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By Joseph Kenny When it comes to making investments, most people know that there is always room for a possible loss. Stock market investments in particular are rather notorious for taking a rather well funded portfolio and emptying it rather quickly. Of course, that does not happen all the time, otherwise no one would do it. If, on the other hand, you do not want to take what many consider to be an unnecessary risk, there are a number of other investments that are reasonably safer, can still bring a good return, and are definitely worthwhile. Here are a couple of them. A common phrase that is often used these days to refer to the making of your investments safer is having a balanced portfolio. This means that you are not putting all of your eggs into one basket. You know that some markets are a much greater risk than others, such as trading on the stock market, and so you put some of your investment capital into some that are much safer and less likely to be lost. This “balance,” created by placing some of your investment into a variety of potential interest bearing accounts, should result in an overall gain. Investments Depend On The Person If you are a young person, then it should mean that you would be willing to take a higher risk (assuming you have some capital that may be lost). The possibility of the highest gains, unfortunately, also come from the markets with the potential for the highest change. This means that there is a much greater likelihood of a real loss - especially if you do not know what you are doing. By using the services of an experienced trader however, a stockbroker that has been doing it for years, you minimize the possibility of loss. But you should only invest a portion of your finances into the stock market. If, on the other hand, you are much closer to retirement age, then you do not want to take such a risk with your funds. Instead, you would want to place your soon to be needed funds into a much more stable growth account, where the loss can be minimized and yet still bring a return in interest. Stable Investing In Trust Funds If you are looking to stabilize your investments in the stock market with something that is relatively sure, then you need to consider mutual funds. This form of investing places your investment into the hands of investors that basically do the investing for you. They watch the market, manage the funds, and make the changes necessary in order to keep your account growing. After you inform them of what level of risk you are willing to take, then the rest is done for you. They take your funds and spread them over a diverse sort of investments, and it gives you a much more stable package. The Most Stable Investment - Bonds Probably the most stable investment you can make is to buy bonds. The safest, of course, are the US Savings Bonds. These are purchased at a set price and guarantee a set interest amount in a specified time period. You cannot get much safer than that - and probably not much is safer than the US Government - investment wise. If you are looking for the highest stability available, then you need to take some of your investment portfolio and add some bonds to it. Bonds are also available from other corporations, cities, etc., but their strength is limited to the financial strength of the company. The longer the time period of your investment - the greater the risk that the company may not be around. In addition to creating a balanced portfolio, you need either to become very knowledgeable about financial investing, or you need to seek professional counsel. Many people lose a lot of money every year simply because of unnecessary risks. These risks would never have been taken if they had sought counsel from someone who knows much more than they did about the market and investing methods. A truly balanced portfolio will also have an expert to help guide you through the many potential hazards of the investment world. Joe Kenny writes for CardGuide.co.uk, offering UK credit card comparison, visit them today for more best buy credit cards.Visit today: www.cardguide.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Kenny http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Invest-Your-Money-Safely&id=339893 ambien primal defense ambien and dxm search zolpidem hemitartrate what pharmaceutical company makes ambien

By Meri Raffetto For many people losing weight becomes an all or nothing event. You are either on the “diet” eating perfectly each day or you are “off” the diet because you ate something that wasn’t on the plan. Does this sound familiar to you? It is very common and is somewhat a side effect from years of dieting. It also has to do with certain personality types that tend to fall into the perfectionist category. Eating a good and healthy diet is definitely part of achieving successful results but it is impossible to be perfect all the time. This is true for everyone- dietitians, personal trainers, movie stars, and models. Trying to be perfect every day will set you up for an unrealistic expectation and can actually sabotage all your weight management efforts. Let’s look at an example. Jane is eating her meal plan perfectly every day and then on Monday morning something unexpected happens. She won employee of the month and her boss throws a party for her at work. Wow! What a surprise. They bring all kinds of goodies with chips and even a cake. Jane thinks, wellthis isn’t on the plan for the day so I guess I’ll go “off” the diet. The next day comes around which is hectic because she didn’t get much work done the day before so she thinks, well