Article Presented by:
Rick Sloboda
When writing web copy for the all-too-noisy World Wide Web, nothing is more powerful than simplicity.
As a result, your web copy messages need to be clearly defined and concise.
Easier said than done.
Entrepreneurs, like artists, tend to complicate things when they don't have clear vision or direction.
Musicians habitually add layers upon layers of heavily processed studio tracks to compensate for weak melodies, hooks or lyrics. Meanwhile, a well-written song comes through loud and clear with any cheap, old acoustic guitar.
Likewise, designers sometimes attempt to conceal lack of creativity by cluttering works with unnecessary "fluff," diminishing chances of making a desired and lasting impression. Clean, simple designs almost always have the greatest impact.
When it comes to web copy, the same logic applies: less is more.
Consider the points you want to make and take the time to mold them into clear and concise messages. Don't expect your readers to plow through piles of obscure writing because, in most cases, they won't.
Here's an example of long-winded web copy.
Before:
Web copywriting for search engine optimization is very different from other kinds of copywriting and is an integral part of the success of your web, not only to deliver your message to your targeted audience for your product, service or cause, but also to assure that you are maximizing your web copywriting for search engines.
A total of 55 words, which can be shaved down to just 16 words as follows.
After:
Web copywriting can boost your search engine rankings and drive your target market to your site.
Another example of wordy web copy follows.
Before:
Hiring a professional SEO copywriter, who happens to write the finest web content, to re-invent your website, could possibly be the best thing you'll ever do for your online business!
After:
Hiring a professional SEO copywriter is the best thing you can do for your online business.
While the revised web copy delivers a stronger message with only half the words, there's still opportunity for more punch.
Even better:
Hire a professional SEO copywriter. It's the best thing you can do for your online business.
Do whatever it takes to deliver clear and concise messages that are easy to read, understand and remember.
You'll make your visitors' lives easier, and they'll reward you with more leads and sales.
About the Author:
Rick Sloboda is a Senior Web Copywriter at http://www.webcopyplus.com
Free web site tool: http://www.webcopyplus.com/tools
More web site tips: http://www.webcopyplus.com/faqs
2.28.2007
Why Control is a Limiting Illusion
Article Presented by:
Celeste Varley
My sister could always go out on any lawn, bend down and pick up a four-leaf clover. Every time! She drove me nuts with her "luck". Then, I would go out and look for hours, and never find a single one. I read somewhere that there is a much larger percentage of four-leaf clovers than I would've imagined. So, why couldn't I ever find one?
Somehow my sister had no ego stake in her ability to find four-leaf clovers. It was perfectly natural to her. The moment your goal becomes to be someone special, it becomes so important, that you are blinded to the bigger view. Your real goal is to be the one who finds it, rather than taking part in the magic of finding.
You need to have some concept, feeling, or idea before setting out to make a piece of art. But if this crosses the line of partnership, then it can turn into the illusion of you actually controlling all of your creation, without a chance for the subject to have a say. Just as in any relationship, that kind of control stunts the growth of the partnership.
This "I am the creator" attitude is actually bound up with quite a bit of fear, I think. By being used to scarcity in some way or other, this person feels compelled to have to do it all. . . to take it all on.
While so burdened with responsibility, she cannot even notice all the beckoning ideas, variations, extentions that are right in front of her. So many opportunities are lost because the doorway between her heart and the heart of the painting is clouded.
What is the price of holding onto control so tightly? Have you seen paintings on display which look rigid, and somehow predictable? They look like they were pre-planned, and they probably were.
But real living things and ideas grow organically, and have many nuances and anomalies which got there naturally. An interesting piece of art grows the same way. With the help of an artist an idea is allowed the space to breathe and grow into an entity of its own.
Once I had a commission to paint "my rendition" of a photograph of the client's home on the prairies. I took on the challenge, because he had said I could do whatever I wanted with it. Quite the confidence in my skills! But of course, this was very tough to do with only the photo to guide me. I've never seen that place, so I had nothing to go on beyond the photo, except his description of what it had been like.
There has to be a breaking away time, the earlier the better, when the original inspiration or source idea gets put out of sight. Then you can get into relationship with the subject, and it with you. After the initial fear of flying blind, a working relationship takes over, if you give it a chance. I've always suffered under the illusion that I had to be responsible for nearly every outcome. Making this break had always been fearful. It meant giving up control. And even though I knew intellectually this is an illusion, the body's memory is like an elephant's.
If you don't make this separation early enough, it soon becomes an exercise in technical copying. The result is as shallow as this sounds. Separation time is always haunted by fear, however slight. It is actually letting go your illusion of control. One approach to letting go, that works for me, is to remain curious. Let yourself be surprised.
I had to physically get into the scene of my commission. Eventually, it started to grow on me. It was through the physical relationship of painting an 8 foot a triptych that I couldn't see the whole thing until I went out my studio door, that the piece took on a life of its own. Once I stopped running back and forth, I literally, physically, got into relationship with it. I had to trust its own spirit to guide me with a gentle, willing heart.
I used to haunt secondhand shops, and once had a rash of finding cashmere sweaters for under $5. It didn't happen at first. I had to "put in my time" of just plain looking at everything. Once I noticed this streak of "luck" though, it stopped dead. Never happened again. Why? Because I had bought into the illusion of control --- that it was something I could make happen.
It was the four leaf-clover all over again. And it was every stiff, uninspired painting I've ever made too. Creating from your heart, in cooperation with your head, takes genuine humility. It takes a willingness to find the unexpected, or the unknown; to risk living your connectedness in the flesh.
As long as you cling to the illusion of control, you will keep finding yourself ultimately bored with the results. Nothing ventured, nothing gained is as true for making any art as it is for any other part of life.
Don't overlook the buddy system. To find a buddy to share your stuckness can help immensely. Others can often see in us what we are too close to see in ourselves.
The subject of control is one with which I have a vast wealth of experience. I've found it is the biggest threat when not recognized by the owner. Once recognized, it can be melted with the heart's gentleness, patience, and time.
You cannot surrender, in fact, but you can stop not surrendering.
About the Author:
Hello, I'm Celeste Varley and have been an artist at heart all my life. It is my privilege and passion to help seekers move beyond self-expression, to access the seeds of wholeness within. If you like this article, you may want to see more "Fresh Horses" articles on my website. Check it out and see if it's right for you. http://www.heartsongstudio.com Celeste Varley, Heartsong Studio, Helping the Creative Spirit to Soar.
Celeste Varley
My sister could always go out on any lawn, bend down and pick up a four-leaf clover. Every time! She drove me nuts with her "luck". Then, I would go out and look for hours, and never find a single one. I read somewhere that there is a much larger percentage of four-leaf clovers than I would've imagined. So, why couldn't I ever find one?
Somehow my sister had no ego stake in her ability to find four-leaf clovers. It was perfectly natural to her. The moment your goal becomes to be someone special, it becomes so important, that you are blinded to the bigger view. Your real goal is to be the one who finds it, rather than taking part in the magic of finding.
You need to have some concept, feeling, or idea before setting out to make a piece of art. But if this crosses the line of partnership, then it can turn into the illusion of you actually controlling all of your creation, without a chance for the subject to have a say. Just as in any relationship, that kind of control stunts the growth of the partnership.
This "I am the creator" attitude is actually bound up with quite a bit of fear, I think. By being used to scarcity in some way or other, this person feels compelled to have to do it all. . . to take it all on.
While so burdened with responsibility, she cannot even notice all the beckoning ideas, variations, extentions that are right in front of her. So many opportunities are lost because the doorway between her heart and the heart of the painting is clouded.
What is the price of holding onto control so tightly? Have you seen paintings on display which look rigid, and somehow predictable? They look like they were pre-planned, and they probably were.
But real living things and ideas grow organically, and have many nuances and anomalies which got there naturally. An interesting piece of art grows the same way. With the help of an artist an idea is allowed the space to breathe and grow into an entity of its own.
Once I had a commission to paint "my rendition" of a photograph of the client's home on the prairies. I took on the challenge, because he had said I could do whatever I wanted with it. Quite the confidence in my skills! But of course, this was very tough to do with only the photo to guide me. I've never seen that place, so I had nothing to go on beyond the photo, except his description of what it had been like.
There has to be a breaking away time, the earlier the better, when the original inspiration or source idea gets put out of sight. Then you can get into relationship with the subject, and it with you. After the initial fear of flying blind, a working relationship takes over, if you give it a chance. I've always suffered under the illusion that I had to be responsible for nearly every outcome. Making this break had always been fearful. It meant giving up control. And even though I knew intellectually this is an illusion, the body's memory is like an elephant's.
If you don't make this separation early enough, it soon becomes an exercise in technical copying. The result is as shallow as this sounds. Separation time is always haunted by fear, however slight. It is actually letting go your illusion of control. One approach to letting go, that works for me, is to remain curious. Let yourself be surprised.
I had to physically get into the scene of my commission. Eventually, it started to grow on me. It was through the physical relationship of painting an 8 foot a triptych that I couldn't see the whole thing until I went out my studio door, that the piece took on a life of its own. Once I stopped running back and forth, I literally, physically, got into relationship with it. I had to trust its own spirit to guide me with a gentle, willing heart.
I used to haunt secondhand shops, and once had a rash of finding cashmere sweaters for under $5. It didn't happen at first. I had to "put in my time" of just plain looking at everything. Once I noticed this streak of "luck" though, it stopped dead. Never happened again. Why? Because I had bought into the illusion of control --- that it was something I could make happen.
It was the four leaf-clover all over again. And it was every stiff, uninspired painting I've ever made too. Creating from your heart, in cooperation with your head, takes genuine humility. It takes a willingness to find the unexpected, or the unknown; to risk living your connectedness in the flesh.
As long as you cling to the illusion of control, you will keep finding yourself ultimately bored with the results. Nothing ventured, nothing gained is as true for making any art as it is for any other part of life.
Don't overlook the buddy system. To find a buddy to share your stuckness can help immensely. Others can often see in us what we are too close to see in ourselves.
The subject of control is one with which I have a vast wealth of experience. I've found it is the biggest threat when not recognized by the owner. Once recognized, it can be melted with the heart's gentleness, patience, and time.
You cannot surrender, in fact, but you can stop not surrendering.
About the Author:
Hello, I'm Celeste Varley and have been an artist at heart all my life. It is my privilege and passion to help seekers move beyond self-expression, to access the seeds of wholeness within. If you like this article, you may want to see more "Fresh Horses" articles on my website. Check it out and see if it's right for you. http://www.heartsongstudio.com Celeste Varley, Heartsong Studio, Helping the Creative Spirit to Soar.
Healthy Selfishness: Putting Yourself at the Top of Your To Do List
Article Presented by:
Bonnie McFarland
When was the last time taking care of yourself or doing something just for fun made it to the top of your to do list? If your answer is a "long time ago" or "can't remember" or even "never," you're not alone.
From the time we were children, many of us were taught "don't be selfish" and "think of others." We may have learned these lessons a little too well. Most of us spend all the hours of our day taking care of others, completing the to-do list, fulfilling obligations, and doing what we "should" do. Taking care of ourselves is last on the list if it's on the list at all.
The truth is this doesn't work! If you ignore your own needs long enough you're likely to become drained, dissatisfied, exhausted, and maybe even resentful. When you're not refilling your own personal tank, it becomes increasingly difficult to give to others. Without recharging you won't have the energy to be your best self at home or in the world.
Many of our clients come to us with empty tanks. While they may be searching for what is next in their lives or how to make a difference in the world, they often need to start with self-care. Only after refueling and recharging themselves are they fully ready to create their vision for a deeply satisfying future.
Remember how on an airplane you're told to put the oxygen mask on yourself first and then help others? In the event of an emergency on the plane, you must be both present and alive to assist and truly be of service to others. You must take care of yourself first. The same is true in all aspects of our lives.
If you want to be a happier person, a better spouse, a great parent . . . if you want to be a good employee, manager or friend . . . if you want to do what you're called to do, what your purpose in life is . . . whatever it is you want to do with your life, begin with yourself. When you make choices that nourish you and fill you up, you'll naturally be more generous with your time, energy, and resources. And you'll be more able to create a life you love. This is sacred selfishness.
If this idea makes sense to you your next question might be "What do I do to take care of myself?" There are a lot of "shoulds" in the area of self-care exercise, eat healthy, meditate. The list can be long. All of these would be good for us, so the question often is "Where to start?"
We recommend a different approach to self-care. To get the most impact and the best refueling from your self-care time, do something that "lights you up;" choose an activity that energizes, delights, soothes, or nurtures you. Our clients' "lights on" activities have included getting a massage, singing karaoke, reading trash magazines, having dinner with friends, practicing yoga, taking a ten minute walk in nature, and planning a vacation to a favorite place. The list is endless and different for each person.
What is it for you? Take a moment to visualize some things you love to do. Perhaps those things you never make time to enjoy. Get these ideas out of your head and onto paper. Better yet, add some of these to the top yes, the top of your to-do list. And then do some of them! Notice how your energy increases when you take a little bit of time to do something just for yourself, something that lights you up.
So go ahead- be selfish now and then. Put yourself at the top of your to do list. Sacred selfishness just may be the best thing you can do for yourself, the people around you, and the world.
About the Author:
Bonnie McFarland works with women at midlife who are restless, stuck, or dissatisfied and want more passion and purpose in work and life. Her e-book, "What Lights You Up? Your Guide To Pleasure, Passion and Purpose In Life," as well as "Light Matters," her ezine with tips and tools for getting more of what you truly want, are both free. It's quick and easy to get these resources; just go to http://www.labellavia.com
Bonnie McFarland
When was the last time taking care of yourself or doing something just for fun made it to the top of your to do list? If your answer is a "long time ago" or "can't remember" or even "never," you're not alone.
From the time we were children, many of us were taught "don't be selfish" and "think of others." We may have learned these lessons a little too well. Most of us spend all the hours of our day taking care of others, completing the to-do list, fulfilling obligations, and doing what we "should" do. Taking care of ourselves is last on the list if it's on the list at all.
The truth is this doesn't work! If you ignore your own needs long enough you're likely to become drained, dissatisfied, exhausted, and maybe even resentful. When you're not refilling your own personal tank, it becomes increasingly difficult to give to others. Without recharging you won't have the energy to be your best self at home or in the world.
Many of our clients come to us with empty tanks. While they may be searching for what is next in their lives or how to make a difference in the world, they often need to start with self-care. Only after refueling and recharging themselves are they fully ready to create their vision for a deeply satisfying future.
Remember how on an airplane you're told to put the oxygen mask on yourself first and then help others? In the event of an emergency on the plane, you must be both present and alive to assist and truly be of service to others. You must take care of yourself first. The same is true in all aspects of our lives.
If you want to be a happier person, a better spouse, a great parent . . . if you want to be a good employee, manager or friend . . . if you want to do what you're called to do, what your purpose in life is . . . whatever it is you want to do with your life, begin with yourself. When you make choices that nourish you and fill you up, you'll naturally be more generous with your time, energy, and resources. And you'll be more able to create a life you love. This is sacred selfishness.
If this idea makes sense to you your next question might be "What do I do to take care of myself?" There are a lot of "shoulds" in the area of self-care exercise, eat healthy, meditate. The list can be long. All of these would be good for us, so the question often is "Where to start?"
We recommend a different approach to self-care. To get the most impact and the best refueling from your self-care time, do something that "lights you up;" choose an activity that energizes, delights, soothes, or nurtures you. Our clients' "lights on" activities have included getting a massage, singing karaoke, reading trash magazines, having dinner with friends, practicing yoga, taking a ten minute walk in nature, and planning a vacation to a favorite place. The list is endless and different for each person.
What is it for you? Take a moment to visualize some things you love to do. Perhaps those things you never make time to enjoy. Get these ideas out of your head and onto paper. Better yet, add some of these to the top yes, the top of your to-do list. And then do some of them! Notice how your energy increases when you take a little bit of time to do something just for yourself, something that lights you up.
So go ahead- be selfish now and then. Put yourself at the top of your to do list. Sacred selfishness just may be the best thing you can do for yourself, the people around you, and the world.
About the Author:
Bonnie McFarland works with women at midlife who are restless, stuck, or dissatisfied and want more passion and purpose in work and life. Her e-book, "What Lights You Up? Your Guide To Pleasure, Passion and Purpose In Life," as well as "Light Matters," her ezine with tips and tools for getting more of what you truly want, are both free. It's quick and easy to get these resources; just go to http://www.labellavia.com
2.27.2007
Spring Into Sun Season - Ski Through May!
Article Presented by:
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
Spring skiing is considered to be the prime time for snow conditions and fun. In Alberta, you get bathed in sunshine and a particular type of powder that comes with the season.
"Where we were filming near Calgary was very beautiful and very isolated...at times you felt you left the whole world behind, you were somewhere else," Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger told the Calgary Sun.
