Archive for virtual office assistance
How To Increase Your Profit Through The “Backdoor” – Part 1
Posted by: | CommentsBy Jimmy D. Brown
You make a $97.00 sale and you say an emphatic “Yes!” as a smile breaks out on your face. This selling online thing is cool and it feels good to be getting sales.
Then, a few days later you get a refund request. The $97.00 is gone. And so is your smile.
Or, worse still, a month and a half later (after you’ve spent the $97.00) a chargeback hits you. Not only is the $97.00 gone, but you’ve also been zapped $20.00 in service fees.
Instead of making money, you’re losing money.
Now, to be sure, that doesn’t happen on EVERY single sale. If it did, we’d all be out of business. But, it does happen frequently, from 2-10% of the time depending upon your offer.
Regardless of how often it occurs, when it does, it takes money out of your pocket.
So much emphasis is placed on ways to “make money” that many people forget to focus on how to KEEP the money that you make.
In today’s article (with part 2 coming later) we’re going to talk about increasing your profit through the “backdoor” by identifying 10 ways to reduce refunds and chargebacks so you can make the most money possible from your internet business.
The best part is this: most of them take just a few minutes to implement and most of them don’t cost a penny.
1. Be Accurate In Describing Your Product.
Probably the most common “legitimate” reason for a refund is when the product or service doesn’t deliver what was described during the sales process. When you create advertisements and salesletters, it’s important that you be accurate in describing your product.
This involves both…
* “Avoiding hype” which creates unrealistic expectations that ultimately lead to disappointment with the order. Your advertising sets the tone for what “results” the customer feels they can accomplish. If your claims are found to be unreasonable (or downright false) then refunds will often follow.
* “Correctly Define” the components of your product including its type (I.E. digital goods vs physical goods), its size (I.E. 20 pages vs 200 pages) its delivery (I.E. Immediately after order vs within 7 days) its required skills or knowledge (I.E. For beginners vs experienced) its exclusivity (I.E. Common knowledge vs your unique offering) its compabibility (I.E. PC only vs Mac users welcome) and its freshness (I.E. Updated for 2006 vs last year’s news) to name a few.
Perhaps the easiest way to turn back refund requests is to be clear in what your product or service offers without raising false expectations.
2. Offer Several Unadvertised Bonuses.
After the sale has been completed, let the customer know that you’ll be sending them 4 or 5 “unadvertised” bonuses over the next several weeks via email. You can even list what those bonuses are and their delivery schedule.
Example: In exactly 7 days you’ll receive unadvertised bonus one, an 18-page report entitled “27 Ways to Attract Butterflies Year Round”.
These unadvertised bonuses can be extra reports, articles, audio/video, interviews, tools, etc. The important thing to remember is that they should be related to the original purchase (I.E. an extension of the base product or service being offered) and should be desirable enough to add real value to the order.
I recommend that at least one of your bonuses be a “list” report with more than 20 entries (I.E. “27 Ways to Attract Butterflies Year Round”, “Top 20 Shortcuts For Starting A Christian Bookstore” or “The 21 Best Homeschooling Time Savers”). When it’s over twenty entries, it has a tremendous perceived value.
And that’s the point here: add more value to the existing purchase. The more bang your customers get for their buck, the more likely they’ll be satisfied and NOT request a refund.
3. Clearly State The Billing Name.
For most people selling goods online, their name or company name WILL NOT be the one listed on a customer’s credit card invoice or checking account log. Generally, it will be a third party company such as CLICKBANK. Unfortunately, many vendors forget to tell the customer what the charge will appear listed as in their records.
What happens is this: A customer buys a product from Paula J. Brown. In a month or so, that customer gets their credit card statement in and sees “Clickbank / Keynetics” listed. They don’t recall doing business with Clickbank / Keynetics and instead of investigating to see what it is, they either refute the charge to their credit card (resulting in a chargeback – ouch!) or they contact Clickbank and say “I don’t recall ordering this – refund it now.”
Either way, you’re out of a sale.
Always make sure you clearly state what name the transaction will be listed under when the customer receives their statement. Do this on both your “thank you” page AND in your initial email message to your customer.
