The Refresh Orlando Heirs

http://www.noticebored.com/html/business_case.html

About the Author

CEO of IsecT Ltd. and architect of the NoticeBored information security awareness service.

When companies advertise their services or goods, they are looking for just one end result - sales. It’s a simple straightforward concept - it’s business. However, as companies expand and conduct more and more trade online, the personal touches can all but disappear.

It seems these days that every inanimate object can speak to us. Robotic voices are everywhere, from talking elevators instructing passengers to stand clear of the doors, to cars warning occupants that seat belts should be fastened. On top of all this, there are automated telephone systems that offer us multiple number choices and infuriating recorded options.

“If you have been holding for more than 4 hours and feel you need to go to the bathroom, please press 2″

Obviously, this is an exaggeration, but it makes the point that as companies grow, far from employing more people to talk and interact with their customers, they head off in the opposite direction and put an answer machine on the end of the phone; most of which tend to make callers hang up before the recording has offered them the first set of numbers to choose from.

A talking machine will not sell a product to a potential customer. Not only is it completely lacking a personality, it can’t interact with people, it can’t share a joke; it’s totally incapable of making a caller feel welcome, yet many companies inflict this type of system on the people they want to sell their products to.

It is unfortunate, but all this change is simply the world of commerce evolving and getting ever faster, and although not everyone agrees with it, most of us accept it as being here to stay. So where has the personal touch gone? Thankfully, in smaller businesses, it is usually very much alive and kicking.

The most effective communication tools between companies and customers are people, and increasingly, a growing number of small business owners are realising this and reintroducing the human factor by employing somebody simply to answer the phone.

Customers want to talk to a ‘person,’ someone who will answer the telephone without instructing them to press 3 if they prefer cream in their coffee or 4 if they take it black! Someone who takes the time to ask the right questions instead of telling them to “press 6 for all other enquiries.” People generally like to spend a few minutes
in idle conversation or banter before going on to more important issues, it makes them feel better knowing that someone, and not a machine is listening to what they have to say.

Having a business website is a must for anybody who wants to trade in today’s markets, but there also has be a ‘human’ presence to compliment it. Larger companies above all should start realising this and not hide behind the Internet or their communication systems. It is human nature to want to talk, that is what language is for, and a website or telephone should not be an obstacle to that.

About the Author

John Sheridan is a professional proofreader of hard copy items and website copy. He also writes web copy and occasionally accepts small copy-editing assignments. He can be contacted at: john@textcorrect.co.uk website: www.textcorrect.co.uk
This article is the property of the author and may only be reproduced in its original form.

A SIX-PART SERIES ON SUCCESSFUL ART COLLECTING

PART 1: WHY BUY ART?

WHY BUY ART? To answer this question, ask yourself what your reasons are for
thinking of acquiring a piece of art. An artwork can cost a considerable sum, but if it
meets your needs, it’s worth every penny. Anyone can buy art, and for almost any
reason. Many people buy an artwork simply because they like it, even if the artwork
may be by an unknown artist. Art, as long as you enjoy it, is never a waste of
money. As John Keats puts it in Book 1 of Endymion:

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases”

Art Is For Enjoyment

Art is meant to be displayed, unlike shares or bonds. Don’t ever feel pressured to
buy something you won’t appreciate looking at day after day, no matter what other
people may say. Don’t buy something that doesn’t appeal to you just because it is
trendy, because the artist is famous, or because you have been advised that the
artwork will make a good investment. If you don’t like the artwork at all, don’t buy
it!An artwork should touch your soul, stimulate your thoughts and bring a smile to
your lips. It should bring you pleasure, and even joy.There are only 365 days to a
year (366 on leap years). Be selective about how you live those days. Avoid wasting
them on something you dislike.

Art Enhances Your Environment

Have you ever noticed that all beautiful homes have art as an integral part of the
decor? Art lends life and color to otherwise plain and ordinary walls, nooks and
crannies, and mantelpieces. A well thought-out art collection will help create a
unique ambience in your home and make it more attractive. For similar reasons, art
often graces commercial premises, such as office lobbies and the offices of top
executives.

Art Makes a Statement

The kind of art you surround yourself with says much about your personality, tastes
and values. Edna Hibel art, for instance, is associated with strong family values and
humanitarianism. See why at: http://www.cherishcollectibles.com/site/
1256072/page/459196

Art truly is a mirror of the soul. It’s an expression of who you are. Be true to
yourself, and choose art which is meaningful to you.

Art Can Be An Investment

Art can pay handsome returns, but this very rarely happens overnight. If you’re
hoping to make a fast buck, art may not be the right avenue for you. There are
investors, of course, who like to put their money in art. They do this for two main
reasons: emotional as well as financial benefits.

Art is one of those peculiar investments which you can actually admire and enjoy.
And researching and hunting down a desired piece of art can be as much fun as
owning it! Many art collectors enjoy combing galleries, websites, auctions and even
flea markets in pursuit of their passion. Profiting eventually from the sale of a find
becomes a bonus.The promise of both pleasure and profit from art certainly adds to
the appeal of art collecting.

