Those who have ridden in my car know first-hand that I have great affection for my GPS. To me it's a cherished "gift that keeps on giving". Not only do I love it because of the ease and confidence it offers me in finding my way, but this fabulous little gadget also calculates my anticipated time of arrival. I just love that... Short of something catastrophic or a massive detour, I breathe easier knowing when and where I'll arrive.
But wait, it gets even better...
In the event of a missed turn, Jill (yes, that's her name) echoes the word "recalculating" while identifying an alternate route that will take me to my destination. No judgment or panic, simply: recalculating. Ahhh...
On the road to realizing your dreams, there is much to be learned from this nifty little invention!
So, with the easy-breezy wind blowing in your hair, here are 10 very important driving tips to give you the utmost ease and confidence around each twist and turn along the road to realizing YOUR dreams:
1. Unless you know your destination, a GPS will not be much use to you. You must choose a destination! This is not to say you can't change direction at any time, it just means that in order to receive guidance about where to go, you must begin by choosing which way to head. (By the way, there is of course not a thing wrong with a joy-ride, as long as you don't feel any particular urgency to get anywhere in particular.)
2. When would you like to arrive? Are you traveling by foot, bike, car...? Take into account how fast you're able to travel for a steady distance, and when you would like to arrive. With a bit of planning, you'll be able to easily assess how soon to set out on your journey and what to pack.
3. Give yourself some extra time so you can stop along the way to refuel.
4. Remember: You are in the drivers seat.
5. Enjoy the ride. Half the fun is getting there.
6. If it feels daunting to go it alone, find others who are heading in a similar direction to join you.
7. Pace yourself.
8. Glance in the rear-view mirror periodically, but keep your primary focus on what's in front of you.
9. Celebrate each milestone along the way, knowing that every mile counts.
10. Don't doubt and question whether or not you'll get there! Just keep going... You don't have to use any more precious fuel spinning your wheels.
With a bit of planning, you can create your very own road map to your dreams! First, decide where and when you would like to arrive. Then, work backwards. Identify clear, measurable milestone markers that support your journey forward. Enjoy the ride!
Want to get into the fast lane?
Contact me to learn how we can join forces and put the pedal to the metal...

The condition of the interior is an important factor to consider when buying a used car. During the test drive looking at the interior can tell you a lot about the car.
Excessive wear of the interior may actually be a good indicator of the mileage, even without looking at the odometer. Moisture and musty odours indicate possible leaks in seals or heating. Windows that readily fog up are a sign of moisture in the vehicle. The following test drive tips concern the inside of the car.
Floor mats
Do not be fooled by new floor mats. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to cover up wear. Lift the mats up and check the condition of the carpet underneath. Check for water leaks. Also check for wear behind the foot pedals and to the right of the accelerator.
Seat belts
Do all the seat belts work correctly? Give a tug on the belt. The black seat belts in a new car should immediately seize. In older models or in a classic car, there will be a little bit of leeway in the system. Seat belt tensioners will only absorb the forces of a crash once. So if you are buying a salvaged car ask explicitly whether the seat belts have been replaced. The same applies to the airbag. Check how the seat belt rolls up. If the belt has difficulty rolling itself up then the system is worn. Very fast rolling up indicates minimal usage of the belt. Check for any tears or fraying which adversely affect the functioning.
Drivers Seat
Wear of the driver's seat is a good indication of mileage. If the sides are worn, chances are that the vehicle has substantial mileage.
Airbag
If the car has airbags it is important to take a good look at the steering wheel cover and the dashboard where the airbags are located. The H-pattern over which the steering wheel or dashboard cover will rip on inflation of the airbag is virtually invisible. Is the position of the airbag clearly visible under the cover, chances are the airbag has been removed and jammed back in. Realize that an airbag can only be used once, and after use the entire unit must be replaced.
Consider the age of the car. The lifespan of the airbag system in vehicles produced prior to 1992 is about 10 years. The airbags on models after 1992 have a lifespan of about 15 years. Side airbags could last 15 years, depending on the brand.
Pedal rubbers
The pedals are the controls for the brake, clutch and accelerator. They are an unavoidable instrument for driving a car. Wear of the pedal rubbers indicates much use and the mileage must be high.
