My 2017 Quarterly Goals for My Freelance Writing Business

I havent talked at all about my quarterly goals on this blog. While I have yearly goals set for this business, Im finding that if I break it down in quarters it makes it a bit easier to accomplish. I find that when I publicly share my goals, I inspire others, but more importantly, motivate myself and hold myself accountable to accomplishing my goals. I did lay out my yearly goals for my freelance writing business, but didnt share them on my blog.   Why? Well, a lot of the big goals coincide with my goals for Twins Mommy (my other site). But, I do want to share my quarterly goals that are directly related to my freelance writing business. In the first quarter of the year, my main goals during that time was to fix my free email course and revamp and relaunch my Write Your Way to Your First $1k course. My free email course gets a lot of subscribers in a day. But, looking at the click-through rates and open rates, I found  it goes down a lot towards the end. I have a sales funnel set up for my free email course. The free course teaches you how to land your first client and I make sure to mention my comprehensive course to help them make a living as a writer. But, a lot of subscribers werent reading or opening their emails. I have since learned that my course is going to promotions. So, I have to remove all images and optimize my free course so that people want to open the next email. Did I do that in Q1? Nope. Still in progress. But my second goal of revamping and relaunching my Writeto1k course was accomplished. I came back with a brand new and high-converting sales page (which I love! My husband designed it and I wrote the copy. We make a good team!). I also did five days of Facebook Live streams over on my Facebook page  (that I put on my blog too!) that got people excited about the course. It boosted my sales considerably and Im happy that my course is helping so many aspiring writers that want to make a living with their writing! So, whats in store for Q2? Quarterly Goals for 2017 For the next quarter, my goal is to create another course. For the longest time, I was going to turn my successful Book Clients in 30 Days challenge for my course students into a course. But, Im dragging my feet with this project and for some reason, Im not hooked on it yet. While it may turn into a course later, for now its on hiatus. What I think is better for me at this point in my business is to create a front-end sales funnel. What this means is creating a tripwire product that introduces me and my brand and makes people comfortable buying. Its typically a low-priced offer that packs a lot of value nonetheless. So, Im toying with the perfect tripwire product that people will find valuable and wouldnt mind paying a few dollars for. I know it will be video based and not an eBook. Video is something Ive been becoming more comfortable with since the five days of Facebook Live over on my Facebook page. I really enjoy and like that medium over doing a webinar for example. I can set it up in minutes, have my notes, engage with the audience easily and be finished in 30 minutes or less. My other goal is to optimize my sales funnels for my email list. Right now my free email course generates the most subscribers in a day, but I have other freebies that people opt-in to. I also created a new one and am working on a sales funnel to introduce my course and will do the same on another freebie I have on the blog. Part of this goal is also having a CTA at the end of my blog posts. Im putting my latest freebie at the end of my blog posts (and I made it my lead magnet on my homepage too) as I feel this is a highly valuable guide that a lot of freelance writers need help with (boosting their freelance writing income). Finally, I am collaborating with another freelance writer on doing a course. She will do most of the content and setting it up. My role is providing a guest lesson for her course and Im excited as this is the perfect compliment to Write Your Way to Your First $1k! Im not sure when it will launch but Im excited about it and happy that I accomplished videoing the lesson! As for my service-based business, Im not looking for more clients; I have enough, but am always open to collaborating with my ideal client. So, what this means is Im not actively pitching and Im not negotiating on new inquiries. But, if an influencer approaches me for ghostwriting or a popular digital native brand wants my service, Im not going to say no! Im still a freelance writer. I love writing and blogging and I love networking and collaborating with others. But, for now, my focus is on my course students and product creation. Where I Am Right Now Im sitting in a nice place right now. I have diversified my income to include not only writing projects and course sales, but also affiliate marketing. My Twins Mommy blog is growing and Im getting ready to create a product for that audience as well. My twins are also getting better at playing nicely and having quiet time. They just turned 4 years old and will attend school this fall and they are super excited. My daughter is in dance class, my son is in karate and both are in gymnastics and soccer. With the business doing well and my twins getting older, our plan as a family is to take a vacation. Its tentative, but something that I feel would be great for the twins and make lasting memories before they start school! Over to you – what are your goals for for freelance writing business? Would love to hear about them in the comments!