4. Be Specific In Your Guarantee.
There is a great debate on how to use guarantees. Some people argue that given a lengthy guarantee (I.E. 12 months or even lifetime) is the best option because it shows that you stand by your product and instills greater buying confidence in the customer. Bad news is, in six months when Christmas comes along and the customer needs some extra money to buy gifts, your guarantee comes to mind.
Other people argue that a shorter, limited guarantee (I.E. 30 days or “show that you’ve tried to use the product”) is the preferred way to go simply because it gives less time for refund requests and generally attracts a more quality customer who is less likely to want their money back. Bad news is, if the customer isn’t completely “wowed” with your product or service, they’ll likely ask for a refund very quickly after their purchase to avoid missing out on the guarantee period. And if you attach too many strings to your guarantee (I.E. You must PROVE you’ve tried to use the product without success), you’ll likely lose some sales.
Truth is, there is some truth to both options. And I’m not going to tell you which one is best for you. (Although, if you use someone like Clickbank, it takes the debate out – they REQUIRE a limited, 30-day guarantee period. If you process orders via a third-party, check for their specific terms on this).
But, at the bottom of the page, here’s the conclusion that I’ve come to based on my own numbers: a longer, liberal guarantee works best overall. That is, while you will have a few boneheads that ask for a refund three years after they’ve purchased it, generally you have MORE sales (because they have greater “trust” in you based on your guarantee) and actually have LESS refunds (because people forget all about you and your product after a few weeks).
5. Create A Frequently Asked Questions Page.
Setup a special page with the 10-15 most frequently asked questions (along with detailed answers, of course 
and make note of this page in your initial follow-up message with your customer (You know, “Hey, thanks for your order…”) AND on the order fulfillment page (I.E. “Download page”).
Just a few of the things you’ll want to include on this page are…
* How to retrieve passwords
* Tips for overcoming common errors
* How to download materials
* When “unadvertised” bonuses will arrive
* How to track orders (If applicable)
* Best way to contact you
How does this reduce refunds?
In a variety of ways, actually. Just one would be: considering the reliability (or lack thereof!) of email these days, you could miss a question from a customer altogether, resulting in frustration or a feeling of getting “scammed” which will result in a refund.
Not only will you reduce your refunds, but you’ll also dramatically reduce your customer support. A surefire winner.
Of course, there are MANY other ways to increase your profit! Check out “The Upsell Report: 24 Ways To Get Your Customers To Spend More Money” by clicking here http://tinyurl.com/5po698 . You’ll learn an amazing 24 different ideas for getting your customers to spend more money (sometimes 300-400 or 500% more!) Studies show as many as 1 in every 2 customers will automatically buy if you just offer one of these items.
The Real Secret To Building A High-Profit Internet Business
Posted by: | CommentsBy Jimmy D. Brown
My wife laughs every time she sees me doing it.
At least once or twice every week, I’ll be at my desk (or at the dining room table) with my Franklin Covey planner open and a stack of laminated checklists in hand.
“What are you doing, honey?” she calls, already knowing the answer.
“I’m planning”, I reply with a smile.
She laughs and I get back to work.
She laughs because she swears I spend half of my time “planning”. But, if you ask me how I’m able to get as much work done as I do in only 3 hours a day, I’ll point to a black Franklin Covey planner with about a dozen laminated checklists inside.
Building an Internet business is easy. Seriously. I’m not saying that it’s not complicated, because it is. I’m just saying that it’s easy to accomplish if you just have a system in place.
There’s very little in this world that can’t be accomplished with the right set of action steps in front of you.
Today, I’m going to give you such a system for building your Internet business. There are only 4 steps…
1. Decide What You Want To Do. Do you want to run an eBay(R) business? Be an affiliate marketer? Buy and sell reprint rights? Get involved in niche marketing? While all of those things will likely find their way into your plan in time, you gotta begin with one thing at a time.
My recommendation: Choose a “broad” topic you are interested in and begin building a list of folks interested in that topic.
2. Determine A Weekly Action Plan. After you decide what you want to do, it’s time to determine how to get it done. What I do is this: I create a weekly set of action steps. That is, I have a set of things I do on Monday, on Tuesday, and so forth. Decide how many hours (as little as ONE) you want to work each day and schedule yourself a reasonable amount of things to get done in that time frame. Repeat this process week after week.