I already went off the dietI’ll get back on track next week when I can focus more. Now that Jane has fallen off the diet it takes 2-3 weeks for her to get back on track. All of the new healthy habits are completely abandoned at this point. This is where weight gain will occur. Not in the one day at work but in the mindset that she has gone off the diet. This also happens when people are traveling for work. They feel like they will go “off” the plan during that time and then focus when they get back home. Do you see the trend? It is important that your new healthy changes become part of your lifestyle when you are at a party, traveling, sick, busy, or any other time to achieve lasting results. The diet mentality is an all or nothing approach but making a lifestyle change isn’t all or nothing. It is something that becomes part of your habits and your life with all the circumstances that come up. The second part of this on and off syndrome is that restricting certain foods all together can cause some people to focus on them even more. Research shows that when you omit certain foods from your diet completely it often ends up in a binge because there is a thrill of eating a food that is bad or not on the list. Especially if you have a pattern in your life of that thrill of doing something you’re not supposed to. Think back when you were younger. Were you the type who got a thrill out of taking a cookie when you weren’t supposed to? Going to a hangout spot when you were supposed to be at a friend’s house? If you can relate to this then you may also get a thrill out of eating so called forbidden foods. There are many times that I actually tell my clients it’s time to have a treat when they are becoming too tied to the good-food, bad-food scenario. This doesn’t mean buy a box of cookies and eat them all week or to have treats everyday. It means going to the bakery and buying yourself a small treat once in awhile, enjoy it with no guilt because you made a conscious decision to have it. So what would happen if all foods are made legal and actually part of a healthy diet? This allows that work party to happen without guilt. Instead Jane can balance her day by saying, “well I ate some not-so-good-for-me foods at lunch so I will have a light soup and salad for dinner and schedule some extra exercise tomorrow.” Also, now that all foods are legal the thrill of eating that cookie isn’t so strong. Just like when you were younger and your mom gave you permission to have a cookie. It is exciting to get a treat but the thrill of doing something you’re not supposed to do is gone. Balance is the key to long term success. One cookie once in while will not make you gain weight but having an entire box of cookies or giving up all your healthy habits for 1-2 weeks will. So, when you feel like you are focusing on the forbidden foods or you are faced with a party, have a cookie (or treat) and enjoy it. Having some treats in moderation will help you achieve life long results more than an all or nothing approach will. (c) 2006, Meri Raffetto Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She specializes in weight management and offers online programs to help people reach their weight loss and health goals. For more information or to sign up for a free newsletter visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meri_Raffetto http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Eating-a-Cookie-Can-Help-You-Lose-Weight&id=158546 zoloft and lorazepam lorazepam ambien 2b addiction ambien rx

By Gerald Parker Before starting any diet, weight loss plan/program, here are some quick simple tips to try prior to diving into the low calorie conundrum. Eat slowly. Chew everything fully. This gives your stomach time to relay the message to the brain that you are no longer hungry. Avoid situations and places where youre more likely to be tempted. For example, if you always eat while watching TV, try to get out and do something instead. Dont go to your favorite restaurants, youll be more likely to cheat. Drink lots of water, and drink it first before anything else. It will help you fill fuller and clean out your system. Eat low calorie foods like vegetables first, so your body gets satisfied before you get to the high calorie foods. Try to eat as many things as possible raw. The calories expended in chewing and digesting these help use up some energy. If you need to snack, raw vegetables are the best followed by air popped popcorn without the extras. Avoid the ALL YOU CAN EAT places and if it is a large portion, save half for later. Fish, with the exception of catfish and shellfish, are healthy low calorie choices. Avoid fats, especially trans-fats, they are higher in calories and take more energy to burn up Exercise should be part of any diet program, if medically able. Start slow with a partner at something you enjoy and work up from there. Get rid of the clean your plate mentality. Try smaller portions. Dont use depression, rejection, disappointment, failure, stress, etc. as an excuse to eat or overindulge. Salads are great low-calorie, healthy food when dieting if you change your intake of dressing to low calorie, vinegar, or lemon juice. A 25 calorie salad can easily jump to 150 calorie just by adding regular dressing. Avoid habit forming drugs, which can be dangerous and are usually short lived. Avoid the feeder. Many people are just trying to be nice, but others are just plain trying to sabotage your diet. If you mess up once, dont let it be your excuse to give up or splurge the rest of the day or week. Set your goal to 1-2 pounds of weight loss a week. Once you begin to surpass that you really need a doctors supervision Liquid diets or diets that drop to 1000 calories or below should only be done under a physicians guidance. They can be extremely safe if monitored, or they can be deadly if not. Last of all, if you need help, find a physician that specializes in weight loss. For more information on safe, effective weight loss, visit us at http://www.doctorsclinicamarillo.com About the author: Dr. Gerald M. Parker been practicing preventive medicine for the past 35 years. He is listed in Whos Who in the World and Whos Who in Medicine. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerald_Parker http://EzineArticles.com/?Simple-Steps-to-Weight-Loss:-The-New-Healthy-Look&id=427783 ambien and alprazolam zolpidem 10mg how long does zolpidem stay in your system ambien and the new england journal of medicine

