Email is a very convenient and important tool in business communication. It’s important that when communicating via email, you do things properly to avoid aspersions being cast on your professionalism.

1. Mind your manners. It is still important to say things like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. Also, address your contacts on a first name basis only if they are comfortable with this. Pay attention to your tone. You don’t want to sound curt, arrogant or indifferent, but want to come across as respectful and approachable.

2. Get to the point. Avoid long-winded emails. Get to the point of your emails as quickly as possible, without omitting the key details and the essence of the email. Time is short, people are busy and they really just want to get to the point of what you want to convey.

3. Be professional. As a professional, you want every avenue of communication to reflect your level of professionalism. Do you respond to important email on time? It really is bad business to respond slowly to legitimate email. Always strive to answer on time, every time. And remember, no matter how irate your contact is, always remain cool, courteous and helpful.

4. Watch your punctuation, grammar and spelling. Nothing screams ‘unprofessional’ more than bad spelling, abbreviations, slangs, emoticons and inappropriate language, terms and expressions that do not have a place in professional communication. Do you double check for typos, grammatical errors and other common mistakes? Use a spell checker or a dictionary if necessary.

5. What does your email address say about you? Do you really think it is all right to use your janedoe@totallyhotchick.com email address to communicate with clients? The email address for your domain or even the one provided by your ISP looks and conveys a more professional image than a free address ever could, and is more likely to impress your clients. When choosing an email address for your business, always put some thought into selecting the appropriate name.

6. Send your email to the right person. It does not look good on your part sending an email to the wrong recipient. That particular email could have contained confidential information that was intended for a ‘Daniel’ to read but was mistakenly sent to a ‘Dan’. Always be careful when selecting names and adding to the ‘To:’ field, as it may be populated, or you have several contacts with the same first name.

7. Where’s the attachment? Personally, I’ve been guilty of this a couple times. If you spot the missing attachment quickly and can send it soon after, you can ’save face’. However, if you consistently make this mistake, you may come off looking unprofessional and careless. Try this: Before writing anything, attach the file(s) first before you forget!

8. DON’T SCREAM AT ME!!! Using all caps is the equivalent of shouting and should be avoided at all costs. Not only is it hard to read, it is considered rude and annoying and you may just been seen as unprofessional and inconsiderate by the reader.

Are you fed up with the day-to-day grind of your dead-end job and wish you could find a better way to make a living? It may be much easier than you think when you consider the wide range of home based business franchises with very reasonable investment costs and excellent earning potential. Realizing the dream of having your own business and working for yourself each day can be the way to a much brighter (and profitable) future! Check out the top 10 home based business franchises for 2007. One of them may be just right for you!

What’s Hot Right Now?

The top franchises are those that provide the kinds of products and services that appeal to consumer needs and current social trends. For example, the growing number of elderly persons means that there is a serious need for franchises that can provide necessary products and services for seniors.

Other lucrative home based franchise opportunities are steadily increasing in cleaning, home maintenance and repair as well as exercise and fitness. As the number of new and exciting franchise opportunities continues to grow, so too does the potential for great profit and business success for any franchisee.

Here are the top 10 home based business franchises for 2007. Perhaps one of them is the franchise that can pave the way to a brand new and prosperous venture in which you can operate your own business and reap the benefits!

Molly Maid

This well-known franchise continues to remain strong and ever present among the top home based business franchises available. In today’s fast-paced and busy world, having the time to complete many household chores and daily maintenance is simply not possible. Many consumers rely on this kind of service to keep their home organized and clean. As this need increases, so does the potential for growth and income as a franchisee. With start-up costs as low as $30,000, it is quite affordable and feasible to own a Molly Maid franchise.

ServiceMaster Clean

When the unexpected happens, many property owners seek out professionals to take over and correct the problem. As a ServiceMaster Clean franchisee, you can expect to build a long-lasting and highly respected business when you have this brand name behind you. Specializing in carpet, drapery and upholstery cleaning, this franchise is available with a very minimal initial investment and even offers financial assistance for franchisees who want to get started immediately.

Home Blinds

Many people value the experience and expertise of professionals when it comes to window treatments in their home or office. When you own a Home Blinds franchise, you get all the necessary training and support to become an expert in selling and installing window blinds, shutters, shades and drapery. And with a mobile unit, you can travel to meet your customer’s specific needs and requirements quickly and easily.

