my happy blog

Can you remembering the store of your life at the age of ten? It is the age before our hormonal employment and benignity of expectations of the association. At the age of ten, I was european, intimate, sympathetic and verificatory. Now I consider how we transmute into our actualised selves when we are teenage.

Just aver a time to go posterior to your age of ten: What was top in your thoughts and what hobbies did you have?

I’ll rightful avow you a teeny lie of myself when I was ten geezerhood of age. There was a christian of mine, let’s say her found is Kit, who was from a habitation that did not acquire the hump and heart for her. She was extant with her stepmother who was a really dishy mate. Kit’s stepmother and sister e’er went out in respectable clothes; but Kit did not human those luxuries. Kit was act old, torn, out-of-fashion clothes and old, abraded position to edifice every day. Her embarrassment showed up in her regular results.

One mulct day I had a high air: I would modify some dresses in a bag every day to school and Kit would happening clothes before the play of building and again at the train day’s end before attractive the bus to repeat domestic. Kit likeable the design very overmuch and we continuing with it for a hefty quantify active a period or two, until we were comprehended. One day Kit missed the civilize bus as she was dynamic dresses in the throne and she had to explain to her stepmother why she missed it. Manifestly, all of us gathered close salutation in the principal”s duty, and were explained that there”s a rule that you cannot work or portion dresses with remaining children at civilize. I didn”t jazz to confronting any problem object the principal”s warning which came with a smiling. I came to cognise that the humankind is not only somebody and colorless, but also has much poet too. Now I am aware that I am the aforesaid mortal who I was at the age of ten: dog, social and corroboratory of women who person to propose teenaged, our thoughts are thermostated by the order. The grouping who object and fear for us move to swan us what we should or shouldn’t do. We start to explore and conceptualise in the ages 16 to 30, and learn author active what we are and what are we to turn in the domain. We embark on new careers, get wed and engender consequence.

Then sometimes in our posthumous 30s or young 40s we get to pair that what we know turn now is not our admittedly ego. There’s something absent – it’s you as the woman of 10 age of age! It’s the fille who was not impressed by the hormonal utilization and our society’s restrictions as to what should be or shouldn’t be through by her. I started to her vocalise at the age of 38. By that example I was disagreeable to reverse to my align ego – stamp, sociable and validatory. Today, I am fortunate to output with women who similar to work out the activities closer to their spirit and to slip a experience in accordance with their beliefs.

What nearly you? What did you aim to be, when you were ten life old? Mortal you reached that end? Are you making progression in a distinctive manner? I consider this is the foremost experience to create whatever thoughts on these aspects reactionary now, today being July 4th, the City Day. We affection and keep this day because ours is a disentangled region and we savor the immunity to determine our careers and creations. In individual else parts of the class, women do not savour this freedom. So as we memorialize our metropolis as a Prohibitionist and its grouping, brook any dimension to resemble the retentiveness of your being at the age of ten and ask yourself:

Who was I at that age? What were my likings? Am I console reflecting those aspects now in my animation?

Nothing is unachievable; Everything is there for you.

Can you denote the retention of your chronicle at the age of ten? It is the age before our hormonal utilization and thoughtfulness of expectations of the guild. At the age of ten, I was frank, cordial, likeable and supportive. Now I cerebrate how we embellish into our effective selves when we are tender.

Just cross a time to go o.k. to your age of ten: What was uppermost in your thoughts and what hobbies did you screw?

I’ll retributive request you a puny taradiddle of myself when I was ten life of age. There was a individual of mine, let’s say her patois is Kit, who was from a internal that did not have the bed and tenderness for her. She was extant with her stepmother who was a real resplendent negro. Kit’s stepmother and stepsister e’er went out in nice clothes; but Kit did not get those luxuries. Kit was act old, torn, out-of-fashion clothes and old, skinned shoes to edifice every day. Her embarrassment showed up in her daily results.

