You are Charging Too Little
Chances are, no matter what your business is related to, what you are selling ( a product or a service ) you are most likely charging too little! Most people tend to think that what they have to offer is less valuable than they believe. The reason for that is that you are too close to the product or service and you know it too well to understand how much it can mean to someone else. It is like having your nose right up in front of a painting, you can’t see it very well. But your clients and customers are standing further away and they can see the whole picture and that is why they are willing to pay more for it.

But won’t people feel that I am ripping them off? Won’t raising my prices drive away business? Won’t I sell less, find less clients or otherwise fail? The quick answer is no! People want more value, and by charging more you can provide more value to them. For example if you are a freelancer or a consultant, you won’t feel as stressed and overworked if you charge more and work a few less hours. That way your clients will know they are paying for your undivided attention and your very best work. To top this nice benefit off, by charging more, your clients will actually cherish what you are selling or providing to them. For example, would you disrespect someone who is handing you a $10,000 necklace with diamonds and all of the jewels on it, or the necklace itself? Of course not! You would be the most careful with it, you would recommend to your friends to visit this store since you got great service. But if someone is selling you a $1 necklace out of the back of a car, you might wonder what’s wrong with it and why it is so cheap. People are not going to line up to buy these.

You are Charging Too Much

On the other hand, you might be charging too much. This is definitely unlikely, since for most small business owners, rates could be doubled and business would flourish. But if you are really worried that you are charging too much, why not ask someone who is unbiased? You could ask an acquaintance if they would mind paying $X amount for your product or service. You can explain to them that you charge this much, and your competition charges less. Then justify your price and see how they react. If they think you are charging a reasonable amount, then great! You can look forward to increasing your rates in about a year’s time if business is going well. If not, then you do further testing, by lowering your prices for a sale or a specific period of time. Beware though, that once you lower your prices permanently, it is almost impossible to get them back up.

I hope these small business tips have helped you to figure out whether you are charging too little or too much. If you are one of the few who happens to be charging somewhere in the middle, why not increase your fees and see how that fares.

Branding your business as a network marketing business or an MLM business is a sure sign for disaster. Let me explain. First of all you are selling your business opportunity during your first interaction with people. The problem with that is that your prospects get turned off to your idea or your business right away. Instead of trying to build a relationship with this person, which is the point of network marketing after all, you are just trying to sell.

On the other hand, if you were to build a website where you were branding yourself as someone who provides value and information, then you would not have this problem. In fact, this would be the recommended way to attract people to you and to attract potential distributors and partners to your MLM business.

The best way to bring new people into your business is to first make connections and build relationships with them. Trying to force people to make a decision about joining your business right away is like selling door to door. The whole point of network marketing is to leverage your network. If you don’t have a network and you’re trying to sell before building your network then you are actually going to alienate your market and ultimately fail.

Coming up with a good brand is more important than focusing on trying to push your products or your MLM opportunity. I suggest that you brand as yourself, because everyone can do business with people. On the other hand, people don’t like to do business with big companies. That’s another reason why network marketing was invented and why it is so successful for people who do it the right way.

Sometimes you have to realize that the way network marketing was designed off-line needs to be tweaked a little bit before it is brought online. So for example just because people hold events in person to introduce people to their products, doesn’t mean that the same will be true on the Internet. Yes it may be the case that introducing people to a product or opportunity on a webinar or teleseminar is a great way to go. On the other hand you might find that sending out an e-mail or Facebook message might work just as well. Similarly talking to people on the phone has been shown to work well because you get that human touch and you can ask questions as well as interact with people to figure out if they will be a good fit for your MLM business.

So hopefully you have realized after reading this article that leading with your MLM opportunity or product is probably not the best way to go. Instead I recommend that you brand as yourself, that you build your own website under your name, and a start providing value to people right way.

Face it, Valentines Day is pretty gosh darned cliche. All the red, the flowers, the chocolate. If you have to look at another heart-shaped anything you’re going to croak. But don’t worry it is possible to come up with original, fun, and romantic ideas to make your Valentines Date one to remember.