Ledger's talking about Kananaskis Country, less than an hour's drive from Calgary, which is the international gateway city to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Kananaskis Country is a provincial park and the home of ski resorts including Nakiska and Fortress.
You can ski there.
Here are some insider tips on where to spring ski where the lines are short, the runs long, the amenities nearby and the deals worth checking out.
Nakiska's Spring Dream
Brett Braaten has been skiing at Nakiska for more than five years and spring is his favourite time of the year because of the high afternoon sun and the seasonal snow.
"The late day sun is incredible and the patio that sits out on the front on the upper level is a great way to see everything and everyone," he says. "And there are upslope storms that come in the spring that dump up to 80 cm in February and March especially."
Braaten recommends North Axe as "a great cruising run for intermediate and advanced skiers, running beneath the Silver Chair in the late day sun." In the spring if you're looking for bumps, you'll find them on Little Hunter and Eye Opener.
Nakiska in Kananaskis Country was built by the Alberta government to host the XV Olympic Winter Games. It features excellent snow making facilities with mostly intermediate and cruiser runs, though you can find steeps near the mountain top. The Canadian Alpine ski team trains here.
The Kananaskis Village and its lodgings are only a few minutes' drive away from the ski mountain. The village was built for the Winter Olympics, offering state of the art and deluxe accommodation at both the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis and the Executive Resort at Kananaskis.
If you're looking for deals, there are lodging packages available now and deals on the way for spring.
Nakiska's closing date this year is April 16, earlier than some of the other Alberta resorts, which can run through May.
Fortress Mountain Revived
The other Kananaskis Country ski mountain, Fortress Mountain, opened late this year but has great snow and is readying its ski-in, ski-out on-hill accommodations for spring skiing. The backside double chair just opened with more than 700 acres of fresh snow. Fortress is also just a quick drive away to the Kananaskis Village hotels and amenities.
Lake Louise's Spring Episode and Deals
Lake Louise is consistently voted tops for scenery and if you want "the best way to take a beginner for a ride" (Best of Skiing In Canada, Ski Canada magazine, Winter 2006 issue), Lake Louise's six-person gondola is a great bet for spring skiing. The Grizzly Express opened last February and gets you to the top in one 10-minute go.
The Lake Louise Spring Episode '06 (April 29-30) is an unforgettable time of terrific spring skiing at Lake Louise. You can enjoy the spring skiing, live music, on hill activities and beer gardens, among other activities.
Sunshine Village's Slush Cup In May
At Sunshine Village, the spring skiing goes until almost the last weekend in May! And it's all natural snow. The biggest and best event at Sunshine for spring skiing is the Slush Cup on May 22. There is also the Spring Concert Series that runs every weekend from April 22 to May 21. You can find ticket and accommodation deals for spring as they're added here. While there are on-hill accommodations at Sunshine, the ski area is very near the cosmopolitan mountain town of Banff and is in Banff National Park.
Marmot Basin : Spring Worth the Wait
Marmot Basin won some serious nods in the Winter 2006 'Best Of' issue of Ski Canada magazine, including being mentioned in the best grooming, best scenery and best snow last season categories. Marmot is near Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, providing good deals along with great ski packages this season. Many skiers and boarders find the best way to access Marmot and Jasper is through Edmonton , which is the international gateway to the North.
Grant Helgeson, Marmot's marketing and sales spokesman, says a good deal for spring is the Jasper family ski card: "It's unique and great for families who ski during spring. At just $46.69 (Cdn) it can get them 20% off lift prices every day and savings at hotels in Jasper."
If you're dealing with a travel agent, it's worth mentioning and they could get you one, he says.
The spring snow season is worth the wait, he says: "Spring is when we have our best snow here. March and April are when the traditional big storms come through. To get some true powder skiing in, Jasper has uncrowded slopes. You can come up here and the only trails you cross are going to be your own. It's a laid back feeling and in the spring there are virtually no lift lines. And with our spectacular vistas and clear days with sunshine, it's absolutely amazing."
For coming events, try this website as well as www.skimarmot.com.
In Jasper, you'll find a wide range of accommodation choices, and ski and snowboard packages are available at all 14 Ski Jasper properties.
Castle Mountain: The Deep and the Steep
It's looking very, very good for spring at Castle Mountain. Andrew Rusynyk, Director of Marketing and Snowsports and Development, says: "The way it's going this year it will be spectacular spring skiing."
In March, Castle has the King of Castle Dual Slalom Race open for everyone to try and on March 26 the World's Longest Slalom is also open to everyone (try a top to bottom slalom race with 2,700 ft. vertical steep; average time is 4.5 minutes of leg burning)!
For the best deals, Rusynyk says: "Our ski n sleep packages start at $55 and they don't go up for March break, so they are worth a look." Also check out Castle Mountain Accommodations.
He says that during the spring, "there are no lift lines and only fresh lines." Castle is famous for powder and Warren Miller will be filming there during the spring.
Norquay's Groomed for Spring
Ski Banff @ Norquay in Banff National Park is home to Thomas Grandi, Canada's World Cup GS two times champion. It offers the only night skiing in Banff. Because this hill is so close to Banff and it is in Banff National Park, it is a great choice for spring skiing, particularly if you enjoy groomed runs. Check out the website for spring deals as they are added.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
Spring skiing is considered to be the prime time for snow conditions and fun. In Alberta, you get bathed in sunshine and a particular type of powder that comes with the season.
"Where we were filming near Calgary was very beautiful and very isolated...at times you felt you left the whole world behind, you were somewhere else," Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger told the Calgary Sun.
Ledger's talking about Kananaskis Country, less than an hour's drive from Calgary, which is the international gateway city to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Kananaskis Country is a provincial park and the home of ski resorts including Nakiska and Fortress.
You can ski there.
Here are some insider tips on where to spring ski where the lines are short, the runs long, the amenities nearby and the deals worth checking out.
Nakiska's Spring Dream
Brett Braaten has been skiing at Nakiska for more than five years and spring is his favourite time of the year because of the high afternoon sun and the seasonal snow.
"The late day sun is incredible and the patio that sits out on the front on the upper level is a great way to see everything and everyone," he says. "And there are upslope storms that come in the spring that dump up to 80 cm in February and March especially."
Braaten recommends North Axe as "a great cruising run for intermediate and advanced skiers, running beneath the Silver Chair in the late day sun." In the spring if you're looking for bumps, you'll find them on Little Hunter and Eye Opener.
Nakiska in Kananaskis Country was built by the Alberta government to host the XV Olympic Winter Games. It features excellent snow making facilities with mostly intermediate and cruiser runs, though you can find steeps near the mountain top. The Canadian Alpine ski team trains here.
The Kananaskis Village and its lodgings are only a few minutes' drive away from the ski mountain. The village was built for the Winter Olympics, offering state of the art and deluxe accommodation at both the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis and the Executive Resort at Kananaskis.
If you're looking for deals, there are lodging packages available now and deals on the way for spring.
Nakiska's closing date this year is April 16, earlier than some of the other Alberta resorts, which can run through May.
Fortress Mountain Revived
The other Kananaskis Country ski mountain, Fortress Mountain, opened late this year but has great snow and is readying its ski-in, ski-out on-hill accommodations for spring skiing. The backside double chair just opened with more than 700 acres of fresh snow. Fortress is also just a quick drive away to the Kananaskis Village hotels and amenities.
Lake Louise's Spring Episode and Deals
Lake Louise is consistently voted tops for scenery and if you want "the best way to take a beginner for a ride" (Best of Skiing In Canada, Ski Canada magazine, Winter 2006 issue), Lake Louise's six-person gondola is a great bet for spring skiing. The Grizzly Express opened last February and gets you to the top in one 10-minute go.
The Lake Louise Spring Episode '06 (April 29-30) is an unforgettable time of terrific spring skiing at Lake Louise. You can enjoy the spring skiing, live music, on hill activities and beer gardens, among other activities.
Sunshine Village's Slush Cup In May
At Sunshine Village, the spring skiing goes until almost the last weekend in May! And it's all natural snow. The biggest and best event at Sunshine for spring skiing is the Slush Cup on May 22. There is also the Spring Concert Series that runs every weekend from April 22 to May 21. You can find ticket and accommodation deals for spring as they're added here. While there are on-hill accommodations at Sunshine, the ski area is very near the cosmopolitan mountain town of Banff and is in Banff National Park.
Marmot Basin : Spring Worth the Wait
Marmot Basin won some serious nods in the Winter 2006 'Best Of' issue of Ski Canada magazine, including being mentioned in the best grooming, best scenery and best snow last season categories. Marmot is near Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, providing good deals along with great ski packages this season. Many skiers and boarders find the best way to access Marmot and Jasper is through Edmonton , which is the international gateway to the North.
Grant Helgeson, Marmot's marketing and sales spokesman, says a good deal for spring is the Jasper family ski card: "It's unique and great for families who ski during spring. At just $46.69 (Cdn) it can get them 20% off lift prices every day and savings at hotels in Jasper."
If you're dealing with a travel agent, it's worth mentioning and they could get you one, he says.
The spring snow season is worth the wait, he says: "Spring is when we have our best snow here. March and April are when the traditional big storms come through. To get some true powder skiing in, Jasper has uncrowded slopes. You can come up here and the only trails you cross are going to be your own. It's a laid back feeling and in the spring there are virtually no lift lines. And with our spectacular vistas and clear days with sunshine, it's absolutely amazing."
For coming events, try this website as well as www.skimarmot.com.
In Jasper, you'll find a wide range of accommodation choices, and ski and snowboard packages are available at all 14 Ski Jasper properties.
Castle Mountain: The Deep and the Steep
It's looking very, very good for spring at Castle Mountain. Andrew Rusynyk, Director of Marketing and Snowsports and Development, says: "The way it's going this year it will be spectacular spring skiing."
In March, Castle has the King of Castle Dual Slalom Race open for everyone to try and on March 26 the World's Longest Slalom is also open to everyone (try a top to bottom slalom race with 2,700 ft. vertical steep; average time is 4.5 minutes of leg burning)!
For the best deals, Rusynyk says: "Our ski n sleep packages start at $55 and they don't go up for March break, so they are worth a look." Also check out Castle Mountain Accommodations.
He says that during the spring, "there are no lift lines and only fresh lines." Castle is famous for powder and Warren Miller will be filming there during the spring.
Norquay's Groomed for Spring
Ski Banff @ Norquay in Banff National Park is home to Thomas Grandi, Canada's World Cup GS two times champion. It offers the only night skiing in Banff. Because this hill is so close to Banff and it is in Banff National Park, it is a great choice for spring skiing, particularly if you enjoy groomed runs. Check out the website for spring deals as they are added.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
Midlife Meltdown: Attract or Avoid?
Article Presented by:
Sandra Jones
A midlife meltdowns show-up in a variety of ways. The meltdown can be a steamy affair, wild travel adventures or dropping everything, to follow a whim. At 48 I had mine. I was tired and weary, ready to let go after being a single divorcee for 20 years. So, when an attractive man 20 years my senior, energetic, vibrant, and sweet on me arrived, I gave up some of me for us. I ended up with a six-year relationship rather than the permanent one I desired. Through that experience and my journey since I have learned the difference between attracting and avoiding a midlife meltdown.
At midlife particularly we are prompted by our psyches to bring forth stifled and/or ignored parts of ourselves that are hungry for expression. Expression that helps us become more fulfilled. The trick is to keep the evolutionary from becoming revolutionary. We can make decisions that adversely affect us as well as the lives of those closest to us.
If we want to avert this disruption, it's important to recognize a meltdown in the making and how to avoid it and create a healthier transition.
To attract a meltdown:
1. Brush off the feeling that you can no longer tolerate the status quo. Ignore restlessness or loss of interest in your job, husband, and/or sex life.
2. Press on; keep doing what you have always done at the pace that you have always done it. After all it has worked for a long time, and you have only five more years to early retirement or until your husband is ready to make a move, etc.
3. Dismiss any time to reflect and evaluate what you want for yourself.
To avoid a midlife meltdown:
1. Notice. What brings you pleasure and what depletes you? You may feel drained on the job, but the pay level is great. A job may require a cost/benefit analysis. Is the cost of the physical, emotional, spiritual drain worth the income flow or could it be time for a change?
2. Be aware. Tune into your feelings, your thoughts, and your behavior. What is "conversation in your head" telling you? Is part of you feeling angry and ignored while part of you is feeling entitled to comforts to which you have become accustomed. If there is a conflict, how can you address conflicting needs?
3. Tune in. Allow yourself to take a Saturday or a week to yourself. Get lost in a funky coffee shop or sort things out at a beach house where you can be alone and tune in. Listen for your heart's story. Write it, let it take on a life of its own and show you parts of you that are longing for expression.
4. Rediscover what gives you joy. A very successful professional found herself enthusiastically cleaning out closets for relatives and friends. She finally began looking at her own "closets." What no longer belonged in her life? What talents was she hungry to bring forth?
5. Deepen your spiritual connection. For many, midlife is a rich time to find meaning and the chance to nurture your spiritual connection and practices.
6. Have conversations with a trusted confidant, coach, or counselor if you find yourself acting in ways that you don't feel any freedom.
Yes, I would say that my six-year relationship at 48 was close to a meltdown. I managed to get very ill a couple of times, and in the end my soul's calling prevailed. I value the relationship for what it provided - a stronger sense of my own authority, a renewed love of the out-of-doors, and a respect for the aging process. However, there were costs. I "retired" for most of those six years and am making up for some of the career opportunities I have missed. Thankfully I went through most of those six years conscious, making the best choices I could to balance head and heart.
By choosing to meet midlife fully present and with intentional choice, you too can craft a midlife metamorphosis rather than a meltdown.
About the Author:
Sandra Jones works with midlife women who want to flourish in the Second Half. As a leadership and life coach and trainer she has worked with hundreds of women challenged by the internal and external forces that call them to listen more deeply to their soul's calling, to their own wisdom and to the wisdom of other women. Visit http://www.CoachingAdventures.com for more information.
Sandra Jones
A midlife meltdowns show-up in a variety of ways. The meltdown can be a steamy affair, wild travel adventures or dropping everything, to follow a whim. At 48 I had mine. I was tired and weary, ready to let go after being a single divorcee for 20 years. So, when an attractive man 20 years my senior, energetic, vibrant, and sweet on me arrived, I gave up some of me for us. I ended up with a six-year relationship rather than the permanent one I desired. Through that experience and my journey since I have learned the difference between attracting and avoiding a midlife meltdown.
At midlife particularly we are prompted by our psyches to bring forth stifled and/or ignored parts of ourselves that are hungry for expression. Expression that helps us become more fulfilled. The trick is to keep the evolutionary from becoming revolutionary. We can make decisions that adversely affect us as well as the lives of those closest to us.
If we want to avert this disruption, it's important to recognize a meltdown in the making and how to avoid it and create a healthier transition.
To attract a meltdown:
1. Brush off the feeling that you can no longer tolerate the status quo. Ignore restlessness or loss of interest in your job, husband, and/or sex life.
2. Press on; keep doing what you have always done at the pace that you have always done it. After all it has worked for a long time, and you have only five more years to early retirement or until your husband is ready to make a move, etc.
3. Dismiss any time to reflect and evaluate what you want for yourself.
To avoid a midlife meltdown:
1. Notice. What brings you pleasure and what depletes you? You may feel drained on the job, but the pay level is great. A job may require a cost/benefit analysis. Is the cost of the physical, emotional, spiritual drain worth the income flow or could it be time for a change?
2. Be aware. Tune into your feelings, your thoughts, and your behavior. What is "conversation in your head" telling you? Is part of you feeling angry and ignored while part of you is feeling entitled to comforts to which you have become accustomed. If there is a conflict, how can you address conflicting needs?
3. Tune in. Allow yourself to take a Saturday or a week to yourself. Get lost in a funky coffee shop or sort things out at a beach house where you can be alone and tune in. Listen for your heart's story. Write it, let it take on a life of its own and show you parts of you that are longing for expression.
4. Rediscover what gives you joy. A very successful professional found herself enthusiastically cleaning out closets for relatives and friends. She finally began looking at her own "closets." What no longer belonged in her life? What talents was she hungry to bring forth?
5. Deepen your spiritual connection. For many, midlife is a rich time to find meaning and the chance to nurture your spiritual connection and practices.
6. Have conversations with a trusted confidant, coach, or counselor if you find yourself acting in ways that you don't feel any freedom.
Yes, I would say that my six-year relationship at 48 was close to a meltdown. I managed to get very ill a couple of times, and in the end my soul's calling prevailed. I value the relationship for what it provided - a stronger sense of my own authority, a renewed love of the out-of-doors, and a respect for the aging process. However, there were costs. I "retired" for most of those six years and am making up for some of the career opportunities I have missed. Thankfully I went through most of those six years conscious, making the best choices I could to balance head and heart.
