How And Why You Should “Position” And Brand Your Business
You may have heard something about branding in regards to marketing, but perhaps you’ve wondered what that means exactly.
Sometimes it is better to explain something in relation to something else. That’s what I am going to do so first I will start with positioning. You also may have heard that term, but also did not really know what it meant. Positioning is a marketing term that means to take a product or service and position it in the mind of your prospects/clients by comparing it with or against something already familiar in their minds. Al Reis and Howard Geltzer first published a book about it in the 1970s.
To give you an idea of positioning, take Avis. Hertz car rental already had first place in the market. By being first place, they preempted that position. Everyone knew that they were #1. So, Avis, to get any recognition at all, had to position themselves with Hertz, but actually couldn’t take their spot. Do you recall what they did? You got it Avis. We try harder. By positioning themselves as the best second runner up, they were able to capitalize on a larger portion of that market.
Some people think branding is like positioning, but it is different. The main difference is that positioning is a fluid concept. In other words, you can position yourself at different times in different markets as different things. Branding is more set in stone- its a hard-core recognition factor.
To give you a better idea, the other day one of my subordinates saw a cup of mine with red circles on it. He said it looked like a Target cup. That is branding. That red target logo is branded in that persons mind. He saw it and immediately thought of the chain store.
However, Target is positioned differently its discount chain with good style. Some people even refer to it as Targ that is positioning. It positions the store with some hoity-toity posh boutique but everyone knows its right there with Walmart price wise. Good position.
Branding is more about the following of rules because if you don’t follow those rules, things dont look the same and people wont remember you. What if you changed your body periodically I mean really changed your body. Oh, today, I think Ill be Asian straight black hair, slanted eyes but yesterday you were Caucasian; how do you expect anyone to remember who you are when they see you on the street? It is kind of the same. When you put out your marketing pieces, you want to create a similar look and feel so that people remember you. And you want that similar look and feel on every thing you put out.
The good thing is that you get to make the rules colors the same, style of lettering the same, logo etc. And there is some flexibility as long as you follow the rules. You cant go too far out of bounds, but you can change some things within the frame of what others can still recognize.
There was an actual study done by GE (General Electric). They found out that it only takes 22% of their logo for people to recognize. Only 20% of their logo needs to be seen before people recognize it.
So, it sort of is like the Western concept of branding your cattle making sure people recognize what is yours.
Remember I said the same look and feel? Well, the other side of branding is what it makes you feel about it. Chevrolet used to say it was Americas vehicle baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. Now it is like a rock. That makes you feel a certain way about it. It still is in line with the old idea about Chevrolet. Americanism = loyalty = dependable = Chevrolet. That song that comes on is their brand. Being Americas vehicle is their position. Both give you a certain feel.
Branding in your marketing has to make you feel something. A technology company cant have an old style font you might not think they were very far advanced.
Take PostcardMania. Our colors, bold style font and humorous quips give you the feeling that we are happy and lively. We make sure that our prospects and customers get that same feeling every time they see our mail, emails, packages, logo, etc.. Therefore it is important to look the same every time.
Take a dry cleaner for example. His postcards, packaging, hangers, etc. need to have his logo, colors and font all the time all the same - on everything. That way when people receive his postcards in the mail, they look for what specials that he has because they already like him and have him identified in their mind as something they are familiar with. If he is constantly changing what he looks like, when they get his postcard they dont know whether they are looking at his specials or what some dry cleaner in general is offering. If they are already familiar with him, they are most likely going to pause and look at what he has to say.
Branding is just like the old coat of arms that families used to have connected with their name. It would instill respect, fear, and wealth - whatever. Likewise, a country’s flag gets people to feel a certain way about their country. Heck, Stalin even used branding! He used the same picture to portray who he was to his people - I am this, I am this, I am this he wanted them to think a certain thing. Its really not a new idea Im trying to get you to see it has been around for quite some time.
At PostcardMania, we want people to recognize that we know how to get their attention bright colors, loud type shows that we know what were talking about in terms of marketing. But Postcard Marketing Experts is our positioning. Does that make sense? You can see how the two tie in together. One is our position and one is our brand. Were hoping to create a feeling of being expert, the best in the business, etc., but also friendly and easy to confront.