Here are some romantic ideas to get the ball rolling…

• Pamper your mate: Foot rubs, bath salts, and massages are all a go. But more importantly, turning off your cellphone and saying no to late night work or drinks so you can spend time together is critical. Show your spouse you really care by making them the center of attention.
• Secret treasure hunt: Make Valentines Day more than just one day out of the year that’s easily forgotten. Build up to the date by hiding fun little messages and mini-gifts around the house. Promise something extra special on the big V-day and then deliver!
• Candles and food: Yes, these are pretty common… but for good reason. Try cooking or preparing dinner for your spouse if you’re not the one who usually cooks. Light candles and play some relaxing music.
• Dress up! Okay this might also seem obvious, but dressing yourself up as well as your surroundings really changes the mood. It puts you at your best and that makes the whole night that much smoother.
• Collage: Create a big collage of photos of the two of you together. Then display it on Valentines Day along with some extra spaces for your partner to write down some of her favorite memories down. Do the same by writing what you love most about each other.
• Get kinky: Figure out what your boyfriend or girlfriend’s wildest fantasies are make them happen. These don’t have to be weird sexual fantasies, they can be as mundane as visiting Disneyworld or eating at a 5 star restaurant while wearing a goofy hat. (Make sure it’s doable and that it’s a true fantasy first!)

So there you have them. Hopefully these little tips and ideas have sparked more romantic Valentines Day date concepts for your own special night.

Make your Valentine’s heart swell and then enjoy each other’s company. Then, take that great loving energy and extend it out to every day of the year.

But what’s a slightly (okay, possibly very) addicted junk foodie to do? You know you love your chips, your desserts, and oh yeah there’s beer and bread. Well have no fear! You can gain the benefits of raw food by eating more raw food gradually.

Here’s the three step formula for how to go raw…

1. Eat something green every day: Start with a green smoothie, a green juice, or a green salad and make it a daily habit. You want to make that one meal per day as green as possible and really amp up your green intake!
2. Move toward more whole foods: You can still eat bread, but make sure it’s not white or heavily processed. Opt for organic corn chips, and gradually ween yourself toward healthier sugar options. (Not so white or processed is key.)
3. Drink more water: Chances are you aren’t drinking enough water, so make that a priority. Drink a lot of water first thing in the morning and make drinking water a part of your routine throughout the day.

That’s it! It sounds simple doesn’t it? But the key is that you’re making a few simple changes that add up over time to be truly life changing.

Once you start feeling great in your skin, you will gradually move more toward eating raw fruits and vegetables naturally. Who wouldn’t want to take the path of least resistance when it comes to changing their diet? Well that’s exactly what you’ll be doing by following the steps I’ve outline about. They truly will help you on your how to go raw journey!

So what are you waiting for? More raw food recipes? Figuring out what a green smoothie is? I’ve got those answers and many more, so leave a comment or do a search.

1. Shop Online: One way to avoid having the same cost you for ever and else in your town has, is to shop online. The Internet gives you such a wide range of options, and statistically speaking you have a greater chance of getting an original costume. For example, wearing your hometown can you get a couple electricity and outlet costume.

2. Make It Yourself: Another great option is to make the costs you yourself from scratch. You can buy many of the materials you will need to figure how we caught few. Of course, you probably shouldn’t show your cost June ahead of time to your schoolmates. Making a Halloween costume yourself means you have total control in you can be creative as you want to be.

3. Modify An Existing Costume: Another idea would be to use an existing costume or one that you thought the store, and then modifying it. You could use a sewing machine, or a pair of scissors and a needle and thread. Sometimes it can be easier to modify an existing cost you, to fit the ideas that you have in your mind’s eye.

4. Add Original Accessories: If you are to have Halloween costume, but you just want to make it a little bit more original, you can add accessories and props. Finding Halloween props to match your costume should be easy enough. Just be sure to think outside the box, and possibly even to shop somewhere that might have different options than most.

5. Shop at Thrift Stores: Another way would be to shop at thrift stores. Most items and thrift shops are used, and unique. The chances of your friends or classmates finding the exact same items as you do in a thrift shop are extremely slim. That’s why shopping in a used clothing store is a great way to build up your own Halloween cost you, not to mention it will be later on the wallet.

6. Brainstorm a New Topic: To fight copycats, come up with a topic that no one else will be using for their Halloween costumes. For instance, instead of dressing up as a character from one of the latest movies, why not revisit a childhood costume that you have. Another idea would be to create a new type of monster, or a superhero.

7. Change Your Mind: Another great way to keep people off year sentence, would be to design a Halloween costume give the plans to all of your friends and classmates, and then change your mind. The idea is to throw people off, to make sure that no one knows exactly what you’re going to wear.

8. Work in Secrecy: To keep copycats away from your costume ideas, work in secrecy. Keep to yourself, and if anyone asks you what you’re wearing for Halloween, tough on its going to be a nice surprise.

9. Add a New Spin to an Old Idea: If you’re running out of how the link costume ideas, try adding a new spin to an old favorite. Dressing up as one of your parents favorite of the characters, or a traditional movie star, like Audrey Hepburn.

10. Go As Yourself: It’s put a spin on your usual everyday wear, by dressing up as your evil twin. You don’t need to tell anyone that you are you, just say that you have been transformed into an evil version or that you are a forgotten and long-lost sibling.

