It’s one of those days – windy and rainy, the start of a good storm. In an effort to avoid long lines, you go to the store midday.

All is well. As soon as you get back to the office (a.k.a. “home”), you’ll put the finishing touches on that project proposal, email it to your prospective client and start dinner for the family.

As you pull into the driveway, you notice that the kitchen light is off. “Hmm, thought I left that on,” you think. Once you get in, you realize that all the clocks are flashing “12:00” and that you had lost power.

It’s no big deal until you go to turn on your computer and smell something burning. It’s your worst nightmare – your computer and everything on it is FRIED!

You were meaning to back things up, but you’ve been SO busy and the thought of all those files and the hours you would need (not to mention the sheer quantity of CDs or zip disks). . .well, you just didn’t get to it.

There are several different ways you can back up your files – and many are even painless. I’m sharing the options I use/have used in the past below.

First of all, there are two basic kinds of files to protect:

1. Operating System

2. Application or Data Files

The Operating System contains your system files such as Windows. In order to back up your operating system, you can:

1. use the original disks that came with your system and restore the operating system from those.

2. purchase a software such as Norton Ghost (www.symantec.com) which allows you to back up your entire system (or select files) daily – about $70.

3. Purchase an external hard drive that is capable of automatically backing up your operating system in addition to data files.

Application Files include your software programs such as Microsoft Office, QuickBooks – programs which reside on your computer’s hard drive, as opposed to residing on the Internet.

Data Files consist of all the files you create from your application files: all your Microsoft Word documents, your Excel spreadsheets, your PDF files, etc.

In order to back up your application and data files, you can:

1. selectively save files to CDs or zip disks as you finish working with them (least expensive, most time consuming option).

2. purchase an external hard drive that is connected to your computer via a USB cable and automatically backs up your entire computer each night. I have a Western Digital external hard drive and, at 1am each night, my entire computer is automatically backed up.

3. purchase a new high-tech drive that fits in the palm of your hand and holds up to 120 GB of data (most expensive option).

4. purchase a subscription to an automatic online backup company. It will back up your files “online” so they are saved offsite.

Regardless of how you choose to back up your files, be sure that you have a plan in place. Even if you could replace all the work that you’ve done or those fabulous photos of Aunt Thelma, the time and effort involved in doing so would take away from more pleasurable, and profitable, pursuits.

The first business of any business is to make a profit...

Plain and simple!

Think about it...

Regardless of what kind of business it is, regardless of whether it's selling a product or a service, regardless of whether it's doing business online or offline, if a business isn't making a profit it doesn't have any reason to exist, does it?

However...

Profit alone isn't enough.

*How* a profit is made has far more to do with the ultimate success or failure of a business than the profit itself.

You see...

In order for a business to make a profit, it must have sales. It might be sales of a product or it might be sales of a service. Either way, a business must have sales in order to make a profit.

And...

In order for a business to have sales, it must have customers - people who are willing to exchange their money for the business' product or service.

So...

Building a *highly* profitable business really boils down to getting and, more importantly, keeping customers... lots of them!

Now...

Here's the secret to getting and keeping customers, and thus the secret to building a *highly* profitable business...

In his classic masterpiece, "The Science of Getting Rich", Wallace D. Wattles wrote:

"... you do not have to get something for nothing, but can give to every man more than you take from him."

The key word here is *more*.

He continued...

"You cannot give every man more in cash market value than you take from him, but you can give him more in use value than the cash value of the thing you take from him."

"The paper, ink, and other material in this book may not be worth the money you pay for it; but if the ideas suggested by it bring you thousands of dollars, you have not been wronged by those who sold it to you; they have given you a great use value for a small cash value."

On the other hand...

Wallace D. Wattles continued...

"Let us suppose that I own a picture by one of the great artists, which, in any civilized community, is worth thousands of dollars. I take it to Baffin Bay, and by "salesmanship" induce an Eskimo to give a bundle of furs worth $500 for it. I have really wronged him, for he has no use for the picture; it has no use value to him; it will not add to his life."

