Monthly Archives: June 2013

Top 3 Ways You Can Promote Your Business

Posted on by

There are many reasons to start a business (passion, a desire to be seen as an expert, among others), but no matter the reason for why the business was formed in the first place, a business has to stay afloat financially. To be financially sound, promotion of your business is necessary. Pick new media, traditional media, or combine both to promote your business and get it the recognition and customers you deserve.

Find Your Customers and Hang out Where They do

3 Ways You Can Promote Your Business

Top 3 Ways You Can Promote Your Business

 

Image via Flickr by Rosaura Ochoa

Find your customers and go to them. This sentiment is applicable to both traditional advertising efforts and new, social efforts. Your business is only as great as the customers who drive it so finding that target audience of consumers is imperative. Not just any person will work, but rather, a strategy for who will fuel your business the most should be implemented.

When using traditional media efforts, find out if your target consumer hangs out in coffee shops, at the library, at the senior center, or in the city park. From there, print out flyers, distribute business cards, and join any organizations in those same areas.

When using new media efforts, look for tweetchats where your consumer is hanging out. Tweetchats exist to talk about books, social media outlets, sewing and other hobbies. By participating, connecting and finding out what others are talking about in the field, you’ll be surrounded by those who can find a benefit in your company.

Make Yourself Known

Making yourself and your business known is more than just distributing flyers and connecting online, though there is that. To make yourself known includes these things, but also goes beyond to establishing yourself as an expert, attending conferences in your field, and developing a large presence both online and off.

Incorporate traditional media efforts by handing out a large amount of business cards, advertising on radio and television, and taking out an ad in your local newspaper. Decal and magnet your vehicle, or make t-shirts for your biggest fans to wear.

To incorporate new media efforts into your business strategy, consider creating Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts. Also, take part in or host a webinar, write a blog, create a video blog, or have a QR code tied to your business. Creating Slideshare presentations, as Lindsay Rosenwald has done, will help you promote your business because you are sharing your expertise with a presentation you have created.

Expand on Word of Mouth Marketing

If you’re producing a quality product (tangible or intangible) and you have loyal customers and clients, word of mouth marketing is the greatest tool at your disposal. Referrals for your business will increase as you form relationships with your customers and continue to offer a product and service that people can stand behind.

Increasing word of mouth marketing is in the business owner’s hand and can be done by asking for referrals, and requesting that current customers review your business on top review sites like Yelp, Google, Yahoo and Trip Advisor. A customer loyalty card or referral card with a deal attached will also work to promote your business.

As a business owner, promoting your business is essential, but doing so in the right ways will secure longer lasting customers who are loyal to your work and products. Encourage word of mouth, make yourself known and be strategic in your promoting to reach maximum potential.

The Long Riders Blu-Ray Review

Posted on by

The Long Riders is a classic western from Walter Hill. It is now making it’s Blu-Ray debut thanks to Second Sight Films.

thelongridersThe Long Riders is a good film. It has good performances from actors that are now super famous, but were then young actors trying to make a mark. Their raw talent is there and fascinating to watch. These include real life movie siblings Dennis and Randy Quaid, Christopher and Nicholas Guest, and three Carradine’s; David, Keith and Robert. So it is very much a family affair.

The casting of real-life brothers in the film adds to the tale of the infamous Jesse James/Cole Younger gang. We may all know the story of Jessie James and Robert Ford but knowing the ending doesn’t stop you enjoying this film. The shoot outs are filled with excitement and the consequences come fast and hard. It is hard hitting and in it’s day it must have been violent and shocking as it still has power today.

This is an old movie and for those who like old movies it is certainly enjoyable. Although I think people who do not usually watch old movies will like it too. A well paced film with a cracking script and lots of action. It has beautiful cinematography and is a visual feast. I really loved the look of the movie. All the way down to the melancholic ending which comes after a brilliant shoot out scene and includes the infamous Northfield, Minnesota bank raid.  It is one of those great old westerns that they don’t make anymore.

The Long Riders is out now on Blu-Ray.

Chasing Ice Review: One of The Most Important Documentary’s of Our Time?

Posted on by

chasingiceClimate Change seems like an endless debate. With evidence coming from both sides of the divide. It is not hard to get confused and just want some straight facts. I have read James Delingpole’s Watermelons book which had some good, hard facts in it, helped massively by the scandal involving scientists and their hacked emails. Climategate certainly did global warming no favours.

