Friday, February 28, 2014

Ten Important Questions To Ask Web Developers Before Dishing Out the Dough

After spending the most of my day with my good friend who is a website architect among other "techy" things for his own company, let's talk about you my readers who are endeavoring to begin a web presence.

Assuming you already have a fairly good idea of what you want on your web site and will more than likely be writing your own copy or having it written for you, here are 10 questions you need answered to help you create an effective web site without breaking the bank or delaying your plans.

1.  Price by project or by the hour?  Accepting an hourly rate agreement gives you little control over costs unless you put a spending cap into effect.  If you have to exercise the spending cap, what if your site is only partially complete?  Inevitably, you will have to dish out more dough to get it finished and this is a strain you want to avoid as you start your new business.

2.  Once the site is complete who will maintain it?  If the developer offers this service, what are the costs and turn-around time?  If you'd rather assume modification control, do they offer access to and training on editing software?

3.  What is the expected completion date for the site?  You want to be in a position to plan ahead for the launch.  Having this information will allow you to organize your marketing efforts and prioritize all other plans that tie in to "going live".

4.  What is the payment structure?  Do they want all of the money up front?  Half now, half upon completion?  Make sure you hold back partial payment until your site is complete and you are fully satisfied with the results.

5.  Will your designer submit your site to the search engines or will this be your responsibility?  If this is your responsibility, do your homework to ensure you cover all the steps. (Keywords and META tags must be done prior to submission.)

6.  Who will be responsible for search engine optimization? This is usually an add-on service, so find out if your developer includes it with site development, offers it at an additional cost, or if you will have to contract it out to a third party.

7.  Who will hold the master key to your site? Make sure you do! Don't leave this critical component of your business and marketing strategy in the control of a third party.  Get all passwords and access to all data.

8.  Will your developer teach you how to read your web logs/stats so you can understand the how, what, where and why of your visitors?

9.  Has the developer designed other sites for your niche market?

10.  Has the web designer provided a portfolio, testimonials or references from others in your niche market?  Have you verified the references?

A web site is a major component of your marketing strategy and business success. Do your due diligence in selecting a web developer and don't hesitate to ask as many questions as it takes to fully understand both your and your developer's role in the process.

I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles/blogs on my site. Your feedback is important to us....and we wish you the very best!

+KJC

K. JEVON CHAMBERS, Th.D.
CHAMBERS CONSULTING GROUP
"Taking You Beyond Where You Are"

Email: consultchambersgrp@ymail.com
Website: http://kjevonchambers.weebly.com/

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Ten Eye Popping, Jaw Dropping Ad Copy Secrets

Write ad copy like the pros and EXPLODE your response rates -- check out these 10 tips...

1. Use a hand written letter on your ad copy instead of text. Write the ad on a piece of paper, scan it and publish the ad on your web page. Adding a personal touch will always increase your sales.

  2. Publish a list of famous and respected customers who have bought from you on your a copy. People will think that if these people bought from you, they should also trust your business and purchase your products. Make sure to get their permission first

  3. Show before and after photos for your products on your web page copy. Show the problem picture and then beside it, show the picture of the resolution to the problem when they use your product.

  4. Include an article or review that has been written about you or your business with your ad copy. This will show people that your business is respected and will increase your credibility.

  5. When you offer free bonuses in your ad copy, also list the dollar value beside each bonus. People will feel they're getting a good deal and it will increase the value of your product.

  6. Hire a famous person to endorse your product or service. Make sure the person is well known to your target audience. Include their picture and statements on your ad copy.

  7. Include your own picture on your ad copy. This will show people that you're not hiding behind your ad copy and will increase their trust. Also, include your contact information below the picture and a brief statement or quote.

  8. Tell your potential customers on your ad copy that you will donate a percentage of their purchase price to specific charity. This will show them you really care about the people. They may just buy your product to donate to the charity.

  9. Ask your potential customers plenty of yes and no questions in your ad copy. The questions should remind them of their problem and make them think about what will happen if they don't purchase your product.

  10. Tell your potential customers they will receive a free prize if they find the five words in your ad copy that are misspelled or spelled backwards. The longer you can keep someone reading your copy the greater chance of them purchasing.

I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles/blogs on my site. Your feedback is important to us....and we wish you the very best!

+KJC

K. JEVON CHAMBERS, Th.D.
CHAMBERS CONSULTING GROUP
"Taking You Beyond Where You Are"

Email: consultchambersgrp@ymail.com
Website: http://kjevonchambers.weebly.com/

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Five Ways to Make Money Online Without a Website

On the Internet you can find numerous ways to make money online without a website. Below are types of online program that you can join without having any website.

