Tuition Investment: $48,500 USD.
Website:

MBA Rankings

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:27:46 +0000

MBA rankings are generally referred to as the subjective appraisal of the quality of an MBA program or a business school offering MBA programs. As an effective and conventional judging system, MBA ranking contributes to almost all leading business schools and business related programs.

In this ranking system, a number of criteria are used to find out the existing position of these business schools and their programs. It is based on the questionnaire answers and by comparing the different aspects of these MBA programs. The ranking list is put up each year. There are a number of agencies, including the US MBA rankings – FT, the US News and World Report, and the ComputerWorld’s Top 25 Techno MBAs, conducting this ranking process by evaluating part time and full time graduate business programs.

Some of the basic criteria for ranking full time MBA programs are the reputation based on the judgment and opinion of MBA graduates and recruiters; academics; GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) scores; quality assessments by the alumni; job placement rate; salary and bonus; rating of research; and academic reputation. The part time programs are ranked on the basis of nomination by the MBA program directors and business school deans. The minimum number of nomination required for ranking is seven. Although many of the schools do not agree on these ranking criteria used, a number of schools among them can be seen at the top of the rankings.

Ranking of the MBA programs or business schools acts as a review that assists a student to examine the reputation of an MBA program, acceptance rate, tuition fee, placement assistance, and employment rates. In the case of business schools, MBA rankings survey is a useful tool to determine their strengths and weaknesses. MBA rankings are always calculated in the form of numerical lists. The best school or programs is designated as #1, the second best is as #2, and so on.

Most MBA rankings are not considered as a standard measure to evaluate an MBA program or a business school. Different sources have different methodologies, so a wide variation can be seen among these results. But these reviews provide an insight of the quality of the program or schools and are valuable for anyone who is intending to take an MBA degree.

Why GMAT Scores Are Not Everything – Your Application Essay Might Be the Deciding Factor!

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 01:08:57 +0000

*Find out why achieving ballpark GMAT Score is sufficient
*Discover how Top MBA Schools allocate vacancies
*Learn why your profile and MBA Essay might be the most important factor
*Find out what not to include in your essay

For anyone applying to an MBA programme in a top business school, your GMAT score counts as one of the most important determinant on whether you gain entry into the programme, regardless of your extensive work experience or undergraduate GPA.

Score within the range of 630 to 730

However, the GMAT is only the first step to your programme of choice. Working smart to aim for a score that ranges in the ballpark of the mid 600s should be sufficient to gain you entry into a top programme. Considering the 80% range of GMAT admission scores for typical top schools figure between 630 and 730, scoring within this ballpark range will probably buy you your ticket through this first step into the programme. Therefore, contrary to many people’s believe, scoring below a school’s media 80% range as they would usually state in their admission prospectus doesn’t immediately eliminate your admission chances. As such, retaking the test might not necessarily boost your admission chances.

Instead, once your GMAT score falls within this ballpark range, focus your efforts on preparing for the application essay. This next important state might just work better to help you stand out against the rest.

Breakdown of MBA Applicants

Typically, you will be competing in categories based on your work background. This levels the playing field for applicants and admission officers in selecting successful candidates. Majority of the applicants comprise of those who come from the finance and consulting industries and have scored well above average in the 700 range for their GMAT. Many work with prestigious asset management companies, consulting firms and investment banks.

Hence, if acceptance was based solely on GMAT scores, classes would be made up of almost exclusively applicants from these categories. In order to balance the class dynamics, admission officers have a class profile in mind, and select applicants based on this profile that will ensure a good mix of students that each brings something different to the table.

Therein lies their challenge to put together a diversity and well-roundedness such that the students from a wide range of work backgrounds and experiences complement each other while working on assignments together, especially since many are collaborative and interdisciplinary.

The proportion that most intakes end up with is an estimated 60 to 65% from the finance and consulting categories. However, with the disproportionate number of applicants from these backgrounds, competition is rife within these two categories.

