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A beautiful engagement ring from someone she loves is something a lot of women have dreamed about since they were girls. Although the ring shows a commitment to the person, the actual historical reasons for an engagement ring are a little less obvious. Some would say the never-ending, continuous circle represents the everlasting love and commitment of the couple to each other. Another view is that it was originally tangible proof of the financial commitment on the groom’s part to show the bride’s family that he could provide for his bride-to-be.

The Egyptians wore rings on what is considered your ring finger today: the finger next to your pinkie. They believed there was a “Vein of Love” running to this finger that ran from the finger to the heart. Therefore, placing a ring on this finger connected it directly to your heart. The Romans wore “engagement” rings made of iron, which to them meant strength and permanence since iron represented both of these things. These rings were called “annulus pronubus” and were used in much the same way that engagement rings are used today. Eventually, these rings evolved into rings made of gold and decorated with engravings or other decorations. Some even had keys carved on them, representing the woman’s ability to unlock her betrothed’s heart. Others had lover’s knots decorating them or two hands holding each other, yet another symbol of the commitment between two people.

In 860 Pope Nicolas I made it a requirement to give a ring after a proposal to signify the engagement. He also stated that it should be a gold ring. This perhaps is where showing you can provide for your future spouse came into existence. By the end of the Middle Ages, weddings and the actual official betrothal were combined into one ceremony. As a result, the significance of the ring changed from proof of financial commitment to a symbol of the commitment between two people.

Probably one of the most spectacular engagement rings ever was given to Mary of Burgundy when Archduke Maximillian of Austria proposed in 1477. The ring had diamonds, which at the time carried an aura of magic and were thought to be created by the fire of love. This fashion for using diamonds in engagement rings spread to other parts of Europe. In Venice, they associated a diamond’s hardness with the idea of everlasting love. It was not until the late 1800s when large quantities of diamonds were discovered in South Africa that it became realistic for people to use diamonds for their engagement rings. At this point they became a bit more affordable and much more available to the world as they were exported from South Africa.

Today, most people opt for a diamond engagement ring. However, your options are endless when it comes to designing a custom ring that is appropriate to you and your future spouse. Your choices of metals, precious and semi-precious stones and millions of combinations are limited only by your desires and imagination.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Engagement Rings

Real estate marketing often involves making phone calls to prospective clients. There’s no way around it. But to keep yourself out of trouble — and out of court — you need to understand the basics of the National Do Not Call Registry.

The registry gives consumers the option of not receiving phone calls from telemarketers. Now, you might not think of yourself as a telemarketer. But by the FTC’s definition, if you call a prospective client (with whom you have no existing business relationship) to offer your services … you’re a telemarketer.

How Many People Are Signed Up?

Actually, most of them! In fact, according to a recent poll conducted by the research firm Harris Interactive, about three-quarters of U.S. adults (76 percent) have signed up for the Do Not Call Registry.

When Does the Law Apply?

You have to be able to make phone calls to conduct business, and the government knows this. So follow-up phone calls are certainly allowed (and encouraged). The registry is not intended to prevent follow-up phone calls to people who have contacted you first, nor is it intended to prevent regular phone calls to existing clients.

It’s those unsolicited cold calls that the legislation prevents.

Other Key Points

The purpose of this article is not to scare you into a “no phone calls, ever” state of mind. On the contrary, making phone calls is part of your business. So don’t be afraid … just be educated:

As of last year (January 1, 2005, to be exact), telemarketers and sellers are required to search the registry at least once every 31 days and drop from their call lists the phone numbers of consumers who have registered.

If a consumer makes an inquiry or submits an application to a company, the company can call for three months (unless the consumer makes a specific request that you do not call them).

In other words, if somebody calls or emails you to request information of any kind, you may call them as needed (even if they are registered on the Do Not Call list). But if they request that you do not call them, you must honor that request.

A company that has an established business relationship with a person may call that person for up to 18 months after the consumer’s last purchase or payment [or last business function / meeting, in the case of real estate agents], unless the consumer asks the company not to call again.

Conclusion

Don’t fear the Do Not Call Registry — just understand it and abide by it. Avoid cold-calling prospects unless you’re absolutely sure they’re not on the registry. Just realize that 3 out of 4 adults in the U.S. are on the registry.

Remember, if you have an existing business relationship with somebody, the Do Not Call laws do not apply. And if somebody contacts you first, you have every right to make a follow-up call. This includes a prospect calling you, emailing you, or filling out a form on your website.