"But suppose I give him a gun worth $50 for his furs; then he has made a good bargain. He has use for the gun; it will get him many more furs and much food; it will add to his life in every way; it will make him rich."

Therein lies the secret to getting and keeping customers, and thus the secret to building a *highly* profitable business...

Give every person with whom you deal more in use value than you take from them in cash value.

By giving every person with whom you deal *more* in use value than you take from them in cash value, you're *adding* to the life of the world with every business transaction, rather than taking away from the life of the world with every business transaction, and thus putting yourself in the way of increase.

Later in "The Science of Getting Rich", Wallace D. Wattles had this to say on the subject:

"You must so impress others that they will feel that in associating with you they will get increase for themselves. See that you give them a use value greater than the cash value you are taking from them."

"Take an honest pride in doing this, and let everybody know it; and you will have no lack of customers. People will go where they are given increase; and the Supreme, which desires increase in all, and which knows all, will move toward you men and women who have never heard of you. Your business will increase rapidly, and you will be surprised at the unexpected benefits which will come to you. You will be able from day to day to make larger combinations, secure greater advantages, and to go on into a more congenial vocation if you desire to do so."

Instability in the Middle East and threats to geo political harmony from Iran are combining to hike up oil prices around the world. This is having an impact at all levels from big business to consumers; and the freight industry in particular is under strain as a result.

In the UK petrol prices are reaching record highs which is affecting the cost of road freight transportation. However, it is not just road freight which is affected by increasing petrol prices. Air freight is also under strain.

This is illustrated by the fact that Boeing lowered its annual growth rate predication last week because of the effect that high oil prices were having on its business. It dropped 0.1% off its 20 year forecast as a result of the high and growing cost of oil.

This does not mean that the entire air freight industry will fall off though. The market is still expected to grow at a considerable rate each year. Of course this fact is of real concern to campaigners who are keen to see a reduction in air traffic owing to the damage it does to the environment.

In some ways these campaigners are beneficiaries of the high oil price problem. After all, if prices continue to rise steeply and concern over the stability of the Middle East remains strong, companies are going to have to invest more heavily in alternative fuel sources.

It may be that in a certain number of years the freight industry will be transformed beyond all recognition. Road freight may be dominated by hybrid trucks and lorries and air freight may even be powered by a more environmentally friendly type of fuel.

In the meantime however, freight forwarding companies are watching the rising cost of oil carefully and building these prices into new industry forecasts. In this way they are not dissimilar to consumers who are also watching and worrying about the growing cost of petrol at the pumps and having to factor these new prices into their monthly budgets.

1. What is my budget?

Copier speed is measured in copies per minute (CPM, also known as pages per minute or PPM). Copiers can produce from four to over 100 copies per minute. The slowest machines begin at around £700 and the fastest, digitally connected, multifunctional machines can cost over £100,000.
Copiers that cost more than a couple thousand pounds are most often rented or leased, but they can also be bought outright. Leases for photocopiers typically extend for three to five years.

2. Hidden Costs?

The capital cost of printers may be relatively inexpensive but the cost of Consumables, Maintenance plays an important part in budgetary decisions. Research shows that 40% to 45% of total cost of ownership goes toward consumables and servicing and 55% to 60% is down to manageability and reliability.


3. What's your copy and print volume?

It's always worth assessing your current usage by conducting a quick print audit of
average pages printed per month, A4 or A3 requirements, Black & white usage and

Colour usage. Take a long-term view and consider the potential growth of your company.


4. Colour and Mono?

Colour is undoubtedly where the future lies. Although the manufactures are obviously keen to push colour copiers, as it increases their margins on consumables, remember the best business MFP's do offer mono and colour simultaneously. It's also possible to disable the colour on the MFP's if you do not need colour now but want it in the future.