My recommendation: Begin writing ezine articles to promote your list … and affiliate programs. It’s the easiest way to get free traffic and build your list at the same time.
3. Devote Yourself To Staying On Schedule. The important thing here is to stick to it. The easiest way that I know of to make certain you develop discipline in your schedule is to NOT set unrealistic expectations. Give yourself ample time to do each day’s action step – don’t overschedule. Look for progress along the way to celebrate. Reward yourself when you’ve reached a milestone. And, remember, you’re GROWING a business. Just like physical growth, it takes time … it WILL happen if you remain committed.
My recommendation: Weave in simple activities related to the following categories – List building (ezine articles), product creation(conduct interviews or hire ghostwriters), site development (making your site convert more visitors into buyers),and education (continuing to learn new ways to grow your business).
4. Develop Additional Shortcuts. As you get better and better at working with your lists, creating products and tweaking your site, you’ll want to continue to improve your business with new ideas, strategies, tools, and resources. The key is simple: never stop learning!
My recommendation: Visit forums. Read articles. Download reports. Identify sites and resources that CONTRIBUTE to your success in educating you. You want faster results, bigger increases, automated processes, and other ways to get more accomplished and more profit, with less work involved.
Everything depends on your developing a plan and sticking to it.
And that is the REAL secret to building a high-profit Internet business!
Believe it or not, there is a tremendous “operations manual” that you can download right here at SR Zone to help you create a plan that works for YOU. Check out “Homepreneur Habits: How To Run A Successful Home Business ” by clicking here http://tinyurl.com/5uj72e You’ll learn all the tools you need, how to setup your work space and how to create a day-by-day schedule of recommended activities to start and grow your business.
By Jimmy D. Brown of “Small Reports Fortune”
46,094.
That’s how many times I’ve been asked “Where can I find
hot product ideas to write about in my next eBook?”
Really. I’ve been keeping count. 
)
OK, so it’s probably not quite that many times, but you get
the idea.
I get asked that question a LOT.
And so, I’ve decided to share my favorite “idea hangouts”.
That’s right … “idea hangouts.” It’s been my experience
that there are specific places where hot product ideas are
always gathered. I call them “idea hangouts.”
*** Idea Hangout #1 ***
One of the “idea hangouts” that I’ve identified is
Amazon.com.
Amazon.com is the web’s largest bookstore.
It’s also a community center for new product ideas. I use
it as one of my top brainstorming resources. Again and
again I visit this site to come up with topics to write
about.
What makes Amazon.com so useful as a research tool for
getting new ideas is their searchable database of books.
There are thousands of great ideas lurking in there if you
just know how to use it.
And that’s what I’m here for. )
I’m going to show you how to find hot product ideas with
Amazon.com anytime you want.
It’s really a matter of three simple steps …
STEP 01 : >>> Decide Upon A Broad Category. When
brainstorming ideas, you must begin with a broad category
to work with. Some examples might be: weight loss,
marketing, dating, travel, baseball.
So, you need that ahead of time. Figure out a broad subject
that you know is popular (I.E. You know that losing weight
is ALWAYS going to be a popular subject, as is “making
money.”).
As an example for this article, I’m going to choose GOLF.
STEP 02 : >>> Search Amazon’s Database. After picking
your broad topic to research, it’s time to visit Amazon.com.
Specifically, you’re going to SEARCH their database of
books they are selling.
Upon arriving at their site, locate their SEARCH form. At
the time of this writing, it was in the upper left hand
corner of their main page. Pull the menu down and select
BOOKS from the options.
In the space provided, type in whatever broad category you
chose. I’d type in “Golf”. (You don’t need quotation marks)
If you did indeed start with a broad category, then hundreds
(or even thousands) of book listings should appear as a result
of the search.
STEP 03 : >>> Brainstorm Ideas From The Listings. Let the
brainstorming session begin! Now it’s time to look at the
books that are listed and write down as many possible ideas
as you can find.
