The Radiance of Knowing

The Affinion Group, a global leader in affinity marketing, has been awarded the esteemed ISO 27001 certification, the highest international standard for information security management in the world.

The group was lauded for their high information security practices and policies. Due to the global affinity marketing firm’s dedication to shield its clients from identity theft and scammers, the Affinion Group is the only company in the industry and one of the 50 companies in the United States that was given the prestigious ISO 27001 Certification. Only 4,100 companies all over the world hold the same recognition.

Apart from the Affinion Group, other U.S. organizations that share the same commendation are Sun Microsystems, Bechtel Corp., Reuters America, The World Bank, Citigroup Technology, and Xerox Corp. among others.

The ISO Certification establishes Affinion’s longstanding commitment in seeking innovations that would further improve information security and reduce the incidences of identity theft and scams in their industry. Robert G. Rooney, Vice-President of the Affinion Group, stated the company strives to “raise the bar for the practices in our industry.”

An ISO certification indicates that a company has put into practice an information security management system that surpasses even the strictest security standards on a global scale.

The following are several factors that contributed to Affinion’s ISO Certification:

• Implementation of best practice across all information security domains;
• Putting up of a strong security outline that entails operation, monitoring, review, maintenance and development;
• Systematic management of incidents with clear and timely escalation paths.

With its ISO certification, the Affinion Group has a strong foundation from where they could base their information security framework for 2008.

Operating for 35 years, the Affinion Group continues to enhance the value of its partners’ customer relationships by strengthening and marketing valuable loyalty, membership, checking account, insurance and other compelling products and services.

View the source press release from the Affinion Group.

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Last month when I saw my friend Carol she was running off to her job, with a plate of PTA cookies in one hand and a laptop case in the other.

She look stressed.

So imagine my surprise when I ran into her yesterday morning wearing jeans and looking rested.

I asked if she’d taken the day off work and she said she’d given up the commute to work at home. She told me she’d never trusted the work-at-home offers but had actually found a great legitimate home based businesses.

She is a travel agent and works her own schedule, spending time with the kids and enjoying life.

And, as I told her, looking fabulous.

The thing I wanted more than anything for the last five years was to leave the commute behind me and retire.

But neither my income nor my savings would allow me to do that.

So I went to work finding legitimate home based businesses. After a few months of searching I found that I would be able to work at home and supplement my retirement income.

I set up a small home office, began writing part-time, and am collecting a retirement check.

Besides the fact that I can now spend time with my grandchildren, garden, and travel, I found that I love the work I do at home and am enjoying being a writer.

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When it comes to sustainable energy, solar power is the buzzword of our times; when most people think of energy efficiency, of being ‘eco-friendly’, or of ‘going green’, the first port of call, it seems, is often solar energy.

Within the field of solar power, though, there are many different systems and designs. First, the most common.

Photovoltaics

This is the type of solar energy conversion most readily associated with the term ’solar power’. Photovoltaics is the use of solar cells - light absorbent panels - to garner energy from the sun, to be converted into electricity.

Indeed it was the first type of solar power; the first cell was constructed in the 1880s. Photovoltaics did not reach a mass audience, though, until the 1960s and ’70s.

With its use of solar cells, photovoltaics is the solar energy system that is most commonly used in households.

Solar Thermal Power

These systems can be divided into low, medium or high temperature thermal collectors. At the higher end of the spectrum are power towers and parabolic troughs.

The first is a tall tower that absorbs heat reflected from an array of mirrors placed around its base. The second is a collection of mirrors curved into a trough, with an absorbent strip running through the middle. The angles of the trough mean that heat is reflected from the mirrors on the outer rims onto the absorber in the centre.

Of the systems deemed as low temperature collectors, the most notable are solar chimneys and solar air conditioning.

These are used mostly in households. A solar chimney - which is linked directly to the process of solar air conditioning - is heated by the sun from the outside, and creates heat for the air on the inside. In a similar process, solar air conditioning uses a suction system to create cold air at the base of the chimney, for use in the building below it.

