7Nov
Interview with Richard Hilton, Musical Arranger and Keyboardist for Chic

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH CHIC?

The best things about playing at CHIC include being able to make music with some of the best musicians I’ve ever met, including the band we’ve had for the last five years, and getting to share in the happiness of the audience. I’ve also gotten to see a lot of really amazing places that I probably never would have seen otherwise.

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST DIFFICULT?

The rigors of travel, which are at an all time high these days.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH CHIC/NILES? AND HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

I started working with Nile in March of 1988. I interviewed for about two years for several different jobs with a company called “New England Digital” that made a proprietary computerized musical instrument called the Synclavier. I was never hired, but when Nile Rodgers called them (being a user of his instrument) asking for a qualified programmer who could play keyboards, they kindly recommended me and that was it, I accepted.

IF YOU DIDN’T WORK WITH CHIC, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

When I started with Nile, I was teaching at a small university and going back to graduate school to get my master’s degree. I hope to return to teaching one day. I really want to work with young people.

CHIC ARE ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WATCH, WHAT’S THE SECRET?

A tireless dedication to offer the best show possible every night. There’s a lot of trust and love on stage, and it seems to translate to the audience, based on the things they say to me. One cannot underestimate the value of the incredible repertoire we have been given to play as a major contributing factor in making all of this possible.

IS THERE A RUMOR THAT CHIC IS WORKING ON RELEASE AN ALBUM IN COLLABORATION WITH DAFT PUNK? IS THIS TRUE?

I can’t talk about ongoing projects.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TECHNIQUE?

Adequate, but not excellent. I do a lot of things pretty well, but maybe none of them are “great”. The CHIC players are all much more successful than me. My skills are spread across several different disciplines in my work, so my playing technique sometimes doesn’t get the attention it otherwise deserves. I’m lucky that music has always come pretty easy to me.

YOU ALWAYS LOOK SO HAPPY AND OPTIMIZED ON STAGE! WHY IS THAT?

Because I find the privilege of playing this music and sharing the happiness of the audience quite overwhelming. Playing this music on CHIC is an amazing thing, and I try to let that wash over me as much as possible while we’re doing it.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENT?

I would try to take advantage less of the anger and more of the love I feel. There are some other things specific to my relationships that I wish I had done better.

IF YOU WERE NOT BORN IN THIS CENTURY, WHEN AND WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE LIVED?

I am happy to be here now. I don’t think much in terms of “what if”. That said, hearing Art Tatum, Beethoven and Chopin play would have been very nice.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS/MUSICIANS AND WHY?

I’m really not good at favorites lists. I listen and watch a lot of things and I really like them. My list would be in the top 100, and is not limited to a few particular styles of music and/or art.

WHO ARE YOUR LEAST FAVORITE ARTISTS/MUSICIANS AND WHY? (YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO!!)

In general, those who contribute with all their power to the degradation of society and the people who make it up. Fanatics, suitors. People who did not work for it, and society gave it to them.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

Learn more about the world, the people who inhabit it and about my work. I learn a lot on my own, not limited to music or technology. I like to cook and spend time with my wife and children. I don’t watch much TV, mostly some sports and history. I read a lot and spend a lot of time with computers and devices.

ARE YOU POLITICALLY ACTIVE?

More in the mind than in the body, but yes, I find myself more and more horrified by the world situation as I get older.

DO YOU DO ANY VOLUNTEER WORK?

Yes, I try to get involved in the aspirations of young musicians as much as I can, I’m sure there is much more I could do. I get as involved as possible in my children’s musical adventures, usually without directly participating with them. That takes many forms; equipment advice and purchase assistance, attending shows, and sometimes recording the shows. When they were in the marching band, I was the unofficial videographer for the band, posting videos so the band could benefit from seeing their work.

As a bonus, it turned out that families of band members from all over the world were watching these videos to see their relatives perform at a high level. I got comments all the time about how “Grandma in Phoenix” watched every video and looked forward to it every week.

Also, because of my children’s music, I meet a lot of young people here at home and we talk. I like to think they find it easy to talk to me. I like to talk to them.

HOW HAS AMERICAN MUSIC CHANGED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS?

This topic could fill a book, but it has briefly gone beyond the rabbit hole caused by the democratization of the music-making process. On the contrary, there has also been a resurgence of people interested in live interaction between musicians, so that part is a good one. We are still trying to recover from the effects of machine-driven music creation that became popular in the 1980s and continued onward.

WHAT IS THE SIDE OF YOU THAT THE PUBLIC NEVER SEES

The angry, bitter, alienated side. At least I hope they never see it. He’s not doing me (or them) any good.

HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED AS AN INTERPRETER/ARRANGER?

I am more aware of the role I am expected to play as an interpreter and more involved in accepting it for the benefit of the whole team. I trust more easily now and forgive more easily.

HOW HARD DO YOU STRIVE?

I insist on staying active by learning new things. I have a lot of competition for what I do from younger, hipper, more culturally adept people, and the numbers are growing every year. I meet them at college seminars and at trade shows.

