Whatever kind of freelance or consulting work you do, one of the best ways to attract top clients is to position yourself clearly as an expert in your field.
And yes, you first have to be an expert. You don’t have to be the world’s leading expert, but you do need to know what you’re talking about, and in real depth.
To become a credible expert it first helps if you choose your niche carefully.
If your niche is too broad - like ‘all consumer electronics’ - you’ll find it hard to position yourself as a true expert.
If your niche is too narrow - like ‘Sony PlayStation’ - you’ll find it hard to make a living.
Niches like ‘computer games’ or ‘home entertainment’ are perfect. It won’t take you a lifetime to become an expert in either field, and there are plenty of prospective clients to choose from.
Of course, it will help enormously if you choose a niche in an area that genuinely interests you.
>> Got expertise? Here’s the next step…
One of the fastest ways to get the word out is to get your name in print. In other words, write articles.
It’s the strangest thing…but as soon as someone sees your name in print, your ‘expert’ status automatically jumps up several notches.
Publish your articles on your own web site. And make it known that other site editors can reprint your articles on their own sites and in their newsletters. Get the word out through a blog and by participating in discussion groups.
And, of course, every article should include a short bio and link back to your own site.
>> What’s better than having your articles online?
The next step is to get your articles printed in real print publications, on paper. Again, strangely, an article on paper earns you more expert points than an article on the web.
Best of all, if your niche is, for instance, home renovation products and services, get an article printed in one of the trade magazines that serves that industry.
Now you’re getting in front of hundreds or even thousands of prospective clients. It’s not an ad. It’s better than an ad. You’re presenting yourself as a true expert, with the implicit endorsement of the editor of the publication.
>> Accept those invitations to speak
Once your name has appeared as the author of a sufficient number of useful, expert articles, you’ll start getting invitations to speak. If they don’t come your way, start looking for them.
You can start out small, speaking to local business groups and marketing associations. If all goes well, you’ll soon find yourself with opportunities to speak to much larger groups at industry conferences.
And yes, being a speaker earns you major expert points.
>> Time to write a book?
Nothing brings you expert status faster than being the author of a book. Do you know enough on your subject to write a book? It may take a little time before you’re ready. But the more articles you write and the more times you speak, the deeper your knowledge will grow.
In addition, articles and speaking engagements generate feedback from your readers and listeners. And the more feedback you get, the better you will know what it is people really want and need to know.
If you can get published and distributed by a major publishing house, so much the better. If not, self-publish. You’ll need to do a lot of promoting to get the sales, but you can earn more money from each book sold and still confirm your status as an expert in your field.
>> Concluding thoughts
After a while you’ll find yourself writing articles, speaking at public and corporate events and signing copies of your book or books at every opportunity.
At that point you will have truly earned your stripes as an expert and will find yourself with a very impressive list of clients and prospects.
Start writing!
Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author and speaker. You can access all his newsletter articles on writing for the web at his http://www.ExcessVoice.com site. You’ll find more articles and resources on how to make money as a freelance writer at http://www.FreelanceWritingSuccess.com
There are many different types of traveller. There are business men and women who are flying from one city to another for brief meetings, then there are families taking a two week holiday to the sun with young children, then there are students or gap year travellers who will be backpacking around exotic locations on extremely low budgets. There are really about as many different types of traveller as there are different types of person.
There are many different approaches you can take to booking your travel arrangements. Your main priority may be convenience, for example if you have a meeting near the airport you will need airport accommodation and little else, however, if you are travelling for pleasure, you are likely to have far less restrictions and will be willing to consider all types of arrangements. You can have these arranged for you by a travel agent or you could do it for yourself online. Or alternatively, you may wish to simply travel to a city or country with absolutely no plans and just see what happens when you get there.
On of the things you should always travel with is proper health and travel insurance. Obviously your requirements will again vary depending on what kind of travel you are undertaking. If you are travelling for business, full travel insurance that will provide you with alternative flights if yours is cancelled or delayed will be important. For most holiday travellers, this may not be quite as important. If you are travelling with children you may wish to consider it, but otherwise you may be quite flexible and tolerant if delays do occur. But you may be more worried about your luggage and belongings and wish to have good coverage for loss or damage to your property. All these options are available today with the various travel insurance companies that are operating in the market.
Generally speaking, you will always need health insurance when you travel. You cannot afford to take the risk that an accident or serious injury occurs and you do not have proper coverage. There are many parts of the word where free national health insurance is not provided and if you do require medical treatment, it will only be provided if you can pay for it. Particularly if you are travelling with children, you should always arrange adequate travel insurance with medical coverage. This is simply a risk that you do not want to be bearing yourself especially when the cost of travel insurance is so affordable.
Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/ where you will find information, news and links to the leading providers of travel insurance in the UK.
