Using Voice Memo for projects.

Some people are just not writers, as you can obviously see from my blog that is hardly updated or written properly. Some blogs are so popular based on the content they have, the way they are written and the "poetic" vocabulary that their authors use. Unfortunatly not every one has the privilage of that talent, me included! But that doesn't and shouldn't stop you from blogging or writing.

Trying and experience never hurts, it can only improve! Some people may face what I call "faze-out" - it is when you feel that you have so much to say and potentially write but when you actually come down to writing it - you faze-out and forget what you were going to say. This is the main problem I personaly face.
It was therefore decided to come up with a solution to this problem, since that is my job as the owner of a marketing and solutions agency where writing is a very large requirement, with all our case studies and ideas that we would like to propose.

While exploring my new iPhone I realized that it has quite a cool app called Voice Memo - which basically records your voice, making a memo. This app can be used for meetings, reminders or the like - sort of like a recording device on your phone! As I was exloring and testing this app I realized that you can record and save multiple such recordings and that you can label them what ever you like. That is when it dawned on me that - I speak way better than the way I write, I am good at giving presentations and so therefore I have decided to record what I had to say, save it, then transfer it to my computer and finally type up what I was hearing! I tried this method with one proposal and it worked beautifully. I did it with this article as well! And I feel that this is my best article so far and hopefully the start of many more good articles.

Here's how it works:

1. Write down in number form 1-10 on a piece of paper all the topics and pointers you would like to touch upon during your recording. Add some subsections to help you rember some key factors that cannot be missed.

2. Press the red recording button, and start talking stating the title of the subject in the begining.



3. Stop the recording when you have finished discussing the first pointer. (#1 on your list with its' subsections).

4. Press the "lines" button found on the bottom right side of your screen. (where the stop button was found).

5. The recording will then start playing and you can listen to your recording, and take notes of the information that you may have left out.



6. You will then need to press on the little blue arrow, which will take you to a screen, where you can then trim your recording - in case you want to, which you don't have to since you will be compiling this info later on. Same holds true for the sharing.



7. Once you have done reviewing and editing your recording - you would like to label it. This is done by pressing on the large box or where the time is being shown right now, this will bring you to a list of different lables. I suggest to always use custom, this way you can name the clip whatever you'd like.



8. Press done, go back to the begining and start on your second pointer. The same procedure should be followed until you are done.
Suggestion: When you are naming your clip - number them. Even though the latest clip recorded will be at the top, it is still easier to see the numbers and remember what clip is what.

9. You can then sync your phone with your computer, you can then play and playback your clip and type it up.

10. Finally, once all is typed you can then edit and compile all the info into one file. (if you want to get fancy you can even import these clips into GarageBand and make them into one track or album or whatever - I will let your imagination take you from there.)

Now, even though this article makes it sound that you must have an iPhone or a Mac for this advice - but you really don't. You can use an average regular or standard recording device, or any other app. This article is simply advising you to do what most secretaries do with recorded meetings. I am simply promoting this practice and saying that it is a good one to get accustomed to. I am also trying to encourage you that if you feel that you are challenged with writing an article - don't feel bad there is an alternative! Hey, you never know maybe soon these sites and blogs like blogger will start offering the voice option - I know that there are some people that use podcasting and video blogging - this is just another alternative!

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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Adverting Experience

Please share an experience where you saw a company advertising a product, good or service where you either;

A) Did not fully understand what the ad was offering

B) Saw one price advertised and when you called or gone to the store you were then faced with other charges (including taxes)

C) Responded to an ad only to find out that they were "sold out" but offered you something else for another price and other conditions.

You can use one of the three options above, all three or any experience that you felt was unfair and you would have not responded to the ad if you knew better.

Please use the comments section to post your experience. If you would like to read more about Advertising in Canada you can read the post here.

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Advertising in Canada (especially in Quebec)

Advertising plays a major role in every business or organizations' daily operational activities, in fact 60% of their budgets is advised to be allocated to marketing. It is therefore very common that businesses and organizations work very hard and send a lot of money coming up with different ideas and campaigns on how to attract consumers to their doors. It is obvious then that regulations must be put into place to legislate this behavior, to ensure consumer protection and trust, and to control business to business competition. That is the role of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the Competition Act.

