Monday, October 19, 2009
A Killer Secret To Get Your Cover Letter Read
Why? Because it 'packed a punch.' You have three seconds to nab your reader in any written communication. Do it with a smashing title or headline! This secret technique, when used properly, practically guarantees that he or she will stay with you till the last line of your cover letter, article, or report.
How does this little secret apply to a resume cover letter?
I'm glad you asked! Put it at the top of your next job-search cover letter and you'll attract the employer's undivided attention. Without this powerful little gem, however, you risk being a victim of the 'scan and trash' syndrome.
Why do I use the phrase, "Killer Secret?" To make my point. It's an attention-grabber! I got your attention and curiosity. You can lasso the same things from your reader.
When it comes to cover letters, however, the use of a headline is hardly a theory. It's a FACT that everyone is attracted to books and articles and letters that have a title that sizzles like a burger on a grill!
People today pick up a magazine, newspaper or advertisement, scan first and read later. You can stop that process cold. A strong headline that 'jumps' off the page of your cover letter will keep them reading your writing. And if you're trying to land a job interview, what could be more important than riveting the person to your every word?
Imagine the results you'll experience in your job search when your cover letter opens with an attention-grabbing headline that is so unique and so compelling that the hiring manager cannot put it down? He or she will actually be excited to meet you, to discuss the job, and to hand it over to you! Potential employees that show creativity and color in their communication are a boon to any company.
Maybe you're thinking it's easy for me. I've been a writer for 20 years and you're just beginning. But I'm here to tell you it's easier than you may think.
Here's what to do.
Just above the typical greeting in your cover letter (Dear Mrs. Smith), place your 'killer' headline. And to make it stand out even more, type the sentence in bold-face print and center it on the page. (Two lines maximum).
Here are THREE examples of excellent cover letter headlines:
THREE reasons why I believe I may be the candidate you're looking for to fill [insert job opening title here].
I have researched [company name] and believe I am an ideal match for the [insert job opening title here].
Let me show you how why I am a perfect fit for the position of [insert job opening title here].
With a headline like one of the above, what do you think Mrs. Smith will do? Trash and scan? No way. She will be drawn in and want to read more about you. Using the 'muscle' of a strong headline at the beginning of your next job-search cover letter can fill your calendar with interviews for the job that is just right for you.
So 'pack a wallop' to your next cover letter with a smashing title or headline and then get ready for the phone to ring!
Friday, April 3, 2009
3 Practical Ways to a Greater Self-Esteem
1. Recognize the difference between anger and resistance. Congratulations, you got yourself a new emotion. Or I gave it to you. It's called resistance. Resistance is the feeling when you dislike something and can't live with it, and it is surely a pain in the butt when you come to think of it. You can't really stop anger, but you can stop resisting. If you can't change something, don't care about it. It won't go away, but you just won't care about it. Doesn't it sound great?
2. Get indifferent! Well here's a great time-saver. Instead of getting drunk on a Friday night, then finally think "oh I need to party now, well I can since I'm drunk", you can do some simple random stuff. Stuff like what? I usually highfive my friends until my hands hurt, imagine the stupidest thing I can imagine (like a cow staring at you endlessly) and try to recreate that with my face. They won't work if you hide them. Just don't care and do some random things. It'll surely pump up your atmosphere, as long as you're confident enough.
3. Do what you like, whenever you like, wherever you like. Well, this isn't a hard one. Why shouldn't you write when you are driving home with a bus? It's a time saver. Hug yourself if you want to. Not like anyone will care. Maybe someone will think you're a weirdo if you work on your oral hygiene in the metro. Well they would probably be right, but almost everything is fine as long as you don't care about it too much and you enjoy it.
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Saturday, March 28, 2009
How to Understand and Profit Best From RSS
I have done some research on RSS and put together this short report in order to help you to understand and set up RSS fast without much effort. If you want to read the full story about RSS, go to Wikipedia and check the two recommended links in my bio.
RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication" and it is a content delivery channel that allows you to easily deliver internet content to your target audiences, while eliminating short comings of delivery channels, such as e-mail. RSS content is delivered through RSS feeds, i.e. simple files structured in [xml] format which enables internet content publishers to easily deliver information about their specific content to end-users.