By choosing to meet midlife fully present and with intentional choice, you too can craft a midlife metamorphosis rather than a meltdown.
About the Author:
Sandra Jones works with midlife women who want to flourish in the Second Half. As a leadership and life coach and trainer she has worked with hundreds of women challenged by the internal and external forces that call them to listen more deeply to their soul's calling, to their own wisdom and to the wisdom of other women. Visit http://www.CoachingAdventures.com for more information.
Is Breaking Through To Reach the Next Level of Your Business Hard To Do?
Article Presented by:
Ali Rodriguez
To win, we raise the bar of our expectations. In so doing, we must deal with the inner voices that tell us how unable we are to achieve what we want.
In order to elevate our intellect beyond the analytical point, we must be willing to feel the emotion of our intuition in all its glory, fear included; then proceed full force ahead to break through the barriers and grab the brass ring, sooner rather than later.
Breaking Through is NOT Hard to Do when we have the Passion to get what we want.
And what fuels our "passion"? Courage does. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to stick with our decision to go after what we want...and that's what makes it so beautiful: It's all up to us. It gets even better when we surround ourselves with people that want us to win, no matter what.
What would it be like if you let go of those thoughts that keep you stuck and unable to grow? How would it feel to live with tremendous Passion, a deep sense of Pride, a well-defined Purpose, a clear-cut road to amazing Profits, and a Master of Meaning at using Perception?
You would be reaching for that brass ring right now and it's all up to you to make it happen.
About the Author:
Ali Rodriguez was born in Cuba and immigrated to Florida as a child. She has been coaching and mentoring since 1983 and founded Vision For Success. She performs as a public speaker on the subjects of business and life development and entrepreneurship. Visit http://www.visionforsucces.biz to subscribe to her free newsletter and receive your copy of The P5 Introduction.
Ali Rodriguez
To win, we raise the bar of our expectations. In so doing, we must deal with the inner voices that tell us how unable we are to achieve what we want.
In order to elevate our intellect beyond the analytical point, we must be willing to feel the emotion of our intuition in all its glory, fear included; then proceed full force ahead to break through the barriers and grab the brass ring, sooner rather than later.
Breaking Through is NOT Hard to Do when we have the Passion to get what we want.
And what fuels our "passion"? Courage does. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to stick with our decision to go after what we want...and that's what makes it so beautiful: It's all up to us. It gets even better when we surround ourselves with people that want us to win, no matter what.
What would it be like if you let go of those thoughts that keep you stuck and unable to grow? How would it feel to live with tremendous Passion, a deep sense of Pride, a well-defined Purpose, a clear-cut road to amazing Profits, and a Master of Meaning at using Perception?
You would be reaching for that brass ring right now and it's all up to you to make it happen.
About the Author:
Ali Rodriguez was born in Cuba and immigrated to Florida as a child. She has been coaching and mentoring since 1983 and founded Vision For Success. She performs as a public speaker on the subjects of business and life development and entrepreneurship. Visit http://www.visionforsucces.biz to subscribe to her free newsletter and receive your copy of The P5 Introduction.
How To Cut Through The Hype-Finding Information
Article Presented by:
Cheryl Miller
Education is very important in business. It is an ongoing thing and you cannot afford to be in the dark. Many people do not understand the importance of doing this and easily get knocked down by the dreaded competition. Without informing yourself you are effectively putting your business at a standstill, and giving your competition a head start on you.
Do not be left in the dust, start educating yourself today. However do not just read anything out there, be selective. Your time is limited so make a list of all the areas you need to know more about in your business. Maybe you have read a few articles in this newsletter that have sparked your interest and you would like to know more about. There are always areas in your business that you will benefit from knowing more about. It is vital to the development of your business to explore these unknown areas.
Now you are armed with your list, it is time to go on the hunt for those masters who are true experts in their field. There is a whole lot of junk out there and it is very difficult to find the right information, written by those who are true experts and have put into practice what they preach.
How to find:
1. Search engines: You can look up a keyword for your subject and many websites and info products will pop up. This is doing it the hard way, as then you will need to look at the first ten websites and you will probably find they are selling quite a few products. Select a few that look as if they may be good and then check them out.
2. Newsletters and online publications: I am sure that you are subscribed to a few online publications. These are often a wonderful source of information. Because good quality newsletters will always have at least one good informative article and often some good tips, about your business. Be sure that whatever your business industry may be you sign up with a few, good quality Internet marketing newsletters. As well as giving information the publishers often affiliate or have products that are worth looking into. Publishers have a reputation to uphold with their subscribers and generally are pretty selective as to what they will offer them. Look into any info products that the publisher is offering and if they look like they will help your business, check them out.
3. Word of mouth: Of course this is the oldest and best way to find out about products especially info products. Find out what others are saying about the products you have short listed, (chosen but not bought yet.) Check the business forums in your industry. Ask about the product, you will get lots of feedback.
4. Membership sites: again use your judgment and do your research, not all these sites are good. You can also check these out at the forums.
How to select:
1. Check your list and be sure that the item you are proposing to buy fits one of the categories that you need to learn about. Then check the forums and any of your friends or business associates that have purchased and tried out the product.
2. Another way to tell if the info product is good is by carefully examining the Sales material. If it is good and compelling, with good benefits and well written, there is a good chance that it will probably be good. However if the sales copy is not that well presented and full of hype, you might have second thoughts.
3. Here is something you should be very careful about the guarantee. This should be read carefully and you must be very sure that there are no loopholes that will prevent you from getting a refund if necessary. Good quality products will always have an iron clad guarantee that will always ensure that you can get a refund without hassle and delays.
Limit your selection: Remember that there is a lot of repetition in info products. Somebody writes a good e-book and then a dozen or more so-called gurus copy the ideas and write e-books about the same subject, So you will really only need 1-2 good books, videos, or audios on one subject.
There is one mainstay of any online business library and that is a good, comprehensive Internet Marketing course. This should be one of your first purchases. After all this is the area that you need to address first and foremost in your business. How to promote your enterprise in the most effective manner? This is the single most talked about subject in the Internet business world.
There are lots of courses on this subject, most of them rehashed from other courses. It is sometimes quite hard to find the right one. However there are a few that are "bibles" of marketing. One such course is Corey Rudl's "Insider secrets to Marketing on the Internet." It is the most comprehensive marketing course I know and a valuable reference guide. Not only was Corey one of the finest Marketers of his day but also he writes in an easy to read style. His techniques are simple and many of them free or very cost effective. Even the beginner can put them into practice and start making money.
So start educating yourself today and begin to make the money you deserve!
About the Author:
Cheryl Miller is an entrepreneur specializing in niche markets. For more information about magnetic badges and how they can help you promote your business, please visit http://www.badgemags.com/. Cheryl is also the publisher of the Magnetic Marketer Newsletter: http://www.badgemags.com/magnetic_marketer_subscribe.htm
Cheryl Miller
Education is very important in business. It is an ongoing thing and you cannot afford to be in the dark. Many people do not understand the importance of doing this and easily get knocked down by the dreaded competition. Without informing yourself you are effectively putting your business at a standstill, and giving your competition a head start on you.
Do not be left in the dust, start educating yourself today. However do not just read anything out there, be selective. Your time is limited so make a list of all the areas you need to know more about in your business. Maybe you have read a few articles in this newsletter that have sparked your interest and you would like to know more about. There are always areas in your business that you will benefit from knowing more about. It is vital to the development of your business to explore these unknown areas.
Now you are armed with your list, it is time to go on the hunt for those masters who are true experts in their field. There is a whole lot of junk out there and it is very difficult to find the right information, written by those who are true experts and have put into practice what they preach.
How to find:
1. Search engines: You can look up a keyword for your subject and many websites and info products will pop up. This is doing it the hard way, as then you will need to look at the first ten websites and you will probably find they are selling quite a few products. Select a few that look as if they may be good and then check them out.
2. Newsletters and online publications: I am sure that you are subscribed to a few online publications. These are often a wonderful source of information. Because good quality newsletters will always have at least one good informative article and often some good tips, about your business. Be sure that whatever your business industry may be you sign up with a few, good quality Internet marketing newsletters. As well as giving information the publishers often affiliate or have products that are worth looking into. Publishers have a reputation to uphold with their subscribers and generally are pretty selective as to what they will offer them. Look into any info products that the publisher is offering and if they look like they will help your business, check them out.
3. Word of mouth: Of course this is the oldest and best way to find out about products especially info products. Find out what others are saying about the products you have short listed, (chosen but not bought yet.) Check the business forums in your industry. Ask about the product, you will get lots of feedback.
4. Membership sites: again use your judgment and do your research, not all these sites are good. You can also check these out at the forums.
How to select:
1. Check your list and be sure that the item you are proposing to buy fits one of the categories that you need to learn about. Then check the forums and any of your friends or business associates that have purchased and tried out the product.
2. Another way to tell if the info product is good is by carefully examining the Sales material. If it is good and compelling, with good benefits and well written, there is a good chance that it will probably be good. However if the sales copy is not that well presented and full of hype, you might have second thoughts.
3. Here is something you should be very careful about the guarantee. This should be read carefully and you must be very sure that there are no loopholes that will prevent you from getting a refund if necessary. Good quality products will always have an iron clad guarantee that will always ensure that you can get a refund without hassle and delays.
Limit your selection: Remember that there is a lot of repetition in info products. Somebody writes a good e-book and then a dozen or more so-called gurus copy the ideas and write e-books about the same subject, So you will really only need 1-2 good books, videos, or audios on one subject.
There is one mainstay of any online business library and that is a good, comprehensive Internet Marketing course. This should be one of your first purchases. After all this is the area that you need to address first and foremost in your business. How to promote your enterprise in the most effective manner? This is the single most talked about subject in the Internet business world.
There are lots of courses on this subject, most of them rehashed from other courses. It is sometimes quite hard to find the right one. However there are a few that are "bibles" of marketing. One such course is Corey Rudl's "Insider secrets to Marketing on the Internet." It is the most comprehensive marketing course I know and a valuable reference guide. Not only was Corey one of the finest Marketers of his day but also he writes in an easy to read style. His techniques are simple and many of them free or very cost effective. Even the beginner can put them into practice and start making money.
So start educating yourself today and begin to make the money you deserve!
About the Author:
Cheryl Miller is an entrepreneur specializing in niche markets. For more information about magnetic badges and how they can help you promote your business, please visit http://www.badgemags.com/. Cheryl is also the publisher of the Magnetic Marketer Newsletter: http://www.badgemags.com/magnetic_marketer_subscribe.htm
6 Mistakes To Avoid When Starting Your Business
Article Presented by:
Cheryl Miller
When you first think about starting your business there is a lot of excitement and hope. However after the first rush of adrenalin, you realize that you are not as confident as you thought you were. Nagging doubts about your ability to achieve success start to creep in and you find yourself getting overwhelmed.
This does not have to be, if you are aware of the common mistakes new entrepreneurs make and how to fix them. Here are some common mistakes:
Your attitude: lack of confidence, is a common feeling when aspiring entrepreneurs first begin. You need to position yourself for success and be determined to succeed. If you want to do something and you decide on it, do not let anything hold you back. You need to be serious about changing your financial situation and be prepared to do whatever it takes to be successful.
Not establishing your business concept: Many people rush into a new online business without giving due thought to their actual concept. You should and must have a very clear picture of what your business represents and the products or services you will be offering. It is important to establish your USP-unique selling position. This will allow you to not only penetrate your market but set you aside from your competition and brand your business in your potential customers eyes.
Not researching your market before you launch your product or join affiliate programs. Before you develop your product or join affiliate programs it is very important to do your market research. Analyze your most wanted customers and make a thumbnail sketch of them. You will then know exactly what products they need and where to market to them.
No plan: This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make and many entrepreneurs do this. Without a plan you are like a driver trying to get to their destination without a road map. You will not be focused on what needs to be done and will very likely fail in your business. Make a timeline plan with goals to be achieved in 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Then work in methods to achieve them. When you have a plan with milestones you will be able to focus on a few goals at a time and have the satisfaction of achieving them. You will see your business develop and go forward to success with a proper business plan.
Not budgeting: Another serious mistake is not developing a proper budget for your business. The golden rule is never let your business run out of money. One of the biggest reasons for failure in business is poor business management. Always keep your business expenses separate from your household budget. Make 2 accounts at your bank, one for business and the other for your household expenses, and be sure not to borrow from one to another.
Decide how much you can reasonably afford every month for your business. Do not starve your business, but at the same time do not spend more than you can afford. Your business will not usually be in profit for the 1st 3 months. Make sure you make a proper business plan of where money will be spent and keep good detailed records.
Not researching the program you want to affiliate for, or the Network marketing program you are considering joining. Whenever you need to join a new program always check it out carefully before you join or spend your hard earned cash. You can check it out yourself, plus ask on the business forums. There are many savvy people here and it is unusual to find a program that nobody knows about.
Quitting: finally last but certainly not least, do not quit your business no matter what. A business can take from 3-6 months to realize a profit and it is very important to budget for this and not to quit. You will get some bad days when it seems as if everything is going wrong and you will feel like giving up but do not give in to this attitude. Too many people quit their businesses when success is just around the corner.
Give yourself some time and remember to keep your attitude for success, always be determined to succeed. Keep these points in mind and be ready to take on challenges. In this way you will be poised for success and be able to avoid these common mistakes.
About the Author:
Cheryl Miller is an entrepreneur specializing in niche markets. For more information about magnetic badges and how they can help you promote your business, please visit http://www.badgemags.com/. Cheryl is also the publisher of the Magnetic Marketer Newsletter: http://www.badgemags.com/magnetic_marketer_subscribe.htm
Cheryl Miller
When you first think about starting your business there is a lot of excitement and hope. However after the first rush of adrenalin, you realize that you are not as confident as you thought you were. Nagging doubts about your ability to achieve success start to creep in and you find yourself getting overwhelmed.
This does not have to be, if you are aware of the common mistakes new entrepreneurs make and how to fix them. Here are some common mistakes:
Your attitude: lack of confidence, is a common feeling when aspiring entrepreneurs first begin. You need to position yourself for success and be determined to succeed. If you want to do something and you decide on it, do not let anything hold you back. You need to be serious about changing your financial situation and be prepared to do whatever it takes to be successful.
Not establishing your business concept: Many people rush into a new online business without giving due thought to their actual concept. You should and must have a very clear picture of what your business represents and the products or services you will be offering. It is important to establish your USP-unique selling position. This will allow you to not only penetrate your market but set you aside from your competition and brand your business in your potential customers eyes.
Not researching your market before you launch your product or join affiliate programs. Before you develop your product or join affiliate programs it is very important to do your market research. Analyze your most wanted customers and make a thumbnail sketch of them. You will then know exactly what products they need and where to market to them.
No plan: This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make and many entrepreneurs do this. Without a plan you are like a driver trying to get to their destination without a road map. You will not be focused on what needs to be done and will very likely fail in your business. Make a timeline plan with goals to be achieved in 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Then work in methods to achieve them. When you have a plan with milestones you will be able to focus on a few goals at a time and have the satisfaction of achieving them. You will see your business develop and go forward to success with a proper business plan.
Not budgeting: Another serious mistake is not developing a proper budget for your business. The golden rule is never let your business run out of money. One of the biggest reasons for failure in business is poor business management. Always keep your business expenses separate from your household budget. Make 2 accounts at your bank, one for business and the other for your household expenses, and be sure not to borrow from one to another.
Decide how much you can reasonably afford every month for your business. Do not starve your business, but at the same time do not spend more than you can afford. Your business will not usually be in profit for the 1st 3 months. Make sure you make a proper business plan of where money will be spent and keep good detailed records.
Not researching the program you want to affiliate for, or the Network marketing program you are considering joining. Whenever you need to join a new program always check it out carefully before you join or spend your hard earned cash. You can check it out yourself, plus ask on the business forums. There are many savvy people here and it is unusual to find a program that nobody knows about.
Quitting: finally last but certainly not least, do not quit your business no matter what. A business can take from 3-6 months to realize a profit and it is very important to budget for this and not to quit. You will get some bad days when it seems as if everything is going wrong and you will feel like giving up but do not give in to this attitude. Too many people quit their businesses when success is just around the corner.
Give yourself some time and remember to keep your attitude for success, always be determined to succeed. Keep these points in mind and be ready to take on challenges. In this way you will be poised for success and be able to avoid these common mistakes.
