It’s a given that the postcard business is one of the most lucrative ventures today, be it the standard paper print process or the innovative approach of customizing and selling electronic postcards, marketing is an important component in selling your product. Below are tested tips for increasing your postcard marketing capability.
The cost and simplicity of postcards make it easy for customers to subscribe to the product, due to its continued popularity as an alternative means of communicating to others.
Market research has established that since it was first introduced in the 1870’s, postcards enjoyed the reputation of cult status as a means of communication, as people caught on the idea of making short notes or messages on the printed 3 by 5 –inch postcards.
At the turn of the century, the United States Congress passed a legislation allowing people to write notes on the postcards by providing for writing space and further caught on with the public and the demand for more postcards, especially with catchy and creative designs and cute notes printed on it, steadily rose with publishing and printing companies striving to meet up with public demand.
From an initial production of 770 million postcards printed during that first year, the popularity of this innovative print media resulted to a breakthrough production of 1 billion two years after.
The popularity of the postcard kept on growing and by 1909 the leading printing firm Illustrated Postcard Company printed out a staggering 3 million printed postcards everyday.
By this time, people thought of a variety of ways other than postcards being just a means of communication.
Some enthusiasts, in their efforts to preserve postcard varieties, made collector’s items out of postcards and like postal stamps, were sold, bought or traded, especially those that were printed on a limited scale, special and unique ones that usually don’t get circulated or are distributed on a limited scale.
A printing company, on the other hand, made a creative and ingenious way of printing a variety of postcards providing a glimpse of more than 15,000 photographic views of major tourist spots around the world, which appealed to travelers and tourists who could send out the postcards to family, relatives and friends to provide information or the development of a trip or simply also share a glimpse of the place that they have visited.
As time passed, people got used to sending postcards that it had an effect on the way people corresponded with each other, where the limited space on the cards established a more concise and direct method of writing, that provided an alternative means for corresponding with others and broke away from the often long process of letter- writing.
With the current hurried pace of daily life, postcards kept on making it’s mark in the life of people and continued to serve its purpose of communicating brief messages and notes for people.
With modern advances in print and communication media, there are alternative methods in selling and even making custom –ordered postcards, including online or electronic postcards.
With all this information in mind, you may be able to work on these tips for increasing your postcard marketing capability.
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Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Getting A Start Up Venture Capital
by: Sarjit Alkhanda
Venture capital is just one of the many options available for start up companies to raise some cash in order to put their new business idea to work. Here are some of the basic ideas that you must know about venture capital.
Venture Capital Firms
When start ups today want to obtain some venture capital, they usually have the venture capital firms to face. These firms are made up of venture capital fund advisors that manage a portfolio of venture capital funding coming from different investors. Those who directly manage the venture capital funds are known as the managing members. Those who invest into the firm that becomes a part of its venture capital portfolio are known as the limited partners.
Venture Capital Firm Types
There are different types venture capital firms that focuses on certain types of businesses to invest in. These firms may approach each business differently depending on the industry they belong. It is important for start up businesses to carefully look into the investment model that the different venture capital firms engage in before approaching them.
Seeking Venture Capital
For a start up business looking for some venture capital funding, research on certain venture capital firms may prove essential. This will help increase chances of seeking venture capital for a certain business. Some venture capital firms may be investing in start up businesses while others concentrate on relatively new but already established businesses. As mentioned before, many venture capital firms also concentrate on putting a bulk of their capital portfolio in a certain industry that they feel comfortable investing into. It pays for start ups to try and find out which venture capital firms to approach that really invest in the industry that they belong to.
Another best key to getting some venture capital funding is by trying to find out if certain venture capital firms may be able to provide the sufficient capital that the start up may need. It may also be important to know the geographical scope of funding that the venture capital firms provide. There are firms that provide funds to start ups that tend to go global. There are also firms that are more focused on funding start ups in their region or on the national front.
Think about what they expect to get in return for providing venture capital financing. Different firms have different standards concerning return of investment for the venture capital that they provide to start ups and new businesses. It is quite important for businesses seeking such financing to first know about the agreement that they might be getting into when seeking venture capital.
Another important thing to consider when start ups seek venture capital is the level of involvement that such firms would likely have in the new business. There are venture capital firms that may seek a bigger role in the control of the new company while there are others that seem contented to leave start ups a certain level of independence with day to day operations.
Knowing about all these would help start ups seek the right type of venture capital financing in order for their business ideas to come into fruition. Getting the wrong venture capital firm can sometimes prove fatal to certain businesses that usually lead to failure.
Venture capital is just one of the many options available for start up companies to raise some cash in order to put their new business idea to work. Here are some of the basic ideas that you must know about venture capital.