Arist: Triumph
Titles: Progressions of Power (1980)
Allied Forces (1981)
Never Surrender (1983)
Thunder Seven (1984)
Stages (1985)
The Sport of Kings (1986)
Surveillance (1987)
Genre: Rock
Label: TML
Website: http://www.triumphmusic.com
So where do I start with seven solid albums from one of Canada’s most successful rock bands Triumph. The 80’s were very good to this band and fittingly they decided to remaster their entire output of that period, a whopping seven year span in which the band established themselves as one of the premier rock trios in the world. Rik Emmett (guitars and vocals), Mike Levine (bass), and Gil Moore (drums and vocals), formed an incredibly dynamic and powerful trio. Emmet and Moore both had tremendous voices, perfectly suited for their high-energy guitar oriented rock. Moore had the stronger voice of the two vocalists however Emmet had a more distinct sound that you could immediately identify with the group. He sang the lead on big hits like “Never Surrender” and “Magic Power.” Bass Mike Levin player was on hand to remaster every album in this series. He was thrilled to be part of this process and stated that he relived all the great times the band went through during the recordings.
I must say the results are jaw dropping; the remastered sound is incredibly good on all seven discs. What is more impressive is the band released all the music on their label TML. They do not include any bonus tracks, which is nearly a given when something is remastered and repackaged. This is such solid music that they do not need bonus tracks to entice the true fan to repurchase the albums. Each album stands on its own merit entirely with incredible sound and sonics, breathing new life into each track.
I think most ardent fans of Triumph will agree that their strongest and most popular releases were Allied Forces and Never Surrender. Both are solid rock classics that still hold up very well to this day, more so now because of the renewed sound, it pops and crackles with the true spirit of the band when they originally recorded all of this music. Stages is an excellent compliment to all of the studio albums, highlighting the band’s live show with superior sound and production.
The artwork for each album is superb as well. In regards to color and effect, many of the covers reminded me of the early Alan Parsons Project albums (especially The Sport of Kings). Everything about this remastered series is positive. It most certainly adds credence to the Triumph legacy, and more than likely will reawaken old fans and create new ones. I always enjoyed their music, I just never realized how much until I experienced all seven releases in their entirety. I was presented a great opportunity to hear an immense rock band at their peak, do not miss your opportunity to do the same. This set is well worth your hard-earned dollars.
© Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com
December 5, 2004
Even with the abundance of software and hardware available to create your own recordings at home, there comes a time when you’re ready to take your music to the next level. Recording studios may seem intimidating to the musician who is taking the leap, but the reality is that there are high quality, low cost recording studios that can make the transition painless.
Once you’ve made the decision to book studio time, you need to find a studio that will give you the support you need to create great recordings. Word of mouth recommendations can be helpful, but they’re not always reliable. It’s worth your while to do the legwork and check out each facility to see what it has to offer. Here are some things to keep in mind while making your decision:
Acoustics: A music studio should have top of the line acoustics. This means that there should be an elevated soundstage and high ceilings, as well as several isolation rooms.
Engineering: A sound recording studio should provide highly skilled and trained professional engineers to help you achieve the optimum quality of your recordings. At the minimum, the engineer should be proficient in monitoring and metering, controlling signal paths, assigning tracks, and mixing.
Equipment: Equipment varies by recording studio. Some Southern CA recording studios, for example, offer at least two mixers, over a half dozen outboards, a wide variety of software, over a dozen different types of microphones, quality monitoring equipment, and a variety of amps. Although it may seem like a minor point, it’s important that the sound recording studio use high quality cables. If they don’t, it could have a detrimental effect on the recording.
Musicians and Instruments: Many state of the art recording studios have a variety of new and vintage keyboards, guitars, and percussion instruments available for use, as well as accessibility to professional musicians who can help you create the sounds you desire.
Cost: As a whole, musicians don’t have a lot of disposable income, so it’s important to find recording studios that have reasonable rates. Some Southern CA studios, for example, have low introductory rates of $40 an hour or less. In order to avoid unwanted surprises, be sure to ask about minimums, as well as extra equipment charges.
References: Every reputable sound recording studio should be able to provide you with a client list, as well as phone numbers for references. You should also ask to listen to samples of recordings from the studio. Try to find a sample that is comparable to what you are trying to achieve, and ask questions about what was involved in that recording process. It will give you a good idea of what to expect when you go in to record.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Visit this Music Website and Majon’s Music directory
Why be part of an affiliate program?