About the Author:
Cheryl Miller is an entrepreneur specializing in niche markets. For more information about magnetic badges and how they can help you promote your business, please visit http://www.badgemags.com/. Cheryl is also the publisher of the Magnetic Marketer Newsletter: http://www.badgemags.com/magnetic_marketer_subscribe.htm
2.26.2007
The Most Ignored But Critical Aspects OF SEO Marketing
Article Presented by:
David Callan
Many people involved in SEO marketing quite often forget that getting your site right to the top of the top ten results for your targeted keyword phrase is only half the job done. There are a number of issues that will still end up impacting tremendously on the final results that you achieve. These issues are as important if not more so than all the wonderful SEO work you will have done up to that point.
Remember that even if your site is right at the top, other competing sites below you with more attractive headlines can easily end up getting a much higher click through rate. It is also useful to remember that it does not even end with the search engine traffic arriving at your site. What matters even more is how long they will spend at your site. Basically the rule is that the longer they stay, the better and more profitable they will end up being to you. All these are critical aspects of SEO marketing that you cannot ignore.
How Powerful Are Your Headlines?
There is really no substitute to good strong headlines online. Without them, there is no doubt that all your SEO marketing efforts will fall flat on their face.
Just to illustrate the power of headlines, you will often find that the exact position of your web site on the same top page for a certain keyword phrase will often not determine the number of hits you receive. Many times, a site that is right at the bottom of the list will receive more traffic than the site that is right at the top. What makes the difference? You have guessed it, a strong headline that demands attention and therefore "steals" hits from other sites that readers see first and which should have logical gotten the hits first but don't. What makes headline writing even trickier online is that fact that every headline has to be carefully written while keeping a very close eye on popular keywords and keyword phrases.
Fortunately despite everything, the art of writing headlines is one that can easily be learnt. A good place to start is with tabloid headlines. Studying these headlines that pull people at supermarket check out counters and then practicing as much as you possibly can will help a great deal in making you a good headline writer.
How Engrossing, Valuable And Useful Is You Content?
You must be sick of hearing the popular saying that content is king. Still this is a stark reality that you cannot afford to ignore. The only thing that will keep people at your site for long periods is your content. The only thing that will get them to come back frequently is again your content. It is clear that even if you had the best SEO expert in the world, well able to get your site right to the top of the heap, it would all amount to nothing if your content can not hold your visitors captive.
Just so that you know how powerful content is, there are numerous sites that are very successful and their entire SEO program has been based on nothing but their content. All they do is work on captivating content using the right keywords. Many of the sites that have used only this strategy have ended up with millions of hits and with heavy traffic coming in from search engines.
Do You Harvest Opt-In Email Addresses From You Traffic?
Once you have succeeded in getting the traffic to your site and you have also been able to produce the sort of content that has kept them captive at your site long enough for you to generate some useful revenue, there is still one more critical thing that you must do. It is important to harvest email addresses of those that visit your site.
No matter how good your content is, there are those who will have difficulties finding you again and need to be constantly reminded of your existence. Do not forget that you are competing with numerous other sites out there and forgetting all about you and your site is easy.
By harvesting email addresses of people that you can email on a frequent basis informing them of the latest developments and new posts at your site, you will be well on your way to sustaining and growing traffic figures to your site. The other often-overlooked huge advantage of email is that is easy to forward to friends and colleagues. This is just the sort of viral marketing that can prove to be highly useful to growing your traffic numbers in a hurry.
In Conclusion
SEO marketing is important. However without taking care of these other critical areas of your marketing, then chances are that you will not be able to reap the full benefits of your SEO efforts.
About the Author:
Article by David Callan. David is the leading search engine consultant with AKA Marketing.com's Search Engine Optimisation UK team. AKA Marketing.com provide full SEO services as well as telephone based consulting for those preferring the DIY approach. http://www.akamarketing.com
David Callan
Many people involved in SEO marketing quite often forget that getting your site right to the top of the top ten results for your targeted keyword phrase is only half the job done. There are a number of issues that will still end up impacting tremendously on the final results that you achieve. These issues are as important if not more so than all the wonderful SEO work you will have done up to that point.
Remember that even if your site is right at the top, other competing sites below you with more attractive headlines can easily end up getting a much higher click through rate. It is also useful to remember that it does not even end with the search engine traffic arriving at your site. What matters even more is how long they will spend at your site. Basically the rule is that the longer they stay, the better and more profitable they will end up being to you. All these are critical aspects of SEO marketing that you cannot ignore.
How Powerful Are Your Headlines?
There is really no substitute to good strong headlines online. Without them, there is no doubt that all your SEO marketing efforts will fall flat on their face.
Just to illustrate the power of headlines, you will often find that the exact position of your web site on the same top page for a certain keyword phrase will often not determine the number of hits you receive. Many times, a site that is right at the bottom of the list will receive more traffic than the site that is right at the top. What makes the difference? You have guessed it, a strong headline that demands attention and therefore "steals" hits from other sites that readers see first and which should have logical gotten the hits first but don't. What makes headline writing even trickier online is that fact that every headline has to be carefully written while keeping a very close eye on popular keywords and keyword phrases.
Fortunately despite everything, the art of writing headlines is one that can easily be learnt. A good place to start is with tabloid headlines. Studying these headlines that pull people at supermarket check out counters and then practicing as much as you possibly can will help a great deal in making you a good headline writer.
How Engrossing, Valuable And Useful Is You Content?
You must be sick of hearing the popular saying that content is king. Still this is a stark reality that you cannot afford to ignore. The only thing that will keep people at your site for long periods is your content. The only thing that will get them to come back frequently is again your content. It is clear that even if you had the best SEO expert in the world, well able to get your site right to the top of the heap, it would all amount to nothing if your content can not hold your visitors captive.
Just so that you know how powerful content is, there are numerous sites that are very successful and their entire SEO program has been based on nothing but their content. All they do is work on captivating content using the right keywords. Many of the sites that have used only this strategy have ended up with millions of hits and with heavy traffic coming in from search engines.
Do You Harvest Opt-In Email Addresses From You Traffic?
Once you have succeeded in getting the traffic to your site and you have also been able to produce the sort of content that has kept them captive at your site long enough for you to generate some useful revenue, there is still one more critical thing that you must do. It is important to harvest email addresses of those that visit your site.
No matter how good your content is, there are those who will have difficulties finding you again and need to be constantly reminded of your existence. Do not forget that you are competing with numerous other sites out there and forgetting all about you and your site is easy.
By harvesting email addresses of people that you can email on a frequent basis informing them of the latest developments and new posts at your site, you will be well on your way to sustaining and growing traffic figures to your site. The other often-overlooked huge advantage of email is that is easy to forward to friends and colleagues. This is just the sort of viral marketing that can prove to be highly useful to growing your traffic numbers in a hurry.
In Conclusion
SEO marketing is important. However without taking care of these other critical areas of your marketing, then chances are that you will not be able to reap the full benefits of your SEO efforts.
About the Author:
Article by David Callan. David is the leading search engine consultant with AKA Marketing.com's Search Engine Optimisation UK team. AKA Marketing.com provide full SEO services as well as telephone based consulting for those preferring the DIY approach. http://www.akamarketing.com
2.21.2007
How to Counter - Spy Phone Invasions of Privacy
Article Presented by:
Jerry Tarrer
Security Countermeasures
After the end of the Cold War there was a rapid increase in foreign economic and industrial espionage. This increase promoted new federal legislation to enable a more effective means for law enforcement to deal with this threat.
What evolved was the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.
All companies and organizations that handle sensitive information need to have targeted programs for management and other employees to protect their confidential information from theft. Alertness in the work place to indicators of activities, which are suspicious in nature and willingness by employees to protect their employment by reporting to their managers, is essential.
Not only does spying occur in the work place, it also extends it's reach into private homes of managers and workers who handle confidential information. Source: Texas A&M Research Foundation
Surveillance
The word Surveillance usually brings a picture to mind of electronic eavesdropping or video surveillance. A recent movie featuring the famous actor, Gene Hackman had a memorable scene of him in the back of an electronic eavesdropping truck with earphones on.
Although most people are aware of legal video surveillance such as in the work place, parking lots and airports, most of us are totally unaware of mostly illegal covert eavesdropping and video surveillance.
Courts around the globe have had to deal with illegal eavesdropping and video surveillance in order to protect the rights of their citizens.
Audio Surveillance Device
Audio surveillance devices are typically designed to illegally intercept room conversations. Audio Surveillance devices are specifically manufactured for the purpose of intercepting audio and eavesdropping. Bug Detectors are employed to find these types of audio surveillance devices, and many of them have become very accurate.
Spy Listening Device
There are numerous Spy Listening Devices, which come in all shapes and sizes, and are very easy to purchase, due to the prevalance of spy shops. Depending upon the application, there are spying devices that will wiretap phone conversations or intercept room conversations.
Spy Phone
The Spy Phone is usually a cellular or mobile phone that has been converted for the purpose of eavesdropping on room conversations with and without the cell phone owner's knowledge. There are a number of brands of mobile phones that can be programmed for this purpose.
What happens is that when a pre-programmed telephone number dials the cellular phone, it automatically answers without ringing and activates the cell phone's internal speaker-phone which thereby picks up any conversations in the area, while the spy phone's display appears as if it's in the normal standby mode.
This type of Spy Phone is used as a "Leave Behind" device in industrial espionage as well as in domestic eavesdropping. A"left behind cell phone" is a favored spying technique.
When a spy uses a left behind cell phone, which is also a "prepaid phone", it is almost impossible to determine who the owner is.
A Cellular Infinity transmitter is another widely used name for the Cell Spy Phone...
Cell Phone Tap
Since a Cellular phone is wireless and a physical tap is impossible; a Cell phone tap usually refers to someone listening in to a cell phone conversation without the user's knowledge. This makes the term cellular phone tap, synonymous with cellular eavesdropping.
To tap a cell phone requires very expensive computer equipment costing more than $100,000, which can track a call as it moves from cell to cell. Some professional bug detectors use a Bug Detector with Strength Meter to locate cell phones being used for eavesdropping.
RF Transmitter
Many eavesdropping bugs are radio frequency transmitter (RF Transmitter) types, which allow the eavesdropper to quickly plant an eavesdropping device without having to run wires. Plus, RF Transmitter bugs allow the eavesdropper to monitor the conversations from outside of the immediate target area.
A person can own a RF Transmitter but it is illegal to use one to listen-in on someone's conservation without his or her permission. Bug Detectors with Frequency Counters can easily be deployed to find these types of eavesdropping bugs.
Spy Phones & Counter Measures
TSCM
In the field of electronic eavesdropping detection the term Technical Surveillance Countermeasures is abbreviated as TSCM. TSCM is also referred to as de-bugguing, bug detection and bug sweeps.
The TSCM Industry is quietly but quickly gaining the attention of the security industry and electronic equipment manufacturers. This new awareness is triggered by the rapid increase in industrial espionage and the large number of eavesdropping tools sold each year.
Phone Security and counter Measures
Telephone wiretapping devices can be purchased at any Radio Shack or electronics store thereby making it extremely easy for people having access to your residence, or even your neighbors to eavesdrop on your phone conversations. Telephone security should be a very important consideration for both your personal and business life.
Things you can do to Detect, counter and Neutralize Spy Phones
Be on the lock-out for "left behind" cell phones and regular phones left off the hook in meeting places and areas where sensitive information is discussed.
Consider purchasing a bug detection device such as a Bug Detector with a Frequency Counter that has a Low and high frequency antenna for sweeping your home and business.
Establish a regular de-bugging or bug detection routine.
Schedule your sweeps at regular intervals, and throw in random sweeps incase you have an internal snoop. Change your scheduled sweeps quarterly or more often if you feel it's necessary.
Make sweeps when employees are present and when they are at home.
Sweep everywhere, including the ceiling. Don't leave a stone unturned.
Contact a professional electronic eavesdropping detector if you feel that you have not eliminated the threat.
Be aware of Phone Security issues at all times.
Lastly think about what you are saying on a phone call and who may be listening. The phone can be a threat to your privacy, safety and future.
About the Author:
The Author Jerry T. is 63 years of age. He was born in a small coal-mining town in Logan county, West Virginia. At the end of World War II his father returned from the war where he had served in the Pacific and moved the entire family to Chicago Illinois. He was educated in the inner city completing high school and 2 years of college. After joining an apprentice-printing program, Jerry became a Master Printer and worked in his field for 37 years. Jerry is the father of 5 adult children and 13 grandchildren. The author is now trying his hand at his own web business at http://www.securityspy4u.com
Jerry Tarrer
Security Countermeasures
After the end of the Cold War there was a rapid increase in foreign economic and industrial espionage. This increase promoted new federal legislation to enable a more effective means for law enforcement to deal with this threat.
What evolved was the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.
All companies and organizations that handle sensitive information need to have targeted programs for management and other employees to protect their confidential information from theft. Alertness in the work place to indicators of activities, which are suspicious in nature and willingness by employees to protect their employment by reporting to their managers, is essential.
Not only does spying occur in the work place, it also extends it's reach into private homes of managers and workers who handle confidential information. Source: Texas A&M Research Foundation
Surveillance
The word Surveillance usually brings a picture to mind of electronic eavesdropping or video surveillance. A recent movie featuring the famous actor, Gene Hackman had a memorable scene of him in the back of an electronic eavesdropping truck with earphones on.
Although most people are aware of legal video surveillance such as in the work place, parking lots and airports, most of us are totally unaware of mostly illegal covert eavesdropping and video surveillance.
Courts around the globe have had to deal with illegal eavesdropping and video surveillance in order to protect the rights of their citizens.
Audio Surveillance Device
Audio surveillance devices are typically designed to illegally intercept room conversations. Audio Surveillance devices are specifically manufactured for the purpose of intercepting audio and eavesdropping. Bug Detectors are employed to find these types of audio surveillance devices, and many of them have become very accurate.
Spy Listening Device
There are numerous Spy Listening Devices, which come in all shapes and sizes, and are very easy to purchase, due to the prevalance of spy shops. Depending upon the application, there are spying devices that will wiretap phone conversations or intercept room conversations.
Spy Phone
The Spy Phone is usually a cellular or mobile phone that has been converted for the purpose of eavesdropping on room conversations with and without the cell phone owner's knowledge. There are a number of brands of mobile phones that can be programmed for this purpose.
What happens is that when a pre-programmed telephone number dials the cellular phone, it automatically answers without ringing and activates the cell phone's internal speaker-phone which thereby picks up any conversations in the area, while the spy phone's display appears as if it's in the normal standby mode.
This type of Spy Phone is used as a "Leave Behind" device in industrial espionage as well as in domestic eavesdropping. A"left behind cell phone" is a favored spying technique.
When a spy uses a left behind cell phone, which is also a "prepaid phone", it is almost impossible to determine who the owner is.
A Cellular Infinity transmitter is another widely used name for the Cell Spy Phone...
Cell Phone Tap
Since a Cellular phone is wireless and a physical tap is impossible; a Cell phone tap usually refers to someone listening in to a cell phone conversation without the user's knowledge. This makes the term cellular phone tap, synonymous with cellular eavesdropping.
To tap a cell phone requires very expensive computer equipment costing more than $100,000, which can track a call as it moves from cell to cell. Some professional bug detectors use a Bug Detector with Strength Meter to locate cell phones being used for eavesdropping.
RF Transmitter
Many eavesdropping bugs are radio frequency transmitter (RF Transmitter) types, which allow the eavesdropper to quickly plant an eavesdropping device without having to run wires. Plus, RF Transmitter bugs allow the eavesdropper to monitor the conversations from outside of the immediate target area.
A person can own a RF Transmitter but it is illegal to use one to listen-in on someone's conservation without his or her permission. Bug Detectors with Frequency Counters can easily be deployed to find these types of eavesdropping bugs.
Spy Phones & Counter Measures
TSCM
In the field of electronic eavesdropping detection the term Technical Surveillance Countermeasures is abbreviated as TSCM. TSCM is also referred to as de-bugguing, bug detection and bug sweeps.
The TSCM Industry is quietly but quickly gaining the attention of the security industry and electronic equipment manufacturers. This new awareness is triggered by the rapid increase in industrial espionage and the large number of eavesdropping tools sold each year.
Phone Security and counter Measures
Telephone wiretapping devices can be purchased at any Radio Shack or electronics store thereby making it extremely easy for people having access to your residence, or even your neighbors to eavesdrop on your phone conversations. Telephone security should be a very important consideration for both your personal and business life.
Things you can do to Detect, counter and Neutralize Spy Phones
Sweep everywhere, including the ceiling. Don't leave a stone unturned.
Lastly think about what you are saying on a phone call and who may be listening. The phone can be a threat to your privacy, safety and future.
About the Author:
The Author Jerry T. is 63 years of age. He was born in a small coal-mining town in Logan county, West Virginia. At the end of World War II his father returned from the war where he had served in the Pacific and moved the entire family to Chicago Illinois. He was educated in the inner city completing high school and 2 years of college. After joining an apprentice-printing program, Jerry became a Master Printer and worked in his field for 37 years. Jerry is the father of 5 adult children and 13 grandchildren. The author is now trying his hand at his own web business at http://www.securityspy4u.com
Why VHS is Disappearing
Article Presented by:
Jerry Tarrer
Have you noticed the gradual disappearance of VHS tapes and machines from your local stores and video shelves? Here's why.