There are two associations in Canada that regulate and make sure the CPA is properly enforced by creating Advertising Standards. The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) that published "The Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice." And The Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) who enforce the 14 Standards and allow consumers to complain to them if they encounter any issues with businesses (to read more about these two agencies and their operations just follow their links to their sites).

Recently more and more complaints have been taken to court regarding two main issues found here in Quebec. 1) Advertising geared toward children under the age of 13 (CPA Sections 248 and 249), and 2) Price Fixing (CPA sections 219 - 231).

The CPA offices are currently mostly after those that are advertising geared to children as a recent case of Saputo Inc. that got fined for up to $44 000. Others that are on the target list are companies like Mcdonalds, Burger King, and others.

The trend seems to be moving closely to the Price Fixing yet it is still undetermined how fast The CPA offices will record any victories in that field since the law is quite satisfied as long as the sections mentioned above are respected by using symbols such as asterix (*) crosses (†) footnotes (¹) and others. These fine prints as long as they are legible and meet all criteria is very hard to fight. Although those companies that omit information in their fine print footnotes or totally omit the footnote all together are in for a big one - as it was just recently proposed to raise the fines to $10 million for corporations and $750 000 for individuals including other such reforms that can be found here (part 12 section 74.1).

To see and read recent complaints of price fixing you can visit ASC's website where they publish an annual report and a quarterly complaints report that summarizes all the complaints they receive and in which category each of these complaints fall under.

Tip #8: Advertise in public places with frequent traffic.

Advertising #3: Advertise in public places with frequent traffic.

This tip might sound like a costly one! But let me tell you these are very effective and besides, there are some tricks to avoid some of the higher costs.

There are many benefits with this type of advertising and there are several tricks that are good to consider. Here are some:

Benefits:

• The more people will see you, the more they remember you!


• It shows that you are still around!


• It goes into their sub-consciousness. Whenever they think of the product or service your company offers, they will think of you (or picture your ad)


• It animates you in many different ways.

Tricks:
There are several options of how you can advertise: Advertisement in back of purchase receipts, grocery buggies or carts, over-head screens, billboards and more…

• If you are already selling to a grocery your products and services, you can offer it for cheaper if they allow you to advertise on their buggies, receipts, screens etc. (Other deals can be arranged).


• Certain billboards are priced on a per season basis. It is a good idea to catch the low season. Any time your ad is outdoors or in a public place, you have a chance to be seen and a chance that people will photograph the scenery and your ad will be in it. The best thing for a company image or advertisement is to be in a scenery photo. This photo is a memory that the people will keep forever (most likely) and your company is in it! This is the best type of advertising money can buy! (So whatever you paid for that advertising is potentially worth many times more!) Every time those people will look at that photo they will put your image into their sub-consciousness with out realizing it! (Work similar to subliminal messages)


• Screens work similarly as billboards, however they work on time elapsed and time displayed. It is more worth it to purchase the shorter time more often in rush hour. That is the time you will get most visibility! The reason why shorter and more often is better – is because people at this time are in a rush and no one likes to stand in line – they are very likely to socialize with someone in the line.

Tip is: “Why do the Yankees always win? Because everyone is focused on the stripes” – Frank W. Abagnale
By doing all these kinds of advertising you are causing people to subconsciously think about your product and service. You are creating an image they can relate the product or service to. The more you are seen the more they can relate!

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Tip #7 - You fall down in order to pick your self back up!

Looking at my toddler picking herself up and falling down, crying a bit and then trying again this time paying more attention to her previous mistakes, teaches us a special lesson in life!

How are we meant to know how to conduct a proper business deal? What are the right words to say? How do you get it right? What is the definition of right or wrong?

Well, the only way to find out is by doing what Nike’s old slogan was; “Just do it!”
Just do it means to try, if you don’t succeed and you fall down, get up and try again, keep on trying until you get it right, you will end up succeeding one day.