When adhering to a few easy marketing moves, a business owner can enjoy a variety of profitable results as a consequence of their effective strategies. It is every business owners dream to reach goals and milestones throughout the existence of their company. Being able to entice a wide range of consumers is one of the main desires of anyone who owns a business. Once the demand for a particular service or product has increased, a business owner can choose to also increase the cost to access these items. Building a healthy, beneficial relationship with their customers is another desired achievement for any business owner.

Small Business Marketing

For many, the marketing of a small business is sometimes an elusive concept to grasp. It is more than embracing just an idea. Too many business owners fall into the trap of focusing only on the ideas of marketing and ignore the important process of actually marketing their company. To effectively succeed in the business world, careful planning and organization is needed. You cannot approach the ownership of a business with reckless abandon.

Marketing Organization

The World Wide Web is a great way to enter a marketing plan for a small business. Internet marketing, when done correctly can greatly benefit a business owner. Many small business owners have stated that online methods of marketing have not worked for them in the past. They look at this tactic as a waste of time and do not wish to have another go at it. This is actually one of the best ways to reach the public. Do you realize how much time the average American spends surfing the Internet? All you have to do is learn how to "speak" to and reach your audience through the Web.

Learn the Best Way to Use the Internet

First, for a business to really benefit from an online presence, the owner must learn how to use the Internet in the best way to reach his or her target audience. This requires a working knowledge of how others use the Internet. One of the main activities that the Internet is used for includes the conduction of research. Users are constantly searching for information. They then turn the findings of their research to make informed decisions on the products and services that they buy. Often, these purchases take place across the Internet. During these research sessions, a user may come across several different businesses (all vying for their attention). How do you make your business one of those potential stops?

Attracting Potential Clients

You need a website and you need a good one. It is extremely easy to click from one website to another. You only have a few seconds to initially impress a website surfer and convince them to stay a bit longer on your site. Small businesses can thrive from the development of websites that use effective marketing strategies, such as offering free news and information for those who happen upon their site. You can also see how you match up to other businesses by seeking the feedback of website visitors.

The Advantages of the Internet

The possibilities of a strong online presence are too great to ignore. The Internet allows website visitors to recognize, relate and remember what a business is offering. If they like what they see, they will continue to visit, purchase, as well as spread the word, thus increasing the strength of your advertising. Although, the Internet can help a business to grow, it is not the only option for a smaller establishment to consider. The World Wide Web allows companies to create a presence that web users can easily identify with through the presentation of a good website.

These days, when it comes to seeking out information, most people turn to their computers to do the work for them. "Surfing the Net" has become a routine way of gathering necessary data, facts, and other such knowledge. Need directions to your Aunt Susie's friend's garage sale? Head to mapquest.com and you're likely to find a customized map, tailored to your specifications. Can't remember what macerate means? Dictionary.com will remind you. In fact, these days, people use the Internet to search for answers to nearly any and every imaginable query, including information on business competition.

But how sure are you that the information you are obtaining via the World Wide Web is as accurate as it could be? What exactly do you sacrifice in the name of convenience? I, for example, have been steered astray on more than one occasion by the almighty Map Quest. And, although Dictionary.com is helpful, it certainly isn't able to replace the vast resources available at your local library. Speaking of local libraries, even they have taken content online. AccessMyLibrary (www.AccessMyLibrary.com) is a site from Thomson Gale featuring free access to over 15 million articles from leading as well as trade/interest specific publications and journals.

Powerful and accurate online resources do exist, though they are often buried beneath a virtual layer of illegitimate websites and flashing advertisements informing you that you are, in fact, the winner of a new pink Motorola RAZR phone. Lucky you.

However, if you are searching for information on your company's competitors, chances are you'd like that information to be as accurate and as easy to obtain as possible, a feat that is likely far more difficult than it should be. However, sites like ECNext's Goliath (www.goliath.ecnext.com) simplify this task by providing you with clear, accurate company profiles, industry information and market reports as well as business news, resources, leads and more. Essentially, the site does your homework for you.

