Childrens Birthday Party Planning: When and When Not to Have a Big Party

Childrens Birthday Party Planning: When and When Not to Have a Big Party

Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only because this birthday is more for the parents than for the child. At age 1, a child doesnt understand the concept of Birthday Party. He or she is getting a lot of attention---which is all a 1-year-old wants or understands anyway. You should not go overboard on presents because too much could scare or confuse a child. You should consider getting specialty items such as a plate that says First Birthday, a 1-year-old candle, and possible a table cover that everyone could sign with fabric paint to have as keepsakes that can someday be shown (or given to) to your grown child.

Age 2: 2-years-olds should have one or two playmates over for a small Birthday Play Day. Again I suggest you keep a birthday plate and other keepsakes for your 2-year-old.

Age 3: 3-year-olds should have three to four playmates over, and at this age you might have try a birthday game such as Who can stack the blocks the highest? I do not recommend having a clown or playing any games that require a blindfold over a childs eyes such key due to the fact either can scare children at this age. Remember your child has just turned 3, and the playmates are around that age. They are still not able to understand fully structured games very well. They only know if they do something good or better than other children, everyone will give them attention. Again I suggest you collect keepsakes.

Age 4: At 4, children should now be ready for a real party. I suggest four or five playmates. 4-year-olds are ready now for party decorations, but I suggest you do less and save your money for the big number 5 birthday (or buy decorations that you can put away and use again). Games such as Musical Chairs, and carrying a hard boiled egg on a spoon to the finish line without dropping it relay race can be appropriate, but remember that games will be played and finished much sooner than you think. Consider having a few of your childs favorite videos on hand. Even if the kids have seen them 100 times, they will enjoy them. After an hour or so, you will probably need a break and the children might be cranky. A movie they are all spellbound by will be a great way to relax the kids and you. You might want to consider spreading a couple of blankets on the floor and have some pillows handy for sleepyheads!

Age 5: 5-year-olds should have a big party, but remind them that this is because they are the big 5, and either starting school or just in school, and having a big party will not happen every year. Explain to them that big parties are only for special birthdays such as 5 because they have started or are starting school, 10 because that is the first double-digit number, and of course 16 (Sweet 16 for girls and Driving Age for boys). This will save you money in the long run. On the fifth birthday, I suggest you first decide if you want to do it yourself, rent a building or park area but still do it yourself, or call local businesses (like McDonalds) to see what party-planning packages they offer. I personally suggest renting a park area if weather permits because the kids will be just as happy playing on park equipment as they would if you spent a ton of money on a professionally planned party. Have several inexpensive disposable cameras on hand and let your Birthday Boy or Girl take pictures of his or her first big party!

Great games for 5-year-olds whether inside or outside are:

1. Hitting a Piata that is full of candy.

2. Relay races, which can be held in a garage, carport, or park.

3. Water balloon fights if weather permits (and you have advised the parents that the children are likely to get wet).

4. Dancing to music and freezing when the music is stopped to see who looks the silliest (this is a great game and everyone should win a party favor).

5. Pin the tail on the donkey (consider a game that uses Velcro instead of pins).

You can also do face painting and movie time. As with the 4-year-olds, you need to over plan for games and activities and a movie is a great back up (or a much-needed rest time). Another helpful hint is to take enough large plastic trash bags to cover your kitchen floor and lightly throw all colors of paint on them. Allow for adequate drying time before the party. Then you can use these bags to cover your kitchen floor before cake time to catch cake droppings and milk or soda spills (which WILL happen).

Ages 6-9: Birthdays can be simple overnight parties (slumber parties for girls and all nighters for boys) filled with popcorn, junk food, movies, and video games. As long as you let the kids stay up all night and sleep in half the next day, this type of party can still be cool---what kid doesnt love the idea of staying up all night (even if they dont make it all night). If it is summer time, think about letting them sleep outside in a tent or on a screened-in porch (just be sure to let the parents know exactly where their children will be sleeping and you should plan to check in on them a few times during the night).

Age 10: This should be done about the same as age 5 in terms of it being a special age (and reminding your child that big parties like this will not be done every year. Ten is a good age to consider renting a facility such as:

1. Pool parties: most local pools offer after-hour times when you can rent the pool for birthday parties.

2. Roller- or ice-skating parties.

3. Local arcades or pizza parlors often have special birthday packages.

4. A day at the Zoo for your child and their friends.

Hint: To save money, check with the place where you plan to hold the party to see if you can decorate, bring in the cake, and other party favors instead of buying the supplies from them.

Ages 11-15 do the same as ages 6-9 with a simple overnight party.

At 16, if they even agree to let you have a party, then consider yourself lucky. If they do, then you need to let the teenager decide what kind of party it should be. Remember kids at that age are very into who is popular and who is not. Dont push your child into inviting everyone you might think they should (because they might be afraid of being made fun of for having a party at home with their parents.) They know who to they can invite and who they cant without fear of peer pressure. My best suggestion for this age is either a pizza party at home or at a pizza parlor or a pool party, depending on the teenagers interest.

Any party that you give should be Fun for your child. Expect that your only reward will be the memories you create for yourself. If you happen to get a hug and a kiss from a very happy child at the end of the day, then it will be a bonus to remember!

Kimberly Hargis owns and operates Moms Break PMS. Printables Madness Syndrome n. 1 : a chronic condition characterized by an uncontrollable urge to find Free Printables on the Internet: sometimes known as PMS. Please visit http://www.MomsBreak.com.

Ten Kids Party Planning No-nos

Ten Kids Party Planning No-nos

Avoid the most common and obvious pitfalls many parents encounter when planning their first kids party. Tap into the knowledge of experienced party planners who've learned to steer clear of the "Ten Kids Party Planning No-Nos".

INVITING MORE CHILDREN THAN YOU CAN HANDLE

Your intentions were good when you invited everyone in little Tommy's classroom to celebrate his birthday, but you didn't realize what it's like when 20 active 6 year olds get together all in one place! Add excitement and sugary food and you've got a real problem!

Do yourself a favor and match the number of party guests to the birthday child's age a tried and true formula from countless Moms and Dads experienced in hosting successful kids parties.

UNCLEAR INVITATION

Your invitation should state clearly the Who, What, When, and Where of your party, as well as an RSVP date, phone number, and name to call. Add any special instructions such as what to wear, and whether a meal will be served or just cake and ice cream. Writing the name of the invited guest clearly will, in most cases, avoid siblings crashing your party.

FAILING TO KID-PROOF YOUR PARTY AREA

Protect yourself and your party guests by doing a pre-party sweep of the party area for potential hazards. Stowe your precious possessions and breakables in a safe place for the duration of the party. If very small children will be in attendance, make sure you have outlet covers in place and that loose change and other items that can be swallowed are out of sight.

During the party, be vigilant about letting balloons, or pieces of them, get into the hands of little ones. Avoid serving any food that could trigger nut allergies in children.

OVERDOING IT - TOO MUCH TO DO, TOO LITTLE TIME

This goes for both the party host/hostess and the guests. As the party planner, be sure you have adequate adult help to supervise all the party guests, play games, serve food, and clean up. Usually other parents are happy to assist, with the promise of reciprocation at their child's event.

Putting on your child's party shouldn't mean you can't enjoy the proceedings too!

Guests should not be over-scheduled either. Make sure you have allowed ample time and that the age group has the attention span and ability to tolerate all the elements of your party plan. In general, a one hour celebration is optimal for toddlers and pre-K kids, while older school age children can handle 2-3 hours easily. Plan a winding down activity or story time for younger kids.

NOT PLANNING ENOUGH GAMES & ACTIVITIES

This brings to mind the dreaded scenario of a bunch of overstimulated kids running amok because you've run out of games and activities with which to engage them. Don't let it happen to you! Always have extra games and prizes in your bag of tricks to tame the little monsters! You don't have to use them, but at least you'll be prepared.

GAMES NOT SUITED TO AGES/ABILITIES OF GUESTS

Four year olds will love playing "Duck Duck Goose", but charades or a scavenger hunt are way beyond them. Do a trial run of all your planned party games with the birthday child prior to party time to avoid any difficulties that might arise.

NO BACK-UP PLANS

Stuff happens! That's why you should always have a back-up plan for your party. Have an indoor alternative for outdoor parties in case of inclement weather. Confirm your entertainment a week in advance, but plan a few extra games or a party-themed video in case the entertainment falls through. Above all, resolve to keep your cool and handle whatever comes up with grace.

GIFT-OPENING FREE-FOR-ALL

There's nothing worse than party guests grabbing gifts and opening them for the party child. Or, the birthday child tearing open wrappings and casting gifts aside without a proper thank-you. You might consider opening gifts privately after the party's over to avoid any unkind comments from the birthday child, or jealousy on the part of the guests.

If you're determined to navigate these dangerous waters, here's a lifesaver for you: Have guests sit in a circle holding their gifts. The party child sits in the middle and spins a bottle to determine whose gift s/he will open. This keeps the insanity to a minimum and allows you time to record the names of gifts and gift-givers for thank-you notes later.

NOT RECORDING GIFTS GIVEN/ NOT SENDING THANK-YOU NOTES

It's so convenient to fall into this trap, but remember... a gift worth receiving is a gift worth giving thanks for... Thank you notes are always in style, and if you follow the instructions above for avoiding the gift-opening free-for-all, you'll be in good shape to write accurate ones.