The startup is low. Most of the time it is free to sign up with
an affiliate program. Those that do charge a fee usually set you
up with a web site. Compared to what it would cost you to do it
on your own it’s worth it. The only money you might spend is to
advertise the site. There are many ways to get free advertising
You don’t have to be selling your own product, which eliminates
extra cost on your part. You don’t have to worry about taking
orders or accepting credit cards. The affiliate company does all
that. You can begin to make money quickly. As soon as you sign
up as an affiliate you are ready to make money. I suggest you
sign up with more than one affiliate program. The more affiliate
programs you promote, the more streams of income you will have.
The fact is you can make money with affiliate programs. There
are many of these programs around. Do some research and pick
three or four and sign up. This is a fun way to make money, but
you have to do your part. Which is always marketing your
affiliate program. You have to put time into this but once it is
up and running you will be making money while you sleep.
Dreams where you are falling are some of the most commonly
reported dreams there are, and such dreams are one of the
leading causes of sudden waking from a dream. First, let’s begin
by dispensing with the myth that if you hit the ground in your
dreams you will die. There are plenty of fully alive human
beings who have reported hitting the ground during their dreams
of falling. The fact that these people were around to report
this situation is proof that this legend is merely that - a
legend. Dreams of falling are most often interpreted as an
indication of unresolved fears, anxieties, instabilities and
insecurities. The person who experiences recurrent dreams where
he or she is falling may be feeling overwhelmed by and unable to
control certain situations in his or her waking life. For
instance, the dreamer may feel that his or her home or work life
is out of control, and that he or she is unable to remain on top
of the situation. This kind of generalized anxiety can easily
manifest itself in a dream where he or she is out of control,
such as a falling dream. Falling often represents a loss of
control, or feelings of helplessness on the part of the dreamer.
After all, when you fall, you have no control over your
direction or your pace. This feeling of being out of control and
falling often represents similar feelings in the dreamer’s
waking life. Therefore those who are troubled by such dreams
should be encouraged to examine their life for the source of
anxiety and fear, and to confront the situation head on. Doing
so often results in a lessening or even an elimination of dreams
of falling. Dreams of falling can also represent a sense of
inferiority or a sense of failure in your personal or
professional life. This fear could be a fear of failing in
school, failing at your job, losing your social status, or
failing in a relationship. People experiencing these situations
are often troubled by dreams in which they are falling. These
dreams of falling can represent a perceived failure to measure
up to expectations, or a fear of losing your status, losing an
important person in your life, or just a generalized fear or
failure. The strict Freudian interpretation of a dream of
falling was that such a dream indicated that the dreamer was
contemplating giving into a sexual desire or sexual impulse.
Dreams of falling are most likely to take place during the first
stage of sleep. That is because dreams at this stage are often
accompanied by spasms of muscles in the arms, the legs or even
the whole body. These sudden muscle contractions are known to
science as a myclonic jerk. The dreaming mind can interpret
these muscle spasms as falling, and thus incorporate falling
into the dream state. Often when dreamers experience this
myclonic jerk, they awaken at feeling their body twitch. This
fast reaction is part of the evolutionary mechanism that allows
us to be awakened quickly in the presence of a threatening
environment. Those who do biblical and religious interpretations
of dreams often see falling dreams as meaning that the dreamer
is taking his or her cues from the world of man instead of
turning to God for guidance and advice.
Most buyers of new cars are probably familiar with lemon laws, which allow consumers a refund or replacement when their car turns out to be defective. These laws generally cover leased cars as well as purchased ones, and they have worked well as a consumer protection tool. Unfortunately, no such laws exist for used cars, and buyers should be careful when purchasing them.
Many car dealers offer “certified used cars” that come with some sort of warranty, but most independent used car dealers do not. In most states, the law permits used car dealers to sell cars “as is”, and in that case, anything that goes wrong, even if it happens five minutes after purchase, becomes the buyer’s problem. Dealers selling cars on an “as is” basis often aren’t even required to disclose any problems a vehicle might have to potential buyers. Most independent car dealers sell older, less expensive cars than those sold at major auto dealerships. A lot of the profits that independent used car dealers make come from financing, particularly from financing those with bad or poor credit. Those with problem credit often find that such dealerships, which self-finance, are their only chance at obtaining a car loan. These loans, with their resulting high payments, often leave buyers without any extra cash to pay for repairs of undisclosed problems. Legislators in several states are considering laws that will require used car dealers to have their cars inspected by certified mechanics prior to their being offered for sale. This will help, in time, but what can a potential buyer do now?
Ask to have a certified mechanic examine the car before purchase. Any reasonable dealer should allow you to take the car to a mechanic; if not, you should probably shop elsewhere.Get a list of the car’s known problems in writing prior to purchase. Inquire as to whether you have any recourse should something go wrong after the sale.Ask the salesperson if the car has any sort of warranty, and if so, get it in writing. If they tell you the car is sold “as is”, ask them to define those terms exactly.Contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if they have had any complaints about that particular dealer.If possible, purchase a used car from a dealership that offers certified used cars with a written warranty.Buying a used car is more problematic than buying a new one. After all, a used car is one that someone else didn’t want anymore. Buyers who are considering a purchase of a used car should be aware that their protection under the laws of most states is quite limited. Asking a few questions and doing some investigation prior to making the purchase may save buyers thousands of dollars down the road.