Look for the different TYPES of books written about the
subject, identifying different THEMES, STYLES and
SUBCATEGORIES.
Let’s look at an example …
When I searched for “Golf”, I was able to immediately spot
dozens of great ideas. Here are a handful …
1. Becoming a better golfer. There are many golf books
available in this area, covering everything from “A-Z of Golf
Shots” to specific topics such as “Improving Your Short
Game.” There were lots of different themes from “learning
to break 100” to “shaving 10 shots off your score” to “7
shots that will change your golf game forever.”
2. Guides to Golf Courses. Again, we have many different
ideas here. Specific golf guides like “Florida golfing”,
“golfing in Tennessee” and “golfing the Robert Trent Jones
trail” appear, as well as books on “the best golf courses in
America,” “best kept secrets: great golf courses you’ve
probably never played,” and “golf vacation guides.”
3. Profiting from Golf. More ideas pour in with “opening a
golf repair business,” “becoming a golf retailer,” “learning
how to caddy” and “buying & selling used golf clubs.”
What about “running an online golf auction”, “organizing a
golf tournament for profit” or even “writing information
products about golf!”
4. Golf and Business. There are millions of dollars in
business deals negotiated on the golf course every single
year. And there are books available to teach folks how to get
it done. “How to negotiate business deals during golf
outings,” “Legal golf tax deductions for businesspeople,”
and “business seminars and golf: how to mix training and
fun for maximum profit” are just a few more ideas worth
exploring.
5. Golf Products. My, my, my there are so many ideas
floating around in here! Everything ranging from reviews of
the latest golf equipment to ratings of golf courses to
discounts on golf packages. Resource guides to finding the
best deals on golfing products, how to negotiate discounts,
and how to find the best products for your specific golf game
also come to mind as product ideas.
One Broad Category (Golf)
+ Amazon.com Searchable Database of Books
= 28 Potential Product Ideas
See how easy that was? I found TWENTY-EIGHT potential
new product ideas (and there were MANY MORE that I
didn’t mention in this article) from a simple brainstorming
exercise using ONE “idea hangout.”
There’s got to be a best-seller in that bunch somewhere.
And certainly with a little “mix -n- match” I can come up
with a hit product with these ideas.
Not bad, eh?
So, now it’s YOUR turn. It’s a simple system for coming up
with product ideas anytime you want.
Like right now.
…………………….
Jimmy D. Brown is the author of “Small Reports Fortune” – if
you can write 7-15 page small reports, you can earn a living
online working just a few hours each week from your home.
Look for his EXCLUSIVE formula “Creating A Six-Figure Income
With Small Reports” at http://tinyurl.com/5ljaxm
…………………….
By Jimmy D. Brown of “Small Reports Fortune”
……………………………
I’m an observer. I watch marketers and how they work.
I look at how people respond to marketing. And I’ve
discovered something interesting over the years that I
want to share with you as it relates to building your
internet business.
Hot topics and trends come along regularly. There’s always
a new “in” thing making an appearance on the radar screen.
And whenever there’s a new rage, there will be marketers
who jump on the bandwagon.
That can pay off big for YOU if you’re smart.
Let me explain.
What happens when a new trend or technique or tool surfaces?
*** People begin to talk about it.***
Marketers begin convincing people why they need it.
Consumers tell their stories. Discussions take place. Hype
builds. Sometimes controversy breaks out. An education
process unfolds.
Through it all … DEMAND increases.
Now, here’s where you come along.
You piggyback on the popularity of the latest big hit by
creating a small report on the topic. You get the benefit of
other marketers creating hungry leads for your offer without
them even knowing it.
Let me give you an example -
EXAMPLE
When John Reese released Traffic Secrets it was a huge success.
He sold over a million dollars worth of product in one twenty-four
hour period. However, at a $997.00 asking price, it was out of reach
for many consumers.
But…
What if YOU had decided to write a 15 page small report entitled,
“Free Traffic Secrets” and offered it for $20 … do you think
you would have had any takers? Of course!
Why? Because every marketer on the planet was talking about
the need for web site traffic so they could build interest in
John’s course. They were creating hungry leads for your offer
without them even knowing it.