* You may republish this article in its entirety as long as you include the byline and author’s note. If publishing online, please leave the hyperlinks active.

About the Author Brandon Cornett is the founder of ArmingYourFarming.com, a web-based company that provides marketing guides to real estate agents. For dozens more articles on real estate marketing, visit http://www.armingyourfarming.com

Blogs move so much faster than your traditional idea of static websites. Because of their RSS/Atom feeds, they’re picked up within days and even sometimes within hours by the search engines. This makes blogging about topics that are current and time stamped available, allowing access to the information before it’s “old news”.

A profitable way of blogging is on topics that are hot right now. For example, while the Olympics were going, a little known blogger took it upon themselves to talk about it - include some tidbits about people, the sports, the newsworthy drama, and while the Olympics were still going on, their blog was making about $100 to $200 a day.

Take American Idol as an example, too. Every day, the term “american idol” is searched for 34,857 times a day (according to Overture)! Popular TV shows get thousands of searches each and every day, as well as current political topics and news and large events going on in the world.

Basically, anything that’s getting any kind of news coverage can bring in people looking for more information about it through search engines.

It doesn’t stop at search engines, though. When you write about topics that are hot right now, you can submit your blog entry to other places online that are compiling information based around that topic. There are sites who’s main purpose is being a link directory to other sites with information on topics that people are interested in.

When going this route, though, you are competing with a lot of other current information. This type of blogging requires putting more time into your keywords to rank high with search engines, as well as overall search engine optimization.

Brenda Boggs is an Internet guru, in marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and new technologies. She successfully runs two revenue sharing websites, http://www.bloggerparty.com and http://www.reviewparty.com, where members actually make money just by participating.

It’s age of marketing. What is the use of a quality products if you are unable to sell it? Moreover, there is so much competition in market that you can’t even sell a quality product easily. The world of business is changing fast. Unless you are able to adjust with the new trends, and mould your techniques accordingly you will find it very difficult to get success. However, you needn’t worry. We are arming you with some new and tested ideas, which will transform you into a SUPER SALES MAN (a very successful marketing executive).

1. DON’T BELIEVE IN ‘NO’

It is true that in a sales strategy you often have to agree with your customers. Customers are always right. Beware of antagonising your customers. Nevertheless, never believe them if they say ‘no’. In case you believe you will have to resign from your post soon or you will have to close your business. Most of them have a natural habit of saying ‘no’. So learn to maintain your calm and try again with better words. If you still fail then leave in a good mood showering a couple of sentences for his better life and future. Moreover, after a mouth or two contact him again. You will be surprised to know how most of the customers convert their ‘no’ into ‘yes’.

BE ORIGINAL

Most of the prospective customers aren’t interested in copied things or duplicate items. They prefer it genuine/original. You should enhance your own plus points instead of copying others blindly. Genuine and fresh items always attract others. Therefore develop your own unique style of selling. Originality adds attraction to your personality that helps you to sell more items to more people.

THE BENEFIT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS

Most of the sales persons have a habit of keeping their minds on their own profit benefits. That is a poor sales-strategy. Others are not there to help you live a good and affluent life. Instead you are there to help them make their life better. Concentrate on how you can provide a good deal to a customer. In that case you will be bombarded with more purchase orders without much effort. What else do you need?

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR PRODUCTS

If you believe in yourself and your product (which is the utmost sales strategy) it will naturally vibrate through your words and sentences, having a positive impact on your target. Moreover, you get a winner’s edge - the most sought after marketing trait. Some persons are negative thinkers. They expect failures. It is impossible for them to believe in themselves. Consequently they are unable to convince others and sell their items. The principle of forced belief can start bringing a change. Firmly believe that you are a super salesman and you will definitely succeed. After a period this forced-belief becomes a habit.

DREAM-TECHNIQUE WILL DO WONDERS

You can use dream-technique. It is the easiest technique in the world to give a miraculous transformation to your personality. Give your imagination a free hand. Try to fly in a dream world every night that you have become a super salesman. You are selling your product everywhere. People are flocking to you to become your customers. Just dream, expect nothing, and await the wonders to happen in future.

SENSE OF HUMOUR CAN HELP

Anger and aggressive emotions never bring success in marketing. It is better to sit at your home and break household things to get a relief. Don’t pour away these emotions on your prospective customers. They will run miles away from you. Practise sense of humour if you can. It will inject a spark of friendliness in them, making their minds fertile for your sales pitch. In case you are unable to practise this technique even after repeated efforts forget it. At least practise controlling your aggressive emotions. If your mind is determined to achieve its aim it will help you to keep your emotions under control.

