Subject: Getting noticed on the Internet - Digital Marketing for Small
Business

> The Internet has grown from a small network of academics needing a way to
> trade research into a world spanning, ubiquitous marketplace and
> repository for nearly every possible kind of information and knowledge.
> How does a small business avoid being washed away in the constant tide of
> buying, selling and marketers hawking every conceivable item (and some
> difficult to conceive…)?
>
> The Internet provides advantages for both customer and proprietor in that
> one can search for exactly what is desired, without the bother of endless
> phone calls, driving to malls, or poring over mail-order catalogs. A quick
> keyword or 3, and hundreds of results vie for attention on the screen.
> Making sure your company is one of those results near the top is a
> combination of factors: specificity in product offerings, Search Engine
> Optimization of web content and linking to and from related topics and
> sites.
>
> The only way to get noticed on the Internet is to have a listing or
> presence, whether a dedicated website, ads on relevant sites, or by
> word-of-mouth. Oftentimes ads on online journals, informative sites, or
> e-zines (online magazines) are cheaper than space in a print publication,
> as well as being available to a wider audience than a dedicated website
> may be. Rates are often available for daily, weekly, or monthly terms,
> increasing flexibility and allowing a tight budget more leeway.
> Word-of-mouth advertising can be very cheap, but the returns may be
> difficult to quantify. Sponsoring web shows such as podcasts or webcasts
> can be a great and cheap way to gain word-of-mouth exposure. Many times, a
> podcaster will be so thrilled to gain sponsorship that rates can be
> negotiated for very little, but make sure to approach a podcaster that has
> a show related somehow to your business. Don\’t overlook resources like
> Google\’s Adwords either, as they can be slightly pricier than similar
> options like banner ads, but they are shown to be far more effective than
> pop-ups, banners, or pay-per-click ads due to their specific targeting.
>
> When a potential customer decides to look up a product that you sell, is
> he or she going to find your site or listing? Being specific in the terms
> used on your site or listing is key, as keywords are what drive the search
> engines like Google and Yahoo. If your company sells shoes, it\’s not
> enough to put the word \”shoes\” on your site–it has to be anticipatory
> to the searches that potential customers are doing. Most customers have an
> idea of what they are looking for when doing a search, so instead of
> \”shoes,\” a customer will search for \”imported Italian leather shoes.\”
> Specific focusing of terminology and product listings are involved in
> Search Engine Optimization (SEO), as SEO is driven by specific keywords
> and their repetition or location on a page. If the term \”Italian Leather
> Shoes\” is used 15 times on a website, it will pop up higher on the rating
> listings than one with the same words, but only as a page heading or
> title. It would be easy to go overboard on this
> if it were the only criteria, but it is only one of many different
> methods search engines use to list websites by relevance. Our article on
> Search Engine Optimization, located here, is a great reference to
> optimizing your site for maximum Search Engine Performance.
>
> With a clear idea of where you want to go with Internet marketing, it can
> be a valuable tool to expand your business into the digital realm, but be
> careful not to go overboard, as all marketing eventually crosses into the
> zone of limited return. Customers are looking for what they want–it\’s up
> to you to make sure they run into you, and the only way they will is for
> you to make sure your business is at the places they are going to go.
>
> © 2006, Wholesale Pages UK. All rights reserved.
>
Article by: imzee

Subject: Selling your Business � Step by Step Process

> So finally the time has come to sell the business. After investing years
> of your time and uncounted thousands of dollars, it has become successful,
> providing for your needs and wants, and it\’s time to enjoy the fruits of
> your labor. Where do you start?
>
> A good time to start thinking about selling a business is right after
> startup, when it shows signs of beginning to succeed and become
> self-sustaining. Even if you are planning on bequeathing it to your
> progeny or a partner, it\’s never too early to think about what will
> happen afterwards.
>
> The first step is to take your time–selling a business is a complex
> process and you will only do it once. Confidentiality is a necessity at
> this point, as word of an impending sale can cause repercussions among
> employees and business partners (suppliers, customers, etc.) alike.