Thin Film Solar Panels

A new development in technology means that ‘thin film’ - material that can be as thin as a nanometre - is being developed into a method of utilising solar energy through photovoltaics.

It could make for a revolutionary step, simply because the materials are cheaper and can be mass produced. If the developments are a success, ‘thin film’ could replace traditional heavyweight solar panels as the default platform for photovoltaics.

Solar Dye

In its early stages of development, the concept behind a solar dye is that - with the chemical capacity for light or heat absorption - the dye can be sprayed on to surfaces.

As a main benefit, then, solar dye technology allows for easy transportation and relatively low cost. It also appeals to a number of people because it does not involve the installation of equipment; simply spray selected surfaces and areas.

So there are many different types of solar energy out there, and these are just the main contenders. There are more, and - as solar power becomes more reliable, more cost efficient - more will develop.

Until then, have fun with these.

Chris Woolfrey is the solar power expert at EcoSwitch The environmental social network.

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Multiply Your Sales Through Affiliate Programs By Pradeep Aggarwal

What could be better than exceeding your personal sales goals for a given month or year? How about doubling, tripling or even more of you sales goal for the month? This is exactly what affiliates can do for you. The amount of growth potential through affiliates is unlimited; the more affiliates you have the more money you can make, after all, if Sam Walton tried to run every Wal-Mart store, he obviously wouldn’t be very successful. You must realize that for maximum growth you cannot do it alone. Think of the success of companies such as Avon or Home Interiors. Their success is based on two things; a great product and excellent affiliate programs.

To attract affiliates to your company you should make it worth their time. Offering one percent of sales, is not an attractive offer, the higher the commission that you are able to offer your affiliates the more affiliates will be tempted to join your team. You should also provide your affiliates with the tools that they will need to successfully market your product such as banner ads, articles, and anything else that will help them to better market the product. You should provide the affiliates with updated product information through newsletters, new promotional campaigns and other things to motivate and inform the affiliates.

You can choose to run your affiliate program in a few different ways, both of which are beneficial to your business. A one-tier affiliate program allows you to generally offer a larger commission and pays on one level. The affiliate will receive a predetermined amount for each sale. Using a two-tier affiliate program, affiliates are paid on two different levels. This is done by allowing the affiliates to recruit others to sell under them. In this situation, the top level affiliate would receive a slightly larger commission than the recruit or second level affiliate. For example if the top level seller makes 20% of the sale, then she/he would make 15% giving the second level affiliate the 5%.

Setting up the affiliate program can also be done in two different ways. One way is to do it yourself through an affiliate tracking software. This software will provide you with a way to track affiliate sales as well as allow the affiliates to view their progress. The downside to this option is that you are responsible for making payments. You can also choose to hire an affiliate tracking company to do all the work for you. These companies will allow the use of credit cards and completely run the affiliate program from billing customers, paying affiliates, and also pay you. This is a great option for the busy business owner or the beginning business owner and it is affordable as most affiliate tracking companies charge a small one time fee. However you choose to run your affiliate program it is sure to increase profits for your business. Note from the author: ——————————————————- Stone Evans Will Personally Build A Money Making Website Just For You That’s 100% Ready To Take Orders And Pull In Massive Residual Profits Today! Get All The Exciting Details And Signup Now At: http://www.Internet-successkey.com/pips.html

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Creating clear doable goals for your business will help you
achieve success for 2006. I have a 14 year old daughter who
said she wants to be a neurosurgeon so she concentrates
on getting straight As in her studies each year. So far she
has succeeded.

Well, you may not want to become a neurosurgeon but it
illustrates the point of having a clear purpose, then being
passionate and persistent about it until it is achieved.

7 Steps for Achieving Your Business Goals for 2006

1. Create goals that are doable, action oriented and
achievable.

Where do you want your business to be by the end of 2006?

By the end of December 2006 you want to look back at say
that you successfully accomplished all your goals. This
will not only make you feel proud but will give you a great
sense of accomplishment and also boost your confidence.

