Using search engines to connect with new local customers

Local Search Marketing provides you, the business owner, with the most targeted and cost effective customer acquisition opportunity.

Your customers are more and more often searching for businesses like yours on the Internet. Studies show that these customers have a serious buying intent. As a local business (online or off) you need to figure out how to cost effectively reach out to these “Local” customers and start the business relationship before your competition does.

Why should “local search marketing” be important to your business? The Kelsey research group found:

• 74% of households use the Internet as an information source when shopping locally.

• Approximately 45% of local searches had a buying intent.

• The percentage of respondents who used yellow page directories decreased from 75% to 62%. (If you have a yellow page ad, it is time to consider buying a smaller ad and shifting your marketing dollars to the Internet.)

As local business owners you need to take action now. You need to keep your existing customers, and gain new customers, so you need to be found where they are searching. Local Search Marketing is where your future clients and customers will come from.

So where do you start?

Most likely your customers will have a default setting on their computers and this will be set to one of these sites for search; Google, Yahoo, MSN or AOL. These search engines all index web pages and have some form of paid advertising referred to as Pay Per Click. This is fine if you have a website but what about many small and local businesses that have little or no web presence at all? And even if you do have a website, does it show up in the search engines above?

Okay, so what other choices have you got?

There are those folks, you know whom I am talking about, who will place you not only in a hard copy directory but also have services online. The challenge is in what the financial cost is, BIG, but hey, they have been around a long time and have deep pockets. The other issue is that they often advertise in the search engines and you will find them there BUT if you follow the link to them, you need to do your search all over again! What a pain.

There are other commercial "local search engines" and some of these are good value but many are not comprehensive. If there are only a few thousand businesses in a local directory most users will leave given the limited amount of content.

So what you need to do is use a search engine like Google and search for "local search directory", make sure you limit your search to the country you’re in. The results include Yahoo local search and a number of local directories. You should check these out and see what it takes to participate in the directories that make the first page of the Google search. By doing so, you’ll be able to get a feel for how they work and what is needed for you to get listed competitively

Get in on the action with great new listening devices

Are you the type of person who needs both listening devices and a way to view what is happening, too? Well, there is one called the Orbitor that can do both, and it is great for more than just covert operations. Let’s say that you are at a professional baseball or football game, and you just weren’t able to get good seats. Oh sure, you can hear the announcer, but you want to get in on the action a lot more than that.

Not only can you now get a great view of the game and see up close and personal all that is going on, but with the Orbitor, you can hear what is being said on the sidelines, or tune into that heated argument that is going on down on the field and know what is really being said. Good for up to three hundred feet, you can also use the Orbitor to experience nature like never before. Sounds and voices that might have been almost impossible to hear come in loud and clear. You can even listen to whale song that is happening way out in the ocean.

Do you need a discreet way to record voices from across the room? There are listening devices that clip onto your belt and are perfect for use with your voice recorder or video camcorder. There are also listening devices that are actually adapters and are great to use not only with regular, cellular and cordless phones but also hotel and motel phones. Once you plug it into your analog or digital recorder, and put the ear piece in your ear, you can record both sides of any conversation.

Guaranteed personal loans even after bankruptcy

Is Bankruptcy troubling you? Have you been discharged off bankruptcy and are now looking out for a financial succour? Don’t brood over your past credit history, as special loans are designed by our online lending institutions to cater to your financial needs after bankruptcy.

Do not despair, as help is available through online lenders who can provide financial support during these times of financial difficulty. Think wisely and carry out sound research online to find your best rates for loans after bankruptcy whatever be your purpose of loans, you can still seek help online.

Here is what you will need to obtain personal loans after bankruptcy.

• Collateral

• Debt Level

• Credit information

Presence of collateral: In case of a bankruptcy, you have to provide a collateral to secure a personal loan after bankruptcy. If you have sufficient collateral in the form of property or a car to offer, it will be much easier for you to obtain a loan. The chance of obtaining a loan reduces if you attach a collateral which is not sufficient. In case you obtain loan without collateral the chances are that interest rates will be higher.

Debt Level: How deep is your debt level? Are you too mired in debts? There’s a likelihood of loan rejections you are considered quite a risky case by the lenders. This is because too much existing debt makes lenders unsure of whether borrowers will be able to pay off the loan. Always match your income level to the debt level ratio.

Credit information: Usually, a lender looks at your credit score and determines his credit worthiness. Every lender has his own set of criteria, based on which a lender approves his loan. A minimum credit score is set by the lender and is used as a comparision tool.