I believe that the only way to stay current and involved is to continue to grow by bringing my long experience in the business combined with the knowledge and techniques that I am acquiring now. Many things can be done today that, even a few years ago, were considered impossible. I can’t stay still; I have to keep moving forward with knowledge to stay in the game at my age.

WHEN ARE YOU COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH YOUR JOB?

I always feel like there is something I could do or have done to make it better. I think being “satisfied with one’s work” is a doomsday, artistically. That said, if it all ended tomorrow, I’d walk away feeling like I had a hot streak.

WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE A PERFECTIONIST?

There is nothing worth doing that is not worth doing well. If you call that perfectionism, then I guess so.

WHAT MAKES YOU MOST PROUD AS A DAD?

I have two wonderful sons, James and Corey. James just graduated with two bachelor’s degrees, cum laude, from Western Connecticut State University. He received a special recognition from the MIS department for outstanding achievement. He is working in the computer field and is doing fantastically well.

Corey attends Music College in Ithaca, NY. He is a recording student with percussion as his main instrument. In his first semester he was named section chief of the percussion section of the symphonic band, and in both semesters he was on the deans list. He played a fantastic recital in his first year and recorded dozens of concerts. He is also doing amazingly well and is highly appreciated by his teachers and his friends.

WHAT IS THE MAGICAL FORMULA FOR SUCCESS?

Find something you enjoy doing and find a way to fit it into your life appropriately. That may mean making a living out of it, or it may not. Don’t let others define who you are and what you should be. Success, to me, is finding a place of comfort and happiness in one’s life without harming yours, no matter how it manifests. It’s not about fame and fortune. I know too many famous and rich people who are not happy.

Also, for me, having good relationships with the people of the world, both at home and “out there”, also helps to balance life and points of view. In my own life, it is very important.

Author’s note: I was lucky enough to be invited to see Chic perform at Kew Gardens in the summer of 2012. Music lifted me off the grass! I met Rich Hilton, one of the nicest, most down to earth guys you could meet, Richard’s joy on and off stage is infectious, and he and Nile Rodgers have worked together for decades. What a blessing for soul/funk/disco music lovers like me!
7Nov
Jeep’s target market covers everyone

Jeep has established itself in the field of off-road vehicle performance. But now he’s looking to appeal to a larger market to cater to young fans. He’s determined to meet the needs of both young and old using the charisma of the new Wrangler.

However, on the expansion of the automaker’s target market, some Jeep purists are taking issue. They think the brand has gone too soft than expected. “Everyone is worried that Jeep will lose its name,” said Cefali, vice president of the Great Lakes Four-Wheel Drive Association and also a Jeep consumer. “I would hate to see Jeep not be in the forefront of off-road driving.”

The Jeep Wrangler, the successor to the World War II Jeep, is a mini sport utility vehicle that debuted in 1987. It was first updated in 1997. The next modification was made in 2007 and the last one is for this model year. The new Jeep Wrangler is equipped with a number of firsts including power windows and door locks. Throughout the automaker’s 65-year history, this is the first time it has offered such features.

“It looks like they’re putting out some stuff that isn’t really off-road-friendly,” Cefali added. Such sentiment is why it was crucial to talk to Jeep purists when the new Wrangler was just a sketch, said Jeff Bell, vice president of Jeep, a division of DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group. He added that with competition from newer brands like Hummer and rugged midsize SUVs like the Nissan Xterra, a modern Wrangler had to be built. But the looks and features wouldn’t offend four-wheel loyalists.

The Jeep Wrangler now comes with opening windshields and removable and convertible tops. The exterior of the new Wrangler was designed with its heritage in mind, said Trevor Creed, senior vice president of design for Chrysler. Kerry Ann Griffith, a Wrangler fan herself, is happy to learn that the motorized features don’t stop hardcore Jeep fans from pulling the doors off for summer adventures. “I don’t care what they do with the Jeep brand, as long as they keep the traditional Wrangler,” said Griffith, who rides trails at least once a month.

“Once people see the new Wrangler, they’ll be blown away by what it looks like and what it can do,” said Tom LaSorda, chief executive officer of Chrysler.

Jeep sales were up 11.5 percent in 2005, and the automaker is eager to ease sales further with its new Compass, Liberty Diesel and seven-passenger Commander. “It’s a big round of applause that you can grow Jeep,” Bell said.

The Jeep Compass is a crossover sport utility vehicle introduced for the 2007 model year at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The vehicle uses a 172-horsepower 2.4-liter GEMA I4 gasoline engine for the Australian market and European. Now that the vehicle is modified to cater to a broader market, it comes with many promises and surprises. The automaker said the vehicle is designed to offer more fun, utility, freedom, capability, as well as the potential for exceptional fuel economy and interior flexibility without compromising affordability. Although the automaker considered significant modifications, proven parts like EBC brake rotors will remain on the model.

The automaker hopes the 2007 Jeep Compass will be designed with urban styling to attract new buyers in the compact SUV segment, which is projected to double to 568,000 units by 2010 and triple to 814,000 by 2016 from 297,000 units in 2004. attract single women and professional newlyweds between the ages of 20 and 40. The automaker is also targeting a high-end demographic with a median income of $60,000.