In a way, this can be best compared to e-mail content alert services, which send you an e-mail message every time content you are interested in is published on a specific web site, letting you know that a new article you are interested in is available on the Web. You certainly notice these square orange buttons with the white point and 2 white stripes, found almost on every blog and other interactive site. To start receiving RSS-Feeds, you need a "News Reader", a piece of software that checks the feeds and lets you read any new article that has been added.
The main two versions are accessed using a browser (like Firefox) or downloadable applications that lets you store content on your computer. The browser version is far enough for the beginning and to stay top informed. I recommend downloading the free Google Reader which constantly checks your favourite news sites and blogs for fresh content. Whether a site updates daily or monthly, you are informed instantly. Others are Windows RSS Reader and Mac-NetNewsWire.
Once you are set up, Right-Click (control-click for Mac users) on any orange RSS button on a site, blog or news source that interests you. Then select Copy Shortcut ("Copy Link to Clipboard" for Mac, "Copy Link Location" for Firefox browsers) and paste that URL into your RSS Reader. You are done and are now subscribed to get alerts every time new content or information is made available.
Autoresponders are a great marketing tool but the success or failure remains with your prospects which more and more are reluctant to give you their e-mail address. With RSS you have the same power than with an autoresponder, but without the fear people have with e-mail. RSS has 100 % content delivery and Spam Filters do not matter anymore. With RSS you can easily deliver daily or even hourly news to your subscribers. Using personalisation, you have the same power as with an autoresponder.
Here are some examples how RSS can be used effectively: Direct Marketing, Ezine Publishing, Lead Generation, Monetising your Reports and eBooks, General Advertising, etc. For example, Amazon uses RSS to announce their best sellers to their subscribers. You can do the same with your Newsletter, Ezine or any other information you want to spread in your niche market.
RSS connects people in real time, your content can be published on other websites and therefore increasing your traffic and Search Engine rankings. It helps you to generate new Subscribers, increase your affiliate sales and to get valuable feedback. Use RSS to deliver information and directions to your affiliates and business partners.
RSS is free, fast and present everywhere - make use of it, take advantage for your business or just to facilitate your work day. RSS promotion starts on your website and it is there, where you invite your visitors to subscribe to your feed. Therefore place the RSS button at the best possible place. I hope this article has given you a good insight on RSS and its tremendous marketing power.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
5 Tips For Writing Successful Classified Ads
This is the most important element of every classified ad. This is simply the opener. This is the very first component of your ad that is seen by the prospect. So any scanning reader is going to decide whether or not to read your ad based on the instant appeal of your headline. So every word is critical.
But nothing is quite as important as the first word. The first word needs to be different from all other competing ads that are out there to try to grab attention for readership. Your headlines must be concise and direct it at any specific target market that you are going for.
2. Arouse Curiosity and Wonder in the mind of the prospect
Your ad will no doubt list lots of benefits for your prospect. However Whatever fabulous benefits that you promised needs to be enhanced with a dash of credibility. Avoid general promises like 'Make Millions' or 'Make Unlimited Wealth In Only 3 Months'. Instead, use real numbers that your prospect can actually believe in. For example, say 'Last month, I earned $6,475.84 from my own home based business.' Real figures appear to be more genuine and particularly if the number changes to reflect growth and profitability, it adds to your credibility to mention that as well.
You also need to take your prospect through a mental journey where they can imagine themselves enjoying the benefits you mentioned in your ad. And make them wonder if the benefits can be achieved. So make it very appealing yet realistic. In advertising, perception is everything. Whatever you promised, you have to be sure that it is within the possibilities.
3. Specifically define what you have for your prospect
You want your prospect to be aware of the exact details concerning your offer. Precisely identify what it is that you have to offer. If your prospect is interested in a home business opportunity, then make it clear in the beginning that that's what you have for them.