Think about what message you want to portray. What do you want recipients of your promotion to think about you? What image of your company do you want to put out there? That is your brand. When people see you continually as one thing, they begin to expect the same from you and they get used to you.
Remember when Pepsi came out with clear Pepsi? People freaked out. They didn’t want to drink it. It was a flop. It wasn’t what they were used to so it didn’t even taste the same to them.
Branding in marketing is recognition color, font and logo keep it the same.
If you can get them to remember what it is you are selling, the more likely they will come in and get it, if not, you are depending on drive by traffic and are wasting your money in marketing. And don’t forget this very important marketing truth if you’re only planning to promote merely one time then branding is not going to help you. Branding is only for marketers that already understand the concept of repetition.
What You Should Consider Before You Invest In An Annuity For Retirees
Annuities can be purchased directly from an insurance company or from other financial institutions (including banks) that act on behalf of the insurance company. In exchange for your investment, the insurer agrees to make periodic payments for a set time period. It’s important to remember that some annuities may lose value. These products are not insured by the FDIC or the FDIC-insured bank or savings institution that may offer them.
There are different types of annuities. A “fixed annuity” provides a fixed payment, often monthly, until the investor dies. It typically guarantees no loss of principal (the amount invested). A “variable annuity” also guarantees payment for a set period, but the payment amounts will fluctuate based on the market performance of the investment option you choose. With a variable annuity, you also risk losing principal as well as earnings, although some variable annuities guarantee the return of your initial investment for an additional fee.
If the income payments are deferred to some later date, the annuity is typically described as a “deferred annuity.” If the payments begin immediately and continue for life, the annuity may be referred to as an “immediate life annuity.”
On the plus side, annuities provide another investment option if you’ve reached your contribution limit on your other retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans. And, at retirement, the guaranteed payments can provide extra income. But, as with any investment, be aware of the potential pitfalls and make an informed decision.
Know the key features and costs of the product and make sure they fit your needs. Read the literature to understand the most important facts and risks, including the potential for loss, if any.
“A sales representative who talks to you about purchasing an annuity is required by federal law to ask you questions about your investment goals, current finances and future retirement plans,” said Kara Ritchie, an FDIC Policy Analyst who specializes in consumer issues. “If the representative doesn’t discuss whether the product is suitable for your needs and goals, take your business elsewhere.”
Experts generally say that annuities with guaranteed principal and income are more suitable for older investors than annuities that may, through market performance, lose value. The latter include variable-rate, deferred-payment annuities and equity-indexed annuities (those tied to the stock market), which might not make sense for many investors close to or in retirement.
Also, before you sign a contract, make sure you understand the cost of getting your money back early. Many investors with variable annuities are surprised to learn that they must pay hefty “surrender charges” if they try to withdraw money early, cancel their contract, or replace an existing annuity with a new one.
Deal only with a competent, reputable sales representative. Most annuity sales representatives are trained professionals. However, there have been reports of sales representatives who have been poorly informed or have used false or misleading tactics to sell annuities. How can you improve your chances of getting good advice?
Work with a sales representative licensed by your state government’s insurance regulator. If the sales representative offers variable annuities, he or she also must be licensed to sell securities. For information on whether a sales representative is properly licensed or has a history of disciplinary problems, contact your state securities regulator and the National Association of Securities Dealers, a self-regulatory group for the securities industry.
“Annuities are generally sold on a commission basis, so it’s important to find a sales representative who puts your interests ahead of his or her own,” added Ritchie.
Proceed carefully before replacing an existing annuity with a new one. A sales representative may suggest investing in a new annuity paying a higher return or replacing a deferred annuity with an immediate life annuity to provide monthly income now instead of later. These actions may make sense for some people. However, it can be expensive to change annuities. Make sure you consider the contract terms as well as early withdrawal penalties and other charges prior to making a change.
What if, soon after purchasing an annuity, you have “buyer’s remorse” or find another annuity with better terms? Your annuity may have a “free look” period during which you can cancel without penalty. If yours doesn’t and you still want to cancel, determine all the surrender charges and penalties and proceed with caution.