>
> Your position in the business is also a point to consider. If you are the
> sole proprietor, the decision is yours alone. However, if you are a
> partner or board member, selling your part of the business will involve
> more considerations.
>
> Finding a good broker is worth any amount of time needed to locate one you
> are comfortable with. Check the Better Business Bureau for any
> investigation history, and get referrals from fellow business owners or
> from industry associations like the International Business Brokers
> Association (IBBA). This is a non-profit \”trade association of business
> brokers providing education, conferences, professional designations and
> networking opportunities\” (IBBA), as well as professional certifications
> and boasts over 1300 members.
>
> Next, a professional appraiser should be consulted, as just like selling a
> home, a professional appraisal will give a fair value to begin
> negotiations with. Keep in mind though, an appraisal is an estimate of
> the fair value of a business\’ hard assets, and the market value of the
> business may be higher or lower, as a business is only worth what someone
> else is willing to pay.
>
> Determining major terms and price are issues that you are going to have to
> work out with your broker, but a few basic factors come into play: what do
> you want to get out of the sale? Continuing salary? Lump sum? Stock
> options? This is a step often overlooked until late in the negotiations,
> often to the detriment of the seller.
>
> Financing the sale is usually about 90% left to the seller. If you can\’t
> or won\’t be willing to cover the costs of the sale, it may not be a good
> time to sell.
>
> Once you and your broker have located a buyer and agreed on a price, a
> Letter of Intent is drafted. This letter outlines the terms and tentative
> price in a non-binding document and allows the buyer time to thoroughly
> investigate the business. This process is subject to Due Diligence, as
> the onus of discovery is placed upon the buyer and buyer\’s agent.
>
> After the discovery process is completed to both parties\’ satisfaction,
> the Purchase Agreement is drafted. This set of paperwork creates a formal
> agreement between buyer and seller regarding purchase price, terms, and
> other legal details. Once the respective lawyers have finalized the
> details and complied with state law requirements regarding the sale, the
> Purchase Agreement is signed, closing documents finalized, and the sale is
> complete. If everything has gone well, it\’s time to breathe a sigh of
> relief and start planning what to do with all that free time!
>
Article by: imzee

Subject: The Roots of Club Culture as seen through the eyes of Otiz F Angel

> Life can be funny sometimes! It takes just a small spark to burn down a
> whole fucking forest! Twenty-three people arrested, and me nursing a
> busted lip, black eye and a bloody nose. My favourite Armani fur coat was
> ripped to shreds.
>
> However, it wasn�?Tt always like this. Let me take
> you back to the mid-1980s�?�
> My name is Otiz F. Angel but everyone calls me Angel. I won�?Tt tell you
> my age, but let�?Ts just say back then I was too young to legally be
> inside any
> nightclub, let alone drink alcohol �?” not that I let that stop me, of
> course.
>
> I looked old enough to fool the doormen, and most of my friends were past
> the age when these things were an issue, so it was easy enough to
> blend in. I was in a gang which spanned across much of North London, I
> won�?Tt say the name to protect its identity but amongst ourselves, we
> were called �?~The Firm�?T. The members were a group of Faces from some of
> the more notorious districts of North and East London; Hackney, Bow,
> Tottenham, Kilburn and Harlesden. When we went out to parties we were
> always well-dressed and clean-looking, with a harem of girls in tow but,
> truth is, we were a long way off from being gentlemen.
>
> First there was Leon, my big, aggressive, bad-tempered older cousin. He
> was a semi-pro boxer with fists like iron and an attitude to match.
> Don�?Tt get me wrong, he made his fair share of jokes, charmed the ladies
> and was once known to have cried watching the end of �?~The Deer
> Hunter�?T, but if you crossed him or his family, run, �?~cause Leon was a
> real psycho who didn�?Tt give a fuck.
>
> There was Raymond. Mixed-race, with Indian, Jamaican and Irish roots which
> gave him an off-key sense of humour. He was perpetually cracking jokes,
> which made it easy to forget that he was a serious fighter, who would take
> on anybody, no matter who they were, or what size. He was totally
> fearless.