By Michael Russell This article is a continuation of our multi part series about private investigators, picking up where we left off. Many private investigators decide to specialize in one type of investigation. The reason for this is because some cases involve so much knowledge in a required area that trying to concentrate on more than just that area of expertise becomes very difficult. Just like many doctors concentrate on one type of medicine, such as ear, nose and throat, or gynaecology, many detectives also specialize. Legal investigators specialize in cases that usually end up going to trial such as murder investigations. They’ll often assist in the preparation of legal defenses, locating witnesses, serving legal documents, interviewing police and possible witnesses, and also assist in gathering and reviewing evidence. Legal investigators also sometimes collect information concerning the parties involved in the litigation and may even testify in court. Corporate investigators perform the function of conducting internal and external investigations for large corporations. In the case of an internal investigation they may investigate drug use by an employee or even corporate theft by an employee or group of employees. Much of the Enron scandal evidence was acquired by private investigators. When conducting an external investigation for a corporation a detective may be involved in uncovering criminal schemes to try to steal the company’s private information on a new product. Financial investigators are usually hired to investigate another company that the corporation may be thinking about doing business with for a possible merger. These investigations are intended to uncover any shady dealings that the prospective company may have been involved with. Many of these investigators are also certified public accountants as this skill is needed to be able to perform this job adequately. Detectives who work for retail stores, hotels and other public places where theft is always possible, are mostly responsible for controlling losses, stopping theft and protecting assets. These store detectives are also known as loss prevention agents. They perform their job by apprehending anyone who is attempting to steal merchandise or destroy store property. They stop theft by shoplifters, vendor representatives, delivery personnel and even store employees. These detectives also perform periodic searches of stock areas, dressing rooms and rest rooms and will sometimes even assist in opening and closing the store itself. Part of their job requires them to fill out loss prevention and security forms and reports for the store owner and managers and also to testify in court against any persons that they themselves have apprehended in the act of a crime. In the case of hotel detectives they protect the hotel guests and their belongings against theft and also police the hotel bars and restaurants to prevent undesirables from causing trouble. Because of some of these duties, many of these investigators may have at one time been trained law enforcement officers, as the job can often get very ugly. In our next article in this series we’ll continue with the working conditions of private investigators. ——————————————————- Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Private Investigators ——————————————————- Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell http://EzineArticles.com/?Private-Investigators—Part-II&id=129061 ambien contraindications zolpidem withdrawal cheap zolpidem stillnox fedex overnight ambien

By Sebastian Foss For all who desire the gifts of healing, certain basic conditions must be met the first is that the seeker must be born again. If you are not born again, you arc a child of the devil. Satan will not be happy for his children to set his captives free for this will promote the spate of deception in the kingdom of darkness. When people go to a native doctor to remove a headache, they will remove it but replace it with stomach ache. This is to prevent Satan’s fury because Isaiah 14:17 says he docs not want any of his prisoners released. In addition, you must be sanctified. Satan will surely attack you if he finds you healing those he has plagued with sicknesses. If you are living in secret sins, he will succeed. You must also be baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit as this experience opens the door to the miraculous. Besides, you must be merciful. It was mercy and compassion that produced the healing gifts in our Lord Jesus Christ when He was on earth. The vital role mercy plays in the administration of this gift can be seen from the fact that women due to their tender nature have been great beneficiaries of this gift. If you cannot show mercy like Peter and John in our reading, no matter how much you fast and