Venture Capital Firms
When start ups today want to obtain some venture capital, they usually have the venture capital firms to face. These firms are made up of venture capital fund advisors that manage a portfolio of venture capital funding coming from different investors. Those who directly manage the venture capital funds are known as the managing members. Those who invest into the firm that becomes a part of its venture capital portfolio are known as the limited partners.
Venture Capital Firm Types
There are different types venture capital firms that focuses on certain types of businesses to invest in. These firms may approach each business differently depending on the industry they belong. It is important for start up businesses to carefully look into the investment model that the different venture capital firms engage in before approaching them.
Seeking Venture Capital
For a start up business looking for some venture capital funding, research on certain venture capital firms may prove essential. This will help increase chances of seeking venture capital for a certain business. Some venture capital firms may be investing in start up businesses while others concentrate on relatively new but already established businesses. As mentioned before, many venture capital firms also concentrate on putting a bulk of their capital portfolio in a certain industry that they feel comfortable investing into. It pays for start ups to try and find out which venture capital firms to approach that really invest in the industry that they belong to.
Another best key to getting some venture capital funding is by trying to find out if certain venture capital firms may be able to provide the sufficient capital that the start up may need. It may also be important to know the geographical scope of funding that the venture capital firms provide. There are firms that provide funds to start ups that tend to go global. There are also firms that are more focused on funding start ups in their region or on the national front.
Think about what they expect to get in return for providing venture capital financing. Different firms have different standards concerning return of investment for the venture capital that they provide to start ups and new businesses. It is quite important for businesses seeking such financing to first know about the agreement that they might be getting into when seeking venture capital.
Another important thing to consider when start ups seek venture capital is the level of involvement that such firms would likely have in the new business. There are venture capital firms that may seek a bigger role in the control of the new company while there are others that seem contented to leave start ups a certain level of independence with day to day operations.
Knowing about all these would help start ups seek the right type of venture capital financing in order for their business ideas to come into fruition. Getting the wrong venture capital firm can sometimes prove fatal to certain businesses that usually lead to failure.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Basic Steps Toward An Effective Postcard Marketing Campaign
In order to effectively building up a profitable and productive postcard marketing venture, the key is to knowing the basic steps toward an effective postcard marketing campaign.
Unknown to many, it does not require rocket science to knowing the key processes involved in carrying out an effective campaign, but those that are actually needed are good marketing instincts, basic rules and effective planning and management.
Here are some good ideas to work on.
Tailoring your product. Most, if not all products generally have similar basic styles and designs, but vary with elements like price, quality and size.
Manufacturing firms, regardless of the industry believe that products must be closely related with customer preference and needs, thus, the need to understand how to present your product to the market.
With postcard marketing, same goes with tailoring your product to make sure that it appeals to consumers, much in the same way that it will cater to the preferences of your market. After all, your consumers will be the lifeblood of your venture.
Know how to innovate. This is simply true because as your product ages, it comes to a point that it has become a common fixture and consumers will always look for something new.
Innovation is a key, although you do not need to do a complete restructuring of your product, all you need to do is innovate by either making your product attract more since you are likely to make consumers feel that there is something new with your product or simply because they get something more out of the existing product.
You do not have to invest much in research and development to innovate your product.
All you need is creativity, determination and a feedback mechanism tool to get a pulse of what your consumers may need or what they can suggest to help you improve your product more.
Empower your consumers. Frankly speaking, this is the quickest way to help you improve or innovate your product.
Setting up a customer feedback tool, be it an online or pastcard tickbox survey with general questions, will make you hit two birds with one stone.
This is mainly so because you not only empower your customers to have a say or comment about the product you have just sold them, but will also help you get ideas and suggestions on how you can make modifications or corrections to your product lines or processes.
Another important component is the pricing of your product. Consumers nowadays tend to be more on the practical side of things, especially being more attracted with having more value for less cost.
It does not mean that when you have a very good product, you can just jack up prices whenever you want, but always place yourselves in the shoes of the customers.
Lastly, promoting the product is going to be your biggest challenge. Since this will help you establish your niche in the market.
The bigger the market share the better and sometimes, this would pose as your challenge especially in a highly competitive market.
Those that have gone before you already have their share in the market and they are already either sustaining or retaining the market and you still have to begin with your own in order to effectively start churning out profits for your venture.
One you have taken these ideas to heart, then this will be your potent tools in managing your postcard marketing venture.
With determination, hard work and the willingness to learn and share, knowing the basic steps toward an effective postcard marketing campaign will be your start of something big.
Unknown to many, it does not require rocket science to knowing the key processes involved in carrying out an effective campaign, but those that are actually needed are good marketing instincts, basic rules and effective planning and management.
Here are some good ideas to work on.