1.Online Surveys
The idea of online survey is that you will be given a survey that has to be completed by you to earn money. This surveys is conducted by companies who are observing the community to discover the best way to market their product or services. The amount of money you can earn per survey depends on the importance or the length of survey. Some survey companies doesn’t reward you with money. Instead, they giving you prizes/gifts or entering you to a lucky draw.

2.Get Paid to Read Email/Get Paid to Signup/Get Paid to Surf
From the description above, you know what you have do to make money. Yes, only by reading emails and click the advertisement inside or by signing up to various free to join programs or surfing on the internet you can make money online. Although the money you can earn isn’t much, this is the most convinient way to make money.

3.Online Investment
This program requires you to invest on their programs for a certain period of time and in return you will get the amount of interest based on your investment. This type of program involve a high risk, just like other offline investment. It also has the big chance of losing your money, because many of this programs are scams. Only a few of this type of program are legitimate. Usually, they offer a low rate of interest, but still higher than most bank offers.

4.Ebay Business
Ebay is a well known service that allows people to sell and buy products through an online auction. You can sell your antiques or stuffs that you no longer want to Ebay. Though selling your old stuffs and sell them to an online auction seems like not promising, there are actual people who has make a full time income on Ebay.

5.Marketing Affiliate Programs with Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising
Recently this is maybe the most popular way to make money online without having your own website. The concept is by joining an online affiliate programs that will give you commission to sell their products and then advertise the product on sites that has Pay Per Click Advertising. 

PPC Advertising is a powerful advertising campaign that charges you a small amount of money when someone click your advertisement. If that person decide to buy the product your promoting, you get profit from your commission reduced by your investment on the PPC Advertising. 

The most famous PPC service is Google Adwords, run by Google. Just be sure that your investment on the PPC service doesn’t exceed the amount of commission you get from the affiliate program.

As you can see, each program has their own advantage and disadvantages. 

The last two ways mentioned above is considered more promising than the top three. In order to make a significant income with the last two programs, you have to know its secrets and techniques. Fortunately, there are many ebooks and articles online that can help you to get the best of those programs.

I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles/blogs on my site. Your feedback is important to us....and we wish you the very best!

+KJC

K. JEVON CHAMBERS, Th.D.
CHAMBERS CONSULTING GROUP
"Taking You Beyond Where You Are"

Email: consultchambersgrp@ymail.com
Website: http://kjevonchambers.weebly.com/

Monday, February 10, 2014

FY 2014 Head Start Funding Increase

President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 on January 17, 2014. This Act includes $8,598,095,000 for programs under the Head Start Act, representing an increase of approximately $1.025 billion over the fiscal year (FY) 2013 funding level.

The approximately $1.025 billion increase restores the 5.27 percent reduction from sequestration and provides all grantees with a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The FY 2014 funding level also includes $500 million for expansion through the Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnership to support communities in expanding high-quality early learning and development opportunities for infants and toddlers.

This Program Instruction provides information about the additional funds that are available to Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in FY 2014 and describes the requirements for applying for the portion of these funds that are available for restoring operational funds reduced by sequestration and providing the COLA. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is developing a separate announcement about the EHS-CC Partnership funds and will be providing more information in the coming weeks about how to apply for these funds.

Grantees that already received partial funding for FY 2014 are eligible to receive a supplemental award to reflect the increased appropriation. Grantees that successfully competed for funds and received reduced awards due to sequestration are also eligible to receive these increases. All grantees are required to request these funds through a grant application.

Restoring Sequestration
The FY 2014 appropriation restores the 5.27 percent reduction grantees received in FY 2013 due to sequestration. The expectation is that grantees will use these funds to restore the number of funded enrollment slots, the number of days or weeks in the program year, or the other cuts programs made to absorb the reduction. If there are any circumstances that make full restoration of services or slots challenging, grantees should work with their Regional Office.

FY 2014 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
Each grantee may apply for a COLA increase of 1.3 percent of the FY 2012 base funding level. Base funding excludes training and technical assistance funds and any one-time funding grantees may have received in FY 2012. COLA funds are to be used to increase staff salaries and fringe benefits and to pay for higher operating costs.

Programs that use COLA funds to increase staff salaries should increase the hourly rate of pay and permanently increase the Head Start pay scale rather than only increase the salaries of current employees. Sections 653 and 640(j) of the Head Start Act provide further guidance on the uses and limitations of the COLA funds. Section 653 of the Act restricts compensation to a Head Start employee that is higher than the average rate of compensation paid for substantially comparable services in the area where the program is operating. Section 640(j) of the Act requires that the compensation of Head Start employees must be improved regardless of whether the agency has the ability to improve the compensation of staff employed by the agency that do not provide Head Start services.