2. Write down your goals on paper - This makes your goals
more substantial instead of having them floating around
aimlessly in your head. Place this paper near your computer
or somewhere where you will look at it every day or at
least once a week. This will ensure you are on the right
track.

3. Write goals in the present tense i.e. “I will write,
publish and market an e-book by the end of July”. This kind
of positive affirmation gives you a definite determination
that will help attract the people, places, and situations
you need to achieve that goal.

4. Picture yourself achieving these goals - when my wife
and I wanted to purchase our new car, we cut out nice shiny
pictures of it and placed them on the wall of the office.
Create a perfect picture of your goals and refer to it
often. This adds a visual impact to achieving your desired
goal.

5. Break down your goals into simple steps - you need to
create simple steps on how you will achieve your goals. You
could even create a flexible timeline when you plan on
completing each goal.

6. Take action - setting goals is worth nothing if you
don’t take action, so don’t procrastinate. Most people fail
in this area because they get so overwhelmed with either
the number of goals they set, the size of them, or
paralysis from analysis. Don’t over analyze each goal so it
paralyzes you from taking action.

7. Surround yourself with like minded people - talk to
other people who are upbeat and positive about achieving
their own goals as well as yours. Personally I get together
with my wife, so we can support each other on the path to
making our goals come true.

Your goal setting for 2006 can truly be successful if you
establish a clear purpose for fulfilling them, being passionate
about them, persevering until they are accomplished and taking
action daily.

Herman Drost is the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW)
owner and author of http://www.iSiteBuild.com
Affordable Web Site Design and Web Hosting.

Subscribe to his “Marketing Tips” newsletter for more original in-depth articles at: http://www.isitebuild.com/articles

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When you read the glossies have you ever wondered how these real-life effects are produced? It is the result of technology, digital printing to be precise. Digital printing is a process which uses electronic files to create prints with laser or inkjet printers.

Digital printing is the new-generation process which requires a minimal press setup. The print proofing, processes, and so on are cost-effective, and you can even do “short runs” or small print orders. Digital printing has many advantages. It produces less waste, uses fewer hazardous chemicals, and is comparatively environmentally friendly.

By using digital printing you have no limits -your document can have paper-thin images or huge panoramas, with sophisticated color reproduction and clarity. The printing industry has adopted digital printing in order to keep up with developments where designers, artists, architects, and draftsmen are all creating and reproducing their work digitally. Page compositions, type setting, and graphic design are all executed using digital technology. Digital files are easy to transmit, and files can be sent electronically to any digital printer at any corner of the world within seconds.

Digital printing opens up many new vistas. It is used for printing textiles, signage, photographic images, portraits and other paintings on canvas, brochures, letterheads, envelopes, flyer, annual reports, business documents, creation of pop art, and the reproduction of images on transparent films.

One must maximize digital printing effects by creating a perfect design. Remember: what you see on the computer screen is what you will get when printed. Choose a paper taking into consideration its weight, absorbent surface, opacity, graininess, and color. Choose the right kind of font, and think about aspects like the size and color of the font versus the color of the background. Consider carefully the overall balance in the layout of the page, use of margins and spaces, and other aspects that go into the creation of a professional and perfect design.

Digital gives the same result as offset printing, at a lower cost. The turnaround time is quick and one can print any number of copies.

Printing Services provides detailed information on Printing Services, Scanning And Printing Services, Digital Printing Services, Business Card Printing Services and more. Printing Services is affiliated with Check Printing Company.

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Meetings are as diverse in their purpose and structure as the speakers who are on the platform at these meetings. They can be international, national, regional. They can be internal meetings, external meetings, sales meetings, client conferences, user conferences, annual conferences or leadership retreats.

Once you have determined the purpose, theme and structure of your meeting you will have a better idea of your speaker needs. The following descriptions will help you define exactly how you utilize a speaker’s services:

Keynote Speaker ( keynote - the main idea or theme).
In public speaking the word keynote refers to the principal underlying theme of a larger idea hence the topic that a keynote speaker addresses usually relates to the reason or purpose behind a meeting.