About 5 years ago a close friend warned me that I had better start transferring any home movies or prized VHS tapes that were more than 9 years old unto New VHS cartridges or better yet unto the new DVD discs before their 10 year shelf life expires.
For a time some quick-thinking entrepreneurs actually made a business out of charging customers to make the transfer for them. The fear of loosing my collection got me interested in investigating why I should or should not make the change.
VHS Tape Life
According to Internet sources the average shelf life of VHS tapes is anywhere from 10 to 20 years depending on the quality of the tape material itself, the amount of usage, and the tapes storage environment. VHS tapes wear a little every time they're played, so the more they're played, the faster they wear out, not to mention the possibility of an uneven rewind, twists, and snaps.
Excessive heat stretches the tape during a play cycle, and excessive cold makes the tape brittle. Not only are the tapes a weak point, the tape player itself wears out after just a few years of average regular use.
DVD Discs Have Longer Life Expectancy
The shelf life of the Pressed discs are expected to be longer than anyone in recent history has lived, this type of DVD which has superior image and sound quality, has a shelf life of up to 300 years.
Some Discs Last Longer Than Others
Among the DVD discs types there is also a difference in the life span. The erasable formats (DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW) are expected to last from 25 to 100 years. DVD-R and DVD+R discs are expected to last anywhere from 40 to 250 years, about as long as CD-R discs.
Pressed discs (the kind that movies come on) are expected to last anywhere from 50 to 300 years. No matter which type of DVD Disc you're thinking of using keep in mind that their shelf life is a lot longer than that of your typical VCR tape.
Signs of the VHS's End
Another signal of the ending reign of the VCR tape happened on November 27, 2006, when the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced that commercial films will no longer be released on VHS.
Electronic equipment manufacturers have been downsizing their VHS recorder lines. Both department stores and small electronic stores are also cutting down on the variety of VHS recorders they carry in-stock - especially the higher-end systems such as S-VHS recorders.
Some more reasons for VHS's demise
With superior image and sound quality, longer shelf life, and compact size, DVDs have replaced VHS video as the format of choice for both consumers and business.
With DVD players now available for less than the price of a VCR (under $50), and most video rental stores replacing their VHS tapes with DVD's, DVD is the perfect format for many business presentations, and Video rental businesses.
Two of the largest movie rental companies (Netflix and Blockbuster) are now using the mail to deliver their movies to the public. The cost of mailing several DVDs is far less than the cost of mailing several VCR tapes, and the chances of them being damaged by improper handling and Climate conditions are almost non existant.
Is the End Near?
Coupled with all of these reasons for the decline in VHS tape usage is the movement to replace tape with more recent technologies, such as optical discs, hard disk drives and flash-based storage systems. Altogether, these technologies are shrinking VHS' marketshare.
A Final Note to Fellow VHS Collectors
One day soon we may look around and find that VHS tapes and players will only be available at the flea market or antique store due to rapid changes in the film and VHS supply industries. If we truly prize everything in our collections we had better move fast towards copying them unto brand new tapes, getting a spare "use in emergency only" tape player, or reformatting them unto DVDs.
About the Author:
The Author Jerry T. is 63 years of age. He was born in a small coal-mining town in Logan county, West Virginia. At the end of World War II his father returned from the war where he had served in the Pacific and moved the entire family to Chicago Illinois. He was educated in the inner city completing high school and 2 years of college. After joining an apprentice-printing program, Jerry became a Master Printer and worked in his field for 37 years. Jerry is the father of 5 adult children and 13 grandchildren. The author is now trying his hand at his own web business at http://www.securityspy4u.com and http://www.livesafenow.com
Jerry Tarrer
Have you noticed the gradual disappearance of VHS tapes and machines from your local stores and video shelves? Here's why.
About 5 years ago a close friend warned me that I had better start transferring any home movies or prized VHS tapes that were more than 9 years old unto New VHS cartridges or better yet unto the new DVD discs before their 10 year shelf life expires.
For a time some quick-thinking entrepreneurs actually made a business out of charging customers to make the transfer for them. The fear of loosing my collection got me interested in investigating why I should or should not make the change.
VHS Tape Life
According to Internet sources the average shelf life of VHS tapes is anywhere from 10 to 20 years depending on the quality of the tape material itself, the amount of usage, and the tapes storage environment. VHS tapes wear a little every time they're played, so the more they're played, the faster they wear out, not to mention the possibility of an uneven rewind, twists, and snaps.
Excessive heat stretches the tape during a play cycle, and excessive cold makes the tape brittle. Not only are the tapes a weak point, the tape player itself wears out after just a few years of average regular use.
DVD Discs Have Longer Life Expectancy
The shelf life of the Pressed discs are expected to be longer than anyone in recent history has lived, this type of DVD which has superior image and sound quality, has a shelf life of up to 300 years.
Some Discs Last Longer Than Others
Among the DVD discs types there is also a difference in the life span. The erasable formats (DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW) are expected to last from 25 to 100 years. DVD-R and DVD+R discs are expected to last anywhere from 40 to 250 years, about as long as CD-R discs.
Pressed discs (the kind that movies come on) are expected to last anywhere from 50 to 300 years. No matter which type of DVD Disc you're thinking of using keep in mind that their shelf life is a lot longer than that of your typical VCR tape.
Signs of the VHS's End
Another signal of the ending reign of the VCR tape happened on November 27, 2006, when the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced that commercial films will no longer be released on VHS.
Electronic equipment manufacturers have been downsizing their VHS recorder lines. Both department stores and small electronic stores are also cutting down on the variety of VHS recorders they carry in-stock - especially the higher-end systems such as S-VHS recorders.
Some more reasons for VHS's demise
With superior image and sound quality, longer shelf life, and compact size, DVDs have replaced VHS video as the format of choice for both consumers and business.
With DVD players now available for less than the price of a VCR (under $50), and most video rental stores replacing their VHS tapes with DVD's, DVD is the perfect format for many business presentations, and Video rental businesses.
Two of the largest movie rental companies (Netflix and Blockbuster) are now using the mail to deliver their movies to the public. The cost of mailing several DVDs is far less than the cost of mailing several VCR tapes, and the chances of them being damaged by improper handling and Climate conditions are almost non existant.
Is the End Near?
Coupled with all of these reasons for the decline in VHS tape usage is the movement to replace tape with more recent technologies, such as optical discs, hard disk drives and flash-based storage systems. Altogether, these technologies are shrinking VHS' marketshare.
A Final Note to Fellow VHS Collectors
One day soon we may look around and find that VHS tapes and players will only be available at the flea market or antique store due to rapid changes in the film and VHS supply industries. If we truly prize everything in our collections we had better move fast towards copying them unto brand new tapes, getting a spare "use in emergency only" tape player, or reformatting them unto DVDs.
About the Author:
The Author Jerry T. is 63 years of age. He was born in a small coal-mining town in Logan county, West Virginia. At the end of World War II his father returned from the war where he had served in the Pacific and moved the entire family to Chicago Illinois. He was educated in the inner city completing high school and 2 years of college. After joining an apprentice-printing program, Jerry became a Master Printer and worked in his field for 37 years. Jerry is the father of 5 adult children and 13 grandchildren. The author is now trying his hand at his own web business at http://www.securityspy4u.com and http://www.livesafenow.com
2.20.2007
How Effective Is Your Sales & Marketing? 10 Tips for Quickly Assessing Whether You're Winning or Losing.
Article Presented by:
Kurt D. Lynn
We've heard, again and again, that "it's dog eat dog" in the business world. Turns out, there are some places where this is actually true. In your industry, for example, it's just not enough to be making money. You have to be growing, too. If you're not growing, at least as fast as your marketplace is, then you're losing market share to someone else. It truly can be dog eat dog.
But let's not use the term "growing" too glibly. Growing means increasing sales -- and not just maintaining the same level of sales and not just more than what you sold last year. Growing means that you're increasing sales faster than the market is growing -- it means you're taking sales away from other people, you're gaining market share.
If only it were that easy. More than a few of my clients, after having started a successful business, have awakened a few years later to the fact that their companies have stopped growing. They've stopped growing because their sales and marketing has somehow lost its effectiveness. And, worse, it's always a surprise to them! Unfortunately, by time they realize they've stopped growing, they're already in trouble. In the tough, fast-paced, global market environment of today, keeping your finger firmly on the pulse of your sales effectiveness, on your growth, is vital.
The good news is that it's not hard. Here are ten tips on keeping yourself up-to-date on just how effective your company is at its sales and marketing.
Look At The Data.
First and foremost, look at the data. Sure, you've been watching your top line and your bottom line and a few lines in between. But are you watching what goes on behind those P&L lines?
Tip 1. Calculate the conversion time to turn prospects into customers.
That's right. How long does it take to turn a prospect into a customer? It's the length of time from when a prospective buyer first shows up on your radar to the time they place their first order. Track it in days. If the number isn't going down, it means your selling effectiveness is.
Tip 2. While you're at it, check out the lost sales ratio.
Simple enough to do, of every hundred prospects that show up on your radar, how many don't buy within a fixed period of time (within 1.5x of your average conversion time)? If that number is staying flat or increasing, you've got a problem. Staying flat means you're not getting better. Increasing means your selling is actually getting worse.
Tip 3. Calculate the cost of a customer and the cost of an order.
Divide your entire sales and marketing budget for a period (and some suggest you throw in fixed or allocated costs for sales and marketing) by the number of new customers; that's the cost to acquire a customer. Now divide the budget by the number of new orders to determine the cost of a new order. If those numbers are increasing, your sales operations are becoming less efficient. If it doesn't stop, eventually it will kill you.
Tip 4. Now, look at the lifetime and lifetime value of a customer.
To truly appreciate your marketing and sales cost, however, you have to have some basic idea of what a customer is worth. Regularly measure average life of a customer and their value to you during that time. If you don't know this number then it's impossible to know how much you can or should spend to acquire a customer! Needless to say, the goal is that lifetime and lifetime value increase.
Tip 5. Calculate your overall revenue per head.
This is a question of taking your total revenues and dividing them by the total number of people in your company... even the administrative and janitorial staff. The find out and compare your numbers to the typical ratios for your industry. Consider investing in the Culpepper Reports (if you're in the technology world) or purchasing the Robert Morris Associates (RMA) ratios. These will tell you what the average ratios are for other companies within your industry. Your banker may have access to the RMA reports (they're often used as the basis for assessing credit worthiness).
Examine The Mechanics.
It's one thing to manipulate numbers to get an idea of what's going on, it's another to understand how these numbers happen. To find out, let's roll up your sleeves and get down in the dirt -- where the action is. Here's a few more tips...
Tip 6. Talk to your existing customers -- frequently.
Want to find out how your selling operation is doing? Who better to ask than your existing customers? Make a regular practice of talking to existing customers about your selling efforts. Pick a customer at random and get them on the phone. You'll find that not only do you learn something you didn't know, you'll find that they really appreciate your interest. Many successful companies make their entire senior staff do just this.
Tip 7. Talk to lost prospects.
If you think talking to customers is informative, take the time to talk to the "ones that got away." These are the one's you really need to give attention! Make a point, independent of your sales force to call customers that chose NOT to do business with your company. Try it!
Tip 8. Take a customer service person to lunch.
When you're done meeting with your customers and lost prospects, make a point to take one of the line-level customer service people to lunch. Or buy the pizzas and do a roundtable with them all! Customer service people get the problems first. They have to clean up the mess. Take them to lunch and you'll find out a lot about where your problems lay in setting expectations properly with your prospects, or about what's not working in the sales process, or where your quality problems are. You'll be surprised at what you'll learn!
Tip 9. Take a fresh look at your selling materials.
For marketing, my variant of Newton's Law says that once you set something in motion, it will tend to stay in motion until something stops it. Nowhere is this more true than with your selling materials. A brochure gets developed and tends to stay in circulation long after its content becomes obsolete. Same with your web site. And the same for presentations, and whitepapers, and case studies. Make it a point to see exactly what your sales prospect will see. Then act accordingly. If your sales materials are out of date, then your whole company and brand are out of date, too.
Tip 10. Contact your own company.
This is one of my favorites. Yes, call the 800 number, fill in the web form, send an email, or just call the receptionist and request some information on your company's products. Then start your stopwatch. If you think you'll be recognized, get someone else to do it for you. See what happens, what you get, and how fast. If your company is on top of its sales process, you'll have action and materials in an hour. If your company can't do that, you better worry about the competitor that can.
Dog eat dog. Up or out.
At the end of the business day, it's all about growth. And growth is all about sales. If your company can't grow enough, if your company can't sell effectively, then you're destined to lose to someone who can. It'll just be a matter of time. Try the 10 tips. You'll be surprised at what you learn about your own sales and marketing operation.
About the Author:
Kurt Lynn is the founder of KLynn Inc a marketing and business consulting firm in Toronto, Ontario. His firm provides specialized business improvement consulting for businesses all over North America. Additional articles can be found on his Back-to-Basics Marketing blog. http://www.klynn.ca/
Kurt D. Lynn
We've heard, again and again, that "it's dog eat dog" in the business world. Turns out, there are some places where this is actually true. In your industry, for example, it's just not enough to be making money. You have to be growing, too. If you're not growing, at least as fast as your marketplace is, then you're losing market share to someone else. It truly can be dog eat dog.
But let's not use the term "growing" too glibly. Growing means increasing sales -- and not just maintaining the same level of sales and not just more than what you sold last year. Growing means that you're increasing sales faster than the market is growing -- it means you're taking sales away from other people, you're gaining market share.
If only it were that easy. More than a few of my clients, after having started a successful business, have awakened a few years later to the fact that their companies have stopped growing. They've stopped growing because their sales and marketing has somehow lost its effectiveness. And, worse, it's always a surprise to them! Unfortunately, by time they realize they've stopped growing, they're already in trouble. In the tough, fast-paced, global market environment of today, keeping your finger firmly on the pulse of your sales effectiveness, on your growth, is vital.
The good news is that it's not hard. Here are ten tips on keeping yourself up-to-date on just how effective your company is at its sales and marketing.
Look At The Data.
First and foremost, look at the data. Sure, you've been watching your top line and your bottom line and a few lines in between. But are you watching what goes on behind those P&L lines?
Tip 1. Calculate the conversion time to turn prospects into customers.
That's right. How long does it take to turn a prospect into a customer? It's the length of time from when a prospective buyer first shows up on your radar to the time they place their first order. Track it in days. If the number isn't going down, it means your selling effectiveness is.
Tip 2. While you're at it, check out the lost sales ratio.
Simple enough to do, of every hundred prospects that show up on your radar, how many don't buy within a fixed period of time (within 1.5x of your average conversion time)? If that number is staying flat or increasing, you've got a problem. Staying flat means you're not getting better. Increasing means your selling is actually getting worse.
Tip 3. Calculate the cost of a customer and the cost of an order.
Divide your entire sales and marketing budget for a period (and some suggest you throw in fixed or allocated costs for sales and marketing) by the number of new customers; that's the cost to acquire a customer. Now divide the budget by the number of new orders to determine the cost of a new order. If those numbers are increasing, your sales operations are becoming less efficient. If it doesn't stop, eventually it will kill you.
Tip 4. Now, look at the lifetime and lifetime value of a customer.
To truly appreciate your marketing and sales cost, however, you have to have some basic idea of what a customer is worth. Regularly measure average life of a customer and their value to you during that time. If you don't know this number then it's impossible to know how much you can or should spend to acquire a customer! Needless to say, the goal is that lifetime and lifetime value increase.
Tip 5. Calculate your overall revenue per head.
This is a question of taking your total revenues and dividing them by the total number of people in your company... even the administrative and janitorial staff. The find out and compare your numbers to the typical ratios for your industry. Consider investing in the Culpepper Reports (if you're in the technology world) or purchasing the Robert Morris Associates (RMA) ratios. These will tell you what the average ratios are for other companies within your industry. Your banker may have access to the RMA reports (they're often used as the basis for assessing credit worthiness).
Examine The Mechanics.
It's one thing to manipulate numbers to get an idea of what's going on, it's another to understand how these numbers happen. To find out, let's roll up your sleeves and get down in the dirt -- where the action is. Here's a few more tips...
Tip 6. Talk to your existing customers -- frequently.
Want to find out how your selling operation is doing? Who better to ask than your existing customers? Make a regular practice of talking to existing customers about your selling efforts. Pick a customer at random and get them on the phone. You'll find that not only do you learn something you didn't know, you'll find that they really appreciate your interest. Many successful companies make their entire senior staff do just this.
