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Writing copy has sometimes been compared to an “art.” While it does take creative skill to write great copy that generates results, there are some mistakes that you should avoid to make sure that your copy is read and acted upon.

1.The copy is boring. Great copy will never be boring and will always get the reader to read the entire message. It is engaging and written in a conversational tone. It bypasses the readers mental resistance to being sold and will always generate results. That’s why the best copy that you read, is always the ones that read like a good book. They tell a story and bring the reader along your sales process.

2.The copy is all about you. Copy that is all about the features of a product, or all about your service will fall flat on its face. The reader will not finish reading the copy and will in all likelihood toss the letter in the trash. There goes your marketing budget to the landfill. It would be more profitable to donate the money to a deserving charity and have a press release written about how you or your company is concerned about people’s welfare. No, your copy must tell the reader “what’s in it for me,” WIIFM. You must show the reader what the result of using your product of service will be of benefit to them. They could care less about you, so keep yourself out of it. Now, there are times when you must tell about yourself or your company. And that is used to generate credibility, not to make the sale, and it must come after telling the reader the benefits of using your service or product. Only then will the reader be interested in hearing about you or your company.

3.Has no clear “call to action.” You must spell out what you want the reader to do. If you want to reader to fill out your order form, give them specific instructions on how to do it. Tell them exactly what to do. Don’t dawdle around and say, “Just fill out the order form to get your…” No, no, no. Rather tell them that they need to give you their name, address, etc. on the order form, and make sure you tell them to “print” on the order form, that way it will be easier for you to read. I’m not saying that prospects are dumb, but you must give them specific instructions on what action you want them to perform.

4.Has a week P.S. The PS is the second most read part of your sales letter. Restate the benefits the reader will enjoy by ordering your product or service. Throw in an extra bonus here as well. For example, “Order in the next 5 days and you will also receive (fill in the blank).” And if you want to make sure that you have a strong PS write it before you write the body of your letter. That way you won’t be tired of writing and scratch out a hurried PS.

5.Has no testimonials. Without testimonials (and we’re not talking about the “Oh I just loved your service” kind of testimonials) your copy has no credibility. Why should someone believe what you are telling them if there is nothing to back up your claims? Without testimonials your reader will assume that you are hyping them. That you are claiming to be something that you are not. You must have testimonials to help your reader/prospect believe in you. Survey your customers to get good specific testimonials so that you can sprinkle them throughout your copy.

These are just a few mistakes that I’ve seen people make when trying to write their own copy instead of hiring a qualified copywriter. A really good copywriter will avoid these mistakes like the plague. Examine the copy you have on your website or in your sales literature. Does it make any of these mistakes? Chances are if it is making any of these mistakes then it is making others that will jump off the page to a well-trained copywriter’s eye. Don’t make these mistakes yourself if you decide to tackle writing your own sales copy. If you do, you will be doomed to fail at the outset and you will be wondering why your copy isn’t converting more prospects.

Gary Glasscock is a freelance copywriter that specializes in direct mail and web copy. He has learned from many of the contemporary “greats” and has taken what he has learned and developed a style that engages your prospect on their level. Gary can be contacted through his website at http://www.gc-copywriting.com

A dong is a very traditional martial toy tried by both lads and girls. Dongs have decidedly made it big since sexual videos became celebrated in the 1970s. While sensual aid come in tons of shapes, most often they are tool shaped. Some sexy toys are specially moulded for slipping in the bottom. Males who like bottom sex with a sexual toy regularly choose dongs that play with the prostate because of the brilliant orgasms prostate play with gives them. There are various martial toys out there for males, and dildos are likewise the best. You can always get a bargain with Cheap Dildos.

The most common dildo uses are vaginal or bum penetration. Depending on the kind of dong, some dongs will often be used for oral penetration or as mouth gags. Regardless of your sexual preference, whether folk are straight, gay or bi, female or male, there is a sex toy out there to quench your sex desires. Double ended dongs might well be tried out between two partners at the same time. The sex toys might well be used for simultaneous vaginal and bum penetration, and when employed in this way adult play might often be even more exciting. Dildos of course slip into harness mounts for bondage sex sessions. Dongs are terrific fun and sexual toy each lad should have in their house.