Perseverance and patience are the part of the main ingredients to success, happiness, and prosperity.

Tip is: If something is not going the way you think it should, in life or in business, look at it in a positive way, learn from its flaws, study and pin-point where the error might be found. Don’t give up, keep trying different methods, don’t take it to heart, and stay focused on the goal and pay attention to the details. Keep on trying until you get it right - believe you will succeed!

Second Tip: Don’t be afraid to start new things, the biggest mistake one can make is giving up before starting. Don’t worry about falling, worry about how to get back up.

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Advertise in Local Phone Directory or Listing

Here is the second tip from our Advertising Tips Section: This tip is a simple one – yet must be done right as well.
Most businesses only list themselves in the yellow pages or in the listings section of their local phone directory. But it is those who invest in an advertisement that get read the most!

Here are some common types of listings and advertising:

• Simple word listing: not so advisable to use this type as your primary listing option. You should consider having it as a secondary option. (Most directories offer a free word listing with an advertisement.)

• Boxed word listing: These are read – but not as much or as often as ads. This is the preferred directory listing accompanying an ad! (If the budget allows – but other wise it is not that needed).

• Ad Box – in the yellow pages or listings section: This is the most effective and well worth their investment. These ads are most commonly seen (because of the KISS Theory – click here to read how).

• Ad Box – in the white pages or residential listing section: These ads are quite effective but not really worth their prices. These ads do well as extras they remind people to go check out the yellow pages. These ads are mainly for businesses with big budgets. (If you have a large budget – this is very effective when combined with the two options above).

The tip is: Don’t worry too much about a color ad; color is not important in a directory especially if it is yellow pages. The most important trick in a phone directory or listing is to be seen, quick and effective. People are more likely to flip through the yellow pages when looking for a service and/or product. The first thing that will catch their eyes is the bigger ads (because it has pictures, nicer wording, concept and the box around it) the secondary listing they will see is the box ads. Once a person sees you twice he will more likely put you on the list of whom he’ll contact!

Second tip: Make sure that the directory or listing is reputable and going to your preferred audience. You don’t want unwanted phone calls that will waste your time. You want good clients that will BUY!

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Advertise in local newsprint (Newspapers, Advertisers and/or Magazines)

This might sound like a no-brainer to you. However to be done effectively does in fact take brains! It comes with identifying your clientele and the image you are trying to portray.
There are several types of advertising in a community publication;

• Classified section of a newspaper
• Ad in a newspaper (there are different sizes such as; 1/8 page, ¼ page, ½ page and Full pages – all vary in prices.)
• Ad in local community advertiser (a booklet with no text - only ads)
• Ad in a local community magazine.

There are several pros and cons to each of these types of advertisements.

1. Classifieds section in Newspaper: Pros: Cheap. Can go on for weeks. Specified. Cons: Not much visibility and exposure (not many people have the time to go through every single classified listing). May portray your company as cheap. Has short lived visibility span (gets thrown out and is not kept for long)

2. Ad in Newspaper: Pros: is good because it has a larger reading and visibility rate, it has the possibility of being cut out and kept. Cons: Low quality imaging, less text area (to explain your product), higher cost compared to what you are getting.

3. Ad in Local Community Advertiser: Very beneficial! Pros: Mid level pricing, higher visibility (especially if you purchase in color), mid level image quality. Cons: Short lived visibility rate, if not continuous you will be forgotten, very competitive (since there may be several others who do the same as you).

4. Ad in Magazine: Pros: Best Quality image, High visibility rate, Long lasting readership value, chance to explain or educate on your product, more professional. Cons: (normally) higher costs, not as often, and is very targeted to your image, clientele and branding.

Note some of these pros can also be cons and vice-versa. The tip is: do some research before you advertise! It may be very beneficial if done right and may be catastrophic if done wrong! It might be clever to advertise in one of these or in all of these. You decide!

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KISS Theory! Keep It Straight and Simple…

The KISS Theory is widely known as one of the most effective and most accepted theory in the world. It’s simple however not always easy to follow. Unlike its’ abbreviation – it is easier said than done!