4. Capture your prospect now
Make your offer so attractive that your prospect cannot resist. You want all potential prospect to respond to your ad. Your job is to get as many of your target market to respond to your ad. Your prospects are interested in what you can do for them NOW, not later. You need to think and focus your marketing effort on the people who are going to buy your product or service right now. You want to make it easy for your prospect to follow through the steps and take up the offer.
If you are promoting a product online, make sure that you give them the website and tell them to go the website. Better still, if you are advertising online, make a link where they can click and automatically be brought to the website.
5. Use prospect anticipation to your advantage
When your prospect respond to your ad, they are eagerly awaiting your reply. So don't delay. You need to answer very promptly. Strike when the iron is hot. You are going to give them what they intensely desire, so you have to be in contact with them quickly, so that they can act on what they need to act on. It is often when they are awaiting your reply, that they make subconscious decisions to buy or not to buy. Even before more details arrive, or before you give them the website or before they make the purchase, you need to promise them that what they are going to buy is everything that they need. And often, the materials you will send them, or the website that you are going to give them becomes the logical justification of their decision to buy. So use prospect anticipation to your advantage.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Speed Reading Techniques You Can Practice Every Day
Speed reading in a self improvement tool that can help you read faster without compromising on reading comprehension or memory retention. You do not have to enroll for classroom coaching or spend money on computer applications. You can practice some simple techniques daily that will improve your reading speed.
The underlying principle of speed reading is to train the eye to move faster across the texts. The texts are read as blocks of words and if you are able to increase the number of words in each block, you are closer to mastering speed reading.
Initially you will have to spend a little more time so that you are comfortably settled with the new habit of reading. Use a paper to hide text while reading. Along with that use a pointer or finger to help you focus on the text. Keep moving the pointer or finger at a slightly higher pace than your reading speed. Try to read faster than the speed of the pointer. Practice this technique about three to four times a day. The length of the reading material can be just one page and you can gradually increase it as your reading speed improves.
Another technique that you can practice without any effort is to skim and scan information. If you are in a business environment, you will find lot of business reports. Each report will have very less to convey. Try to find the information that is relevant by skimming the text. If you are not used to reading business reports, you can apply this while reading a newspaper. Once you know what the information is in a newspaper column reading the title, you will be in a position to scan the entire text in a lesser time to grasp the news.
It takes about 20 seconds to scan through the information in one page. Keep this in mind and make this your target. As you start, you may take more time to skim and scan the text, but as you progress you can reduce the time taken.
When the horizon that the eye covers is more, you can read more in less time. Keep the reading material a little away from you so that even your peripheral vision is put to use. This will help you improve your ability to see all words without having to move your eyes sideways.
Speed reading can become a habit with practice. Use the above techniques daily to read whatever you are reading. Within a few weeks of starting this practice, you will notice a considerable increase in your reading speed. You can then adopt various other techniques to improve it further.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Could You Live Without Toilet Paper?
After a long afternoon hiking with friends we went back to their house for dinner. I had been carrying a heavy backpack all day and my back and shoulders were killing me. After noticing that I was in pain my friend pulls out a cloth bag filled with corn. She puts it in the microwave for about three minutes then slaps it on my shoulder. Ahhh, sweet relief! It was amazing how the pain melted away. I felt better almost instantly. Why did I not have one of these? I had never even seen one in the store. I felt cheated. All those aches and pains of my past could have been treated with this outstanding invention.
Even more recently I discovered a product that has since made my life simpler. I was by myself in one of those restaurants that call your number and you pick up the food at the counter. On this day the place was packed. I had to stand against the wall and wait for a seat to become available. It was my lucky day, a seat opened up right next to where I was standing. No sooner had I sat down then I heard my number over the crackling loudspeakers. I could see that other people were waiting like vultures to snap up the next seat left abandoned. The lady at the next table could see my predicament. She leaned over and handed me a handkerchief. "Use this" she said. I looked down at the cloth and saw that it was a sign. It said "I'll be right Back" in bold print along with a cute cartoon. This thing is so cool. I laid it on my table and went to pick up my order. I could never live without this convenience now.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
EyeQ As a Speed Reading Product
Eye Q claims to double your reading speed by spending just seven minutes a day with the program. What is Eye Q? Is it something comparable to IQ or the Intelligence Quotient? Well, do not get carried away by the similarity in notation. Eye Q is not a quotient but computer software that will help you learn and master speed reading.