Tailoring your product. Most, if not all products generally have similar basic styles and designs, but vary with elements like price, quality and size.
Manufacturing firms, regardless of the industry believe that products must be closely related with customer preference and needs, thus, the need to understand how to present your product to the market.
With postcard marketing, same goes with tailoring your product to make sure that it appeals to consumers, much in the same way that it will cater to the preferences of your market. After all, your consumers will be the lifeblood of your venture.
Know how to innovate. This is simply true because as your product ages, it comes to a point that it has become a common fixture and consumers will always look for something new.
Innovation is a key, although you do not need to do a complete restructuring of your product, all you need to do is innovate by either making your product attract more since you are likely to make consumers feel that there is something new with your product or simply because they get something more out of the existing product.
You do not have to invest much in research and development to innovate your product.
All you need is creativity, determination and a feedback mechanism tool to get a pulse of what your consumers may need or what they can suggest to help you improve your product more.
Empower your consumers. Frankly speaking, this is the quickest way to help you improve or innovate your product.
Setting up a customer feedback tool, be it an online or pastcard tickbox survey with general questions, will make you hit two birds with one stone.
This is mainly so because you not only empower your customers to have a say or comment about the product you have just sold them, but will also help you get ideas and suggestions on how you can make modifications or corrections to your product lines or processes.
Another important component is the pricing of your product. Consumers nowadays tend to be more on the practical side of things, especially being more attracted with having more value for less cost.
It does not mean that when you have a very good product, you can just jack up prices whenever you want, but always place yourselves in the shoes of the customers.
Lastly, promoting the product is going to be your biggest challenge. Since this will help you establish your niche in the market.
The bigger the market share the better and sometimes, this would pose as your challenge especially in a highly competitive market.
Those that have gone before you already have their share in the market and they are already either sustaining or retaining the market and you still have to begin with your own in order to effectively start churning out profits for your venture.
One you have taken these ideas to heart, then this will be your potent tools in managing your postcard marketing venture.
With determination, hard work and the willingness to learn and share, knowing the basic steps toward an effective postcard marketing campaign will be your start of something big.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Postcard Marketing
Nowadays people are always searching for alternative method to add a few bucks due to the rising cost of basic and prime commodities and some people have actually seen good business with postcard marketing.
Whether you are a computer graphics geek, a writer or lay-out artist, some people actually have taken an advantage of the potential money-making capacity of the postcard industry as an alternative source of income.
But did you ever know that the creation of the first postcard immediately became an instant hit and actually became a fad at the turn of the 20th century?
Historically, man always has the insatiable need to communicate, whether it be the standard norm of interacting face to face, by written communication or through long distances with the use of the telephone.
Its predecessor- the letter – transcended time since even in olden times, letter writing was the primary means of communication over long distances.
For a period of time, with the advent of analog systems for communication, telegraph messages and telephone communication led the way in innovating and speeding up communication and making the world a smaller place.
But as the years go by, more advancements are introduced and the fastest way to get a message from one point to the other would be the best option, still, written letters remain to be the most dominant communication media.
Varied forms of media were introduced, with newspapers leading the way as the primary source of communication by bringing information to the people.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, newspapers became common carriers of information, but even with telegraph lines and messages, the most popular means of communication was still letter writing.
Then came the postcard.
Postcards were first introduced in the 1870’s as a promotional advertisement primarily aimed at businesses as sort of a media campaign, especially for resorts and hotels.
This became very popular with the public and several publishing and printing companies adopted the process by coming up with laid out sheets of paper advertising business and leaving blank spaces with which people can write notes or short messages as they continue to pass it around or even mail the postcards to friends and family.
Then in 1906, the Unites States Congress passed a legislation allowing messages to be written on half the blank portion at the back of the postcard, allowing people to make use of the postcard to write short letters or messages.
This led to the rising popularity of the postcard and has since then, like the letter, postcards have transcended time as a media form continually being patronized in its original form and process, with very little or no innovation at all.
Technology and the advent of the internet provided alternative means of presenting or making postcards available, but still, postcards retained its true and basic form as a communication media for short or brief messages.
Altruistically, postcard marketing is just supplementary to the reputation of the postcard itself and many people have taken advantage of this to innovate selling or promoting postcards for business.
So try to discover the possibilities and innovations to selling postcards, after all, it is a given fact that you can see good business with postcard marketing.
Whether you are a computer graphics geek, a writer or lay-out artist, some people actually have taken an advantage of the potential money-making capacity of the postcard industry as an alternative source of income.
But did you ever know that the creation of the first postcard immediately became an instant hit and actually became a fad at the turn of the 20th century?
Historically, man always has the insatiable need to communicate, whether it be the standard norm of interacting face to face, by written communication or through long distances with the use of the telephone.
