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Small Business Association NT, Helping Small Business In The NT

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If you are looking for a business that can be highly profitable, easy to operate and can offer an element of fun, then you've found it

September 30th, 2008 by admin

If you are looking for a business that can be highly profitable, easy to operate and can offer an element of fun, then you’ve found it - Adventure Golf.

Due to the increasing demand for Adventure Golf in the park environment, Western Log Group has now started to operate the attractions with major players in the Industry. WLG has five profit share schemes operating in Legoland Windsor, Playgolf in north London and the Butlins holiday resorts in Skegness and Minehead. Butlins Bognor Regis will be receiving one later this year. Each of the attractions are operated and maintained by the parks themselves and offer a perfect solution of a new attraction with no actual capital spends. The course is constructed and financed by Western Log Group with a profit share agreement with the client to tie in the loose ends. When the course is operating the revenue is shared between the two parties.

Mike James, leisure sales director at WLG, explained: “The concept of adventure golf is increasing in popularity and offers a great family attraction that the whole family can enjoy. We started to fund the attractions to prove to clients that our secondary spend attractions are truly worth the investment!”

Family entertainment has always been a popular industry and continues to grow. Providing a venue for family and friends to meet and have fun has always proven beneficial and profitable. To aid profitability, an adventure golf course needs to be carefully planned and constructed. Taking advantage of the extensive experience of Western Log Group is the best way to start. Apart from the fact that owning a miniature golf course is highly profitable, it is also a great business.

A Miniature Golf business is enjoyable to own and operate.
As customers arrive, they are looking forward to enjoying themselves, and this good atmosphere is inherent throughout miniature golf courses, enjoyable lighthearted fun-filled places to work and play.

Providing entertainment and fun is highly profitable.
A well-built course can pay for itself inside the first 1-3 seasons. Therefore, having a proven market leader like Western Log Group on your side is extremely important. Long-term profitability requires ensuring that you have a well-built facility supplied. Poorly built facilities will require frequent expensive maintenance, eating into your profit.

It is therefore a false economy not to invest in quality products such as the exceptional design and service that Western Log Group offer, ensuring a successful and profitable business for you. If you are interested in discussing a joint venture project please contact Mike James to discuss on 01639 896715.

For further information please contact the Sales Team on 01639 896715 or visit www.westernloggroup.com

Western Log Group has been involved in the timber industry for over two decades and is amongst the UK’s leading suppliers of high quality timber cabins for personal and business use. The company can also boast an extensive portfolio of bespoke developments in the leisure and play industries having provided playgrounds and themed attractions to some of the top names in the business. Our new Doors and Windows operation can provide you with the finest selection of hardwood products.

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12 Web Copywriting Tips To Increase Subscriptions

September 29th, 2008 by admin

It is not important the amount of browsers you generate to your website, if they do not buy anything, then you don’t earn any money. So here are a dozen web copywriting tips to enhance your subscriptions…

But before I go into the essentials, why subscriptions? Why not just push for a sale? That’s an excellent question. Here’s my reply: Studies have shown that merely an exceptionally tiny percentage of prospects to your website purchase on their original visit. In fact, it calls for just about 7 subsequent selling before they actually purchase something. It is, thus, critical you secure your prospect’s email address to follow up later on.

Now that you get the why, let’s advance to the how. Follwoing are the web copywriting tips to increase sign-ups:

1. Always, always keep your forms as concise as achievable. Any information you don’t require at that moment in the conversion process, do not ask for it. Concise forms convert higher than lengthy forms… whenever.

2. If you need a lengthy form, split it into concise pieces but not more than 5 tiny steps. In my own test, I found breaking up long forms into concise forms enhance my sign-ups by roughly 5% but when it hits 6 portions, people be inclined to leave the form possibly assuming it is never going to conclude.

3. If you definitely ought to make use of long lengthy forms that splits into greater than 5 portions, use a progress bar to let them know at what time they can conclude the form…

4. If there are any data that are not crucial but would be helpful to acquire (for analytics ), say to your visitors it’s optional.

5. Mention your privacy policy extremely obviously in your form. If you obtained paid assurance services ( such as BBB), confirm you flaunt their assurances.