But now climate change has a new big hitter on its side: National Geographic photographer James Balog. After all, seeing is believing and James Balog’s photography of melting icebergs cannot be dismissed. In fact, after telling a friend about the documentary he told me of a friend who had trained for two years to go to the North Pole and then could not because the ice had all melted and it was not possible to get there on foot. Worrying stuff.

Now to the documentary. First thing is first: wow. The documentary is beautiful. Balog’s photography is just striking and perfect. His photography ends up on the front cover of the National Geographic. It is fair to say that he might be the best nature photographer working today. However, this is not the only point of Chasing Ice. The point of Chasing Ice is the melting icebergs. Despite knee operations and health problems Balog kept returning to the Arctic and launched the EIS: Extreme Ice Survey. In the eight years since he started the project- in 2005- the icebergs had severely melted, if not disappeared altogether.

Chasing Ice was shortlisted for an Oscar and grossed over $75,000 at the box office in the UK alone. This is all with good reason, Chasing Ice is a brilliant documentary. A must see for everyone and possibly the most important documentary of out time.

Chasing Ice is out now . Join the EIS: Extreme Ice Survey if you would like to help.

 

 

Father’s Day Gift Guide

Posted on by

Father’s day is on the 16th of June and it is fast approaching. For those – like me- who have not bought anything yet I have put together a gift guide. It is a range of fun and different things for the most important man in your life. Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments below.

image002

At Frost we reviewed Grant’s Family Reserve. Here is what we thought:

This whiskey smells great, full bodied. My first thought on trying this whiskey is oak. I then read up on it to find out it is matured in oak caskets. It is also malty, clean and complex. I can taste cinnamon stick, cloves, and nutmeg. We initially tried it without water and you really get the full flavours. With water it is just as enjoyable, and personally I found it more so because you could take it all in more without getting really drunk! This whiskey is a great blend. I really enjoyed it. It is sweet and fruity so it is right up my street.

Whether your dad is a discerning whisky lover or someone who enjoys the occasional dram, the Grant’s Family Reserve gift pack is the ideal way to say thank you and to help make this Father’s Day extra special.

Feeling inspired? Why not try something different this Father’s Day with one of Grant’s signature cocktails, the Grant’s highball.

 

Cocktail – Grant’s Highball

Made with the world’s favourite family owned whisky, the Grant’s Highball is an ideal aperitif or accompaniment to a meal and ideal for sharing with your dad.

Ingredients:

· 50ml Grant’s Family Reserve

· Ginger ale

· Dash of Angostura bitters

· Garnish with an Orange wedge

 

Fill a glass with ice cubes and add the Grant’s Family Reserve. Top up with ginger ale and add a few drops of Angostura bitters. Garnish with an orange wedge.

The Grant’s Family Reserve £16.49*, Grant’s Sherry Cask (MRSP £17.99*) and Grant’s Ale Cask (MRSP £17.99*) are available at Tesco, other leading supermarkets and off licences.

Visit www.grantswhisky.co.uk for the latest serve ideas

image020

This Leather Men’s Wallet is from QVC. £20.16

Item no.759923

 

image021

Emu Mens Romeo Sheepskin Slipper, £69.00, QVC.

Item no.153851

 

image024

Skagen Gents Midnight Blue Dial Titanium Mesh Strap Watch, QVC, £102.00

Item no.674551

 

 

 

FREE ARCHERY LESSON FOR DADS AND FAMILY SWORD SCHOOL

 

This Father’s Day, Sunday 16 June, at Warwick Castle, kids can send their dads back to school – Knight School – for free ‘have a go’ archery and training in swordsmanship from the Warwick Warriors, in addition to enjoying mediaeval weaponry displays and the firing of the Mighty Trebuchet. From 10am until 5pm, all dads qualify for an archery trial with an expert archer at Britain’s Ultimate Castle.

 

Kids and their dads can immerse themselves in over one thousand years of stories and legends about knights, battles and sieges, and experience firsthand how it feels to handle ancient weaponry. There’s plenty for mums to enjoy, too, including:

 

  • Raising the Portcullis
  • Flight of the Eagles Show, twice daily
  • The Sword and the Stone
  • Firing the Trebuchet, twice daily
  • Warwick Warriors live combat
  • Actor-led Tours of State Rooms and Great Hall
  • Towers & Ramparts
  • Riverside setting and Rose Garden
  • Warwick Castle Unlocked – four new rooms opened in February 2013

 

Book online in advance for the best value entrance fees: adults from £17.10 and children from £11.70: check www.warwick-castle.com for prices and latest attraction schedule.