Its predecessor- the letter – transcended time since even in olden times, letter writing was the primary means of communication over long distances.
For a period of time, with the advent of analog systems for communication, telegraph messages and telephone communication led the way in innovating and speeding up communication and making the world a smaller place.
But as the years go by, more advancements are introduced and the fastest way to get a message from one point to the other would be the best option, still, written letters remain to be the most dominant communication media.
Varied forms of media were introduced, with newspapers leading the way as the primary source of communication by bringing information to the people.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, newspapers became common carriers of information, but even with telegraph lines and messages, the most popular means of communication was still letter writing.
Then came the postcard.
Postcards were first introduced in the 1870’s as a promotional advertisement primarily aimed at businesses as sort of a media campaign, especially for resorts and hotels.
This became very popular with the public and several publishing and printing companies adopted the process by coming up with laid out sheets of paper advertising business and leaving blank spaces with which people can write notes or short messages as they continue to pass it around or even mail the postcards to friends and family.
Then in 1906, the Unites States Congress passed a legislation allowing messages to be written on half the blank portion at the back of the postcard, allowing people to make use of the postcard to write short letters or messages.
This led to the rising popularity of the postcard and has since then, like the letter, postcards have transcended time as a media form continually being patronized in its original form and process, with very little or no innovation at all.
Technology and the advent of the internet provided alternative means of presenting or making postcards available, but still, postcards retained its true and basic form as a communication media for short or brief messages.
Altruistically, postcard marketing is just supplementary to the reputation of the postcard itself and many people have taken advantage of this to innovate selling or promoting postcards for business.
So try to discover the possibilities and innovations to selling postcards, after all, it is a given fact that you can see good business with postcard marketing.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Start Up Venture Capital
by: Halim Oman
A start up venture capital is simply a type of private equity capital that is being provided to fund start up companies with high growth potential. In its most basic form, venture capital is being given in the form of cash by people known as angel investors. In exchange for the capital, the investors are given a stake in the start up company in the form of shares.
History
Start up venture capital was once the domain of wealthy individuals and families in the early 20th Century. There were notable families with riches that many upstart businesses then relied on to help gather up some start up capital for a business that shows some potential. In the United States, there were wealthy families such as the Rockerfellers, Warburg and the Vanderbilts who were noted for their investments on several industrial and private companies during the early 1900's. During this time, it was not yet known as venture capital but more commonly called as developmental capital.
It was not until after World War II that venture capital investments ceased to be a realm of wealthy families. Sometime in the 1940's, venture capital firms were set up in order to help and encourage the private sector to invest in businesses. The firms initially targeted returning GI's. These venture capital firms were the first of its kind then in that they helped raised capital funds that did not come primarily from the wealthy families.
Technology And Venture Capital
In the subsequent years, venture capital firms focused more and more on investing in technology companies. It was s time when many technological breakthroughs in electronics, data processing and the medical field were rampant. The late 60's up towards the 70's saw many venture capital firms eyeing investments mainly in technology. It was also during this time that venture capital became almost synonymous with technology finance because on its perceived focus in terms of investments.
80's Hardships
The venture capital industry first saw its successes bore fruit during the 70's and the 80's. With many start up technology businesses sprouting up and became big companies. This led to many other capital firms venturing out into trying to provide start up funding to new businesses that show high potential for growth. The growth of the venture capital market itself suffered as more and more players entered into the fray.
With many venture capital firms increasingly looking for that next big thing, the risks that they took to determine the potential of certain start ups for growth and success somehow also increased. Many venture capital firms suddenly found themselves facing declining returns that didn't seem to go well with their expectations for some of the start ups they funded.
Along with the competition, occasional dips in the overall business climate also affected the returns for most of the venture capital firms. It even worsened during the stock market crash in 1987 where many IPO's collapsed. This also led many of the venture capital firms to close shop.
90's Boom
The 90's brought about a shake up in the venture capital industry that eventually helped brought about much needed improvement. The boom came when the Internet began making waves and the started the dotcom boom. This led to many start up venture capital firms to provide funding to many of the online domains trying to make their mark on the Web. It stretched until the year 2000 when the dotcom bubble finally burst.
A start up venture capital is simply a type of private equity capital that is being provided to fund start up companies with high growth potential. In its most basic form, venture capital is being given in the form of cash by people known as angel investors. In exchange for the capital, the investors are given a stake in the start up company in the form of shares.
History
Start up venture capital was once the domain of wealthy individuals and families in the early 20th Century. There were notable families with riches that many upstart businesses then relied on to help gather up some start up capital for a business that shows some potential. In the United States, there were wealthy families such as the Rockerfellers, Warburg and the Vanderbilts who were noted for their investments on several industrial and private companies during the early 1900's. During this time, it was not yet known as venture capital but more commonly called as developmental capital.
