Desk pad calendars; a low cost advertising tool

By Chritopher Higgins

Advertising is all about timing, your message needs to be in front of the prospect at the time they need your product, otherwise its very likely to be ignored; that makes it expensive. Advertising over and over, no matter what the medium can get very costly; are there other cheaper ways to keep your message in front of clients and prospects each and every day?

Desk pad calendars are a great, inexpensive way to keep your company name and contact information in front of potential buyers each and every day.

For advertising to work it needs to be in front of buyers all the time, so the trick is not just to get in front of possible buyers, but to stay there for an extended period. Desk pad calendars are something the buyer can use in many ways, from jotting down notes to simply double checking the date, which means they'll keep it on their desk all year. Desk pad calendars are a low cost way to keep your message in front of buyers all year.

Consumer electronics companies use expensive advertising all the time from television to radio, to full color pull outs in the Sunday paper. Why are they spending so much and doing it so often, they want to be there when you, or your neighbor, or your cousin decide it's time to buy what they have to offer.

As a B2B supplier how can you keep your message in front of clients and prospects all the time to make sure that when they need what you offer your name and contact information is right there in front of them. A desk pad calendar is the perfect solution.

A low cost and useful tool for keeping your advertisement and message in front of business buyers is a custom printed desk pad calendar, other calendars such as appointment books will work but from a cost benefit standpoint a desk pad calendar is the way to go. Put your message and brand on a desk pad calendar, give it to the buyers you serve and your brand will stay in front of your buyers every day of the year.

A desk pad calendar could well be the most inexpensive way to ensure multiple impressions of your message to targeted buyers. You create brand awareness when targeted buyers see your brand over and over again. When you realize that a desk pad calendar is something buyers will look at over and over day after day you understand how a desk pad calendar is one of the lowest cost ways available to promote your brand.

About the Author:

Christopher Higgins is president of Dataguide a print, marketing and on line solutions firm focused on providing businesses with effective long lasting marketing products that promote their firm. find out more about desk pad calendars and how they can help you get and keep your message in front of targeted buyers request a sample today.

God-Given Talents at Alabama Craft Fairs

By Wendell Oswald

God has a way of creating humanity in diverse, but equally talented ways. Each of us, whether man or woman, child or adult, have God-given talents that are just waiting to be honed. These talents, when put into practice, become very effective ways to express oneself.

Start early in life if you want to really develop your talents. Our minds and spirits are developed enough at an early age in our life, and it's much easier to learn and absorb as a child. Encourage your child to go into arts and crafts as soon as they're able.

What particular craft should you encourage your kids to do? That can only be truly decided by your child, as you simply cannot choose what God gives him or her. But what you can do is provide a way for your child to discover this talent. Make sure your child has access to crayons, and carefully monitor his or her interests.

Some might take an interest in craft works that may require a medium or tool that is dangerous to children. An example is woodcarving. Even though it is a very satisfying craft, the tools and sharp carving knives used there should not be used by an unsupervised child. Don't let this discourage your child, though; if he's really interested in it let him try it out under careful observation. Closely guide the child as he goes about it; and don't be afraid to research safety tips so you can keep the pair of you safe and unharmed.

A child will quickly get the hang of a new-found talent, and once your child becomes sufficiently good at doing his or her craft, you may want to encourage him to attend craft shows. Find a location nearby; just go online and surf sites that have a list of scheduled events. Maybe your child will be interested in setting up a booth, as well. A few extra dollars will encourage him or her more, as well as teach the habit of saving.

About the Author:

Be a part of the exciting Alabama Craft Shows, and experience the wonder of the human spirit. Go to Alabama Craft Fairs nowand enjoy these handcrafted wonders!

The Financial Planning Process: 5 Essential Steps

By Hank Brock

The financial planning process involves five basic steps. After the initial meeting with your financial planner, the five steps to the financial planning process include: data gathering, plan preparation, plan presentation, plan implementation, and on-going monitoring.

1. Financial Planning Process: Data gathering.

The data gathering session often takes place in your home. It is a whirlwind of information, and may take the planner anywhere from 2 hours to all day to finish. The planner will want to inspect all of your documents. This includes tax returns, income statements, pensions, wills, trusts, insurance policies, investments, brokerage accounts, bank statements, retirement plans, and other tangible pieces of information.

These physical documents are not all that your planner will need to get from this data gathering session. There is also subjective information that the planner must determine. What are your lifestyle goals? Where do you hope to be in the future? When do you plan to retire, and what are your expectations for that time period? Assumptions of the future must also be established. Your attitudes regarding interest rates, inflation, the economy, and various other factors must be clearly established.

Finally, your financial planner will determine your personal attitudes - toward taxes, risk tolerance, complexity/simplicity of your financial affairs. The primary objective of the data gather is to have a clear idea of where you are currently and where you want to head for the future.

2. Financial Planning Process: Plan preparation.

Preparing your plan typically takes three to four weeks, as the planner does an analysis -- the diagnostic work. The planner knows where you are, and where you want to be. Now they need to figure out the most efficient way to get you there.

Their recommendation may come in the form of a family partnership, family corporation, family trust, etc... The planner will examine the pros and cons of each scenario, and then prepare written recommendations. Some of the recommendations will be major, while others may be simple day to day things. Properly done, all of the pieces will fit together into a strategic and complete financial plan.

3. Financial Planning Process: Plan presentation.

After all of the recommendations have been compiled into writing, the planner will sit down with your to present the plan, review any major areas. That day you'll take the plan home and study it. Read and pick it apart. As you review the plan, jot down any questions that arise.

When you meet with your planner again, you'll review the plan in greater detail. They'll answer any questions that you have and clarify the details. As you review and subsequently agree to each recommendation, the planner will prioritize them into your "Implementation Checklist." This becomes a simple "to do" list for you and the planner.

4. Financial Planning Process: Plan implementation.

The first three steps will likely be completed in about a month's time.

The fourth step, plan implementation, takes on average five to six months (sometimes longer). During this time, you will cover topics such as tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and other insurance concerns. Your financial planner may want to bring in other experts at this time to consult on specific issues.

In the end, your plan might have as many as 25 recommendations. A few recommendations will be major, broad, strategic recommendations, each worth thousands of dollars to you. The remainder will be fine-tuning recommendations -- crossing the T's, dotting the I's, and making sure your financial affairs are really in order.

5. Financial Planning Process: On-going monitoring and maintenance.

In the final step of the financial planning process, your planner should be retained to help provide periodic updates and on-going advice. You should do a couple of tax planning meetings each year, review your portfolio, update insurance, etc... You'll often find little questions that you'll want to run past your advisor. Because your planner knows your unique situation, you will be alerted to changes in conditions that directly affect your plan.

About the Author:

Hank Brock is president of Brock and Associates, LLC, a financial and business planning firm. Visit us for more information on the Financial Planning Process and other planning topics.