KNOCK AT THEIR DOORS AGAIN

It is one of the most effective sales strategies. In addition, the most profitable and the easiest one. Knock at the old doors again. If you really sold quality goods that satisfied the customers then you don’t need new customers everyday. You can revert to your old customers again and again to sell them more and more. Wise salesmen must follow this golden rule of marketing. Many companies forget their old customer by emphasising too much to get new. New ideas and techniques are devised to woo more and more new customers. A feeling of resentment starts building in old customers and it is always harmful for the company.

RUSH UP TO NO-COMPETITION ZONES

Everyone is running towards the areas where there is already too much competition. People start feeling bore with repeated requests from all sides. They often opt for well-known brands. It is very difficult to sell new or less-known products here. So pull your neck up the crowd and watch for new territories. Your life may change after a couple of months because you improve your chances of getting many new customers.

PRAISE THEM EVEN IF THEY ABUSE

Certainly it’s the most difficult task you have to learn. The most powerful marketing gun that most of the salesmen are unable to handle. Whomever you want to sell always find in him something to admire. It seems easy, but becomes the toughest whenever you have to face aggressive, impulsive or abusive people. Now the real test begins. You feel like you are in the oven and you want to make yourself cool with a burst of anger. Instead if you learn to have a shower of cool feelings it will make you a tougher sales person afterwards. Like steel you will become harder. So praise even the hot bricks. They will value you more.

PASTE ‘GOOD NEWS’ ON YOUR FOREHEAD

Who wants to listen to the same old news or eat the stale food. In the same why people are fed-up with the same old things being sold to them again and again, and of course in the same old repetitive sales pitch. You can learn a lot from the following two principals of human nature: a) they want new and good things, b) they want some old things to be sold to them in a new way. In fact you should be like good news to them every time. You must have something good to say about your product and for your customer. You will get warm welcome everywhere.

These 10 golden rules will make you a super salesman if you follow them seriously. With their help you will earn millions.

Anandrahi
CEO: News of India Network
Director: LSE-India (for Communication
Skills and Personality Development)

Trained thousands of persons to get great jobs, improve personality and achieve goals in business.

Best-selling Books written by Anandrahi:
1. Think Your Way to Wealth and Power
2. Fire of Success in Your Mind
3. Speak English and Influence People
(To get an ebook write an email).

emails:
anandrahi@newsofindia.net
anandrahi@yahoo.co.in

That’s the reason why now you need to investigate and cast if you can have a credit loan at a just percent rate of interest. A merchant bank in Orlando Florida or so may have a total different actual loan rate for a 7500 dollar money loan then a bank in Jersey City New Jersey and that makes a immense clear difference in your yearly costs. A lot of the banks wil show you a interest rate that looks proficient but feels severely or so after some time.

In Dutch it means: Woon je in Anna Paulowna of Meppel en hebt u BKR registratie. Lenen met BKR is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest. Haal snel een nieuwe caravan met zonder bkr toetsing geld lenen, 271437 euro is geen probleem om te financieren. Van Zutphen tot Roerdalen, geld lenen met en BKR codering is hier geen enkel probleem.

11.8 percent rate may come along so honest but will it stay unremitting after you’re going to give back your loan. Be saucy today to check up if you have a super deal or if you don’t with the moneylender that offers you a loan. It makes no difference if you live in Hagerstown Maryland or in Ocala Florida a respectable online inspection will unbosom you often a lot of disoblige. At this present you can look into interest rates quickly online and ensure if there are possible sneaky traps you should be aware of. Inspect to see if the merchant bank who is tending to give you a money loan is respectable.

It takes a great deal of time and effort to write original content for the Internet and because of this the search engines reward the originality. To copy and paste existing content and redistributing it another URL back into the search engines is not the most favorable thing for the search engines. We all have different writing skills and different writing abilities, some better than others, but what makes web content such a valuable asset is the diversity. Some writing styles might match really well with certain types of people, while other styles might not. Diversity is a good thing and keeping it diverse makes for a fun time when surfing the Internet or searching for a specific subject. The unique content on the web is exciting to read because someone took the time out of their life and wrote what was on their mind, sometimes I can picture them sitting in front of their computer typing away getting all excited about what they are writing about, they are getting their thoughts on to paper, or typing, you get the picture. Before you get writing and contributing to the unique information on the web, you could take the Acceletrim supplement to help you have energy and it could even help you focus in on what you are writing about. We all have something to add to the content on the web and if you have some hesitations that you might not be the best writer in the world, go ahead and contribute anyway because there are plenty of people who will really enjoy what you can add.