Children will view this as a fun project if you provide them with colorful notes and markers or help them design an original on the computer. My kids always like to write out the addresses on the envelopes, too - it makes them feel grown up.

Patricia B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party enthusiast. She is the webmaster and owner of Kids-Party-Paradise.com - a comprehensive resource for kids party ideas and complete party plans for many popular themes, including invitations, cakes, decorations, games, costumes, favors, and food.

If you have a web site related to kids, kids parties, or another related theme, you may reproduce this article on your site, provided it appears in its entirety, including this resource box and live clickable link to: Kids-Party-Paradise.com where great kids parties are "a piece of cake"!

Copyright 2004 Kids Party Paradise All Rights Reserved

affiliates@kids-party-paradise.com

Stress-Free Kids Party Planning

Stress-Free Kids Party Planning

Another birthday's on the horizon, and you're stressing over every little detail. Throwing a party can be nerve-wracking and kids parties come with added pressures.

The prospect of keeping a group of young children occupied and entertained can be a daunting one. In addition, you may feel that celebrating a milestone in your child's life means the day must be a perfect one.

Take a step back and realize your child's party doesn't have to turn you into a stress knot! You can beat the pre-party anxiety with a little creativity and common sense. Turn your party fears into party cheers with these simple stress busters...

Forget the Fantasy

Sometimes we parents get caught up in the fairytale fantasy we are trying to create for our child... or for ourselves! Realize that your child's party doesn't have to be perfect from start to finish. It WILL be fun and memorable, even if some of the memories aren't quite what you expected! Remind yourself that you're celebrating the birth of your child (or other special event) and choose to make it a happy day.

Prioritize & Plan Ahead

Think about what elements of the party are the most important to you and the party child. Is a fancy party cake a priority? Fun and unusual games? A cute costume for the party child? Impressive decorations?

Make a list and prioritize it. Then work through each element and decide how you will make it a reality. You may decide some things just aren't worth the time or trouble, while others jump to the top of your list. Focus on two or three key party elements and make them special.

Limit Guests

This is a tough one for many parents. The pressure to invite every child in your child's class at school, as well as relatives and friends is great. Don't give in to it! The rule of thumb is to invite as many party guests as your child's age. That means a 5 year old can invite 5 friends.

If you have an obligation to reciprocate to certain friends or family members, plan an alternate get-together after the birthday party to avoid any hurt feelings.

Beat the Time Crunch

Start planning your party well in advance of the actual event. Six weeks is a good time to start brainstorming ideas for a party theme, where the party will be held, and which guests to invite. Make a simple timeline of party tasks and when each should be accomplished. Avoiding last-minute arrangements will cut down on party planning headaches.

Limit Spending

Remember this is a child's party, not the Queen's ball. Make a party budget and stick to it. Shop early for discounts on party favors, craft items, and small game prizes. Collect costume materials throughout the year at resale stores and yard sales. The effort to be thrifty will make you extra proud of the great party you put on without breaking the bank.

Stop and Smell the Birthday Cake!

Don't let the party planning process become an all-consuming task. Stop and take time for yourself. Spend time with friends, enjoy your favorite hobby, read a good book - whatever makes you happy. Try to enjoy the process as much as the party day itself.

Keep Your Perspective and Keep Smiling

Above all, keep your perspective and your sense of humor. This is one party in a long line of parties you'll be hosting, so relax, keep it light and laugh a lot. Chances are, if you keep smiling, you and your guests will have a much better time!

Patricia B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party enthusiast. She is the webmaster and owner of Kids-Party-Paradise.com - a comprehensive resource for kids party ideas and complete party plans for many popular themes, including invitations, cakes, decorations, games, costumes, favors, and food.

If you have a web site related to kids, kids parties, or another related theme, you may reproduce this article on your site, provided it appears in its entirety, including this resource box and live clickable link to: Kids-Party-Paradise.com where great kids parties are "a piece of cake"!

articles@kids-party-paradise.com

Company Christmas party or holiday event planning made easy Useful Tips

Holiday entertainment planning is a serious business a lot happens behind the scenes, long before the CEO says thanks for a job well-done, says Incredible BORIS (Boris Cherniak).
Around this time of the year, human resources managers and company CEOs are asking the age-old question - How do we make our holiday event an affair to remember? After all, we are simply trying to thank the employees, suppliers and their families for a job well done throughout the year. We also want this event to motivate the group to be happy and productive in the future. This is a more difficult task that may appear from outside.

The people planning functions have an enormous task of fitting into the ever-shrinking budgets while keeping party-goers satisfied, says Boris Cherniak, corporate event planning professional, comedy hypnotist entertainer and motivational speaker.

Here is a helpful checklist of planning an affair for the holidays (as provided by Boris Cherniak):
1. Budget. Break down all the amounts allocated to each task then you can have a clear view of how much room you have to play. Spend it wisely and know what your limitations are. The old rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. If it appears too inexpensive, it may be the inexperience or you will not be getting what you expected. Get the best value possible with the resources you have available. It is easy to spend ANY budget. You may have to make a few sacrifices. What gets eliminated first and what should be kept at any cost? Always keep in mind of what the overall impression by the attendees will be. Leave a lasting impression.
2. Number of people in attendance estimate the number of people expected at the party. Keep in mind that a small percentage may not attend due to lack of babysitters, illness or vacation.
3. Book banquet hall facilities, venue location. Pick a location that is convenient for your group with amenities like transportation, parking, etc.
4. Food and catering dinner / lunch, drinks or buffet most halls will offer you different choices of meal options, hors doerves, desserts and per person amounts. Make sure there are enough choices for all tastes.
5. Schedule and timing. It is easy to under-estimate the amount of time a function will take due to many unforeseen circumstances. Factors such as how long the speeches will take, time to bring out the food or attendees arriving late due to a freak snowstorm or traffic. This can change the dynamic of your event - plan accordingly and have a contingency plan.
6. Entertainment comedian, hypnotist, juggler, psychic, magician, DJ and dancing, party games. Entertainment is a wonderful way to make your event memorable. Entertainment comes in many budgets and styles. Pick a solution that will not only make the company and event planner look good, but will leave a lasting impression on the attendees. Explore different options best suited to your group. Local or national performers can be considered. Many are available on the web and could be your first place of inquiry. Many agencies have a roster of people they can suggest. Never forget to look within your company for entertainment suggestions and talent (in every company there is a band or a disk jockey that would be more than happy to accommodate your budget and show off their talents). Keep in mind that entertainers are extremely busy during the holiday season leaving booking your entertainment until the last minute is not a good idea as your date may no longer be available.
7. Sound, lighting, projection equipment and audio visual materials Have a run-through and make sure everything is in place before your audience arrives so that you dont have to deal with technical difficulties.
8. Accommodations for any out of town guests and transportation to and from the airport.
9. Taxi cabs for anyone that over-indulges in the open bar concept and to avoid liability.
10. Registration name cards for your guests, open seating or pre-arranged seating plan.
11. Awards, door prizes and giveaways. Many of these can be donated by your suppliers or provided to you at their cost for your holiday event. It shows good faith, and dont be surprised if the suppliers return the favor.
12. Party theme and dcor color scheme, chair covers, centerpieces, flowers, ice sculptures. One of the more unique ideas I saw recently was a sports theme, where instead of elegant centerpieces, sports memorabilia was placed in the center of the tables, which was available for the guests to take home these included running shoes and football helmets.
13. Dress and attire. Let the attendees know what to expect to wear formal, casual or business attire. We all heard a story of a prank where a person is invited to a pajama party when its a formal affair.
14. Invitations or a simple announcement in the company newsletter and bulletin board.
15. Contracts. Commit to the people you will be doing business with, since it usually is done on a first come basis. Halls, performers and caterers have limited availability. Be decisive and direct. Most people will give you a price range that would depend on your choice of options. Many event suppliers will require deposits to commit.
16. Presentations keep the speeches brief and to the point. Number of speakers should be kept down to a minimum. After all, people are there to be social and not to be lectured.
17. Everyone wants to have a party on a Saturday. You may find that having an alternate day of the week may greatly reduce your expenses and make it easier to hire entertainment and book your venue. Also, consider having your function early afternoon. A lunch is less expensive than a seven-course dinner.
18. Include a table for the crew, entertainment and other behind-the-scenes people. They, at times forget to eat to make sure your event runs smoothly. Show them the spirit of the holiday season and include them in your celebrations.
19. If your business is busy during the holiday season, consider having your event earlier or later. It should not make a difference if your function is held in November or January instead of December.
20. Have a cell phone handy for any last-minute emergencies the day of your event. If a cell phone is not an option (no signal or simply unavailable), make sure your suppliers have the venue address and phone number. Your function will be attended by people from many walks of life and backgrounds - politically correct term is Holiday Party. Make it chic, memorable and fun. Have people walk away saying - I had a great time, that was incredible.
He is a wordsmith comedian, observer and commentator on society quirks, obsessions and stereotypes. Incredible Boris is not just a stage name, but also a way to describe a positive attitude and a constant state of mind.
The Incredible Boris is an expert in psychology, hypnosis, body language, power of suggestion and human behavior. He authors a popular ezine power words and phrases through his web sites www.comedywood.com or www.IncredibleBORIS.com or www.HypnotistShow.com
Boris has been featured on numerous television programs, including Montel, Howie Mandel Show and the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.
Boris self-hypnosis Relaxation and Motivation CD is available through his web site or as a giveaway to complement his performance at your companys function during this holiday season.
Happy Holidays.
Around this time of the year, human resources managers and company CEOs are asking the age-old question - How do we make our holiday event an affair to remember? After all, we are simply trying to thank the employees, suppliers and their families for a job well done throughout the year. We also want this event to motivate the group to be happy and productive in the future. This is a more difficult task that may appear from outside.