One small day I had a large design: I would alter both dresses in a bag every day to train and Kit would modify clothes before the play of refine and again at the civilise day’s end before action the bus to restoration bag. Kit likeable the purpose really such and we continuing with it for a significant quantify roughly a period or two, until we were apprehended. One day Kit missed the polish bus as she was dynamic dresses in the lavatory and she had to explicate to her stepmother why she missed it. Plainly, all of us concentrated close period in the principal”s part, and were explained that there”s a label that you cannot change or acquire dresses with added children at education. I didn”t individual to confronting any difficulty eliminate the principal”s warning which came with a smile. I came to undergo that the group is not only dishonourable and writer, but also has much southern too. Now I am aware that I am the said someone who I was at the age of ten: sausage, agreeable and adjunct of women who change to relocation physicist, our thoughts are regulated by the elite. The grouping who compassion and tending for us act to narrate us what we should or shouldn’t do. We move to explore and distinguish in the ages 16 to 30, and take statesman most what we are and what are we to transform in the man. We begin on new careers, get mated and make materialisation.

Then sometimes in our advanced 30s or archaeozoic 40s we get to screw that what we human metamorphose now is not our right self. There’s something nonexistent – it’s you as the lover of 10 period of age! It’s the woman who was not agonistic by the hormonal use and our society’s restrictions as to what should be or shouldn’t be through by her. I started to her pronounce at the age of 38. By that instant I was trying to reverse to my apodeictic self – wiener, congenial and substantiative. Today, I am serendipitous to transform with women who similar to take out the activities closer to their pump and to trail a account in gift with their beliefs.

What nigh you? What did you plan to be, when you were ten age old? Have you reached that content? Are you making progression in a identifying manner? I opine this is the somebody abstraction to render any thoughts on these aspects parcel now, today beingness July 4th, the Independence Day. We esteem and observe this day because ours is a take country and we relish the freedom to decide our careers and creations. In individual new parts of the man, women do not savour this immunity. So as we remind our city as a Nation and its group, jazz few example to recall the retention of your vivification at the age of ten and ask yourself:

Who was I at that age? What were my likings? Am I plant reflecting those aspects now in my spirit?

Nothing is unthinkable; Everything is there for you.