All of these marketers expertly and persuasively pointed out
the necessity, benefits and usages of getting web site traffic.
They, in essence, would have created demand for the TOPIC of your
small report.
1. Many of those that couldn’t afford John’s high-ticket product
would likely buy your small report because the end result of
getting site traffic was something they had been told repeatedly
they needed!
2. Many of those who could afford John’s high-ticket product would
also likely buy your small report because of the same reason AND
they would like to know what you might offer differently than John.
Do you see how powerful this is?
Even as I type this lesson out, I have received DOZENS of emails
today announcing a new co-registration product that everyone’s talking
about.
I could spend a few hours this evening writing a small report on
the same topic and sell it like crazy tomorrow because of everything
that’s being said about the subject today.
So, what’s the lesson for you to learn here -
**The surest way to create a hot-selling small report is to
pick a topic related to that which everyone is talking about.***
You know, it doesn’t matter what “market” you’re in, chances are you see
the same kinds of outbreaks that I see in “internet marketing” circles …
* Major product launches
* New technologies and tools
* Fresh research
* Innovative features and improvements
* Ground-breaking news
* Hot topics of discussion
* Best-selling books
* Interest-grabbing magazine articles
* Emerging trends
The list could go on and on, right?
It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that you need to monitor what’s going
on around you, specifically looking for the latest topic everyone’s talking
about.
You can do this by regularly browsing 4 trend and event “hot spots”…
1. Active Forums. Find at least one ACTIVE forum related to your market and
regularly visit it to look for ideas. Keyword here is “active”. The ideal
forum will have a number of participants who regularly post messages.
2. News Feeds. You can begin with Google.com’s news center at http://news.google.com.
You should also look for a news feed or site that is specific to your field
of interest. For example: I regularly visit http://ChristianHeadlines.com to
stay on top of events related to some of my Christian sites.
3. Article Directories. Spend a few minutes at your favorite article directory,
focusing specifically on the NEWEST articles posted and the TOP RECENT articles
read. I regularly check http://goarticles.com.
4. Competitor’s Lists. You’ll also want to “spy” on what your competition is doing
by joining their lists. When a major competitor begins highlighting certain
topics in their content (I.E. “articles”) and / or releases or promotes a specific
product, it’s a good indication that you should pay attention.
All of these things allow you to capitalize on the current buzz!
Create small reports based on these buzz-worthy topics.
…………………….
Jimmy D. Brown is the author of “Small Reports Fortune” – if
you can write 7-15 page small reports, you can earn a living
online working just a few hours each week from your home.
Look for his EXCLUSIVE formula “Creating A Six-Figure Income
With Small Reports” HERE
…………………….
7 Great Ideas For Your Next Ezine Article
Posted by: | CommentsBy Jimmy D. Brown
Writing ezine articles is one of the best business-building activities you’ll ever invest time in on the Internet. They can be used in dozens of different ways to generate web site traffic, build lists, brand your name, earn affiliate commissions and produce sales of your products and services.
They are, unquestionably, a vital part of any successful Internet marketing campaign.
By now – if you’ve read anything in the member’s area – you know I’m a big believer in writing ezine articles. And you know that I’ve devoted many of the lessons in the member’s area toward teaching you how to write, distribute and market with them.
Yet there still remains a lingering question -
WHAT should I write about in my ezine articles?
I want to share with you some brainstorming ideas that will allow you to easily come up with a couple dozen (or more) hot ideas for your upcoming ezine articles. I’m going to briefly share seven (7) fill-in-the-blank article starters along with a brief explanation to help you get started writing attention-grabbing content.
When you’re ready to write your next ezine article, consider one of these not-yet-overused formulas…
01. What To Do When [Enter Problem Here]. The idea with this article is to offer a solution to an existing problem by matter-of-factly addressing the issue being discussed in the article. “What To Do When You Need To Lose That Last 5 Pounds” points out a problem many dieters face and hints that the article will reveal a method for overcoming this barrier. This article’s pointed style makes it a sure read.
02. Can [Enter Solution Here] Help [Enter Problem Here]? Similar to number one above, this article poses a question while emphasizing both the problem and potential solution. What really works here is to ask a “curiosity-building” question by providing a solution that doesn’t seem to fit with the problem. For example: If you’re trying to re-grow hair on your balding head, could you resist reading, “Can Cheerios Help Thicken Your Hair?” I don’t think so.