Word Choice Got vs. Gotten

Word Choice Got vs. Gotten Word Choice: Got vs. Gotten Both â€Å"got† and â€Å"gotten† are common terms in North America, but other English dialects do not use â€Å"gotten† at all. So why is this? And what is the exact difference between â€Å"got† and â€Å"gotten†? Check out our guide below to find out how to avoid errors when using these terms. Present and Simple Past Tenses of â€Å"Get† The present tense verb â€Å"get† has several meanings, including: Come to have or receive something (e.g., I hope we get a good reception) Attain, achieve, or obtain something (e.g., I get a newspaper every day) Reach a condition or state (e.g., He will get fat if he eats the whole cake) The simple past tense of this verb is always â€Å"got,† regardless of the context: We got a great reception from the crowd. I got the newspaper this morning. He got fat when he ate all the cake. This applies in all English dialects. So, if you are using the simple present or past tense in your writing, the only terms you will need are â€Å"get† and â€Å"got.† Past Participles: â€Å"Got† and â€Å"Gotten† in American English We use past participles to form the present and past perfect tenses, which both show that an action has been completed. This verb form will follow â€Å"have,† â€Å"has,† or â€Å"had† in a sentence. And American English uses both â€Å"got† and â€Å"gotten† as past participles: We use â€Å"got† when referring to a state of owning or possessing something. We use â€Å"gotten† when referring to a process of â€Å"getting† something. For example, if we were describing the process of â€Å"getting better† at something, we would use the past participle â€Å"gotten† in the perfect tenses: She had gotten better in the last year. But if we were describing possessing enough time for something, we would use â€Å"got.† For example: I have got enough time for a coffee before I go out. The same usage applies in Canadian English. However, the term â€Å"gotten† is much rarer outside North America. Past Participles in Other English Dialects In other English dialects, the correct past participle form of â€Å"get† is always â€Å"got.† For instance, if we were to rewrite the examples above for a British audience, we would say: She had got better in the last year. I have got enough time for a cup of tea. Notice that both sentences use â€Å"got† as a past participle. As such, if you’re writing for a non-American audience, you will not need the word â€Å"gotten.† In fact, the only time this term is used in dialects such as British and Australian English is in old-fashioned terms like â€Å"ill-gotten.† Summary: Got or Gotten? In American English, â€Å"got† and â€Å"gotten† can both be past participles of the verb â€Å"get.† The correct term depends on what you are describing: Use got when referring to a state of owning or possessing something. Use gotten when referring to a process of â€Å"getting† something. However, â€Å"gotten† is extremely rare outside North American (especially in formal writing). As such, you should always use â€Å"got† when you’re writing for a non-American audience. And if you want to be certain your writing is the best it can be, don’t forget to have it proofread.

Information Systems in Organizations Assignment - 1

Information Systems in Organizations - Assignment Example My social class therefore affects even my dating process because I mostly interact with people of my social status My social class also affects my political interests in terms of the politicians I support and whether or not I vote (people of a lower social class are more likely not to vote) (Griffin, Larry, and Peggy 116). From the clips, I have seen and felt that it is better to be in the higher social class because those in the lower end have many problems that can be easily solved by those in a better class. I have observed that the lifestyles of people in the lower and upper social classes are disparate in many ways. While the those in the higher social class can choose the cars to drive, those in a lower class like Tammy have to walk to work because they do not even have functional cars and cannot fix the ones they have. I have learnt that people in a higher social class have a better image, purchasing power and ability to create their own lifestyles. I have also learnt that people can judge one’s social class from their image based on how they are dressed and look, for instance, Matt says that the way his mother dresses displays a lower social class. The names and things people surround and associate themselves with can reveal their social class. I liked the video clips because they give a clear and detailed picture of what life is like for those in the lower and higher ends of the social class in terms of the things they can afford physically, emotionally and

Distinguish between price elasticity of demand, cross elasticity of Essay

Distinguish between price elasticity of demand, cross elasticity of demand, income elasticity of demand and price elasticity of - Essay Example Section 1: Explanation of important terms 300 Price elasticity of demand Price elasticity of demand shows the relationship between the changes in the quantity demanded of any specific product with the changes in the price of that specific product. The terminology of price elasticity of demand is generally referred to analyze the sensitivity of the prices of the product (Hanushek, & Quigley, 1980). Price elasticity of demand can be calculated using the following formula: If there is a little change in the prices of the good and this small change can cause a large change in the demand of the product, then such a product is said to be elastic. However if there is a significant change in price level of the product but even this significant change in price level cannot cause a small change in the quantity demand of the product then such a product will be said as price inelastic. Cross elasticity of demand In order to analyze the responsiveness of demand of one product when the price is ch anged for another product then it is called as the cross elasticity of demand. ... The following formula is used to calculate the price elasticity of supply Section II: actions that are to be taken to reduce price fluctuations Price is one of the most important factors that influence the purchasing decision of the consumers. It is also the most important factor that influences the production decision of the producers. Therefore changes in price of commodity can influence both the demand and supply of products. Therefore the role of the government is to offer stability in the prices of commodities so that the overall economy can be stable and more stable decisions are taken. There are number of reasons why price level should be stable and one of the most important reasons is that if the prices are more constant and stable then the producers would be able to plan their production accordingly. As producers plan production at a specific level at a constant price, but if the price changes then it can influence supply. For instance, if the price is increased then it will increase the supply of the commodity as shown in the graph below: As the prices have increased, producers want to increase their production so that they can earn more and sell more products at the higher price. However with increase in price, the demand of the products have reduced and thus it is showing that the consumers are not willing to buy the same amount of commodity at the higher prices. Therefore it is showing that the increase in price has increased the supply but it has decreased the demand. Thus a new equilibrium has been formed at Price level P1 and Quantity Q1. Changes in the price level influence the demand and supply of the goods and therefore it is shown that