One of the most confusing things about borrowing money is calculating the interest rates. Interest rates vary and when you go to take out a loan or a mortgage it might seem intimidating when the loan officer starts talking about interest rates per annum, nominal rates and market interest rates.

There are different types of interest rates depending on whether you are borrowing money or investing money.

When you are borrowing money you have to pay interest back at a set rate. These rates are determined by several factors. One of these factors is risk. If you have a bad credit rating the rates at which you pay interest on loans may be significantly higher than someone who has a pristine credit rating.

The reason for this is that the lender sees you as a risk. When you are a risk, the rates applied to your lending rise. This can make it especially difficult for someone with a bad credit rating to purchase anything major including a home or a vehicle. They may be able to afford the initial payments, but once the interest rates are added, the amount exceeds their budget.

Another factor that determines interest rates is the length of the loan. Lower interest rates are often offered if the consumer extends the period of the loan. To the consumer this may seem like a windfall. They view the smaller interest rates as a savings to them. Short term it is but since the loan is being extended to take advantage of the lower interest rates, they are actually paying out more money in interest over the length of the loan.

Interest rates do not only affect just the consumer but they have an impact on the economy as a whole as well. When interest rates climb, people are less likely to purchase goods that aren’t essential to their lives. Car sales drop and home sales often plummet as well. The average consumer doesn’t want to spend the extra money on the increased interest because the rise in rate just means less money in their pocket. The cost of the goods they are purchasing hasn’t changed, it’s the cost of purchasing those goods that has.

On the other side of the interest rates spectrum is investing. People want to invest when interest rates are high so as to yield the biggest profit. Years ago the traditional savings account was often viewed as the traditional investment tool. The bank would post their interest rates and people would save their money in the hopes that it would grow substantially over the course of a number of years.

Today you are more apt to find people investing in many diversified things; money market funds, the stock market and bonds. If you decide to invest in bonds they will have a posted interest rate. The rates on bonds might be slightly higher than other investments because with many bonds you have to lock your money in to the investment for a specific amount of time. The period can be anywhere from several months to several years.

Interest rates impact our lives everyday whether we are aware of them or not. To keep on top of both your borrowing and investment needs it’s a good idea to follow interest rates.

Rates Resources and Information

A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP

There seems to be an almost magical relationship between exercise and a healthy (or at least improved) self-image. Research shows that one of the best predictors (not the only one, but one of the best) of whether someone will achieve their fitness goals is a key aspect of self-image called self-efficacy. Self efficacy is the degree to which you believe you’re able to control what you do, and what happens to you).

The higher someone’s self-efficacy, the better their chances of starting and sticking to an exercise programme. At the same time, one of the most well documented psychological effects of regular exercise is a marked improvement in self-efficacy. The longer we engage in regular exercise, the better we feel about ourselves. This means is the better our self-esteem, the more likely we are to exercise, and the more our self-esteem rises, so the more we want to exercise… and so on. Although the conclusions are fairly clear, there doesn’t seem to be much study of why the relationship exists. There are, however, a lot of theories.

PHYSICAL REASONS

Firstly, there are the biochemical results of exercise (see our article on Exercise and Stress for a more in-depth look at these). Have you noticed that a given situation can look totally different depending on how good you feel physically? From the flood of endorphins through your bloodstream to the flushing out of stress hormones, a good workout (or even just a good walk) makes your body feel wonderful. This, in its turn, tends to improve the way you view yourself – just as it would improve the way you viewed any other situation.

Continuing on this line, I want you to try something. Hunch your shoulders, cross your arms across your chest, look down at the ground, scowl, and say ‘I feel in control.’ Not very convincing? That’s because an estimated 80% of our communication is non-verbal, and this applies internally as well. Now try sitting up, putting your shoulders back, taking a couple of deep breaths, and repeating the experiment. Different? Now you’re communicating a totally different non-verbal message. Then consider that exercise helps strengthen your muscles and improve your posture – all of which communicates nonverbally to your mind how you’re feeling.