The following are some of the things to watch out for when selecting your Halloween costume.

Halloween Costumes Give You Freedom of Expression

Although Halloween costumes have many good properties, this particular one might not be as good as it might seem on the surface. First of all, the freedom of expression that you get from a Halloween costume should not be abused. If you decide to dress up in a revealing costume, be prepared for some repercussions. Your costume will be remembered for years to come, and may give you a bad reputation.

Halloween Costumes Restrict Your Movement

For years parents have known that Halloween costumes could be dangerous for their children’s movements. For example, Halloween costumes that trail to the ground have been known to trip children. Similarly, tight skirts or high heels could cause girls to fall, or be unable to run away. If you don’t expect to be going far, these restrictions might not be anything to worry about. On the other hand, you want to be able to move freely in your Halloween costume, so choose wisely.

Photographs of Your Halloween Costume Might Surface

If your Halloween Costume it is too provocative, be prepared for pictures of it to surface on the Internet. Depending on the people you hang out with, pictures of your Halloween costume and your Halloween evening might show up on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, or personal blogs. Keep in mind that most of these sites are public, and potential employers, teachers, and even your parents could see them. This might not be an ideal way to start a public relationship with the world.

Halloween Costumes Can Be Dangerous

Halloween costumes themselves could be dangerous to your health. For example, you might wear a Halloween mask that is too tight, or restricts your breathing. Similarly, you might have chosen a brand of face paint that is not suitable for your skin. You could be allergic to something in the materials of the Halloween costume that you chose. So be sure to do some research before you buy your Halloween costume. You might even want to ask people who have worn the Halloween costume that you plan on buying, or even better buy it used. If someone else survived Halloween night wearing it, then chances are you will too.

Don’t let Halloween scare you, but do scare others with your Halloween costume.

Why and how do accessories enhance Your Halloween Costume?

Halloween Accessories are great because they add a new level of realism to your Halloween Costume. As an example, imagine that you are wearing a Luke Skywalker costume. You might have the most realistic Halloween costume based on Star Wars, but without an accessory like the light saber, you’ve got nothing. Accessories are an inexpensive way to make your Halloween costume stand out.

How many times have you seen a princess costume, and thought that it looked a little bit run-of-the-mill. Adding an accessory like a plastic frog (the prince in disguise) or even having a friend dress up as a fairy-godmother are great ways to spice up the traditional princess costume. You can also use Halloween props to accessorize a simple Halloween costume. Add a pitch fork to your farmers’ clothing and look authentic!

Where can Halloween accessories be purchased?

You can purchase Halloween accessories and Halloween props almost anywhere they sell Halloween costumes. But you might also consider shopping at niche stores, where the accessories you will use serve a real daily purpose. For instance, buying a wig from a real wig shop will give your new hair a realistic look. People might wonder if you dyed your hair, or if you managed to find someone with connections in the hairdressing business.

So go to hardware stores to find a wrench (for those dressing up as monkeys), go to the electronics store to buy some authentic headsets (for those dressing up as customer service clerks), and shop at adult stores for some naughty looking accessories.

How much do they cost?

Halloween accessories are not inexpensive, if you know where to look and how to approach them. Sometimes you might think that adding a real ball-and-chain to your prisoner costume, but it might be a bit heavy. So opting to create your own ball-and-chain prop would not only be less of a burden on your ankle, but also on your wallet. Sometimes you need to think outside of the box, look at materials that are used in everyday settings, and apply them to your Halloween Costume in a new different way.

Trendy Halloween Costumes for Teenagers

Teenagers tend to fall into two categories: those that like trendy things, and those that shy away from them. If you know your teenager well enough, then you’ll know which of the two they are. If your teenager is one of those teenagers who enjoy trendy things, you will probably have the best of luck looking for a popular Halloween costume for your teenager. Trendy Halloween costume ideas range from superheroes of the latest blockbuster movies of the summer, to political candidates, and even all the way to pop stars and musicians.

Alternative Halloween Costumes for Teenagers

If your teenager happens to be one of the outsiders, you’ll want to look for alternative Halloween costumes for them. These Halloween costumes might be a little bit harder to find, because you will need to make sure that they are original Halloween costumes. Sometimes that means looking at old magazines, watching Indy films, or even just inventing your own costume from scratch. In order to find the ideal Halloween costume for an alternative type of teenager, you might just want to ask them what they would prefer.