It was not until after World War II that venture capital investments ceased to be a realm of wealthy families. Sometime in the 1940's, venture capital firms were set up in order to help and encourage the private sector to invest in businesses. The firms initially targeted returning GI's. These venture capital firms were the first of its kind then in that they helped raised capital funds that did not come primarily from the wealthy families.
Technology And Venture Capital
In the subsequent years, venture capital firms focused more and more on investing in technology companies. It was s time when many technological breakthroughs in electronics, data processing and the medical field were rampant. The late 60's up towards the 70's saw many venture capital firms eyeing investments mainly in technology. It was also during this time that venture capital became almost synonymous with technology finance because on its perceived focus in terms of investments.
80's Hardships
The venture capital industry first saw its successes bore fruit during the 70's and the 80's. With many start up technology businesses sprouting up and became big companies. This led to many other capital firms venturing out into trying to provide start up funding to new businesses that show high potential for growth. The growth of the venture capital market itself suffered as more and more players entered into the fray.
With many venture capital firms increasingly looking for that next big thing, the risks that they took to determine the potential of certain start ups for growth and success somehow also increased. Many venture capital firms suddenly found themselves facing declining returns that didn't seem to go well with their expectations for some of the start ups they funded.
Along with the competition, occasional dips in the overall business climate also affected the returns for most of the venture capital firms. It even worsened during the stock market crash in 1987 where many IPO's collapsed. This also led many of the venture capital firms to close shop.
90's Boom
The 90's brought about a shake up in the venture capital industry that eventually helped brought about much needed improvement. The boom came when the Internet began making waves and the started the dotcom boom. This led to many start up venture capital firms to provide funding to many of the online domains trying to make their mark on the Web. It stretched until the year 2000 when the dotcom bubble finally burst.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Fun Facts and Myths about Premium Bonds
by: Emelia Mahmud
There are many websites dedicated to successes of the premium bond program in Great Britain but there are also some false facts that are circulating around the net that gives premium bonds a bad name and puts out wrong information that would keep some otherwise wise investors from even purchasing their first bond. This report presents some of this wrong information so that the discerning investor can make clear and logical choices when investing their money in the premium bond system. Remember these are myths and wrong facts that have been discounted by the government agencies that were selected to monitor the actions of the National Savings and Investment agency.
One myth is that the million pound winner is always notified in person on the last day of the month after the drawing. The winner has to be at home or the prize will be given to another premium bond member or will not be given away at all. The myth also supports another. Since you have to be home to win the prize, the myth says the statistics support the idea that most people that win the million pounds are in their nineties and that they are home all the time anyway. Most people in their nineties live in a retirement community or nursing home and they would not have an address that would support the myth.
There is a ridiculous rumor that nobody has ever met a million pound winner. This myth contends that it is a government hoax and the sole purpose of this hoax is to trick people into giving their money to the government in lieu of taxes. This is completely false. Not only is there a website that lists all the million pound winners, it even lists the towns they live in and what date they won. Of course the National Savings and Interest agency is going to keep them secret because the publicity generated would destroy their privacy and make the million pounds more of a burden than a pleasure.
There is even a rumor about premium bonds and the famous British comedian Bennie Hill. Though Bennie Hill died at the age of 92, the myth says he had just won a million pound prize and he was killed by his jealous grandmother because of the money. Bennie Hill was already a wealthy man and the age of the jealous grandmother would make her about hundred and twenty years old. This does not only make sense chronologically but the woman at that age would have a hard time killing anyone.
There has even been a website posted with these myths and the challenge for anyone that has won a million pounds to come forward and dispute the myths. To this day, no one has posted on the site. This is logical because by posting they would be giving up their privacy as well as the possibility of setting themselves up for a scam. The National Savings and Investment is a sound agency that guarantees your money. These myths are just created to destroy their integrity.
There are many websites dedicated to successes of the premium bond program in Great Britain but there are also some false facts that are circulating around the net that gives premium bonds a bad name and puts out wrong information that would keep some otherwise wise investors from even purchasing their first bond. This report presents some of this wrong information so that the discerning investor can make clear and logical choices when investing their money in the premium bond system. Remember these are myths and wrong facts that have been discounted by the government agencies that were selected to monitor the actions of the National Savings and Investment agency.
One myth is that the million pound winner is always notified in person on the last day of the month after the drawing. The winner has to be at home or the prize will be given to another premium bond member or will not be given away at all. The myth also supports another. Since you have to be home to win the prize, the myth says the statistics support the idea that most people that win the million pounds are in their nineties and that they are home all the time anyway. Most people in their nineties live in a retirement community or nursing home and they would not have an address that would support the myth.