Review On ‘Turbulence Training’ Lose Fat and Gain Muscle With Turbulence Training
Jan.28.2010 
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Research has shown that high-intensity interval training (often called HIIT) combined with lifting heavier weights for fewer reps, is a better and more efficient way to build muscle and lose fat than lengthy cardio exercises, longer repetitions and training with lighter weights. The Turbulence Training program shows you how you can do only 3 workouts a week of 45 minutes each and loose fat while gaining body muscle. The program includes a warm up exercise that you do for 5 minutes followed by strength training of 15-20 minutes and then interval trading of 15-20 minutes as well. While these workouts are shorter in duration and less frequent, the difficulty level is high. They are designed to make you do as much work as possible in a shorter duration of time, and you’ll feel that you have done some training by the time you complete a session. A big advantage of the Turbulence Training program is that it does not bore you with repetition. A lot of people start fat loss programs with enthusiasm but stop doing it after a while because they just can do the same thing over and over again. In this program, you will be changing workout routines once a month. You are doing the same exercise only 12 times and this his does not allow your body to adapt itself to the changes which will halt your progress. The program includes: Turbulence Training System” in PDF & MP3 format, Dumbbell & Bodyweight Fusion workout manual, Nutrition guide by Chris Mohr, 20-Minute Workouts for the World’s Busiest Dads!”, Total Body Transformation Secrets, Turbulence Training for Mass (Muscle Building). This workout system does not come with a diet plan and it may be too intense for some people. As you may have noticed this program is not for people who are looking to build some serious muscle its oriented more towards the combination of fat loss and muscle gain. The system just asks for 45 minutes of your time 3 days a week. It has a routine that is not that does not require too much time. So, if you have a busy schedule and cant find time to loose those gained pounds then this workout is something that you can do.
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Review On The Movie “The Lovely Bones” With Preview Trailer Starring Saoirse Ronan and Mark Wahlberg
Jan.27.2010 Best Unbiased Reviews, Books and Ebooks, Celebrities and Entertainment, Movies Videos and TV (0)|
In adapting such a complex, cherished book as The Lovely Bones, its not surprising that Peter Jackson would get one thing wrong. But its a big thing. Alice Sebolds 2002 novel is told from the perspective of a 14-year-old girl who has been murdered and is watching from heaven as her family self-destructs, then rebuilds from the tragedy. Jackson, who had such success mixing human darkness and fantasy in his early film Heavenly Creatures, here goes into full, CGIhappy Lord of the Rings mode: Susie (Saoirse Ronan) inhabits a psychedelic afterlife of rolling Teletubbies fields, Middle Earth mountains, and Moody Bluesalbum sunrise skies. What Jackson forgets in these wildly distracting sequences is that Sebolds novel, even though it draws on the supernatural, is very much rooted on Earth. When the movie returns to that Earth, it is often moving. Jackson does a perfectly detailed job of evoking the late 70sfrom the split-level houses and woody station wagons to the David Cassidy posters, photo cubes, and Archie comics that litter Susies room. This is important: this is a story about the loss of innocence, and the era was a time when no one believed that bad things would happen to them. The characterizations are also mostly strong, too, centred around Ronans ice-blue-eyed teen, a nonsaccharine mix of sweetness and naivet. Stanley Tuccis psychopath is truly sinister in his unassuming comb over and windbreaker, and Susan Sarandons steely granny is a treat too: a woman who can juggle a vacuum, drink, and smoke at the same time. But we need more from Rachel Weiszs catatonic, absentee mother, and Mark Wahlberg is one-dimensionally bug-eyed in his rage. Still, my biggest fear about the film adaptation, that Susies rape and murder might somehow become explicit, is never realized: Jackson, like Sebold, handles it in deft impressions. If only he could have shown such restraint with his hobbit-tinged heavens.