The people planning functions have an enormous task of fitting into the ever-shrinking budgets while keeping party-goers satisfied, says Boris Cherniak, corporate event planning professional, comedy hypnotist entertainer and motivational speaker.

Here is a helpful checklist of planning an affair for the holidays (as provided by Boris Cherniak):
1. Budget. Break down all the amounts allocated to each task then you can have a clear view of how much room you have to play. Spend it wisely and know what your limitations are. The old rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. If it appears too inexpensive, it may be the inexperience or you will not be getting what you expected. Get the best value possible with the resources you have available. It is easy to spend ANY budget. You may have to make a few sacrifices. What gets eliminated first and what should be kept at any cost? Always keep in mind of what the overall impression by the attendees will be. Leave a lasting impression.
2. Number of people in attendance estimate the number of people expected at the party. Keep in mind that a small percentage may not attend due to lack of babysitters, illness or vacation.
3. Book banquet hall facilities, venue location. Pick a location that is convenient for your group with amenities like transportation, parking, etc.
4. Food and catering dinner / lunch, drinks or buffet most halls will offer you different choices of meal options, hors doerves, desserts and per person amounts. Make sure there are enough choices for all tastes.
5. Schedule and timing. It is easy to under-estimate the amount of time a function will take due to many unforeseen circumstances. Factors such as how long the speeches will take, time to bring out the food or attendees arriving late due to a freak snowstorm or traffic. This can change the dynamic of your event - plan accordingly and have a contingency plan.
6. Entertainment comedian, hypnotist, juggler, psychic, magician, DJ and dancing, party games. Entertainment is a wonderful way to make your event memorable. Entertainment comes in many budgets and styles. Pick a solution that will not only make the company and event planner look good, but will leave a lasting impression on the attendees. Explore different options best suited to your group. Local or national performers can be considered. Many are available on the web and could be your first place of inquiry. Many agencies have a roster of people they can suggest. Never forget to look within your company for entertainment suggestions and talent (in every company there is a band or a disk jockey that would be more than happy to accommodate your budget and show off their talents). Keep in mind that entertainers are extremely busy during the holiday season leaving booking your entertainment until the last minute is not a good idea as your date may no longer be available.
7. Sound, lighting, projection equipment and audio visual materials Have a run-through and make sure everything is in place before your audience arrives so that you dont have to deal with technical difficulties.
8. Accommodations for any out of town guests and transportation to and from the airport.
9. Taxi cabs for anyone that over-indulges in the open bar concept and to avoid liability.
10. Registration name cards for your guests, open seating or pre-arranged seating plan.
11. Awards, door prizes and giveaways. Many of these can be donated by your suppliers or provided to you at their cost for your holiday event. It shows good faith, and dont be surprised if the suppliers return the favor.
12. Party theme and dcor color scheme, chair covers, centerpieces, flowers, ice sculptures. One of the more unique ideas I saw recently was a sports theme, where instead of elegant centerpieces, sports memorabilia was placed in the center of the tables, which was available for the guests to take home these included running shoes and football helmets.
13. Dress and attire. Let the attendees know what to expect to wear formal, casual or business attire. We all heard a story of a prank where a person is invited to a pajama party when its a formal affair.
14. Invitations or a simple announcement in the company newsletter and bulletin board.
15. Contracts. Commit to the people you will be doing business with, since it usually is done on a first come basis. Halls, performers and caterers have limited availability. Be decisive and direct. Most people will give you a price range that would depend on your choice of options. Many event suppliers will require deposits to commit.
16. Presentations keep the speeches brief and to the point. Number of speakers should be kept down to a minimum. After all, people are there to be social and not to be lectured.
17. Everyone wants to have a party on a Saturday. You may find that having an alternate day of the week may greatly reduce your expenses and make it easier to hire entertainment and book your venue. Also, consider having your function early afternoon. A lunch is less expensive than a seven-course dinner.
18. Include a table for the crew, entertainment and other behind-the-scenes people. They, at times forget to eat to make sure your event runs smoothly. Show them the spirit of the holiday season and include them in your celebrations.
19. If your business is busy during the holiday season, consider having your event earlier or later. It should not make a difference if your function is held in November or January instead of December.
20. Have a cell phone handy for any last-minute emergencies the day of your event. If a cell phone is not an option (no signal or simply unavailable), make sure your suppliers have the venue address and phone number. Your function will be attended by people from many walks of life and backgrounds - politically correct term is Holiday Party. Make it chic, memorable and fun. Have people walk away saying - I had a great time, that was incredible.
He is a wordsmith comedian, observer and commentator on society quirks, obsessions and stereotypes. Incredible Boris is not just a stage name, but also a way to describe a positive attitude and a constant state of mind.
The Incredible Boris is an expert in psychology, hypnosis, body language, power of suggestion and human behavior. He authors a popular ezine power words and phrases through his web sites www.comedywood.com or www.IncredibleBORIS.com or www.HypnotistShow.com
Boris has been featured on numerous television programs, including Montel, Howie Mandel Show and the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.
Boris self-hypnosis Relaxation and Motivation CD is available through his web site or as a giveaway to complement his performance at your companys function during this holiday season.
Happy Holidays.

The Incredible Boris is a comedy stage hypnotist that appears in almost 300 live performances yearly at functions for most fortune 500 companies and their competitors. He is a frequent talk show guest and delivers a comical point of view to an otherwise serious subject of human behavior and expression

Party Planning

So you've decided to have a little party. Congratulations!!! You'll have fun and it won't be as hard as you're probably thinking right now. What's your plan? Inviting a few friends over for an evening of conversation? A 30th birthday party for your spouse? A victory celebration after finally paying off that mortgage that you thought would never go away?

It doesn't matter. Any reason is a good reason to have a good time. Whether it's a catered affair or you do it all yourself, the object of the event is enjoyment, so why not enjoy getting ready for it also?

Remember, any event can be broken down into 3 easy steps:

- Preparation
- Presentation
- Produlation

What's 'produlation' you ask? That's the best part!!! It's when you produce the results of your preparation and presentation and receive the congratulations of your guests (and yourself, of course).

Preparation

One of the keys to a successful gathering is preparation. And the earlier it starts, the better. We think it is important for a couple of reasons.

First of all, it is a way to get organized. But more importantly, if time is spent in the preparation phase, you won't be running around at the last minute attending to details. This will better allow you to relax and enjoy your time with your guests.

We've divided the preparation phase into three easy categories:
- Menu
- Layout
- Cleaning

If you've follow the above steps, you should be able to get a good night's sleep and relax while waiting for your event to begin!

Menu

Welcome to the most exciting section on the preparation for your party. Sure, as you look at the different options under preparation you see that terrible choice called 'cleaning'. But let's not think about that right now. Instead, why don't we just have some fun and let our imaginations run wild.

The first decision you will need to make is whether you will be doing your own food preparation or using the services of a caterer. There is no right answer. We will tell you that once they were organized, many people have actually admitted that they enjoyed preparing the food. If that is your desire, read on. If you decide to follow the caterer route, it might still be a good idea to read the rest of this section to help prepare for the questions they will be asking you in order to help make your event memorable.

The two most important words that come to mind when preparing your menu are variety and quantity.

It's a good idea to provide your guests with a wide variety of choices. Some hot, some cold. Some dry, some with sauces. Add a few meats, vegetables, cheeses a couple of dips and maybe even some fruit and voila, you have a menu. Do you have a special finger food that is a little bit out of the ordinary? Add it to your menu. It's always a good idea to have a few old stand-bys such as chicken wings and chips for those with a less exotic palate. A typical menu we've seen included: wings with a variety of sauces (although they were just as good plain), pepperoni bread with a little spaghetti sauce on the side for dipping if desired, a variety of potato and tortilla chips with a couple of dip choices a vegetable tray and a selection of olives and pickles.

Another idea to consider is having a few items on your menu that can be prepared in advance and reheated so that you are not rushing to prepare the food when you would rather be relaxing and thinking of the fun you will be having.

After covering the variety of choices, it is now time to look at quantity. Always prepare more than you think you'll need. It may seem like a waste of money at first, but remember, you get to eat the leftovers. Or, as the host, you will be able to offer your guests a little going home gift.

Now settle in and let your imagination run wild.

Layout

Layout is an often overlooked part of the preparation. At many events there is a last minute rush to try and squeeze everything in and a considerable amount of time is spent rearranging things to ensure that both your guests and the food will all fit in the desired area.

Of course, there are many factors which need to be considered when planning your layout. Such things as location (indoor or outdoor) and the amount of space you have. We've been to some events in 3000 square foot houses and others in 1000 square foot houses. Certainly the ones in larger areas made things easier, but even the smaller areas were successful because the host had taken the time to plan his layout.