Environment Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9500 words

Environment Management - Essay Example Now environment watch agencies call upon the companies to make an 'environment audit' along with their annual financial figures. In fact, a 'green business' is not only good for the environment and humanity but good for business's bottom line as well, because it gives an opportunity to the enterprise for managing the waste, cutting costs on wasteful expenditure, conserving energy and preserving the natural balance. This results in; Care of environment is not a 'project' in isolation, it has to be a mission and the zeal must be seen in all parts of business right from constructing the building to the final output packaging and transportation etc. Globalization has also necessitated the need for uniformity in dealing with regulations concerning environment. Now encouragement is given to industries, which favor gas over coal and oil, as it lessens the possibility of acid rain and ozone layer depletion. Environmental regulations are being accordingly changed with a futuristic view on sustainable development and safeguarding environment (Bishop et al, 1994) According to the Manual for Managing a Responsible Business Enterprise (RBE) in emerging market economies, prepared by the US Department of Commerce (2004), an RBE is characterized by responsible business conduct at four different levels of its identity as an enterprise. These four levels are: 1. Compliance with the law 2. Risk management 3. Reputation enhancement 4. Value added to the community This conduct is determined by the business conduct of its owners, managers, employees, agents and other stakeholders of the company. The businesses operate within a complex system of interests and influences. Stakeholders all have power, someone has a formal power invested in a position of authority or it could be the social power of being able to persuade others to support or oppose the policies of the company. Therefore, these stakeholders play a crucial role in devising ethical functioning for the company. At times, companies tend to pass on a product whose use might damage the environment, stating that they are resorting to such sales owing to market demands. But, the customer asks for the product only because s/he hasn't sent the alternative product yet. Since the tried and tested product has been offering value for money, fulfilling the needs, therefore there is a demand for it. But once the alternative is there and customer is allowed to compare the features and values, s/he m ight be willing to pay for it as well. Peter Drucker (1986) the management guru said, "It is the customer who determines what a business is. For, it is the customer and he alone through being willing to pay for a good or service, converts economic resources into wealth, things into goods." Corporate governance structures and styles vary in the environment they