Each grantee, as specified in 45 CFR 1301.31, is required to have personnel policies that specify salary rates and fringe benefits. Any grantee proposing differential COLA increases to staff or delegates must justify its rationale in its budget narrative.

Application Requirements
Grantees must submit a grant application or application amendment in the Head Start Enterprise System (HSES) that includes the Grant Application Budget Instrument (GABI), SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, board and Policy Council approvals, program narrative, and budget narrative. Information on the increased amount of funds available to your agency for the restoration of operational funds reduced by sequestration and for the COLA will be available in HSES. Due dates for amended applications will also be available in HSES. Grantees that may need an extension of the due date for their grant application should contact their Regional Office.


As always, grantees encountering one-time needs, especially related to health and safety concerns, should contact their Regional Office throughout the year.


Please direct any questions regarding this Program Instruction to your Regional Office...and if your organization has a need for our services, feel free to reach out, we're here and very capable of "Taking You Beyond Where You Are..."

Thank you for your work on behalf of children and families.
+KJC

K. JEVON CHAMBERS, Th.D.
CHAMBERS CONSULTING GROUP
"Taking You Beyond Where You Are"

Email: consultchambersgrp@ymail.com


Home Business System

Are you good with computers and considering a home business where you can utilize your computer knowledge? You may be interested in starting a computer tech business from home offering support to the millions of Americans who own computers but often times become very frustrated with them.

If you are planning this type of business with your spouse and have children carefully, consider this venture before stepping into it. You will need to be able to manage your time and have an excellent ability to communicate to each other. You do not want your partnership to turn into a power struggle or both your marriage and business can become at risk of falling apart. Starting a home business takes investment both financially and emotionally so weigh your options carefully before jumping into the arena of home-based businesses.

It will be important to divide the responsibilities within the business. Look at the strengths that both of you have and divide them up that way. If both you and your spouse have great skills, when it comes to working with clients, one of you may prefer to do a different part of the business. Your business will succeed when you work together utilizing each other’s strengths as opposed to getting into a power struggle over who should work in which area of the business. Just as in a corporate environment, you have those who work in the forefront working with the customers and managing the day-to-day operations and another who work behind the scene generating the paperwork, payroll, and other office duties. Any large financial decisions should always be made together.

You do not want to be screaming at each other when differences arise so decide on a plan as to how you are going to handle disputes that arise and they do arise in all businesses. Again look at how businesses are run, have weekly meetings or even morning daily meetings to look at what you are going to accomplish that day. If you start your business but never, take time to communicate with each other as to what is happening your business will fail. Having weekly or daily meetings will lessen the chance of something happening that is unexpected and you will be more able to handle the little things that crop up.

If you have, children in the home consider hiring someone to come in and take care of the kids while you are working. It does not have to be all day but maybe for a few select hours when you know that you and your spouse need to concentrate without interruptions. Although one of the reasons you probably wanted to start a home business is so that you can be home with your children you will not be very effective if they are demanding your attention all day. Your children will have to adjust to the business being in your home the same way you and your spouse are adjusting.

I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles/blogs on my site. Your feedback is important to us....and we wish you the very best!

+KJC

K. JEVON CHAMBERS, Th.D.
CHAMBERS CONSULTING GROUP
"Taking You Beyond Where You Are"

Email: consultchambersgrp@ymail.com
Website: http://kjevonchambers.weebly.com/

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Create Your Network Marketing Momentum

In network marketing, substantial wealth is created only after you have achieved momentum. This momentum can be thought as very similar to the doubling effect of compound interest.

Compound interest is "Interest which is calculated not only on the initial principal but also the accumulated interest of prior periods." In the case of your network marketing efforts your initial principal is your initial effort. Your accumulated interest is that of your sponsors, who, with your proper coaching, carry on your efforts to effectively set your momentum in motion.

Your sponsors follow your lead by growing your downline and finding new sponsors who in turn do the same. This has surprising and remarkable results. This creates a doubling effect that once in place grows your business at a phenomenal rate. No longer can your efforts possibly keep pace with the actions of so many who all contribute to your own downline.

The momentum all starts by putting it in motion with your actions. Unfortunately, try asking up to 90% of the people who attempt network marketing how they are doing. You are more then likely to hear some negative replies. The reason is simple - they did not set things in motion.