If at all possible, it is best to create three separate areas to help provide a free flow of guests and help eliminate traffic jams. One area will feature the food. Another will contain your drinks and drinkware. The third area will be used for plates, napkins, utensils and items of that sort.

Without a doubt, the food area will be the most popular, so here are a few tips to help in that area. The first thing to consider is the option of setting the food on a table that will allow people to walk completely around it. The idea of setting plates, etc. in a separate area will allow people to pick up a plate and proceed to an open area of the food table in order to begin serving themselves. With the plates at one end of the food table, everyone feels obliged to walk around the whole table, even if the food the desire is at the very end.

Now in setting up the food itself, there are a couple of things to consider. It is best to put what you believe will be the most popular food in the center of the table. This will allow your guests to have easy access from anywhere. Also, it is always a good idea to place any sauces near the edge of the table. This will prevent accidental spills into other foods which may make them unpleasing to your guests.

Now close your eyes and start dreaming of the wonderful layout you have designed for your guests.

Cleaning

As the saying goes, "cleanliness is next to godliness". Unfortunately, cleaning is probably the least glamorous task at hand. However, it is also one of the most important because it leads to the next major area, presentation.

It is best to do as much of the major cleaning as possible on the day before the special event. This will help prevent wearing yourself out on the appointed day or cleaning too early and finding it necessary to reclean. We've included a handy check list and some pointers that we've learned from experience.

This is all going to sound like pretty common sense information, but while being in the middle of preparation, it is sometimes easy to overlook even the most basic elements.

Checklist:

Kitchen:

_____ Clear off as much as possible from coutertops. This will help the area to look neat and uncluttered. It is expected to see certain things on a counter top such as a coffee maker, canister set or a cookie jar. But the 3 cans of soup you bought last week should be put in their proper place.

_____ Clean all dirty dishes. Nothing says unprepared like walking into a kitchen with a sink full of dirty dishes.

_____ Once the dishes have been cleaned, store them properly.

_____ Have a trash can available in the vicinity of the serving area if this is not a formal dinner. Always be sure to use a clean trash bag. If necessary, take a half full bag and store it out of the way until the event is over.

Bathroom:

_____ Clean the toilet (including the top of the tank) and the sink.

_____ Again, clear off as much as possible from coutertops.

_____ Do you have a large family? Are there various towels and washcloths hanging around? Put them all in a clothes hamper. It looks so much neater that way.

_____ Place clean towels in a area where it is convenient for your guests to dry their hands.

_____ If you have one of those liquid soap dispensers, ensure that it is atleast half full. Totally filled is best.

_____ Place a spare roll or two of toilet paper where they can easily be seen. A small basket holding these can add to the overall appearance.

_____ It looks best if the shower curtain is drawn shut. This will also hide any clutter from shampoo bottles, etc. If there are doors on the shower, shut them.

Serving/Eating Area:

_____ Clean all corners and baseboards. These areas tend to be neglected during routine cleaning.

_____ Dust any horizontal surfaces. This is another area that can be overlooked from time to time.

_____ If you are using a room that will feature a view of the outdoors, take time to thoroughly clean any windows.

And you're done! Now that wasn't so bad after all.

Presentation

Congratulations!!! You've made it through the most difficult section, preparation and moved on to presentation. This is the area that is featured by most people, but we believe good preparation leads to good presentation.

While it is important to consider the layout and presentation of the food serving area, we feel that some time should be taken to consider the overall appearance of your event area with the food starting out as the focal point. As you are undoubtedly aware, the serving area will become unkempt, therefore, it is a good idea to include the entire event area when working on presentation.

One point to consider is the style of the serving dishes. Once again, this will be somewhat dictated by the location of your event. There are those who prefer the clear or colored glass type of serving dishes. Others prefer a ceramic dish. The choice is yours. Since this is a special event, we suggest refraining from the use of cheap plastic serving dishes if at all possible. Many people have told us they've picked up quite a collection over time discount stores. Some have even told us of finds they've made at dollar stores.

The next thing you might want to think about is the use of a center piece. While there is nothing wrong with this, we are of the belief that the food itself is the center piece.

Now that your guests have enjoyed the food that you have prepared, it is time for them to relax, mingle and talk with each other. A nice idea that we've seen to help promote conversation during the quiet periods is to place a few photo albums in an area where your guests can browse them. This is especially helpful if you have a group of people that tends to spend a lot of time together. As they flip through the pages they will recall bygone days that you've spent together. If you have children, maybe an album of kids photos as they were growing up. This may spark memories of their own children or even their childhood which can lead to some pretty interesting conversations.

Another idea we've been made aware of is setting out a conversation starter book. An example we've seen is a book that asks questions about Christmas. There were questions such as 'what was your favorite Christmas gift.'

Remember, even though you may be dealing with adults, they're still children at heart.

Produation

You may be asking yourself, as many before you have, "what is produlation?" It is the euphoric feeling you get when you PRODuce a premier event and receive the congratULATIONS of all who attend. You've done such a fine job you can even congratulate yourself.

You've put all of the hard work behind you. As you were preparing, I'm sure there were times when you were asking yourself if it was worth it. Now you know it was, so ENJOY yourself!!!

One last thing, which will help the produlation continue. If you read the menu section, the produlation will continue as you pull out some of the food you've held back and restock your party feast.

ranchandpenthouse.bravepages.com

Ranch and Penthouse 2003. All rights reserved.

I'm a 50 year old happily married housewife with 3 nearly grown children. Through the years my husband and I have enjoyed entertaining family and friends in our home. As a result, we've created a small list of do's and don't's that make party planning easier and more enjoyable.

Are "Layers" Preventing You From Delivering Your Marketing Via Email?

It certainly is easy to set up an email account these days, isn't it?

You can create multiple email accounts for various types of email...

1) For Junk Email

2) For Newsletter subscriptions

3) For Regular Family Emails

And many more...so when you are marketing via email, what is your assurance that you are getting the email address that gets checked regularly?

The copy in your subscription box is your assurance. Do you have compelling copy surrounding your subscription box that drives your reader to want to give you their main email address? Or is yours something like this:

Make sure you enter your primary email address in the box below.

Yawn. I just gave you my junk email address.

How about something like this instead:

"I want to ensure that you receive and read each and every issue of this e-course valued at $XXX.XX, so please make sure to put your primary email address in the box below. Yeah, it's that important."

You can also approach this differently using compelling copy leading up to the email address box.

Make sure that your copy "sells" your free, high value information. That's right, you have to sell your reader, even when it is free. Then, after you have done a good enough job selling your free information, the reader will be happy to submit their information. You can then build on that initial relationship by adding an "unadvertised bonus" to the first autoresponder message you send to your new subscriber.

Something even more valuable than the whole e-course or newsletter itself. To market via email, value is the key, period. You are cultivating a relationship with your readers, so make sure you over deliver on the value you are giving them.

Give them the "insider secrets." Pick 3 - 5 things from one of your best coaching programs, or "greatest hits" from one of your best info pieces.

But do it today, please.

If you would like to experience first hand what I am talking about, visit http://www.buildinginternetwealth.org right now and wait just a second for the fold open window...

You will see my version of over delivering in an email series, complete with hidden bonuses.

And I am adding more all the time.

Event Marketing: 5 Surefire Tips To Rocket Launch An Event Marketing Program Into The Spotlight

The other day I heard the exciting news that my friend, Sam a mad British film director (mad in a good way!), had his documentary film chosen to feature at several high-profile film festivals! The entire process from pre-production, filming on-location in Africa and clever editing required preparation, research, skill and cash!

I realized that no matter the size of a film ? blockbuster, indie flick or documentary - before it even gets off the ground the film producers have to carefully analyze essentially the exact same process as an event marketing program.

Go figure???

Is it really possible that event marketing producers and film producers have a common bond other than a similarity in job title?

Savvy marketers around the globe are in search of exciting, memorable and unconventional ways to connect with their customers.

Are you one of them?

It?s challenging enough to keep up-to-date with new marketing trends and then try to figure out a way to turn the idea into a reality!

Stick With Me Kid and I?ll Show You How To Make Your Event Shine!

Here Are 5 Tips To Propel An Event Marketing Program Into The Spotlight:

1. I?ll Have What She?s Having

Clearly define your target audience.

Why?

It helps to give your ?typical customer? a name & personality ? start by picking a name, then determine age, hobbies & interests, likes & dislikes and values & beliefs.

A couple years ago I created a cool program that appealed to the hip and trendy 18-34 years old crowd for a national telecommunications company.

Meet Dave! (my version of their ?typical customer?)

Dave is 23 years old, loves action sports and video games, must have the latest tech gadgets, loves clubbing with friends and is new to the full-time working world!

2. Rebel With(out) A Cause

Understand the objectives. There must be a reason why an event marketing program is needed. i.e. increasing brand awareness, stirring sales, creating brand loyalty or increasing traffic to the store.

Dave was targeted to create brand loyalty and increase brand awareness, to cut through the clutter of traditional advertising and reach Dave at a very personal level ? inspiring a relationship and emotional connection!

If Dave had an extraordinary experience he?s likely to remember the event for a long time and will tell his friends - word-of-mouth buzz is far-reaching and very valuable!

3. Of All The Gin Joints In Town And She Walks Into Mine

Research locations where your target spends time away from home ? school, shopping malls, festivals, fitness centres, concerts, nightclubs, coffee shops and sporting events.