Tip 7. Talk to lost prospects.
If you think talking to customers is informative, take the time to talk to the "ones that got away." These are the one's you really need to give attention! Make a point, independent of your sales force to call customers that chose NOT to do business with your company. Try it!
Tip 8. Take a customer service person to lunch.
When you're done meeting with your customers and lost prospects, make a point to take one of the line-level customer service people to lunch. Or buy the pizzas and do a roundtable with them all! Customer service people get the problems first. They have to clean up the mess. Take them to lunch and you'll find out a lot about where your problems lay in setting expectations properly with your prospects, or about what's not working in the sales process, or where your quality problems are. You'll be surprised at what you'll learn!
Tip 9. Take a fresh look at your selling materials.
For marketing, my variant of Newton's Law says that once you set something in motion, it will tend to stay in motion until something stops it. Nowhere is this more true than with your selling materials. A brochure gets developed and tends to stay in circulation long after its content becomes obsolete. Same with your web site. And the same for presentations, and whitepapers, and case studies. Make it a point to see exactly what your sales prospect will see. Then act accordingly. If your sales materials are out of date, then your whole company and brand are out of date, too.
Tip 10. Contact your own company.
This is one of my favorites. Yes, call the 800 number, fill in the web form, send an email, or just call the receptionist and request some information on your company's products. Then start your stopwatch. If you think you'll be recognized, get someone else to do it for you. See what happens, what you get, and how fast. If your company is on top of its sales process, you'll have action and materials in an hour. If your company can't do that, you better worry about the competitor that can.
Dog eat dog. Up or out.
At the end of the business day, it's all about growth. And growth is all about sales. If your company can't grow enough, if your company can't sell effectively, then you're destined to lose to someone who can. It'll just be a matter of time. Try the 10 tips. You'll be surprised at what you learn about your own sales and marketing operation.
About the Author:
Kurt Lynn is the founder of KLynn Inc a marketing and business consulting firm in Toronto, Ontario. His firm provides specialized business improvement consulting for businesses all over North America. Additional articles can be found on his Back-to-Basics Marketing blog. http://www.klynn.ca/
2.16.2007
Dan'z Kitchen Design Tips - Building in your existing Refrigerator for a better look.
Article Presented by:
Dan Stout
There are several reasons to give the refrigerator a "Built-In" look. The first of course, is appearance. Hiding the huge sides of the refrigerator may be an excellent improvement on the look and feel of your kitchen.
Here is a drawing of a typical refrigerator before and after being Built-in.
As you can see, the appearance is a lot different if the side of the refrigerator is hidden. The refrigerators in both drawings are the same size, but the refrigerator in the ' After ' drawing doesn't look as large because your eye focuses on the new wooden panel. You see only the edge of the refrigerator door instead of the large white side. Shown is a standard-depth refrigerator. Cabinet-depth refrigerators are also available, but are more expensive.
To accomplish this, we've added full-height matching panels on each side of the refrigerator, and changed the wall cabinet above from 12" to 24" depth.
You could also use the existing cabinet and install it forward 12", leaving a space behind it. (No one will ever know.) That way the only items to add for the new look are the tall panels on each side.
The other advantage to this method is the cabinet matches. You just have to make the tall panels match your cabinetry.
The change is a convenience as well. Now, when using the countertop adjacent to the refrigerator for meal or snack preparation, any loose items cannot fall between the refrigerator side and the cabinet. That makes the kitchen much easier to keep clean.
If your wall cabinets are 36" or 42" tall, (not the 30") that makes the cabinet over the refrigerator 18" or 24" tall. In that case you could add to the convenience by adding vertical dividers on at least one side of the cabinet above the refrigerator. We can store lids, cookie sheets, or any other flatware vertically in a cabinet 18" or 24" tall. That gets those troublesome storage items out of the regular cabinet space and makes more room in them for other items.
About the Author:
Dan Stout is the Webmaster at http://www.SlidingShelf.com This article is a snippet from the selection of kitchen layout tips found at http://www.SlidingShelf.com/DanzTips.htm
Dan Stout
There are several reasons to give the refrigerator a "Built-In" look. The first of course, is appearance. Hiding the huge sides of the refrigerator may be an excellent improvement on the look and feel of your kitchen.
Here is a drawing of a typical refrigerator before and after being Built-in.
As you can see, the appearance is a lot different if the side of the refrigerator is hidden. The refrigerators in both drawings are the same size, but the refrigerator in the ' After ' drawing doesn't look as large because your eye focuses on the new wooden panel. You see only the edge of the refrigerator door instead of the large white side. Shown is a standard-depth refrigerator. Cabinet-depth refrigerators are also available, but are more expensive.
To accomplish this, we've added full-height matching panels on each side of the refrigerator, and changed the wall cabinet above from 12" to 24" depth.
The change is a convenience as well. Now, when using the countertop adjacent to the refrigerator for meal or snack preparation, any loose items cannot fall between the refrigerator side and the cabinet. That makes the kitchen much easier to keep clean.
If your wall cabinets are 36" or 42" tall, (not the 30") that makes the cabinet over the refrigerator 18" or 24" tall. In that case you could add to the convenience by adding vertical dividers on at least one side of the cabinet above the refrigerator. We can store lids, cookie sheets, or any other flatware vertically in a cabinet 18" or 24" tall. That gets those troublesome storage items out of the regular cabinet space and makes more room in them for other items.
About the Author:
Dan Stout is the Webmaster at http://www.SlidingShelf.com This article is a snippet from the selection of kitchen layout tips found at http://www.SlidingShelf.com/DanzTips.htm
Interview Attire
Article Presented by:
Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success
One sure-fire way to miss out on a job is to show up at an interview dressed poorly. If you do this, the hiring manager will have a bad first impression of you, and you will probably have a very difficult time overcoming it. Showing up underdressed or with too many accessories on can put you in a bad light from the get-go. It is important to remember that, regardless of what kind of position you are applying for, you need to dress professionally.
First off we will review some tips for women.
1. Remember to wear a conservative suit that is a solid color. You may also want to consider wearing a common color such as black, brown, or dark blue. These colors will not make you stand out or draw attention. Avoid wearing bright colors such as pink or orange.
2. Choose shoes that accommodate you well. If you are a bit short and would like to gain a couple of inches, feel free to wear high heels. If you are self-conscious about your height, wear something that has a flat sole. Remember to never wear sandals or tennis shoes.
3. Keep jewelry and accessories to a limit. There is no need to wear four bracelets and five earrings. Show your professionalism by wearing a couple (one or two) classy accessories.
4. Do not overdo it on the makeup. Give your face a nice, natural look that people will enjoy looking at.
5. Bring a portfolio or briefcase with you that will contain anything that you may need. This will include work samples, extra resumes, and additional references.
Now for the men.
1. Just like the women, wear a solid color, conservative suit. Black, dark blue, brown, and gray are your best choices.
2. Regardless of recent trends, you will want to wear a long-sleeve white dress shirt. More and more people are going with colored shirts, but for an interview you will want to stay basic.
3. Keep your tie simple as well. If you are wearing a black suit with a white shirt, consider going with a solid black tie. If you want something to spruce up your outfit, look into a brighter color tie.
4. Many guys overlook their socks and shoes. Remember to wear socks that match your suit and shoes that are professional.
About the Author:
Kent Jacobson, a.k.a. "Mr. Success" is a trusted authority in the success field and provides valuable success information for free through his website at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com . You can also read Kent's Success Blog to find more success secrets at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com/blog
Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success
One sure-fire way to miss out on a job is to show up at an interview dressed poorly. If you do this, the hiring manager will have a bad first impression of you, and you will probably have a very difficult time overcoming it. Showing up underdressed or with too many accessories on can put you in a bad light from the get-go. It is important to remember that, regardless of what kind of position you are applying for, you need to dress professionally.
First off we will review some tips for women.
1. Remember to wear a conservative suit that is a solid color. You may also want to consider wearing a common color such as black, brown, or dark blue. These colors will not make you stand out or draw attention. Avoid wearing bright colors such as pink or orange.
2. Choose shoes that accommodate you well. If you are a bit short and would like to gain a couple of inches, feel free to wear high heels. If you are self-conscious about your height, wear something that has a flat sole. Remember to never wear sandals or tennis shoes.
3. Keep jewelry and accessories to a limit. There is no need to wear four bracelets and five earrings. Show your professionalism by wearing a couple (one or two) classy accessories.
4. Do not overdo it on the makeup. Give your face a nice, natural look that people will enjoy looking at.
5. Bring a portfolio or briefcase with you that will contain anything that you may need. This will include work samples, extra resumes, and additional references.
Now for the men.
1. Just like the women, wear a solid color, conservative suit. Black, dark blue, brown, and gray are your best choices.
2. Regardless of recent trends, you will want to wear a long-sleeve white dress shirt. More and more people are going with colored shirts, but for an interview you will want to stay basic.
3. Keep your tie simple as well. If you are wearing a black suit with a white shirt, consider going with a solid black tie. If you want something to spruce up your outfit, look into a brighter color tie.
4. Many guys overlook their socks and shoes. Remember to wear socks that match your suit and shoes that are professional.
About the Author:
Kent Jacobson, a.k.a. "Mr. Success" is a trusted authority in the success field and provides valuable success information for free through his website at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com . You can also read Kent's Success Blog to find more success secrets at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com/blog
2.15.2007
One of Alberta's Unsung Adventure Hubs
Article Presented by:
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
Grande Cache
Staring into the frothing, seething cauldron of the Muskeg River, I begin to wonder if this evening float in the Rocky Mountains was such a great idea, after all. Latched into the belly of a tandem kayak with a neoprene spray skirt, I survey the safety gear being shoved, rapid-fire, into my hands by Dale Tuck local prison worker, extreme athlete and self-appointed travel guide.
Paddles. Check. PFDs. Check. Protective gloves. Check. Helmets? Check. HELMETS?
"There are a lot of rocks in the river. We need the helmets in case we flip," says Tuck with a sly grin. "You can get bounced around a lot by the current." Oh.
The weather is unusually cold and rainy today so much that you would never know that two dozen majestic peaks encircle this rugged community northwest of Jasper National Park. The weather is less than perfect the temperature is 6°C, the rain has been falling for days, and the river is travelling much faster and higher than normal.
"How's your sense of adventure?" asks Tuck. I hesitate, staring at what seems like an inordinate amount of safety gear for a serene evening float. I wonder if I should mention, just one more time, that I'm a rookie paddler and a wimp. This isn't exactly my ideal holiday. He studies my furrowed brow as I stare anxiously at the churning water. "My mother did this trip."
Oh.
There's very little that's ordinary these days about Grande Cache, which is emerging as the next big thing for nature lovers seeking alternatives to the well-heeled crowds of Jasper, 90 minutes away, and Banff (both communities are situated in national parks). Situated at an altitude of 1,260 metres (1,373 yards) on the shoulder of Grande Mountain, the town of 4,500 has endured a rollercoaster ride of boom and bust since it sprung to life in 1969 with the discovery of major coal deposits in the region.
When several major employers shut down in the early 2000s (including the coal mine), the town last a third of its residents and was faced with boarded-up buildings, abandoned businesses and few hopeful prospects. But the community's tides have turned with the mill and coalmine back in operation and word is getting out that one of northern Alberta's best-kept adventure tourism secrets is more than a highway pit stop a blip on the map en route to other parts of northern Alberta, British Columbia and Alaska.
"It's all here for us now it just has to happen," says local Chamber of Commerce president Jean Bourdua, who came to the town 25 years ago to work at the mine and today owns and manages the Grande Cache Hotel. "I think in the next five years we'll see more happen in this town than we have in the past 25 years."
Willmore Wilderness Park, a 4,597-sq.-km (18,388-sq.-mi) provincial wilderness sanctuary, is a few kilometres away and the region is spattered with lakes, rivers, mountains and alpine trails. The annual Canadian Death Race, a six-year-old event that brings more than 800 extreme athletes and hundreds of other tourists to the town early each August, also capitalizes on the community's rugged persona. With the motto 'It's a Killer', it's not your average vacation, but the July 29-Aug. 1 race and affiliated town festival lures travellers from around the world.
"The Death Race has brought us through the glass ceiling," says race organizer Dale Tuck, who has become a household name in Grande Cache for his promotion of the race and other tourism initiatives such as the Passport to the Peaks mountain-climbing program. Tuck says the gruelling 125-kilometre race (77.5 mi), which can be run by individuals or relay teams, and related training workshops bring nearly $2 million to the community each year. When the town's hotels, motels and campgrounds are full, locals open up their homes for a modest accommodation fee to racers and families. (There's even a five-kilometre kids' race.) The main contest itself is extreme, including three mountain summits, a river crossing and 5,100 metres (17,000 feet) in elevation changes. The goal is to finish in under 24 hours.
An avid outdoorsman, Tuck founded the race to promote the community, 450 kilometres (279 mi) northwest of Edmonton, and its natural beauty and abundance of adventure. Eager to share his passion for the outdoors, he and Bourdua have invited me for a paddle down the mighty Muskeg a river with Class 3-4 rapids, waterfalls and enough other hazards that only the most skilled kayaker dare tackle.
Staring into the churning water, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I've been in Grande Cache only a couple of hours, and I'm not sure this is the introduction I was looking for. But it's too late to back out now. I reluctantly nod my head to proceed Tuck and Bourdua are clearly itching to tackle the current. I get a brief drill on paddle protocol, and we slip from the river's rocky edge and into the current and start battling the churning surf.
"We're going to do a few Eskimo rolls to get you used to being under water, announces Tuck, as Bourdua pulls alongside us in his single trick kayak, a stubby boat with a pointy front and flat backend. We steer into a backwater under the bridge, and Tuck, an expert paddler, flips our boat so we're upside down in the frigid water. After five to 10 seconds (but seeming much longer), he rolls us upright and I shake the water from my eyes. Now, it's time to get serious. We lurch into the current and battle the river's moods as it zips past soggy, muskeg-laden hillsides that are home to bear, wildcats, moose, deer, eagles, and numerous other bird species. At one spot, we pull out to traverse an eight-foot waterfall that Bourdua will run in his truncated kayak. He lands on a rock, flips into the current, then pops up a few metres below laughing. "Did you see that I landed on the rock!"
We carry on but before long we're dipping, surging, plunging, flying, almost flipping into the thrashing waters and Tuck is shouting at the top of his lungs. I strain to hear his words over the river's roar. "Don't stop paddling!" he cries. "Keep that paddle in the river! Attack the current – those waves are your enemy! KEEP PADDLING. KEEP PADDLING!"
Another rapids down, and we pull off for a rest. I tell my companions my arms are too tired to carry on much further. Tuck and Bourdua offer me a choice pull out now, or tackle the lower reaches of the Muskeg. The river, which winds through a narrow canyon, is mostly rapids and there is no way out except at our pullout. The scenery, says Tuck, is even more amazing. So is the adrenaline rush. I shake my head. "I don't think so," I mumble, exhausted and more than a little afraid. Tuck and Bourdua urge me to continue.
"The only thing that is stopping you now is what's between your ears. You can do this; but you have to believe you can," says Bourdua, wiping the river's spray from his brow. Pause. More than a minute passes. "Let's go," I announce, surprising even myself, and my fellow river-runners raise their paddles in glee.
The bottom part of the Muskeg becomes choppier; the canyon walls have closed in and it's a kilometre hike straight up for anyone who wants to get out. We portage another waterfall; my tour guides help me across a rain-slicked, mossy cliff ledge overhanging the falls, and haul the boats across the precipice. I stare at the river, seven metres (20-odd feet) below, and wonder how we're getting back in.
Oh, of course. We'll just jump off the cliff in our boat. "It's what's called a dry entry," says Tuck. "Jean will push us. You just drop your paddle if you have to, and crouch down low when we go over," says Tuck. "We should be fine. There's a 50-50 chance we'll land upright."
Now I've gone from scared to terrified. My heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear their words of encouragement. "We'll be fine," says Tuck. I shake my head again. No. I sit motionless. I realize we have no choice.
"Well, we can't stay here all night," sighs Bourdua, motioning Tuck to his seat at the rear of the boat. I close my eyes, press my chest to my knees, clutch my paddle to the side of the boat and pray for the best.
There's so much water when we land I can't tell which way is up, but I realize we've landed upright and I'm screaming with joy. Bourdua follows suit, and we paddle the last few sections of current down the Muskeg and pull out just above another waterfall this one impossible to navigate. We shimmy out of our boats, and begin the kilometre hike up the canyon, our feet squishing through the muskeg and mossy forest floor.
I'm huffing and puffing, toting my paddle and helmet, while Bourdua and Tuck drag and carry their boats, barely breaking a sweat. They grin and praise me for being willing to walk on the wild side with them, and face my own fears.