Maybe all your dad wants is a phone call.

Lonely Dads Hoping for a Phonecall from their Children this Father’s Day

Panasonic survey finds over half of British dads long for more contact with their grown-up children

  • A third of fathers see their offspring once a month or less
  • Over half of dads would like to hear from children more often

 

Reports of middle-aged parents suffering Crowded Nest Syndrome due to the return of Generation Boomerang may be premature, according to a new study published ahead of Father’s Day. A survey of UK dads carried out by Panasonic reveals that 83 percent admit they miss having regular contact with grown-up sons and daughters who have left the family home.

 

A third of UK fathers see their adult offspring once a month or less, with five percent only seeing their children once a year at most. It seems dads can’t get enough family time, with 52 percent saying they would still like to hear from their kids more often.

 

Empty Nest Syndrome has historically been more commonly associated with mothers, but fathers who participated in the survey were keen to overturn the gender stereotype. Forty-six percent believe they miss their kids at least as much, if not more, than their mother does, and only one in three believes their mother misses them more than they do.

 

When it comes to keeping in touch, the home phone still reigns supreme; 68 percent of dads mainly use their landline to talk to their son or daughter. Of the many ways to stay in touch now available, dads agreed on which would appreciate receiving a new home phone as a gift. 42 percent rated the trusty home phone the best of the bunch, with 24 percent giving mobile phones their vote and Skype video calling trailing in third place with 10 percent.

 

The study shows that children are still turning to dad for advice, with petitions for help featuring in eight in ten of phone conversations. An enterprising 30 percent of children have taken the opportunity to ask for a loan during a catch-up, 33 percent have sought DIY guidance and 17 percent have asked for career advice. Oddly enough, they aren’t so forthcoming when it comes to their love lives, with just one in ten dads ever having been consulted by their children on affairs of the heart.

 

 

Free Massage for Dads at K West Hotel & Spa

 

Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, spa days away. With all these treats for the ladies, Dads might be feeling a little neglected.

 

This Father’s Day on 16 June 2013, K West Hotel & Spa will be giving Dads the treatment they deserve with a free back and shoulder massage.

 

To claim this fantastic treat, family members need to book a two course dinner at the stylish Kanteen restaurant (priced at just £16 per adult and £8 per child) and lucky Dads will receive a complimentary massage voucher.

 

Get your Dad a copy of the Breaking Bad Boxset from Amazon UK. He will be eternally grateful.

SBRP2080UV_BreakingBadS5_UK_BD_STD2_ST_2D

Check out these great gift ideas from buyagift.com

Double Supercar Driving Blast: £59

2BA4B4AE-EBDD-49C8-A2DC-AE63947665A0

Choose from nine of the world’s most renowned and respected supercars and enjoy the high-octane adrenaline thrill of your life with this amazing driving blast! Your adrenaline levels will soar as you take control of two incredible driving machines for 3 miles each, with options including the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin and Audi R8 – each effortlessly combining style, speed and unbelievable power! With six locations across the UK to choose from, this is your chance to discover the true power of the world’s most impressive beasts!

Helicopter Ride Over London for Two: £225

helicopter ride over London

Treat yourselves to a unique tour of London with this helicopter tour over the capital’s rooftops. London is full of famous landmarks and attractions, from Canary Wharf to the Houses of Parliament, and this unforgettable experience will give you a totally new perspective of one of the world’s greatest cities. Sit back during your flight and appreciate all the grandeur of London as you take in stunning aerial views of a city steeped in history and culture. Just remember to bring your camera!

 

Helicopter Pilot Experience Day: £139

4B1CB835-779B-423E-9C41-BFD3B5B19EC7

This amazing experience is your chance to discover if you’ve got what it takes to fly a helicopter and be a commercial helicopter pilot. Arrive at the airfield for 9am, where you will be greeted with refreshments by your hosts for the day. An introduction and safety briefing will be given by a CAA Licensed Helicopter Instructor, followed by a talk on being a commercial pilot, and a presentation on helicopter pilot career options. Next comes the highlight of the day – a hands-on, one-to-one helicopter flying lesson and hover challenge! You’ll take the controls as your instructor gives you helpful tuition. During the experience you will receive a buffet-style lunch, as well as a guided tour of the hangars and a discussion about various helicopter types.