Getting your network marketing business rolling is no mystery. It takes you and your positive dedication to move things forward. It also takes your planning. This is accomplished first by establishing your goals for your business. Determine what your ideal vision of the future would be, and move toward it with optimistic expectations.

The next step for realizing your network marketing success is mapping out your plan for success. This is where you determine the most effective use of your time and energy. Figure out what money if any, should be spent on your business marketing and expenses. Most importantly, set time aside to market your business each day.

A frequently overlooked step by many who attempt to succeed at network marketing is devoting time to you. Your continued education is vital to your success. Your newfound knowledge will enable you to adapt to changes, and focus on the things that really work.

Personal development will lead to the development of your sponsors, the key to your long term success. Your sponsors need a team leader who has high energy, is motivated and knowledgeable. It is important that you nurture your sponsors into an extension of you. Only then will your dream of network marketing momentum be fulfilled.

I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles/blogs on my site. Your feedback is important to us....and we wish you the very best!

+KJC

K. JEVON CHAMBERS, Th.D.
CHAMBERS CONSULTING GROUP
"Taking You Beyond Where You Are"

Email: consultchambersgrp@ymail.com
Website: http://kjevonchambers.weebly.com/

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Fulfill Head Start Hearing Screening Performance Standards

Attention All Head Start Providers:

Since 2001, the Office of Head Start has funded the ECHO Initiative to provide Early Head Start grantees and delegates with training and technical Child Being Screened assistance to implement up-to-date hearing screening and follow-up practices with children 0 - 3 years of age. One aspect of that is helping staff to become aware of relevant Head Start Performance Standards, including:

Grantees or delegate agencies must provide for hearing screening of all children within 45 days of a child's entry into the program, (45 CFR 1304.2), and...

The disabilities coordinator at each program must arrange for further, formal evaluation of a child who has been identified through screening as possibly having a disability (45 CFR 1308.6).

Additional policy clarifications suggest that:
A sensory screening tool must be used to identify potential hearing concerns rather than a paper screening tool (OHS-PC-B-025).

Also, because objective hearing screenings are rarely conducted by health care providers, it may be more:

Efficient and effective for programs to provide uniform screening for all children using objective screening instruments (OHS-PC-B-038).
OAE screening is recognized by the Office of Head Start as satisfying the Performance Standards and as the appropriate tool to use with children under three years of age being served in early childhood care settings. Watch a short, 5-minute video to learn more....and always, Chambers Consulting Group, LLC, is always here to assist your needs, so allow us to Take You Beyond Where you Are....

Monday, February 3, 2014

Dealing With Pressure For The Home-Based Business Entrepreneur

What is the most effective way to deal with the anxiety that a home-based business entrepreneur experiences? The quick answer is to realize that this is part of being a business owner and to learn to live with it. The anxiety will not go away over night and you may be experiencing it for many years as you look at the profit/loss margins that occur with starting a business and moving to a place where it is stable and successful.

Many people are drawn to the idea of being self-employed, and not having to work for a boss and also because they think that there are many freedoms with this type of business. They soon find out; however, that this is not the case and they will actually be working long, hard hours for a few years as they try to get their business on its feet. The difference in being self-employed is that everything rests on your shoulders. When you were working for someone else, you had to deal with things you probably did not want to but the entire weight of the financial success of the company was not your concern – now it is. You are now concerned if there will be enough profit to pay your employees (that includes yourself), your vendors, and your bills.

Remember that simply because you are feeling pressure does not mean your business is going to fail. It simply means you are now in business for yourself and are facing the same pressures that all business owners experience at some time or another. Anxiety is a great motivator. You may wake up and not want to do any work, you would prefer to make an early round of golf, instead you realize that if you choose this option you will only be making it more difficult for yourself and you will lose money as opposed to making money. I would actually be concerned if you started a new business and had absolutely no fears at all, that is being arrogant and has a great chance of leading to failure.

There is a difference in being confident about your business venture and arrogant. Arrogant is thinking nothing will go wrong and you do not have to make an effort or sweat over the financial affairs of your new business. So how do you deal with the pressure? Make sure you have a financial plan. Talk to those who are involved in your business and make sure everyone knows their goals. Talk about the risks and whether-or-not, they are worth taking. Do not stick your head in the sand and pretend they do not exist – they do and you need to face them head on and when you do,you will be successful and your anxiety will lessen and will eventually go away.

I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles/blogs on my site. Your feedback is important to us....and we wish you the very best!

+KJC

K. JEVON CHAMBERS, Th.D.
CHAMBERS CONSULTING GROUP
"Taking You Beyond Where You Are"

Email: consultchambersgrp@ymail.com
Website: http://kjevonchambers.weebly.com/