Protein Casein Food

Protein Casein Food Report -Protein Casein Introduction: Proteins are considered as the third class of macro components of all living systems, and also that of the food stuffs .Proteins are polymers with highly complex structures and their molecular weight ranges from 10,000 to several million. The structure of protein is quite straightforward; they are made up of monomeric units called as Amino acids. These amino acids are mostly linked by a single peptide bond.The range of amino acids is highly limited in number and mostly common to all proteins. Mostly all proteins are mixtures of 20 standard amino acids. The polypeptide bonds of proteins are never branched. The uniqueness of protein lies in the diversity of variation in its structure and function. All proteins have their own sequence of amino acids of defined length. All amino acids that occur in protein have a general formula: R H2NC H COOH Proteins are generally made up of one of the four structure .They may be primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary structure. Primary structure: They are the sequence of a chain of amino acids. Secondary protein structure: When the sequence of a chain of amino acids is linked by an amino acid. E.g. either alpha helix or pleated sheet. Tertiary protein structure: Three dimensional structure of a protein molecule formed by the spatial arrangement of the secondary structures like alpha helix and pleated sheet. Source: http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/classes/css430/lecture%209-07/figure-09-03.JPG Quaternary protein structure: If a protein has more than one amino acid chain then its called quaternary protein structure. Milk proteins (casein): Milk of cow is the important source of protein for man and most importantly for children. Milk is a mixture of aqueous solution of proteins, lactose, minerals and certain vitamins which carry emulsified fat globules and casein micelles which have protein along with phosphate, citrate, and calcium. The fat removed milk is called skimmed milk. If the pH of the skim milk is reduced to 4.6 at 20C, the casein is precipitated and the residue is called whey or serum. The proportion of different casein in milk varies and so does the whey. The content of casein vary in different types of milk like in cows milk it accounts for 80% where as in human milk its just 40%. The various proportion of casein in skimmed milk is shown in the below table: Casein proteins (80%) Skimmed milk protein% ÃŽ ±-Casein 40 ÃŽ ²-Casein 24 χ-Casein 12 ÃŽ ³-Casein 4 Source: Coultate,T.P.1989.Food-The Chemistry of its Components.2nd ed.London: The Royal society of Chemistry The Greek letters that are used in casein proteins are used on basis of the protein mobility in electrophoresis. The‘s in ÃŽ ± s-casein refers to its sensitivity to precipitation by the calcium ion. Where as ÃŽ ±, ÃŽ ², χ, and ÃŽ ³ define particular protein species, it has been discovered that there are lots of different versions of each that only differ slightly in their amino acid sequences. For example, ÃŽ ± s1C casein is different from that of ÃŽ ± s1B casein by having glycine residue instead of glutamic acid residue at position 192 in the polypeptide chain. With these advancements one can even identify the breed of cow from which the sample milk was obtained by examining the proportions of these variants. Heterogeneity of caseins: Heterogeneity is seen in caseins. For example, in bovine casein there are four major types of casein .They are ÃŽ ± s1, ÃŽ ± s2, ÃŽ ² and ÃŽ º-casein. Each of these at least exhibit micro heterogeneity in one of the below reasons: Variation in the degree of phosphorylation. Variation in the degree of glycosylation in ÃŽ º-casein alone. Genetically controlled substitution in the amino acids, which results in the genetic polymorphism. Proteolysis of the indigenous proteinases. Molecular properties of casein: Casein are well characterized proteins and indeed they are quite small proteins, with a molecular mass say around 20-25kDa .Which is the main reason for their high stability. For example ÃŽ ²-casein has high level of proline say like 35 out of the 209 amino acids are proline which is equally distributed. Due to the presence of high level of proline the alpha helix, beta-sheets and beta-turns are absent. Casein are generally hydrophobic .Apart from this it is also said that caseins have very low secondary and tertiary structures .As they lack secondary structures its been told that they are very flexible and unstable which makes it ‘rheomorphic'(they are so flexible in solution that they can adopt any structure dictated by the environment).The lack of stable secondary and tertiary structures also make them stable against denaturing agents like heat and urea. This latter property also confers good foaming and emulsifying property on casein. This also makes casein readily susceptible to proteolysis. These properties of casein make them unique in dietary applications like in that of cheese ripening etc. Properties of the principal caseins in cows milk: protein molecular mass Amino acids proline residues cysteine residues PO4 group concentration(g/L) glycoprotein genetic variants ÃŽ ± s1 -casein 23164 199 17 0 8 10 no A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H ÃŽ ± s2-Casein 25388 207 10 2 10 2.6 no A, B, C, D ÃŽ ²-casein 23983 209 35 0 5 9.3 no A1, A2, A3, B, C, D, E, F, G ÃŽ º-casein 19038 169 20 2 1 10.3 yes A, B, C, E, FS, FI, GS, GS Table2: Properties of caseins present in cows Milk. Source:Yada, Rickey Yoshio,  1954-, Proteins in food processing ,pg29-62,Knovel firm Role of casein in dairy products: In western countries, Dairy products account for about 30% of the daily dietary energy, lipids and protein. And even some of the vitamins are also got from dairy products like riboflavin and vitamin B12.Minerals also come into this list, followed by calcium it is also estimated that 80% of calcium is obtained from dairy products. Some of the functions of caseins in dairy products are given below: Pasteurized liquid milk Appearance, heat stability, mouth feel and flavor. fermented milks Gel formation, mouth feel, flavor, syneresis of the gel and rheology Creams Emulsion stability, rheology (body) and whippability. ice creams Emulsion stability, rheology (body) and whippability Milk powders wettability , dispersibility,solubility,flavor,color and other uses which depend upon the end use of the product Cheese texture, body and other rheological properties; functional properties such as meltability, stretchability, sliceability, adhesiveness, water-binding Properties; (off-) flavors. Coultate, T.P. Food-the Chemistry of Its Components. second ed. london: The Royal society of Chemistry 1989 The precipitation of casein is the basic process involved in cheese making .In case of yogurt and some cottage cheese the precipitation is brought up by low pH. Functional food properties of casein (dairy products): Functional food is nothing but if a food ingredient or food provides some kind of health benefit which doesnt include the traditional nutrient it contains then it can be called as a functional food. Some of the common functional food characteristics of dairy products are Anti-microbial including control of gut micro flora, Anti-viral, Binding of E coli and cholera enter toxins, Anti-cancer, Immunomodulation, Anti-oxidative, Opioid effects Retard osteoporosis. The bioactive peptides of casein are responsible for most of these functional properties like Casein glycomacropeptide which is responsible in Cancer Prevention, Immunomodulation, Diet Suppression, and Cardiovascular Effects (cholesterol reduction). Fractionation of casein: Its possible to fractionate whole casein into its component proteins from 1940 but it is limited to laboratory .It is done by exploiting the difference in solubility in the solution of urea pH4.6 or cacl2 .Its is also done by various chromatography methods but unfortunately none of these methods are suitable for industrial scale production of individual casein. But there is a huge scope or opportunity for this because: The Beta casein has high surface activity hence they can be used has good emulsifying or good foaming agents. Human milk contains beta casein and k-casein .Alpha casein is almost absent in human milk hence the beta casein will be an attractive ingredient of bovine milk based infant formulae. As k-casein is responsible for the stability of the casein micelle it can be used in some of the milk products. Latest discoveries have revealed that fortification of milk with Beta-casein improves cheese making properties. One of the successful methods of separation of beta casein is from skimmed milk by using rennet. source:http://classes.ansci.uiuc.edu/ansc438/Milkcompsynth/milkcomp_protein.html source:http://classes.ansci.uiuc.edu/ansc438/Milkcompsynth/milkcomp_protein.html The Casein micelle The Casein in milk exist as colloidal particles of 50-500nm, which are called as casein micelles. The casein micelles of milk are roughly spherical particles. Milk has about 1015 micelles dm-3.A casein micelle contain approximately about 2104 casein molecules. Of all structure models slattery and evards model comes near to accounting all the observed properties of casein. According to them micelle is an aggregate of sub micelles each consisting of 25-30 molecules of all types of casein in roughly similar proportions to those in milk as a whole. Figure : A casein micelle; A: a submicelle; B: protruding chain; C: Calcium phosphate; D: ÃŽ º-casein; E: phosphate groups Source: www.food-info.net/uk/protein/milk.htm Casein micelles are stable to: -Compaction-Pellet that was recovered from ultracentrifugation can be readily redispersed. -Homogenization at normal or high pressure -Also to high Ca2+ concentrations, up to 200mM, at temperatures upto 50C However number things can destabilize, redisperse or affect the casein micelle hence they are usually destabilsed in certain food products like cheese etc. Conclusion: As its clear that casein has a great potential as a functional food more research should be carried out in this field. More studies should be undertaken in bioactive peptides of casein which are released by the enzymatic hydrolysis which have a huge role in cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease prevention etc.As they are good emulsifying and foaming agents they can be extensively used in food industry. Reference: Milk Proteins. Wageningen University, http://www.food-info.net/uk/protein/milk.htm http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:uIjin-nhDmIJ:www.uft-plovdiv.bg/bg/Functional%2520Dairy%2520Foods.doc+functional+food+and+caseinhl=enct=clnkcd=17gl=auclient=firefox-a. Coultate, T.P. Food-the Chemistry of Its Components. second ed. london: The Royal society of Chemistry 1989 Harper, W. James. Functional Aspects of Dairy Foods , 2003. Yada, Rickey Yoshio. Proteins in Food Processing. Place Published, 1954. Hurley, Walter L. Milk Composition Proteins. http://classes.ansci.uiuc.edu/ansc438/Milkcompsynth/milkcomp_protein.html. 7. Cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/classes/css430/lecture%209-07/figure-09- 03.JPG