Shifter
This is also a good indicator of usage of a car. If the shifter knob is substantially worn there has been a lot of shifting. That means a high mileage or a lot of city traffic. In the latter case, consider oil consumption. Oil temperature may not always reach operating temperature on short drives so the engine parts are not optimally lubricated and suffer wear.
Seat covers
Ask yourself why there are covers over the seats. Is the seller protecting or hiding the original seat covers? Is there a lot of wear from stepping in and out? This means the car has been driven a lot which means high mileage or a lot of short trips. Check if the mileage, the wear on both the pedal rubbers and the gearshift correspond.
Steering wheel
A worn steering wheel means lots of driving. Expect a high mileage.
Leaks
When buying a car check the lining of the roof for signs of moisture. Moisture patches indicate that a seal (from the sunroof) is not functioning properly. Feel under the floor mats for moisture. Where possible, lift up the carpet to inspect the floorboards for rust. Do the same for the trunk.
Odometer
Digital and analog odometers can quite easily be manipulated. It is not illegal to drive with a defective odometer as long as it was not intentionally tampered with to deceive a buyer as to the actual mileage. Check the maintenance log for corresponding distance data. Check the dashboard for signs of tampering with the odometer. Indicators are fingerprints or scratches on the inside of the plastic screen. Check for worn screws used for attachment of the instruments. If the digits are not aligned evenly, or if the digits are scratched, this indicates an attempt to change the mileage. If you find the mileage is on the low side, look carefully for signs of wear of the steering wheel, gearshift and pedals. If the pedals are worn to the metal, and the mileage counter shows 25,000 miles, it's time to say good bye!

The new paradigm of Spiritual Quantum Physics is based upon the following axioms:
(1) You are to God as your cells are to your body.
(2) You are a dynamic unit of energy living and moving and having your being within another infinite dynamic unit of energy called God.
(3) All is energy in multi sets of ascending and descending cycles.
(4) The only thing happening in the Universe is energy in relationships.
This tells us that all the physical objects chairs, pens, planets, people and even the universe are no more than manifestations of the mental thoughts of God, you and I and the collective humanity.
There are no physical objects 'out there' only the manifestation of thoughts. Take away the individual who is thinking the thought about something and it will disappear from the physical world.
If no on thinks about the Golden Gate Bridge, If all writings, pictures and images of this bridge were destroyed the Golden Gate Bridge would 'blink out' of the known physical world and back into the non-physical part of God's mind waiting for the next person to think about it.
We are all souls, 'finite' units of dynamic energy projected out of the Mind of God into the Quantum Ocean.
The Quantum Ocean is an infinite body of thinking intelligent energy. There is no time there. No past, present nor future. Only the 'NOW1'.
There is no breadth, width or length in the Quantum Ocean. Only the 'HERE!'.
Therefore there exists only the "HERE NOW!'.
The Quantum Ocean is the playing ground manifested by God for all the billions of souls to use to work out their destinies and to experience physical life.
There is the physical part of the Quantum Ocean where you, I, the planets exist in physical form. Then there is the non-physical part of the Quantum Ocean where all the infinite possibilities of existence exist.
We are divine blueprints in the Mind of God experiencing life in the divine blueprint called "our universe.'
Within the non-physical part of the Quantum Ocean is an infinite number of divine blueprints yet to be discovered and manifested onto our physical plane.
How do they manifest? Thoughts are things. Man thinks these divine blueprints into the physical world out of the Quantum Ocean with his mind.
Where do you think the great inventors, writers, creative people get their ideas? Ideas are from the divine blueprints in the Quantum Ocean.
Edison had to think about the electric light bulb and try 10,000 experiments before he generated, with his thoughts, enough energy to bring this divine blueprint out of the non-physical into the physical.
You can do the same. Therefore think only big thoughts.

Ragnar Storyteller (earned Viking name) is 72 and a skald and rune master. He is a retired math professor and electrical engineer. He brings his scientific knowledge of Quantum Physics into his Runic Information Website. He offers a unique approach to Runes and Quantum Physics. He offers free Runic and Quantum Physics essays and articles plus a free newsletter.

Your son or daughter has science questions about Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion. How can you begin to guide your child's understanding of these concepts? Without thinking about them, we use Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion every day. Newton's first law explains why it is harder to stop a moving car than a roller skate. Newton's second law algebraically relates the force on an object, its mass, and its acceleration. Newton's third law concerns how forces act upon objects. By relating every day experiences, you can help your child understand Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion.