PSYCHOLOGICAL REASONS

Moving away from the physical, there are psychological reasons that reaching a specific exercise goal would increase self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is best improved by doing things. Every time you do something you haven’t been able to do before, the part of you that holds your beliefs about what you’re capable of (your self-efficacy) has to change to incorporate this new piece of information. So every time you achieve a new goal, your self-efficacy increases. This makes you more likely to set and achieve new goals, simply because, having tasted success, you know it’s possible.

Then there’s the way that other people react to the results of your exercise programme. You might get compliments on the physical effects – perhaps you’re losing weight, looking less tired, or suddenly have more energy. Or, what you’re actually *doing* might draw positive comments. A friend might say ‘You’re so good – you’ve kept this programme up for months now!’ Someone might approach you at the gym and tell you they admire your dedication. (For extra ’self-esteem brownie points’, look for opportunities to *give* these kinds of compliments sincerely to other people. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel about yourself). Getting compliments from other people isn’t the best reason to take up exercise – but if you surround yourself with supportive people, they *will* notice the difference – and any compliments they give you are a nice side-effect!

Lastly, there’s a reason I haven’t seen anyone else mention, but it’s such a big one for me that it needs to be mentioned. Exercising, by its nature, requires us to get rid of all our makeup, our tailored-to-hide-every-flaw suits, and everything else we hide behind to fit the magazine-imposed restrictions for beauty. And while letting that go can feel intimidating, it can also be incredibly freeing. Because exercising does the exactly same thing to everyone else.

If you want to once and for all destroy the illusion that everyone else but you looks like a model under their clothes, stand in a gym changing room and really *look* at the bodies there. There will be women who are ‘too skinny’, ‘too short’, ‘too fat’ – too ‘whatever’ to fit magazine standards – and most of them will be wandering around totally un-self-consciously, with far more important things to think about than the ‘flaws’ in their own, or each other’s bodies. *This* is reality. *This* is what healthy women – of all shapes and sizes – look like. And when this realisation finally sinks in, it can be more freeing than any pat assurances that ‘everyone’s shape is different’.

THE BOTTOM LINE?

So what’s the bottom line? Well, it’s wonderful news – both for those of us who have difficulty sticking to a workout programme, and for those of us who know our self-image could use a little TLC. Work on your self-image, even a little, and you’re going to want to exercise more to take better care of yourself. Add that little bit more exercise into your weekly routine, and you’re going to see your self-image improving. Work on them both – just a little – at the same time, and watch the magic truly happen!

If you have any questions about this week’s article, please don’t hesitate to contact me on mailto:tanja@optimumlife.co.nz. Otherwise, until next time, may every day bring you closer to your Optimum Life.

Copyright 2005 Tanja Gardner

Optimum Life’s Tanja Gardner is a Personal Trainer and Stress Management Coach whose articles on holistic health and relaxation have appeared in various media since 1999. Optimum Life is dedicated to providing fitness and stress management services to help clients all over the world achieve their optimum lives. To read more articles like this one, please subscribe to Optimum Fitness News at http://optimumlife.co.nz/Newsletter Signup.htm. To find out more about how you could benefit from online personal training, please visit http://www.trainerforce.com/optimumlife/ . To find out more about holistic fitness and stress management please visit http://optimumlife.co.nz, or contact Tanja on tanja@optimumlife.co.nz.

Link together the two of men’s dominating pursuits and you have got is something customarily titled a sportsbook wagering web property. Well, what could be more original? Think of a cluster of buddies clapping for a favored local sports club, and almost all the time stakes will be placed besides the noise. Keen to catch some of the enjoyment, onlookers often endeavor to figure out who will prevail in the coming meet. This all turns to become a friendly bantering meet titled sportsbook wagering web property.