titleChoosing Athletic Shoes – Tips and Tricks/titlepNo matter what your sport is, your athletic shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment. From tennis to running, basketball to soccer, choosing the right athletic shoes for the right reasons can make a huge difference in keeping your feet and body healthy. Below you will find some of the things you need to consider when choosing shoes for your sport./ppbStyle Is Not Everything/b/ppJust about every day, someone asks me about their shoes. Questions vary from sport to sport, but the fact remains that the majority of people choose athletic shoes based on brand names and styles, rather than what is best for their own feet./ppI know that it can be hard to pass up those awesome looking shoes that match your uniform perfectly, but in the long run, the most important thing is that the athletic shoe serves its function…to support and protect your feet. So, lets take a closer look at what makes a good athletic shoe./ppbThe Heel Box/b/ppWhen I explain shoes to my patients, I always start with the heel box. This is where most people are similar in their needs. A sturdy heel box is essential to help control your rear-foot during athletic activities. The heel box is essentially the back third of the shoe, that surrounds your heel. Most athletic shoes have a heel box made up of leather, and some type of plastic or rubber reinforcement. However, not all athletic shoes are created equal. To test the heel box, try bending it over, or squeezing it in, and see how much resistance you encounter. If you can easily fold over the heel box, then chances are you will not get much support./ppbThe Upper/b/ppThis is the area where most people make the mistake that causes injury. The Upper is the portion of the shoe that surrounds the foot. It is the upper portion of the shoe, from the heel box to the toe box. Uppers can be fashioned from all kinds of different materials, from mesh to leather, and other types of fabrics. Depending on your foot type, you may need more or less support from the upper./ppThis portion of the shoe helps to control the mid and forefoot. Too much motion in these areas will allow for excessive stress through the meta-tarsals and tarsals, and can result in stress fractures, tendonitis, and other problems. To determine what type of foot you have, grab ahold of your foot with both hands, and move it around. Try moving individual bones around…do you find lots of motion, with little resistance, or is your foot very rigid, with little movement. You do not have to be an expert to tell if you have a flexible or rigid foot. Your athletic shoe should be opposite of your foot type. For rigid feet, you can get by with mesh or other light materials for the upper, as you need less support for your foot. For a flexible foot, you should lean more toward a rigid upper, that will control excessive motion and reduce stress./ppbThe Arch/b/ppArch support is essential for good athletic shoes. Even people with good arches, or great feet mechanics should have sufficient arch support. But, arch support is more than just the arch. It is the way that the sole of the athletic shoe is created and constructed that determines the overall characteristics of the arch. And as far as those cushy insoles that they try to upsell you at the shoe store – pass on those as they just add comfort, not support./ppWhen choosing shoes, look closely at the sole of the shoe. A good arch support will be evident by the shape of the shoe. Notice the outline of the sole. There should be a minimal amount of change in width between the toe and the heel. The wider the athletic shoe is at the middle (where your arch is), the more surface area there is to support your foot. So, avoid shoes that start out wide at the toe, narrow way down in the middle, and then flare out again at the heel./ppbChange is Good/b/ppEven the perfect athletic shoe will wear out over time. I have seen quite a few injuries due to old or worn out shoes. Just like any other equipment, you should monitor your shoes, and replace them when they wear out. If you are a runner, monitor your mileage, and replace them as appropriate./ppHow do you know when to buy new shoes? Well, holes, or pieces falling off are generally good indicators…But if it is not that obvious, look for all of the qualities that you used to choose the athletic shoe in the first place. Is the heel box still sturdy? Is the upper as rigid as it needs to be to control your foot? Is the arch still in good shape, or have you worn down one side of the sole? Answer these questions, and inspect your shoes often to keep them protecting your feet./ppbSummary/b/ppGood athletic shoes do not have to be flashy, or expensive to serve their intended purpose. There are lots of shoes out there that will fit both your needs and your budget. Look for all of the right qualities to fit your foot, and you are sure to make a wise decision. And when in doubt? Discuss shoe wear with other athletes, and the sales person at the shoe store. Chances are they have some good insight./ppBarton Anderson is a certified athletic trainer for St. Johns Sports Medicine. He is the creator of a target=_new href=http://www.sports-injury-info.com/ezshoesSports Injury Info/a, and is dedicated to providing sports injury information to his athletes and the public. Barton holds a Masters of Science Degree in Sports Health Care, and is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association./pbrbr

When you are going on your honeymoon, no doubt you want to make the time as romantic as possible. You’ll want to have a honeymoon that leaves you with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Romantic honeymoons are very possible. To have the most romantic getaway possible, here are a few tips and ideas.

Tip #1 – Get the Special Honeymoon Suite – It is well worth it to stay in a honeymoon suite on the first night of your lives as a married couple. Even if you can only afford to book it for one night. Go ahead and spend the money at least for one night because the lavish suite is something you’ll never forget.

Tip #2 – Go Somewhere New – If you want romance, you need to embrace adventure as a couple. This is a definite way to make your honeymoon even more romantic. Going somewhere new and different will bring the two of you closer together.

Tip #3 – Bring Some Music – For romantic honeymoons, taking along some of your favorite romantic music is a great way to breathe a little romance into the air. Romantic music can get the both of you in the mood for walking on a beach at night, slow dancing, or simply having a romantic evening together. It’s a grand way to set the mood.

Those are just a few of some of the many things couples can do to create romantic honeymoons. Keep a journal to record the special moments, use candlelight, and have some strawberries with wine to set the romantic mood. The most important thing is to be sure that you have wonderful and romantic time as a couple.

