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Should You Add a Photo to Your Business Card?

The most important decision when designing your business card will be whether to add your photo. While some experts say definitely no, others say definitely yes. Only you can make the right decision for your business cards. Here are some considerations to think about as you’re deciding how to make the most of business card printing techniques that includes a photo.

How will you use your business cards?

Will your cards be distributed on their own, sitting out on a counter or desk somewhere? When will you hand them out? And what kind of person will receive your business cards?

If you try to get new customers by pinning your business cards on bulletin boards, a photo will help people feel like they know you already and will make you seem more trustworthy. If you hand out business cards to customers that come into your store and know what you look like, then you obviously don’t need a photo. You can use the space that would have been used for a photo to give additional contact information or to list business hours.

The purpose of your business cards pertaining to who you give them to most often will help decide whether to include a photo. If you only hand them out to prospects, including a photo can be a smart way to help them remember you.

Here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to put your photo on your business card.

Photo Pros

Photos can build trust in industries that require it like counseling or real estate. Seeing a friendly face on a business card can remind the recipient about your professionalism and the fact that you aren’t afraid to put your face on your business card. You aren’t hiding anything with a photo on your business card!

Photos can also be helpful if you set up meetings over the phone or email before meeting a client in person. This helps the person find you in a restaurant or wherever you’re meeting. Photos also help people avoid awkward introductions if you have a unisex name like “Kris” or “Alex.”

Photos don’t have to be of your pretty face – you can use a photo of your product or service or a small before-and-after illustration. Photos add color and interest to an otherwise boring business card.

Photo Cons

On the other hand, a photo can date you – your hairstyle or clothing could show that you haven’t printed new business cards for years! The impression given of an old, dated business card is that you don’t give out many business cards so it might make people not want to work with you if you still have business cards from five years ago.

People are judgmental and giving them a photo of yourself before you meet gives them time to come up with preconceived notions about you. This is human nature, but it’s a risk you need to be willing to take if you put your photo on your business card.

Most business cards with photos on them have professional-looking headshots that can be expensive. Take into account how much it will cost to have a professional headshot taken as well as the additional cost of printing a photo on your business cards.

The author is affiliated with a company that offers business card printing

Why I Eat I Eat So Much Last Night?

If you are asking yourself why I eat so much at night, I have some answers for you!

It is time to start with a damaging admission, I have failed at many diets. From Overeaters Anonymous to Weight Watchers, Slim Fast and Body for Life just to name a few.

At what time of day did these diets fall apart?

Nighttime

So what is the reason this happened again and again?

I am going to list a few of the main reasons why this happened and then we can search for solutions. We all know the beginning of the answer is in recognizing the problem. So the good news is you are half way there.

Top 3 Reasons why many of fail in our diets at night:

1. Too few calories during the day
2. Emotional low point = low willpower
3. Sugar cravings that gain momentum throughout the day and explode at night

How a low carb diet solved these issues for me

The beauty of a low carb diet is that it is not low calorie. So having that steak for dinner or the chicken with the skin meant that I had plenty of calories in my body. My body did not feel deprived so it gave my appetite a rest.

Most of our emotional issues at nigh with our diet is from eating lousy foods that we never would be caught eating if we where not on a diet.

Sugar cravings go away after about three days on a strict low carb diet. How many times was there one cookie that ended up in the whole box being eaten?

Was this my only secret that has helped me?

No!

What really helped was some writing I did that summarized exactly what I needed to do to win at my diet plan.

Would you like to get a copy of my summary?

Then just click on low carb nighttime.

This is your chance for a free low carb diet plan.

Hot Air Balloon Ride In Maine – A Great Vacation And Travel Destination

There are all kinds of vacation activities in Maine, but one of the best and most unique is taking a hot air balloon ride for an aerial tour of the area. The best place to take a hot air balloon ride is in Kennebunkport, Maine. Everything beautiful about New England is so obvious floating among the clouds. If you are afraid of heights then a hot air balloon ride is not for you, but if you don’t mind heights then you will be overcome with the beauty you see from the basket.