The new Jeep Compass features the signature Jeep brand seven-slot grille, round headlamps and trapezoidal wheel openings, and a new silhouette featuring a sloped windshield. Side-curtain airbags are standard, and it’s powered by the world’s new 172-horsepower 2.4-liter engine produced by Chrysler, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co.

The Jeep Liberty Diesel, for its part, is a compact sport utility vehicle that has 2 new PowerTech engines, a 150 hp 2.4 L I4 and a 210 hp 3.7 L V6, a 2.8 L VM Motori turbodiesel engine became available in the CRD model. and disc brakes on all four wheels. In 2005, it took the title of best-selling compact sport utility vehicle.

A 7-passenger midsize sport utility vehicle introduced in 2006, the Jeep Commander features 3 sunroofs, square sides, a vertical windshield and very distinctive styling. It also offers a base V6 engine with two optional V8s and a new Hemi. In Europe, the vehicle offers a Diesel engine developed by DaimlerChrysler with BlueTec technology.

According to Rebecca Lindland, an analyst at Global Insight Inc., Jeep needs to keep in touch with the changing tastes of buyers, particularly the younger generation. “A lot of the younger consumers in the market are premium oriented,” Lindland said. “They’re looking for premium brands, so a brand like Hummer is very attractive to them. What Jeep needs to do is make themselves very attractive to that market. They’re trying to expand the overall brand appeal without alienating core buyers. They need to get younger buyers interested in Jeep.”
7Nov
Your 2020 guide on how to get the most out of video marketing

Video content marketing trends and tips
In recent years, we’ve seen a massive increase in video content appearing online, and there’s no sign of it slowing down.

From creating webinars to including short clips in emails, a video marketing strategy is a must if you want to truly engage with your audience to improve brand awareness and increase leads and sales.

According to Wyzowl, a company that creates animated explainer images, 83% of marketers say video helps them generate leads and 87% say it has increased traffic to their website.

Some other benefits include:

  • It’s good for SEO. If your material is compelling enough to attract views and shares, your Google search ranking may improve.
  • it’s a time saver. It doesn’t take much time to create short but engaging clips compared to writing an article or blog.
  • It’s affordable. It may be more profitable to create a short clip than one. produce an ad or a blog.
  • Draw attention. People can scroll through the written words, but most will at least glance at the interesting images.

As we move into 2020, here are three video content marketing trends you can expect to see in the future.

  1. Vertical videos. Just when everyone seemed to understand that horizontal filming is better, vertical videos arrive! This is because consumers see a lot of things on smartphones.

Instagram and Snapchat were the first to use vertical videos in Stories, and then it was Instagram Television (IGTV).

Even Netflix uses vertical digital marketing videos to show previews.

  1. Live broadcast. This refers to everything that is recorded and transmitted in real time. People like to feel like they’re being spoken to directly and authentically, and live streaming is also a cheap way to build collateral.

We’ve seen more and more social platforms implement this functionality, including Instagram Live, Facebook Live, Twitter Live, and LinkedIn for a select few.

  1. Video shopping. So far, it seems that it is largely clothing retailers that are taking advantage of this tactic. How it works: Users can click on a section of the screen (for example, a skirt on a model) and be directed to the link to purchase the item.

A recent Brightcove survey revealed that 23% of general consumers and 30% of Millennials want links that allow them to directly purchase a product.

Now that you have an idea of ​​what’s going to be popular in 2020, here are some ways to incorporate compelling imagery into your campaigns this year.

  1. Use your landing pages.

A survey by marketing technology company Eyeview showed that video on landing pages can increase conversions by 86%. It’s a great way to increase search rankings, as Google’s algorithms are increasingly prioritizing websites with this type of content.

Other benefits: It can lead to more social shares, build trust and awareness, and reduce bounce rate.

Shopify created an inspiring brand montage that lives on your home page. It explains what they do, highlights different clients, and announces that they now support a million businesses.

  1. Blogs and articles.

Did you know that blog posts can be just as valuable as a landing page? Consider filming your post instead of writing it (or do both), and you’ll have easily increased the chances of that information reaching more visitors.

Considered an authority on SEO, Moz found that displaying a clip with blog images and text increased reach three times.

One of our clients, the Financial Recovery Institute, uses it on a blog to tell a story.

  1. Emails and newsletters.

The digital marketing videos you create will depend on your goals and objectives. For example, are you announcing a new product, event, or course you want people to sign up for?

You can also use email to give people a preview of longer images on your website. Once you’ve decided on what you’re promoting, you can start filming.

Something to keep in mind: There are over 30 major email clients, including Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail. Some of them don’t qualify for using clips in emails.

Several of the popular email newsletter services, like AWeber and MailChimp, make it easy to share what you film by using a screenshot and linking the image to the original content.

That way, a user can simply click on the image in the email and be directed to your clip. Want to learn more? Check out our recommended email newsletter providers.

  1. Social media platforms.

A solid social media strategy is essential, and you only need to take a look at your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn (and of course YouTube and Pinterest) to see what role video plays for businesses.