Despite the rain, the clouds and the cold, it's just another lovely spring evening in Grande Cache, where adventure is beckoning those willing to embrace it.
And in the end, I'm so glad I did.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
Grande Cache
Staring into the frothing, seething cauldron of the Muskeg River, I begin to wonder if this evening float in the Rocky Mountains was such a great idea, after all. Latched into the belly of a tandem kayak with a neoprene spray skirt, I survey the safety gear being shoved, rapid-fire, into my hands by Dale Tuck local prison worker, extreme athlete and self-appointed travel guide.
Paddles. Check. PFDs. Check. Protective gloves. Check. Helmets? Check. HELMETS?
"There are a lot of rocks in the river. We need the helmets in case we flip," says Tuck with a sly grin. "You can get bounced around a lot by the current." Oh.
The weather is unusually cold and rainy today so much that you would never know that two dozen majestic peaks encircle this rugged community northwest of Jasper National Park. The weather is less than perfect the temperature is 6°C, the rain has been falling for days, and the river is travelling much faster and higher than normal.
"How's your sense of adventure?" asks Tuck. I hesitate, staring at what seems like an inordinate amount of safety gear for a serene evening float. I wonder if I should mention, just one more time, that I'm a rookie paddler and a wimp. This isn't exactly my ideal holiday. He studies my furrowed brow as I stare anxiously at the churning water. "My mother did this trip."
Oh.
There's very little that's ordinary these days about Grande Cache, which is emerging as the next big thing for nature lovers seeking alternatives to the well-heeled crowds of Jasper, 90 minutes away, and Banff (both communities are situated in national parks). Situated at an altitude of 1,260 metres (1,373 yards) on the shoulder of Grande Mountain, the town of 4,500 has endured a rollercoaster ride of boom and bust since it sprung to life in 1969 with the discovery of major coal deposits in the region.
When several major employers shut down in the early 2000s (including the coal mine), the town last a third of its residents and was faced with boarded-up buildings, abandoned businesses and few hopeful prospects. But the community's tides have turned with the mill and coalmine back in operation and word is getting out that one of northern Alberta's best-kept adventure tourism secrets is more than a highway pit stop a blip on the map en route to other parts of northern Alberta, British Columbia and Alaska.
"It's all here for us now it just has to happen," says local Chamber of Commerce president Jean Bourdua, who came to the town 25 years ago to work at the mine and today owns and manages the Grande Cache Hotel. "I think in the next five years we'll see more happen in this town than we have in the past 25 years."
Willmore Wilderness Park, a 4,597-sq.-km (18,388-sq.-mi) provincial wilderness sanctuary, is a few kilometres away and the region is spattered with lakes, rivers, mountains and alpine trails. The annual Canadian Death Race, a six-year-old event that brings more than 800 extreme athletes and hundreds of other tourists to the town early each August, also capitalizes on the community's rugged persona. With the motto 'It's a Killer', it's not your average vacation, but the July 29-Aug. 1 race and affiliated town festival lures travellers from around the world.
"The Death Race has brought us through the glass ceiling," says race organizer Dale Tuck, who has become a household name in Grande Cache for his promotion of the race and other tourism initiatives such as the Passport to the Peaks mountain-climbing program. Tuck says the gruelling 125-kilometre race (77.5 mi), which can be run by individuals or relay teams, and related training workshops bring nearly $2 million to the community each year. When the town's hotels, motels and campgrounds are full, locals open up their homes for a modest accommodation fee to racers and families. (There's even a five-kilometre kids' race.) The main contest itself is extreme, including three mountain summits, a river crossing and 5,100 metres (17,000 feet) in elevation changes. The goal is to finish in under 24 hours.
An avid outdoorsman, Tuck founded the race to promote the community, 450 kilometres (279 mi) northwest of Edmonton, and its natural beauty and abundance of adventure. Eager to share his passion for the outdoors, he and Bourdua have invited me for a paddle down the mighty Muskeg a river with Class 3-4 rapids, waterfalls and enough other hazards that only the most skilled kayaker dare tackle.
Staring into the churning water, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I've been in Grande Cache only a couple of hours, and I'm not sure this is the introduction I was looking for. But it's too late to back out now. I reluctantly nod my head to proceed Tuck and Bourdua are clearly itching to tackle the current. I get a brief drill on paddle protocol, and we slip from the river's rocky edge and into the current and start battling the churning surf.
"We're going to do a few Eskimo rolls to get you used to being under water, announces Tuck, as Bourdua pulls alongside us in his single trick kayak, a stubby boat with a pointy front and flat backend. We steer into a backwater under the bridge, and Tuck, an expert paddler, flips our boat so we're upside down in the frigid water. After five to 10 seconds (but seeming much longer), he rolls us upright and I shake the water from my eyes. Now, it's time to get serious. We lurch into the current and battle the river's moods as it zips past soggy, muskeg-laden hillsides that are home to bear, wildcats, moose, deer, eagles, and numerous other bird species. At one spot, we pull out to traverse an eight-foot waterfall that Bourdua will run in his truncated kayak. He lands on a rock, flips into the current, then pops up a few metres below laughing. "Did you see that I landed on the rock!"
We carry on but before long we're dipping, surging, plunging, flying, almost flipping into the thrashing waters and Tuck is shouting at the top of his lungs. I strain to hear his words over the river's roar. "Don't stop paddling!" he cries. "Keep that paddle in the river! Attack the current – those waves are your enemy! KEEP PADDLING. KEEP PADDLING!"
Another rapids down, and we pull off for a rest. I tell my companions my arms are too tired to carry on much further. Tuck and Bourdua offer me a choice pull out now, or tackle the lower reaches of the Muskeg. The river, which winds through a narrow canyon, is mostly rapids and there is no way out except at our pullout. The scenery, says Tuck, is even more amazing. So is the adrenaline rush. I shake my head. "I don't think so," I mumble, exhausted and more than a little afraid. Tuck and Bourdua urge me to continue.
"The only thing that is stopping you now is what's between your ears. You can do this; but you have to believe you can," says Bourdua, wiping the river's spray from his brow. Pause. More than a minute passes. "Let's go," I announce, surprising even myself, and my fellow river-runners raise their paddles in glee.
The bottom part of the Muskeg becomes choppier; the canyon walls have closed in and it's a kilometre hike straight up for anyone who wants to get out. We portage another waterfall; my tour guides help me across a rain-slicked, mossy cliff ledge overhanging the falls, and haul the boats across the precipice. I stare at the river, seven metres (20-odd feet) below, and wonder how we're getting back in.
Oh, of course. We'll just jump off the cliff in our boat. "It's what's called a dry entry," says Tuck. "Jean will push us. You just drop your paddle if you have to, and crouch down low when we go over," says Tuck. "We should be fine. There's a 50-50 chance we'll land upright."
Now I've gone from scared to terrified. My heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear their words of encouragement. "We'll be fine," says Tuck. I shake my head again. No. I sit motionless. I realize we have no choice.
"Well, we can't stay here all night," sighs Bourdua, motioning Tuck to his seat at the rear of the boat. I close my eyes, press my chest to my knees, clutch my paddle to the side of the boat and pray for the best.
There's so much water when we land I can't tell which way is up, but I realize we've landed upright and I'm screaming with joy. Bourdua follows suit, and we paddle the last few sections of current down the Muskeg and pull out just above another waterfall this one impossible to navigate. We shimmy out of our boats, and begin the kilometre hike up the canyon, our feet squishing through the muskeg and mossy forest floor.
I'm huffing and puffing, toting my paddle and helmet, while Bourdua and Tuck drag and carry their boats, barely breaking a sweat. They grin and praise me for being willing to walk on the wild side with them, and face my own fears.
Despite the rain, the clouds and the cold, it's just another lovely spring evening in Grande Cache, where adventure is beckoning those willing to embrace it.
And in the end, I'm so glad I did.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
2.14.2007
Trends in SaaS - What the experts are saying!
Article Presented by:
Anne Sych
With budgets restraints and growing demands on IT personnel, many companies are choosing the course of Software as a Service (SaaS) as an alternative to expensive software purchases. "Software as a Service (SaaS) is a model of software delivery where the software company provides maintenance, daily technical operation, and support for the software provided to their client" (wikipedia).
In the late 1990's the "ASP" (application service provider) model showed promise of becoming the way of the future for software deployment. With the fall of many dot-com businesses, ASP lived a short life only to be resurrected as SaaS.
The purpose of this article is to report what some of the industry experts are saying about the Software as a Service model.
IDC forecasts that worldwide spending on SaaS will reach 10.7 billion by 2009, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21%. (IDC, Worldwide and U.S. Software as a Service Forecast and Analysis: Adoption of the Alternative Delivery Model Continues #33120, by Amy Konary and Eric Traudt, March 2005).
SAAS has already reached high levels of penetration in customer relationship management (CRM) software, accounting for 30 percent of the CRM share in the middle market and about 14 percent in the SMB space. (Sanjeev Aggarwal, The Yankee Group)
"Gartner, Inc. predicts that by 2008 more than 50 percent of software purchases will be obtained via SaaS.
SaaS "empowers business units enabling them to buy, deploy, and run software without IT involvement," says Liz Herbert, an analyst with Forrester Research.
"There is no doubt that software as a service has become a driving force within the software industry. Indications are that customer adoption will continue over the next five years and spending will remain on the rise. The software industry must adopt a new frame of reference for value creation. Software as a service delivery is at the forefront of this trend, and adoption will grow as more customers experience software as a service and the offerings mature, becoming more readily accepted and available in the market" (Eric Traudt, Research Analyst, IDC).
"It's lower risk and can deliver and faster return on investment," Herbert says. Thinkstrategies' Kaplan agrees: "Packaged applications are difficult to maintain. SaaS costs can be amortized over time as well."
From the vendor perspective, selling licenses via subscriptions increases the predictability of software revenue and makes it easier to demonstrate future health (Amy Konary, Program Director of Software Pricing, Licensing & Delivery, IDC).
Customers like the low up-front costs of the subscription model, as well as the enhanced ability to build an ongoing relationship with the software provider that they pay on an ongoing basis (Amy Konary, Program Director of Software Pricing, Licensing & Delivery, IDC).
Time will tell just how successful this deployment model will be and many newcomers are to be expected as this market grows. In the meantime, keep your ears and eyes open for more about SaaS.
About the Author:
Written by: Anne Sych, Marketing Manager for Novo Solutions, Inc.
Novo Solutions, Inc. is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) in Virginia Beach, Virginia specializing in Customer Support Software. Free trial versions of the Novo Help Desk Software, Knowledge Base Software and suite of web-based Customer Support Solutions are available. http://www.novosolutions.com/
Anne Sych
With budgets restraints and growing demands on IT personnel, many companies are choosing the course of Software as a Service (SaaS) as an alternative to expensive software purchases. "Software as a Service (SaaS) is a model of software delivery where the software company provides maintenance, daily technical operation, and support for the software provided to their client" (wikipedia).
In the late 1990's the "ASP" (application service provider) model showed promise of becoming the way of the future for software deployment. With the fall of many dot-com businesses, ASP lived a short life only to be resurrected as SaaS.
The purpose of this article is to report what some of the industry experts are saying about the Software as a Service model.
Time will tell just how successful this deployment model will be and many newcomers are to be expected as this market grows. In the meantime, keep your ears and eyes open for more about SaaS.
About the Author:
Written by: Anne Sych, Marketing Manager for Novo Solutions, Inc.
Novo Solutions, Inc. is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) in Virginia Beach, Virginia specializing in Customer Support Software. Free trial versions of the Novo Help Desk Software, Knowledge Base Software and suite of web-based Customer Support Solutions are available. http://www.novosolutions.com/
Supply Chain Management Software-as-a-Service: IBM - A Faster, Leaner, More Efficient Supply Chain
Article Presented by:
R. Jones
IBM aims to practice what it preaches. The company's early support of fully automated processes, such as order management, service requests and OEM manufacturing work orders, has served to improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiencies. And over the years the company has remained committed to continuous improvement through the intelligent application of new technologies, becoming a model for a fully automated enterprise using the most advanced supply chain solutions and practices.
IBM defines the next level of business process efficiency as an on-demand model: "An enterprise whose business processes can respond with speed to any customer demand, market opportunity or external threat." This model requires seamless end-to-end business process integration of internal IBM systems while extending into key partners, suppliers and customers.
THE CHALLENGE
With one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the world, IBM spends $41 billion annually on orders for more than two billion component parts a year, working with 33,000 suppliers and 45,000 business partners.
"IBM has long focused on creating and building an integrated, end-to-end supply chain," says Kevin O'Connell, IBM's director of manufacturing and procurement processes. "Now we wanted to bump it up to new levels of collaboration. To achieve our on-demand goals, we needed to extend integration of business processes across a multi-tiered supply chain and into customer and partner systems as well."
IBM realized that their in-house supply chain system was not sustainable. With their legacy system, IBM relied on suppliers' and partners' reports and management systems for visibility into its own supply chain. Sourcing compliance by Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers for IBM core suppliers was nothing close to real time. Instead, IBM operated in a reactionary mode, relying on EMS self-reporting and supplier end-of-quarter information.
After extended analysis, IBM determined that it needed an industry-standard supply chain management solution that allowed for synchronization of demand and supply and visibility into Tier 2 and 3 suppliers and contract manufacturers, for all IBM global manufacturing sites and divisions. The solution had to be flexible and robust enough to support changing customer demand scenarios with proactive supply/demand planning.
THE SOLUTION
IBM turned to E2open to provide two customer-proven supply chain management solutions:
E2open Demand / Supply Synchronization Solution: Enables IBM to sense and respond rapidly to demand and supply changes, quickly flagging imbalances and potential shortages. These capabilities allow IBM to reach its goal of building an integrated end-to-end supply chain that responds to demand and supply changes rapidly and accurately.
E2open Multi-tier Visibility Solution: Provides Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers with consolidated visibility into forecasts, commits, aggregate order quantities and inventory positions, so each tier of the supply chain can track supply chain execution and respond quickly to imbalances, errors and shortages. The scope and depth of this visibility is critical to high levels of supply assurance.
Working seamlessly together, the E2open supply chain management solutions provide IBM and suppliers with a consolidated view of customer demand, available supply and any imbalances. They allow IBM to proactively manage demand / supply execution, inventory and replenishment across IBM's global supply chain by providing a more accurate view of supply positions. Through use of the information aggregated by the E2open solution, every supplier tier has the business data they need to make effective supply chain decisions.
THE RESULTS
The solution currently extends across 37 manufacturing facilities and 10 replenishment (VMI) service centers, representing more than 85 percent of IBM's annual manufacturing procurement expenditures. It provides both IBM and Tiers 1, 2 and 3 suppliers a consolidated view of demand and available supply.
With the E2open solution, IBM is able to proactively manage demand / supply execution, inventory and replenishment across its global supply chain, and is able to incrementally scale the solution as more supply chain partners come on board through acquisitions and expansions.
IBM achieved very fast time-to-value with rapid integration and deployment across global sites and tiers of suppliers, lowered total cost of ownership, streamlined operations, and increased responsiveness and flexibility within their supply chain. IBM estimates a 50 percent savings on deployment and operations costs over its existing solution and alternative approaches. Business benefits include:
Reduced supply / demand planning time from 45+ days to 10 days Increased pull replenishment levels to 85 percent Improved outbound on-time delivery rates to 90 to 95 percent Improved inventory turns more than 42 percent Achieved time to benefit of less than nine months
These solutions helped IBM in its quest to build a highly responsive supply chain that can meet changes in customer demand rapidly and efficiently.
About the Author:
Written by: R. Jones, ABOUT E2open - E2open is the leading provider of supply chain management software-as-a-service for visibility and control over global supply networks. Industry leaders that power their supply chain with E2open include Agere, The Boeing Company, Hitachi, IBM, LG Electronics, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic), Motorola, Seagate Technology, Solectron and Wistron. E2open's software-as-a-service model offers faster payback, larger ROI and reduced risk while requiring less IT and business resources. Over 15,000 companies worldwide currently use E2open. Headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., E2open is a privately held company.
For additional information on how E2open can assist you in gaining visibility and control over your complex supply chain, please visit our website at http://www.e2open.com or contact us at 650.381.3737.
R. Jones
IBM aims to practice what it preaches. The company's early support of fully automated processes, such as order management, service requests and OEM manufacturing work orders, has served to improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiencies. And over the years the company has remained committed to continuous improvement through the intelligent application of new technologies, becoming a model for a fully automated enterprise using the most advanced supply chain solutions and practices.
IBM defines the next level of business process efficiency as an on-demand model: "An enterprise whose business processes can respond with speed to any customer demand, market opportunity or external threat." This model requires seamless end-to-end business process integration of internal IBM systems while extending into key partners, suppliers and customers.