It?s essential the location is the right fit for both your brand and objectives to establish credibility.

To reach Dave, I developed a list of upcoming locations where he would like to hang out (festivals, concerts and extreme sport events)! The location that made the cut was a pro wakeboarding and lifestyle festival.

4. Show Me The Money!

Establish a budget or at the very least a ball-park figure. The scale and scope of the entire event marketing program depends on the budget.

Put it this way.

A blockbuster Hollywood film with outrageous special effects, academy award winning actors and a mind-blowing location means big bucks, moolah, hard cash?.we?re talking MILLIONS baby! While an indie film can produce something creatively brilliant on a shoestring budget.

The sky is the limit in terms of what can be done, but only if you?ve got the dough set aside to back the idea!

5. Go Ahead Make My Day

Motivate your customer to give up some of their valuable time to learn more about your brand and to then follow through with action.

Whatever it is - must be considered both relevant and valuable by your customer. Incentives that work well are product samples, contests, interactive games, and branded premiums. Everyone looooooooves free stuff, but it must be appropriate and treasured - otherwise just FORGETABOUTIT!

Back To Cool Guy Dave!

At the pro wakeboarding event I created the Chill Out Lounge ? a special themed area that enhanced the board short & bikini clad festival-goers experience.

The large branded dome tent was decked out with:

cooling misting fans

a DJ spinning funky beats

tropical plants

billowing fabrics

comfy seating

Think Arabian Nights meets beachside nightclub! Friendly & attractive ?brand agents? sporting trendy board shorts, mini-skirts and cowboy hats were handing out ice-cold branded bottled water and lip balm to thousands of parched guests (many, many Daves!).

Guests were encouraged to protect themselves from the scorching sun at the branded sunscreen station and enter a contest for a chance to win a fantastic trip to another client-sponsored event!

Badda Boom, Badda Bing!

An event marketing program should strive to engage, educate and motivate your customers.

It must be fun and stand out! The knack is putting it all together.

Think of it like this: Invest in your customers and they will invest back into your brand! (and that means way more money for you in the long run from your THRILLED CUSTOMERS)

Lorien Henson, Creative Director of LimeLight Event Marketing Inc, turns boardroom ideas into street level reality. LimeLight creates catchy, eye-popping event marketing programs across Canada! Clever, fun and unforgettable programs such as product launches, special events & exhibits, creative sampling, street teams and sponsorship leverage. For more info: http://www.limelightevents.ca

Event Marketing-5 Surefire Tips To Rocket Launch An Event Marketing Program Into The Spotlight

The other day I heard the exciting news that my friend, Sam a mad British film director (mad in a good way!), had his documentary film chosen to feature at several high-profile film festivals! The entire process from pre-production, filming on-location in Africa and clever editing required preparation, research, skill and cash!

I realized that no matter the size of a film ? blockbuster, indie flick or documentary - before it even gets off the ground the film producers have to carefully analyze essentially the exact same process as an event marketing program.

Go figure???

Is it really possible that event marketing producers and film producers have a common bond other than a similarity in job title?

Savvy marketers around the globe are in search of exciting, memorable and unconventional ways to connect with their customers.

Are you one of them?

It?s challenging enough to keep up-to-date with new marketing trends and then try to figure out a way to turn the idea into a reality!

Stick With Me Kid and I?ll Show You How To Make Your Event Shine!

Here Are 5 Tips To Propel An Event Marketing Program Into The Spotlight:

1. I?ll Have What She?s Having

Clearly define your target audience.

Why?

It helps to give your ?typical customer? a name & personality ? start by picking a name, then determine age, hobbies & interests, likes & dislikes and values & beliefs.

A couple years ago I created a cool program that appealed to the hip and trendy 18-34 years old crowd for a national telecommunications company.

Meet Dave! (my version of their ?typical customer?)

Dave is 23 years old, loves action sports and video games, must have the latest tech gadgets, loves clubbing with friends and is new to the full-time working world!

2. Rebel With(out) A Cause

Understand the objectives. There must be a reason why an event marketing program is needed. i.e. increasing brand awareness, stirring sales, creating brand loyalty or increasing traffic to the store.

Dave was targeted to create brand loyalty and increase brand awareness, to cut through the clutter of traditional advertising and reach Dave at a very personal level ? inspiring a relationship and emotional connection!

If Dave had an extraordinary experience he?s likely to remember the event for a long time and will tell his friends - word-of-mouth buzz is far-reaching and very valuable!

3. Of All The Gin Joints In Town And She Walks Into Mine

Research locations where your target spends time away from home ? school, shopping malls, festivals, fitness centres, concerts, nightclubs, coffee shops and sporting events.

It?s essential the location is the right fit for both your brand and objectives to establish credibility.

To reach Dave, I developed a list of upcoming locations where he would like to hang out (festivals, concerts and extreme sport events)! The location that made the cut was a pro wakeboarding and lifestyle festival.

4. Show Me The Money!

Establish a budget or at the very least a ball-park figure. The scale and scope of the entire event marketing program depends on the budget.

Put it this way.

A blockbuster Hollywood film with outrageous special effects, academy award winning actors and a mind-blowing location means big bucks, moolah, hard cash?.we?re talking MILLIONS baby! While an indie film can produce something creatively brilliant on a shoestring budget.

The sky is the limit in terms of what can be done, but only if you?ve got the dough set aside to back the idea!

5. Go Ahead Make My Day

Motivate your customer to give up some of their valuable time to learn more about your brand and to then follow through with action.

Whatever it is - must be considered both relevant and valuable by your customer. Incentives that work well are product samples, contests, interactive games, and branded premiums. Everyone looooooooves free stuff, but it must be appropriate and treasured - otherwise just FORGETABOUTIT!

Back To Cool Guy Dave!

At the pro wakeboarding event I created the Chill Out Lounge ? a special themed area that enhanced the board short & bikini clad festival-goers experience.

The large branded dome tent was decked out with:

cooling misting fans

a DJ spinning funky beats

tropical plants

billowing fabrics

comfy seating

Think Arabian Nights meets beachside nightclub! Friendly & attractive ?brand agents? sporting trendy board shorts, mini-skirts and cowboy hats were handing out ice-cold branded bottled water and lip balm to thousands of parched guests (many, many Daves!).

Guests were encouraged to protect themselves from the scorching sun at the branded sunscreen station and enter a contest for a chance to win a fantastic trip to another client-sponsored event!

Badda Boom, Badda Bing!

An event marketing program should strive to engage, educate and motivate your customers.

It must be fun and stand out! The knack is putting it all together.

Think of it like this: Invest in your customers and they will invest back into your brand! (and that means way more money for you in the long run from your THRILLED CUSTOMERS)

Lorien Henson, Creative Director of LimeLight Event Marketing Inc, turns boardroom ideas into street level reality. LimeLight creates catchy, eye-popping event marketing programs across Canada! Clever, fun and unforgettable programs such as product launches, special events & exhibits, creative sampling, street teams and sponsorship leverage. For more info: http://www.limelightevents.ca

MarketingBites 3: Branding - The Premier Marketing Event For The Marketing Community

Back by popular demand, MarketingBites - the premier event held exclusively for the marketing community in the Midlands - will be taking place at the iconic and historic Fort Dunlop Building in Birmingham on Friday 9th March 2007.

The next MarketingBites covers the topic of 'Branding' and will be uniting marketing professionals with the latest thinking direct from some of the UK?s leading brand experts to ensure you get the right results from your marketing activity.

Packed with best-practice, tips and advice, the event will be showcasing leading global brands including the McDonald's Corporation and award-winning property developer, Urban Splash, who have recently turned the renowned Fort Dunlop building into a design led workspace. Join us and you?ll hear thought-provoking insights from:

David Poole (Managing Director), Giles Poyner (Business Development Director) and Paul Castledine (Group Creative Director), Boxer Creative who will take you on a journey through the branding process with an insight into how a successful brand image is created, activated and used to redefine markets.

Nathan Cornish, Director of Development at pioneering property developers Urban Splash, who will be giving a fascinating and thought-provoking session into how Urban Splash have consistently delivered its unique brand promise on landmark and iconic buildings throughout the UK Krishna De, Managing Director, Oneocean Ltd will explore how to use powerful branding and marketing strategies to build a strong personal brand that will enhance your career and expand your professional success.

Even more reasons to attend MarketingBites:

?Free search engine report? MarketingBites have got together with online marketing specialists, Miromedia, to provide a free analysis to delegates who are looking to increase traffic to their company?s website and improve their overall search engine visibility. Miromedia will assess your company?s website by benchmarking it?s current search engine position and performance.

?Free copy of Marketing Excellence? RBH & MarketingBites are offering one free copy of ?Marketing Excellence? by Hugh Burkitt John Zealley. The companies featured in this book have received Marketing Society Awards for their work ? one company featured is TNT, a previous MarketingBites case study. Simply register for MarketingBites to be entered into the free draw to win this highly acclaimed publication.

?Free ?Drum? Magazine Subscription? Delegates will receive a complimentary trial subscription to ?The Drum?, the only specialist marketing magazine to deliver news exclusively to the marketing and design community outside of London.

The event is being held at one of Birmingham's most famous landmarks - Fort Dunlop ? where delegates will have the opportunity of a guided tour to see how property developer Urban Splash has breathed life back into this renowned building.