There is an important hidden truth that has to do with blog Internet advertising rates and it is very important that you grasp and understand it well.

In the print media, space is limited by the cost of production which keeps ad rates high and makes the balance of content versus advertising critical to the financial success of any print publication that relies on advertising. The situation is completely different when it comes to blog Internet advertising rates. The cost of production and transmission of information to your audience is so low that it is almost zero. This means in essence that your ad rates can be very low and you’ll still be profitable.

This difference with blog Internet advertising rates is important because in the print media world, ad rates can not go below a certain point because if they do, the publication will cease to be profitable.

This means that it is very viable to go for ad volumes at low rates and then use each and every page available to you to carry targeted ads that are relevant to the particular micro niche targeted in the content you have generated. That is exactly how Google Adsense has become the key division of a $100 million company. Some Adsense ads pay out less as a single digit cents figure. The money is then made on the volumes an because the rates are low, they are totally viable to the advertiser who knows exactly how many clicks they need to generate a single sale. They therefore come back again and again. Hidden here is one of the most important and critical secrets behind successful blog Internet advertising rates.

It is now possible to save 40% to 60% by purchasing a diamond engagement ring from an online diamond retailer, rather than from a bricks-n-mortar High Street jeweller. Online diamond retailers don’t have retail shops, sales staff, large diamond inventories and other associated operating expenses and are therefore able to pass on the cost savings to consumers.

Of course, a diamond might be one of the largest one-off purchases made in one’s lifetime and so it is understandable that many people may be uncomfortable paying for a diamond before it has been seen and examined.

However, as long as the correct research and precautions are taken there should be no reason to be fearful about buying diamonds from Internet diamond merchants.

The three most important aspects of the pre-purchase checks that must be carried out are:

1. Assurance that the diamond business is legitimate,

2. Assurance that the payment method is secure,

3. The risk of merchant fraud or failed delivery is mitigated.

In part three of this three part series we examine the third aspect which is to ensure mitigation of the risk of diamond merchant fraud or delivery failure.

Mitigation of risk of diamond merchant fraud and failed delivery

Only Buy Laboratory Certified Diamonds

Rule number one when buying any diamond is that it must have a certified laboratory report from one of the major gemmological institutes. This gives assurance that the diamond being purchased is the same specification that the diamond merchant has described.

Returns Policy

Examine the returns policy of the diamond merchant carefully for any extraordinary or unusual points. When making any purchase over the internet the buyer has a 7 day cooling off period within which to cancel a purchase for a 100% refund. This is because internet retailing falls into the retail category governing selling at a distance and the relevant UK consumer protection laws. All online diamond merchants should mention this as matter of course.

Credit Card

A significant advantage of paying by credit card is that if anything goes wrong with the purchase then the buyer is covered by the UK Consumer Credit Act 1974. The credit card company may then also be liable for the purchase to the same amount as the diamond merchant and payment of the credit card to the amount of the purchase can be withheld until the purchase dispute is resolved.

Escrow Service

An escrow service is effectively an independent third party that ensures receipt of the diamond by the buyer and receipt of payment by the merchant.

The process is as follows:

1. The terms of the transaction are agreed between the buyer and merchant and the escrow service is contracted to aid the transaction.
2. The escrow company receives payment from the buyer of the diamond.

3. The escrow company then confirms to the merchant the buyer’s payment has been received.

4. The merchant then sends the diamond to the buyer.

5. The buyer confirms receipt of the diamond to the escrow company.

6. The escrow company sends payment to the merchant.

The escrow service usually charges a small percentage of the purchase cost as a fee. As an indicator of the importance of using an escrow service eBay recommends using one for purchases over £300.

Remember, a large saving is being made by purchasing the diamond online, so it won’t hurt to get peace of mind for the small percentage an escrow will charge. But make sure you carry out the appropriate research on any escrow company as there have been instances of fraud.

Independent Appraisal

An extra precautionary check is to have the diamond merchant send the diamond to an independent diamond appraiser so the appraiser can confirm that the diamond matches its Laboratory Certificate. The appraiser will confirm the authenticity to the buyer, who can then arrange payment for the merchant.