pray, you may not receive it. Another condition to be met by the seeker is that the fellow must be tough, stubborn and strict in his decision to follow Jesus. Examples of such people are Peter and Paul. Those who are easily discouraged from following Jesus cannot be given this gift because it is meant for those God can trust and because the presence of this gift arouses satanic opposition. Lastly, the seeker must be zealous for the Master like Peter. In Luke 5:5, Peter laboured without catching a fish. But he was obviously not a lazy fellow. It is not easy to work throughout the night. Also he was not easily discouraged or else he would have resisted Christ’ instruction to liy again. God does not give this gift to lazy people because there is no way scvcial people will not come to you for help when you have this gift. Do you desire this gift? You can have it but you have to meet up with the conditions.This is one gift that can easily bring unbelievers into the Kingdom. It is a great gift. How prepared are you for this gift? Christian Believers Guide and resources to help improve your faith Physically and Spiritually http://christianbeliversguide.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sebastian_Foss http://EzineArticles.com/?Conditions-For-Gifts-of-Healing&id=400859 buy generic zolpidem 24 hr delivery ambien day next zolpidem sanval rebates for ambien

By Amy-Jo Strutt The total number of moisturizers on the market today can be overwhelming. Which one is the right one for your skin type? Well, that depends. As we get older, estrogen becomes more important because of two structural proteins called collagen and elastin. These two proteins actually give us structure and elasticity. As we age, the collagen begins to break down. As it breaks down, we start to notice fine lines and wrinkles appearing. This is where a good facial moisturizer comes in. If you find one that contains collagen and elastin, it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Now if you are still young, you may not need this type of skin moisturizer. A growing trend is to use all natural moisturizers. We will discuss the benefits to that next. Your skin is your largest organ and can therefore absorb into your bloodstream certain chemicals found in todays moisturizers. There are over 5000 chemicals used in personal care products and that is one of the reasons people are turning to natural moisturizers and beauty products. When it comes to a facial moisturizer, find one that contains vitamin A and E. These vitamins are great for your complexion and they can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Getting a cream with an SPF of 15 or greater will provide you with the protection you need when outdoors. The suns harmful rays can cause some serious damage. You can use the best, most expensive moisturizer in the world, but your complexion wont look its best unless you do some extra things. First, you must drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water a day to make sure you stay hydrated. Make sure to exercise and stay healthy. After a good work out, be sure to apply a quality facial moisturizer. When out in the sun, wear a hat and a sunscreen with minimum SPF 15. Remember, you dont necessarily have to buy your skin moisturizer. There are a number of recipes on line that tell you exactly how to make your own us ingredients such as Aloe Vera, olive oil, cocoa butter and rose water. Amy-Jo Strutt is a successful health and beauty writer and regular contributor to anti-aging-skin-carecentral.com an online resource to help you find the very best anti aging skin care products. http://www.anti-aging-skin-carecentral.com/moisturizers.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy-Jo_Strutt http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-Results-in-Moisturizers:-Skin-Moisturizer-and-Facial-Moisturizer-to-Keep-Your-Skin-Looking-Great&id=95587 how long does lorazepam stay in your system ambien disorder sleep pharmacy zolpidem cheap zolpidem stillnox

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rhodri_James]Rhodri James Most Internet users are now extremely comfortable using the Internet to research and buy items that we need, mainly because we know that e-tailers probably have the lowest prices and we can avoid heavy sales pitches and crowded stores. This is most evident in financial services where banks have used the channel effectively although there could be hidden charges and pricing that may make your new bargain personal loan or credit card not quite so much of a bargain. So what can you do to ensure youre getting the best deal on a personal loan? Make you sure you know how much you want to borrow? It might sound silly but often you can find that you end up borrowing too much from a bank and why borrow money that you dont need? If you are planning to buy a TV find out exactly how much it will cost and borrow that exact amount. You may find that the bank will try and tempt you with a reduction in interest rate if you borrow more. Dont. Do not borrow more than you need. Get a quote not a best buy The amount you want to borrow will determine how much interest the bank will want to charge you, when you look at best buy table the rate displayed will be the best rate available (normally this is for loan amounts of over 7,000 to 10,000), avoid applying for a best buy loan only to find out that the rate you are offered is different from the rate you saw in the best buy table. Get Multiple quotes Interest rates and charges vary by lender so make sure you know what each lender is offering for the amount that you want to borrow. Price comparison