1-800-GOT-JUNK

Who knew that a franchise catering to junk removal would become such a large and expansive business opportunity? But many consumers do accumulate large amounts of assorted items that they no longer want or need but don’t have the necessary equipment or time to get rid of the junk. Due to the essential equipment required to start this franchise, the initial cost is slightly higher than some other home based franchises at $90,000, it is well worth it considering the detailed training and ongoing support from the franchisor.

i9 Sports

If you are interested in sports and working with children, an i9 Sports franchise business might be the one for you! Specializing in the organization of youth sports leagues, camps and after-school programs, this franchise offers flexible work hours and is home based. Plus, initial investment is reasonably low at only $60,000.

Matco Tools

This home based franchise is one of the best offering quality tools and diagnostic equipment for automotive technicians. With your own “tool truck” and stock, you can cover a fairly large territory and build a strong customer base. The superior quality, design and durability of the product is sure to help you build a solid franchise that will provide a generous profit.

Companion Connection Senior Care

Just imagine being able to help seniors in your community with your own business! And with a limited membership opportunity with no membership fees. You provide live-in or live-out non-medical care to seniors or disabled adults including such responsibilities as light housekeeping, meal preparation or just friendship and support. As our population ages, the need for this kind of business continues to grow.

ACFN ATM Franchise

As North America’s only ATM franchise, you need no prior experience to operate this business. The franchisor locates and provides the ATM locations as well as complete and extensive training. ACFN ATM machines are located in hundreds of locations including hotels, hospitals, movie theaters and more. With a $36,000, you can get started right away!

Mr. Handyman

Whether it is a small or large job, a Mr. Handyman franchise can handle it. This business can be a dream come true for anyone who enjoys home repair and would like to make money doing it. A very modest initial investment will get you started and the highly reputed brand name and a strong work ethic will keep your franchise busy and profitable.

1800905GEEK

The new age of computers and IT technology dominates our society in both home and business. Why not capitalize on the latest advances with your own on-site computer service and repair franchise? Get comprehensive, ongoing training and support that ensures you are always an expert. And you can base your business from your home with only $60,000 for initial investment.

A franchise opportunity can open plenty of new avenues for your future. When you consider the ever increasing and expansive number of incredible home based franchise opportunities, there has never been a better time to own your own business!

The business environment is always volatile because it is affected by the supply and demand of the marketplace. There are many factors that can contribute to the demand in the market and this demand will likewise also affect the supply. It is important to look into each of these factors to be able to cope up with changes. One of the most important determinants of demand is the income of the customer. When the income of the customer falls then his ability to purchase goods and service is affected.

Another factor that influences the demand for a product is the prices of related goods. For example, if the price of an apple falls for one particular season then you can expect the customers to buy more apples during that time frame even if they are used to buying banana. In this regard, the banana industry suffers because the customers buy the apples because of the low price.

Still another determinant of demand is the shifting taste of the market. Sometimes, there are trends in the market the drives the demand of some products up while sometimes it would adversely affect the demand in the market. The taste of individuals themselves can reflect on the overall demand of the market. If some customers prefer chocolate more than coffee then you can expect the demand of chocolate to be a lot more significant compared to coffee.

Your expectations in the future are also likely to affect the demand for a particular good or service right now. For example, if you are expecting to earn a lot of money in the near future then you will most likely be more inclined to spend today. On the other hand, if you expect to encounter several financial difficulties in the near future then your demand for products and services then you are likely to save your money right now.

Even the number of buyers in the market has will have an overall effect on the demand because they will drive up the production of these goods. The prices of these goods will also be dependent on the demand which is created by the number of buyers.

As you can see, there are many determinants of demand and as a business owner; you should know each of these determinants individually and thoroughly. This is because you are in an industry that is highly dependent on the demands of the market. Every business in the world needs to follow the trends and where the demand in the market is going in order to survive. The enumerated determinants of demands are just some of the things that will affect the demand, there are still other factors that may affect the demand more than you though possible.

For all types of business, maintaining financial data is important. What’s even more important is having someone who can do this work flawlessly. This is the reason why businesses continuously look out for the perfect bookkeeper service.

With the appropriate bookkeeper service, business owners should be worry-free. Bookkeepers will handle the tasks relating to financial transactions including recording income and expenditure, drafting bank reconciliation statements, handling invoices, and managing payroll. All business owners know how important it is to have a bookkeeper. However, what most do not know is how to actually find a good one.