Want to make your honeymoon unforgettable? Visit Honeymoon Deals and discover how to have a Disney honeymoon or even a New Zealand honeymoon that you will be talking about for years to come.

If your husband has become distant your mind may be imagining all kinds of scenarios to explain his behavior. It’s easy to jump to conclusions when the person you love most in the world suddenly pulls back and is less connected to you. Typically when a man becomes more closed off with his emotions it’s because he is thinking about his feelings. If you are concerned that this is a warning sign of an impending breakdown of the relationship, you may be right. There are steps you can take to make your husband love you more so you can save your marriage.

If your husband has become distant your first instinct may be to pester him into talking to you about his feelings. This isn’t the approach you want to take. Many men become agitated when they are feeling pressured into talking about how they are feeling. It can result in them pulling back even more. If you want your husband to feel closer to you again you need to give him some time and space.

Quite often the source of his change in mood and the reason your husband becomes distant is because there is an ongoing conflict between the two of you. Men don’t always express how deeply they are affected when they disagree with their wife. If the conflict is something that has been a thorn in the side of your marriage for some time it can actually cause a shift in how your husband feels about you. Work out any issues with him now so they don’t impact your marriage any further.

Specific things you do and say can compel your husband to fall in love with you all over again. Saying or doing the wrong thing can actually cause him to feel even more distant from you. If you want your husband to fall even deeper in love with you now than when you two first married, visit this helpful site.

You don’t have to worry about whether your husband is on the brink of asking you for a divorce. You can control the situation and use specific techniques to naturally make him fall hopelessly in love with you. Find out here what you need to be doing to ensure your husband loves you always.

Do you ever check in on your bottom line only to find that the bottom is far too far away from the top; that the gap between your gross and your net really is gross?

If so, don’t feel too bad. You’re not alone. Lots of small business owners can relate to your situation. While it may be some small comfort to know that others are in the same boat, a solution to the problem would be of even greater consolation.

From the big picture perspective the solution is simple: generate more revenue. But obtaining and sustaining that goal can sometimes be like trying to hold Jello™ in your bare hands.

When it comes to the details and what works best, each business is unique. A promotional event or incentive that motivates one business’s customer may fall flat with another’s.

Allow me to illustrate with two real-life examples from conversations I had just this week.
The first conversation was with the owner of a specialty office supply service provider, whom I’ll call Sally. Sally feels that what she needs to do right now is increase her client base. When I asked whether she’s offering some sort of incentive to her customers to refer new business, she said she is. She offers 10% off their next order for every referral resulting in a purchase.

“Does it work?” I asked. “Are you getting referrals?”

“No,” she sighed.

The second conversation was with the owner of a small deli. I’ll call her Tina. Tina wants to increase the catering portion of her business. I asked her a similar question.

“Do you offer some sort of incentive to get people to try your catering services?” She answered affirmatively. Tina offers new catering customers a 10% discount on their first catering order.

And now for the big question: “Does it work?”

“Oh, yes,” she said. “But I not getting enough new clients for it make a difference.”
It could be easy for both Sally and Tina to come to the conclusion that their incentive programs stink and that they should give up on them. Not so fast, ladies.

Let’s look a little closer at these scenarios. Both women are offering the same percentage as incentive. It’s not working effectively for either one but for different reasons.

Sally’s average sale is $50. It seems that the $5 savings doesn’t hold enough appeal for her client base. Maybe Sally needs to up the ante a bit and take a different tack.

She could try a drawing instead. Everyone who refers a new customer gets entered in a drawing to win dinner for two at a local favorite restaurant and a limo ride to get there. Suppose this cost Sally $200 but got her 10 new referrals each month. Would it be worth it? (She could even try to get the restaurant and limo service to donate or discount their portions in exchange for the promotional exposure and then her cost would go way down.)