Some formats you could shoot for social media include:

  • how guides
  • questions and answers
  • behind-the-scenes glimpses
  • events
  • interview
  • Unboxings (if you have a physical product)

It’s important to remember that each social media platform has rules about the length of your digital marketing videos. Here is a quick reference guide:

  • Facebook allows you up to 240 minutes (although you probably don’t want to use all that time),
  • Twitter provides 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
  • Instagram gives you one minute if shared as a post, 15 seconds as a story, and up to 1 hour as a live video or IGTV.
  • LinkedIn has a 10-minute limit.
  • Snapchat allows 10 seconds.

Make sure your videos are optimized for each social media platform. Viewers on Instagram expect different things than on Twitter, for example.

We may not be able to cover every video content marketing platform or strategy out there, but I hope this has given you some ideas on how to use this valuable tool in 2020.

Remember: no matter what you’re creating or selling, it’s about storytelling. It’s time to tell the most authentic and compelling stories you can about your products or services!

And if your organization needs help with social media marketing, it’s best to find a qualified service provider who understands the specific nuances of different social channels and what works best on each.
7Nov
What tax records must I keep?

Are you concerned about the amount of time you need to keep your personal income tax records? Taxpayers are sometimes required to file these documents when the government reviews or audits a filed return or is trying to levy or collect taxes. In addition, these documents are required by creditors, communities of owners, other interested parties that have requirements to determine before granting someone the right to use money or extend credit to obtain property and for any other transaction that these documents deem necessary.

Keep your income tax records indefinitely. Attached records, income documents, and deduction source information supporting financial evidence generally must be kept for six years. In general, the time limit for the IRS to assess taxes for a given tax year is three years after the due or filing date of the tax return, whichever is later, except in cases of fraud or understatement. substantial income.

The IRS goes back more than three years when it determines that more than 25% of gross income is not reported on a return, it considers it a material understatement of income and the collection period can be extended to six years. Also, the IRS has no time limits and can collect taxes at any time when no returns have been filed for a tax year. That’s why it’s necessary to keep your records for circumstances like these.

Holding on to forever tax returns and other important source documents for six years should be enough. Nobody really knows when the IRS will try to go back to previous years and try to collect taxes. When tax returns are filed electronically, be sure to get a paper copy of the return from the accountant who prepared/filed your return.

Property records must be kept until the property is sold. The tax effects of operations carried out this year may be affected by purchases made in the past. These purchase documents must be kept until the property is sold. The following are some common examples:

The house was purchased in 1976 for $50,000. An additional $15,000 was incurred for renovations in 1993 and the house sold this year for $200,000. To calculate the profit from the transaction, cost information must be available. (for example, purchase price plus renovations). In the event the IRS disputes the return, the purchase and cost documents must be filed with the IRS. In this example, keep the records for six years after the due or filing date of the tax return, whichever is later.

Some taxpayers have gains that qualify for the home sale exclusion, which allows certain homeowners to exclude up to $500,000 of gain from the sale of a home. Even if this benefit applies to you, records related to the home purchase and improvements must still be kept. The benefit may not be available in the future and it is impossible to know how much the house will be worth in the future.

There may be cases where the new property bears the cost of the old property. In this case, the records of the old property must be kept for up to six years after the sale of the new property. Let’s say a business car was purchased in 2010 and is now a trade-in for a new business vehicle in 2015. When the new business vehicle is sold, any gain or loss is based in part on the business vehicle’s purchase records. . Therefore, records must be kept for six years after the due or filing date of the tax return, whichever is later.

Longer record retention periods also apply to investments in stocks owned in a small business, mutual funds, stocks, etc. In the cases of these typical investments, when dividends are reinvested, each dividend reinvestment is a purchase. Therefore, beginning with the year the investment is sold, records must be kept for six years after the due or filing date of the tax return, whichever is later.

For damaged and stolen property, the calculation of the casualty and theft loss deduction is determined, in part, by the cost of the damaged or stolen property. Having the records to support the cost of these properties is important to support your basis. Therefore, beginning with the year of loss, records must be kept for six years after the due or filing date of the tax return, whichever is later.

For married people where separation or divorce becomes a possibility, You must ensure that you have access to any tax documents related to you that are held by your spouse. Better yet, make copies of these tax documents as access to these documents may be difficult later on. Both spouses are responsible for joint returns.

Electronic record storage – This can also be practical and easier. The time required to keep the electronic versions is the same as for the paper versions. Always back up your electronic tax records.

Damage or loss of records – Consider keeping your most important documents in a safe deposit box. Also consider keeping important records in a convenient central location.

Sometimes records that are lost or damaged can be reconstructed. For example, the CPA firm may provide copies of these damaged documents, as they are required by law to keep copies of tax returns for a period of three years. We recommend keeping copies of returns and source documents electronically.

In addition, other people/businesses who have helped you with the purchase or sale of property keep records. For example, he purchased mutual funds from a mutual fund company; The company can help rebuild the costs of mutual funds.