There is a ridiculous rumor that nobody has ever met a million pound winner. This myth contends that it is a government hoax and the sole purpose of this hoax is to trick people into giving their money to the government in lieu of taxes. This is completely false. Not only is there a website that lists all the million pound winners, it even lists the towns they live in and what date they won. Of course the National Savings and Interest agency is going to keep them secret because the publicity generated would destroy their privacy and make the million pounds more of a burden than a pleasure.
There is even a rumor about premium bonds and the famous British comedian Bennie Hill. Though Bennie Hill died at the age of 92, the myth says he had just won a million pound prize and he was killed by his jealous grandmother because of the money. Bennie Hill was already a wealthy man and the age of the jealous grandmother would make her about hundred and twenty years old. This does not only make sense chronologically but the woman at that age would have a hard time killing anyone.
There has even been a website posted with these myths and the challenge for anyone that has won a million pounds to come forward and dispute the myths. To this day, no one has posted on the site. This is logical because by posting they would be giving up their privacy as well as the possibility of setting themselves up for a scam. The National Savings and Investment is a sound agency that guarantees your money. These myths are just created to destroy their integrity.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Using Online Debt Management Services
by: Cindy Austin
Choosing to eliminate your consumer debt is the best financial decision you can make. Having excessive debt is the cause for much worry and stress. In order to free themselves from this huge burden, many consumers acquire debt consolidation loans. Unfortunately, getting a loan to consolidate debt requires a good credit rating, home ownership, or collateral. If you do not meet the criteria for obtaining a loan, online debt management services may be the way out.
What are Debt Management Services?
Debt management services are agencies that assist consumers in their endeavor to become debt free. There are two types of debt management services. These include agencies that charge a monthly fee for their services, and non-profit agencies. To avoid scams and fraudulent companies, it may be wise to select a non-profit agency.
The main goal of debt management services is to reduce your debts and put you on the path toward becoming debt free. To accomplish this goal, a representative from the agency will request information about your creditors and debt amounts. Once you submit this information, the representative assigned to your account will contact each creditor. Through negotiating, the agency will be able to get late fees waived and interest rates reduced.
After the debt management service and your creditors reach an agreement, the agency will lump all your debt into a single loan. Your existing credit accounts will be temporary frozen; thus, you are unable to acquire additional debt. If you decide to no longer use the debt management service, your accounts are unfrozen. Each month, payment is sent to the debt management agency, and not your existing creditors.
How to Choose an Online Debt Management Service?
Research and compare services before selecting a debt management agency. The internet is a valuable resource for finding information on various programs. Each program is different. Some programs require a minimum or maximum debt amount. Furthermore, other programs solely work with individuals who have several missed or late payments.
When comparing different debt management services, request quotes that include detail information pertaining to estimated payoff dates and monthly payments.
Choosing to eliminate your consumer debt is the best financial decision you can make. Having excessive debt is the cause for much worry and stress. In order to free themselves from this huge burden, many consumers acquire debt consolidation loans. Unfortunately, getting a loan to consolidate debt requires a good credit rating, home ownership, or collateral. If you do not meet the criteria for obtaining a loan, online debt management services may be the way out.
What are Debt Management Services?
Debt management services are agencies that assist consumers in their endeavor to become debt free. There are two types of debt management services. These include agencies that charge a monthly fee for their services, and non-profit agencies. To avoid scams and fraudulent companies, it may be wise to select a non-profit agency.
The main goal of debt management services is to reduce your debts and put you on the path toward becoming debt free. To accomplish this goal, a representative from the agency will request information about your creditors and debt amounts. Once you submit this information, the representative assigned to your account will contact each creditor. Through negotiating, the agency will be able to get late fees waived and interest rates reduced.
After the debt management service and your creditors reach an agreement, the agency will lump all your debt into a single loan. Your existing credit accounts will be temporary frozen; thus, you are unable to acquire additional debt. If you decide to no longer use the debt management service, your accounts are unfrozen. Each month, payment is sent to the debt management agency, and not your existing creditors.
How to Choose an Online Debt Management Service?
Research and compare services before selecting a debt management agency. The internet is a valuable resource for finding information on various programs. Each program is different. Some programs require a minimum or maximum debt amount. Furthermore, other programs solely work with individuals who have several missed or late payments.
When comparing different debt management services, request quotes that include detail information pertaining to estimated payoff dates and monthly payments.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Labor Vis-À-Vis Multi-Factor Productivity
by: Suzanne Broadway
For a long time, when there is talk of productivity it always means labor productivity. This is the measure of the output that an hour of labor produces. Multi-factor productivity is more comprehensive than labor productivity.
