In any kind of business, marketing is such an important tool in the growth and development of a business or any kind of financial venture.

For this reason, even with the technology that covers online businesses, still, it need highly revolutionized and very effective marketing strategy in order to boost their productivity and sales.

Basically, since the advent of the Internet, people started to flock this new medium of information without even knowing its fundamental principles, how it works, things that are needed to survive in it, etc. Many people literally bombarded the Internet thinking that life would be a lot easier if they will invest on online businesses.

Indeed, it is a well-known fact that you can find money online, but only for those who know their way around and employ the best marketing strategy there is online.

What people do not know is that online marketing does not have to be very complicated. It just needs the right stuff to keep you going.

Take for example the use of mailing list, particularly opt in list. Before, no one ever dare to use opt in list thinking that it will not do any good for their business. Most entrepreneurs think that building an opt in list is just a waste of time and money. What they do not know is that, according to the “golden rule of the Internet,” money is in the list.

It has probably been mentioned before, and is worth mentioning again, money is really in the list. 

Why? Because with opt in lists, you get to keep your readers on the hook by providing them with information, promotion, and other campaigns in order to entice them to buy again from you.

Basically, opt in lists are lists of email addresses of customers with their consent. This means that after the customer had closed the transaction in a particular web site, there is an option on whether or not they wish to subscribe to the mailing list of the online business for any future promotions, newsletters, or campaigns that they would like to be informed of.

And because it is an option, the customers are not compelled to provide their email addresses to the web site. Plus, the web site owners will not be accused of spamming because emails that will be sent to the customers have the consent of the customer.

Creating an opt in list can be very beneficial to your site. In fact, it has been proven that in the two-step concept of selling, follow-ups are important to sustain the interest of the consumers. The other step is to obtain the interest of the buyer.

Hence, in order to sustain the interest of your buying public, it is best to create an opt in list so that you can always give your buyers the chance to remember your products, your business, and your services, in which they have been satisfied with.

To know more of the advantages of creating an opt in list for your business; here is a list that would tell you the reasons why it is beneficial.

1. Opt in lists are the business’ most valuable asset

If you were to ask the owners of some online business about their most valuable asset, they will tell you that it is their opt in list. This is because opt in lists are customers’ lists that can provide higher probability sales in a more consistent and stable condition. Because with opt in lists, all you have to do is to follow up orders or sales through promotions and ad campaigns.

2. It is always available

The best thing about opt in list is that it never grows old. As long as your customer needs something to survive, your contact with them will never grow old. This means that you can always have a fresh, new transaction wit them every time you inform them that you have new products or services. Every transaction is a new way of increasing your sales. Simply put, no opt in list = no sales (at the most).

3. Bigger opt in list would mean bigger profits

The more customer’s names and email addresses you have on your list, the more chances you have in increasing your online sales. Every name, every email address can be worth a hundred dollars that can be accumulated with each transaction

Hence, the bigger your list, the more money you will have.

Boiled down, opt in lists are not just ordinary mailing lists. It is the very core of an online business’ existence and survival. That is why for people who value most their businesses, they extend the same value they give to their opt in list. No wonder why most people regard it as the best partnership available online.

Summary:

School quality is always a concern for relocating parents. In a world where a good education is increasingly important, many parents even base their final decision about home choice on the reported quality of the schools in various neighborhoods.

Here in Florida, the state’s A+ school reporting plan is supposed to give parents an easy way to compare schools with one another at a glance, but many question whether the system really reflects the situation accurately. When th...

Keywords:

Florida School Grades, Tampa School Grades, Florida Schools, Tampa Schools

Article Body:

School quality is always a concern for relocating parents. In a world where a good education is increasingly important, many parents even base their final decision about home choice on the reported quality of the schools in various neighborhoods.

Here in Florida, the state’s A+ school reporting plan is supposed to give parents an easy way to compare schools with one another at a glance, but many question whether the system really reflects the situation accurately. When the Florida Department of Education released the school grades for 2007 a couple of weeks ago, there seemed to be more confusion and controversy than information in the published reports.

If you were a parent trying to decide where to relocate, you’d be understandably confused by the newspaper reports announcing the gains and losses over the preceding year. In Orlando, the papers announced that school grades had taken a nose dive. In Palm Beach, they reported that there were dramatic improvements – and crushing drops. In Tampa, the papers admitted to confusion over exactly what the school grades were measuring, but reported a general dissatisfaction with the entire system. When the professionals are confused about what school grades mean, how can parents be expected to make an informed choice?

How School Grades are Determined

Under the Florida education system, school grades are based on three major areas:

- the performance of the school as a whole on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in Reading, Math and Science at specific grade levels

- the improvement in grades of students in the school in Reading, Math and Science on the FCAT over the previous year

- the improvement of the lowest performing 25% of students in Reading, Math and Science in the FCAT over the previous year

In addition, in order to receive any grade above an F, 90% of the school’s students must take the FCAT. In order to receive an A, 95% of the students must take the FCAT. Schools receive points on a scale of 0-800 based on those factors, and are assigned a letter grade based on those points.