1. Newton's first law of motion is also known as the law of inertia. The term, inertia, derives from the Greek, inert, or not moving. Newton's first law states that any object will remain stationary or will continue to move in a straight line unless it is acted upon by an external, unbalanced force. A force is a push or pull on an object. Inertia is a measure of the mass of an object. An automobile has more inertia than a roller skate. While you are traveling in a moving car, you are moving in the same direction and with the same speed as the car.
If the car suddenly comes to a stop, you will still be moving in the original direction, through the windshield if you do not use a seatbelt or airbag. The seatbelt keeps you in one position relative to the car's motion, keeping your body against the seat. Inertia also explains why you lean towards the opposite direction as the car moves around a steep curve. If the car turns right, you lean towards the left; if the car turns left, you lean towards the right. Again, your body continues to move in a straight line during the turn, as it did before the turn.
2. Any time you want to change the speed or direction of an object, you need to use the appropriate force. Newton's second law of motion relates the concepts of mass, force, and acceleration. In science, acceleration is the change in speed or direction of a moving object. Force on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. The strength of the force on an object depends upon the object's mass, or how much material it contains, and how fast its speed is changing, or its acceleration.
An automobile hitting a wall at the same speed as a roller skate would have more force, since the car has more mass. A unit of measurement for force is the Newton, abbreviated N, named after Sir Isaac Newton. One Newton, or one N, is the force needed to move a mass of one kilogram one meter per second in a second. Or algebraically, 1 N = 1 kg * m/ s2. A Newton of force is a small amount. A person weighing 110 pounds exerts a force of 50 Newtons on Earth.
3. Newton's third law of motion is more commonly called action reaction. For every action in one direction, there is an equal and opposite reaction in the opposite direction; even if the object does not move. Forces always act in pairs, even if the object remains still. While sitting in a chair, you provide a force on the chair acting down towards the floor. At the same time, the chair provides an equal and opposite upward force on you. If this were not the case, you would be sitting upon the floor instead. While you walk, for each step that you take your foot pushes against the floor. As you push, or provide a force, against the floor, the floor also pushes against your foot, propelling you forward. If you try to walk across sheer ice, you must adjust your steps, since the ice does not provide the same force as the floor.
By using every day examples, you can help your children understand Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion. The law of inertia, or Newton's first law of motion, describes how a stationary object begins to move or how the motion of an object changes. Newton's second law of motion algebraically relates an object's mass and acceleration to the amount of force involved to cause motion. Finally, Newton's third law of motion involves the fact that forces on an object always act in opposing pairs, whether or not the forces cause motion.

Motion Detector lights are probably one of the most cost-effective, as well as practical technological innovations that drastically improve the safety of your home. At the same time, outdoor security lights allow some leeway in your budget. There are many effective mechanisms with motion sensor lights but the most common being technology is the PIRs (passive infrared) or pyroelectric sensors. Since human beings emit infrared energy with a wavelengthof 9 to 10 micrometers, most if not all sensors have a sensitivity range of 8 to 12 micrometers. These sensors however are not reactive to a person who is standing still. This is because PIR systems can only detect and be reactive to a sudden, rapid change in the infrared energy within a specific area.
Motion Detector Lights are especially handy when it comes to preempting burglaries and home invasions. One of the more common set-ups involve sensors turning on emergency floodlights should someone brave to trespass onto your property during the night, causing the burglar to panic while at the same time serving as an alarm so you'll know when someone or something threatens your home. Not only are motion detectors suitable for use in households, they can also serve as part of a staple home security systemLight motion detectors come in a myriad of styles ranging from designs that can be either mounted on walls, shelves and concerns, or the rather simply constructed ones that you can easily place on the ground.
So if you want to keep your properties, possessions and more importantly, you and your loved ones' well-being secure, you might want to consider installing motion sensor lights in and around your home. Motion sensor lights are one of the top three safety and security recommendations that are being promoted by authorities in the United States. The other two include organizing neighborhood watch groups in conjunction with the police and securing all property out of site.
With light motion detectors, you are getting the best and most practical means of safeguarding your family and properties; and they are also quite budget-friendly.

Be safe, not sorry. For more home security systems information go to Light Motion Detector and develop a plan to install the systems that best suit your need. The safety of your family and property is worth it. Security options are endless!