Regardless, it’s still the safest course of action to keep copies of documents in the safest place possible, as you can never be sure whether third parties have actually kept records of the documents you need. This article is an example for illustrative purposes only and is intended as a general resource, not a recommendation. We hope this article has been useful.
7Nov
Organizing your kitchen cabinet

The kitchen is one of the most important places in the house since it is where you prepare delicious and nutritious meals for your family. Keeping this area organized is essential and one of the ways you can start doing this is by tidying up your kitchen cabinets. The various kitchen accessories you will find in your cupboard can be overwhelming at first, but if you know the basics of organizing things, it will be a piece of cake.

Deciding what your kitchen should look like is perhaps the best way to keep cabinets organized and accessories in place. This will give you the freedom to choose the design, size and shape of the cabinets that you are going to use for the kitchen, so that later you will not have difficulties to accommodate and rearrange tools and accessories.

When considering organizing your kitchen cabinets, first identify which items should be kept and which items should be thrown away or given away. Find items you don’t use at all and put them in a separate box. Then organize frequently used accessories in such a way that you can easily access them. Those that are used only once in a while or for special occasions should be placed in the back of the cabinet.

Remember that kitchen accessories come in different shapes and sizes. Items that are lighter to carry and easier to move can be placed in the upper cabinets, while heavier items, such as large pots and pans, should be stored in the lower cabinets. Also, be sure to place items exactly where they need to be placed and close to where you usually use them. That way, they will be easier to find.

For breakable items and items that can be dangerous to children, be sure to hide them where children cannot reach them. Knives, for example, should be kept in drawers where only you can find them. Glass items, on the other hand, can be stored in either the top cabinet or the bottom cabinet, as long as you keep the cabinets properly closed.

Your family’s safety is your number one consideration when organizing not only the kitchen but other areas of the house as well. In case your kitchen cabinets are not big enough to hold all the kitchen accessories you have, you can consider buying a plastic file cabinet or drawer.
6Nov
The simple way to market any business

You’ve no doubt heard of the KISS principle: “Keep it simple, stupid.” Or as I like to say… “keep it simple, dumbass.”

KISS has been around the block several times. In fact, it was a design principle observed by the US Navy in the 1960s.

The phrase was coined by aeronautical engineer Kelly Johnson. It’s good to note that Johnson was the lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works (makers of the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 spy planes).

Although the acronym has been used primarily by the US military, namely the US Navy and US Air Force, it is also used by civilians, businesses, and many other groups.

Heck, I bet you’ve used it a couple of times yourself.

We all tend to overcomplicate things, myself included.

But I prefer easy any day and twice on Sunday. When tackling any problem, my number one rule is to start with the basics first (is it on? Is the lamp plugged into the outlet?)

And you’ll be surprised how effective the simple way of doing things can be. After all, you can always complicate things later if you want.

You’ll be pleased to know that “simple” also works in marketing your business! Truth be told, simple has gotten me very, very far in marketing my business.

Let me explain…

The three pillars of good marketing

IT’S OKAY. Let’s break this down into, you know, layman’s terms. You can easily and simply market any product or service if you examine the 3 pillars of marketing.

But before I go into details, I have to give credit where credit is due. While I’d love to think I’m a marketing and advertising genius, truth be told, I’m just scratching the surface here.

What I have learned came from the true geniuses of the game. The guys who discovered it and have been in the marketing trenches for decades.

With that said, what you are about to learn comes from Dan Kennedy’s Marketing. I recommend that you get your hands on any book, show, or live event that I host. It is nothing less than pure gold.

IT’S OKAY. Get on with the show. The pillars of good marketing are:

Message

market

Media

Let’s talk briefly about each one.

Pillar 1. Message. This is the “what” you tell your prospects or customers. It is the communication part of the equation of good marketing. If you get it wrong, your efforts won’t necessarily fail, but they will suffer greatly in terms of results and sales.

Keep in mind that even if you have a great message and you pitch it to the wrong market, it will fall on deaf ears. And you’re wasting marketing bullets… time, money, and other resources.

Pillar 2. Market. He is the “who” you want to sell to. It is the group of people most likely to be interested and willing to buy your stuff. These are the prospects you are communicating with and who will receive your sales messages (sales letters, print ads, landing pages, etc.)

So your mission is to match your message to the right market using the right media.

As you know, privacy is essentially dead these days. Therefore, obtaining the names and addresses of almost any target market is a fairly simple process.

Mailing lists come in all shapes and sizes today. If you know which market you want to go to, chances are you can find a list. It’s just a matter of contacting a listing broker and describing who you’re looking for.

For example, if you’re looking for people who are at least 7 feet tall, drive a BMW, live in South Carolina, and subscribe to Psychology Today, you can get that list. It may not be a very big list, but it still exists.

Pillar 3. Media. This is the delivery system. It is the vehicle in which your message travels. Think: magazines, newspapers, newsletters, social networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the list seems endless.

The best way to select which media to use starts with the market. Are you targeting people over 65? It is very likely that they do not use social networks as their primary medium.

Yes, they may very well have a Facebook account, but this is not their primary means of communicating or keeping in touch with others.

They read the local newspaper and use their cell phones regularly. They probably listen to the radio and watch television.