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Review On ‘Chopper Tattoo’ The Largest Site For Great Online Tattoos
Chopper tattoo is a tattoo design website which makes it easy for you to search the right design for yourself with its design gallery comprising of about 4000 tattoo designs. The site claims to have the largest design database on the net which is updated regularly. When you have purchased the membership you will have many different categories to choose from in the membership area. The categories include Tribal Tattoos, Dragon Tattoos, Cross Tattoos, Star Tattoos, Gothic Tattoos, Armband Tattoos and many more categories. The best feature of the site besides its impressive collection of designs is the ease of use of the members area of the website. Its a really simple layout, and you dont have to be a computer nerd to find your tattoo design quickly. You can search as many designs as you want to and you can also customize your search according to size, category and color. After you have selected your design you can simply download it, print it and take it your tattoo artist. If you are an aspiring tattoo artist yourself, then you can increase your exposure because there is a section of the site that allows you to submit your designs. The section on lettering will give you a lot of ideas on different styles and lets you customize whatever ideas that you have right on to your computer. The site also offers some bonuses; you can play games and download your favorite music while searching for a tattoo for you. Chopper Tattoo memberships are priced reasonably. One of the things that you will like about Chopper Tattoo is its flexible membership choices. It offers three membership plans to choose from according to your need: 1 Month - $19.95 Obviously if you are only planning on getting one tattoo in your lifetime the 1 month membership makes sense. But for those people who are planning more tattoos in future and for tattoo freaks lifetime membership is recommended. The site also offers a refund policy; if you are not satisfied with their services they offer you a full refund. However some members have criticized that the tattoo category pages have big horizontal banner ads on each side of it, which you dont expect on a membership site but this may not be an issue for everyone. In short if you are looking for a tattoo that suits you chopper tattoo can help you a lot in a very reasonable cost compared to other such sites and the flexible membership plans also make it suitable for every type of users.
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Review On ‘Master Cleanse Secrets’ For Rapid Weight Loss And Elimination Of Health Problems
Jan.25.2010 Best Unbiased Reviews, Books and Ebooks, Celebrities and Entertainment, Health and Medical (0)
The diet basically requires you take 2 Tablespoons of organic lemon juice, Tablespoons of organic grade B maple syrup, 1/10 Teaspoon ground cayenne pepper and mix them all in 10 oz of filtered water. This creates one serving of the cleansing lemonade. You should be taking 6-12 servings per day. The taste of the lemonade is actually quite good. The cayenne pepper is something that people may be concerned about in terms of taste but it adds some spiciness to the lemonade. This recipe is a part of the diet and you should not be just making it and taking it at will. There’s more to the Master Cleanse diet than the recipe. You would know how to prepare the diet, how you can reduce or completely avoid side effects and how you should be going about things after you finish the master cleanse course. Also, you will learn how to maintain yourself after a long time has passed after the ending of the diet course. The process of detoxification and rejuvenation of the body will start immediately after you begin dieting. The diet is associated with very rapid results. So don’t be amazed if a few people pull you aside and ask if all this has been achieved naturally. You will bring your appetite to a normal level so your body can return back to its ideal weight according to your body. You will also experience a natural shift away from bad habits. The master cleans diet requires you to keep your hands out of the refrigerator while on the diet. But this can be a difficult thing to do. This book helps you with this by providing a list of foods that you can eat during the diet and they will not affect the cleansing process.
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Review On The Movie “The Book of Eli” With Preview Trailer Starring Denzel Washington
Jan.23.2010 Best Unbiased Reviews, Books and Ebooks, Celebrities and Entertainment, Movies Videos and TV (0)|
Hollywood hasnt ended the world this often since the 1950s, it didn’t end then, so the odds this time are remote as well. Twin filmmakers Allen and Albert Hughes decided to return to the big screen after a nine-year hiatus (their last film together was From Hell ) with a postapocalyptic fable about a lethal warrior with a precious book. Eli (Denzel Washington) has what might well be the last King James Bible in the world. Its 2043 and, after the flash, all such texts have been destroyed on the grounds that they were bad influences on the human race. Now he must protect this scriptural treasure from the clutches of Carnegie (Gary Oldman), the megalomaniacal mayor of a burned-out desert town. (In his upstairs saloon office, this scenery-chewing Oldman looks uncannily like Larry King pretending to be Deadwood s dangerously mercurial Al Swearengen.) Rarely has a movie worn its cultural references so baldly on its sleeve. As Eli heads west down Cormac McCarthys road, he must deal with violent bikers straight out of George Millers The Road Warrior . The townscapes are pure Heavy Metal (the illustrated fantasy magazine, not the much-disparaged musical style), and Eli himself bears more than a passing resemblance to a Japanese pop-culture hero (think samurai; despite the omnipresent radiation damage, I am obviously not referring to Godzilla). Ultraviolent but full of pious platitudes, The Book of Eli seems to have been made primarily for Baptists with a guilty yearning for sleaze. To be sure, body parts roll and loose women abound, but that wont keep these viewers out of church on Sunday morning. Who knows? This movie might actually appeal primarily to those who are accustomed to thinking of Hollywood as a limb of Satan.