If you have not yet taught your precious pooch how to sit on command, you may want to go back and teach him or her that useful morsel before you try to teach it to stay or to come. This is for fairly obvious reasons: a dog is much happier to stay in one spot when it is allowed to be/told to be in a sitting position. So, take some time out of your busy schedule-about fifteen minutes, two or three times per day-and really get that dog sitting well. Once you are confident in his or her sitting ability, it is time to raise the stakes.
Speaking of steaks, treats are an indispensable item to carry on you at all times whenever one is training their pet. Once your dog is properly sit-trained, tell them to sit and, once they do that, give them a treat.
Then, hold your hand up like a stop sign. Make sure that it is in front of the dog and so they can see it clearly. Back up slowly, saying the word "Stay" in a firm and clear tone. Of course, if you would like to get the dog's attention first, say its name. When speaking any of these commands, you must speak clearly and with confidence. The firmness in your voice will tell your dog that you are saying something he or she should listen to. For the first few times teaching them how to stay, you do not turn your back to them as you walk away from them-be walking backwards, facing them, hand out front, and keep your eyes on the pup. Do not go too far the first couple times-a few footfalls will do. Then, with a bit of a fun jive in your voice, say, "Come!" Your dog should take the cue and bound over towards your direction, or at least pad over lazily, and when they do, reward them again. Praise them and give him or her a treat.
Of course, if the dog decides to run prematurely-before you say the command "Come!"-then you must tell them "No!" in a hard voice and back them up all over again. Then, consider what you may have done wrong. More than half of the time during training sessions with a miscreant pup, it is the owner who is unknowingly prompting the pup to behave badly. Are you moving too far away from your pup? Have you turned your back to your dog as you were backing away? With the right motivation, your dog will be staying when you'd like him or her to and coming back to you, as well.
After your dog has consistently stayed when you told him to stay and came when you told him to come, you may want to try backing farther away to give the dog a bit more of a challenge. Remember to only do training where your dog may fail if you are feeling energetic and happy-never go into a training period with a frowning face or it is only a matter of time before you will become frustrated with your dog. Dogs can sense frustration, as they are pack animals, and this may confuse them and cause them to slip up in their training. As your best friend and companion, they are always looking for ways to please you; if you seem displeased with the training sessions, the dogs may associate the training with your negativity and come to dislike the sessions.
Once you have the "Sit", "Stay", and "Come" commands, the sky is the limit. You will be able to train your dog easier, and, in general, your dog will have learned to respect you and listen to your commands.

Just about every topic that you can imagine is published on the internet.  This makes it difficult when a client tells us that we need to find a unique angle, but it is not impossible.  A little creativity and looking at what you already know about the topic at hand can help you craft an article that has a unique flair.
Your Life Experiences
Personal experience is always unique.  You won't have personal experience with every topic in existence, but it is inevitable that you have personal experience with several dozen things.  Have you done your own repair on your vehicle lately?  Have you had an MRI done?  Have you tried a new beauty or grooming trend?  Write about this stuff.  Folks surfing the web enjoy reading about what other people experienced with something they have either tried or will be trying.  Not all clients will accept first-person experience, so keep this in mind, but many will and many will pay rather well for it.
Use a Single Element of the Topic
Every topic has a variety of elements.  For example, roof repair and multiple sclerosis are two very different topics and when you look at the bigger picture you will see that dozens of narrow articles can be done on each.  In terms of roof repair, you could talk about choosing the right shingles for your geographic area, whether nails or staples are the best for your shingle type and how roof slope affects the cost of labor.  These are just three topic ideas generated from the very broad roof repair.  With multiple sclerosis, you can break this down into dozens of articles.  Some examples include writing about how plasmapheresis helps in treating this condition, the pain related to MS and natural ways to cope with the MS hug.  The best way to narrow down is to take a topic and analyze it.  Think about the subheads you would use in a broad article and make each subhead a single article.
Choose a Specific Audience
An article that looks at getting more fiber in your diet has been done a million times, but choosing a specific audience for this can narrow things down.  Most articles on the above topic are targeted at adults, so why not write about how to get more fiber into your toddlers' diet.  Keep the article focused on toddlers only.  Talk about how much fiber they need per day, foods that toddlers like to eat that contain fiber and how to sneak in fiber when they are not wanting to eat those fiber-rich foods.

