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Update from International Association of Computer Professionals. Technology
news, marketing tips, online strategies and business resources for people
earning their living in technology-related fields.
http://www.pros-n-cons.com/ Phone: 706-866-2295

For best viewing, go to http://www.pros-n-cons.com/
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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= Attract New Users With Contests
= Five Ways to Take the Opportunities When...
Customers are Few and Far Between
= Training Manuals
= Build Your Business Through Public Speaking
= 5 Steps to a Productive Meeting
= Ideas For Saving Money On Office Supplies And Expenses
= Enter to Win

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articles on dozens of topics. Give our newsletter / site builder
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Attract New Users With Contests
by: Amanda Formaro

Do you host contests on your website? If not, you are losing an opportunity
to attract new visitors, gain subscribers and increase your exposure on the
web. Each and every day, thousands of people log on to the Internet
searching for contests to enter. Here's how you can begin to draw those
people to your site.

Why a Contest?

Some may argue that the people who enter contests are visiting your site for
just that purpose. They come in, they enter and they leave. While this may
be the case with some of the entrants, others will have discovered your site
and added it to their bookmarks. Some of the visitors may not find your site
interesting, but maybe their Aunt Marge would, or even cousin Frank. A
perfect example was a comment left in an entry form from my contest. It said
"I must admit, at first I came here just to enter the contest. But I have
been back again and again and now have it bookmarked & have subscribed to
your newsletter. Thanks so much for your great site!" So, don't dismiss all
contest entrants as "cheap pageviews".

Types of Contests

Now that you see the benefits of hosting a contest, how do you decide which
type to run? There are several different types to choose from, from the
simple entry drawing to the more challenging trivia contest. The simple
drawing is probably the most popular because it requires the least amount of
work on the contest entrant's part. The only thing required is their name
and email address. See http://www.thefamilycorner.com/services/drawing.shtml
for an example of a simple drawing contest. Among the other types of
contests you can run are surveys, Q & A, trivia, riddles, games and
scavenger hunts. Deciding which type of contest to run will rely on how much
time you will have to dedicate to the entries that come in.

Drawings require virtually no effort. All entries can be filed until you are
ready to draw a winner. On the other hand, surveys, trivia, hunts, games and
Q & A involve checking answers and results, thus taking up quite a bit more
time.

For the rest of this article go to
http://pros-n-cons.com/article.cfm?articleid=1980

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Five Ways to Take the Opportunities When...
Customers are Few and Far Between
http://pros-n-cons.com/article.cfm?articleid=3182
by: Jenette Zubero

1. Join your local Chamber of Commerce. Take the opportunity to get involved
in their corporate meetings. This will give you the chance to meet other
business people in your area, build your reputation as a businessperson, and
is a nice outlet for fun during the business day.

2. Volunteer for a cause you really love. Take the opportunity to make a
difference in whatever area you'd like to spend your time on. Volunteering
can be as simple as bagging groceries for a few hours for tips. Doing this
gives you the opportunity to meet other business professionals that care
about the same causes you do and could lead to future business.

3. Join a speakers association. Take the opportunity to learn how to give a
great speech or presentation. These groups not only offer great advise on
how to present the best you can, but are also a great way to meet people and
generate new business.

4. Start a networking group of your own. Take the opportunity to be seen as
a business leader. Anyone can JOIN a group but not everyone has what it
takes to start one. This is a great way to show others what you've got and
in the process generate that new business you need.

5. Talk to people you wouldn't normally talk to. Take the opportunity to
push yourself out of your comfort zone. If you're usually silent in the
grocery line, spark a conversation with the checkout person. He or she might
really need what you're offering.

*There are so many ways to find new business besides cold calling. Take the
opportunity to come up with five new ways of your own. Try them for a week
and see what happens!

---------------------------------------------
Jenette Zubero may be contacted at http://www.focusedlives.com
mailto:jenette@...
Are you a Career Woman who wants to move up the corporate ladder, start a
business, loose weight, start a relationship or the like? Does your schedule
keep you from doing the things that are most important to you? Do you want
more but aren't sure where to start? Jenette Zubero
(jenette@...) Strategist Jenette Zubero can work with you to
find strategies and solutions that will propel you to all that you want out
of life. Strategist Zubero is the owner of www.FocusedLives.com.
Focusedlives.com includes a gender exclusive discussion list, solution-based
articles, an on-site strategist, and other practical tools you can put to
use
immediately. Stop by and visit for awhile and you start reaching ALL your
goals.