There are several hot air balloon providers that can take you up, but before you book you should talk to past customers or read some reviews. The reason why is that taking a hot air balloon over Maine is such an amazing experience that you don’t want to risk running into any problems. So, if you read reviews about the different operators you will have a better chance of finding the best operator for you.

Remember that a full afternoon before sunset or else a couple hours at sunrise should be allotted for your balloon ride because there is no exact time for the tour. Balloons go as fast as the wind takes them, or as slow, so you should just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Know, too, that most balloons carry enough fuel to last for a couple of hours. There are several factors like weather, weight, and more that affect the length of the ride. Most balloon rides occur between 500 and 1000 feet off the ground, but sometimes hot air balloons will go even higher!

Most hot air balloon operators in Maine operate seven days per week, that is depending on the weather. Early reservations are important to make sure you have the day and time you want and weekend flights are the busiest. Weekday flights will give you more flexibility and you may be able to show up last minute and still fly. Remember that it is colder in the balloon than on the ground and a light jacket or sweater should be taken. Several people may go up in the hot air balloon, but generally the limit is four. You will want to talk with the tour operator to find out rates, schedules, and the like.

Hot air ballooning in Maine is gorgeous and if you go during September and October when the leaves are changing you will have a breathtaking experience like no other. Give hot air balloon rides a chance and you will likely fall in love!

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 6 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. Unknown-Creatures http://www.unknown-creatures.com

Getting Business Referrals the Easy Way

Referrals can be as important as any other customers. When people refer someone to you, there is a possibility that you can turn those referrals into customers straight away. Referral is seen as the back bone of marketing. Of course to get the referral system going smoothly for your business is rather difficult but not impossible. All you need is a network of people you can trust and try to get them to refer new customers to you.

Before you can request for referrals, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First of all, make sure that your business is a reputable business, not some crappy company promising everything and delivers nothing. When you can deliver results as promised to your customers, then you can request for referrals. This is because to get someone to refer people to your business requires them to try out your services beforehand. Therefore quality is most important when you deliver your services.

Secondly, make sure that you have some incentive for the referrer. You don’t expect them to refer people to you for nothing do you? There is no free lunch in this world, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay them cash for every person they refer to you. What you can do is offer them gift vouchers, discounts whenever they use your services and maybe other freebies you can think of as a way of gratitude. This is a way of saying “thank you” for referring those people who have become your customers along the way.

When you request for referrals, be sure to request in a polite way or friendly way. Do not sound as if you are pressuring them into finding people to refer to you. Some people doesn’t like to be a referrer but if you can keep their interest high, they might do it for you. Remember to keep a stack of business cards whenever you go so you can hand them to your potential referrer.

Having high quality referrals would be the best thing for your business. This is because you can expect more than half of the referrals to be your customers in the long run. Keep in touch with every one of them is definitely helpful too as networking is a need for marketing. You need to have audience for your marketing so start networking with people around you and those referrals.

Referrals don’t come easy when it comes to owning a business. It’s going to take time and there’s no magic switch when it comes to turning it on and automatically get referrals. As you may know by now as a business owner, getting new customers and referrals don’t come easy but you’ll soon find out that if you build a great brand and product, you’ll be so busy, you can’t keep up. That’s always a good sign. Make a great product, promote it a little bit and If people like it, you’ll be so busy, you can’t keep up.

Get credit cards for your business today with small business credit cards at FINDbizcards.com, where you can find even more of Tom’s work.

Ten Salzburg Travel Tips – What To See And Do In Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is one of Europe’s most popular cities. Although relatively small, (population around 150,000) it has an abundance of sight-seeing attractions and provides tourists with an inspirational combination of mountain views and historic monuments.

The city of Salzburg is located in the Salzburg region of Austria close to the border with Bavaria, (Germany). Its name means “Salt Castle” referring to the deposits of salt in the area that made the city wealthy as a centre of the medieval salt trade and its beautiful white castle.