Marketing Bites takes place on Friday 9th March 2007 between 9am and 2pm. For more details, please call 0870 871 0070 or email carl@bigfishrecruitment.com.

Interesting Idea For Event Marketing

Most of us would have attended numerous corporate events, product launches and press conferences. Most of the time, it is with the feeling of ?same old, same old? when we go for such events.

It is always a challenge for marketers to find new and interesting ways to keep the jaded crowd happy. We all need interesting hooks to make the event more memorable. Rather than ?Oh, yeah, I think I attended Product X launch? or ?Press conference? I think I was there.?

We want them to say ?Yes! Wasn?t that a great event!??

We want our events to be the talk of the town. We want the extra ?mileage? of the viral-ness of it! Like, hey, be there or be square! Yep. Easier said than done, huh?

Before I continue, for those smiling cynically at our nonsensical ranting, let me just say that if we had YOUR million dollar budget, we sure as heck would do a much better job! So there!

OK, back to our idea. I would like to share a very simple idea with all of you and I hope this is valuable and adds value to you and your clients. It is a simple idea and it has to do with PRESS BADGES. Know those things? Big ugly thing that says ?PRESS??

What if you don?t use them? We cannot leave our VIP guests unidentified. At the same time, we do not want them to feel like meat on the supermarket shelves, tagged and branded. But badges are so, well, boring. My idea is simply this, make use of your theme to create the identification.

I need to elaborate. Everyone knows that it is important to tag the people present. But the simple name tag is ugly and most people shove it into their pockets or bag at the first opportunity. Sort of defeats the purpose, doesn?t it? But what if, it were part of the entire event?

Example time! If you are say, doing an opening for a Western Grill restaurant or a Cowboy Emporium, use the theme to create the identity. There are many ways to do this. The most obvious is the ?cowboy hat?. With names of the person on the band and each hat or band color coded to identify if the wearer is a VIP Guest, Member of the Press, Staff, or gate crasher!

But we can get more creative, can?t we? How about a simple jacket with a WANTED poster on the back, with the NAME and PROFESSION of the wearer? Done well, this little giveaway can even become a cherished item that the Guest will gladly bring back instead of throwing away at the nearest bin outside.

This by no means exhaust the possibilities. But I hope that it has given you an idea of what I mean by ?using the theme to create the identity? rather than falling back to boring old name tags!

Calvin is a veteran product marketing professional with experiences at several multi-national companies including Philips, Nokia and others. He has created global products and have brought successful products to launch in China, USA, Europe and Asia. He continues working and blogs about his marketing ideas today at http://www.calvinwarr.com

Preventing Attrition in Network Marketing

Abstract: As leaders in network marketing, we have a responsibility do our best to prevent attrition. A list of guidelines for choosing a business is presented that, if followed, dramatically increase the chance of success for the new home based business entrepreneur.

"We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival." -Sir Winston Churchill

Such is bound to be the mantra of many of those that have jumped into the realm of home-business entrepreneurs, only to find that success was much harder to realize than originally imagined. How would our society change if we could prevent attrition in network marketing?

Over seventy thousand people a day find and start a home based business. The vast majority of these businesses fall under the classification of network marketing. This daily number is increasing by several percentage points monthly, and apparently will for years to come.

Why are more and more families starting home based businesses. The benefits of working at home, spending more time with the family, less stress, time freedom and significant tax savings are driving this trend. The proliferation of personal computers and the internet are also facilitators, essentially 'leveling the playing field', enabling corporate Americans to be just as productive, or even more so, at home. Therefore the benefits of starting a business from home far out weigh the perceived risks.

Unfortunately, there is a huge attrition rate of those venturing into this arena for the first time. They soon become disillusioned and find that building a sustainable income from home, much less the fortune they had once hoped for, is simply not as easy as they were perhaps led to believe.

If the attrition rate of your recruits is greater than 50% there is a problem either with your training of those recruits, the system that is in place for them to follow, the business itself or all of the above. Perhaps that sounds like a bold statement, especially when every recruiter in network marketing has known for years that only 'one out of ten' recruits will ever actively pursue the business. These numbers are simply not acceptable anymore, in fact they have given the industry the bad name that it must overcome, and is overcoming daily.

The following guidelines should be used by any prospective entrepreneur as he investigates a prospective business to pursue. As a recruiter, you should ask yourself these same questions about the business you are offering. The key factors in considering a successful career as a home business owner:

1. Find a Mentor. Someone who is trustworthy, who has a system in place and who is having the results himself using that same system. The duplication of the system should be verifiable, such that you can speak with others who are new to the system and that are already having success. Be certain that there is financial incentive for your sponsor to see to your success; they should get paid every time you make a sale. Moreover, they should listen to your needs and be interested in helping you accomplish your specific goals.

2. Evaluate the Products. The products should be legitimate stand-alone products that you would buy if they were on the shelf of your favorite store. Does anyone buy the products without doing the business? Were the products simply designed to enable a compensation plan? The products must be of high-value and high demand such that people are seeking them out. The products must be something you indeed buy yourself and become proud and passionate about. There are lots of great products out there, so find one that feels right to you.

3. Evaluate the Marketing System. Is it a real and definable system providing verifiable results for everyone plugging into it? It must be a real substantiated system that does not involve family & friends, newspaper ads, post cards, home meetings, or cold calling (after all, we are marketers, and we must have a simple system of enabling others to become successful twenty-first century marketers). Does the system take 'selling' out of the equation? Most people are not sales people, so the system should do all of the 'selling' such that the marketer simply needs to concentrate on driving prospects through the system.

4. Evaluate the Company. Does the management team have a long term vision? Does the management team have a track record? Is there bad publicity? While bad publicity in the internet-age certainly does not mean as much as it once did, look for a pattern of complaints. Where is the company located? Is it hiding offshore, out of reach of the US legal system? The company should only make money off of you when you make a sale. Beware of any company charging monthly fees for things such as websites, marketing systems or access to training. Again, the company should only make money when you make a sale.

5. Evaluate the Business Model. Companies with a direct sales model have the only compensation models that enable the possibility of a six-figure income from home within six months or less. You should be in a money making position from day one (stay away from companies that require that you give your sponsor your first couple sales). You should not have to invest more than about $3,000 to start your own 'home enterprise', including your first months marketing expenses that should get you to cash flow.

The positive effect that home businesses can have on our society is enormous, enabling both parents to have an active role in raising their children. As leaders in this industry, we should lead these new entrepreneurs in the direction that will best serve them, in the direction where they stand the very best chance of success.

Steve Chenoweth is the CEO of Marketing Solutions, Inc. and the owner of http://www.sixmonthplan.info and http://www.stevechenoweth.com, recently launched sites that market the direct sales business of Wealth Masters International. Steve has been active full-time in the network marketing arena as a business owner and trainer for over three years and resides in Dallas, TX

Live Event and Continuity Program Offers an Unconventional Education in the Future of Online Marketing and Publishing

For anyone with a desire to learn exactly what it takes to make a Content Authority Site, just like the Fortune 500's publish, in a step-by-step fashion, the RPM Summit is the place to go October 6-8, 2006 at the Atrium Suites in Las Vegas, Nevada. This 3-day intensive training session is being presented by Content Desk's "Content Publishers Alliance."

"RPM stands for Research, Publishing, and Marketing," said Jack Humphrey, co-founder of Content Desk along with Mark Braunstein and Peter Lenkefi. "It comprises a methodology that is how true Authority sites are created by the largest companies."

RPM Summit attendees will learn what's going on now, very cutting edge information: RSS feeds, social networking, authority sites, niche research, keyword research, visitor optimization, content syndication, content management systems, site plug-ins, audio and video tactics and strategy, publicity secrets and more.

Expert speakers include: Jerry West, Dave Lakhani, Mitch Axelrod, Mike Filsaime, Colin McDougall, Willie Crawford, Anik Singal, Rick Butts, Keith Baxter, Sean Wu, Jack Humphrey and Mark Braunstein. "We all go (to events) to help define our own systems and processes," said Mark Braunstein, Co-Founder of Content Publishers Alliance.

Braunstein explained that most seminars today have no specific, actionable agenda.

For example, on day one, a mix of speakers can include multiple business models, each focusing on different ways to use different tools to make money online with Google? Adsense sites plus a combination of other speakers' topics. Day two and three may be similar, with even more Adsense speakers and their own tools in the mix. The event results are generally similar:

(1) Attendees look at the listings and try to figure out what the heck is going on and how it will improve their success. (2) Attendees try to figure out where each speaker fits into a "process" that they can integrate and apply to his or her own business. (3) There is no continuity or cohesiveness in the event agenda itself. (4) There is no relationship after the event is over. Each person heads home to figure out how to process the glut of information and try to put some of it to work.

But the RPM Summit is different.

"The RPM Summit breaks down the three main disciplines that are required for online success: research, publishing and marketing," explained Braunstein. "It's a structured event, in order. People need a step-by-step process in order to learn and master."

Success Example

Mark Braunstein shared a success story from a student of Content Desk's "Content Publishers Alliance" coaching program, Melissa Trippel, creator of http://craftyplaces.com . Melissa's site is only about two months old and it has moved up in rank and popularity. She's even received calls from it, like one from a major crafting association asking her for articles for their site and for a site link.