Yes, it is bound to appear addicting, note, however, that wagering sportsbooks is really merely diverting and to bond with your fellow sports fans. You can risk a a trivial quantity of dinero and nonetheless have a amazing time. Read on for sundry leads to help everyone get started wagering sportsbooks. To bet, you’d be well advised to look up a sportsbook wagering web property, i.e. a setup which receives sportsbook wagering web property. In the USA, there’s currently no less than four states where to go for wagering sportsbooks in a lawful manner, but beyond legality you can attempt it anyplace as long as you locate a bookie and happen to be of legal age. Many of the sports events you can choose to wager on are pro including, obviously, college class football & basketball, professional hockey, professional hockey, including, obviously, horse and dog racing. You’ll have a choice of wagering on the whole results of a contest or game, on what round the contestant will be defeated, and even if a given tossed coin in a contest or game will come out heads or tails.

Diamondbacks place Big Unit on 15-day DL

The sportsbook setup count on their figures to help you out discern which sports club you suppose will prevail. First, you’ll see spread, that’s leverage in points assigned to a weaker party that is presumed to fail by a given number points. This describes the betting outfit’s acknowledged routine of making unbiased wagers possible for a Sports Book. As an example, we can bet money on a contestant that is presumed to fail and and nonetheless win the bet as long as the party does actually lose by a given number of points. There will be numerous types of lays– straight bets, where you’ll simply specify the competitor you’re guessing will win or fail, parlays, and more, the straight being the most typical in wagering sportsbooks.

Why not just give it a runover, and have lots of fun at the same time? Simply take care that you won’t get seized and deplete your total income on a caprice! For otherwise you’re going to find yourself grieving for it for life!

Just trying to lose untargeted weight can be detrimental to your long term health. Targeting fat loss is effective and provides long term health benefits. Here are just a few of the reasons you should choose a targeted fat loss diet

On a fat loss diet you will be eating more food than when you were gaining weight. So forget about being hungry and feeling deprived. The reason for this is simple. Every gram of fat contains more than twice as many calories as a gram of protein or carbohydrate. So, for every gram of fat that you eliminate from your diet, you’ll be eating 2 grams of nutrient dense, delicious, alternative foods. You’re probably thinking that can’t be right. You’re thinking you must cut down on your calories. Not necessarily, here’s why.

To successfully lose fat, you must combine exercise with your low fat eating plan. Increased exercise will require you to consume more calories. Regular exercise is one of the keys to targeting fat loss. The immediate benefits of exercise are increased energy levels, improved circulation, better muscle tone, and, of course, weight loss. The long term benefits are a healthier heart, stronger bones, and a lean toned body. As you build muscle to replace fat, your body requires more calories to maintain that muscle. As a result of this, you will burn more calories even while you are sleeping.

Targeting fat loss means eliminating simple refined carbohydrates from your diet. Sugar and white flour trigger a huge insulin response when eaten. They are digested and enter your blood stream almost instantly. Your body sees this surge of available energy as a surplus and immediately goes to work storing it as fat. These simple carbohydrates will be replaced with complex carbohydrates, which are digested more slowly and do not trigger a massive insulin response leading to fat creation.

Many of the complex carbohydrates in a fat loss diet contain significant amounts of fiber. Fiber is known to reduce cholesterol in your circulatory system and improve heart health. Medical studies have also shown that moderate resistance training on a regular basis stimulates bone growth and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Your bones don’t get larger, just more dense.

If you’re planning to lose weight why not take advantage of all the benefits of a fat loss diet? A lifetime of improved overall health is the bonus. All you have to lose is the fat.

Pam Jenkins, a health and fitness enthusiast, recommends targeted fat loss. Learn more at: http://www.MyTopDiet.com

Winter is almost upon us and hence, so is winter driving. Before the first major snowfall hits your area of the country you should get your car ready for Winter. Here are 10 things you should check before driving this winter:

1. Tires Make sure the tires are in good condition. It’s best to have them examined by a mechanic if you’re not sure how to check whether your tires are safe to last the winter months. Examine tires for uneven wearing, and remaining tread life; check the sidewalls for cuts or punctures. Check tire pressure. Verify your spare tire is fully inflated and make sure all of the tire-changing equipment is in place and functions properly. Rotate your tires as recommended by your manual.

2. Check and Change the engine oil. Change your oil and oil filter according to what your manual states. It’s best, for city driving, to change the oil at least every 3,000 miles. Also, make it a habit to check your oil level every time you fill up your gas tank.