Salzburg is an incredibly beautiful city that has many outstanding examples of both Romanesque and Baroque architecture. Everywhere you look you will see reminders that this city was birthplace of Mozart. His memory is preserved and celebrated in several museums and through regular musical events that take place in the city.

The following, top ten Salzburg travel tips are for things to see and do within the city itself. All of them can be easily reached without requiring any transport

1. Above all else, do not miss visiting the Salzburg Castle

Dominating the city, this magnificent, white, fairy-tale, castle is Europe’s best preserved and largest intact medieval fortress. It is the kind of place you want to look at from every possible angle. Walking in the narrow streets of the old town, you turn each corner hoping to be provided with yet another view of the majestic building sitting at the top of the overlooking Monchsberg rock. When you are walking the hills opposite the Monchsberg, you are treated to views of the castle across the valley (see tip 10 below). When you are walking around the Monchsberg itself you constantly look up at the mighty fortress walls, towering above you. From here and from the castle ramparts you are provided with spectacular views over the city and the surrounding countryside below. Inside the castle, the superbly organised tours reveal many fascinating features and historical facts from its origins in 1077 right through to the twentieth century wars.

2. The Salzburg Dom – the city’s cathedral

The cathedral is another great place to soak up the history of Salzburg. It was opened in 1628 on the site of earlier cathedrals, the earliest of which was built in 767.

3. St Peters Abbey

This Benedictine monastery is the oldest active monastery in Austria, dating back to 696 AD. It is located in oldest quarter of Salzburg and will provide many fascinating insights into the history of the city.

4. Getreidegasse – Salzburg’s medieval shopping precinct

Salzburg’s most fashionable shops can be found in Getreidegasse, a beautiful, medieval alley, almost a mile long, running the length of the old town. Even if some of the shops are overpriced, just strolling along the street is an experience not to be missed.

5. Mozartplatz – Mozart Square

This is the heart of the city and is dominated by a statue of the great composer. The statue is considered to bear only a poor resemblance to Mozart and reveals a glaring historical error inasmuch as it portrays him holding a pencil; pencils were not invented until at least twenty years after the time of Mozart’s death in 1791.

6. Mozart Birthplace

The house where Mozart was born in 1756 has been converted into a not-to-be-missed museum.

7. Mozart’s Residence

Not to be confused with the composers’ birthplace, this wonderful museum is to be found in the new town and is the house where the Mozart family lived between 1773 and 1780.

8. Residenzplatz and Residenz

The Residenzplatz is Salzburg’s largest square. It houses the fifty foot high, Residenzplatz Fountain, probably the most beautiful baroque fountain that exists outside of Italy. The Residenz itself was the residence of Salzburg’s Prince-Archbishops and is open all day for yet another not-to-be-missed place to visit.

9. Mirabell Gardens

The Mirabell Gardens is the place where the children in the Sound of Music danced around the statue of Pegasus singing “Do Re Mi”. The gardens belong to the Mirabell Palace that was built by an Archbishop in 1606 as a residence for his mistress and children! Today it is the office of the Mayor of Salzburg but parts of it are open to tourists.

10. Kauzinerberg

This beautiful hill reaches a height of 2087 feet but there is no need to walk all the way to the top in order to enjoy stunning views of Salzburg in the valley below. The beginning of any walk will take you past the six Stations of the Cross that were built in the early 18th century. The Capuchin monastery which is also on the lower slopes is most definitely worth visiting.