Loans after bankruptcy!

Always compare various lenders and loan options before making an application. You make some good down payments on your bankruptcy loan you don’t get low interest rate, as home loans after bankruptcy lender will foresee risk in lending loans to a bankrupt. A good size down payment will offer sufficient credibility and assures the lender that his loan payments will be made on time.

You do need reliable references, for loans after bankruptcy in this case an experienced professionals greatly increase the odds of a successful bankruptcy experience. It's that simple. Once you are discharged of your bankruptcy, be completely honest and accurate regarding every aspect of your financial situation. This includes any changes in your income since your bankruptcy discharge should be reported which may occur throughout the process. Soon after your financial situation is assessed properly, a suitable personal loan after bankruptcy will be advised to you.

10 ingredients in weight loss pills

Looking for help with losing weight? Help that goes beyond the usual lifestyle changes, portion control advice and exercise routines? Weight-loss supplements touting names like "fat burner" and "thermo max" can be enticing. But do they work? And even more important, in the wake of the Food and Drug Administration's recent ban on ephedra, are they safe?

In this article, Environmental Nutrition provides a snapshot of 10 of the most popular ingredients currently in supplements for weight loss.

Chitosan

Made from the shells of lobsters, shrimp and other shellfish, chitosan is an indigestible fiber. It is supposed to help weight loss by binding with the fat you eat, blocking its absorption. However, studies do not support this claim. Side effects include constipation and gas. People with shellfish allergies should beware.

Chromium

Most often present as chromium picolinate, it has been promoted to boost lean mass and decrease body fat. Though study findings have been inconclusive, an analysis of several studies recently concluded that supplementing with 200 to 400 micrograms of chromium picolinate could result in about a 2.5-pound weight loss per week in some people. Other studies have found a loss of body fat and an increase in muscle tissue, with no change in weight. Still others have found no effect at all. Though some laboratory studies have raised safety issues, a large number of human studies suggest it is safe.

Citrus Aurantium (Bitter Orange)

This herbal extract is a natural source of synephrine (a compound similar to ephedrine) and the supplement industry's current answer to the ephedra ban. But there are no published studies to show it is an effective supplement for weight loss. And like ephedra, its side effects include an increase in blood pressure; Environmental Nutrition recommends avoiding it.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

Both animal and human research hints at a possible role for CLA in reducing body fat and increasing lean body mass, but it's not quite ready for prime time. None of the human studies have been long-term. CLA is currently being studied in combination with chromium picolinate. CLA is found naturally in dairy foods and beef and is generally considered safe.

Garcinia Cambogia

The extract from Garcinia cambogia fruit rind contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which supposedly curbs food intake, weight gain and storage of excess calories as fat. However, studies have failed to prove G. cambogia is an effective weight-loss aid. The most common side effects are upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Guarana

Caffeine is the effective ingredient in guarana plant seeds. Guarana may have a mild appetite suppressant effect over the short term. It was often used in combination with ephedra until ephedra was banned. The potential side effects are those of caffeine overdose—insomnia, restlessness, anxiety or panic.

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB)

HMB is a natural byproduct of the breakdown of the amino acid leucine. HMB supplements are used by body builders in hopes of increasing muscle mass. A few small studies have suggested that HMB increases lean mass and decreases body fat when combined with weight training. However, studies with overweight and obese people are needed.

Plantago Psyllium

Psyllium is a water-soluble fiber from Plantago ovato seeds. Taken before a meal, it may make you feel full, causing you to eat less. While it is proved to aid constipation (that's how Metamucil works), it has not been proved as an effective weight-loss aid.

Pyruvate

Pyruvate formulas boast that they stimulate metabolism and reduce body fat. Pyruvate is found naturally in food and in the body as a result of the breakdown of carbohydrates and protein. Some studies have shown a weight-loss benefit with pyruvate supplements. But the people in the studies also exercised and cut back on calories. Moreover, the dosage used in the studies was high, requiring a handful of tablets each day. Experts say the case for pyruvate to aid weight loss is weak.

Yerba mate

Brewed into a tea, bitter Yerba mate is high in caffeine. Used in combination with other caffeine-containing herbs, like guarana and damiana, it was found in one study to delay stomach emptying time and aid weight loss. The study was short (45 days), so conclusions on keeping the weight off cannot be made.

The Bottom Line

Though all are relatively expensive and none are proved, of these top popular weight-loss contenders, chromium picolinate and CLA are probably the most studied. If you've already made up your mind to go the supplement route, you might want to give them a try. Just don't expect miracles and check with your doctor first.