Eye Q comes in two versions-a personal and deluxe, the only difference between the two being the number of users it can support. The deluxe version can support up to ten different users. Each user can track his progress through personalized graphs and charts.
The software program is aimed at educational institutions and students. The philosophy behind this is that children learn a new habit faster and also if you pick something at a young age it is more likely to stay throughout your life.
What does Eye Q promise? Eye Q promises to enhance both reading speed and comprehension, all by spending just seven minutes a day. These seven minutes are interactive and fun filled. The product comes after a research of over 20 years and gives you a 30 day unconditional guarantee. All these come with a heavy price tag.
One might wonder if it is really worth paying so much. If you are a beginner to speed reading, try out the speed reading manual. You will find plenty of tips to get started. It may not double your reading speed in even minutes but you can see results over a week to ten days.
Books or manuals on speed reading are available at a much cheaper price and will do you good if you follow the instructions carefully. As a beginner all you need to get started is to know how speed reading works. Once you are aware what is speed reading and how it works, you can design your own training modules based on the techniques in the manual.
There are many sites providing free reading speed and reading comprehension tests. Once you get started with the help of some guide, you can measure your speed and evaluate your performance. You may not need graphs and charts to really evaluate where you are heading. The simple reading speed tests will just ensure that you are on the right track.
The speed reading technique can be mastered by constant practice. Upon learning how to speed read, make sure you follow the methods whenever you read. You could be reading a newspaper or a business report, but try to read using the techniques. As you practice more and more, your current reading speed will be replaced with a new and improved speed which will later become a part of you.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Five Success Quotes For Instant Motivation
A good motivational or inspirational quote can really capture a feeling or an idea in such a special, concise way; this is why reading them is one of the quickest ways to instantly change our mindsets and gain a feeling of motivation.
I have found that if I find the right quote that has a lot of meaning for me, and the quote quickly and consistently changes my mood and gets me motivated, I can use the quote to give me a boost of motivation whenever it is necessary. I do this by memorizing and repeating the quote to myself at times when I am not feeling inspired to complete a project or task, or when I am just in a lazy or tired state. Once I repeat the quote to myself a few times, and focus on the idea that the quote embodies, I feel an instant jolt of motivation that is enough to get me going and help me accomplish what I need to.
The five following quotes are some of the most powerful and motivating quotes that I have ever come across. I repeat them to myself to get instant motivation, and I have found that they help me immensely. Hopefully, they can do the same for you. The quotes are:
"Success is a result of consistent and persistent action in a single direction."
"Let us train ourselves to desire what the situation demands."
"Success is a journey, not a destination."
" Discipline yourself to do the things you need to do when you need to do them, and the day will come when you will be able to do the things you want to do whenever you want to do them!"
"Do it now, because one day you'll either be saying I wish I had or I'm glad I did!"
These five quotes have been instrumental in helping me to motivate myself quickly and easily and accomplish the things I need to get finished. They are great for encompassing the idea and the feeling that working hard and staying focused will pay off and eventually be rewarding. They help me to focus on the positive part of working, which is personal pride, satisfaction, and gain, rather than the negative parts of work. Almost nothing has worked so consistently to keep me motivated.
Whether you enjoyed my quotes or not, I definitely recommend getting a little list of inspiring quotes together to anyone who needs to stay focused and motivated on a regular basis. Reading inspiring and motivating quotes can give you the boost you need to change your life!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The Power of Dreams - Find Out Why Psychics and Horoscopes Pale in Comparison to Prophetic Dreams
When you hear of the word prophecy what do you think of? If Nostradamus or the names of any other individual not related to the Bible is the first thought that crosses through your mind, you need to read this article very carefully. You see, the type of prophecies talked about here in this book goes well beyond that of Nostradamus. It goes deeply into a world more advanced, personal and significant, a world pertaining to YOU.