03. Should You [Enter Activity Here]? (Take This Quiz). People love quizzes. They especially love to see how they measure up in some area that they are particularly interested in. That combination makes this another ezine article that gets a lot of views. “Should You Quit Your Job And Start An Internet Business? Take This Quiz!” is going to attract every dissatisfied, looking-for-greener-pastures, internet marketing wannabe on the block.
04. 7 “Must Ask Questions” for [Enter Activity Here]. This is a perfect article for the entry-level beginner in any particular field. “7 ‘Must-Ask’ Questions for First-Time Homeschoolers’ When Choosing Curriculum” is just about a guaranteed read for all new homeschooling moms and dads who don’t want to blow it for their kids. (Note: The “number” of must-ask questions can be whatever you choose.)
05. 3 [Enter Topical Adjective Here] Lessons from [Enter Pop Culture Reference]. By using references to popular culture events, characters, television shows, news stories and trends, you’ll be able to get some cheap mileage from existing “hot buttons” of the general public. I recentl wrote an article entitled, “3 Word-Of-Mouth Marketing Lessons From the Academy Awards” that garnered a lot of interest. Guess when I released it? Yep, a week before the big awards show.
06. Mastering [Enter Topic Here]: How to [Enter Tutorial Statement Here] Part 1. This is a superb article idea for a series of related tutorials. The word “master” is a bit overused at times in marketing circles, but it means to “become an expert” at something or to “achieve dominance” over something. Who wouldn’t want to “master” their activity of interest? That’s why “Mastering Weight Loss: How To Shed 12-15 Pounds in 30 Days, Part 1″ and other articles in its mold make for much-read content.
07. What Kind of [Enter Desirable Object Here] Is Best For YOU? We all want what’s “best” for us, don’t we? “What Kind Of Internet Business Is Best For You?” indicates there is something revealed in the article that will allow me to determine which of the options available to me is best suited for me. This is a really solid article to point others towards additional resources (such as special reports, mini-courses, etc.) where they can get specific information about which of the “options” mentioned in the article is most interesting and compatible with them.
So, there you have some great ideas to get you started on your next ezine article.
You know you’re going to write ezine articles, so would you like to get a LOT of completely free traffic with them? Check out “How To Get Free Traffic With Ezine Articles” by clicking here . You’ll learn a powerful (but easy) way to get a lot of visitors to your website by using your ezine articles in a special way … all at no cost to you.
Looking for a Business School?
Posted by: | CommentsHere are Tips on Finding the Best and Ditching Whats Not…
Whether you are a parent scouting for the best schools in town to educate your business professional wannabe, or a student on the lookout for the first rate business schools, it is important that the right choice be made. And to be able to make the right choice, you should be able to tell which business schools offer the best training curriculum and facilities.
A good school can be measured by the alumni it has produced, the programs it can offer, and, best of all, by the ranking that it gets from several survey bodies across the globe. If you only want the best, rankings can help you make the decision. There are rankings for the schools that are selective in their enrollment process, there are those who are ranked high because they constantly procure awards from business institutions, and there are those who are recognized for their contribution in the business community.
Who does the rankings for these business schools, anyway? Practically everyone and anyone. There are surveys that are being conducted (mostly annually) and the best schools are rated by several people. Now, just how important are rankings anyway? Are these enough to prove that the top schools that you are scouting are reputable or that they provide quality set of courses?
Keep in mind that most of these schools already have proven track records in providing the best quality of business education and producing choice graduates. The only difference that rankings or accreditations make is reputation. Once a university gets a certain label on its name, then you are assured that their faculty, resources, facilities, and curriculum have all passed a definite criteria on quality.
If you are still confused on which school to choose, then it’s time to assess your goals on your career. These career objectives should coincide with the values that certain schools offer (not to mention that they have the specific program that would suit your needs). Once you narrow down your career choices, then the number of schools on your list would automatically be limited.