Traditional Halloween Costumes for Teenagers

When it comes to Halloween, we are not running out of traditional costumes. Teenagers still love the classics: the Princess, the vampire, the witch, the werewolf or monster, and so on. These Halloween costumes are easy to find, and teenagers will be especially grateful if you make the effort to find a high quality or slightly varying version of these costumes. For example, your teenage daughter does not want to wear the same princess dress that everyone else is going to be wearing. She will want the most beautiful, colorful, or outstanding type of dress. Similarly a vampire costume is pretty run-of-the-mill, unless you go all-out with the makeup or with a good quality cape.

Where to Find All of These Halloween Costumes

Now that you know a few of the different types of Halloween costumes that teenagers prefer, where do you get them? Sometimes it can be as simple as stopping off at your local department store and picking up a ready-made costume. Other times, especially for the alternative Halloween costumes, you will need to get your hands dirty and create the costume yourself. Don’t let the idea of making a Halloween costume on your own deter you, it’s much easier than you might imagine, and a lot more fun than shopping, too!

Thrifting Your Halloween Costume

Whether you have a knack for finding clothes at a bargain at a thrift shop or not, you can definitely find the makings of a great howling costume at your local thrift shop. Not only will you find great materials to make your Halloween costume, you can often save money, while being environmentally friendly. So how exactly do you go about finding the ideal pieces to put your Halloween costume together?

Before you head to the thrift shop, decide what type of Halloween costume you are aiming for. Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, you’ll begin to see it everywhere at the thrift shop. Just keep your eyes peeled, and remember that any item of clothing can be transformed into a different one with a little bit of dye, sewing, or mix and matching.

Passing Your Halloween Costume Down

If you happen to have a Halloween costume that you aren’t using, why not pass it down to your children, your friends and relatives, or the next-door neighbors? Once you start sharing Halloween costumes, you might realize that you could easily pull off wearing your best friend’s Halloween costume from last year. It’s not hard to adapt a Halloween costume to a new person. So just go ahead and pass on your old Halloween costumes. This works extremely well for brothers and sisters in the same family, too.

Creating Your Halloween Costume at Home

If you really don’t want to spend any money on buying a new Halloween costume, and who does, then why not create your own? Trading your own hollowing costume is actually easier than you might think. Go through everything in your closets and drawers, and pull out anything interesting. This is a great opportunity to clean out your closet, and it will give you some inspiration for your costume.

Using some of your old items of clothing is great for the environment, because it avoids waste. We all know that buying new things and throwing out old things all the time, is not the best for the planet. Similarly, by reusing things that you have already paid for, you are not incurring any new debts. Because you’re saving money, and the environment, you can feel even better wearing your homemade Halloween costume.

Now that you’ve seen that it is possible to get a Halloween costume that is good for the environment and your wallet, what are you waiting for? By going to the thrift store, sharing Halloween costumes with your friends or family, and making your own hollowing costumes, you are giving a helping hand to the environment. And you are going to be handsomely rewarded by saving lots of money.

1. Is the Halloween costume refundable? Can you return it if it doesn’t fit? You should also ask whether they will simply give you a gift certificate toward purchasing another Halloween costume, or if they will give your money back.

2. Can you wash the Halloween costume in a washing machine? Many Halloween costumes are very bright, and you don’t want the colors to fade if you need to wash it before or after wearing it.

3. How should you dry the Halloween costume after it has been washed? If you need to hang dry it, or even dry clean it, you need to know ahead of time. This will ensure that you Halloween costume stays in great shape, so you can pass it on to a friend or family member for the next year.

4. How many other Halloween costumes like this one have been sold this year? Sometimes you want to stand out and have the most original Halloween costumes. So get a feeling for how many other people have bought this particular halloween costume.

5. Is this the best price you can get? Sometimes you think that bargaining doesn’t happen, but just asking the innocent question of getting a better price can do wonders. This is especially useful if you are on a budget.

6. Is this Halloween costume a fad, or a tried and true costume? Sometimes you want to buy a costume that is fashionable and trendy. Other times you want to invest in a Halloween costume that will still be a classic for years to come, so you can hand it down to your children.

7. Does this Halloween costume look good on you? Although you might be shy to ask such a forward question, if you want to look good, you need to ask. Halloween is the perfect night to dress up and look your best, so find out before you pick your costume.

8. Does the Halloween costume come in different colors? You might think that the princess dress is the best costume ever, but wait until you see the white version, or the blue version. Don’t let what’s on the rack influence you, when there could be better designs or colors hidden in the storage room.

9. Can you make this Halloween costume at home for cheaper? Sometimes money is more important that saving some time. If you think the Halloween costume is a simple design and you are feeling up to the task of sewing or knitting it, then go for it!

10. Should you buy the costume or rent it? You might decide that this Halloween costume is great, but you are only going to wear it one year. Why not rent the costume instead? In other cases, you might fall in love with the costume and find a way to incorporate it into your every day wardrobe.