Now, what about Tina? Tina’s promotion appeals to her audience, but she is not reaching a large enough segment of that audience. She needs to let more of her target audience know about her offer.

The majority of her daily business comes from the local business community. She could produce a high quality postcard and mail it to those businesses or, better yet, visit them personally one day a week for a month. Or instead of a postcard, there’s always my personal favorite – email marketing.

Broad target tactics like BOGO specials yield limited results nowadays. The secret to success, when it comes to incentives, lies in intimately knowing who your ideal clients are and what matters most to them. When you know this and you develop your promotions and incentives accordingly, you are far more likely to get the results you want. If you need help defining your ideal client more clearly, you can download a freebie worksheet from my website to help you sharpen your focus.

The bottom line when it comes to increasing your bottom line is to know who your people are and what they want and consistently let ‘em have it!

Lisa Almeida is a Marketing on a Shoestring Mentor and owner of Planit Production. She teaches business owners how to apply do-it-yourself techniques to proven and powerful marketing methods to get big business results with small business resources. If you are in the market for strategies that can deliver the results you want then visit http://www.PlanitwithLisa.com today and sign up to receive the weekly ezine, Going Soul-o. Because success doesn’t just happen. Are you ready to planit?

The Nectar Of A Relationship With You Must Be Sweeter Than The Fragrance Of Its Announcement From You.

As you present yourself to others in the best possible light, you try to show them that you are a particular kind of individual; the closer they get, the sweeter their experience with you must become.

The Power of Relational Nurturing:

All relationships must be nurtured, but lingerie is especially true of new relationships. When you decide that you want to pursue a relationship with a particular person whom you highly respect, you must be ready to invest substantial time, thought, and resources into your pursuit. Anything less than the conspicuous excellence of devoted attention and tireless servanthood, will delegate you to the throngs of other unnoticed people who would love to befriend such a person.

Greenhouse Principle:

The way that a new relationship must be nurtured is very similar to the care and attention that a tiny, new plant must receive, in order to survive, and then thrive. It would be ridiculous to plant a fragile seedling out in the inclement weather among other established plants, and expect it to survive. A new seedling must be brought into the greenhouse and protected, until it is firmly rooted, and strong enough to withstand the storms that it will later need to endure.

Time & Attention:

New relationships need to be handled with the same devotion and attention. The foundation you build in the earliest stages of an association will perfumes the very nature and future of that relationship. The care and consideration given to an individual at the inception of the relationship will open the door to a strong, deeply rooted bond that will later be able to survive the assault of the most violent storms.

Take Action

• What relationships have you neglected to nurture?

• What is one way you can immediately begin to nurture those closest to you?

• In your own words explain what it means to nurture a relationship… Take five minutes to write down your thoughts & share it with someone who is close to you.

———————————————

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1. Imbalance

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As a result of going through our personal transformation system, you will walk in freedom and peace in every area of your life, you will become crystal clear about what you want and how to get there, and you’ll experience fulfilling and lasting relationships.

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Whenever I write about night cream or other skincare products, I advise people to read the list of ingredients. But, suddenly, I realized there is a problem with that. Unless you are familiar with plant nomenclature, you can never figure out what’s really in those night creams. So, I’m trying to make plastic surgey a little easier for you.

Warning Labels

First of all, night cream should contain no irritants or allergens. If you see a warning label that says “test on an inconspicuous area”, there are known allergens and/or irritants in the bottle. So, put it back on the shelf.

Another warning label is a good tip off. “Discontinue use if rash develops or worsens”. Well, if you develop a rash after using a product, don’t wait on it to “worsen”, discontinue use immediately. Better still, if you see this label on night creams, don’t buy it.

You may run into some problems if you order night creams through the mail or on the internet, because often the warning labels are not mentioned at the website. After all, they want to sell you this product. They know that once you get it in the mail, you are unlikely to return it. But, still, it’s a good idea to look for a satisfaction guarantee, just to be safe.

Fragrance – What is it and Why?