To further trim down the number of schools on the list, it’s time to consider the location and your budget. Full-time MBAs, of course, cost more and take longer to finish. There are business schools that offer executive and part-time programs on this. Remember that you are not looking for a low-budget program. Instead, keep in mind that you are looking for a school that provides a good return on your investment.
If your list remains long, then it’s time to consider the schools’ service department on career. Do they really produce good results? With more hits to any particular school, then it would mean that their graduates and MBA holders are hired more than the competitors. Receiving any form of scholarship would also greatly influence any potential candidate’s choice of school.
Most of the top business schools (especially those that are constantly ranked to be one of the best) have world class services, that is why it is best to prepare well before embarking on their entrance examinations and grueling interviews. Only the best of the best are accepted on the top business schools (especially the Ivy League)—the la crème de la crème; so expect the best and prepare for the worst!
Tips on Choosing a Business School
Posted by: | CommentsSome people enroll in a business school just for fun, for leisure. Some say it’s for experience, for others career advancement is their reason. Other professionals would say going to business schools is required for a possible job promotion. Peer pressure is also one, “My friends are enrolling in a business school so I’m going to join them too.” No matter what the reason may be, choosing a business school may affect your career or lifestyle. It is imperative that we analyze the business schools first before you enroll, this will help determine your future career.
The website of The School of Management at the University of Dallas in Texas provides the Top 100 rankings of Business Schools. Business Week also features B-Schools page in their site that presents Business School Rankings and profiles. Bschool.com also gives out International Side by Side rankings of the best Business Schools. About.com can also help you in identifying top business schools for grads and undergrads. We may use the database of these sites to track down credentials if a Business School of your choice is really worth your time, money, and effort.
Before you spend money for the enrollment, isn’t it wise if we will examine first the profile of the school and consider some important aspects? Here are some guidelines to light your path.
* Degree
Does the Business School your eyeing for offers a degree that you want? There are even several options whether you would like to take a 2-year or 4-year program. If the degree that you wish to take is not in the list then look for another school, don’t waste your time in a school where your chosen degree is not offered.
* Cost
Can you afford the tuition fee and other possible expenses? Next thing that you will consider is the cost of your enrollment, is it worth your money? If you are really dying for that school and don’t have enough budget you can apply for a part-time job for an extra income before the enrollment. In this case, you can gather more funds by saving for your tuition fee. You’re lucky if you don’t have a problem with the budget but it doesn’t end there…
* Future
Consider the graduates of the school if they are achievers or successful in their fields. Most likely, the products of that Business School reflect the capability and excellence of the school. If you know a graduate of that school, have a little chit chat with him and get some feedback or bits of advice. After all, your goal is to obtain a brighter future right?
* Curriculum
Request for a curriculum and study it carefully. Is it broadly focused like a general program for business administration or is it narrowly focused meaning there are areas of specialization? Which program works best for you? If you are more on production, then choose a curriculum that is specialized in production.
* Facilities
Isn’t it more convenient to study in a school equipped with great facilities, classrooms, libraries, and other buildings? This will add up to the school’s competitiveness and degree of professionalism.
* Schedule
Does the school offer a more flexible class schedule? Does it only have one day fixed schedule? Know what is best for you. Do not choose a class schedule that overlaps your other work activities. You do not want to run in late always do you? You can only serve one master at the same time.
* Faculty
Get to know the faculty staff of the school. Are they morally upright? Are they also academically outstanding with masteral degrees and achievements in their own fields? Consider those instructors that you will encounter, are they worth your time? You should be able to learn a lot from them that will be beneficial for your growth personally and professionally. The teachers should be dedicated enough in teaching othewise you’re just trashing money and wasting time on them.
* Dignity or Reputation
If you can afford to enroll in a prestigious Business School then do it. There are sites that you can visit, as mentioned a while ago, to determine the high ranking business schools. Bear in mind also that not all top-ranked Business Schools have good reputation. Enroll in a school that is and was not involved in any malicious or unethical scandals, this way the dignity and integrity of the school is preserved.
* Student Feedback
Sometimes, reading thorugh the brochures and official websites of these schools are not sufficient if you are a bit reluctant about the credentials of the school. Interview some students and get reactions from them. Based from their comments was the school good enough for you or are you not satisfied with what you heard?