If you have a dapper dad you can always buy him some clothes.

Father’s Day is coming up and High and Mighty is here to help with its one stop shop for all things Dad-related. Designers such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Lacoste have an array of presents and everything from fashion and fragrances, to electricals and DVD’s are all under one roof at www.highandmighty.co.uk. Perfect for the Dapper Dad.

father's day present

4 Shows Moms Watch to Live Vicariously (That Always Make Us Laugh)

Posted on by

Television is a popular choice for relaxation and enjoyment, ranking even higher than shopping and talking on the phone in a study of over 900 women in Texas. A poll of 3,000 commissioned by QVC revealed that a tenth of respondents would rather leave their spouse or partner than their favorite show. Television allows women to live vicariously in a way that would otherwise be impossible, and these top shows are some of the best for pure escapism.

Sex and the City – Fashion, Flirting, and Big City Allure

Shows Moms Love to Watch

4 Shows Moms Watch to Live Vicariously

 

Image via Flickr by chirinecarlao

Sex and the City may have gone off the air in 2004, but that hasn’t stopped it from being a continued favorite in the female crowd. Reruns are on the air nearly every day, bringing the fabulous fashionable life of Carrie Bradshaw and her friends to life again. This show focuses on four young, beautiful bachelorettes and gives busy moms a chance to fantasize about youthful exploits, enviable closets, and drawers filled with sexy lingerie panties that see plenty of excitement. The ever-present touch of humor is an added bonus that gives the entire sitcom a fresh, lighthearted air.

The Bachelor(ette) – Sex, Love, and Romance

The Bachelor entered its 17th season in January 2013 and The Bachelorette will enter its ninth season in the summer of 2013. Both shows depict a string of single yet surprisingly attractive people on the search for love. Contestants cavort in exotic destinations and five-star hotels, going on elaborate dates and predictably falling in love. Women craving a little extra romance in their lives have good reason to flock to these shows, though the outrageous idea that perfect strangers will find a healthy relationship amid this reality show setting is a bit laughable.

The Real Housewives – Lifestyles of the Rich and Fascinating

The original Real Housewives of Orange County spawned a total of six spin-offs, each with a devoted fan base. The outrageous fights and over-the-top exploits of these women are plenty humorous, but the stars themselves seem to take their problems completely seriously. Women watching these shows get an enticing glimpse of how the other side lives, as each series focuses on “real” housewives who are impossibly wealthy and conveniently freed of the need to deal with the day-to-day concerns that most housewives face.

Desperate Housewives – Madness and Mayhem in Beautiful Packages

Desperate Housewives aired its series finale in May 2012, but not before taking viewers along for a marathon of drama and excitement. This drama focuses on the lives of housewives presenting a polished and perfect face for their neighbors, but distinctly desperate behind the scenes. The twisted plot lines that ran through the show throughout its run were nearly impossible to follow for any but the most devoted viewers, but this show had plenty of those who were perhaps a bit desperate for excitement themselves.

Moms looking to live vicariously through their TV counterparts will find plenty of daring ways to escape through these popular shows. Whether they’re still in production or faithfully available through reruns, they all offer lots of fascinating worlds to escape to.

5 Study Techniques for Teens Preparing for the SAT’s

Posted on by

Taking the SAT’s is a big deal. A good score can help you get into a good school. It can also help you qualify for great scholarships and grants. Before you take the SAT’s, it’s a good idea to study, so that you’re prepared.

Study Early – Don’t Crunch

Study Techniques for Teens

Study Techniques for Teens

 

Image via Flickr by MC Quinn

One of the worst things you can do for any test is to crunch. If you stay up late the night before the test, trying to cram everything in your mind, you won’t remember anything when you go to take the test. Instead, start studying long before the test is scheduled. Study a few things at a time, for the best results.

Consider a Test Prep Program

SAT Prep programs are a great way to study. They help you prepare for exactly what will be on the test. They also put you together with other people who are studying. Working with a study group can help you retain the information that you’re studying. Whether you’re studying with a group online or in person, it’s a great way to make sure you go over exactly what you need.

Take the Practice Tests

If you feel like you’ve studied enough, go ahead and test yourself. Taking a practice test will show you whether or not you’re ready to actually take the official test. If you bomb the practice test, you may want to go back to studying. However, if you ace the practice test, go ahead and schedule the official. The practice tests are a decent gauge of how well you’ll do. The practice tests also help you understand the layout of the test, which can help you when you do get to the official test.