3. Check out the hoses and belts. Make sure there is no cracking or fraying. Also, ensure no fluids are leaking. If your car “screams” when idling, that’s a good sign one of your belts is loose or going out. Have it inspected and changed or tightened immediately.

4. Replace the windshield wipers. It’s best to have new ones prior to the first snow fall. Also, make sure your windshield washer fluid reservoir is full of actual washer fluid (not water).

5. Ignition System Starting up a car in cold weather is rough on the ignition system. Have it checked before winter. It’s best to have a tune-up.

6. . The Battery As part of the tune-up, most mechanics will test your battery as well. You need a very reasonable amount of Cold Cranking Amps (CCRs) in order for your battery to start your car during the cold months ahead. If your battery is more than a few years old, it’s best to have it replaced.

7. Check your antifreeze The anti-freeze level should be checked during each refueling as well. Most places that change your oil will usually top off your antifreeze levels as well. If they don’t, just ask if they would, most will do at not extra charge.

8. Fuel It’s best to keep your tank full during the cold spells ahead, that helps ensure the gas line doesn’t freeze. Also, you should periodically put some gas anti-icing mixture into your tank.

9. Lights Keep your headlights free of grime. Check them often, during “slushy” times of the winter, they can easily become too dark to be effective.

10. Emergency Kit Make sure you have an emergency kit in the back of your vehicle. You can put one together yourself but it’s best to get one that has items specifically made for each purpose. For example, some kits come with a shovel, which is better than using a can or some other homemade device. Also, most kits come with some form of first-aid products.

Jeff Boyd is the Owner of http://www.safeautocar.com, A site that specializes in items and information to help make your driving experience a safe one. We specialize in the AAA brand of Emergency Car Kits. These are great gift ideas and shipping is free for pre-tax purchases of $100.00 or more. Multi-purchase discounts apply, visit http://www.safeautocar.com for more information.

What would the perfect poker show entail? Not a poker game, or a “pokern” tournament, as the Germans would say, but a good old fashioned poker play or musical, preferably in Las Vegas, Reno, or Atlantic City (Monte Carlo would be nice too).

You have your usual brand of musical numbers, and some speaking parts, but how would you integrate the game itself into the act?

Here’s my idea: You have two plays in one going on at the same time. The play begins with a few guys and gals playing poker on stage. That’s the anchor. That’s the main event. But sporadically throughout the scene, the something would happen at the table to trigger a flashback event. Since this is a play, on stage in real time, you would have the table lighting go down low, and then a new scene would unfold on another part of the stage.

Say one of the players has something on their mind. The second area of the stage would be where their “thoughts” are played out for the audience. Meanwhile, the poker game continues on the side, in real time, until the secondary scene is completed. Them we return to the table and play that out until the next thought or scene comes to light.

Voila! A poker play!

Without question almost every home business owner has struggled with time management. Working from home has many perks, but along with the perks come distractions.

Those distractions if left unchecked can destroy your business. So, how do you find a balance between home life and home business life?

In its simplest form, the answer can be boiled down to how you manage your time.

Realistically, it’s about doing the right things when the right things need doing.

Read that last sentence over again and really let it sink in.

Do the right things when the right things need doing.

That leads us to the next obvious question. How am I going to know what the right thing to do is and when to do it?

The key to that answer can be found in the word ACTION.

A-AWARENESS

You have to be consciously aware of what needs to be done. Take the time to put a plan together for your business. A well prepared plan gives you the ability to see if you are on track or not. Not too many people would leave on a cross country road trip without a map and a destination in mind. Along with that, most people would have ideas on where they might stop along the way, and a holiday budget. Why would you run your business with no map, destination, ideas or a budget? Think about what your business will need, where you want your business to go, and what you need to do. Be AWARE of what needs doing.

C-COMMITMENT

Be committed to your business. Once again, the road trip holiday can provide us with some ideas. If you left on a road trip holiday with no plan, and weren’t committed to getting to a destination, would any of your friends be surprised if you didn’t successfully complete the trip? Of course not. Without a commitment to your business, you will fail. Make a COMMITMENT and see your plan through to completion.