6. Eliminate that “clear” button if you still possess one because people don’t typically fill in lengthy forms using erroneous information. What people every now and then do, is press the wrong button, erased every single one of the information, gets annoyed and go away cursing you for leaving that button there. Hence unless you’re looking ahead to other creatures than people to complete your form, it’s best for your sign-up rate if you get rid of it.

7. As for your “submit” button, dub it differently. Use phrases such as, “buy immediately to get your report whithout charge” or “Yes! Hand me my free e-book!”

8. Plus do not use regular buttons, utilize vectors as your buttons to seize additional awareness.

9. You want to ensure visitors know your form is there and the 2 techniques I advocate to achieve that are: utilizing a unique background color for your form or use illustrations to catch attention.

10. If you do utilizing notice to invite notice to your forms, make sure the graphics are applicable to your web copy.

11. Lastly, build it as easy for your browsers to complete the form as doable. Don’t lay constraints on the way they should write their information. For example, I come upon a number of forms that needed me to answer my address in a particular format. Naturally, it pisses me off when they did not tell me which format they want. And by the way…

12. If you do want a specified format, put in plain words what you want and why!

Want more copywriting tips? Then you should defintiely check out some of the killer web copywriting secrets I share here.

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Why beauty salon business cards are critical for your success

September 28th, 2008 by admin

There is a lot of comment on how business is occurring on-line these days. However, there is still a place for beauty salon business cards cards in the real world.

In fact not having a business card is a sin if you want to progress in your industry. There are so many opportunities to give your card to potential customers or future business partners that your beauty salon business cards should be the first thing you put in your wallet.

Making the most of your beauty salon business cards, here are our top 10 tips:

  • Promote other companies you do not compete with by swapping your beauty salon business cards. You help promote them, they help promote you.
  • Put your beauty salon business cards on local community message boards in shopping centers, local libraries and community halls.
  • Enlist your family and friends to help you promote your business by giving them a supply of business cards to hand out.
  • Ensure your customers always have a card to hand by attaching a business card to your invoices
  • Speak to companies that do not compete with you but share similar customers, suggest you swap business cards. You can promote them and they can promote your beauty salon business.
  • Hand out your beauty salon business cards to other business people at local business functions and meetings.
  • When sending out promotional material in the post, always attach your business card to the brochure or leaflet.
  • If your business has a distinctive logo, make sure the logo is prominently displayed on your business cards.
  • Put your business cards in your jacket, wallet, purse, car, office, home, drawers, by the phone… never be without a business card
  • Your beauty salon business cards should be clear and concise, do not use fonts that are difficult to read.

While you must have your business cards in the real world, one of the best places to find beauty salon business cards is on-line. We have found offers that include the following features:

  • 250 free beauty salon business cards, only pay for shipping and handling
  • Choose from 42 designs online
  • Design your card and proof your card online
  • Your beauty salon business cards delivered by post to your door

Business cards represent one of the best value marketing tools a person or company can use to promote their services. This is even better value if the cards can be printed at no cost.

Select your business cards on-line so next time you meet potential business partners you will have a ready supply of sample beauty salon business cards with you.

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Why catering business cards are crucial for your success

September 28th, 2008 by admin

There is a lot of comment on how business is happening on-line today. However, there is still a place for catering business cards cards in the real world.

In fact being without a business card is a sin if you want to make it in your industry. There are so many openings to give your card to potential customers or future business partners that your catering business cards should be the first thing you put in your pocket.

Our top 10 tips for making the most of your catering business cards:

  • Promote other companies you do not compete with by swapping your catering business cards. You help promote them, they help promote you.
  • Put your catering business cards on local community message boards in shopping centers, local libraries and community halls.
  • Make use of your family and friends by giving them all a supply of business cards to give out to their contacts.
  • Ensure your customers always have a card to hand by attaching a business card to your invoices
  • Speak to companies that do not compete with you but share similar customers, suggest you swap business cards. You can promote them and they can promote your catering business.
  • Attend your local chamber of commerce meetings and hand out your catering business cards to other business people in your area.
  • When sending out a marketing brochure to your customers, attach your business card.
  • If you have a distinctive logo for your business, make sure the logo is prominently displayed on your business cards.
  • Put your business cards in your jacket, wallet, purse, car, office, home, drawers, by the phone… never be without a business card
  • Your catering business cards should be clear and concise, do not use fonts that are difficult to read.