The author is a travel article writer and co-owner of the best-travel-tip website, which aims to provide travel tips and information about possible holiday vacation destinations worldwide

Using Solar Wind Energy is the Way to Go

Many people today have realized the dream of being completely off the grid by combining wind and solar energy. Small sized affordable wind generators are available today for the home user, and they are being combined with photovoltaic cells for power generation. It’s obvious that fossil fuel energy costs are going to keep on rising making it harder to afford getting power from the grid. The time is more than ripe for solar wind energy to be one of the solutions to rising energy costs, and to take us off of fossil fuel energy dependence.Wind Turbines

Wind turbines are actually very simple machines. They consist of 3 parts: rotor blades, a shaft, and a generator. The rotor blades act like a propeller that turns the shaft when the wind flows through them. The shaft then turns the generator and a current is generated. About eighty-five percent of all off-grid systems use solar wind energy.The new micro as well as mini wind turbines are very popular with sailors, and are now starting to be more popular with home owners in Europe and the UK. Mini turbines are very cost effective and will only cost about $1,500 to $2,500. They are perfect for generating electricity if you live off the grid in remote rural areas. It’s satisfying to think about having solar wind energy provide for all your energy needs and also knowing that you never have to depend on utility companies.Photovoltaic Cells

The typical home solar power system consists mainly of these:

a)Photovoltaic Panels

b)Charge Controller Module

c)Batteries (optional)

d)InverterPhotovoltaic panels convert sunlight into an electric current. The type of current generated by a photovoltaic panel array is DC or direct current. For this current to be usable in most common households, it has to be converted into AC or alternating current. That’s where the inverter comes in. It’s job is to convert DC into AC current.Solar wind energy systems are also called hybrid energy systems because the use a combination of solar and wind power to generate electricity. The wind turbines are mostly used during the winter months (in the northern hemisphere) when the sun’s vertical rays are mostly directed toward the southern hemisphere, and days tend to be short and cloudy. During summer months, photovoltaic cells would supplement greatly along with the wind turbine.By using hybrid solar wind energy systems, a homeowner has the option of using or omitting batteries for storage. Homeowners also have the choice of being “Grid-Tied” or “Net Metered”. This means that your solar wind energy system has the ability to provide electricity not only for your house, but the power company as well. This way, if your solar wind energy system generated more energy than was used, the energy can be sold back to the power company. When you’re selling energy back to the company, your power meter runs backward. The “net metered” system therefore is highly recommended. The grid also works as your “battery backup” when your hybrid solar wind energy system doesn’t provide for your power demands.Net-metered systems are also recommended because they are easier to install, cost less, and offer better performance.

Find out more about how you can save money with solar energy. We provide articles and ideas with many different products for all your needs. From home solar panels to entire home solar energy systems and even solar wind energy systems. The shift to alternative energies is happening now!

Why Your WHY Is The Secret Key To Success In Your Business

Truly dedicated business owners think differently. We have a powerful “why.”

Let’s be honest. You may not know all the “how-tos” but your “why” provides powerful momentum that prods you and every committed business owner to keep going. After all, a famous best-selling author I worked with for years once said to me, “’How?’ is always the weakest question.”

Even in those moments when you’re clueless about what to do next or when you face obstacles. You don’t need more how-tos. There are plenty of those in books. Your “why” and your passion pushes you from within. You probably couldn’t imagine living any other way. Your business isn’t something squeezed in around the edges of your life. It’s a central focus of your life.

After all, success for most of us isn’t about clawing to the top for a corner office and a closet full of expensive suits. Success is defined a little differently by every business owner. It’s about living life on your terms. Doing what you want to do when you want to do it.

Here’s how business owners with a powerful “why” think and act:

• When we sleep we’re re-charging our batteries for business.
• When we work out we might be brainstorming for business.
• When we jump in the shower we come up with great business ideas.
• While in the car on the phone setting up a meeting for our business.
• After we meditate or pray our head is clear for business.
• When we go out with our spouse or partner, we’re enjoying the fruits of our business and our results.

As a business owner, having a powerful “why” is essential to help you:

• Build momentum and move a lot of energy
• Keep your business on an even keel even when “life happens.”
• Grow and take risks, even when you’re out of your comfort zone.
• Develop credibility among your peers that you’ll be there for them.
• Find ingenious solutions when you don’t know what to do next.
• Make the law of attraction at work for you so the right people show up.
• Keep your enthusiasm and confidence level up even when things don’t go your way.

