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2005 Funding Directory. A complete directory of every source of funding in the United States including grants, loans, and venture capital.
Follow this link for additional information about the Funding Directory.
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Table of Contents

1. Editor's Musings
2. Article: The SKINNY on Newspapers by BIG Mike McDaniel
3. Recommended
4. Internet Sites Reviewed
5. Freebies and Other Good Deals
6. Joke of the Week

1. Editor's Musings

And a very happy Easter to those who celebrate this day. Happy Spring do those who do not. Okay, now I know somebody from the opposite side of the globe is going to let me know that its not spring where they live. So – Happy Whatever it is that you're celebrating! :)

2.Article: The SKINNY on Newspapers by BIG Mike McDaniel

Using the paper is considered gospel by many people in business. Use it wisely and it can be a good tool.

Remember, newspapers are passive, non intrusive media. They tend to reach only buyers who are looking for the product. They are poor at reaching prospects before the need arises.

Think about it, there are few times you have been driven to go to a store to buy a product you never heard of because you saw an ad in the paper. You had to have an earlier impression about the product for the newspaper ad to point you to the location to buy it.

There are 4 ways to use the newspaper for advertising.

1) Display advertising
from one column wide by 2 inches high to a full two pages, display ads can be so numerous the news stories have to be cut so both can live on the page.

There is usually no protection. Competiting store ads can be next to each other (next time you see the paper look for tire store ads on the same page).

When designing your ad, remember it's all about them. Use a catchy headline and tell them what you will do for the. Forget about your picture or your "Number One in the District Award". Good advertising "feels their pain".

The effectiveness of classified ads varies by paper and by who wrote the ad and by what the ad is selling. Many classified sections have turned into giant car dealer pages and huge homes for sale sections complete with four color pictures.

The small, private, "gotta sell my Bow-Flex" ads can be lost in a giant classified section. Many shoppers and Nickle Savers have smaller, and cheaper, classified sections.

Some small business operators find success with a series of small classified ads. Small blurps tend to build "top of mind awareness". A cheap way to keep your name out there.

Tabs, the cash cow for newspapers, are manufactured events designed to sell ads. Progress Editon. Easter Shopping Special. Dollar Days. You name it, there is a tab every idea.

Typically a tab is the regular paper page turned sideways (landscape) and folded in half.

Tabs get ad-on advertising dollars from existing clients and offer one time only exposure to those who don't normally use the paper (i.e. the giant corporate ads in every Progress Edition). Most papers have so many tabs, they print an advertising calendar.

Understand them for what they are, vehicles to get extra bucks from you. If you want to be in one, rearrange your budget, don't ad to it.

Some Sunday papers weight 4 to 5 pounds each, mostly for the weight of stuffers and inserts. Usually reserved for national advertisers and big box stores. They print them and deliver them to the paper and pay a per piece fee to have them stuffed and delivered. For smaller businesses they become cost prohibitive. Better to stick with display ads.

Sunday papers have the biggest circulation, and ad rates are more expensive. Regional and national papers can be expensive, too. Local papers and shoppers are less expensive, but nonetheless can be a major part of a small business ad budget.

Newspaper advertising is sold by the column inch. Different categories of ads and section placement determine the rate and rates vary throughout the paper. Rates also vary with advertisers, depending on how many column inches they have agreed to buy in a one year period. The more the cheaper.

Plan your advertising well in advance and stick to your budget. Sell to needs, not ego and newspaper can be your buddy.

For more about advertising, get my article "What Does your telephone say about you?" TelephoneSay@BIGMikeOnline.com

3. Product Recommendation: *** Make Your Links Work ***

Proper links mean the difference between good search engine positioning and bad positioning. In other words, there is a right way and a wrong way to link, and many of us are using the wrong way. This ebook has no charge. Download it and learn hw to do your linking the right way.

Make Your Links Work

4. Internet Sites -- reviewed by June Campbell

*** Conversation: "Celebrate Success: Fourteen Ways to a Successful Company" ***
Author Ron Finklestein shares what he learned bu studying 50 successful companies. This is a 40 minute online sound file.

*** Things your Spouse should know before you start your own business.***
This is article one of three.

*** Apple Goes to Court
Update and overview of the Apple vs. the Bloggers court case.

*** Work from Home Office Policies
It's time for a bit of fun. Check out this amusing article on the home office.

5. Freebies and Good Deals

a. Receive 250 Business Cards, Absolutely FREE! You pay only shipping and handling.Visit this link for additional information.

b. FREE Webmaster Tools III Package!. With our  Webmaster Tools III package you can create hundreds of effects in minutes using our 40+ JavaScript and CSS wizards. There are also other great tools and resources included in the Webmaster Tools package such as a HTML ENCRYPTOR, script tester, JavaScript to HTML converter and more. Click Here To Register FREE and Receive These FREE Tools! www.thebusinessjunction.com/Webmaster_Tools_III.htm/

6. Joke of the Week: A Good Luck Omen!

After finding a four-leaf clover, everything started to improve in Susie's life. She found a new boyfriend, got a raise at work and rented a great new apartment.

One day, she accidentally sent a dress to the dry cleaners and forgot to remove the four-leaf clover from the pocket. When Susie picked up her dress, the clover was there, but it had been flattened.

Susie's luck changed. The boyfriend left her, her boss fired her and the apartment building was shut down.

Sighing, she said, "I knew I shouldn't have pressed my luck!"

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