I probably don't need to remind you that this sort of information can be imperative to the success of your business. According to Steve Strauss, Business Expert for Microsoft Small Business Center, "if you want to succeed in business, doing your homework is critical. Knowing what the competition does right (and wrong), what they charge for their products or services, and where they seem to be headed can give your business a significant boost."

Dawn Rosenberg McKay, writer for Career Planning at about.com, agrees: "It's important to keep up with business news about the industry in which you're working or are considering working. It's good business practice to be well informed about your clients' industries as well. It will help you stay ahead of the competition."

The accuracy and depth of this information is often the key to a successful business. Being aware of your competitor's strengths and weaknesses is an invaluable learning tool. In the opinion of Warren Struhl, writer for Inc.com, "the more information you have, the better position you will be in to propel your business forward. So don't become the entrepreneur that says, 'If I only knew that before I started.' Stay informed and you'll be building a platform for success."

Essentially, using the Internet to gain pertinent information can be an effective process, but it can just as easily yield inaccurate and out-of-date information. Valuable corporate information is out there and ripe for the picking. You just have to know where to look.

There are many different kinds of businesses available to the consumer today. Customers can choose who they want to do business with and with more businesses opening daily, and the explosion of internet businesses, customers are looking for the best places to do business with. Never before has it been more important to try and keep the clients your business currently has.

The number one reason customers will tell you that they want is good service. They want to feel as though the business cares whether or not they choose their service. In order to keep the clients you have and build new clients you need to keep the customers feeling important.

Business greeting cards are an excellent way to let your clients know that you appreciate their business and welcome their return. During the holidays more and more businesses are sending greeting cards. Most customers will welcome the little surprise as long as some general rules are followed.

First of all it is very important to have current information on the customer such as address and name. A business that sends a greeting card with good intentions to the wrong address or with a misspelled name will come off as impersonal and pushy.

Secondly it is imperative that the greeting cards are kept with a neutral tone, so as not to offend. However there are exceptions to the rule, if a business chooses to stand by their religion choice and is willing to risk losing a customer, then a religious card is acceptable.

Finally the most important part of sending a holiday greeting card to a customer is to have the head of the company sign the cards personally. This is the only way to ensure the client feels touched by the company's awareness and compassion. An unsigned card will be the same as a flyer in the mail.

Holiday greeting cards sent out by businesses are an excellent way to remind the client that you are it for them, even if they don't require your services at present time, the card will ensure they will return when they need your services next time.

The personal greeting cards are just that, personal. Customers want to feel as though you need and want their business. The customer also wants to feel as though they are important to your business.

Want to start a non-profit organization and not sure where to start? This is and can be a long, involved process and takes some time and consideration, least of which is to decide whether to go non-profit or for-profit, as (as ludicrous as it may seem) there are less regulations behind a for-profit than a non-profit.

There are a few requirements that you will need to consider and these are as follows:

1. Determine that you really need to start a non-profit. There is more regulation and administration work involved in a non-profit organization than a for-profit.
2. You will be asked to define your charitable purpose and will have regulations that will govern the amount of compensation to your board of directors and/or officers. So you need to have a clear outline of your strategic plan and case statement to ensure this meets standards.
3. Check with your local state or country to specific requirements within your area.
4. Check with your local tax department (IRS for the States)with regards to the necessary forms that you will need to complete. Determine what type of entity classification you will use. Not all will have tax-exempt status.
5. If you have any questions, make sure you consult an attorney or solicitor (you will need to do this anyway) to ensure you understand things clearly.
6. Depending on organization requirements, you may need to develop a set of bylaws to guide the operations of your organization, and a set of articles of incorporation. The bylaws are important and must be set up correctly. They should provide instructions as to the selection, responsibilities, and continuance of board members, membership requirements, officers, deposits, committee structures, notices, and other personal and insurance questions as they relate to the operations of the specific non-profit business.

Phew, there is a lot to digest, but it can be very rewarding running a non-profit organization... you only have to look around the world to see that there are thousands already in place to know that it is a worth while procedure. You just need to make sure that you have the right information, structure and attonery when setting things up.