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Review On ‘The Niche Site Blueprint The N1Way’ One Of The Best Ways To Make Money Online
Jan.22.2010 Best Unbiased Reviews, Books and Ebooks, Business and Technology, Internet Marketing (0)
The “N1WAY Method”, therefore, teaches you how to identify the products that people are searching for online, which you can target and make money from by creating small content driven affiliate websites. The program consists of 10 components. Step 1: Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 10 The N1WAY is a comprehensive guide that teaches tested techniques on how to make large profits from developing your own small websites. The price of the package is $24.95.
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Review On ‘My Airfare Secrets’ How To Book Cheap Discount Airline Tickets, Hotel Rooms and Car Rentals
www.myairfaresecrets.com is a website which teaches you how to avail all these discounts. It is created by a former travel agent Tony Morrison who worked for an airline for 16 years before being fired for no reason, he claims that after the launch of this website he has been threatened and also begged by air ticketing companies to close this. Even he has been offered a new employment contract at a higher rate which he refused to. The site reveals a huge number of secrets that can save you a lot of money on airfares, hotel stays, food and additional travel expenses. It guarantees to make your trips a lot cheaper. Tony goes in great depth to explain how you can save your money on trips, he reveals that there are thousands of discount coupons released by airlines everyday and explains that how you can benefit from these free vouchers and how you can get your ticket upgraded for free. He also reveals that by booking your flights on some specific dates you can travel for a very low cost or even free!, and teaches you to take advantage of discounts up to 75% off list prices and many more insider secrets. The product teaches you the right things you should say to the travel agents while booking your flights to get the discounts, he tells you about the flaws in airlines websites and how you can exploit them and even it teaches you to get compensation money from airline companies. The author claims that his information works with all airlines and he will also tell you about airline packages which will even pay you to travel! The product also includes bonuses; there is good seat guide that will teach you how to steal good seats away from customers who booked them. It has a hotel reservation manual that will tell you how to save money on hotel stays, a car rental guide, cruise travel guide and holiday planner software which will make it easy for you to plan your trips, and a seven language phrase guide. The membership is for a very reasonable price of 24.95$. At such a low price, this product will easily pay for itself several times over the very next time you purchase airline tickets.
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Review On ‘Workout Pass’ Workoutpass Gives You Instant Access To Over 40 Different Workout Websites
All the workouts in the network have been created by fitness experts. There are no computerized programs; the workouts are pre-tested, easy to follow. Here are some of the sites included in this membership. Fitness Ballu: It has workouts using stability balls and swiss balls. You can quickly improve your strength, coordination and lose fat with these workouts. Quick Weight Loss for Women: This a website that is dedicated to helping women burn fat quickly. It has workouts that are designed for busy women to get results in half the time. Fast Weight Loss for Men: This website is for people who want to lose fat but dont have the time for lengthy workouts. The site has workouts that will help you burn fat in half the time of traditional workouts. 100 meter: This is a resource for workouts exclusively for sprinters. If you get information on optimizing your time then check this website. Big League Workouts: The website has great workouts for baseball players. These workouts will help you hit harder, swing quicker and run faster. A great resource for serious baseball players and coaches Abs like Stone: This websites has information on workouts that will help you get those hard abs and you dont have to do those boring crutches ever again. Shot Maker Workouts: Shot Maker Workouts takes tell you exactly how to achieve golf fitness. You can choose a workout and follow the programs to hit the ball harder and straighter. Agility workouts: With the help of the exercises listed here you can increase your agility and become a more valuable member of your team. Body Weight Fit: The exercises included in this website dont require you to use any weights. You can follow the bodyweight-only exercises and workouts and you will get a great workout that will help you reach your goals. Ultimate Silver: The information given in this website will help you add inches to your Vertical Jump. Ultimate Vertical features only workouts to get you jumping higher quick. Swimming Strength: This is a website dedicated to out of the pool workouts for competitive swimmers. The information provided will help you become a faster swimmer and reduce shoulder injuries. These are some of the websites that you get with the workout pass. There are plenty of other resources included in this package for other sports and fat loss. The package also includes conference calls and webinars with top fitness experts and performance coaches, weekly updates.
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