If you’re “why” has become fuzzy or unclear over time or your momentum has slowed, wouldn’t it be great to get back that spark, that belief in yourself, that “Yesssssss!” feeling?

One secret essential to the success of many business owners is participating in a MasterMinding group. A MasterMinding group helps you remain passionate, confident and connected to your “why.” These small groups of wise, dedicated business owners provide support, encouragement and a swift kick that increases your confidence and your belief in what you can achieve. And studies have proven over and over that people are attracted to people who are confident in both business and in our personal lives. It’s about mindset, confidence and great ideas frequently percolate, too.

I’ve been part of MasterMinding groups for over 16 years. They’ve helped me keep focused on my “why” and develop the confidence needed to do great things. We meet weekly and support each other in achieving our goals and dreams – and in ninety minutes magic happens. Your partners provide support and believe for you what you may not be ready to believe for yourself yet.

Are you:

• Dedicated to success but not as enthusiastic as you used to be?
• Working as hard as ever and not getting the results you deserve?
• Feeling unfocused and overwhelmed because you’re pulled in so many different directions?
• Ready to go to the next level with your business but you need a swift kick to motivate you to take the next step?
• Open to the idea of giving and receiving support as you increase your confidence and your belief in yourself?

Any goal that impacts you as a business owner you bring to a MasterMinding group. So, if you’re having a challenge with sales and getting new customers bring it to your group. On the other hand, if your health and fitness is impacting your business – discuss it with your MasterMinding group. After all, if your personal life isn’t working it will eventually impact your business results.

Martin Luther King said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Week-by-week and step-by-step a MasterMinding group can help you become your best self as a business owner and the person you always dreamed of. If you’re a wise business owner still committed to enjoying the success you deserve positive support and encouragement can make all the difference.

Denise Michaels is author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing” and Founder of the MasterMinding for Success® program. To discover more about how a MasterMinding group can help you achieve your goals and enjoy more time and money freedom go to http://www.MasterMindingforSuccess.com

Nokia Money Takes The Battle For Easy Payments

Panasonic Cell Phones No Contract have been in and out of battles with other No Contract Cell Phone companies for quite some time. In the middle of a silly battle for purchasers, the smartphone and cell phone corporations are doing everything and anything necessary to claim their place and keep their customers. Nokia cell phones have just commented they are going to be starting a money payment service known as Nokia Money.

Nokia Money will be the use of money totally through the users handheld device. These devices will allow users to send money to each other, pay their Nokia cell phone bill, pay a range of other bills and purchase items like museum tickets and concert tickets online, among other things. This can permit patrons to save money and time on going to pay certain bills and purchase certain items. It is very helpful for those in small town areas who simply aren’t near to the facilities us in the town are accustomed to. With Nokia Money these unswerving shoppers won’t have to travel solely to pay a bill or buy something for the future, instead they’re going to be able to do it from the convenience of their home or wherever they might be and can avoid the trouble they otherwise may have sustained.

The money is straightforward and secure to utilize and is there only for the advantage of shoppers, not to encounter charges or make things hard for patrons. It is innovative, creative and client friendly ideas like this that may really help cell phone corporations in such a competitive era of their industry. No longer is simply providing a handset enough. If the mobile devices are not rich in multimedia or business features then the companies must come up with other ideas. Or ideally, come up with cutting edge new phones and new paths to help customers. That is exactly what Nokia Cell Phones has done. They’re helping consumers, which may insure loyalty in the future but have also provided a service that many are not getting, something that a few individuals could be willing to switch service providers for.

This is a competitive market and people who don’t treat it as such will suffer. Nokia cell phones with their Nokia Money have likely made a sensible and creative call which will keep them on the inside track to greatness in the future. What will their next innovative phone concept be? That will need to wait till next time but judging by this it should be a something in the way of efficiency, always a robust suite for Nokia.

Cellular Phones versus Cordless Landline Phones

Before the mobile telephone but long after smoke signals, there were cordless telephones, a land line with a cordless handheld handset. Cordless telephone communications are conducted via radio waves passed between the base and the handset. Communications between these two parts can be very limited, with a complete loss of signals loss between different floors not an uncommon occurrence.