Get Rest

Preparing for the SAT's

Teens Preparing for the SAT’s

 

Image via Flickr by Chris March

One thing that a lot of people forget when they’re getting ready for a big test is that they need to get rest. Your brain needs this rest to be able to remember the information you’re feeding it. If you’re staying up late every night studying, then getting up early every morning for class, you’re probably not retaining as much information as you’d like. Getting a good night’s sleep each night can help you keep up with what you study.

Try Different Study Types

Don’t get stuck in one study type if it’s not working for you. Some people do well with reading and retaining information. Other people need to write things down to remember them. Still others do best when they hear information. Try out a variety of ways to go through the information you’re studying. Flash cards for vocabulary are great, because they incorporate a variety of learning styles. You can write down the words and definitions, read them on the cards, and read them off with others, allowing you to hear them.

Studying for the SAT’s can be stressful. Make sure that you give yourself the time you need. In addition, when you study the things that you know will be on the test, you are saving yourself time and energy. Though studying can be difficult, it doesn’t have to be horrible.

Government: “Love Freely But Pay For Sex” – part 1

Posted on by

Fifty years ago, almost to the day, a series of events began that eventually helped to topple the Harold Macmillan Conservative government.

In what became known as the Profumo Affair, the then Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, stepped down after deceiving Parliament about his relationship with Christine Keeler.

The affair with 19-year-old Keeler, who was also in a relationship with Yevgeny Ivanov, a naval attaché at the Soviet Embassy, strained the government to its limits at the height of the Cold War.

Half a century later, another potential sex scandal is poised to prove another headache for today’s Tory leaders as Hackney-based filmmaker, Phoenix James, focuses on the government’s pending and divisive Pay for Sex policy.Love freely but PAY for SEX - IMDb

Produced by James, ‘Love Freely But Pay For Sex’ follows the efforts of a handful of untrained – but enthusiastic and vocal – amateur journalists and presenters as they roam across London canvassing public opinion, and pursuing media personalities and members of authority.

By pulling together the efforts of the rogue independent film and TV production group, James has found himself at the forefront of a lively and controversial debate.

In its simplest terms, the Pay for Sex policy will make paying for sex a legal requirement for unmarried men and women, one that requires couples to register.

Despite previous coalition climbdowns on pasty, caravan and charity taxes – in a world where sex is already a global money-making industry, the government see it as a natural progression, and a practical tax in line with those already on pleasures such as smoking and drinking.

And as well as a much-needed boost to the British economy, by encouraging couples to marry – and so become exempt – ministers hope to see a return to traditional conservative, family values.

Understandably, the battle lines in ‘Love Freely But Pay For Sex’ are frequently drawn on social and age lines. Two young men are resentful and challenging, older couples are philosophical, but worried about making ends meet, while others see it as a logical step forward.

“The planet runs on sex and money,” says writer and performance poet, Phenzwaan. “It’s the perfect match.”

Whether the policy is enforceable is debatable, but the government is clearly hoping the majority of people will register for the Pay for Sex policy to avoid possible prosecution – and as a safeguard.

While the production company failed to get to the bottom of what happens if a lover is unsatisfied and refuses to pay, a registered person is likely to have some legal grounds for complaint, while unregistered lovers could find themselves in court.

The talking heads and interviewees in ‘Love Freely But Pay For Sex’ are wide-ranging and frequently producing support in unlikely places. Surprisingly, James’ film reveals escort agencies are welcoming the policy, believing that business will boom as men and women opt to pay for a regulated and expert lover.

Gay men and women also see it as a triumph. As the team catch up with street celebrations following the legalisation of gay marriage, becoming both liable for, and exempt from, Pay for Sex is seen as equality for the gay community with heterosexual couples.

Given the far-reaching consequences of the subject matter, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the hour-long production only scratches the surface. The production team admit that their collective aim in making and showcasing the film is to create awareness among those unaware and stimulate further dialogue among those who are. Their work to uncover, document and highlight more information about the Pay for Sex Policy is, they say, ongoing.

To find out more about the government’s Pay for Sex Policy and to see ‘Love Freely But Pay for Sex’ go to www.PayforSexPolicy.com

 

Look out for part 2 of this article soon! – Phoenix James on ‘Love Freely But Pay For Sex’.