The keynote address or keynote speech:
An opening keynote speaker is bought in to set the underlying tone and summarize the core message or most important revelation of the event.
A closing keynote speaker will be engaged to end a conference on a high note.
If an event is held over a longer period of time, it is not unusual to have a different keynote speaker for each day of the event. .
Often referred to as “featured keynote speaker”

General Session Speaker

A well chosen general session speaker can contribute a lot to a successful meeting and help to make it dynamic, productive, informative and memorable. Adding good quality audio, video, lighting, special effects, custom stage sets and theatrical scenery can also help to create an environment of energy and excitement Organize general sessions where the attendees can actively learn and take away new skills they can apply in their organizations and in their lives.

Plenary Speaker

When a speaker is referred to as a plenary speaker that person is often from within an organization, the same industry or a related industry. As opposed to a professional speaker or independent expert on a particular subject who is bought in to be a marquee keynote speaker.

Plenary Sessions

These are often concurrent sessions that focus on issues important to an industry sector or a particular aspect of a practice applicable to all industries. Mini-plenary sessions are usually open to all registrants.

Breakout Session Speaker

Typically a breakout session speaker is not on the main platform. A breakout session is a more focused session that is typically one hour to 2 hours in length. Often breakout sessions are offered simultaneously in different meeting rooms and attendees decide which sessions that wish to attend. A main stage keynote speaker is sometimes asked to give a breakout session that immediately follows the keynote address. This provides an opportunity for attendees to participate, interact and learn more - they do not get this opportunity when they sit and listen to a keynote address.

Written by Yvon Douran, President of Keynote Resource your preferred bureau for keynote speakers, motivational speakers, celebrity speakers and corporate entertainment at http://www.keynoteresource.com

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In 1919 Charles Ponzi invited business men and women to invest in his business and promised to double their money. Returns were guaranteed. Charles Ponzi recruited new investors and used their funds to pay earlier investors. Unsustainable, the business eventually collapsed leaving a great number of people with nothing to show for the funds they had committed. Charles Ponzi was imprisoned and from that day, scams that mimicked this approach became known as ‘ponzi schemes’.

In more recent times, many of these types of schemes go by the name of ‘Doublers’, ‘Triplers’, “Bubbles”, “Cyclers”, “Gifting” and other variations. When this article uses the term ‘Doubler’ it is referring to a scheme that operates in the same way as a ‘ponzi’ scheme. However, this article is not suggesting that all schemes including the name ‘Doubler’ are ponzi schemes.

If you have joined, or are considering joining, a money doubler program, study it carefully to see if it operates as a ponzi scheme.

Some ponzi schemes provide you with a product or service in exchange for your investment in a bid to achieve the appearance of legitimacy. Don’t be fooled! If a program promises all investors a complete return on their investment without limiting the number of applicants, this program is almost certain to collapse.

Legitimate enterprises will limit the number of investors or require members to achieve their own sales. A legitimate enterprise will never guarantee a profit.

Illegal

The laws of the country you live in may prohibit running, or investing in, a ponzi scheme. Owning a ponzi scheme, investing in a ponzi scheme or permitting a ponzi scheme to be promoted through your website or advertising network, may be illegal.

Remember, ponzi schemes rarely use the word ‘ponzi’ in their name. ‘Doubler’, ‘Tripler’, ‘Cycler’ are all common euphemisms for this kind of operation. Before investing in any program, examine it carefully to see how income will be generated.

If you knowingly involve yourself with a ponzi scheme, you run the risk of losing your investment, damaging your reputation, or even legal action.

Immoral

The modern Internet Marketer may well be familiar with money doubler programs and how they operate.

Some Internet Marketers have written ill-advised articles that demonstrate the best way to profit from Doublers without losing your investment. Usually this runs along the lines of ‘join a program early and withdraw your funds before the program collapses’, effectively using Doublers as a form of gambling.

Putting aside the obvious financial risks of such an approach, this view selfishly ignores the large number of people who will lose their investment from the program.