While you must have your business cards in the real world, one of the best places to find catering business cards is on-line. We have found offers that include the following features:

  • 250 free catering business cards, just pay shipping and handling
  • 42 designs on-line to choose from, in many color schemes
  • Design your card online
  • Your catering business cards delivered to your home or office

Business cards represent one of the best value marketing tools a person or company can use to promote their services. This is even better value if the cards can be printed at no cost.

Select your business cards on-line so next time you meet new business partners you will have a ready supply of sample catering business cards with you.

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Why craft business cards are vital for your success

September 28th, 2008 by admin

There is a lot of discussion on how business is happening on-line these days. However, there is still a place for craft business cards cards in the real world.

In fact not having a business card is a sin if you want to progress in your industry. There are so many opportunities to give your card to potential customers or future business partners that your craft business cards should be the first thing you put in your wallet.

Use your craft business cards to maximum effect, here are our top 10 tips:

  • Speak to local businesses, agree a referral fee if you receive any leads from placing your craft business cards you place in their office reception.
  • Promote your business locally by placing your craft business card on notice boards in local public buildings, shopping centers and community halls
  • Enlist your family and friends to help you promote your business by giving them a supply of business cards to hand out.
  • Make sure you attach your business card to your invoices so your customers always have a card to hand.
  • Find other companies that do not compete with you but share similar customers, ask to swap business cards with them. You can promote them and they can help promote your craft business.
  • Hand out your craft business cards to other business people at local business functions and meetings.
  • When sending out a brochure to your customers, attach your business card to the brochure.
  • If your business has a distinctive logo, make sure the logo is prominently displayed on your business cards.
  • Always have your business cards in easy reach wherever you go.
  • Your craft business cards should be clear and concise, do not use fonts that are difficult to read.

While you need your business cards in the real world, one of the best places to find craft business cards is on-line. We have found offers that include the following features:

  • 250 free craft business cards, just pay shipping and handling
  • 42 designs on-line to choose from, in many color schemes
  • Design your card online
  • Your craft business cards delivered to your home or office

Business cards represent one of the best value marketing tools a person or company can use to promote their services. This is even better value if the cards can be printed at no cost.

Select your business cards on-line so next time you meet potential business partners you will have a ready supply of sample craft business cards with you.

Posted in Newsletters | No Comments

Why day spa business cards are important for your success

September 28th, 2008 by admin

There is a lot of debate on how business is conducted on-line today. However, there is still a place for day spa business cards cards in the real world.

In fact being without a business card is a sin if you want to progress in your industry. There are so many openings to give your card to potential customers or future business partners that your day spa business cards should be the first thing you put in your wallet.

Use your day spa business cards to maximum effect, here are our top 10 tips:

  • Speak to local businesses, agree a referral fee if you receive any leads from placing your day spa business cards you place in their office reception.
  • Promote your business locally by placing your day spa business card on notice boards in local public buildings, shopping centers and community halls
  • Make use of your family and friends by giving them all a supply of business cards to give out to their contacts.
  • If you attach your business card to your invoices your customers will always have a card to hand if they need to call you.
  • Promote other companies you do not compete with by swapping your day spa business cards. You help promote them, they help promote you.
  • Attend your local Business Networking Internernational (BNI) meetings and hand out your day spa business cards
  • When sending out promotional material in the post, always attach your business card to the brochure or leaflet.
  • If you have a distinctive logo for your business, make sure the logo is prominently displayed on your business cards.
  • Put your business cards in your jacket, wallet, purse, car, office, home, drawers, by the phone… never be without a business card
  • Your day spa business cards should be easy to read, do not use fonts that advance difficult to read your name.