"She's really moving up - and quickly!" said Braunstein.

Continuity Portion

RPM Summit attendees will learn how to build long-term sustainable income with publishing and marketing tactics few others are talking about on the web. Plus they will receive long term content and direct sales site network building and marketing plans including:

* Lifetime membership to the RPM Summit members only site! * Videos from the conference included and streaming right from members site. * Lively forum for networking with and learning from fellow RPM Summit-eers and the experts. * Fun events at the Summit. * Exclusive "Chat with the Experts" videos that will be filmed Sunday night at the Expert Appreciation Dinner. See how much info they can pump out of their experts after wining and dining them!

In short, RPM Summit attendees will enjoy a relationship with this event

"People will walk away with a better plan of action, and not a sense of "Where does this person fit into the process I'm trying to put together?" said Mark Braunstein. "We found speakers who fit our agenda. They will inform and some will mention products or services they have that work well with our process, not in spite of it."

Free 21-Page Authority Site Guide

For more information about Content Authority Sites, readers are invited to download Jack Humphrey's 21-page report. The report discusses how to build sites that capitalize on the changes in web search traffic and content site profits, plus the state of internet marketing and content site publishing. It is available online at: http://www.contentdeskinfo.com .

To learn more about the RPM Summit, visit: http://www.rpmsummit.com or email support@contentdesk.com

Diana Barnum is a freelance writer and the president of Moving Ahead Communications, offering affordable business support services since 1984. Contact her at: (614) 529-9459 EST and sign up for her complimentary ezine, tips and more by visiting: http://movingaheadcommunications.com

Using White Papers? How To Prevent Poor Quality Prospects From Wasting Your Marketing Dollars

To deal with sales-resistant prospects, many B2B companies use white papers as part of their marketing mix. Generally, this type of report -- which ranges from 5, 10, 15 pages or more -- provides a case study of how your product or service solved a customer's problem.

Eric Gagnon, a sales and business development consultant and author of The Marketing Manager's Handbook, says: "White papers communicate with the reader without resorting to the usual marketing hype found in many brochures, ads, direct mail or other standard B2B marketing deliverables. I think this is a very important feature of white papers, and explains their growing popularity."

A recent story in Target Marketing proves the popularity of information premiums such as white papers, guides and related educational information in the direct mail world. The article noted in the second quarter of 2006 the Who's Mailing What! Archive recorded 24.3 percent of premium mailings contained information freebies.

Many companies also use a white paper as part of their opt in email marketing strategy. A visitor to the corporate website gets a white paper in exchange for providing his or her email address.

Once you've got the prospect into your marketing loop, you increase the chances of converting him into a customer.

But too often I see companies require that a web visitor only provide his name and email address. This can attract freebie seekers into your subscriber list. You don't want to spend time, money and resources marketing to people who won't buy your product.

The best way around this problem is to demand more qualifying information from your prospect. The minimum info you should require before making a white paper available to web visitors is:

-First and last name -Job title -Company name -Email address

Other required info could be the prospect's website address and phone number.

Some B2B websites won't accept subscribers using free email addresses, such as Yahoo or Hotmail. The theory is people using such addresses are more likely to be freebie seekers, not quality business prospects.

To help better understand if a web visitor is a hot lead or a marginal prospect, ask him to answer some questions. This mini survey can provide valuable marketing intelligence.

Below are some questions you might ask web visitors. Some may not be appropriate for your particular industry, so think about what essential information you need to qualify prospects. Then create relevant questions.

-Have you ever purchased a product similar to [name of product] If so, what brand?

-Do you authorize the purchasing of products like ours?

-What is preventing you from purchasing our product today?

The biggest concern many marketers have about creating a questionnaire is how many questions to ask. Too many and you may drive away even a red hot prospect. Too few and you end up with little useful marketing intelligence. The only way to know for sure what works is to test. Experiment with the number or content of questions.

One way to speed up the testing process is to use a split-testing program on your website. If you're not familiar with the concept, split testing splits your audience into reading two or more versions of your sales copy (or, in this case, survey questions) to see which version results in more sign ups.

After reviewing the answers, divide your subscriber list into hot prospects versus marginal. Then you know where to allocate most of your follow up marketing initiatives.

David Coyne is a copywriter and marketing consultant who specializes in B2B. Get his FREE report "Multiple Ways To Make Your Advertising More Responsive" and other marketing bonuses at his site http://www.dc-infobiz.com

How to Use Event Marketing to Help Your Business

Have you thought about promoting your business in a more proactive manner than a few ads or flyers? Have you thought about any methods where customers will come to willingly? One such way to promote your business or cause is through event marketing. What is event marketing? It is essentially an activity of some sort related to the selling of a product, promotion of a business, or pushing of a type of service. It may be any number of things, but it is a unique and effective type of marketing that may suit you.

Event marketing can involve an event as simple as a sporting event. If your business promotes and sponsors a charity softball tournament for instance, that is essentially event marketing. How, though, do you choose the right event to make your marketing strategy a success? There are a couple of things to consider.

First, your event marketing should be something that will appeal to your target market. Your customers or potential customers should have a profile of some sort. And you, as a business owner, should know what the profile is. If you don't know your customers, guess what? You aren't going to be able to market to them. Your event should cater to that customer profile specifically. For your event to be a success you should appeal directly to your customers so that it is appealing to them. For example, if you sell sporting goods, do a sporting event of some sorts. If you sell magazines, do a book drive or a book signing event at your store. You must ALWAYS target your event to the profile of your customers.

Second, your event marketing campaign should also have some value to those attending. Make sure there is a good reason for them to attend other than just hearing about your products or services. They are not going to attend it just to hear a 15 minute commercial. Make it worth their while. Provide specials or discounts, offer free samples, promote a charity, or allow them to have fun like at a golf outing. Just make sure you are not putting on a big commercial where everyone will feel like they have wasted their time in attending. Give them reason to attend and give them as many reasons to do so as you can. Make them feel special and appreciated and they will reciprocate the feeling by being a loyal customer.

Event marketing is not only effective, but also is a fun type of marketing you can do for your business. It is an opportunity to have fun and to mingle with customers and potential customers while promoting your company in an active manner. Choose something of value and something that your customers will enjoy and your event marketing campaign will undoubtedly be a success.

Khemal Dole owns and operates http://www.PaychecksDirect.com, a completely F*R*E*E service which helps many first-timers and even experts find their perfect Work At Home job. Visit www.PaychecksDirect.com right now and see for yourself why so many are flocking to his site

What is Event Marketing and How Can it Secure You a Power Position in Your Niche?

If you're not exactly sure what event marketing is, think of Earth Day, the Renaissance Faire, Woodstock, Shop Rite's Can-Can Sale, President's Weekend at Macy's... and let's not forget Valentine's Day, that "Hallmark Holiday" disguised as a day of Love but really meant to boost candy, card, dinner and gift sales.

I'm going to be blunt with you here, hope you can handle it. ;) Event marketing is not just an excuse to cheer about something. Your motive in "inventing" and promoting a market-driven holiday or celebration is to gain new visibility in your niche, drum up excitement with your target audience, and ultimately increase profits for your business.

If you're still a little guy just yet, you may have to wait on those cash sales until next year when people know you better... but revenue earned by way of new customers who notice you during the event counts as profit and makes the event worth the effort in the long run.

Generally, your goal is this: Position yourself at the helm of the event and drive mass traffic to the event so that folks develop an association between the event and your brand.

Event planning is a highly effective networking strategy in itself. In promoting the event and encouraging participation, you will become acquainted with many, many new faces and forge more solid bonds with old faces. In coordinating the event, you will learn who the "ideal" colleagues are to work with, and how your strengths can best be leveraged while putting other people to work on the tasks you find more challenging.

You may wonder how on earth you could possibly execute an event "virtually." The truth is... with so many active online networks and Power Groups forming, the internet is possibly the simplest and least expensive venue for your "invented event." Instead of a convention center, you have a "home base" website. Instead of live public speakers standing on a rented out podium in a rented auditorium, you have virtual "spotlight guests" on your blog or website. Your event won't require costly shipping of hard goods and transportation, because your "trade show booth" can be managed from a website that's launched once and remains live all year to generate residual traffic and help you rank better for the following year.

Who might want to join you in promoting an event, and what type of holiday or celebration could work with your niche? Basically, the idea is to just zero in on what your audience would find most valuable and attractive, in the celebratory sense. Following are a few ideas off the top of my head, but I'm sure that you can come up with something fabulous to fit your market.

If you sell gourmet pies, you could invent "Pie in the Sky" or a Month-Long Virtual Bake-Off. Complimentary vendors who might join your celebration: gourmet coffee distributors, Longaberger reps, companies who sell baking and kitchen equipment, folks who run dessert websites, other pie sellers (sorry, in event planning, you often have to deal directly with "the competition" but it's so much fun that nobody ever seems to mind.)

If you normally target the "alternative health" or audience of herbalists, a health fair has the potential to lure potential buyers in droves and get them on your mailing list. If your website is focused around writing or design, you can hold a contest to attract fresh talent. I've come across websites where designers are encouraged to "submit entries" which are then posted and judged, with prizes handed out. The creations are often very funny and a great way to scope out up-and-comers. Don't forget: contestants should be encouraged to sign up for your paid memberships or at the very least get on your mailing list; otherwise the event is "virtually" pointless.