Once receipt of payment is confirmed by the merchant, the appraiser can then send the diamond on to the buyer. In this way the appraiser also acts as an escrow service. An insurance appraisal could also be carried out by the same appraiser, which is something any insurance company will need to see before insuring the diamond.

Recorded, signature-required, insured postage

A recorded delivery method that is insurable and requires a signature on arrival is the safest way of receiving the diamond through the mail. Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery with Consequential Loss Damage purchased is an excellent choice. When transporting the diamond by mail always use this method or a similar one for maximum security of delivery.

Mike Bradley owns http://www.Dubai-Diamonds.com and http://www.UK-Diamond-Ring-Supersite.co.uk , the premier resource directory for diamond engagement ring research in the UK. Visit the Supersite and download the FREE detailed book The Essential Guide to Buying UK Diamond Engagement Rings.

The author grants reprint permission to opt-in publications and websites so long as the copyright and resource information immediately above are included intact and the article is not used in spam.

We know that our bodies require calcium and vitamin D in order to build and maintain powerful bones. According to his recent book entitled, “Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis,” by Dr. Alan Gaby, it takes more vitamins than we think to prevent brittle bones including Vitamins K and B; as well as minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine, silica and boron.

The idea is to provide enough combined supplementation for our bodies to make an abundance of healthy collagen which is the connective tissue used to create cartilage and bones. Collagen also ‘binds’ our cells together and as a result, someone with good collagen has healthy looking skin whereas another will have thin and wrinkled skin.

A healthy bone cut in half looks similar to a sponge. The body deposits calcium, phosphorus and other minerals onto all of those connective fibers and you get healthy bones! The holes give the bone its flexibility, and you won’t have healthy bones if you don’t have plenty of collagen on which to deposit the minerals.

Collagen is primarily a protein which is made from amino acids. Our bodies can create some of our requirements but we also need additional amounts from our foods and supplements including lysine and praline. Vitamin C is also required to create collagen.

Now we know how bones can be made stronger, but how is this process affected by menopause? The loss of estrogen due to menopause or possibly surgical removal of the ovaries can accelerate bone loss for a period of up to 8 years. It is well established that replacing that estrogen helps protect against the risk of osteoporosis.

More often, women’s bones become fragile as we age and it’s not uncommon to break bones in the wrist, spine and hip due to osteoporosis. Unfortunately, a fracture such as in the hip, can even shorten our life span so it is important to pay attention to our bone health.

What should be done to prevent osteoporosis from happening after menopause?

First of all, eat the foods that are calcium-rich (about 1,000 mg per day) and can enhance bone growth including: sardines, salmon, seafood, and green leafy vegetables such as swiss chard, beet tops, kale, mustard greens, collards, spinach, dandelion greens, watercress, parsley, chicory, turnip greens, broccoli leaves, almonds, asparagus, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, cabbage, carob, figs, filberts, oats, prunes, sesame seeds, tofu and other soy products. Vitamin D-rich foods include fish oils such as found in salmon, mackerel, sardines), eggs (including the yolks), sweet potatoes, tuna, vegetable oils and cod liver oil. Getting 15-20 minutes of sunlight exposure daily can also boost production of vitamin D.

Exercise is crucial; in particular, you need weight-bearing exercise such as walking, Tai chi, dancing and weight training to reduce the chances of brittle bones at least two times a week. Include 15 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity two to three times a week. Avoid high-impact activities and include stretching exercises.

Finally, use high-quality supplements prescribed by your doctor or health-care provider, and oh yeah, don’t forget to have fun.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting www.everythingmenopause.com, www.howtoconquermenopause.com or www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

Ski holidays in South America? What kind of place is that? Isn’t Chile more about forests than about skiing? In truth not. South America is a continent that reaches from the equator down to Patagonia close to the n. of Antarctica. On the spine of South America are the Andes Mountains. They are amongst the most grand ranges in the cosmos and even as the range transits the tropics, the summits are still covered in snow.

South America’s best skiing resorts are to be found in Chile and Argentina with good skiing deals. In the central regions of of both you can find numerous ski towns dotted about across the countryside.. The most notable snowboarding resort in S.America is known as by many Little Schweiz and if you visit you’ll suppose that you’re in Schweiz with the attractive Suisse houses. The snowboarding area has catered chalets, a bowling alley, pubs, and everything to provide a fabulous snowboarding trip. The largest ski area in South America is in Chile. Located hardly 32 kilometres from the main airport you will be able to reach it on a easy drive having flown in non-stop from many towns including Zurich, Stockholm, London, LA and Berlin.