The base station itself is linked to a fixed telephone line like standard phones, drawing power from a wall outlet. It is this base station that continues to distinguish a cordless telephone from cellphones (which require no base station), regardless of the much increased technology of cordless phone units. These days one may can even find some cell phone-like features in corldess phones.

While they have certainly come a long way, in the beginning when cordless telephones first appeared on the market the devices were unreliable and rather expensive. Not only was the operational range rather limited with poor quality sound, but there was no real security or privacy because signals could be easily intercepted by other cordless telephones in the area due to the limited range of channels available. It took about 10 and a half years so that cordless telephones can become familiar household items, with the opening up of the frequency range to nine hundred megahertz heralding the arrival of DSS technology.

These 2 technical inventions took care of eavesdropping fears and cordless telephones took off as favored products. Though cellular telephones are pervasive and here for good, many still keep landlines in their houses for a number of reasons, and cordless telephones remain a viable market, with new models introduced fairly frequently. When selecting a cordless telephone, it is important to keep in mind security issues, for these phones are really just radio transmitters and thus susceptible to eavesdropping, though that does require a reasonably high level of technical know-how nowadays to do so successfully. In this regard, be certain to choose DSS technology, at the 2.4 gigahertz frequency at a minimum (any less impinges on security while any more cuts into battery power).

This brings us to the only other major issue: battery lifespan. Avoid nickel-cadium if at all possible; they will exhibit a so-called memory effect unless they are fully drained before recharging. Apart from these two issues, the rest of a cordless telephone’s features are completely up to personal taste.

Then Came The Rubber Stamp: Lucky For Us Hobbyists

Rubber Stamps have an interesting history for those who don’t know that they might have been inspired by dentures. Yes, it’s true: dental dentures! But now, some background, because Charles Goodyear had to discover the secret to vulcanization first. This is the process of “curing” the rubber so it can be molded as desired. Before Mr. Goodyear’s invention of the process of vulcanization, rubber — in its natural state — was practically impossible to work with.It is sticky and cannot stay set in any particular shape. But with vulcanization, rubber, once cooled, would stay in the very the shape of its mold.

Yet poor Mr. Goodyear did not benefit financially from his invention, though he was publicly honored by the Emperor of France, Napoleon himself, and recognized with many decorations. His invention, however, soon found many applications that changed the world. One of these was dentures. Rubber was deermed a great substitute material for the dentures of the day, which were often made of metal or even wood.Dentists customarily made their own dentures, and one of these many dentists had a curious nephew who realized the potential of rubber and eventually wound up manufacturing rubber stamps for the U.S. Postal Service. This nephew, a certain Mr. James Woodruff, is often credited with having invented the rubber stamp we recognize today. But there are, in fact, many different accounts of the origins of rubber stamps, depending on exactly how a rubber stamp is defined, with one even stretching all the way back to the ancient Mayans! This version just presented is among the most widely accepted accounts for the marking devices which we today would most immediately recognize as being a rubber stamp.

Another generally popular and widely acknowledged account of the invention the rubber stamp involves a Mr. L.F. Witherell, who went so far as to compose a document titled “How I Came to Discover the Rubber Stamp” wherein he claimed to have been inspired during work as a foreman at a wooden pump making facility. According to Mr. Witherell, there was a problem one day with the paint that was used to mark the pumps. The paint would run and hide necessary information underneath blotches. Mr. Witherell hit on the idea of creating stencils out of some thin sheets of rubber packing laying around. But while making his stencil, he decided to simply create thick letters out of the rubber, then glue them to a backing of wood, with which he could make repeated impressions of the necessary marks.

The account thought most unlikely concerns a Mr. Henry C. Leland, who was actually championed at the time by none other than the “Stamp Trade News,” published by a manufacturer of rubber stamps.But whatever its actual origins, there is no doubt that the rubber stamp itself has left quite an enduring impression on our lives.