Burnning Notebooks as Therapy Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

Burnning Notebooks as Therapy For many people, the purpose of journaling is a sort of catharsis. With pen on paper, they are able to work through problems and issues. These problems are overcome simply by allowing time to process these tribulations enough to form sentences about them. I too use writing for this purpose. However, I often do not allow writing to be the last step in my emotional eradication. I was seventeen the first time I held a match to a completed page, but lighting the fire is the last step. Before a notebook can be burned, it must first be filled; this isn't an easy task. A Mead composition notebook contains one hundred sheets--or two hundred pages. The goal in essence is to write. As each word flows onto the paper through the pen, some event must set the precedent; be it long narrations of break-ups or pained descriptions of breakdowns, copious amounts of material must pave the way--the emotionally passive life cannot be translated onto paper. However, for those who can complete the task, the reward comes when the back cover is closed. It is then that the... Burnning Notebooks as Therapy Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing Burnning Notebooks as Therapy For many people, the purpose of journaling is a sort of catharsis. With pen on paper, they are able to work through problems and issues. These problems are overcome simply by allowing time to process these tribulations enough to form sentences about them. I too use writing for this purpose. However, I often do not allow writing to be the last step in my emotional eradication. I was seventeen the first time I held a match to a completed page, but lighting the fire is the last step. Before a notebook can be burned, it must first be filled; this isn't an easy task. A Mead composition notebook contains one hundred sheets--or two hundred pages. The goal in essence is to write. As each word flows onto the paper through the pen, some event must set the precedent; be it long narrations of break-ups or pained descriptions of breakdowns, copious amounts of material must pave the way--the emotionally passive life cannot be translated onto paper. However, for those who can complete the task, the reward comes when the back cover is closed. It is then that the...