Did you wake up one morning and realize that you are overweight but could not figure out how you came to the state? Did you find out one evening that you cannot fit into your favorite dress anymore? Do you feel uncomfortable about your appearance when going out with people but cannot decipher how to go back to being slim and happy? If yes, the good news is, there are several ways out. The bad news, however, is the fact that since your life did not change overnight, regaining it will happen over a period of time, too.
Perhaps, the most important component of losing weight is changing your eating habits. Think about it, how much has your food consumption increased compared to a few years back? The answer may come as a surprise. There are many who simply can not give food up and are thus resorting to physical activity as a way to lose weight. Yes, physical activity will indeed burn those calories off. If you do not, however, change your eating habits, you cannot be certain about being able to maintain this weight loss. A healthy lifestyle and a slim body needs an adequate combination of both. If you do not know where to start, there are a number of foods you can resort to.
Whole-grain foods top the list. These are particularly suitable for those with a raving appetite for certain foods, since they will not have to give them up but simply change the type they intake. Yes, this means that you do not have to give up bread but just to go for whole wheat bread. You can keep consuming rice if you can just switch to brown rice. You can still have a decent amount of breakfast. All you need to do is buy some oatmeal instead of high-fat cereal. As for snacks, popcorn can still be there, just without salt, butter or any sort of flavor. It is not that hard, after all!
Next comes the obvious: Fruits. Water-rich fruits are ideal in this regard, some being apples, melons and watermelons. This is because they are not only low in calories but also contain pectin, which can limit the amount of fat that your body cells tend to absorb. However, you must not go overboard with fruits. Another healthy option is to consume grapefruit, which has been long known to aid weight loss. Similar to apples, it reduces fat absorption by reducing insulin levels, also lowering your appetite. Also, this highly fibrous food takes more calories to digest than it actually contains, thus leading to burning some.
To aid your diet plan, you can also go for healthy options like green tea and soy protein. These help to curb your appetite while doubling the gains from a diet. For meat lovers, the solution is fish prepared in low-fat ingredients, thus aiding fat-loss as well as satisfying food cravings. Carefully choosing what you eat, therefore, is the key to a successful diet. Having chosen the best options, you can not only be sure of consuming the least amount of calories but can actually burn them off by eating food itself!

Decoration
Like any other kids party you have balloons, paper flags and the goody bags etc. Just add a few extra things to create the Bollywood atmosphere. Ensuring you decorate with a few Colourful Sari's or similar soft/ sheer material is the most visually attractive and traditional way to make the party very 'Indian'.
Table decoration - You could purchase a nice Indian table runner, (which are usually available at an Indian clothing store. Use fresh Flowers, sparklers, balloons, colourful napkins, colourful paper plates, coloured paper ribbon streamers, left over glitter from your last party and plenty of food (yes a traditional Bollywood party is all about food and colour. Also with kids, it is important they have the nibbles ready however we will discuss the food later in this article
The Disco ball - Bollywood is all about fun colour and sparkle and you can make one with a ball covered in lots of glitter or purchase a mirror disco ball in almost every variety store. They can be small or big; if you are buying the smaller sizes (cost can be from $ 2 to $ 4) buy at least 20 and hang them low and scattered throughout the party room. If you are buying the bigger one you only need a few and hang them over the main table.
Carpet - Kids usually love to play on the floor, so spread a few carpets or cushions (with Indian covers) or even an Indian bed spread in the nominated area.
Music - Upbeat Bollywood music, High voltage Bhangra beat or Indo western music is most appropriate but if you are not sure what to play ask a Bollywood teacher or somebody who has knowledge of Bollywood music, or look it up on the Internet.
The goodie bags - All children love a present. They do not have to be expensive but with a little effort and creative ideas you can create a very attractive present to give to each of the guests.
For girls - Girls love their sparkles and jewellery, so put a couple of beaded necklaces a packet of Bindi (traditional tiny stickers that decorate the face), a packet of chocolates or sweets depending upon your budget.
For Boys - Animal masks (elephant, tiger or monkey), Stick on tattoos, sweets and an Indian story book.
What to wear -
For girls - Any Indian style costume.
For Boys - Indian Kurta/shirt with trousers and a turban. You can buy the turban or create one.
Party games - This is a wonderful way to keep everybody happy. Snakes and ladders, Bollywood grooves or even a magic show, request the magician to wear a turban to add some colours to the fun. But the best way to keep every child happy is to let them play with Rongoli.