Whereas labor productivity tends to focus on manufacturing (easier to quantify) rather than services, multi-factor productivity on the other hand takes the computation several levels up.
As one of the economic indicators, productivity is basically a measure of how efficiently an economy transforms its labor, capital, and raw materials into goods and services.
Conventional productivity measurement
In a car manufacturing plant, productivity measurement is straightforward. One is a physical measure where the total number of cars made in a period of time is divided by the number of worker-hours spent in producing them.
The other way is a monetary measure. It is the total dollar value of cars produced in a given period of time divided by the total number of worker-hours needed to assemble them.
KLEMS
In labor productivity, the equation is simply output divided by input (O/I).
On the other hand, multi-factor productivity growth is the rate of output growth relative to the growth of all production inputs – labor, energy, materials, and services.
In the equation Multifactor Productivity=Output/(KLEMS), K is the capital services, L is labor services, E is for energy, M stands for materials and S refers to the purchased services.
The equation is a complicated index number. The purpose is to arrive at a figure of the change in output relative to the change in all the inputs. Theoretically, the number is more comprehensive, but it is also difficult to calculate.
The old assembly plant
A first-hand comparison between labor productivity and multifactor productivity is illustrated by the economist Jack Triplett during a panel discussion sponsored by the National Association of Business Economists.
In his anecdote, Mr. Triplett recounted visiting an old but still workable assembly plant three stories high. The workers followed the old routine of bringing in the materials in the first floor, doing the sub-assembly at the second floor and the final assembly at the top floor.
Over the years, the machines assembled got bigger and bigger and they were difficult to bring down from the top floor. Somebody finally suggested reversing everything: bring the materials to the top floor, do the sub-assembly at the second floor and the final assembly in the first floor.
It had a big positive effect on productivity. They were able to produce more with the same number of workers. Mr. Triplett did not comment much on the change of multifactor productivity because of KLEMS.
He did mention though that the guy who did the suggestion is an “S” in KLEMS. If the man was a consultant and was paid for it, it will show up as an “S” in the equation and would show no increase in the multifactor productivity output.
On the other hand, if the idea was from a bright worker and was not paid, then there is no input recorded. In conventional accounting, that would register well as an increase in the multifactor productivity side.
Mr. Triplett continued that the multifactor productivity measure is often preferred now over that of conventional labor productivity because it is “a measure of technological change” as well.
For a long time, when there is talk of productivity it always means labor productivity. This is the measure of the output that an hour of labor produces. Multi-factor productivity is more comprehensive than labor productivity.
Whereas labor productivity tends to focus on manufacturing (easier to quantify) rather than services, multi-factor productivity on the other hand takes the computation several levels up.
As one of the economic indicators, productivity is basically a measure of how efficiently an economy transforms its labor, capital, and raw materials into goods and services.
Conventional productivity measurement
In a car manufacturing plant, productivity measurement is straightforward. One is a physical measure where the total number of cars made in a period of time is divided by the number of worker-hours spent in producing them.
The other way is a monetary measure. It is the total dollar value of cars produced in a given period of time divided by the total number of worker-hours needed to assemble them.
KLEMS
In labor productivity, the equation is simply output divided by input (O/I).
On the other hand, multi-factor productivity growth is the rate of output growth relative to the growth of all production inputs – labor, energy, materials, and services.
In the equation Multifactor Productivity=Output/(KLEMS), K is the capital services, L is labor services, E is for energy, M stands for materials and S refers to the purchased services.
The equation is a complicated index number. The purpose is to arrive at a figure of the change in output relative to the change in all the inputs. Theoretically, the number is more comprehensive, but it is also difficult to calculate.
The old assembly plant
A first-hand comparison between labor productivity and multifactor productivity is illustrated by the economist Jack Triplett during a panel discussion sponsored by the National Association of Business Economists.
In his anecdote, Mr. Triplett recounted visiting an old but still workable assembly plant three stories high. The workers followed the old routine of bringing in the materials in the first floor, doing the sub-assembly at the second floor and the final assembly at the top floor.
Over the years, the machines assembled got bigger and bigger and they were difficult to bring down from the top floor. Somebody finally suggested reversing everything: bring the materials to the top floor, do the sub-assembly at the second floor and the final assembly in the first floor.
It had a big positive effect on productivity. They were able to produce more with the same number of workers. Mr. Triplett did not comment much on the change of multifactor productivity because of KLEMS.
He did mention though that the guy who did the suggestion is an “S” in KLEMS. If the man was a consultant and was paid for it, it will show up as an “S” in the equation and would show no increase in the multifactor productivity output.
On the other hand, if the idea was from a bright worker and was not paid, then there is no input recorded. In conventional accounting, that would register well as an increase in the multifactor productivity side.