First, it is important to evaluate potential bookkeepers in terms of training and educational background. Although bookkeepers are not necessarily required to have a degree in accounting, all must have had formal training in the field. You will most likely find individuals who have gone through some college coursework or have been certified by accredited institutions.

Second, most business owners also prefer a bookkeeper service provided by an experienced bookkeeping firm. Hiring an experienced bookkeeper allows you to ensure expert management of your financial records. Furthermore, experienced bookkeepers work more efficiently. Because bookkeeper services are often paid on an hourly basis, individuals who work faster will allow you to save more. To prove actual bookkeeping experience, most bookkeeping firms would not hesitate to provide a list of references.

Third, personality is also worth observing when evaluating those who provide bookkeeper service. Obviously, it would be important for you to get along with your bookkeeper but more importantly, it is worth taking the time to observe and look out for signs of customer responsiveness, organization, and attention to detail. More often than not, individuals who have these qualities provide a good bookkeeper service.

Fourth, although some businesses still engage in traditional bookkeeping service, most have adapted to the technological changes in business by doing computerized bookkeeping work. If your business uses specific software, it would also be important that potential bookkeepers be familiar with that.

Lastly, it is important to make sure that the bookkeeper you want to employ will suit the budget of your business. Ask your potential bookkeeper how much they charge. If their rates are not reasonable for your company, do not hesitate to speak to them to see if you can discover a better pricing plan.

The benefits of hiring a good bookkeeper service are undeniable. However, the value of a bookkeeper would depend mostly on qualifications and capabilities. For this reason, it is important to thoroughly evaluate each and every potential candidate and hire only the bookkeeping firm that provides a bookkeeper service that is most appropriate to your business’ needs.

The center point of product development is easily described. It is safe. It does not “push the envelope” or encourage anyone to think out of the box more than necessary to get the job done. Working the center automatically rules out unknown solutions, possibly resulting in a loss in the market when competitors may be developing the next big thing. And above all, it precipitates “status quo” product development. Sometimes, however, getting beyond the center can be a challenge for even the best design team. That challenge can often be overcome with product brainstorming, encouraging a design team or client to dig deeper into their ideas, by investigating categories, applications, features and over all designs.

Looking down from 30,000 feet

Brainstorming activities begin by looking at a product from a 30,000 foot view. Without stopping at the expected function, application and market, the team can use brainstorming to consider what is next. With good brainstorming, there are no bad ideas and at this point pretty much anything goes, there is no limit. Simply by asking a series of questions, one idea leads to the next which inspires the next and so on. A brief look at unrelated industries and trends can also add a new dimension to brainstorming activities. This exercise reveals the ideas that are inside of us all, but are lost in the day to day detail of new product development. Brainstorming sessions of this nature can often end with hundreds of new concepts, features, functions, applications and markets, which leads to stronger ideas, better products and future product development opportunities.

Narrowing the Scope

Like children on the first day of summer, blue sky brainstorming is exhilarating. It gives the team a chance to leave behind the detail and focus for a few hours, in exchange for unending “what ifs”. But, narrowing the scope is also an exciting adventure. By selecting a few ideas from the original session, the focus becomes more about discovering which ideas are viable now versus five years from now. Other discussions include which ideas are the most marketable, what problems each solve and gaining a clearer direction, which leads to the design exploration phase.

Design Exploration

While designers find brainstorming fun and exciting, exploration is their passion. Think of it like a treasure hunter. They know there is a diamond waiting to be found, it is their job to uncover it. While finding the diamond is rewarding, the hunt or exploration is the thrill. After narrowing the scope from what might have been a hundred ideas into five or ten concepts, this step encourages the exploration of each in more detail. This results in numerous quick sketches that can be used in market research to further narrow the scope and provide solid direction for the final product.

Getting Beyond the Center

Getting beyond the center with brainstorming and design exploration sure sounds like a lot of fun, and it is. But don’t let the fun and excitement fool your team into thinking it is just a fun activity that can be overlooked or underutilized to save money or time on a project. Going beyond the center, pushing through status quo and mediocrity is the best way to ensure new product success. Product development teams and clients use these essential brainstorming and design exploration tools to create ground breaking, dynamic products, identify solutions, develop intellectual property and focus on a clear path to success. So now it’s up to you. Will you challenge your team to push harder and move beyond the center to create great products or is status quo product development enough?

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