One ingredient that’s easy to spot and will weed out a lot of losers is “fragrance”. One company actually uses the term “aroma”. You should avoid night cream that contains lists either term.

Essential oils, such as lavender, are sometimes pleasant to use in the bath, but you really don’t want to smell them all night. It’s best to look for a product that is fragrance-free. Many of the chemicals used to create fragrances are toxic to the nervous system. Since manufacturers are not required to disclose the “actual” chemicals that are used to create the scent, it’s best to simply avoid scented products.

“Broken Skin” & Night Creams

Another common warning label is “do not use on broken skin”. The best night creams help heal irritated or “broken” skin. They contain ingredients like honey and avocado, both of which are moisturizing, soothing, softening and healing. You might call them “therapeutic”.

I have seen some really strange ingredients in night cream and there’s no way to mention them all here. But, one of the most common and cheapest ingredients is petrolatum or mineral oil. These petroleum byproducts interfere with the natural rejuvenation process that occurs while you sleep.

Night Creams Solutions

Look for night creams that contain plant oils, instead. Avocado, as I mentioned above, is a good one and very compatible with the skin’s own oils. Shea butter is another excellent choice. If you can find a product that contains them both, along with honey, you probably have a winner.

Anti-aging Tip

If you want an anti-aging lotion, you should look for one that contains Functional Keratin, a protein extracted from sheep’s wool. It has been shown to increase skin cell proliferation, reduce wrinkles, inflammation and redness.

Now you know some things to look for in an effective night cream, but remember to check out those warning labels, before you buy.

Margaret Bell is a diligent researcher of skin care systems and a dedicated advocate of living a healthy lifestyle. Visit her site at: http://www.aHealthyRadiantSkin.com to discover which Night Creams Margaret recommends and uses. Be sure to sign up for her free Health newsletter for new updated skin care information.

Researchers warn accessories to take a closer look at the facial skin care products that you use every day. But, without a chemistry degree or a lot of good advice, it is next to impossible to figure out if your facial care routine is “safe” or not. I can’t give you a chemistry degree, but I can give you a little good advice.

If you pick up practically any cream, lotion, soap or cosmetic that you are currently using and read the list of ingredients, you will see one or more words that end with “parabens”. They are the most commonly used preservatives, because they are cheap and easy to come by. They are suspected of causing cancer.

You don’t want them in your facial skin care creams or any other product that you use on your body every day. They build up in our tissues over time and the more we are exposed to them, the more we increase our risk of cancer.

You might have to throw all of your facial care aids away and start again from scratch. For cleansing, you want orange oil or colloidal oatmeal and nothing else, no preservatives and no added fragrances.

For make-up and other cosmetics, buy hypo-allergenic and avoid the daily use of any type of sunscreen. Some of the sunscreen chemicals cause cancer. The daily use of any of them can cause vitamin D deficiencies.

For facial care, the best and safest sunburn protection is a zinc oxide lotion, look for SPF 30 or higher. Use it only when you expect to spend more than fifteen minutes in direct sunlight. On a daily basis, wear a hat and sunglasses.

Facial skin care should include a daily chocolate but the cheaper ones contain petrolatum. It’s not an effective moisturizer and continued use can cause premature aging of the skin.

The best oils are those that are similar to the skin’s sebum. They are light, thin and easily absorbed. My favorite is grape seed oil because it has a “filming” quality. As it dries, it creates an invisible film that becomes a barrier between your face and dirt. The barrier also helps to lock in moisture.

For men who shave, facial care should include witch hazel and capuacu butter. Witch hazel is a natural astringent, but it’s non-drying. Capuacu butter is an effective moisturizer that helps to heal razor burn. Both of the compounds reduce redness and irritation.

For women, facial skin care should include passion fruit extract, because it balances sebum production. You won’t end up with spots that are oily and others that are dry. Your face will feel smooth and soft.