Planning an event on the internet requires someone with dynamic leadership skills, a good sense of timing, a solid "people network," the ability to mesh with a variety of personalities, strong organizational skills, and of course- an expert handle on all the traditional means of online marketing.

Skills needed for proper event execution: website design, copywriting, email and list management, blogging, publicity, brand-building. If you possess these skills yourself, wonderful, but know there is an incredible amount of work involved, so getting backup assistance is imperative.

Necessary resources: web hosting, FTP (file transfer protocol), blog hosting, word processing, a good graphics program, numerous article marketing directories, several memberships to major web PR sites, a pdf creation tool, an advanced email management program (such as Microsoft Outlook), an online discussion forum, a subscriber sign-up form, file backup.

Want to witness event planning live in action? Please join me and my marketing friends for the First Annual Web Content Awareness Day, scheduled to launch on February 9, 2006 at http://WebContentAwarenessDay.com.

Sneak Peek: Visit the Countdown to Web Content Awareness Day Blog and learn how you can ride our wave of high web traffic!

Paste in this link:

http://wordfeeder.typepad.com/web_content_awareness_day/

You want killer content and you want it now. Dina at Wordfeeder.com is driving mass traffic to the first annual Web Content Awareness Day and she'll drive it to your website next. Count on Dina to deliver laser-focused copy that will emotionally snare your readers. Convert visitors to subscribers... and subscribers to paying customers. Visit http://Wordfeeder.com

Event Marketing: Five Ways to Psyche Yourself Up for a Blowout Mass Promotion on the Web

So you'd like to run an online promotion, maybe a Carnival of Knowledge, Who's Who in the World of Esteemed Marketers, World Cuisine Day, or some other such blitz. The point of course, is to position yourself as someone of authority in your niche, and to appeal to those who fall into your category to join the fun and help promote the grand event. Your ultimate, though somewhat cloaked goal in all this: gain new subscribers, convert to paying customers.

As fun as "inventing a holiday or special occasion" sounds, the big, scary question looms: what if you can't persuade people to follow your lead? What if no one shows interest, no one cooperates, your perfectly planned promotion is an utter flop and you're the laughing stock of the web? Nonsense. Ordinary humans pull this type of thing off every day, and there's no reason why you can't be wildly successful at creating a hype and a big buzz for your biz just like they did!

Six ways to secure your confidence and your ultimate success:

1. Square your shoulders. The first step in all this is to resign yourself that you WILL make this happen, come hell or highwater. So you have to play some tricks on your own brain and stir up a sort of "delusions of grandeur" mentality. But it's not a delusion, your grandiose is real, darnit. YOU can do this, you have the power and skills to make a big splash in your niche and to guide others closer to this same success. You are trained, experienced, and you have the connections and tools to make it happen.

2. Set your goals. There are two types of goals you should isolate: the outcome of your actions, and the actions themselves. Meaning, you need to fathom the ultimate consequences of your plan before you can fashion the plan. If your "internal team goal" is to gain five hundred new email subscribers, then your obvious outward goal might be to develop multiple vehicles in your marketing that "carry" interested parties to your newsletter sign-up box and coax them to drop their name in the box. Sounds devious when I say it that way, but that's marketing and that's why we're here.

3. "Time the meal." Remember when you first began dabbling in meal preparation? Suddenly, mom's ability to time the carrots to finish cooking just as the roast was emerging from the oven and the potatoes were taking their last mash, was an amazing phenomenon. Much like the well-timed meal, you need to think ahead and determine exactly what needs to be done, how long it will take to execute each step, when it's time to move ahead with the next step, and how to "wrap it up" with finesse. Lay your plans carefully, and solicit the assistance of friends who will stick by you and see it through to completion. You can do it, I know you can!

4. Eliminate the negative. What if you reveal your plan to a friend and they put a crimp in your style with some nastiness, naysaying and general negativity? Move along, and leave this person in the dust. Whatever you firmly believe, you can will to be so... and if dreaming up an ingenious new holiday, occasion, festival, event, affair, congregation or other name for a group project holds promise for you, then you need to hang that wet blanket out to dry and set yourself to the task at hand. Anything is possible, just own your project and muster up the power of your own positive thinking.

5. Accentuate the positive. As you being to reveal your master agenda, you'll find that some folks just naturally fall in step with what you're doing, while others just ask entirely too many fishy questions and are full of pessimism, hesitation and reserve. Grab those enthusiastic supporters, and float them along with you on your journey, for these people are going to serve as your lifeline for the entire extravaganza. Leave the doubters in the dust, as they will drag you down with their waffling when what you must do right now is GO GO GO!

Get these five confidence boosters, and harness the power of your own effectiveness! This is the World Wide Web, and you have the freedom to choose your own actions and the drive to make it happen. Would you like to emerge as a leader in your industry this year? Then start planning today.

Want to witness event planning live in action? Please join me and my marketing friends for the First Annual Web Content Awareness Day, scheduled to launch on February 9, 2006 at http://WebContentAwarenessDay.com.

Sneak Peek: Visit the Countdown to Web Content Awareness Day Blog and learn how you can ride our wave of high web traffic!

Paste in this link:

http://wordfeeder.typepad.com/web_content_awareness_day/

You want killer content and you want it now. Dina at Wordfeeder.com is driving mass traffic to the first annual Web Content Awareness Day and she'll drive it to your website next. Count on Dina to deliver laser-focused copy that will emotionally snare your readers. Convert visitors to subscribers... and subscribers to paying customers. Visit http://Wordfeeder.com

Event Marketing: Five Ways to Rally Your Support Team to Ultimate Success

One morning, you woke up and realized that you were creating an online marketing bonanza, and that by some miracle a group of people were following along with the plan. Not bad, for an ordinary human! But then just when you were getting comfortable with the idea, you found out that you still have to work for the respect. Suddenly a handful of your followers dropped out of the cheering section just like that... and still others began resisting your suggestions to move the agenda forward. So what do you do when morale is at an all-time low and the support network has begun to unravel and separate like so many lost sheep?

You've got to rally the team and fuel the plan with some high-octane morale-boosters and incentives to keep the momentum alive.

1. Manifest the Group Destiny. One prosperity teacher who I know discourages her students from saying what they don't wish to happen. I emphasize: start declaring what you'd like to happen, and it will come true. You don't have to spew your affirmations directly at people, many find that a turnoff. But there are "indirect" ways to put a positive message out into the great beyond that will come back around with proof positive that your plan is going to take off and soar. Your team is listening and they will "catch" those good vibrations and naturally become a part of the story as you tell it. End result: cooperation, enthusiasm, success!

2. Match the Function with the Ability. If you know that one of your group supporters is wildly creative but somewhat chaotic, then don't assign her the task of managing the email drip campaign, save that for your Power Planner instead. Give your Creative One her moment of glory by having her write some articles or dream up a clever advertising pitch to alert your audience of the upcoming promotional extravaganza. Your team player will shine like the sun when you give her spirit a chance to dance in the limelight doing what she was meant to do.

3. Remember the Little Details. Which teammate said what at the last meeting of the minds? To whom do you owe extra credit? Someone went the extra mile and told a few friends about your upcoming bonanza, who was that and how can you thank them? A good group leader has the ability to see both trees and forest - that means taking everyone into consideration, thinking holistically "for the good of the group," yet remembering those little details that differentiate your participants and make them unique in the ways they can give to the cause.

4. Show Your Gratitude. At certain points in your online promotional effort, you may find yourself drowning in work and generally feeling maxed out and taken for granted. Instead of directing the frustration at your support team, strive to be that bigger person. You don't need someone to pat you and hand you a cookie because you're a grown adult... and you answer to nobody but yourself. You own this dream plan, and miraculously, other people are following your star! Your participants have put aside their own priorities to make your vision their own. Nobody told them to do this, they did it because they believe in you... so remember to thank them profusely for the things both large and small that they bring to the table.

5. Don't Have a Petty Party. When tension is high, teammates may display subtle forms of resistance, and you may find this highly frustrating. Rather than dwell in another person's passive aggression, attack the problem with an Insta-Fix and move ahead. That fix might just be "reinforcing your team member's effectiveness" by reminding him of what he does best and then asking pleasantly if he can help you. Because ultimately, you need his help. Most people want to feel appreciated and needed. So if you genuinely value their contribution, then you should have no trouble clearing the static in your communication channel and propelling things along.

The power in numbers is clear when you sit back and survey the results of your group effort. Could you have made nearly as great a splash as a lone maverick? My guess is no. So fuel the group on, to the tune of a higher idealism, and then smile as your dreams are brought to life.

Want to witness event planning live in action? Please join me and my marketing friends for the First Annual Web Content Awareness Day, scheduled to launch on February 9, 2006 at http://WebContentAwarenessDay.com.

Sneak Peek: Visit the Countdown to Web Content Awareness Day Blog and learn how you can ride our wave of high web traffic!

Paste in this link:

http://wordfeeder.typepad.com/web_content_awareness_day/

You want killer content and you want it now. Dina at Wordfeeder.com is driving mass traffic to the first annual Web Content Awareness Day and she'll drive it to your website next. Count on Dina to deliver laser-focused copy that will emotionally snare your readers. Convert visitors to subscribers... and subscribers to paying customers. Visit http://Wordfeeder.com for lip-smacking web copy served up quick.