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How to Take Your Business Online to Get More Clients Now

There’s a popular saying concerning your business and the internet and it goes like this…”If your business isn’t online, then you AREN’T really in business…” This may seem like a harsh statement, but the fact is, business today is incredibly reliant on the internet. If your business isn’t online, then you are missing out on INCREDIBLE opportunities. Opportunities to get in front of clients, build trust, and create leads in a turnkey fashion. Many fear the jump to the online world, but actually, it is much easier than you might think.

Below are a few simple steps to help you get your offline business online to start getting more clients NOW:

1.     Define what you want your website to do – Do you want people to be able to buy your products online, or are you just trying to get them to call you? Make sure to define what action you want visitors to take as that will be important in how the website is designed.

2.     Gather logo/images you will want on your website – You want your website to have the look and feel of the rest of your marketing and your business in general. Be sure to get digital files of your logo and other images you may want on your website.

3.     Meet with local website designers to get quotes and proposals – You don’t HAVE to go with a local designer, but it can help to work with someone who knows your market and who you can build a relationship with. It is always nice to have someone local who can update your site on a regular basis.

4.     Don’t forget to promote the site! – Once the site is built, it won’t do ANYTHING unless you promote it. The designer may or may not have experience with helping you generate traffic, but you definitely want someone who can help your site show up highly in the search engines. In addition, but your website address on ALL your marketing materials from now on.

These are just a few tips to help you get your business online. The internet represents the largest market that one can have a presence in the entire world. Don’t miss out on the clients that may never find you any other way…get online TODAY!

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Money Is Not Always the Most Important Issue in Negotiations

In many deals and negotiations, much time is spent on price. One side negotiating for the highest amount they can receive and the other negotiating just as hard to keep the number as small as possible. And while I won’t say this isn’t important, because it certainly is, often the actual dollar amount may not be the most important issue on the table, and sometimes even when it is the most important, there are other variables that are equally important or almost as important that can be major influences in the final outcome. We have all heard stories of the person who refuses to settle for a large amount of cash, because what the person really wants is for the other party or side to admit to wrongdoing and apologize. For a person such as this, the principle of the thing really is the most important, and money does not matter. There are other circumstances where issues other than money will make or break negotiations and in the end can be the factors in making better deals.

I have seen episodes of “Shark Tank” on television where the Sharks offered to purchase the name, or the entire business, and then license the idea out to other manufacturers and so forth, and besides the initial cash offering, provide a continual royalty to the seller for life on all profits the idea makes. Some people have accepted such an offer, and others have refused because they wanted to remain a part of the business they helped create. While selling everything and accepting a continual royalty very well might have made them rich, it was not enough. For some people, being a part of the businesses growth and daily activities was more important that just making money. These people were willing to walk away to find other resources and continue their dream, which was not necessarily money, but the pursuit of their creation.

At other times, things other than cash can turn out to be worth many more times that which is anticipated. Any one who has ever watched “I Love Lucy” reruns on television added to the net worth of Lucy and Desi, or their estate after they were gone. During the negotiations for the show, Lucy and Desi negotiated for the right to rebroadcast the shows at a future date. At the time reruns were virtually unknown, because who would want to see a TV show more than once? The rights seemed worthless to the network, so the readily agreed to that part of the deal. An issue that wasn’t money sure made Lucy and Desi a lot of it.

There are many things that can be negotiated other than money. That’s often what expanding the pie is all about. The creative negotiator will keep money in mind, but look for the other issues to negotiate the best deal possible.

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Carriage Clocks Past and Present

Carriage clocks have a unique and classy style. An old horse drawn clock can be considered very collectible. They were originally conceived so people had a means of telling the time whilst travelling in the 1800′s as wristwatches were not invented until the 20th Century. They are easily identifiable as they have a distinctive style and shape.

In the 1800′s people travelled around in carriages and as clocks technically evolved it became possible to build a medium sized one which people could carry around, hence the name carriage clock. Before that clocks were very large and were basically either grandfather or large wall clocks such as Town Hall or Railway Station time-pieces.

The carriage clock of today is smaller and more compact but in the 1800′s they were still quite large by today standards. They were rectangle in shape and built to withstand the rugged travel in a carriage on uneven roads when horse drawn carriages were the only means of transport. The carriage clock casements were solid to protect the mechanism.

Carriage clocks have a standard shape which makes them instantly recognizable. The case is usually made from metal or polished brass. The face often has a glass frontage with the background of the face being made from porcelain. Modern clocks tend not to have the porcelain face unless you purchase an expensive one, and then it would probably be decorated with an intricate design. The more decoration on the face usually signifies the superior quality of the timepiece.

Another Identifiable part of a horse-drawn clock is the handle which made it much easier to carry around from a carriage to a place of rest. As the carriage clock became more advanced it would have incorporated a bell or chime on the hour. Similar designs on other types of time-pieces were also afforded to carriage clocks such as scrolls on the corner of the frame and inlay gemstones. Modern carriage clocks tend to have mass produced quartz movements but back in the 1800′s movements would have been spring driven mechanical mechanisms.

Today clocks are based on the original clock design, but they tend not to have the intricate mechanical movement, ornate design or the decorative detail of their predecessors. This does have advantages as modern clocks are much more affordable. Carriage clocks are still very much in demand today and are often given as wedding presents, anniversaries or retirement gifts. You can buy a clock from as little as £10 today.

The lower price clocks tend to be replicas however you can still buy authentic carriage clocks. Authentic clocks have glass back doors which allow you to wind the clock up and see the mechanism and all the internal workings of the clock. Some high priced clocks will have gemstones set in the clock, with gold and silver incorporated in the clock.

As we began not to ride around in carriages, and cars and modern homes took over, you are now more likely to see these types of clocks on mantel pieces. The more complicated clocks will play tunes using a hammer which strikes a bell every hour. If you have one of these clocks with inset precious stones, enameled porcelain glass face and decorative scrolls, then it’s a collector’s item. As with any clock its worth having it serviced every year to keep it in full working order, and to maintain an accurate time. This will also help to maintain it’s on sale value.

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