Who cares what Nostradamus predicted? How has his predictions affected you personally? It most likely hasn't and will never. Nostradamus is not your guide through life and was never born to serve that purpose. The Bible on the other hand was and is.
Now, I want you to ponder on a thought for a moment. What if there was a way for you to be your own psychic and predict your own future? Wouldn't you want to know? Wouldn't you at least want to explore that route and save yourself the costly expenses psychics charge for personal consultations?
It saddens me at times when people fail to pay attention to their dreams because they believe seeing into the future is a gift they don't have. This isn't true. If you can dream, you have enough clairvoyance in you to help yourself navigate through your own personal troubles.
Instead of choosing to chase after psychics or whatever other high-priced means you may use to temporarily satisfy your hunger for future knowledge, why not do it the proper way? Oh yeah, that's right. Not only is it a spiritual abomination to seek after the services of psychics, mediums etc, the results you get from them are often unreliable. (Isaiah 47:12-15)
Think about it. If they're such a sure thing, why aren't government agencies all over the world putting their full trust in them? For the most part, it's because it isn't realistic to do so. But what about dreams?
Despite the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of sites out there claiming to be experts on dreams, very few actually bring something worthy to the table. Very few can teach the average man or woman how to identify prophetic dreams when they have them. Very few can emphasize, with unparalleled precision, how allegorical dreams ought to be dissected and allocated to their appropriate meaning. Very few can answer questions, without veering off in to the realm of uselessness.
In other words, relying on unholy methods to be your guide through life isn't a safe bet. Psychics will not contact you out of the blue to warn you of a cataclysmic event in your future unless you call them first, and pay them. Even then, chances are pretty good the predictions they give you will not be accurate.
Your dreams on the other hand don't wait for your inquisition before they start alerting you to whatever harm lies ahead. So you think about that and ask yourself, what method serves your purpose more honestly?
Friday, March 6, 2009
A More Confident You
Confident people don't necessarily have to be beautiful, though. Many average-looking people have a lot of self-esteem even when they're looking a beautiful person in the eye. Walking tall and talking boldly is the true definition of someone who possesses utmost faith in his or herself.
Being beautiful can make a person more confident. Being younger, taller will have the same effect too but let's just reverse the situation here - can a person who does not feel good about him or herself emit a confident air about them? It's not impossible, but it will be an awfully tough nut to crack. The effect of dressing, smelling and looking smashingly good for yourself have a positive effect on a person, be it a male or female. That is why modern folks are placing more and more importance on looking appropriately fine when attending official functions or even when heading out to the shopping complex.
Generally speaking, the younger you are, the more beautiful you feel. The more beautiful you feel, the more confident you are about yourself. That is why many people, especially women, are deeply engrossed and fascinated with the many anti-aging products and services offered today. If they want to feel more confident, they have to start feeling, knowing and looking many years younger than their real age.
Whilst this is not the whole truth, the link between age and self-confidence cannot be denied. As long as a person spends less time thinking about what others think about them or how to find approval from close quarters, this person will find it easier to be confident with her own looks and abilities.
Start with working on how your body respond to the way you look by experimenting with fragrances, clothes, accessories and cosmetics. Celebrate every time you feel that the clothes that you wear makes you feel a little taller. If a fragrance that you use makes you feel many years younger, then remember to stock it up for future use. This way, you can feel and act in a more confident matter whenever you feel like it - and soon, it's not a matter of relying on these items anymore...having confidence will become a big part of your personality.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
How to Sell Coaching - Secrets to Make Money by Selling Coaching Programs
1. Article marketing. Sometimes, you really don't need to look further to discover a great, effective, and cheap marketing tool that can help you generate interest over the online arena. Personally, I think that the simplest and the oldest tools are still the best. One of them is article marketing. This will just require you to write articles about your coaching programs and about your chosen niche. Then, you will just need to distribute your copies to all popular article directories (don't forget EzineArticles as it is currently the most popular and most accessed article submission site). Your goal here is to impress your readers with how much you know about your chosen niche. If you are able to realize your goal, your readers will most likely to check on your website and get additional valuable information. You can then work your magic to make sure that you'll be able to convert them to buying customers the moment they give you a visit.