The system was originally instituted in 1999. In that year, 78 schools received a failing grade and another 600 received a D. Only 13% of the schools received an A rating. The state’s school grades overall have trended upward each year, with a couple of exceptions.

In the intervening years, the standards for receiving a passing grade have been changed three times, each time tightening the requirements to “raise the bar”. Each time that the standards have been tightened, the results were predictable – more schools failed than in the previous year and a percentage of schools found that their school grade had dropped from the year before. In nearly every case, those grades were recovered over the next year as teachers and students adjusted to the new material they were required to know.

The most recent adjustment to the grading system took place this year. For the first time in the 2006-2007 school year, the performance of students on the Science portion of the FCAT was taken into account in grading schools. Predictably, as has happened both other times that students had to meet higher standards, there are more schools than last year with F ratings, and a number of schools received lower grades than they did last year. If you take the comparative numbers against last year’s figures without adjusting for changes to the grading system, it certainly appears that the schools are losing ground in the fight to educate our children.

If you take a longer view, though, the picture is far different. In 1999, only 13% of all Florida schools received an A rating. In 2007, that figure increased to 52% - despite the fact that the standards are much higher than they were just eight years ago. In 1999, nearly 50% of all Florida schools received a C rating. This year, that figure is 17%. The percentage of D rated schools went from 24.5% to 8%. The only figure that has remained unchanged is the F rating – with approximately 3% of Florida schools receiving an F rating.

Even so, both parents and educators – and in many cases students – have serious concerns about the way that schools are graded, especially in light of the consequences of lower grades for schools. Many parents who have children in the lower graded schools are bewildered – they see that their children are being taught by teachers who care enough to work with them after school and push them to learn more. Teachers express concerns that they are forced to “teach the test instead of the children” – and in many cases to do so without the equipment and supplies necessary to teach effectively. These concerns aren’t unique to Florida. They mirror controversies and conversations that are being held in nearly every state across the nation.

Through all of this, though, two facts stand out. The first is that accountability is a vital part of the public education process. There must be some method of measuring whether the schools are doing their jobs of educating children. The system that we’re using now may be flawed, but it does provide an overview of a school’s progress toward improvement, and it allows for adjustment and improvement of the system itself to measure more accurately. It allows the state to pinpoint schools and regions that need assistance in meeting standards so that resources can be focused there.

The second fact is also undeniable. Since 1999, Florida schools have shown marked overall progress toward meeting the standards of education set forth by the state. Here in New Tampa, every one of the elementary schools received an A rating this year, despite the higher standards, and not a single school was rated an F.

While the current system may be flawed, it does provide a starting point for parents looking for school information. Parents who want a deeper look can access the school’s full report card at the FDOE’s web site, and use the time-honored methods that parents have always used to decide on a school for their children. Schedule an interview with the school principal. Talk with neighbors in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Learn about the schools on a personal level. The more involved you are in the process, the easier it becomes to make an informed choice about your children’s education.

Summary:

General Motors problems are deeper than financial. A dilution of brands has not helped and the automaker must distinguish its brands in order to compete successfully in today's market.

Keywords:

Exhaust flow, magnaflow catalytic converter, mangaflow muffler, GM, General Motors, Hummer, Pontiac

Article Body:

Throughout General Motor's post World War II history, the company has managed to sell various products across its entire line up, thereby offering visitors to its showrooms a wide variety of models. This custom of "brand dilution" was an acceptable practice at GM, Ford, and Chrysler for several generations, but the practice has had its pitfalls.

More...The cost of rebadging models to cross the entire GM spectrum is much more than you might think be. No, I am not talking about the price of slapping a different name on various models to market them under different brands, instead I am talking about the "cost" to the brand: the consumer's perception that there isn't anything uniquely sold with that brand.

I, for one, am okay with General Motors keeping all of its brands, but I would like to see the company distinguish each brand from one another. Only Saturn and Cadillac seem to have a clear identity, with Pontiac and Buick being little more than divisions carrying rebadged versions of other GM cars. Chevrolet, with its broad line up, partially escapes the brand dilution problem but it is often their models which eventually migrate to Buick and Pontiac to be sold as rebadged versions of Chevy vehicles.

Word has it that now GM's niche division, Hummer, may also branch out. This would be unfortunate as it is the brand's "nichieness" which gives it an edge.

Here are my suggestions for GM: Keep Cadillac going as it is; don't mess with success. Distinguish Buick as a true "near luxury" marque...the Lucerne and LaCrosse are both good sellers, but consider bringing back the Regal...yes, you read it right to spark interest.

Pontiac needs real excitement...invest in the GTO and really make it go. Drop all minivans, SUVs, and concentrate simply on sporty models. Chevrolet absolutely needs the Camaro. Also, a potent Impala along the lines of the Dodge Charger would be a big help. Is it too much to ask for an exciting Malibu?

Saturn must keep tapping its Opel relationship in order to affordably distinguish itself from its American counterparts. The SKY is a hit, the new Aura looks hot and the upcoming VUE replacement looks like it'll sell well.