But the only way to really know is to ask your customers and prospects.

How to target your market

A popular way business owners use to target their market is by geographic location.

With geographic marketing, you choose your market based on a specific location, for example, businesses within a 10-mile radius. This is a very simple way of choosing your targets, but it’s like dropping flyers from a plane and hoping one lands with the right person.

Yes, a bit of a stretch, but with a few simple tweaks, you can make your geo-marketing more effective. And you can do this using…

… Demographic targeting. Demographic targeting consists of selecting people by age, gender, how much money they have, whether they are conservative or liberal, or what religion they are, single or married, etc.

Next, you have the psychographics. Psychographics deals with the behavior, attitudes, interests, and lifestyles of clients. It is useful when segmenting your market. This can be very powerful (and effective). Furthermore, it allows you to customize your marketing messages based on the market segment you are targeting.

Hey, you could combine all three. And many of the cloud-based programs like Adobe Marketing Cloud, Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketing 360, and more do just that. You can also check out some of the open source solutions.

Again, you don’t have to be all “techie,” just make sure you have details like their contact information and carefully track how much they spend, what they buy, and how often. Simple with Excel.

Of course, you could go very deep into this topic, but keeping the “simple” approach, suffice it to say keep good customer lists, learn what your potential customers want, and become the “go to” company that meets their needs. .

So the next time you launch a new marketing campaign, consider the ideas presented here. If you’re tired of flushing a lot of money down the advertising toilet and want more profitable results, I encourage you to give me a call. Have questions about this article or would like to see a topic covered? Again, just shoot me a line. I am always happy to help.

Yours for further answer,

Edition E. Massey
6Nov
Current economic crisis (rescue or purchase)

Lately, it seems like we’re living history every day. Not since the Great Depression has the United States seen such turmoil in financial markets. What started in the subprime mortgage industry has now bled to death on Wall Street.

When investment houses that have been around since the Civil War close their doors, it’s a sure sign that something has gone terribly wrong. First Bear Stearns, then Lehman Brothers, and then Merrill Lynch and Washington Mutual.

We all can’t help but be a little taken aback by what’s going on. But while I and others have pointed out that the markets are only going through a “correction,” you may be wondering, “Denise, how much correction do we need to make?”

Obviously a big one. Too much slow money for too many people who can’t afford it is a sure recipe for disaster. Now is the time to pay the price.

Some analysts are even comparing what is happening now to the stock market crash of 1929. However, there is one big difference between then and now: we are not even close to being in the same economic hole our great-grandparents fell into. back then.

Case in point: The $700 billion bailout (or is it a buyout?) that lawmakers are debating at the time of this writing is a giant sum of money, the equivalent of which was not available in 1929.

Today, we are better prepared to handle such challenges as they arise, in part because we have learned from history. When the Great Depression started, there was no backup. The United States government was in a much more “hands-off” position than it is today.

While some like to argue that it’s a good thing for the government to stay out of the free market, new and upcoming legislation promises to bring at least some security back to the US economy. The time to argue from the political principle is over. Something has to be done and, thankfully, our leaders are finally stepping up to do something about it. The question is whether these leaders will help the problem or make it worse, only time will tell. As of this writing, they still haven’t been able to put it together.

After four (or more) years of unsupervised lending, exotic lending, predatory practices, and the ensuing subprime collapse, the government is finally taking steps to intervene before it all falls through the cracks.

Of course, many wonder why Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke didn’t do something before this mess happened. While it is true that no one could have predicted how serious the consequences would be, it is obvious that when banks start handing out mortgages like candy, something is wrong.

Two or three years ago, every time I heard a mortgage ad on the radio touting low numbers for adjustable rates, I cringed. I was wondering how long this could last. During the boom, it seemed like we could never run out. We are now undergoing a major reality check.

So what does this mean for the average real estate agent? First of all, the media is wrong. It’s not a ransom. It is a purchase.

A bailout is when you give a corporation money while forgiving its debt. A buy is when you enter to save the day, but there is an asset to trade.

The latter is what the United States Government proposes: to provide funds to take over mortgages on real estate. Real estate is assets. Therefore, by definition, this is a purchase.

Based on my own personal experience with the markets, I think the government would do quite well with this deal. Think about it. They step in, take over the loans that are in trouble and refinance them to a lower rate. It is a win-win situation.

Ultimately, there is always money to be made from mortgages. Even if the government restructures these mortgages, we all know that real estate is still the best long-term investment.

Which I think will be the harbinger of the “great real estate appreciation of 2012.” Real estate will go back up. It’s always rebound. It always will. And all the major factors point to it increasing anyway: population, immigration, migration, an affluent community of older people, higher divorce rates, and people living much longer than before.

Personally, I would like to see all the corporate executives who led failed companies down this horrible financial path denied their bonuses. How can a CEO get a $22 million bonus when he has bankrupted the company and left the shareholders with the stock market? For me, this is one of the most important parts of the mess to clean up.

So only time will tell how long it will take for our leaders to get this right. What is certain is that something must be done!