There you go folks! Those are just some of the factors that you should watch out for in choosing a Business School. Keep in mind that you hold your future, no matter how perfect and how outstanding your Business School is if you don’t strive for better perfromance, it will all be wasted. The abovementioned are only standards or criteria that will guide your way but in the end, it all depends on you.
Your Property Taxes And A Property Tax Auction
Posted by: | CommentsIf you fail to pay your property taxes when they are due and continue to avoid paying them, you stand a good chance of accumulating penalties and interest. After a given amount of time, the county office can place a lien on your property. If you continue to avoid paying the property taxes, you home can succumb to the auction block. This can be done even if you owe an outstanding mortgage on the home. You or someone else is going to have to pay the outstanding balance owed on the property taxes. It is always best to pay the taxes, but if you do not, an auction can take place.
How the auction works is the county decides you have had ample time to pay the property taxes and you have made no effort to do so. They will then notify any lenders of intent to auction your property to recoup the taxes monies owed. Once the process starts, you still have time to save your property before the day of the auction. If you have the resources, you can apply monies to the delinquent property taxes and have your property taken off the auction block.
Once your property is deemed delinquent in property taxes, the county will add this information into the file with other properties that are going up for auction as well. Once this procedure starts, there is only one way to stop it, you have to pay the taxes and have it taken off the list. You will have to pay the penalties and any interest that has accumulated over the years. When you have a receipt stating payment has been made, your property is then safe from auction and you retain ownership.
If you do not pay the property taxes, the auction will go as planned. People sign up to participate in a property auction and are allowed to view information about the property before bidding starts. Many bidders will search the title to see if there are any other lien holders on the property in question. Even if you are a mortgage holder, your property can be auctioned off. The legalities of a mortgage are more intense then the auction itself. The county will put a minimum limit requirement on the property to recoup as much of the tax owed as possible and allow bidders to bid accordingly. Once some wins the bid, you have a new situation to handle.
Chances are, the winning bidder has searched the title and now knows who the mortgage lender is and where to reach them. The winning bidder does have a stake in the property and now it is a matter of obtaining the property from you as the owner in a legal sense. This is procedure is going to be lengthy and costly in some cases. You are wise to contact a property tax attorney before you let this matter get this far, because you will have more problems now than you had before with just owing property taxes.
Virtual Office Assistance
Posted by: | CommentsAre you a small business owner? Are you overwhelmed by your never ending to-do list? Are you weighed down by time-consuming busywork? Then a Virtual Assistant may be just what the doctor ordered! Simply put, a Virtual Assistant is an off-site employee or independent contractor that provides administrative and other support services electronically. If you loathe the artificial socialization of a corporate workplace, or listening to the dull details of your co-worker’s life story, then a virtual assistant may be right for you.
Virtual Office Assistance is the profession of Virtual Assistants. Virtual Assistants are business owners that specialize in providing administrative support to other business owners on a regular basis. Virtual Assistants work remotely from their own offices and use the internet, phone and fax machines to communicate with their partners.
A Virtual Office Assistant’s support is generally administrative, and clerical in nature. However, well versed Virtual Office Assistants also offer additional specialized services. For instance they may specialize in creative writing, bookkeeping or other professional services.
Although Virtual Office Assistants may come from a wide range of business backgrounds, the most important qualification to becoming a Virtual Assistant is at least five years of administrative experience in the real or non virtual world working in upper level capacities such as administrative assistant, executive assistant, secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, office manager, etc. It is from this experience that a VA gains the necessary skill set and training required to be a justly qualified Virtual Office Assistant.
Although a Virtual Office Assistant may be paid a higher hourly rate then a regular employee the cost is actually substantially less. VA’s are considered independent contractors therefore they pay their own employment taxes saving you money. In the end if you are overwhelmed by your to-do list and are looking for a simple solution to help your small business then a Virtual Business Assistant may be right for you.
Click here to find out more about Virtual Office Assistance and how virtual office assistance can save your small business time and money. Kim Beckers is the owner of KimBeckersServices.com she has over 12 years of experience in virtual bookkeeping and office administration.