Naturally, investment banking and management consulting make up the most competitive categories as the MBA is necessary career advancement measure for people working in these industries. On the other hand, the non-profit category sees the least competition. Along with the token lawyers, doctors, government civil servants and those with military background, these applicants, even with their modest GMAT scores, are chosen for the depth and unique perspectives they can offer to the class. This shows that an exemplary GMAT score doesn’t necessarily buy you a sure ticket into the top schools as they are willing to trade modest GMAT scores for valuable experience.

Although not dictated by a specific policy or category quota in their selection process, admission officers tend to subscribe to these grouping guidelines to ensure that the competition is somewhat fair.

Crafting the Killer Essay

Now that you know who you’re competing against, the next step is learning how to craft an application essay that shines against the rest. Instead of talking about what the school can do for you in the essay, elaborate on how you think you can contribute and add value to the school.

You can do this by highlighting your unique work and personal experiences that others in your class can learn from. These could be special projects you’ve worked on or rare opportunities at work. Remember that many applicants in the consulting and finance categories might also have come from big firms so talking about this generic work experience just because of its prestige would not do much to make you stand out. Rather, you should convince the admissions officer that you have accumulated interesting and insightful experience that you are ready to share with your classmates.

Writing about oneself can be a daunting task having to sift through all the information and decide what to put into your essay. Some information can seem rather mundane to you but interesting to others. While many have interesting experiences worthy of making it into the essay, it’s not knowing what the schools are looking for and putting their thoughts down in words that they get stumped with. Furthermore, it can be assumed that many of these applicants are better at their mathematical skills over language skills, given that they are applying for an MBA course.

Talk through your work experience with someone who is able to offer a fresh perspective in deciding what’s interesting about your background, then work to pen it down in a clear and concise way. Work towards a ballpark range GMAT score and an insightful essay, and you might just be on your way into the top business school of your choice!

Recession Marketing Part 4 – Radio Marketing

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 06:52:09 +0000

Last time, we talked about the emotional appeal of advertising on TV. This time, we’ll talk about a great way to educate your customers on your products or services: Radio Marketing.

In the recent SIMM 11 study conducted by BIGresearch, it was shown that 44.2 percent of consumers who
hear information that interests them on the radio go online to look into the product or service further. Further studies showed that 22 percent to 28 percent (depending on the industry) of consumers go on to
buy the product that caught their attention.

A recent recession marketing survey by BtoB Magazine shows that companies who normally invest in radio
advertising are estimated to cut back in 2008 by 10 percent. So what does that mean for the clever
business owner?

It means you can acquire one of the most powerful marketing tools for influencing buying decisions at a
significant discount this year.

When radio stations experience a 10 percent loss in revenue, slots that are normally extremely competitive or pricey become available at discounted rates. So how do you take advantage of this?

Negotiate with your radio stations. Radio stations may claim that their prices are fixed, but any
good salesperson will adjust their pricing in order to close the deal, especially when their revenues are down.

One of the best ways to increase your buying power is to offer to increase the duration of your marketing campaign in exchange for a lower rate. For example, rather than buying a 13 week campaign at
$1,500 a week, offer to commit to a 26 week campaign at $1,200 a week. You’ll save $7,800, which is like getting five weeks of valuable advertising for free, and the station gets the extra revenue they need.

Another powerful buying method is to negotiate to buy filler inventory. Radio stations often have 10 to
15 seconds where they have to push filler in order to start a show on time. Those 10 to 15 seconds could
easily be your ad at a significant discount.

Try AM radio. News, sports, and talk radio have amazing followings, and unlike FM or music radio
stations, their listeners are much less likely to surf stations and are much more likely to be attentive
to ads they hear.

