No matter what type of home based business you are involved in, you will need to do some type of marketing. Odds are, if you are just beginning your business, you are on a shoe-string budget. Advertising what you have to offer can eat up your budget. The good news is that there are a number of ways to build a business on a budget.This article will review 3 methods taught by Mike Dillard which have been of great value to me as I built my home based business. They help you generate consistent leads to your home based business opportunity.1. CRAIG WHO?Craigslist.org is one of the largest websites on the internet where people can place free ads in various cities all across the United States and generate interest in your product or opportunity. Alexa.com ranks it 60th most viewed, meaning it is a source of serious traffic. It is a place where people go to advertise everything from sofas to jobs. Placing the right type of advertisement in the correct section of craigslist.org can help you produce an endless amount of prospects who would be interested in your home based business.2. ON-LINE VIDEOSOnline video is the hottest internet trend. Video site like YouTube.com has been growing rapidly. Posting online videos is a perfect way to get your product or opportunity in front of lots of people, if you’re building your home based business on a budget.If you want to use videos in your marketing effort, you will need to invest a little of your budget on a video camera. Good and reliable video cameras are going for about $150. Next, you carefully create compelling, valuable content aimed at your target market, then you go live on the web and reach out to the world using free online video platforms such as YouTube.com.3. BLOG WISELYA blog gives you online presence and it takes next to nothing out of your budget. A blog brings fast and reliable traffic to your business. However blogs are not meant for blatant personal advertising. Your goal with a blog is to deliver value and gain loyal readers who you will attract into your marketing funnel.There are two types of blogging platforms to choose from, Blogger.com and WordPress.com. If you know how to use the power of blogs, you can develop a home based business that will pay you for years to come.In summary, it is possible to start your home based business on a small budget. Many home based businesses, for example, an MLM business, can be built on a small budget and lead to tremendous rewards.
Mobile Education: The Stumbling Blocks
The mobile revolution that has ushered in this decade is nothing short of a history being created. The fact that it has touched every facet of life makes it universally acceptable. Education is not left behind and several companies are trying to use mobile platform to provide a variety of education services. However, if anything to go by, the success is far-flung and no path breaking way has been found that would make mobile a true education device. This article tries to focus on the limitations that are hindering the success of mobile education.
Screen Size
The largest mobile phone in terms of screen size is Dell Streak that has 5 inch display. However, still an average mobile phone screen is no more than 2.8 inches. Students are used to reading from pages that are larger in size. Hence, reading on 2.8 inches screen is never comfortable. The screen of mobile phone is mainly optimized for small text.
Processing power limitations
Barring a few mobile phones, most of the cellular phones have slow processors. These processors are incapable of running animations or digital content effectively. Desktop computers and laptops do not face any such difficulty and therefore have become a preferred medium for online learning.
Fragmented nature of Mobile OS platforms
Application developers find it extremely difficult to develop applications that can be run on all mobile operating systems. Imagine a class with 30 students and some having Nokia phones, others with Blackberries, and some using Androids. This is a real world issue that most of the education providers are grappling with.
Expensive
Education is always considered as a service which is there for the masses. Hence, in many cases, education is affordable for a large number of students across the different economic strata. There is no doubt that devices such as iPhone can be used for mobile education. Unfortunately, not many can afford to buy an iPhone.
Lack of government support
Present day governments have not yet understood that education in 21st century is no longer restricted inside the buildings of schools, colleges, and universities. New modes of imparting education have come up and mobile is one of them. Unless the governments around the world realize this and allocate resources, the mobile education will not succeed.
Even though companies are talking about phones as low as $30, these devices will never be optimized for education. The solutions to the barriers, mentioned above, are hard to find. Even the much touted projects such as OLPC (One laptop per child) have not been able to bring a paradigm shift in the filed of education.
The time has come to change our approach and focus on the innovative products that are coming into the market. Yes! TABLETS! iPad, Galaxy Tab and many other touch screen tablets that can change the game altogether. The level of interactivity on touch devices is extremely high. Moreover, institutions can develop highly engaging and effective educational content. The fact that they can also run web content makes them all the more appealing.
What to Ask When Looking for a Good Property Manager
If you’ve ever searched for a good property manager before, then you know how difficult it can be to find a good one for your rental property. There are several property managers out there, probably more than what you really need to bring your property into the market.
With so many choices available, you may find it difficult to choose one for your unit. But don’t worry – if you ask the right questions while shopping around for property managers, you’ll get a better idea of who would make the best fit for your property. Ask them these questions when discussing your property to see if they’re the right property manager for you:
1. What type of properties have you managed?
Experience counts for a lot in property management, and it can separate the good ones from the ones you should steer away from. Experience in this field, however, isn’t just about the number of years worked in the field; it’s also about what type of properties they’ve managed. Depending on what type of property you have, you can either go with someone who specialises in managing properties like yours or someone who has more varied experience managing different types of properties.
2. How do you screen potential tenants?
Screening potential tenants is one of the most important steps to property management, so the way they do this often reflects their level of service to your property. Ask them how they’ll match tenants to your property and what their process is like for finding tenants. This will give you a better idea of how they operate and what lengths they’ll go to find the right match for your property.
3. How do you handle late payments by tenants?
Finding tenants is just one phase of property management; the longer phase involves managing the tenancy itself. Asking them this question will show you what their management style is like and how they’ll deal with critical rental issues like these. See if their process aligns with what you expect them to do and how you want your property to be managed.
4. How do you respond to complaints?
Similar to the previous question, this question allows you to gauge how well a potential property manager will handle the landlord-tenant relationship. Remember that a property manager will act as the mediator between you and your tenant, so it’s important that you’re comfortable with their process for dealing with any complaints or issues.
5. How often do you do inspections?
Routine inspections are important to any tenancy agreement, and the number of times it’s done per year will help give you better peace of mind as the landlord or owner. This question will also show you how well the property manager will look after your property even after the start of the tenancy.
6. What’s the right rental price for my property?
If you’ve done your research beforehand, this question will let you assess how well a potential property manager knows the market and what they can offer you. It also allows you to get a better idea of what your property is worth in the current market. Compare their answer with different property managers to see what they offer and to better understand where your property stands in the market.
7. What are the things I can do to improve my listing?
Asking them this question won’t just reveal their expertise in property management, but it’ll also help you put your property in the best position in the market. Note their suggestions, assess how relevant they are, and decide whether or not they can get your property where you want it to be.
8. What are the full costs and fees for managing my property?
Some have small sign-up fees but a variety of hidden fees once you sign on and let them manage your property. Avoid getting surprised by such fees, and ask them to indicate all management and service fees included in their service. The more complicated their fee structure is, the bigger the headache (and expense) it will likely be.
9. What can you do that others can’t?
This is where prospective property managers will try to sell you on what they offer and how well they set themselves apart from the competition. It’s also the part where you assess the intangibles in any working relationship, giving you a better idea of how well they meet your standards. Listen well, take notes, and assess if they provide what you’re looking for.