2. Forum posting. I am really not sure why but there are so many marketers who are simply not open to the idea of invading relevant forums when they are promoting their coaching programs. You see, this could be one of the easiest ways to reach out to a group of people who might be interested in what you offer. Spend 2-3 hours per day visiting forums that are popular within your chosen niche. You can start your own thread where you can share a slice of your knowledge or react to post by giving answers to questions. Depending on the site's rules, you'll be most likely to insert your site's URL on your signature. The whole process will help you establish connection with your target market and will give you a chance to showcase your expertise. In addition, it will allow you to create inbound links that can pull up your page ranking.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Resume Writing Tips - How To Get The Interviews You Want
Need help writing your resume? Listen, don’t sweat it—you’re not alone, and there’s nothing wrong with getting yourself a little bit of free resume writing help.
So let’s get started, shall we? What I’ve got here are a few choice resume writing tips you can use to add some profitability (a.k.a. spice) to your job search, and get that phone of yours ringing with offers for the job interviews you want:
Resume Writing Tip #1: Make sure your contact information is correct. Don’t laugh or roll your eyes, this is a much more valuable resume writing tip than you’d think. Which is one reason why I placed this resume writing tip first. I’ve seen resumes with misspelled email addresses, wrong phone numbers—even ones with no phone number! So don’t be so quick to brush aside this particular resume writing tip. We all make little mistakes here and there, sometimes with the simplest things.
Resume Writing Tip #2: Write a clear objective that not only says what position you’re applying for, but how you can benefit the company. That may sound complicated, I know, but it’s not. Unfortunately, this resume writing tip is also commonly ignored. Resume writing with no objective is like a piƱata with no candy. It’s empty, pointless. Hiring managers won’t sift through your resume, trying to figure out what you want to do. Here’s a sample resume objective that’s clear and even offers the company a benefit:
Objective: Accomplished Copy Editor ready to apply 6+ years of exceptional written communication and editing skills towards supporting the goals of a quality-focused organization.
Resume Writing Tip #3: Your platinum achievements. Here’s where a lot of job seekers handling their own resume writing will a brick wall. This resume writing tip is terribly critical. Dry lists of job duties just aren’t enough to get your resume writing to stand out. You need detailed achievements, and include specific numbers, percentages—details help! They give believability to your accomplishments. Here’s a resume writing sample of what I mean:
- Edit school newsletter. (This sounds too bland, mediocre. Any editor can do this, it sounds too dry)
- Created & currently edit Educator’s Voice, a monthly newsletter that keeps parents aware of past and upcoming school events and activities. (This is much better, more specific & detailed. It's a great & unique accomplishment, the newsletter title & purpose is given, and it stands out so much more)
Resume Writing Tip #4: Spelling, spelling…oh boy. Think you can slide by with one or two spelling errors? Forget it. Not even one will be tolerated. Spelling errors are totally unprofessional, and they turn off hiring managers in an instant. They figure, why would I want this person to be part of my team, when they can’t even spell? So if you choose to handle your own resume writing, run a spell check. But don't stop there--be sure to check your spelling yourself. Read it out loud, it might help you to catch more mistakes. And then after this, have 1-3 of your most reliable, detail-oriented friends check it out for you. It’s all worth the effort, believe me.
Resume Writing Tip #5: A quote or two, would do wonders for your resume. Ever gotten a performance review you were proud of? Well, grab a sentence or two from that, and place it onto your resume. Resume writing with quotes included is priceless, and definitely something that will help you to stand out. Here’s a resume writing sample of a quote: “Ms. Daniels is talented, uplifting, and she brightens up the school with her beautiful artwork.” (A parent’s comments about a preschool teacher).
So go ahead and put these resume writing tips to good use. Once applied, they can only help to improve your job search. Use them in your resume, and keep that cell phone with you always. How about this…why not set your ringer with your favorite tune—The Sopranos, The Lone Ranger, Chopin? Please don't laugh--mine is HBO’s drama Rome.
Then you can enjoy the sound of your cell phone ringing, while relishing the thought that it could be yet another call for an interview, or even better, that ultimate job offer.