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing. Retro Marketing, established in 1978, is a firm devoted to informational Websites, including LemonLawHelp.net, a site devoted to automobile lemon laws and End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to information about debt consolidation and credit counseling.
A CCD, or a Charge Coupled Device, is a microelectronic device
used to capture digital images. CCDs can work with several other
digital video devices such as scanners, digital cameras,
camcorders, astronomical telescopes, robots, radar images and
satellite photograph among many others.
The origin of the CCD can be found in 1969 although it has not
become widely popular until much later. This technology has
allowed the improvement in the quality and resolution of images
as well as the transferring and importing from one device into
another. There can be a line stated between the time before the
CCD technology appeared and after its invention.
CCDs are devices that contain elements that are sensitive to
light. These photosensitive elements allow devices to read
images and store them according to the light information it
receives. Every CCD has an integrated circuit through which it
stores and accumulates the image information and which will
allow us to then transfer it to another device.
When a CCD is exposed to an image, it will store electrical
charges which will accumulate the image information. In other
ways, visual information on each light and color image aspect is
translated into different electrical charges which will equal
those light and color information pieces and this way represent
it.
This way, CCDs allow us to transfer an image which we observe
into a screen, a printer or a scanner through the electrical
charges which it stores and which represent the image. CCDs have
a very important amount of sensitivity, providing this way high
quality final products and good resolution despite bad
illumination.
The way in which a CCD stores information regarding color is
through the electrical charge intensity. Each level of charge
intensity corresponds to a different color from the spectrum.
This system is used in order to store the image information
equally as it is used to decode the electrical charges back into
colors and therefore creating the image again. CCDs are present
in many of the devices which surround us since many of the every
day devices related to images which people use involve their
use.
Talent for fashion is useless if you never develop it into skills, without a good education you’ll never capitalize on what you could be capable of doing. College can bring you success and help you along, not to mention become a meeting ground to important contacts.
How well you succeed in the fashion industry will depend to a major extent on the school you choose. Choosing a school can be complex as there is more to it than location, like cost, subjects covered, class sizes, and the actual education itself.
First of all, make sure the school’s education fits within your allowed budget but still allows for a quality education. Find a school that will focus its teachings on your chosen career. All schools have their own versions of curricula so really investigate their teachings. Don’t attend a school that will only offer oversized classroom settings, as you’re your education will suffer.
And remember that when you’re choosing which fashion design school you should attend, there are several factors to take into account, these being only a few of them. If you take our advice to heart and put them into practice, making the right choice for you will be easy.
If you have dandruff, it could be the result of an increase in stress. Also known as seborrheic dermatitis, this dandruff can be caused by negative events such as losing your job, or even a positive event like getting married! Fortunately, there are some excellent treatments on the market for dandruff, which respond well with very little attention, so it is easy to keep under control regardless of your stress level. If you have tried hair regrowth or have thinning hair, dandruff certainly won’t help this either. When you have dandruff, scaling of the scalp results in visible flakes of skin, especially along your hairline. Psoriasis is sometimes confused with dandruff. This is a chronic skin disease with a fairly prominent scaling.
The only way to determine if you have psoriasis or dandruff is to visit your doctor before you try to treat it. Obviously, psoriasis will have more scaling involved than dandruff. The unfortunate part about dandruff is that it is fairly common, and it is not known what causes it. Of course, if you have male pattern baldness, the chances of you having dandruff will diminish.
The best way to combat dandruff is using a shampoo with the active ingredient pyrithione zinc. This active ingredient is found in such products as Denorex, Head and Shoulders, and Pert Plus Dandruff Shampoo. You can also get excellent results with a product called Selsun Blue. It has an active ingredient called selenium sulfide which is equally effective but can be more irritating to the skin. If you apply the shampoo twice a week and leave it in your hair for three to five minutes before rinsing, this gives the ingredients time to work. If you are trying to encourage hair regrowth these products can be used in conjunction with other hair loss remedies. It is important to continue using the dandruff shampoo even when it clears up as this will suppress any further flaking. Remember to take measures that will minimize the amount of stress in your life as this will encourage proper hair regrowth and reduce the chances of you having dandruff.
By Terry Price- Remember to visit- http://www.hair-loss-baldness-solutions.com/hair-loss-prevention.html -Rogaine is your answer to male pattern baldness: http://www.hair-loss-baldness-solutions.com/114-pharmacia-upjohn-inc.-rogaine.html.html
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