So now that you’ve landed a sweet deal for your marketing campaign, how do you maximize returns on your investment?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Keep your ads simple. Don’t try to cram too much information
into your ad space. I say that for two reasons. First, you don’t want to confuse your listeners. Second,
curiosity is one of the most powerful tools in marketing. You want to grab their attention. Pique their
curiosity to the point that they’ll call the number or visit the website you mention in your ad.

For example, if you sell pizza, you might structure the last few seconds of your ad like this: “Free BOBBY’S Pizza today! Find out more at 918-555-1212. Call now! Tulsa’s best pizza…guaranteed. That’s 918-555-1212.” Now, don’t you want to find out how to get a free pizza?

If you sell a service or information, hook their attention by offering a free report or a free “how to”
article on your website. If you sell retail, offer free coupons or a sales calendar online.

And remember to mention your contact information twice. They won’t be ready to take it down the first
time, and odds are, they’ll be scrambling for a pen. The second time you mention your contact information, they’ll be ready.

Most importantly, avoid confusing domain names or names that are difficult to spell. It’s better to buy an expensive domain name than to spend $15,000 on radio advertising for a website no one can spell. Be
creative with your domain names and avoid domains with the word “and,” confusing symbols like dashes or underscores, and the number 4.

At Xeal every commercial ends with “Visit Xeal online at X E A L dot com…that’s Zeal with an X, and X E A L dot com.” In this case we actually spell it out for the listeners.

Also, a great way to track your ad response is ask your radio station for permission to use their name
in your tracking URLs. Using our pizza example earlier, you could use “KFAQ LOVES PIZZA dot com.” Saying that in a commercial would be much easier than saying “BOBBY’S Italian Eatery dot com.”

If they say no, then try something like “TULSA LOVES PIZZA dot com,” or make it campaign specific:
“TULSA FREE PIZZA dot com” or “5 BUCK PIZZA NOW dot com.” Notice I say “buck” instead of “dollar” so

That’s it for today. Keep an eye out for our next article on our blog [http://www.xeal.com/blog]. We’ll talk about the state of the market, projected spending, and how to come out of the recession stronger than ever before. You’re going to love it.

Let the Rankings Help You Choose the Best MBA Program

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:04:04 +0000

The first step for anyone who decides he wants to pursue an MBA through an executive program is to decide how to use the degree once all the classwork is completed. To many, an advanced degree will be something of a marketing tool for your career. A ranking executive MBA program will help signal that not only you have acquired an advanced degree, but that the quality of your education will be higher than the quality of your competitor’s education. Further, choosing a program based on its ranking can make it more valuable for you.

Employers might not always have the time or experience to be able to assess your specific skills in all areas. Some employers turn to proxies in order to help them compare one employee against another. Some clients may also turn to reputation to be able to evaluate performance. Ranking executive MBA program provides graduates with a way to let others know that their time spent acquiring further knowledge through an MBA has been worthwhile. Also, graduates will be able to point towards the ranking as evidence of their knowledge. The employer or client can also trust what others have said about the program without having to make an assessment on a project by project basis. It can further be considered as an important tool in deciding which person should be granted an opportunity to try and complete a project. Obviously, employers will usually rely on the quality of an employee’s education in order to decide which one should take on any given assignment.

Since there is limited availability within each program, executive MBA candidates must understand that not everyone will be accepted into Harvard or some other top ranked school. The system works because not everyone needs to go to the number one school. Therefore, a straight ranking executive MBA program is not the only analysis candidates should conduct. Candidates should nonetheless explore reputable online resources to be able to learn how the programs will be able to fit in with their needs. Candidates should understand how each program can help them learn specific elements that will be able to further their knowledge. Candidates should know what they need to learn how to add the most value to their career.

Choosing to go back to school is not always an easy decision, as candidates will need to weigh whether the time lost from work will be made up in the future through an advanced degree. It is not always a guarantee that the decision to pursue an MBA will be advantageous for the candidate. However, there are things executives can do in order to improve the odds in their favor. Take into account the ranking executive MBA program, but do so together with specific information about how the program will be able to meet your needs.