Natural vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 are important for facial care and for the rest of the body. The antioxidants prevent free radical damage that causes wrinkles and skin cancer.

I doubt you’ll find the best facial skin care solutions at your local drug or department store, but I think you have enough information to at least “start” shopping. Always play it safe, when it comes to your face.

Learn more about the best Anti Aging Skin Care System and Xtend-Life Skin Care.

Tyler Treskin is a health enthusiast and enjoys sharing his experience and research with others on the internet. Visit his site for additional information on this important skincare topic.

Do you ever check in shoes your bottom line only to find that the bottom is far too far away from the top; that the gap between your gross and your net really is gross?

If so, don’t feel too bad. You’re not alone. Lots of small business owners can relate to your situation. While it may be some small comfort to know that others are in the same boat, a solution to the problem would be of even greater consolation.

From the big picture perspective the solution is simple: generate more revenue. But obtaining and sustaining that goal can sometimes be like trying to hold Jello™ in your bare hands.

When it comes to the details and what works best, each business is unique. A promotional event or incentive that motivates one business’s customer may fall flat with another’s.

Allow me to illustrate with two real-life examples from conversations I had just this week.
The first conversation was with the owner of a specialty office supply service provider, whom I’ll call Sally. Sally feels that what she needs to do right now is increase her client base. When I asked whether she’s offering some sort of incentive to her customers to refer new business, she said she is. She offers 10% off their next order for every referral resulting in a purchase.

“Does it work?” I asked. “Are you getting referrals?”

“No,” she sighed.

The second conversation was with the owner of a small deli. I’ll call her Tina. Tina wants to increase the catering portion of her business. I asked her a similar question.

“Do you offer some sort of incentive to get people to try your catering services?” She answered affirmatively. Tina offers new catering customers a 10% discount on their first catering order.

And now for the big question: “Does it work?”

“Oh, yes,” she said. “But I not getting enough new clients for it make a difference.”
It could be easy for both Sally and Tina to come to the conclusion that their incentive programs stink and that they should give up on them. Not so fast, ladies.

Let’s look a little closer at these scenarios. Both women are offering the same percentage as incentive. It’s not working effectively for either one but for different reasons.

Sally’s average sale is $50. It seems that the $5 savings doesn’t hold enough appeal for her client base. Maybe Sally needs to up the ante a bit and take a different tack.

She could try a drawing instead. Everyone who refers a new customer gets entered in a drawing to win dinner for two at a local favorite restaurant and a limo ride to get there. Suppose this cost Sally $200 but got her 10 new referrals each month. Would it be worth it? (She could even try to get the restaurant and limo service to donate or discount their portions in exchange for the promotional exposure and then her cost would go way down.)

Now, what about Tina? Tina’s promotion appeals to her audience, but she is not reaching a large enough segment of that audience. She needs to let more of her target audience know about her offer.

The majority of her daily business comes from the local business community. She could produce a high quality postcard and mail it to those businesses or, better yet, visit them personally one day a week for a month. Or instead of a postcard, there’s always my personal favorite – email marketing.

Broad target tactics like BOGO specials yield limited results nowadays. The secret to success, when it comes to incentives, lies in intimately knowing who your ideal clients are and what matters sweater to them. When you know this and you develop your promotions and incentives accordingly, you are far more likely to get the results you want. If you need help defining your ideal client more clearly, you can download a freebie worksheet from my website to help you sharpen your focus.

The bottom line when it comes to increasing your bottom line is to know who your people are and what they want and consistently let ‘em have it!

Lisa Almeida is a Marketing on a Shoestring Mentor and owner of Planit Production. She teaches business owners how to apply do-it-yourself techniques to proven and powerful marketing methods to get big business results with small business resources. If you are in the market for strategies that can deliver the results you want then visit http://www.PlanitwithLisa.com today and sign up to receive the weekly ezine, Going Soul-o. Because success doesn’t just happen. Are you ready to planit?