>
> Billy, Tommy and Danny were real hard cases who lived beneath the Bow
> Bells of East London. We called them the Cockney Brothers. Their family
> had emigrated from Ireland a few generations back, but over the years,
> they�?Td lost the accent and considered themselves resolutely English.
>
> Their clan was into all kinds of shady activities �?” robbery, extortion
> and more besides. During the day, the brothers helped their dad keep the
> family
> business going, but at night their minds, loyalty and muscles belonged to
> the Firm.
> Then there was Mikee from the Broadwater Farm Estate. Mikee�?Ts parents
> were Jamaican although if you looked at what he ate on a daily basis,
> you�?Td
> think he was pure, white cockney: fish and chips, or pie, mash and liquor
> �?” Yuck! It used to make my stomach turn. Mikee was big and tough, but
> his
> brother, Ronald, was even bigger, and in some people�?Ts eyes, more
> ferocious, but if you asked either of the brothers who they thought would
> win if ever they came to blows, both agreed that Mikee probably had the
> edge.
>
> Next was Barry, a real Bruce Lee freak. His older brothers were into
> Martial Arts, so Barry had been getting off on movies like �?~Enter the
> Dragon�?T
> and �?~Drunken Master�?T while most kids his age were watching �?~Magic
> Roundabout�?T. Every Saturday night before going clubbing you could catch
> Barry at the Curzon late-night cinema, avidly watching endless sub-titled
> Kung-Fu movies. He was fanatical to the point that some days he would
> dress up in the full outfit �?” Chinese shirts, baggy trousers and
> slippers,
> which we thought was kind of weird for a six foot black guy. Sometimes,
> the rest of the Firm would join him at the Curzon, and after being hyped
> up by the movies, we would wreak havoc as we walked the streets practising
> flying kicks, and karate chops on each other, loudly imitating all the
> sound-effects.
>
> Finally there was Oscar, a stocky white boy of Italian descent. His thing
> was cars. Stealing them, that is. Or stealing from them �?” stereos, spare
> parts, or whatever happened to be in them that might have been of any
> value. He�?Td been in and out of jail more times than anyone else I knew.
> I couldn�?Tt work out if it was because he was a prolific thief or simply
> because he was shit at crime, but you could rely on him to stand firm and
> watch your back in times of trouble. And if you ever needed a new
> Blaupunkt or a set of custom rims, Oscar was your man.
> Another twenty or so lesser Firm members were just a phone call away,
> making safety in numbers any time we were out and about. Every one was
> either a fighter or a cool kid from the neighbourhood who wanted something
> to belong to.
>
> We lived a life of violence, but there was a code. We weren�?Tt mindless
> thugs who attacked without provocation. We would not tolerate individuals
> or gangs who would victimise the general public. The Firm was our
> security, and we defended and protected ourselves, our families and those
> closest to us. Random attacks and muggings were sickening, cowardly acts.
> God help anyone we caught doing that shit.
>
> This was the heyday of Soul and Funk. The music of bands like Loose Ends,
> Shalimar, Earth Wind and Fire, the SOS Band and the Jacksons. The style
> was long, paisley shirts and baggy trousers, topped off with a wetlook
> curly perm, and a diamond brooch instead of a tie. Back then, going
> out was all about looking cool.
>
> Forget over-drinking or going nuts in them days. Fuck no! Keep up your
> one-two step, and always, always, look cool.
>
> ***
>
> Back in those days, Angel and Leon shared the leadership of the Firm as
> the business had been started by their family. In his spare time, Leon
> also happened to be on the security team for Camden Palace, which was the
> place to be. From all over the city, Londoners gathered each weekend,
> dancing to Soul, Funk and everything else groovy. It was Angel�?Ts
> favourite place to chill out and get lost in the music. The ceilings and
> doorways of the Palace, a former theatre, were adorned with velvet drapes.