Commerce Bank Case Essay

Executive Summary Commerce Bank has been a pioneer in the banking industry by returning to customer service. This has driven customers to the bank, but in order to stay ahead on the curve they want to move away from the model that has worked for them. An analysis was performed regarding whether their new concept of â€Å"retailtainment†, entertaining customers throughout the banking service process, would be beneficial or not. After thorough consideration, it was determined that â€Å"retailtainment† was not the best way to improve Commerce’s quality of service. Commerce should focus on their former centralized model and enhance it, rather than change it. Background Commerce Bank is a New Jersey-based bank founded in 1973 by fast food franchiser Vernon Hill. Hill took his experience as a fast food business owner and utilized it to operate Commerce Bank. Commerce had branches opening earlier than the competitors and staying open later, 7:30AM to 8:00PM during the week and modified hours on Saturday and Sunday (Frei, 2006). Drive-through windows at busier locations even stayed open until midnight to accommodate customers; however, all branches operated under the notion that they were to open ten minutes before and close ten minutes after the posted time (Frei, 2006). Commerce used this model to get customers in the door and made their primary focus customer service. This focus allowed them to increase customer deposits, by an average of 30% per year from 1996 to 2001, and some years they even achieved growth rates in excess of 40% (Frei, 2006). This was not consistent with the market trend during this period, as other banks were selecting online banking, pushing customers out the door. Hill felt that this was a model for failure, because â€Å"You can’t name one retailer in this country that has pushed people where they don’t want to go and succeeded† (Frei, 2006). Currently, Commerce is feeling the pressure from other banks who want to use their business model to draw new customers. Washington Mutual, for instance, launched â€Å"un-bank†, with roaming tellers, a children’s play area and no desk. ING, a new entrant in the market, opened a cafà © style branch that served espresso to customers (Frei, 2006). To combat this Commerce launched a new customer experience called â€Å"Retailtainment†. Retailtainment is the incorporation of entertainment into the various branches. Essentially, each branch can come up with their own  wacky ideas for entertaining customers every Friday (Fre i, 2006). This was to ensure that Commerce, who offers the lowest loan rates, stayed ahead of the competition. Problem Statement Commerce bank is losing track of what originally made them successful, service quality and efficiency, and losing sight of what the customers really want in a banking experience. Analysis â€Å"Many banks attribute their growth to their successful transformation to a sales culture.† (McBride, 2005) .Commerce has used traditional banking to form a niche in the industry. Other banks at this time were moving towards online banking, focusing less on the person to person interaction. This could have catastrophic implications: â€Å"I am referring to the turn-off of poorly trained, new employees. What’s worse is seeing this person struggle and look in vain for help from someone else in the branch† (McBride, 2005). Commerce, on the other hand, has embraced this by training employees with emphasis on customer service. The customer-central model was the springboard for what Commerce believed was the value of the bank, customer deposits (Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons, 2011). Hill believed that by focusing on â€Å"non-rate† reason deposits, that he could build a deposit base, and his philosophy was for the bank to provide customers with an unforgettabl e experience in exchange for a loan rate, half a point less than the competition (Frei, 2006). This lower rate enabled Commerce to stay open later and have additional benefits for its members. These benefits included no-fee banking and even ATM fee refunds for high balance members. As service occurs, customers also play a role in co-production (Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons, 2011). To ensure this experience was the same for all the members of the bank, Commerce standardized its branches, attempting to make life easier for customers. At these branches, customers are greeted at the front door and made to feel at home while they wait to be served. This is unique from other banks, who sometimes charge fees if customers visit the branches or talk to a real person. â€Å"Customers enrolled in Bank of America’s e-banking account pay $8.95 a month for the privilege of accessing branches and talking to tellers when you need to make a transaction or deposit† (CNN, 2011). Commerce’s threat from industry rivals forced them decide to implement a decentralized program cal led â€Å"Retailtainment†, a break from  their standardized model, which had been their main reason for success thus far. Commerce had built the brand name using this philosophy, and straying from this gives individual branched control. With bank industry ratings declining, this strategy may backfire severely and hurt the brand down the road. â€Å"In October 2010, the number of Americans expressing a â€Å"great deal† or â€Å"quite a lot† of confidence in banks fell to an all-time low of 18% — lower than its level at the height of the global financial collapse (Wood and Berg, 2011). Customers have been complaining about the lack of tellers and feel that the bank should have less greeters and more tellers (Frei, 2006). This shows that Commerce’s decentralized â€Å"retailtainment† has notable gaps in Fitzsimmons’ Service Quality Gap Model. Previously, Commerce’s service standards and service delivery were impeccable, however, â€Å"retailtainment† decreases their quality of service delivery, decreasing customer perceptions and placing a strain on â€Å"Communication Gap 4† (Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons, 2011). These further decrease â€Å"Customer Satisfaction Gap 5† (Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons, 2011). Recommendations and Conclusion â€Å"Retailtainment† may sound like a good idea, but it has plenty of issues associated with it. Commerce Bank previously used a standardized process, but this is completely opposite from that model, thus decentralizing the process and forcing managers to make their own decisions. By relying solely on the managers and their staff, they risk damaging their image. In addition to addressing the deficits in the gaps of their Service Quality Model, Commerce can also employ the Service Encounter Triad to improve customer service. Using this model, they can improve their shortfalls between the service organization and the customer, as well as contact personnel and the customer (Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons, 2011). To do this, they can improve customer satisfaction by hiring another bank teller rather than a greeter, which in turn, will improve their efficiency. Additionally, doing this will improve their contact personnel’s ethical climate and better develop their service deli very to the customer (Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons, 2011). In addition, Commerce can also attempt to use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), successfully used by other banks, which uses linear programming to measure the efficiency of multiple decision making units by streamlining branch operations (Sherman and Ladino, 1995). Commerce has  focused so much on the first impression that they lost sight of what people are there for. People are there to deposit their money, and delays in this process may lead to less than satisfactory service. Commerce can take some of the greeters and make them â€Å"junior† or â€Å"overflow† tellers. This group can be seen as back-up to jump into action when there is heavy flow of traffic in the bank, as well as use these junior tellers to accept check deposits at the front so customers don’t have to stand in line. Yes, they would like for the experience to feel like a retail store, but contrary to Starbucks, bank customers are not there for the taste or the flavor; they choose the bank that gives them the best interest rates and highest deposit rates. Retailtainment plays a big role in delivering Commerce’s mission, but they should also evaluate the optimal amount of â€Å"entertainment† offered to deliver their mission, while being abl e to maintain operations and maintain a competitive position against other banks. There is no need to have a mascot to entertain customers or have a hot dog cart offering food. Bank of America had a simpler solution — using a TV for customers in line. This kept customers’ minds off of waiting in line and was more cost-effective than having to pay someone in a costume to talk to people. If they want to stay competitive, Commerce needs to think outside the box for efficient solutions to current problems. A good alternative would be to pay employees to suggest alternative and effective ways to entertain customers, without having to invest a great amount of money. â€Å"Retailtainment† works short-term, since customers feel they are appreciated, but going to these extreme measures and including all of the in-branch services, mascots, and free pens increases costs and makes Commerce vulnerable against other competitors. It is suggested that Commerce should return to and reinforce the principles that made the successful in the first place. Works Cited CNN Money. 2011. â€Å"9 most annoying bank fees†. http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/pf/1106/gallery.annoying_fees/4.html Accessed 20 August, 2012. Fitzsimmons, J.A. and M.J. Fitzsimmons. 2011. Service Management: Operations, Strategy, and Information Technology, 7th edition. Irwin/McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. Frei, F. 2006. Commerce Bank. Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA. McBride, G. 2005. â€Å"Banks need to sell customer service†. http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bank/20051024a1.asp Accessed 21 August, 2012. Sherman, H.D. and G. Ladino. 1995. Managing Bank Productivity Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Interfaces 25:2 p. 60-73. Wood, J. and P. Berg. 2011. Rebuilding Trust in Banks. Gallup Business Journal. http://businessjournal.gallup.com/content/148049/rebuilding-trust-banks.aspx Accessed 20 August, 2012.