And remember that when consumers get nervous about Wall Street, they tend to invest their money in real estate. So don’t jump to conclusions and think that the housing market is going down with Wall Street, it is the housing market that is going to get our economy where it should be.
6Nov
Gain weight loss with healthy and nutritious weight loss tips

Nowadays, in this fast-paced and developed world, everyone is busy and has a hectic schedule throughout the day, so they lack time to think about their diet and its positive or negative impact. When one suffers from any physical problem or becomes excessively fat or obese, one begins to worry about what to do to lose weight quickly. Well, you have to keep in mind that losing weight is not possible overnight. It takes some time and depending on your focus and consistency, results are seen faster or slower.

Also, the amount of weight loss varies from person to person and there are several factors that work in conjunction with a diet plan or exercise program. If you want to lose weight in a natural and healthy way, you must introduce some changes in your lifestyle and eating habits. Try to focus on your diet and make it nutritious, reducing the content of fats and carbohydrates. The most important advice is to avoid filling your stomach and, on the other hand, you should not go hungry either. To make a sensible and effective weight loss program, you can consult a dietitian who will provide you with precise measurements along with what to include and what to avoid in your daily diet.

Today, people feel that the calorie shifting diet works and you can see that too. However, if you are following this diet, you will have to make a chart and stick to it, which can be difficult or annoying for most of us. So it’s a great idea to eat what you want, but keep portions small and just avoid fried and junk food. By taking some precautions you can avoid gaining weight and then if you add some exercise program to your daily routine, you will also reduce the accumulated fat in your body. If you want to lose weight fast, you can train with a different plan, which includes eating plans and a vigorous exercise program recommended by any specialist.

The weight loss tips for those who want to go on a diet is that they can opt for a high protein diet, which is well tested and advised by experts and they indicate that a high protein diet helps to lose weight faster. The reason behind this is that protein keeps you fuller for longer hours and since you don’t feel hungry, you don’t have any cravings for snacks. Therefore, there is no addition to the calorie count between meals and this also helps you to reduce fat easily and quickly. Whatever the method, the main intention of anyone who wants to lose weight should be to achieve the goal in a healthy way. Just a little awareness and alertness on your part will help you lose weight and maintain your health as well.
6Nov
Energy Abuse: Can Someone Energetically Abuse Another Person?

If asked to talk about what abuse looks like, they might say this is what happens when someone is humiliated, beaten, sexually exploited, or emotionally invalidated. When something like this happens, it will be clear that someone is not being treated in the right way.

At the same time, although all these behaviors are expressions of abuse, it would not be correct to say that it will always be clear that this is the case. One reason for this is that if someone has been mistreated for a long time, they may have gotten used to being treated this way.

The rule

Thanks to the time they have experienced life in this way, the way they are being treated will no longer register as abuse. And, if they have been treated this way practically since they were born, it may never have occurred to them that they are being abused.

If this is really what happened, they probably would have come to believe that they were worthless. Being treated poorly as an adult will make you feel comfortable on a deeper level.

more exposure

Fortunately, abusive behavior is being talked about more and more in the media, making it easier for people like this to realize what’s going on. Therefore, no matter what kind of abuse someone is experiencing, there is no need for them to put up with it.

Becoming aware of this is the first step, while the second step will be for someone to change your life. Help is there, they just need to seek it out and do whatever it takes to move forward.

Another type

The above mentioned relates to the type of abuse that can be seen with the naked eye, however, there is another type of abuse that cannot be seen. Or, to be more exact, it can be seen, but a different sense is needed to grasp it.

This type of abuse is also something that can be detected if someone is in tune with their feelings. The type of abuse being talked about here relates to energy and how energy can be taken away from them.

a subtle process

When this happens, you may not be aware of what is happening, and if there are people around you, they may not be aware either. However, once they are no longer around this person, they may feel that something is not right.

In fact, one could end up feeling completely drained. If they were to think about what they have been doing, it may be difficult for them to understand why they feel this way.

an isolated incident

The person who ended up taking your energy may have had a bad day or may be going through a difficult time. If this is the case, it will not be normal for them to take on other people’s energy in this way.

They will be low, so they will get a lot of energy from others to try to get up again. It would be easy to criticize someone like that, however, there are likely to be times in almost everyone’s life when they fall down and can’t produce their own energy.

the energy vampire

Someone like that is then going to be radically different from someone who is perpetually out of touch with their own life force and therefore needs the life force of other people. For them, taking energy from others and giving very little in return will be part of who they are.

They will not be able to get energy from within, so the only way they will be able to have enough energy to live is by extracting it from others. The people they go in with are usually going to get sucked into them and it may take a while for them to get up again.

the same position

When it comes to the people you spend time with, these people can be off most of the time. That is unless, of course, these people are the same as them, which may mean they won’t be affected in the same way.

These people will be dead inside, so there won’t be much they can do to each other. As for people who are not energetically dead, they can be in a very low place after spending so much time with someone like that.

Lifeless

These people will continually be de-energized and one will have nothing to give them. So there would have been a point where these people were full of life and now they could be like a zombie.

The sooner someone like that realizes what’s going on and seeks help, the sooner they can come back to life. It’s hard to say how long it will take for your energy level to go from red to green.