> Greek-style sculptures lined the walls, and there were five levels of
> seats and balconies where you could make yourself comfortable and still
> witness the action on
> the dance floor below.
> This was a typical Friday night and as usual, Angel was there, with the
> Firm. He wasn�?Tt much of a drinker; but always found it hard to say no,
> especially if the beverage offered was Courvoisier brandy. It seemed a lot
> of people had been paid and were feeling generous that night, and the
> effects of the drink were starting to kick in a little too hard. Worried
> he might lose control or make himself look stupid, he made his way to the
> restroom to sober up. After freshening up, washing his face and checking
> that his hair and clothes were still immaculate, he made his way back
> towards the Firm, cruising smoothly through the snazzy suits, silk dresses
> and high heels. The DJ dropped �?~Hanging on a String�?T by Loose Ends,
> and the crowd went crazy in unison, busting out the pre-learned formation
> dance moves of the 1980s. Suddenly, from amongst the silk and satin,
> something caught his attention. It was then that he saw them for the first
> time.
>
> A few casual-looking people were standing in a huddle at the side of the
> dance floor, dressed in T-shirts, some with a smiley face printed on
> them, like your teacher might have drawn in your book in junior school on
> the rare occasions when you�?Td done your homework properly. In those
> days, nobody dressed like that to go to a club! Everybody else looked
> immaculate, like they�?Td spent at least five hours in front of the
> mirror, yet these guys were stood around waiting, dressed like they were
> going to hang out at the park.
> �?oThey must be gypsies, or tramps, or something,�?� thought Angel,
> surprised they�?Td even been allowed to enter the club dressed like that.
> Then he spotted his older cousin Leon, casting a watchful eye over the
> dance floor, so he paid the strangers no more attention. As they stood
> together, chatting and watching the crowd, the DJ picked up the microphone
> for an announcement.
>
> �?oBust your moves and feel the grooves! Tonight I�?Tve got something
> special for you, and it�?Ts not the foxtrot! It�?Ts a new sound from
> Chicago and
> it�?Ts called ACID HOUSE! Put your feet to the dance floor and give it a
> try!�?�
> Leon and Angel watched as the first Acid House beat dropped in the club.
> It wasn�?Tt pretty. The majority of the people just walked off the dance
> floor, visibly disgusted once they�?Td heard the first four beats. Some
> even started shouting abuse at the DJ. However, the small group of
> casually dressed people Angel had seen earlier, wearing smiley T-shirts,
> started cheering loudly as they were joined by lots of others dressed in a
> similar
> fashion. Their dance moves were erratic and energetic; their eyes were
> unnaturally wide open and their shouts of approval, �?oAciiiid.
> Aciiiid.�?� could be heard over the music from the other side of the dance
> floor. Angel couldn�?Tt take his eyes off these weird newcomers.
> �?oLeon, who the fuck are those fools?�?� Angel asked.
> �?oThey call themselves �?~Ravers�?T, but I reckon they�?Tre just junkies,
> man,
> high on pills and shit,�?� he replied.
> �?oThey�?Td have to be! It sounds like the record�?Ts got a scratch and is
> repeating the same bit over and over. There�?Ts no way that monotonous
> shit�?Ts ever going to catch on, mate, no way,�?� said Angel.
> The look of joy from the wide-eyed strangers as they stomped with a total
> lack of finesse made the whole thing seem strange and outlandish.
> Leon cursed as he realised he�?Td forgotten something important.
> �?oFuck! One of my ladies is waiting for a nine-bar. I gotta go. I�?Tll
> see you tomorrow, yeah?�?� said Leon, cutting short the conversation.
> �?oAll right!�?�
>
> The cousins shook hands in a complicated routine used only by their crew,
> and Leon left. Angel continued to stare at the ravers. Something about
> the way they seemed so free of inhibitions and full of life captivated
> him. He watched as they danced together ecstatically. Unlike the other
> dancers they didn�?Tt follow any set pattern of movements, yet they
> obviously shared
> a strong bond.
Article by: sam@love