Mr. Triplett continued that the multifactor productivity measure is often preferred now over that of conventional labor productivity because it is “a measure of technological change” as well.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Free Your Mind and Check Your Credit Scores Online
by: Deborah Lee
When people hear that some items are sold for credit, they would leap for any opportunity that will come their way. It's not surprising to note that there are a lot of people who do not have enough cash on hand to handle all their expenses. And getting them on credit is the best possible way.
But it should not just end there; you have to know that when you get things on credit, you have the responsibility to repay what you've purchased, only it is at a later time like the end of the month. The lender expects that you make payments on a specific date, which you should not forget or overlook. Otherwise, you will be marked as a person with a bad credit reputation.
With how things are going now, credit is the best option for almost anybody, so you should exert more efforts to maintain a good credit reputation if you want your credit applications approved.
Once you've started to build your credit history, you must see to it that you maintain a high credit score. This will be of great use when you apply for loans, mortgage, credit cards, and other credit transactions.
There are three agencies responsible for gathering people's credit reports. Most establishments offering credit transactions rely on these agencies for credit reports of different people. So you have to make sure that you're building a good report, and not a bad one.
All of us are just human beings that constantly make mistakes, but it is not a valid excuse for not paying your dues on time. For those who already have a bad credit reputation, you can re-establish it through credit repair. And it is equally important to keep track of your credit scores contained in your credit report, at least on an annual basis.
It is not that difficult nowadays to keep track of your credit report. In fact, there are now services online which offer free credit score information directly from the three credit reporting agencies or bureaus.
The Internet is a great tool to obtain credit information. If you have an Internet connection, you don’t need to go to physical offices of these credit agencies just to check your credit report.
TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax are the three major credit reporting bureaus/agencies responsible for gathering your credit information. Different websites have different offers. You can find sites which offers a free copy of your credit score. The credit scores are simple to understand, and some even provides detailed explanations to help you in understanding your credit score better.
Getting a copy of your credit report online is the most accessible way; and it is delivered to you quickly, securely, and safely. With the Internet, you can have access to your credit report and credit score twenty-four hours a day.
Get a copy of all your credit reports in the three agencies for not more than forty dollars. Though it might cost a little, it helps a lot in keeping track of your credit standing especially if you need to make a loan in the future. Aside from that, you can easily see and check if there are mistakes in your credit report, so you can report it to the agency fast and easy.
Credit scores are important, and it's just like getting a high grade when you were still studying.
When people hear that some items are sold for credit, they would leap for any opportunity that will come their way. It's not surprising to note that there are a lot of people who do not have enough cash on hand to handle all their expenses. And getting them on credit is the best possible way.
But it should not just end there; you have to know that when you get things on credit, you have the responsibility to repay what you've purchased, only it is at a later time like the end of the month. The lender expects that you make payments on a specific date, which you should not forget or overlook. Otherwise, you will be marked as a person with a bad credit reputation.
With how things are going now, credit is the best option for almost anybody, so you should exert more efforts to maintain a good credit reputation if you want your credit applications approved.
Once you've started to build your credit history, you must see to it that you maintain a high credit score. This will be of great use when you apply for loans, mortgage, credit cards, and other credit transactions.
There are three agencies responsible for gathering people's credit reports. Most establishments offering credit transactions rely on these agencies for credit reports of different people. So you have to make sure that you're building a good report, and not a bad one.
All of us are just human beings that constantly make mistakes, but it is not a valid excuse for not paying your dues on time. For those who already have a bad credit reputation, you can re-establish it through credit repair. And it is equally important to keep track of your credit scores contained in your credit report, at least on an annual basis.
It is not that difficult nowadays to keep track of your credit report. In fact, there are now services online which offer free credit score information directly from the three credit reporting agencies or bureaus.
The Internet is a great tool to obtain credit information. If you have an Internet connection, you don’t need to go to physical offices of these credit agencies just to check your credit report.
TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax are the three major credit reporting bureaus/agencies responsible for gathering your credit information. Different websites have different offers. You can find sites which offers a free copy of your credit score. The credit scores are simple to understand, and some even provides detailed explanations to help you in understanding your credit score better.
Getting a copy of your credit report online is the most accessible way; and it is delivered to you quickly, securely, and safely. With the Internet, you can have access to your credit report and credit score twenty-four hours a day.
Get a copy of all your credit reports in the three agencies for not more than forty dollars. Though it might cost a little, it helps a lot in keeping track of your credit standing especially if you need to make a loan in the future. Aside from that, you can easily see and check if there are mistakes in your credit report, so you can report it to the agency fast and easy.
Credit scores are important, and it's just like getting a high grade when you were still studying.
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