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TRAINING MANUALS/MEMBERSHIPS

How to Run a Successful Computer Training Business
By Marnie Pehrson
http://www.pwgroup.com/ces/ceshowex.html
Step-by-step manual/disk for starting and operating a successful computer
training business from your home or an office.
------
Self Coaching Guide
http://www.focusedlives.com/services/workbook.cfm
by Jenette Rotatori-Zubero
Learn how to coach yourself to success with this step by step workbook.
------
Looking for MS Office 2000 training manuals?
Software Training Resources (STR) is offering their Office 2000 manuals for
only $11.95 in the month of May. STR is proud their Office 2000 manuals are
MOUS Certified, with the MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) seal on
each cover. Visit their web site: http://www.strmanuals.com for details on
this special offer, as well as course outlines, free chapter samples and
online ordering. Check them out today!
------
Having a tough time keeping up with technology, marketing consistently,
and still having a life along with your career? The International
Association of Computer Professionals is the one and only association
for tech professionals that gives you back your life while helping you
build your technical career. For details visit
http://www.pros-n-cons.com/nav/benefits.htm

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Build Your Business Through Public Speaking
by: Vickie Sullivan

Imagine a group of your potential customers sitting in one room, gathered
for the sole purpose of hearing you speak words of wisdom. They not only
came on their own free will, but they're hoping to get a chance to speak to
you personally at the end of the meeting. Is this a dream? It can be reality
if you learn the art of public speaking, one of the most effective marketing
tools in a competitive marketplace.

How many meetings do you go to every month? Even if you don't go, how many
breakfasts, luncheons and dinners are you invited to go to, each
highlighting a speaker in addition to the food and networking? Recent
industry studies indicate that over 6,000 seminars, meetings and conventions
are held every day. The number one source to fill the agenda: businesspeople
who have products or services that benefit their members.

The effectiveness of public speaking, like any other tool, depends on how
you use it. The following are ten items to consider when using speaking to
generate new clients:

1. Get clients without selling. Speaking generates new clients because the
audience assumes you're a credible source of information even before you say
a word. That assumption makes the audience more receptive to the idea that
you can help them. (Unlike the typical sales situation, where credibility is
not assumed and the ''audience'' can be more skeptical.) However, don't
pitch your products or services while speaking. Deliver information the
audience can use to help themselves or their businesses. Let the introducer
tout your achievements and recommend your business. Pitching your services
from the podium is the kiss of death.

For the rest of this article, visit
http://pros-n-cons.com/article.cfm?articleid=3380

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5 Steps to a Productive Meeting
By: Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

It is said that on an average day in the United States, there will be 17
million meetings. (It makes you wonder how anything ever gets done!) A
meeting is two or more people getting together to exchange information. What
could be simpler? Yet, it is one of the biggest institutional time wasters
that we suffer.

An informative exercise is to calculate the hourly cost of the meeting. A
person earning $50,000 per year represents an hourly salary cost to the
organization of $25 (without adding in benefits, overhead, and profit
potential). If ten people at this salary level meet for one hour, the cost
is $250 for the hour. Then look at what was accomplished. Was it worth $250?
Sometimes "yes". A lot of the times, "no".

I have created five steps that will help you to improve the productivity of
your meetings. Even if you are not responsible for running the meeting,
bring these suggestions to the person who is responsible.

1. Ask, "Is it necessary?" We always hold the meeting because we have always
held the meeting. What would happen if it did not take place? What if we did
not meet quite so often? How about if we met once a month instead of every
week?

2. Ask the question, "Am I necessary?" Now I do not mean this in the deep
philosophical sense, but, rather, "do I get anything out of the meeting?"
and "do I contribute anything to the meeting?" If the answers to those two
questions are both "no", try to avoid attending the meeting. Or, perhaps
just the first half of the meeting is relevant to you. In this case, see if
there is a way to get excused from the second half of the meeting.

For the rest of this article, go to
http://pros-n-cons.com/article.cfm?articleid=3319

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Ideas For Saving Money On Office Supplies And Expenses
by: Darlene Bishop

In no particular order, and surely not a complete list, here are some money
saving ideas I use and that others recommend as a great way to save money on
your office supplies.

1. Save all paper that is printed on one side only and re-use for drafts and
internal documents. Can also cut into fourths and use for scratch pads.

2. If you don't *have* to have it, don't buy it! Sounds simple, but all too
often we buy office supplies on impulse.. THINK about what you're purchasing
*before* you buy.

For the rest of this article, go to
http://pros-n-cons.com/article.cfm?articleid=3146

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ENTER TO WIN
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