THE CHALLENGE
With one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the world, IBM spends $41 billion annually on orders for more than two billion component parts a year, working with 33,000 suppliers and 45,000 business partners.
"IBM has long focused on creating and building an integrated, end-to-end supply chain," says Kevin O'Connell, IBM's director of manufacturing and procurement processes. "Now we wanted to bump it up to new levels of collaboration. To achieve our on-demand goals, we needed to extend integration of business processes across a multi-tiered supply chain and into customer and partner systems as well."
IBM realized that their in-house supply chain system was not sustainable. With their legacy system, IBM relied on suppliers' and partners' reports and management systems for visibility into its own supply chain. Sourcing compliance by Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers for IBM core suppliers was nothing close to real time. Instead, IBM operated in a reactionary mode, relying on EMS self-reporting and supplier end-of-quarter information.
After extended analysis, IBM determined that it needed an industry-standard supply chain management solution that allowed for synchronization of demand and supply and visibility into Tier 2 and 3 suppliers and contract manufacturers, for all IBM global manufacturing sites and divisions. The solution had to be flexible and robust enough to support changing customer demand scenarios with proactive supply/demand planning.
THE SOLUTION
IBM turned to E2open to provide two customer-proven supply chain management solutions:
Working seamlessly together, the E2open supply chain management solutions provide IBM and suppliers with a consolidated view of customer demand, available supply and any imbalances. They allow IBM to proactively manage demand / supply execution, inventory and replenishment across IBM's global supply chain by providing a more accurate view of supply positions. Through use of the information aggregated by the E2open solution, every supplier tier has the business data they need to make effective supply chain decisions.
THE RESULTS
The solution currently extends across 37 manufacturing facilities and 10 replenishment (VMI) service centers, representing more than 85 percent of IBM's annual manufacturing procurement expenditures. It provides both IBM and Tiers 1, 2 and 3 suppliers a consolidated view of demand and available supply.
With the E2open solution, IBM is able to proactively manage demand / supply execution, inventory and replenishment across its global supply chain, and is able to incrementally scale the solution as more supply chain partners come on board through acquisitions and expansions.
IBM achieved very fast time-to-value with rapid integration and deployment across global sites and tiers of suppliers, lowered total cost of ownership, streamlined operations, and increased responsiveness and flexibility within their supply chain. IBM estimates a 50 percent savings on deployment and operations costs over its existing solution and alternative approaches. Business benefits include:
These solutions helped IBM in its quest to build a highly responsive supply chain that can meet changes in customer demand rapidly and efficiently.
About the Author:
Written by: R. Jones, ABOUT E2open - E2open is the leading provider of supply chain management software-as-a-service for visibility and control over global supply networks. Industry leaders that power their supply chain with E2open include Agere, The Boeing Company, Hitachi, IBM, LG Electronics, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic), Motorola, Seagate Technology, Solectron and Wistron. E2open's software-as-a-service model offers faster payback, larger ROI and reduced risk while requiring less IT and business resources. Over 15,000 companies worldwide currently use E2open. Headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., E2open is a privately held company.
For additional information on how E2open can assist you in gaining visibility and control over your complex supply chain, please visit our website at http://www.e2open.com or contact us at 650.381.3737.
Much To Do with Nothing
Article Presented by:
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
It almost goes without saying that hiking in the Rocky Mountains is a free activity. The same is true of mountain biking, provided you bring your wheels with you. Otherwise, you'll need to rent. For a rare mountain treat, though, it's tough to beat swimming. What's that? You thought the water would be too cold? It's true that the lakes at this elevation are mostly snow run-off from the mountains, but there are a few gems that provide a cool in the chilly sense of the word opportunity to shed the heat of a hot summer day. One in particular is found just off Minnewanka Lake Road, close to Banff. Take the turnoff to Johnson Lake, and you'll find a small sandy beach at the foot of crystal clear waters fringed by majestic mountains. It's a favorite spot with the locals (and somewhat of a local secret) so you won't find a lot of crowds at this charming swimming hole.
History and Culture
As Canada's first National Park, Banff is rich with historical and cultural attractions, many of which are free to enjoy. At Canada Place, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May through September, you can discover Canada in a variety of family-oriented interactive exhibits that highlight the land and people of Canada. You'll find another free attraction close by, at the colorful Cascade Gardens, where a traditional teepee is set up from July to September. This is the Siksika Nation Interpretive Centre, where interpreters can introduce you to the lore and culture of the mountain-based Siksika Nation. Every Tuesday at noon, the centre puts on a free display of drumming and dancing.
Truly "Campy" Entertainment
In all of the Rocky Mountain parks, campgrounds are a hotspot of activity. They're also excellent places to enjoy free entertainment. Many campgrounds have amphitheatres, where park interpreters stage live drama and educational theatre programs. Always a hit with families, the campground theatre programs are more than just free ¦they're also fun.
Music in the Mountains
There's something almost spiritual about music played at this altitude. And something almost heavenly about the price...nothing! A local favorite in Banff is the Serenade at St. George's (June 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9) held in the evenings at St. George's In The Pines Anglican Church on Beaver Street. The chamber music is truly uplifting. For daytime music in Banff, be sure to check out Music at Noon (June 22, 29, July 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, August 3, 4, 10, 11) held at Rolston Recital Hall in the world-famous Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. Here, the music on tap ranges from baroque to classical, and from jazz to contemporary. Not far away, in Canmore, you can enjoy more musical treats in a mountain setting. At Canmore Mondays (June 20, 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25) you can listen to soloists and chamber musicians fill Creekside Hall with their inspiring notes.
Knock Knock!
On June 18 and 19 in Banff, you get the chance to enter buildings you might not otherwise have access to and learn about the historical, cultural or architectural significance of some of Banff's finest buildings. It's all part of Doors Open Banff, with sites open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The Doors Open Banff Information Centre is located in the Old Crag and Canyon Cabin at the corner of Lynx Street and Bear Street, and brochures will be available at Banff Town Hall and the Visitor Information Centre.
Sweet and Savory
When you're strolling the streets of Banff, Jasper, Canmore and Waterton, you'll be tempted by the sights and smells of candy, barbecues and restaurants galore. Some even offer free samples and treats. For example, it's not unusual to pick up a chunk of fudge at the Fudgery on Banff Avenue. And if you stop at Melissa's Restaurant & Bar on Lynx Street in Banff, you can treat yourself to free popcorn.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
It almost goes without saying that hiking in the Rocky Mountains is a free activity. The same is true of mountain biking, provided you bring your wheels with you. Otherwise, you'll need to rent. For a rare mountain treat, though, it's tough to beat swimming. What's that? You thought the water would be too cold? It's true that the lakes at this elevation are mostly snow run-off from the mountains, but there are a few gems that provide a cool in the chilly sense of the word opportunity to shed the heat of a hot summer day. One in particular is found just off Minnewanka Lake Road, close to Banff. Take the turnoff to Johnson Lake, and you'll find a small sandy beach at the foot of crystal clear waters fringed by majestic mountains. It's a favorite spot with the locals (and somewhat of a local secret) so you won't find a lot of crowds at this charming swimming hole.
History and Culture
As Canada's first National Park, Banff is rich with historical and cultural attractions, many of which are free to enjoy. At Canada Place, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May through September, you can discover Canada in a variety of family-oriented interactive exhibits that highlight the land and people of Canada. You'll find another free attraction close by, at the colorful Cascade Gardens, where a traditional teepee is set up from July to September. This is the Siksika Nation Interpretive Centre, where interpreters can introduce you to the lore and culture of the mountain-based Siksika Nation. Every Tuesday at noon, the centre puts on a free display of drumming and dancing.
Truly "Campy" Entertainment
In all of the Rocky Mountain parks, campgrounds are a hotspot of activity. They're also excellent places to enjoy free entertainment. Many campgrounds have amphitheatres, where park interpreters stage live drama and educational theatre programs. Always a hit with families, the campground theatre programs are more than just free ¦they're also fun.
Music in the Mountains
There's something almost spiritual about music played at this altitude. And something almost heavenly about the price...nothing! A local favorite in Banff is the Serenade at St. George's (June 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9) held in the evenings at St. George's In The Pines Anglican Church on Beaver Street. The chamber music is truly uplifting. For daytime music in Banff, be sure to check out Music at Noon (June 22, 29, July 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, August 3, 4, 10, 11) held at Rolston Recital Hall in the world-famous Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. Here, the music on tap ranges from baroque to classical, and from jazz to contemporary. Not far away, in Canmore, you can enjoy more musical treats in a mountain setting. At Canmore Mondays (June 20, 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25) you can listen to soloists and chamber musicians fill Creekside Hall with their inspiring notes.
Knock Knock!
On June 18 and 19 in Banff, you get the chance to enter buildings you might not otherwise have access to and learn about the historical, cultural or architectural significance of some of Banff's finest buildings. It's all part of Doors Open Banff, with sites open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The Doors Open Banff Information Centre is located in the Old Crag and Canyon Cabin at the corner of Lynx Street and Bear Street, and brochures will be available at Banff Town Hall and the Visitor Information Centre.
Sweet and Savory
When you're strolling the streets of Banff, Jasper, Canmore and Waterton, you'll be tempted by the sights and smells of candy, barbecues and restaurants galore. Some even offer free samples and treats. For example, it's not unusual to pick up a chunk of fudge at the Fudgery on Banff Avenue. And if you stop at Melissa's Restaurant & Bar on Lynx Street in Banff, you can treat yourself to free popcorn.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
Mountain Town Roundup
Article Presented by:
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
Waterton (pop. 55) Waterton National Park
At just 203 square miles, Waterton is the tiniest park in the Canadian Rockies. And the town of Waterton is by far the sleepiest in our list of Alberta mountain towns. Small and quiet is what makes it special, though, along with its many water-borne activities, from boating and water-skiing to swimming and scuba-diving.
What's in a Name? The Waterton chain of lakes was named by Lieutenant Blakiston, in honor of British naturalist Squire Charles Waterton.
Local Watering Hole: Wolf's Den Lounge: in Waterton Lakes Lodge locally brewed beer, selection of liquor and wines.
Picture Yourself Here: Among the most photographed hotels in the world, the majestic Prince of Wales Hotel sits high on a bluff overlooking Waterton Lake.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: The canoe virtually defined Canadian travel for centuries, and you can rent one to ply the waters of Waterton or Cameron Lake.
Banff (pop. 7,615) Banff National Park
Banff is the first Canadian municipality incorporated into a national park, and has been offering its warm Alberta hospitality and stunning settings to visitors for well over a century. Banff gets about six million visitors a year, and is synonymous worldwide with the Rocky Mountains of Canada.
What's in a Name? The town of Banff is named after Banffshire, Scotland, the birthplace of two major financiers of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Local Watering Hole: The Rose & Crown, a neighborhood pub on Banff Avenue, is an established local tradition, welcoming a quarter-million guests a year.
Picture Yourself Here: Few sights are as memorable as the "Castle in the Rockies", the gothic 120-year-old Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Most Canadian Thing to Do: Mountie-spotting. You can regularly spy a real-live Royal Canadian Mounted Police in full regalia somewhere on the streets of Banff.
Jasper (pop. 4,697) Jasper National Park
As the focal point of the largest park in the Canada's Rocky Mountains, Jasper is the jumping-off point for countless activities, including canoeing, kayaking, hiking, golfing, fishing, horseback riding and skiing at Marmot Basin. Surrounded by a necklace of emerald lakes and majestic waterfalls, Jasper offers accommodations ranging from quaint cabins to luxurious resorts. What's in a Name? In 1813, the North West Company built a supply depot on Brule Lake, which becomes known as Jasper House after NWC clerk Jasper Hawes.
Local Watering Hole: The Athabasca Hotel has been a local Jasper favorite whether for casual drinks or dinner since opening its doors in 1929.
Picture Yourself Here: A great photo opportunity in Jasper is to pose beside the 8-foot sculpture of Jasper the Bear with the Canadian Rockies in the background.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: At the Columbia Icefield south of Jasper, you can ride an "Ice Explorer" onto a massive glacier that spans 150 square miles.
Canmore (pop. 14,221) Kananaskis Country
Encircled by one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges, Canmore sits in a virtual cape of the Canadian Rockies 1.5 hours west of Calgary, in an Alberta provincial park. It's bordered to the west and north by Banff National Park and to the southeast by Kananaskis Country, making it a major mountain hub for adventure-seekers and casual travelers alike. What's in a Name? Canmore was named in 1884 by Lord Strathcona, in honor of Malcome III Canmore, who was king of Scotland from 1057 to 1093.
Local Watering Hole: At the Grizzly Paw Pub & Brew Company you can enjoy locally brewed beer and mountain-sized burgers.
Picture Yourself Here: Nothing says Canmore quite like the Three Sisters mountain range, which form an ideal backdrop for any photo opportunity.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: The town plays host to the Canmore Highland Games in September, a great chance to experience the long Scottish heritage of Canada. At just 203 square miles, Waterton is the tiniest park in the Canadian Rockies. And the town of Waterton is by far the sleepiest in our list of Alberta mountain towns. Small and quiet is what makes it special, though, along with its many water-borne activities, from boating and water-skiing to swimming and scuba-diving.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta
Waterton (pop. 55) Waterton National Park
At just 203 square miles, Waterton is the tiniest park in the Canadian Rockies. And the town of Waterton is by far the sleepiest in our list of Alberta mountain towns. Small and quiet is what makes it special, though, along with its many water-borne activities, from boating and water-skiing to swimming and scuba-diving.
What's in a Name? The Waterton chain of lakes was named by Lieutenant Blakiston, in honor of British naturalist Squire Charles Waterton.
Local Watering Hole: Wolf's Den Lounge: in Waterton Lakes Lodge locally brewed beer, selection of liquor and wines.
Picture Yourself Here: Among the most photographed hotels in the world, the majestic Prince of Wales Hotel sits high on a bluff overlooking Waterton Lake.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: The canoe virtually defined Canadian travel for centuries, and you can rent one to ply the waters of Waterton or Cameron Lake.
Banff (pop. 7,615) Banff National Park
Banff is the first Canadian municipality incorporated into a national park, and has been offering its warm Alberta hospitality and stunning settings to visitors for well over a century. Banff gets about six million visitors a year, and is synonymous worldwide with the Rocky Mountains of Canada.
What's in a Name? The town of Banff is named after Banffshire, Scotland, the birthplace of two major financiers of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Local Watering Hole: The Rose & Crown, a neighborhood pub on Banff Avenue, is an established local tradition, welcoming a quarter-million guests a year.
Picture Yourself Here: Few sights are as memorable as the "Castle in the Rockies", the gothic 120-year-old Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Most Canadian Thing to Do: Mountie-spotting. You can regularly spy a real-live Royal Canadian Mounted Police in full regalia somewhere on the streets of Banff.
Jasper (pop. 4,697) Jasper National Park
As the focal point of the largest park in the Canada's Rocky Mountains, Jasper is the jumping-off point for countless activities, including canoeing, kayaking, hiking, golfing, fishing, horseback riding and skiing at Marmot Basin. Surrounded by a necklace of emerald lakes and majestic waterfalls, Jasper offers accommodations ranging from quaint cabins to luxurious resorts. What's in a Name? In 1813, the North West Company built a supply depot on Brule Lake, which becomes known as Jasper House after NWC clerk Jasper Hawes.
Local Watering Hole: The Athabasca Hotel has been a local Jasper favorite whether for casual drinks or dinner since opening its doors in 1929.
Picture Yourself Here: A great photo opportunity in Jasper is to pose beside the 8-foot sculpture of Jasper the Bear with the Canadian Rockies in the background.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: At the Columbia Icefield south of Jasper, you can ride an "Ice Explorer" onto a massive glacier that spans 150 square miles.
Canmore (pop. 14,221) Kananaskis Country
Encircled by one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges, Canmore sits in a virtual cape of the Canadian Rockies 1.5 hours west of Calgary, in an Alberta provincial park. It's bordered to the west and north by Banff National Park and to the southeast by Kananaskis Country, making it a major mountain hub for adventure-seekers and casual travelers alike. What's in a Name? Canmore was named in 1884 by Lord Strathcona, in honor of Malcome III Canmore, who was king of Scotland from 1057 to 1093.
Local Watering Hole: At the Grizzly Paw Pub & Brew Company you can enjoy locally brewed beer and mountain-sized burgers.
Picture Yourself Here: Nothing says Canmore quite like the Three Sisters mountain range, which form an ideal backdrop for any photo opportunity.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: The town plays host to the Canmore Highland Games in September, a great chance to experience the long Scottish heritage of Canada. At just 203 square miles, Waterton is the tiniest park in the Canadian Rockies. And the town of Waterton is by far the sleepiest in our list of Alberta mountain towns. Small and quiet is what makes it special, though, along with its many water-borne activities, from boating and water-skiing to swimming and scuba-diving.
About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
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