While you will use your business cards in the real world, one of the best places to find day spa business cards is on-line. We have found offers that include the following features:

  • 250 free day spa business cards, just pay shipping and handling
  • 42 designs on-line to choose from, in many color schemes
  • Design your card and proof your card online
  • Your day spa business cards delivered by post to your door

Business cards represent one of the best value marketing tools a person or company can use to promote their services. This is even better value if the cards can be printed at no cost.

Select your business cards on-line so next time you meet potential business partners you will have a ready supply of sample day spa business cards with you.

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The importance of freelance business cards

September 28th, 2008 by admin

Why freelance business cards are vital for your success

There is a lot of dialogue on how business is conducted on-line today. However, there is still a place for freelance business cards cards in the real world.

In fact not having a business card is a sin if you want to make it in your industry. There are so many opportunities to give your card to potential customers or future business partners that your freelance business cards should be the first thing you put in your wallet.

The top 10 tips for using your freelance business cards:

  • Promote other companies you do not compete with by swapping your freelance business cards. You help promote them, they help promote you.
  • Put your freelance business cards on local community message boards in shopping centers, local libraries and community halls.
  • Give your business cards out to family and friends so they can help promote your business.
  • If you attach your business card to your invoices your customers will always have a card to hand if they need to call you.
  • Speak to local businesses, agree a referral fee if you receive any leads from placing your freelance business cards you place in their office reception.
  • Attend your local Business Networking Internernational (BNI) meetings and hand out your freelance business cards
  • When sending out a marketing brochure to your customers, attach your business card.
  • If you have a distinctive logo for your business, make sure the logo is prominently displayed on your business cards.
  • Always have your business cards on your person wherever you go. You never know who needs your services.
  • Your freelance business cards should be easy to read, do not use fonts that advance difficult to read your name.

While you will use your business cards in the real world, one of the best places to find freelance business cards is on-line. We have found offers that include the following features:

  • 250 free freelance business cards, only pay for shipping and handling
  • 42 designs on-line to choose from
  • Design your card online
  • Your freelance business cards delivered to your home or office

Business cards represent one of the best value marketing tools a person or company can use to promote their services. This is even better value if the cards can be printed at no cost.

Select your business cards on-line so next time you meet new customers you will have a ready supply of sample freelance business cards with you.

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What’s In It For You? Being “Selfish” In Your Joint Venture Partnership

September 27th, 2008 by admin

Joint venture marketing, also known as JV marketing, has become a very popular way for businesses to maximize their exposure in the marketplace, as well as their profits. When two or more businesses combine their resources, contacts and clients in a synergistic way, it has the potential to create a larger marketing impact, and greater profits than either entity has the capacity to create on its own.

Put your needs first – even if you are a new business

When entering into a new joint venture marketing partnership, you are creating a relationship, and one that may potentially be a close, profitable and long-term one. Given this, it may be tempting to look at the partnership from the perspective of your partners to be sure that their needs are being met and that the deal is fair to them. This is important, as people who are not being offered a fair deal are unlikely to be happy with the long-term relationship.  But, the first thing you must ask yourself and have a positive answer for is, “What’s in it for me?” It is essential to secure a fair and profitable deal for yourself and your company.

If you have just started a business, or are new to the practice of joint venture marketing, it may be tempting to think that you should accept a lesser deal because your partner is “doing you a favor” by deciding to engage in a partnership with a novice.  This is the time to be selfish! Do not undermine your potential or sell yourself short by getting into a partnership that doesn’t offer equal benefits to you. If you accept a deal like this, it has the potential to backfire down the road for a couple of reasons:

  • Your partner may develop an undervalued perception of your company
  • It may affect your partnerships and profits down the road
  • You may not be enjoying your fair share of joint revenues


Don’t set precedence for lowered profits

When starting a new joint venture marketing partnership, if you accept a lower percentage of profits or of advertising space, this tends to set a precedent where your partners may then expect you to continually accept a lesser deal. And if this sort of thinking continues, it has the potential to breed resentment on your part and affect your professional relationship with your partner, but it may also affect the future of your bottom line and company profits.

If you are new to the market or new to a business, you have just as much to offer as an established company. They may have a larger and more grounded client list and more experience, but particularly with the climate of Internet business, it is vital to offer something new and cutting edge.  You may benefit from their expertise, but they will benefit from your fresh ideas and perspective.