websites will allow you to get quotes from many lenders at the same time and you can enter different combinations of the amount you borrow and the length of time that you wish to borrow over. Apply on-line Now that you have your quotes and you understand how much a bank would normally charge for the loan you want, apply for your loan on-line. Most banks offer their cheapest rates to customers who apply on line, it reduce their costs so they very kindly (for a bank) pass this saving on to you. The majority of customers can get a decision on-line, when the bank will confirm the exact terms of your loan. By shopping smart and avoiding the eye-catching banner adverts that promise everything you can find the loan that is truly the cheapest in the market without having to visit bank or get hard sell telephone calls from the bank. Good luck. Rhodri James is the Consumer Finance Manager for Decision-Finance [http://www.decision-finance.co.uk]http://www.decision-finance.co.uk, a company that specialises in providing customers with on-line quotes for financial services such as [http://www.1st-personal-loans.co.uk/bad_credit_loan.html]bad credit loan and [http://www.1st-personal-loans.co.uk/homeowner_loan.html]Homeowner Loan Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhodri_James http://EzineArticles.com/?Shopping-for-a-Personal-Loan&id=42309 ambien zolpidem information lorazepam used for can you snort lorazepam ambien memory

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Lim]John Lim What Are Your Reasons For Buying A Mobile Phone? You Should Also Learn To Make The Most Out Of Cell Phones. Lets say youre wondering whether or not to buy a mobile phone or what you should get. Its amazing that youve gone on long enough without one but Id have to say that in this day and age, everyone needs a cell phone. Even if youre not into fancy features and services, at least get a basic mobile phone to make calls. But if you could learn how to get the most out of your cell phones, perhaps you would consider getting a really nifty one? Most people dont consider it important but reading your mobile phone manual can actually net you some cool pieces of information. Plus, cell phones these days have very easy-to-read manuals and by reading it, you could discover some extra features you didnt know about. And youd never know when these extra features could come in handy. For example, most cell phones have phone books that are packed with extra features that you might not have known about. They can sometimes store up to 500 entries. And for each entry you may be able to store multiple phone numbers, their email addresses and even make notes about them! This is especially useful for keeping track of your business contacts. If you check your mobile phone, you might find a feature called Voice Commands. It allows you to dial numbers just by reading out a name. This is known as the Voice Activated Dialing and is extremely popular due its convenience. Depending on the cell phone model you get, you might be surprised with the long list of voice commands you can give to your phone. For those who cant afford a digital camera but have always been wishing for one, take a look at a camera phone. The quality of the integrated camera phones in the market are improving rapidly and the feature is really handy for spontaneous snapshots. Apart from voice commands and the ability to take pictures, there are loads you can do with a mobile phone these days. So if youre curious enough to check out the latest cell phones and accessories in the market, then get online today! Theres really no better place to look for a mobile phone. Whether youre shopping for something new, something used or even some really good deals, you can find them all when you shop for cell phones online. Get the best deals on all cell phones! Visit http://www.cool-cell-phones.com now for free cell phone reviews & mobile phone shopping tips. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lim http://EzineArticles.com/?Cell-Phones,-Mobile-Phone&id=74215 overnight fedex ambien prescription zolpidem recreational over the counter containing zolpidem is ambien safe during pregnancy

By Mary Hanna First, lets get the pronunciation right, it is pronounced eh-kin-AY-sha. The echinacea herb is very important to grow in your herb garden for use in herbal medicine. By adding the echinacea herb to your herb garden not only will you be able to use it in your herbal medicine regime but you also gain a beautiful flowering herb. It is mostly found in the Northern Plains and has been used by Native Americans for its healing power in herbal medicine. The Indians used the mashed roots on everything from wounds to snakebites. It was used as a mouthwash to help with painful teeth and gums. They brewed Echinacea herbs as teas for colds and other maladies, like measles and arthritis. The Indians prized this herb for its value in herbal medicine. They thought that the echinacea herb was a blood purifier. As herbal medicine, the echinacea herb is useful in all its parts. It is a daisy like flower with a rich purple hue. This herb will outshine any other flowers in your herb garden. Monarch Butterflies will flock to your herb garden when you have included the Echinacea herb. The best time to dig up the plant is in the fall but be aware that it takes three years for the herb to be useful in herbal medicine. In the later part of the 1990s there were scads of studies that showed the usefulness of the echinacea herb for colds and flu. But there have also been studies that claim it as worthless. You will have to try it to see how it affects you. The echinacea