Art Enriches Your Life

At a conference on health and ageing, held in Brisbane, Australia, the founding
professor of complementary medicine at Melbourne’s RMIT University shared his
findings that love - even the love of an activity or an inanimate object, such as a
work of art - contributes to healthier living and a longer lifespan. Art should enrich
your life. Otherwise, why spend precious time and resources on it?

Art Makes An Impression

When you need to give a gift which will make a lasting impression, a delectable
piece of artwork is hard to beat. Any beneficiary will appreciate receiving such an
exclusive gift, and be honored that you valued her enough to give her something so
unique and precious.Just remember to select something which will appeal to your
recipient’s tastes, and keep to a sensible budget. Good art needn’t cost an arm and
a leg.Before you part with your money, there are several golden rules of art
collecting to consider. Look out for them in Part 2 of this series, titled
“SIX GOLDEN RULES OF ART COLLECTING”.

Happy art collecting!

Copyright © 2006 Carol Chua - Carol Chua is an ex-corporate warrior turned
entrepreneur, writer and co-owner of Cherish Collectibles, an online gallery
of art, collectibles and gifts by multiple award-winning American artist Edna Hibel.
Visit http://www.cherishcollectibles.com to see this renowned artist’s beautiful
artwork. Carol also co-owns an online jewelry store with a nature theme, featuring
creations by award-winning artist JonY, at http://www.silver-butterfly-jewelry.com

Getting ready to buy a Dell computer? Before you do so, you had better read the following tips, because they can save you big on your next computer purchase. Before you get started, I would like to give you some background on Dell and their marketing/pricing strategy. Dell Computers is the largest manufacturer and retailer of computers in the world. They have about a 15% market share of all computers sold in America. Because Dell only builds a computer when it is sold, it enables Dell to keep very low inventories, and therefore, a very low price. Moreover, you can only buy a Dell at Dell. They have no retail presence. No middlemen!

Dell utilizes many channels of advertising to get the word out about their low prices. You have probably seen their ads on TV or their full page print ads in the newspaper. You may have even received a Dell catalog if you have purchased from them before. What you probably haven’t noticed is that the price of these seemingly equivalent systems vary greatly depending on where you saw the ad. This is the very first lesson on being “Dell smart.” Dell is NOT transparent in their system pricing. This means, depending on where you learned about the computer deal can greatly impact the price you pay.

Okay, so if Dell does not consistently price computer system ads, where should you go to get the best deal? That’s simple — the Internet. And by Internet, I do not mean going straight to Dell.com! To become “Dell smart,” you need to choose a Dell computer that is right for you, one that suits your needs. Computer shoppers often overspend on options they will never use. Go to your favorite search engine and look for a buying guide. After you narrow your search, go back to your search engine (I use Google) and enter “model name + review.” Read a few independent reviews about the model you’ve selected and find out what other people are saying. What are the system’s pros and cons?

Now that you know what you are looking for, let the real money saving begin! Go back to your favorite search engine and enter the words “Dell Coupon Codes.” What you should get in return is a list of Dell affiliate web sites that supply FREE coupons from Dell. These coupons are not advertised, as Dell tries to keep these for the savviest shoppers. More often than not, Dell has a $750 off coupon that can be applied at checkout allowing you to save big! Sometimes, these coupons can even be stacked, meaning you can apply more than one coupon towards your purchase, or they can be used in combination with rebates or other instant savings. Check several coupon sites until you find a coupon that works for your model. Make sure you read the fine print, and verify that the coupon is not expired. Some coupon sites give step-by-step instructions on applying coupons so make sure to do your research!

Once you have found the relevant coupons for the system you want to buy, you are ready to go to Dell to make your purchase. Purchasing a computer from Dell requires that you go through several pages of options and add-ons. This is where buyers typically get bogged down as they are overwhelmed by a number of options and upgrades. Be sure to use the buying guides you came across to identify which features and upgrades are right for you. And be aware that you can often down-grade from many of the default Dell options. For example, Windows Media Center and Windows XP Pro are practically the same operating system. However, Dell sometimes defaults to XP Pro in their options which costs significantly more than Media Center. So, downgrade whenever it makes sense for you and your needs. Once you have gone through the pages of options, you will be at checkout. This is where you will apply your coupons, select the cheapest shipping and pay tax. If you followed these steps, you should be saving hundreds of dollars for the computing system that exactly meets your needs.

Let’s recap:

1. Dell prices are not transparent, always search the internet.
2. Research the right model for YOUR needs. Use a buying guide.
3. Search for a review of the model you selected on a search engine. Use “model name” + “review”
4. Go back to your favorite search engine and enter “dell coupon codes.” Find a good coupon site with current coupons and good instructions.
5. Go to Dell, select your model, and DOWNGRADE unnecessary options and add-ons.
6. Apply your coupon at checkout (stack whenever possible)!
7. Use the lowest priced shipping.

Pat yourself on the back, because you have now saved BIG!

Looking for Dell Coupons and Dell Coupon Codes? Visit www.cheapstingybargains.com/cheapster/dellpage.html