Scuba Certification: Questions You Need To Ask Before Getting Certified – Recreation
Scuba Certification: Questions You Need To Ask Before Getting Certified
Jay Umbenhauer
Learning how to scuba dive is your ticket to the ultimate underwater adventure. The scuba certification that you earn is internationally recognized, never expires, and allows you to rent or purchase your own diving equipment. You
Top 7 Essential "Hot-Selling Points" To Implement Before Writing Chapter One – Writing
Top 7 Essential "Hot-Selling Points" To Implement Before Writing Chapter One
Judy Cullins
Every part of your book can be a sales tool. When you include the below tips, you will have a roadmap to follow to keep your writing organized and compelling, and youll sell more books than you ever dreamed of!
1. Write for your one preferred audience. Not everyone wants your book. Find out what audience wants/needs your book What problems does your book solve for them Create an audience profile and keep your audiences picture in front of you as you write. Ask yourself, is my topic narrow enough The Chicken Soup For The Teenager, For The Prisoner, and other specific groups sold far more copies than the original Chicken Soup.
2. Write a sizzling book title and front cover. You have 4-10 seconds to hook your potential buyer. The cover itself sells more books than any other part. Bookstore buyers buy mainly by cover designs.Your title must compel your audience to buy. If you want an agent or publisher your title and subtitle are vital.
3. Write a thirty-second "tell and sell." You only have a few seconds to impress the media, the agent, the bookseller, the individual buyer. Include your title, a few benefits, and the audience. Include a few sound bites that grab attention. You may also want to compare your book to a successful one. "Passion at Any Age" is the "Artists Way" for seniors.
4. Write your back cover before you write your book. This is the second most important sales tool your book has to offer. Here you put compelling ad copy, benefits, testimonials, and a small blurb about you, the author. If your potential buyer likes it, they will buy on the spot. If they want more information, they will look inside at the introduction and table of contents.
If you write an electronic book eBook you can apply this information to your Web site sales letter.
5. Write your book introduction. Include the problem your audience has, why you wrote the book, and its purpose. In a few paragraphs include more specific benefits, and how you will present it format. Keep it under a page.
6. Create a table of contents. Each chapter should have a name, preferably a catchy one. If your reader cant understand the chapter title, then annotate it. Add some benefits or a sub title. In Passion at Any Age, the author put the word "passion" in each title. Which attracts you more "Open Your Mind" or "Attracting Passion"
7. Reach out to opinion molders. After an initial contact of asking for feedback, resend them the same chapter and the table of contents of your book. Ask for a testimonial then. These influential contacts testimonials will make your back cover an important sales tool.
Designing every part of your book to be a sales tool and a beacon to writing a focused, compelling, understandable, and enjoyable book is a must, before you write a single word.
About The Author
Judy Cullins: 20-year author, speaker, book coach
Helps entrepreneurs manifest their book and web dreams
eBk: "Ten Non-techie Ways to Market Your Book Online"
http://www.bookcoaching.com
To receive FREE "The Book Coach Says..."
go to http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml
judy@bookcoaching.com
Ph:619/466/0622
What To Consider Before Approaching Lenders – Real Estate
What To Consider Before Approaching Lenders
Jeff Schein
Dealing with a bank doesnt have to be like walking through a maze in the dark. Keeping the following points in mind when you approach a bank should help you through the process.
Lenders are looking to satisfy themselves of the following:
1. That the business can make the regular interest and principal payments
2. That the lender can get its money back if something goes wrong
When approaching a financial institution, you are effectively selling the merits of your business and your proposal. Consider the needs of the lender, if you were lending money to someone what would you ask for
Be prepared to answer questions about your industry, your company, your management, the principals of the company and the financial statements.
If you are looking to finance property or used equipment, you will most likely need an appraisal.
In todays environment, an environmental study may be required on commercial real estate.
Lenders will look at the ability to service debt. You will need to show an ability to service the debt plus a sufficient surplus to cover any contingencies, such as unexpected costs or a drop in sales. Use 1.4 times coverage as a guide; both historical financial statements and a cash flow forecast and projected income statement will show this.
The bank will want to make sure that existing debt, or the addition of new debt, will not bring the Debt/Tangible Net Worth ratio of the company too high. What figure is used depends on the industry you are in and what stage of growth you are at. Dont be surprised if the bank asks for hard security to help support the lending request.
The bank in almost all cases will want a complete personal statement of affairs, and a personal credit history will be reviewed to ensure you are responsible with credit.
Your level of commitment to the company will be reviewed; for example, how much equity have you put into the company
If your company cannot repay its debt, the bank will evaluate what the secondary source of payment is; this can include security such as businesses assets that can be liquidated, personal guarantees and/or other sources of income.
Give the lender sufficient lead time to review the request, particularly if you are new to the financial institution. It can take some time to review all the information, often clarification is needed and the business may need to be visited before any financing is approved. As well, most often the request needs to be referred to the institutions risk management for review.
A good business plan is important, but keep it concise and dont overdo it on the documentation. The cash flow and balance sheet are of particular importance. Before preparing the final draft of the plan you may want to set up a preliminary appointment with a financial institution, be prepared to answer questions such as: how much money is being requested, why, what terms are you looking for, what are your alternative sources of repayment
The reality is that banks are conservative lenders and will try to mitigate most or all of the risk away. At the very least you will probably have to provide a personal guarantee to some percentage of the total outstanding amount borrowed.
Fees are a fact of business financing, you can negotiate and may get some reduction in fact you should always try, but lenders are not in the business of losing money. Interest rates are based on the type of loan, the perceived risk of the business and financing and the security being held in support of the loan.
About The Author
Jeff Schein is a CGA and offers advisory services in the areas of business planning, loan proposals, business modeling, strategic planning, business analysis and financial management for new ventures and growing small businesses. Visit www.companyworkshop.com or mailto:jeff@companyworkshop.com
jeff@companyworkshop.com