Rangoli - Rangoli is the traditional decorative painting usually used in Indian ceremonies. Although traditionally dry colours are used to cover the pattern, you can give the kids pastel crayon or poster paint to draw on the pattern..You can print out the pattern from various internet sites or create your own. Give the kids a black hard paper to use as a surface, and let them follow a print or create their own prints and then colour with paint or crayon. The best thing is they can keep their creation as a prize.
For outside Rongoli, Give them chalk and coloured sands, let them draw their pattern and fill the pattern with coloured sand.
Food - Kheer, Rasmalai and Samosa can be great nibbles for the party. For the main course Basmati Chicken Pilaf or Honey Mushroom Chicken Curry with rice.
Drinks - Milk shake, Lassi or mango juice.
You can always ad more fun to your party by teaching the kids a Bollywood dancing routine, its fun and full of energy. Just ask a local Bollywood teacher for more details.
Now that you have all the basics covered start getting an idea for the invitations. Again its pretty simple, depending on the age of the guests, there are hundreds of free Indian patterns available on the net to suit the perfect occasion. You can print them out from the internet or make your own hand painted.

Water damage occurs through many different means and on many different scales. Some can easily be dealt with and repaired with little danger to human health, while others require special precautions to be taken since the water may contain chemicals, bacteria and other substances that are harmful to both humans and animals.
Clean, Gray and Black
Clean water is fairly safe to work in during repair and restoration. This category typically poses no danger to humans or animals because it has no harmful impurities or chemicals.
Gray water may contain some harmful matter. It's not typically life threatening, but may cause illness. At the very least this type of water is uncomfortable to work with.
Black water is incredibly dangerous. Harmful bacteria fungi or chemicals are definitely present and may cause illness or even death for those who come into contact with it. This type of contamination should be handled by professionals who have the equipment, knowledge and expertise to remove it without harming themselves or others.
Preventing Water Damage
Common problems that are easily avoidable cause the majority of water damage. Regular inspections of your plumbing, roof and foundation can prevent many of the small issues that grow into major problems. Even seemingly insignificant situations can quickly cause serious destruction.
Never discredit a small amount of moisture dripping down an interior wall. Whether the leak is caused by a faulty roof or a rusty pipe, it needs to be staunched right away lest it cause further harm to your home. Even if the outer part of your living room wall seems to be fine, the water is probably causing unseen and costly damage within the interior of your wall.
Since wood rots when it's wet, a damp proofing compound should be used on any part of your foundation that comes in contact with water. Otherwise the moisture will slowly rot away the wooden framing of your house and begin to compromise its structure.
Bathrooms are a primary location for water damage caused by steam from your shower. Unless you have an exhaust fan, mold can quickly grow and your wallpaper can begin to peel.
Roof maintenance is extremely important when you're trying to prevent unnecessary problems caused by rain and wet weather. Stopped up gutters will prevent drainage and cause rot issues along the trim of your roof. This problem could even lead to leaking inside your home.
Finally, a house with inadequate insulation can pose a serious problem. Water vapor easily forms inside the walls and up in the attic space. The moisture itself can cause serious damage, and it also creates an ideal environment for insects, which also cause problems. If you find that your home is under-insulated, a professional can come and add more insulation to certain parts of the home. And if your attic retains moisture, you may want to invest in an attic fan, which will help to dissipate that moisture before it has time to cause permanent water damage.

Mistake 1 - Headline Not Attention Grabbing
A few second in cyberspace is equivalent to an afternoon in the physical world. When a visitor arrives on your page, the first thing they see is your headline. If it doesn't grab their attention immediately, you run the risk of never seeing them again. Use strong emotional words to elicit a positive response within your prospect. Here's a list of copywriting power words to use when writing headlines.
Mistake 2 - Not Swiping Effective Copy
The first thing I do when I come across a headline that grabs my attention is to swipe it, and store it with the rest of my awesome copywriting files. Whether it's an email subject line, a landing page headline or a whole sales copy formula, I copy and paste them into a word document for inspiration further down the line. Anytime I'm looking for a bit of inspiration regarding my copy, I simply glance through my large database which always gives me what I need. (Of course, I write the final copy into my own words)
Mistake 3 - Using Long Sentences
I must say, I have been guilty of this on more than one occasion. The truth is though, you must try to get your point across in as few words as possible. I am not the slickest article writer in town, but when I write sales copy, email copy and headlines, I keep it short, to the point and benefit oriented. I tend to waffle a bit more here on my blog though.