herb is a stimulant for the immune system. The herb boosts the ability of macrophages (infection fighting white blood cells) to fight off invading germs. When taking the echinacea herb as part of your herbal medicine regime, infections cased by viruses, bacteria and fungus will heal much faster than without it. Typically the root is used in herbal medicine. If you eat the fresh root, you should get a numbing or tingling of the tongue. It will also increase the flow of saliva in your mouth. This is entirely normal and should cease in about 15 minutes. The echinacea herb is best used in its fresh state. So you see echinacea is important to add to your herb garden. When you plant echinacea in your herb garden you will be adding one more natural plant to use in your arsenal of herbal medicine. With the echinacea herb the most commonly used in herbal medicine is the E. augustifolia. However, E. purpurea and E; pallida can be just as useful in herbal medicine if prepared correctly. Another way to get the benefits from the echinacea herb is to make a tincture, (look for my article on How To Make Tinctures). In a glass of fruit juice add up to 30 drops in the juice and take it three times a day. Adjust the dosage if you become nauseas. And, as in all things in life, you can get to much of a good thing. If you take the echinacea herb over too long a period of time, you will over stimulate your immune system. So, take a break when your symptoms start to dissipate. There are some people that should not use echinacea in their herbal medicine routine. No one with auto-immune disease should take the herb since it could potentially aggravate that disease. And people with HIV should not take echinacea because by stimulating the immune system you may also stimulate the virus. It is most important to always check with your doctor before starting any herbal medicine regime. Copyright Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved. This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged. Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at http://www.GardeningHerb.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.ContainerGardeningSecrets.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Hanna http://EzineArticles.com/?Raising-the-Echinacea-Herb-In-Your-Herb-Garden-For-Use-In-Herbal-Medicine&id=243004 ativan benzodiazepines used as anticonvulsant ambien class action ambien cistern prescription meds- adderall zoloft xanax ambien

By Dale Ferguson Market Share One of the key elements for building market share is by use of Touchpoints. Touchpoints are the interaction between your organization and the customer. They can be in the form of face to face calls, phone interaction, website interaction, e-mails, newsletters, mailers, brochures, etc. And most importantly, do not forget the appearance of your facility and the professionalism of your employees! From these touchpoints, customers form their perceptions of your business from their cumulative experiences. And basis these touchpoints, hopefully good ones, they will decide to do business with your company. IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON BRAND RECOGNITION(Customers are becoming savvier on value proposition, if you are higher priced, make sure you are ready to justify why! Customer-Focused Value Proposition benefits that the customer seeks and values This needs to be done upfront not while trying to save an order!) Generic comments Customers are much harder to gain than keep, so make sure you prioritize keeping your existing customers happy and find new ones (see comment below with the benefits of an existing customer) Are you there (available) when there is no sale involved? General departmental mailers (flavor of the month) Voice mail (minimize as much as practical, everybody hates voice mail in lieu of a real person to talk to!) Some examples of touchpoints are: Parts Department Timely Invoicing Correct parts delivered Freight charges (acceptable or within reasonable limits) Parts interpretation, accuracy and timeliness (called back asap, kept informed if difficulties arise) Service Department Was the service work done as quoted and on time Customer kept informed Were additional repairs pre approved, authorized & explained adequately Offer upgrades and improvements during other work, minimizes down time and a good upsell (Supersize your order do you want fries with that) Follow-up phone call on the adequacy of work performed Rental Department Equipment availability Equipment properly maintained (mechanically & appearance) Timely Invoicing Product rented meets their needs Freight charges (acceptable or within reasonable limits) Sales Department Newsletter mailers (informational, may combine and use promotional selling of parts and/or service) Face to Face calls Phone interaction Administrative Informational mailings (use library of 12-24 topics, 1 per month) mail, fax or handouts Customer satisfaction surveys need to be part of the routine and issues taken care of at the proper level immediately As you can see by the numerous examples above, there is a number of different ways to touch your customer and all of them are important. Consistent communication channels cannot be stressed enough. Most of the subject matter above has been derived from experience (school of hard knocks), different seminars I have attended and numerous business topic readings. www.grayhairedwisdom.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dale_Ferguson http://EzineArticles.com/?Market-Share-Basics?&id=256172 generic ambien pics ativan weight loss zyrtec ambien interaction schedule to taper off ambien