Nokia Lumia

Nokia Lumia NOKIA LUMIA 630 NOKIA LUMIA 630Nokia's last low-estimated high entertainer was the Lumia 520, and the Lumia 630 is its successor. Rivalry at the more level end of the cell phone business sector is getting wild as makers vie to pack in the most usefulness at the least cost. These gadgets might not have all the extravagant accessories of the genuine high-enders; however they can do most things more than fine to advocate their pocket cash costs.Chassis and screenThe Lumia 630 doesn't look refined. With its blocky polycarbonate wraparound spread it looks a bit modest, yet luckily it additionally looks chipper - a fun telephone that ought to be equipped for withstanding a couple of thumps and knocks. Nokia preferences its splendid shades and the Lumia 630 are accessible in either lime green or eye-smoldering orange, and additionally plain dark for those with less peacock-like propensities. The 4-inch touch screen is pretty much enormous enough to be agreeable and it conveys a short of what HD determinati on of 854x480 pixels (221ppi) which is marginally superior to the 520.English: Nokia N900 communicator/internet tablet ï ¿ ½...It searches fine for most things, however there doesn't appear to be a programmed splendor sensor ready for, you'll end up flicking between the medium setting to spare battery (low is a tad as well, well, low) and high when you're all over the place.Processor and softwareThe quad-center 1.2 GHz processor is sponsored by 512mb RAM and alongside Windows Phone 8.1's smooth interface it conveys an extremely nippy execution to be sure, fluttering between applications in a trice. With Windows 8.1 you now get an Android-style draw down menu for your most recent upgrades; however you can't up 'til now react to messages from it. As ever, Nokia has preloaded an extent of free administrations including logged off maps...

Step-by-Step Guide With Pictures SAT Registration

Step-by-Step Guide With Pictures SAT Registration SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Registering for the SAT sounds like the easiest part of the process. But signing up is actually much more convoluted than you might think- and some things matter a lot more than others do. Most of all, you want to avoid classic registration mistakes that can cost you dearly. In this article, we’ll discuss step by step how to sign up for the SAT. We’ll also cover what parts of the 30-minute process really matter and what parts don’t. Finally, we’ll give you some key tips on how to choose the best location and how to save money. How to Register for the SAT, Step by Step What is the basic process for registering for the SAT online? Let's go through it together one step at a time. First,visit the College Board websiteand click on the yellow "Register Now" button or the "Register for the SAT" link. If you haven’t created a College Board account, this is a good time to do so. After you sign on to your College Board account, you'll be taken to your "My SAT" page, which looks like this: On the right side of the page is a blue button that says "Register for the SAT" (or "Register for another SAT" if you've already taken it at least once). Click this button. You should now be on the page below. According to the College Board,the registration process will take around 30-40 minutes (yikes- why should it take this long to register for the SAT? You’ll find out soon!) Click the button to continue. Now begins the long questionnaire. Some of this is important, and some of this is not. We’ll step you through it with notes on what to skip and what to take seriously. Personal Information: Very Important. This is how the College Board will track your test and associate it with you. Make sure every piece of information here is correct! Demographics: Not important. The College Board uses this information to get statistics on test takers. All of this is optional and has zero impact on your score or college admissions. Create Student Profile: Not important. This entire section takes the most time and energy, but none of it is important for your SAT score. The College Board shares this information with colleges so they can essentially send you spam mail. If you love mail from colleges or want to learn about schools you might not have known about, then fill this out accurately. Otherwise, this is a big drain on your time- filling it out won't raise your chances of getting into a college, since that all depends on your actual college application. To reiterate, each of the following subsections is not worth your time: College Board Programs GPA/Rank Course Work Activities College Plans If you’re strapped for time, I recommend you just leave it all blank andinstead use your extra time to prep for the SAT. It takes quite a long time to fill out every high school course you've taken. When you get to section 3 titled "Select Test Center,"you’re at what really matters. The first page, Terms Conditions, outlines the policies you agree to when you take the SAT. There’s a lot of text, but essentially it boils down to this: You promise not to cheat on the SAT. You promise not to use a cell phone during the test and understand that you're not allowed to discuss questions or answers at any time. You are who you say you are, and no one else is taking the test for you. Next, you’ll choose your test date on the Choose Your Test Datepage.If you have any testing accommodations or anSAT fee waiver, this is where you will enter that information. After, you'll get to theChoose Your Test Centerpage. Here,I highly recommend that you Search by Zip Code.This shows you all the options for available test centers near you (and not just your own high school). In fact,your high school might not be the best place for you to take the SAT. Quick Note: If you're actually planning to register right now, I suggest you read our article on best SAT test locations. You'll learn how to choose a better location for yourself. Next, you'll need to upload a photo of yourself. This is an important step. Be sure tofollow the directionsas to what a good picture should be. This way you won't have to re-register if the College Board ends up rejecting it for some reason. This actually appears on the official instructions. And that’s the whole process on how to sign up for SAT tests! If you skipped the pages I said you could, you'll be able to cut down the process from 30 minutes to five minutes. Signing Up for the SAT: 3 Essential Tips Now that you know how to register for the SAT, here are a few important tips to know: #1: Choose the Best Location for You This isn’t an automatic decision- many students take the SAT at their high school, but this might not actually be the best and most convenient location for you. For example, is there a test center that's actually closer to you than your school is? Will you be going on vacation the day your school administers the SAT? Do you tend to get nervous when taking tests with people you know? Whatever the reason, there are many benefits to being able to choose your test location and date. The SAT is offered seven times a year at various test centers and schools across the US.Read our in-depth guide tolearn more about choosing the best SAT test location for you. #2: Register Early- Well Before the Deadline Registering early for the SAT is critical. Put a note on your calendar to register at least six weeks before your test date. If you don’t register in time, you'll need to pay fees(or worse, you won’t be able to take your exam at all!). SAT registration deadlines are typically a month before the test date.If you accidentally miss the regular registration deadline for your desired test date, you can still register up until that test's late registration deadline, which is usually about 10 days before the test(note that you'll have to pay a late registration fee of $29 in addition to the regular test fee). If you miss the late registration deadline as well but still really want (or need) to take the SAT, you can sign up for the waitlist.You'll have to pay an additional $49if you are admitted on test day. Although there's no guarantee you'll be able to take the SAT, getting on the waitlist might be worth it if you have no other chances to take it before your college applications are due. #3: Apply for a Fee Waiver (If You Qualify for One) The SAT is a pricey test, costing either $46 (without Essay) or $60 (with Essay). If you can't afford to pay this fee, you might be eligible for a fee waiver. A fee waiver will make the entire SAT free for you to take. To be eligible, you must be a low-income 11th or 12th grader in the US (or US territories). Each fee waiver covers the following: Two free SATs (with or without Essay) Two free Question-and-Answer Service or Student Answer Service reports Unlimited SAT score reports to send to schools To get a fee waiver, consult your school counselor. If you're a home-schooled student, get in touch with a nearby high school's counselor. Note that you'll be required toprovide proof of eligibility, such as tax documents. Read our guide formore details about how to save money when you register for the SAT. What's Next? Now that you know how to sign up for the SAT, you might want to knowwhen the best time to take the SAT is. What test date will work best for you? What SAT score should you be aiming for? What's a good SAT score? Find out how to set a target SAT score with our detailed guide. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today!

