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MANY INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS COME INTO PLAY MAKING A SUCCESSFUL AD:

1. PERSUASIVE SELLING COPY. The wording is the single most important element in determining a successful ad. What counts most is what you say and how you say it.

2. PLACEMENT IN APPROPRIATE PUBLICATION. This might seem obvious, but it is often neglected. If the right people don't see your ad, they can't respond.

3. SPACE/PRICE IN PROPORTION. You simply can't sell high priced merchandise from a small classified or one inch ad space. These should be considered as a low cost means of building a mailing list by asking readers to write for more information. If you expect to sell directly from an ad, the size of the ad will have to increase in proportion to the selling price. Two or three inches of space for items selling for 42 to $5... half or full page for items selling for more than $5 up to $20. When the price goes above $20 it is usually best to run inquiry ads and follow up with a printed sales presentation. There are exceptions, but this is a fairly safe rule to follow.

4. TESTING ALL THE ELEMENTS. Unlike institutional advertising (toothpaste, cars, soap, etc.) which must rely on extensive market research, analysis, surveys and a lot of psychology to achieve success, mail order selling has a built-in "watchdog" to guard against waste and loss, and to help assure that every dollar spent will produce a profit...or at least tell you why it didn't, so you won't make the same mistake twice. This method (unique to mail order) is called KEYING. By inserting a number or letter (or combination) into every ad you run, you can tell which ad works in which publication and in which issues it works best. More sophisticated forms of this testing technique can be carried thru by trying a new headline, a different testimonials,guarantees, etc. The testing technique know no limits, but there is also danger in becoming test-happy. To use the testing principle effectively, be certain that the results will justify the time and expense of making the test. If it merely means adding to your paperwork without adding profit or reducing cost,it isn't worth it.

Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
This article may be reproduced freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

As the owner and webmaster of a satellite tv comparison website I often get many questions about the different channels and options that are available with DIRECTV.

In my earlier articles I've discussed some of the basic differences between DISH Network and DIRECTV. In this article I will specifically discuss DIRECTV so that you may become more familiar with the packages that this company offers.

Let's first take a look at the channel packages that are currently offered along with a brief explanation of each.

Available Channel Packages

Total Choice

This package features approximately 95 channels including many of the most popular channels. E!, TBS, USA, Comedy Central, CNN, Nickelodeon, ESPN, ESPN2, Discovery Channel, MTV, Food Network, and many more are found in this channel package. There are also a small number of XM music channels available for those who enjoy digital music. Many people find this to be an acceptable number of channels. However, if you're interested in a larger selection of television and music channels you may be interested in one of the following.

Total Choice Plus

This package includes 33 more music and programming channels in addition to those featured in the "Total Choice" package. If you're a music fan, the additional XM selections might make you choose this package instead of the "Total Choice" option.

Total Choice Premier

For the individual that likes to spend hours in front of the television the "Everything" package includes all of the channels currently offered by DIRECTV. Sports Channels, Music Channels, Educational Channels, and Lifestyle Channels are all included along with the commercial free movie channels.

Conclusion

As you can see there are a great number of choices for you to select from. It's difficult for you to go wrong with any of these selections because of the huge availability of popular channels. If you'd like more information on DIRECTV please visit www.bestdishdealonline.com

Michael Hizer is a successful internet marketer and expert in satellite television and online shopping. You can find the best deals in satellite television at http://www.bestdishdealonline.com

You want to start up a business on the Internet but it hasnt happened. What can you do to put yourself on the journey to success?

You can identify what is stopping you and take steps to overcome these common but deadly barriers

1) Lack of Goals

If you sit down at your computer with the Internet connected with no goals, it is likely you will end up surfing without a purpose. This is very time consuming.

Decide what you want to achieve, make it as specific as possible and plaster copies of them all over your home so you cant fail to read them at least 5 times a day.

Your mind will start to believe them and if you take active steps to achieve them they will not be out of your reach.

2) Lack of Money

Okay for some people this will be a genuine factor but for the majority of us, there is a vice or an activity we can give up, like smoking, the odd bottle of wine or an aerobics class.