In another article I’ve been mentioning how trends are leading to Social Media for marketing and business exposure. Many are using Blogs as a tool, a very powerful one I may add. But many people forget one crucial point! Keep it Short! For heaven sakes, no one really has time or patience to sit and read long ‘text books.’ People want a taste, a thought, and a lesson and move on! This is today’s society with Internet, email etc.

So the tip is… Want your blog to be read, effective and get the point across? KISS! Keep it straight to the point and very simple! (You might even get a kiss (figuratively speaking = business relationship) out of this!)

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What ever happened could not have happened better. What ever didn’t happen – Thank G-d!

The nature of the human psychology is to be afraid of uncertainty; a human mind has difficulties accepting something it cannot predict. When a person is encountered with uncertainty he tends to panic and plan for the worse. This may cause pessimistic, negative and offensive behaviors, which are not healthy character traits and can affect his business in the wrong way. It may also lead to anger and edginess. However if you hold on to this belief it will help you stay calm and have a positive approach on things. If your business proposal did not go through, it may be for the best, for you never know if it was going to succeed or not. It may be worth the current disappointment than the futuristic one. On the other hand, whatever did happen until now could not have happened better. For if you think “ah I could have done it better” you never know, because it might have failed. These thoughts can cause depression, which is another prerequisite to negative behaviors. If you erase all negative thoughts, regrets and “predictions” you will be able to focus properly on good positive and happy behaviors!

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A Smile ALL Day – Keeps the Evil Away!

Happiness, optimism, and a good general outlook are one of the many keys to success. It is these people that tend to hold on to longer lasting and more fruitful business and personal relationships. Every one likes to be around the happy and cheerful person! A smile can uplift ones’ mood; a good word or compliment can make someone’s day! These are one of the biggest tips given to networkers. No one likes the pessimist or complainer – everyone has his or her own problems. It is important to see the good in the bad – after all, the cup is half full!
So go on – smile, say a good word, turn that frown upside down and see how the cup is really half full!

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Competition is not what makes you - it defines you!!

Competition defines the character of the people involved; it doesn’t make them the people who they are. There could be two very diverse reactions toward competition, which can show the true colors of the person dealing with the competition.

Some create and start businesses mainly focusing on the earnings it may produce rather than focusing on the clientele and image they portray. Whereas by contrast others mainly focus on the clientele, service and product quality, this in turn naturally produces higher margins of potential income and volume of clientele.

It is quite easily detectable who is in for what part of the pie. Through competition the true faces of the businesses involved surface. Those that are in for the earnings, will naturally be very defensive and take an offensive approach this may lead to lessening the quality of the product in-order to offer lower price brackets, or may lead to legal or threatening procedures between the two competitors. Obviously there are legislations in place that legislate the level of competition in place, however the tip is to be from the second group – those that focus on their clientele. These people realize and use the competition to their benefit! They higher the quality of their products, and focus on educating the public in the benefits of doing business with them. This is the best time to show creativity, superb customer service and relationship. Competition was “created” mainly for the client to benefit and co-evidently the most creative provider. It is not intended to hurt anyone in anyway. As we see in sports which is intended to entertain the audience. Those that win the match are awarded for doing a good job entertaining!

Here are a few tips on how to beat your competition:

Focus on your clientele mainly! Join a network group – you are more likely to do better healthier business through referrals and relationships. This type of business is healthier simply because they demand a lot of work, effort and patience! The growing trend of today’s marketing environments is online social networking such as Facebook and Twitter just to name a couple. These trends are growing because people are more likely to do business with someone they trust or are trusted by a friend. Another reason why social networking is the most effective form of marketing is because it is in a non-pressure environment, it is a time to just chat about life, family and common interests somewhere in the conversation you will be asked “what is it you do again?” and the person is most likely going to remember you as the “nice marketing guy” (for example) and when sometime that evening he’ll talk to someone who is having trouble with his business he’ll say “oh hold on, you see that guy right there – he’s really nice – he does marketing!”