T-TENACITY

Have tenacity to persist and see it through. Back to the road trip. If you get a flat tire, do you give up and go home? Not likely, you fix it and continue on. Don’t allow little things to stop you from the big things you have planned for your business. Focus on your goals and plans and be persistent. Have TENACITY and don’t give up.

I-INGENUITY

Use ingenuity to find the workable way. When an obstacle appears, pull out your road map (or plan), take a look at it and see if there are other routes available that will keep you on track to your destination. Seek advice from the locals (or other people in home businesses similar to yours). Your ability to use INGENUITY will directly affect your business’ success.

O-OBJECTIVITY

Use objectivity for an undistorted perspective. Take a break, a breather, step back, clear your head every now and again to maintain your objectiveness in making decisions for your business. Take a moment to survey the lay of the land on your road trip, it will make travel much easier. OBJECTIVITY gives you the ability to see things in your business clearly.

N-NAVIGATE

Navigate a manageable pathway. If the vehicle you’re taking on a road trip has marginal brakes, don’t plan a route that takes you through the highest mountains!! Know what your limits are and what you can do. Navigating a manageable pathway to your destination betters your chances for business success!

There you have the home business keys to taking purposeful ACTION.

I’ll leave you with one final thought…

Energy without ACTION is power without purpose!

Liane Wood is a stay at home mom and the owner of http://income-opportunity-home-based-business.com

In today’s society, the world really is getting smaller. As we leap from one technological breakthrough to the next, we find that within micro-seconds we can transfer information from one side of the earth to the other. We can live on one continent and be employed by a company on another. Air-travel means that many people are part of a global workforce that commutes around the globe attending meetings in every international outpost of the company.

This minimizing the world is filtering slowly down through the professional world, and into our personal lives. No longer are we of the mind set that we will one day grow up and marry the boy next door. It happens, but it’s just as likely to marry the boy in the next State, or next country …….or the one who lives on the other side of the world. The Internet is probably the biggest influencing factor on current day international dating.

Throughout history there have been mail-order brides. From the women who were sent to the colonies, to the women who answered small ads from ranchers out west, and more recently, the Russian (and I’m sure other nationalities) who place ads of their own looking for a partner outside of their homelands. Despite this history, finding a mate through some form of media has maintained a “desperate” image – as if the person seeking is unable to find someone to have them locally. The Internet, even with its reputation for “adult” sites has somehow managed to remove some of the stigma, and there is now a healthy and steadily growing international dating scene.

The big question is always “Can international dating lead to anything permanent”? The answer to this is a resounding YES! Many people are prepared to take a chance on love, and move themselves and their lives to be closer to their overseas loved one. Those who do this find that they are suddenly face-to-face on a daily basis with the name they’ve been typing too for a period of time, learning how to co-habit with someone who is physically a stranger, whilst at the same time learning how to handle living in a new country. By far the worst of this is being removed from family, and taking the place of communicating with your partner online, you now spend your time communicating with your family online instead!

There are still many people who regard international dating as desperate, and deem any relationship that comes of such an enterprise to be a failure waiting to happen. Ok, so it might happen, but there are never any guarantees in the love and romance game. Even if you shared a sandbox with the partner you marry, there’s no guarantee that the flame wont go out and one day you’ll wake up and find you have nothing in common with the person who shares your life, your home, your bed. In the best of situations, things go wrong. If the relationship came from an exercise in internet dating, the fallout is messier because then someone is left in a strange country with little by way of personal support system. They then face the situation of either toughing it out in their new country if the local immigration laws permit, or they can return to their homeland and face unemployment amidst the “I told you so” looks of friends.

For every naysayer on whether international dating can turn into a permanent loving relationship, there are two people who can stand together and say “It can work. We are proof of it!”

Whether you’re looking for a long-term relationship, or just a little cultural difference, internet dating can offer you the opportunity to meet up with potential partners who may just be the person you’ve spent your life seeking!

Looking for information about Dating?
Go to: http://www.datingpr.com
‘Dating PR – Everything About Dating On The Net!’ is published by Angela Davis –
The Complete A to Z Of Dating Resources
Check out more Dating articles at: http://www.datingpr.com/articles