Most of us will be able to find something to give up or cut down on for the few months it takes to get started.

The Internet provides so many free resources and is the cheapest way to start a business these days so buckle down the purses or give up a vice and join the ride.

3) No Research

This is a most deadly barrier. Because you might think you have a idea for a product but unless you are absolutely sure there is a market for it, you have no assurances of success.

If you have a list you can ask them for their opinions. Or go onto to some of the many forums and ask for peoples opinions and test the water.

Dont create a product and waste precious resources until you are sure there is a market. Even better create the product after you have investigated a market and know what they want.

4) Scared of Failure

Youve probably heard it before but do you think Einstein got it right first time? Do you think any inventor gets it right first time?

Im sure it takes 100s and even 1000s of attempts in some cases before its Eureka. Failures happen to be learnt from so dont be afraid of them or give up when one occurs.

Sit down, learn your lessons and get on with your next plan of action with your head held high.

5) Information Overload

I know all about this one! You get so many ideas and ways of marketing in your head, they all merge, make your mind utterly confused and you cant even think of one straight idea.

The solution to this is to try one thing at a time. Test its success and if it doesnt work, move on. And when you find something thats works, stick to and master it.

Then you can go onto try something else but only if you want to. Its better to be excellent at one thing, then not very good at lots of things.

Also you could try choosing one or two gurus to follow. You can copy their roads to success as long as it is in your own words.

6) Procrastination

This is the one thing NOT to become a master at! Tomorrow never comes. Dont put off things you can to today. Do something every day to bring you closer to your goals.

I know the soaps and TV in general can be very entertaining but imagine what you can achieve if you spent that time making substantial amounts of money on the Internet. The possibilities have no limits.

7) Other Peoples Views

Whether its your partner, boss, kids, friends, neighbours, acquaintances, whoever do not let them put you down. If you want to succeed, its down to you and you alone.

Keep that one mindedness and dont budge from it, whatever the daily grind throws at you. You can success and you will.

Live the life you want to. If you want to work from 9 to 5 and are happy, then so be it. However, if that is not case, its up to you to do something about it. Today, the Internet is your oyster, so get out there and find the pearls.

Helen Farmer is a budding entrepreneur who has spent the last two years reading everything to do with the Internet and her mind is ready to burst. She knows the first thing you need is a good mailing list so click here to get a FREE report on How to get 50,000 subscribers in 90 days - http://www.dynamic-copy.com/external.html

With all the new digital formats out there, it is of little surprise that there exists considerable confusion about EDTV and HDTV. First of all, EDTV stands for Enhanced Definition Television, while HDTV stands for High Definition Television. TVs equipped with either of these formats are capable of receiving and potraying images in a digital fashion - both of which are superior in visual quality to the standard TV (SDTV).

Which is better, EDTV, or HDTV?

This is a question that comes up quite often, and it really has a simple answer: HDTV is better. However, EDTV wasn't really made to be a competitor for HDTV, but rather a transition technology that was better than standard, but not all the way High Definition, as HDTV is. And although Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV) doesn't quite offer the oustanding life-like quality attributed to High Definition Television (HDTV), its picture is actually closer to HDTV than regular television. HDTV has an impressive 720 progressive scanning (1280x720 pixels) or 1080 interlaced (1920x1090 pixels) lines. Thus, it easily meets the requirement of high definition broadcasts. EDTV, on the other hand, displays pictures at 480 progressive scan (640x480 pixels), which is the the highest resolution available on DVD. In fact, EDTV is considered optimized for the DVD format. However, this puts a severe limit on EDTV, which is simply not able to display higher resolution HD content.

Our recommendation is that, when purchasing a new TV, you consider getting one that is "HD-ready." It is likely that all broadcasts will transition over to true HDTV format within the next decade or so. Be advised, however, that you will need to purchase an external set-top box with an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) tuner in order to receive digital HDTV programming. Many cable and satellite providers, if they provide HDTV content, may offer this tuner for free. One final note, you may want to consider buying a LCD TV, as most are HDTV ready, and do the best job of displaying those beautiful HD images.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on EDTV and HDTV TV technology, please visit our EDTV vs HDTV TV webpage.