Keep in mind that you may not have the same things to offer as your partners, but you have just as much value to bring to the venture. It is fine to look out for yourself and the interests of your company, and probably a good way to embark on your joint venture marketing partnerships. Being “selfish” doesn’t entail being unfair or rude - simply keeping the interests of your business at the front of your mind, which is exactly what your partner will be doing for his or her own company!

Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing & Consulting firm empowering business owners to discover and implement Integration, Alliance, and Joint Venture marketing tactics to solve specific business challenges and increase profits. To read more articles related to Joint Venture Marketing, please go to his Joint Venture Blog Site. He can be reached at christian@synertegic.com

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Need help finding a 3rd party credit card processor?

September 26th, 2008 by admin

Finding third party creditcard processors is one of the critical things you will need to do for your e-commerce website. Without a merchant account you will be unable to process payments efficiently which will gravely slow down your orders.

If you desire accept credit card orders fast and effectively on the web you will want to choose a 3rd party credit card processor. There are a number of alternatives for you to consider. Most will charge a start up fee and a portion of each sale. Unlike common merchant accounts, most third partycredit card processors don’t charge a monthly fee and some can be free apart from the per-transaction cost. Here’s a site listing third party credit card processors. Let us examine some of the frequently used ones:

Paypal is one of the most third party processors. One of the causes for this is the fact that they do not charge a set up payment. It is also straightforward to place on your website. Pay pal gives informative directions for this and will also offer subscription and shopping cart alternatives for your customers. It is commonly used but is also has problems. There are limitations on certain countries with paypal. This type of processing is good to initially start with but try to have an alternative one as backup for your buyers.

World pay has a small start up fee however it is good for worldwide companies. It offers the same services as paypal.

Another option to third party credit card processing is to obtain a full blown merchant account and accept card orders in the name of your company. This will take more time and could involve different fees such as monthly gateway access fees. The decision as to whether or not to get a full merchant account or use a third party solution is just a question of crunching the numbers.

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Small Business Credit Cards: Do They Help or Hurt Your Business?

September 25th, 2008 by admin

One of the common financial instruments small businesses often use is a business credit card to keep things moving forward. Small business credit cards actually carry several advantages with it, such as having a ready source of funds for your businesses, used at a moment’s notice. You'll have a much easier time keeping track of your business expenses when using the credit card. Small business credit card companies will offer many features to help make doing business easier in order to encourage you to use the card more often. It is very possible to get a low interest business credit card if your company has a good credit rating.

 

However, like any other business decisions made, it is good to know the possible disadvantages of using business credit card so you can make informed decisions in selecting the best business credit card. The biggest problem small business owners have is mixing business and personal finances. This is a very common problem among small business owners. In most cases, lenders often require owners to sign a personal liability agreement before they issue a small business credit card. As a result you may find yourself taking on more debt then you originally wanted. In this case, your personal fortune hinges on business success. How can you stop this? Be responsible the business credit card. The keys in achieving this are to keep your expenses low and adhering to payment schedules so as to avoid getting your credit out of control.

 

Another disadvantage of business credit card is the possibility of employee abuse, such as using it in making personal purchases. Avoid this scenario by limiting their access to business credit cards and have proper documentation and tracking every time purchases are made.

 

It is also good to manage your small business credit card by having a credit agency track every transaction and make them your partner in building good credit scores. Shop around for the best rates and terms to get the best business credit card for your business. Know that business credit cards also carry higher interest rates compared to personal credit cards, so place emphasis on getting a low interest business credit card.

 

It is also important to remember that lenders also offer less protection when you make purchases with this type of financial instrument, even small business credit cards. In essence, private customers can easily dispute any purchases reflected into their credit card statement. This is not always the case for business credit cards. With this in mind, always be discriminating when you decide to use credit cards for company expenses. You as a small business owner can easily use business credit cards to its highest potential while limiting its pitfalls to virtually nonexistent with good spending management and good decision making.

 

If you are a business owner and want to know how to get low interest business credit card? Then please visit http://www.buildingmybusinesscredit.com, a web site dedicated to building your business credit.

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