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Coffee hot and fast with an automatic espresso machine

For the passionate coffee lover – those who love their coffee pure and rich and strong - not much rivals the automatic espresso machine in terms of convenience. Whether you visit your local coffee shop where the air comes alive with the hiss and heat of steam or you invest in an at-home automatic espresso machine where you’re free to tinker with the perfect coffee recipe, the results are the same – the perfect cup of coffee and a very, very happy coffee lover.

The automatic espresso machine comes in two varieties; semi automatic and full automatic. Using a semi automatic espresso machine requires partial participation on the part of the user. Whoever is operating the machine must start it at which point the automatic espresso machine takes over. When the brewing process is complete, the user then shuts down the machine. The full automatic espresso machine does not require any operator participation. This is usually a larger and pricier automatic espresso machine due to its heightened complexity; but it brews completely on its own coordinating a system of water, grinders, and extractors.

Deciding which automatic espresso machine would best suit your needs depends on its intended use. For commercial use, a full automatic espresso machine makes more sense; there’s more space for a larger machine and the demand for multiple cups of espresso would make the need for heavy operator participation inefficient.

For at home use, a semi automatic espresso machine would be sufficient for private brewing. Its smaller size takes space issues into consideration and it is normally less pricey than its larger counterpart.

To find the model that works best for you, start your research on the Internet. You will be able to access thousands of consumer report records that will tell you which of the machines you are interested are performing the best.

Whether it’s in the local coffee shop – or in your home - an automatic espresso machine can readily brew the highest quality cup of coffee available.

Auto loan after bankruptcy - beware of shady lenders

If you have a recent bankruptcy but need an auto loan, you may be surprised at how easy it still can be to get approved for an auto loan. Because the bank can protect themselves by using the vehicle as collateral for the loan, it's much easier to get vehicle financing with past credit problems than it is to get a new credit card or another kind of unsecured loan.

There are many finance companies online competing for your business, to finance your vehicle. Just beware of unethical lending practices. People with bad credit are often prey to lending scams. Bad credit borrowers have fewer lending options than other borrowers and some finance companies take advantage of that fact. Here are 3 things to do to protect yourself from an unethical auto finance company.

1. Compare Rates Among at Least 3 Different Lenders Online - If you have 3 or more loan offers to compare, you are much less likely to take an offer from a lender who is charging excessive interest rates. If you have 3 or more interest rates to compare, you will have a good idea of what the average interest rate is that is being offered to people with credit problems for auto financing.

2. Get Financing Before You Visit a Dealer - If you are going to buy your car from a dealer, make sure you get your financing before you actually visit the an auto dealership. Dealers and lenders often make agreements to work together to charge the borrower a much higher interest rate than they could otherwise get by shopping around. If you have your financing ahead of time, you won't have to accept the financing they offer you there.

3. Apply With Reputable Lenders - If you are applying with lenders who are established and reputable, you minimize your chances of being taken advantage of.

Cheap car insurance for young drivers

Young drivers are viewed as being inexperienced drivers by car insurance companies; therefore, car insurance companies peg young drivers as being a high risk for them to insure. This doesn’t mean that car insurance companies won’t insurance young drivers, but it does mean that many car insurance companies will offer young drivers much higher premiums than the premiums often offered to older, more experienced drivers.

While it will probably be several years before young drivers see the lower premiums older drivers see now, there are still a few measures young drivers can take to get cheap car insurance. If you’re a young driver searching for cheap car insurance, take these tips into consideration.

Stay on your parents’ car insurance policy. Being on your parents’ car insurance policy is always cheaper than purchasing your own car insurance policy, even if it does bump their payments up a bit. Plus, if you have your own car, your parents’ will save money by adding the additional vehicle to their existing car insurance policy.

Take a driver education or defensive driving course. Most states require young drivers to take a driver education course in high school. Regardless of whether or not you’re required to take a driver education or defensive driving course as a part of your curriculum, you should take one, or both, of the courses. Many car insurance companies offer discounts to all drivers, including young drivers, for going the extra mile and learning safe and proper driving techniques.

Make sure your car is safe. Whether you have your own car insurance policy, or you’re on your parents’ car insurance policy, most car insurance companies will offer you a discount if you’ve taken the steps to make sure your car is safe. Install a safety alarm system and an anti-theft device on your steering wheel. Always keep your car locked and park it somewhere safe at night or whenever you’re not driving.