Awareness

It would be easy to say that one can end up with an ‘energy vampire’, but this would paint him as a victim. If one has a tendency to break up with people like that, it can show that they have bad boundaries, are out of touch with their inherent worth, and don’t have a strong sense of self.

By being this way, it will be difficult for them to get a sense of what another person is going through and the impact their being has on them. Also, if one is emotionally numb and out of touch with their body, it is also going to be a challenge for them to consciously know what is happening to someone else.

If one can relate to this and wants to be more insightful when it comes to who they let into their life, they may need to seek outside support. This is something that can be done with the help of a therapist or healer.
6Nov
collection of canes

A walking stick is a device used by many people throughout history up to the Middle Ages and perhaps beyond. For the Celts, it was of primary importance. In ancient times, they were used as a weapon to defend against threat or on offense. Some were even made to conceal some type of blade, such as a sword or knife. Swords, once an important Celtic symbol, fell into disuse due to newly developed weapons that could reach greater distances, such as pistols and cannons. Swords, once a Celtic symbol of status and wealth, were used less and less and the next best thing to replace them was a Celtic staff. In fact, they became so popular that everyone went out of their way to buy one to add to their wardrobe accessories. In addition to its value as a decorative accessory, it fulfills part of the function of the sword as a weapon. Many types of wood were used to make them, but in older times the wood chosen was of great importance!

The wood, along with the Celtic symbol design, on the staff represented the person and who they were. For example, some have a compass on the handle for the astronomer or sailor, and others may be engaged in a country hobby, such as fishing, golf, animal husbandry, merchants, farmers, chieftains, or horseback riding. . Of course, the Chieftains, high-ranking warriors, would have elaborately decorated staffs. Most likely they were buried with them. Many are adorned with items that match a person’s personality or mood. They may also reflect the season or a person’s individual power animal or family crest or totem. Later they still reflected the profession, like the English Bobby.

Religious men, such as the Druids, also used walking sticks, or canes, to show their position originally. The type of wood the Celts used for the wand or staff showed how high the rank of the druid was: 6 years of school for Vate, 12 for a bard and 18 for the druid and about 20 years. Later the staff was adopted by the Christian faith and used by bishops, archimandrites and abbots. They even adopted some of the colors, although over the years this was dropped. The religious leaders carried a darker wood and the canes were straight, not curved like a candy cane. They used silver as a hilt at the top and a metal cap at the tip. The staff used by the leader like the Archdruid or the Christian leaders was made of plain wood and had absolutely no decoration. The staff was given only in Initiations of both Druidism and Bishop rites at the beginning of their service. No one else had the right to wear it until one of the same rank as you was going to give it to them. Any wands or items turned in for that particular sect and service were returned when you finished that service, or passed on to the new person who took over. As you can see, canes vary in both size and shape. The works of art, and sometimes even the beauty of wood alone, have led to the popular hobby of collecting them! The Celts are still elaborately carved with Celtic symbols, Celtic symbols burned in wood, painted or plain. Some would display the hereditary insignia or the totem of the tribe or clan!

Canes can be used to walk over rough terrain, to reach difficult places, or to clear desert foliage, make a path passable, and prevent injury. They are great to use or harness to gain momentum to go up steeper hills, or to avoid a fall, or go slower downhill. They are essential, in my opinion, to undertake any outdoor adventure, as they can save a life when crossing a body of water or avoid falling into a hole and testing the ground or ice.

When you buy one from an online store, it’s good to put on a hand strap when you take it home. Most cane makers will drill this hole and add a leather tie for you at no or minimal additional charge. You’ll want this if you’re going anywhere so it can go around your wrist and you won’t lose it in an accident. Also as a handle on the larger ones called Staves, some may have a special grip where you place your hand for comfort. As a general rule of thumb, buy a cane 3 inches shorter than you are. The bigger and stronger the man, the bigger and stronger the cane.

What are Nordic walking poles? This term is used to tell you that there are two poles, like ski poles. You’ll want at least two types of canes, one for cold climates, like winter in Canada, and one for warmer climates. A winter cane will have a metal ribbon attached to the bottom instead of the rubber tip. Some are made so that the bottom becomes two styles, so you don’t ruin interior floors. These come in a set! They are winter canes. The Norse lived in a rugged world, and sometimes the weather was unpleasant. These Nordic walking poles are all the rage in Europe nowadays! They are becoming more popular in the US and Canada as the world becomes more health conscious. Buying a cane and pedometer, and putting them by the door, will remind you that you need to finish your 10,000 steps a day. Walking with two poles of the correct length dramatically reduces stress on the knees, hips, and back.

Stick collecting is a great hobby for those looking for something to collect. Its value will never decrease and there are many types: vintage, modern and hidden compartments such as hidden swords, hidden pool cues, hidden liquids (these are called drinkers!) or compartments to hide gems, smoke or matches. for the survival campfire and the money. No matter what the reason, this is an investment that can’t go wrong. All canes are great conversation pieces, as well as some having absolutely stunning designs – carved, painted, or wood burned.