When a Doubler program collapses, everyone who invested last loses their investment. In some cases this can affect hundreds or even thousands of people. Sadly, many of these will assume that it was the individual program, rather than the concept, that was to blame and will try again with a new program.

It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to work out that if you put any number in a calculator and multiply the result by 2 over and over, the number grows exponentially. Even the most avidly promoted Doubler will collapse when the number of new investors required to sustain the program becomes unachievable.

If you are tempted to speculate on these programs, please remember this one important point:

The money you receive comes ultimately from the people that lose their investment.

And, unlike gambling, many of these people were unaware that their investment was at risk.

If you involve yourself with a Doubler program with full knowledge of how they work, you are giving your approval to a fraudulent operation that is tantamount to theft.

Would you steal your neighbours television set because they accidentally left their front door unlocked? Would you knowingly purchase stolen goods?

If your answer is ‘Yes’ then this article probably means nothing to you. If the answer is ‘No’ then ask yourself why you would give your approval to a Doubler program?

If you are intelligent enough to understand how Doublers work, you are intelligent enough to make an honest income online.

Build your own website. Provide an online service. Sell affiliate products. There are a vast number of legitimate business opportunities available to you without resorting to the underhand tactics used by operators of Doubler programs.

If this article can persuade even a few people to leave these programs alone, then it will have been worthwhile.

About The Author

An initiative has been started to spread this message. If you agree with the content of this article, please link back to the original version of this article at http://www.thenettle.com/doublers/truth.html.

If you would like to Help Spread The Truth About Doublers, plese click here: http://www.thenettle.com/doublers/truth2.html for a variety of methods that can help me to promote this article. Please use as many of them as possible.

You can keep an eye on the campaigns progress on my blog at http://www.thenettle.com/blog/

This article was written by David Congreave. David lives and works in Leeds, UK with his wife Leanne.

david@thenettle.com

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The Austin Business Journal reported about a firm that “buys and resells merchandise that has been closed out, overstocked or discontinued…to a wide range of retail outlets, from mom-and-pop shops to multinational chains such as Wal-Mart..”.

Businesses everywhere struggle with changing buying habits, business costs and government regulations.

Fads in clothing, toys, electronics, computers, furniture styles and eating habits change. Consequently, new unsold merchandise takes up warehouse space and ties up capitol.

Surplus liquidators buy inventories of unwanted, obsolete or excess merchandise, often as low at .10 on the dollar, providing a cash injection for the seller. This merchandise is then resold at prices substantially below wholesale. One way to source surplus merchandise is to search the Directory of U.S. Importers and Exporters, available in many public libraries.

Purchased in small quantities these products can be retailed or sold at auctions for substantial profit. And for the savvy surplus finder a substantial payday can result.

Dr. B James C Bruno

All Rights Reserved 2003

About The Author

The author owned and operated a wholesale surplus merchandise business for more than 11 years.

http://www.surplusopportunity.com

info@surplusopportunity.com

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There’s a rumor going around that the Mutual Funds are broken and just can’t work anymore, for a multitude of reasons. They’ve tried index funds, but these, too, have been less than impressive since they hit the street a few years back, and are now being enhanced… what does that say? Here are some new and/or forgotten ideas that can get your investment program back on track:

1. Abandon the popular averages: Over the past six years, all of the major averages are grossly negative or just beginning to get back toward their best past levels. At the same time, the NYSE advance/decline line has been extremely positive. Additionally, the last time the averages were up, issue breadth was totally negative.

2. And the basics of investing, again, are what? Most investors confuse Quality with analyst expectations and think that Diversification means getting one of every product type that’s out there. In fact, they are basic risk minimization tools that every investor needs to use.

3. Appreciate the power of income: Base Income just has to grow every year, period, for a person to have any hope of keeping up with inflation. That’s right, growing Market Value is inflationary… particularly with respect to hat size, and income paves the road to retirement income.

For more information on asset management please contact Nigel Walter chairman of Connaught.

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