Questionare Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Questionare - Assignment Example There is no time limit, but do not debate for a long time over each item. ALL questions are mandatory. By completing the following section you agree that the data you give can be used for research, which will help to improve future versions of this questionnaire. No individual will be identified in any research results. If you do not want your data to be used in this way please do not complete this section and move on to the questionnaire. 1. Save this document on your computer by clicking on the â€Å"File† menu and choosing â€Å"Save As†. Give the document a name and choose a location (e.g. My Documents) to save the document on your computer. Click "Save" to save the questionnaire. 2. Open your email software and create a new email message. Attach the document saved in the previous step and send the email to assessment@assessment.opp.co.uk (you do not need to include any subject line or text in the email). For information on how to attach a file to your email please see the documentation for your email software or contact your administrator. 3. You should receive an email confirming that your results have been received within 30 minutes of submitting the questionnaire. If you do not receive this confirmation email, please check that your system has sent the email and that the questionnaire was enclosed as an

Essay on Artistic Appropriation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

On Artistic Appropriation - Essay Example I focused on the historical background of the origin of appropriation practice and the methods of doing it in a way that it formed collage work. My work has a premise that is similar to the work of other scholars, nonetheless, it is unique in the way I have approached it. In order to develop my argument and to strengthen it along the way, I took help from the various literature that were available on the electronic journals and periodicals. These researches provided a strong base to this research and developed the initial path for this research to reach its destination. The culture of artistic appropriation in the historical times was compared with the modern to shed light on the differences that have arisen in terms of law, perspective and practice. My strong focus was on the legal history of copyright law. I surveyed the treaties and agreements that govern copyright law, domestically and internationally to develop an international view point instead of remaining limited to one aspe ct only. Significantly, my research is based on the United Kingdom’s copyright laws along with the international treaties. The study of the UK laws provided time and space to develop a strong analysis of the modern copyright law application. In case, the scope of study was spread over various countries, it would have become impracticable as well as less effective. The data collection from other countries would be time consuming, costly as well as of low quality. Therefore, I focused on the practice of copyright laws in UK and their impact on the UK artists only. I relied on the recent and landmark judgements related to the artistic appropriation cases both involving artist Jeff Knoos. The cases dealt with the act of copyright infringement through artistic appropriation and the related judgements which affected such cases in the future. Furthermore, I discussed the concept of fair dealing and fair use as perceived and practiced in UK. The study is purely legal and provides an argument that the modern copyright law has provided the artists with the method to get protected and at the same time continue with the artistic work under the fair use or fair dealing clause. Thus, providing an effective method to investigate the argument that the modern copyright law has not provided protection to the artists when they appropriate other artist’s copyright work. The research method adopted acted as a means of examining a myth from the legal perspective and from the perspective of the artists. The primary units of analysis are the artists, creators, sculptors, painters and intellectual property stakeholders having interest in the appropriation of artistic works. These stakeholders are the primary effected persons who have undergone the adverse effects of appropriation. Furthermore, the global bodies like World Intellectual Property Organization was also taken into consideration to answer the research questions and to achieve its objectives. The process of dat a collection is based on various processes like Sampling Frame. It provides the researcher with the option to collect data for the research expeditiously whilst remaining within budget to achieve effective and efficient results. A proper sampling frame includes age, color and location of the units that are analyzed. The sampling frame for artistic appropriation research design has the sample of Artists, Painters, Sculptors and International Bodies and