Mistake 4 - Not Having a Strong Call to Action
When writing sales copy you need to tell your reader what you want them to do. People are looking for leadership. They want you to tell them what to do next. Don't be shy about asking for the sale. If your product or service is quality, and you know it will help your prospect, then tell them what to do next. When in doubt, think about the following 3 steps... 1) What is it you've got? 2) What will it do for them? 3) What should they do next?
Mistake 5 - Focusing on Features Instead of Benefits
I see this mistake all the time in sales copy. There's no point trying to sell a feature to your prospect. The only thing they really want to know is what it can do FOR them. You have to elicit an emotional response within your prospect, and the only way to do that is to highlight the benefits your product will add to their lives.
Example:
Feature... This top of the range car has 4 side impact bags
Benefit... Your family will be protected against side impacts
Feature... We have the best online training, and the most up to date tools
Benefit... Our training will help you succeed very quickly online, and our tools will shave at least 6 months off your learning time.
People buy on emotions; then they justify their decision based on logic.
Mistake 6 - Not Having a Guarantee
People are afraid to have a guarantee somewhere within their sales copy. This is very important stuff here. People need to know there's not a man in a striped jumper and a mask behind the sales page ready to take their hard earned cash and run. I have seen some sellers with a lifetime guarantee on their products. You can be assured that this will increase conversions massively, besides, not many people use that lifetime guarantee anyway. If, however, your product is not quality and you are worried that a lot of people will return it promptly, then realistically you need to evaluate your business plan... or lack of one for that matter.
Mistake 7 - Your Copy Is Not Targeted
Another big mistake that considerably lowers conversions is not figuring out the profile of your average customer. You need to find out who your audience is before you can effectively write for them. Writing copy for a 50 year old woman will not be the same as writing copy for a teenager for example. There are certain terms that appeal to both demographics, and emotional triggers portrayed through your words will have a different response to each audience. Writing copy for "everyone" will mean you write for 'no one'. It can be difficult for an 18 year old guy to write effective sales copy for pregnant mothers looking to buy a stroller. Get to know your audience first, get into their minds.
Mistake 8 - No Urgency Within Sales Copy
People will not rush into buying from you if they have all the time in the world to make a decision. Including a sense of urgency in your copy just makes sense. Let people know that your offer will not be around forever, and if the act NOW, they will get a discount, or a bonus. Include dime sales and limited numbers available in your copy. I'd advise against lying to your potential prospects as this will work against you in the long run, but you get my point. You don't want your customer to think they can come back at a later date to buy your product.
Mistake 9 - Being Too Boring & Technical
Injecting a bit of personality into your writing will help conversions. You must connect with the person read reads your copy. They need to identify with a real person and not a faceless website. This is especially true when using email marketing. Your goal is to build a relationship with the person you are talking to. Boring and technical sales copy doesn't work as well as personality driven copy. Remember, your goal is to play on your prospects emotions, this cannot be done effectively with technical copy, unless your prospect is just looking for statistics about your product.
Mistake 10 - Not Having a Compelling Offer
One thing I see all the time is marketers thinking their products are the best thing since sliced bread. It's a big mistake, and detrimental to your conversions if you put "yourself" ahead of your prospects. It's NEVER about what YOU think of the product you're promoting. Just because you think it's a great product, that doesn't mean it is. Your offer has to over-deliver. It must be so compelling that your prospect can't walk away from it without feeling like they let an offer of a lifetime slip them by. Add bonuses into the offer, include a discount if they buy within the next 5 minutes etc.
Mistake 11 - Not Tweaking to Improve Conversions
This may be the last on the list, but is by far one of the most important things you can do. Tweaking your headline, your subject lines, your bullet points and general copy within your emails and sales pages is essential. You see people looking to get more traffic to their websites so they can make more sales. They want more leads coming into their business so they have more people to market to. These are all fine and dandy, but little tweaks here and there can massively affect your conversions where you actually make more sales with the same amount of traffic... and it costs you nothing to test. You won't get this right the first time you make changes to your copy, but gaining an extra percentage increase here and there can make a big difference.