Leave Hummer alone. Not everyone can or should be able to afford one! GMC will probably plod along as reskinned Chevys. GM could consider dropping GMC and ramping up Chevrolet trucks as the real world leader that it is.

Saab. Pity poor Saab. Neglected and almost not worth keeping. Still, if GM allowed Saab to thrive as Ford has given Volvo plenty of autonomy, then Saab could also make a difference for the general.

I doubt anyone in Auburn Hills is paying much attention to my words. For GM's sake, I do hope that they are examining this whole brand dilution practice closely and will put something into practice to get the world's number one automaker moving again.

There are many reasons that so many people prefer shopping online now, as compared to going out to the stores in order to purchase their items. This is no different for individuals that are interested in playing sports, including those who are interested in the game of golf. Children who play golf and are interested in the game are referred to as youths, and they require junior equipment. This is because the equipment that they need to use will be built slightly different, since the bodies of children are hardly the bodies of grown adults. Junior online golf equipment can be purchased for children that are interested in the game, and by being online this enables the parents and/or child to benefit from convenience, cost effective measures, efficiency and effectiveness. For most, this is what they want out of every shopping experience. When it comes to junior online golf equipment, with the proper amount of research anything can be possible for the individuals interested in this particular venture.

One of the biggest benefits to considering junior online golf equipment is that many people will be able to save time. While sports stores in the mall are only open for a specific period of time, stores in the virtual malls on the internet are open twenty four hours a day. This means that even if an individual works late, or early, they will still be able to find some time to purchase junior online golf equipment. This saves the individual time, in that they do not need to wait for a specific hour in order to go and purchase the necessary materials. However, it also saves time since the individual will not need to drive out to the store.

They can access the items from their very own home computer, as long as it is connected to the internet. Saving money through saving gas is also a great benefit when individuals invest in junior online golf equipment as opposed to purchasing junior golf equipment at stores. When a person drives less, they use less gas. Gas has been fluctuating in price, but sometimes the price can be very expensive and individuals try to cut corners when they can, when it comes to driving. As a result, while an individual may have to pay shipping for their junior online golf equipment, they will not have to pay for the gas in their car that would have afforded them the trip to the physical mall.

Saving time, energy and money are all very important to consumers. In the end, many people prefer to buy junior online golf equipment because of the convenience that is offered. Sometimes there are also additional benefits, such as being able to preview more selections when it comes to the style, size and image visualization on the junior online golf equipment that is being considered for the child. By being able to offer so many advantages, it is no wonder that online shopping has been able to get so popular with consumers. No matter where in the world one is located, they are still able to use the internet in order to purchase the best possible pieces of junior online golf equipment.

Some people believe that when the weather starts getting colder and the

leaves start to fall, it is time to put away the gardening tools and wait

until next spring to work on their garden again. Wrong. Winter is an

important time to maintain your garden's health and assure yourself a good

crop for next year. You may think that might take to long to prepare your

garden, but the truth is that it takes less than one day to prepare your

garden for the upcoming winter.

When the nighttime temperatures drop to less than forty-five degrees

Fahrenheit for more than four days in a row, or frost is forecasted for

your area (usually around late October or November) you know its time to

begin preparing your garden. You should begin by evaluating your garden

design, check which plants grew well in the past season, and which plants

did not do well. Fall is a good time to decide which plants will remain in

you garden next year, and which ones should go.

It is also a good time to decide which new plants you want to grow. To

make your garden more colorful and healthy, be sure only to plant the more

hardy plants during the fall so that they can withstand the winter. Some

plants that will do fine being planted in fall are: rudbeckia, Aster

Novi-belgii, Anemone Japonica, panicle hyandea, endive, escarole, and

Brussels sprouts. You can find all of these and more in gardening

magazines or your local nursery.

After you have finished this you should begin cleaning up your garden.

Begin by pulling out weeds that may have cropped up, and raking fallen

leaves. Weeds and rotten leaves can carry insects and diseases that might

be harmful to your garden. You should also rid your garden of spent annual

plants, and harvest your vegetables and other plants that cannot withstand

the winter weather. After fall has come and gone, the leaves will be off

your trees and you can see the rotten branches. Trimming off the unwanted

branches from your trees isn't necessary to your gardens health, but may

help later on by not dropping branches on your plants and not blocking too

much of the sun.

If you have younger trees you should consider wrapping them and supporting

them with stakes to help them survive the winter wind and cold. Putting

mulch over your garden for the winter can be a helpful way to protect

plants from sudden temperature changes and heavy snow. For mulch you can

use about five inches of shredded bark, pine needles, or a variety of

other materials. You have to be careful not to mulch too early, because

some insects may still be alive and able to take shelter in it for the

winter.

Once you are finished with your gardening tools you should clean them and

make sure they are in a safe place where they won't rust and you know

where they'll be for next year. Before winter comes you should always set

out slug repellent, as slugs are one of the worst bugs to have in your

garden. If you have a pool or fountain in your garden, be sure to take out

any fish that you have in them and bring them inside. There’s nothing

sadder than a fish frozen in a block of ice.