Other methods of online social networking and marketing may include blogging, and YouTube videos that are growing trends as well. There are many more methods that are possible, and I will let you research them! So go on and explore – and remember! Competition defines who you are as a character – not as a business!
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Self Employed Vs. Employed

Recently I spoke to a friend, and the conversation led us to a topic in which we have completely different opinions. Employment.

Some people see a future in Self-Employment, which enables one to have flexibility in ones work hours, and can have a very large income potential. Whereas others feel that self-employment is a dream, and that being employed for a firm, corporation, or any stabilized job is more secure. They feel that by earning a set wage, they are guaranteed their monthly expenses are paid for.

Both schools of thought have pro’s and cons, after all, that is how the world exists – based on balance, as well as the fact that all people are different.

However, the main question is, what are you looking for in life? How do you see your future being? Forget for one second about dreams versus reality, what do you really want out of life?

The only way to come to a solid answer is by asking oneself a series of questions.

- How hard am I willing to work to get to where I want to get?
- What are my boundaries? What will I do or not do?
- Does my vision for the future compromise my family in any way? Are they going to be happy?
- Do I have the necessary support?
- What is my potential?
- Do I have entrepreneur or boss qualities?

These are just a few questions one needs to ask.

Remember: there is a big difference between dreaming for something, and setting your goals to get them. The difference is whether you are talking or doing, are you on your feet or not? Dreaming can be done in bed, whereas goals, big or small, need hard work and perseverance.

They may even be the same thing, for example, a person could have a dream to live in a 10 million dollar home, and then uses his dream to set his goal to achieve it. He would need to write up an action plan, of how he will achieve his goal.
On the other hand some people feel that you need to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to achieve dreams like that.

Well, let me break the ice for you;
a) The fact is that many people achieved their multi-million dollar home (ever heard of rags to riches?).
b) The fact that the object of the dream exists means there is a possibility to achieve it.

If your answer is… “Well that’s just luck, not everyone has that ability in life”
The luck, is to have the belief and ambition, “where there is a will, there is a way” is the most appropriate phrase.

There was a study done that shows that 98% of the worlds economy is earned by 1% of the worlds population. One of the reasons is because only a very little amount of people believes in these ambitions, and so called ‘dreams’, and was willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

Yet… don’t get me wrong, I still respect the opinion of working in a stable job. However I would like to remind you that the word ‘stable’ means stable for as many years as the company you are working for exists, or keeps running. However it will only continue through the perseverance of the bosses, and leaders. It’s also possible that the boss could see you as a threat and will kick you out for no practical reason. It has been seen many times before, it is one way that some businesses maintain a steady distance from their employees. They cap the employee to reach a certain hight or level in the business and if they see that this employee is still ambitious to reach higher, it would seem to them as a threat and they eliminate that threat by firing him. This sometimes is beneficial (and worth the risk) for the company to fire this one employee and hire another one like him, this allows them to restart on the salary and bonuses levels.

Based on this, I would suggest that you should always have a backup, something small on the side, it could be a hobby, but it should be something that makes money like a small home-based business. Or, some businesses offer a referral program, which enables you to receive residual income just by referring a friend to their company. (KolBaKol is one such company)

For the entrepreneur to be, it is important to keep into account that before you start you must two kinds of support, Internal and External Support. Internal Support is an example of your wife (if you are married) may have to work (and should be in the position to) for a year so that you can focus on starting up the business properly. Or, you will need to have some other sort of social support (such as parents, friends, community or other) since times are hard, and being an entrepreneur, having the will power to continue when times are rough, will be all the more easier if you have someone telling you ‘you can do it’ as well as helping you out financially. External support – this might be a consideration of hiring a marketing agency, consultants or something with in your budget. The best way to save money is by finding an agency or company that is multi-faceted which means that they offer several services in one.

There are many websites, blogs and other resources out there that can give you more advice on having a side business or starting your own business as an entrepreneur when searching you can use some of these helpful key words.

Key to success
Home based business
Entrepreneur
Starting your own business
Residual Income
Dreams
Belief
Will Power
Hard Work
Faith
Trust
Honesty