What does your vehicle say about your business? You drive to work, commute through traffic, stop at the shop for refreshments, park up outside your business, take care of deliveries and run some errands during the day, finally, you drive home in the evening. How many people did you pass or meet today? All potential customers, but did they notice you?

Grab a significant advertising advantage over your competitors by covering your vehicle with your message in the form of an eye-catching digitally printed self adhesive vinyl advertisement known as a vehicle wrap Vehicle wrapping is now being recognized as an extremely cost effective and unique form of outdoor media for all sizes of businesses and company promotions. Many companies are finding out that vehicle advertising wraps and full colour fleet and car graphics are a great way to reach new and existing customers. Compared to other forms of media, wraps are extremely cost effective and generate millions of impressions each year.

An innovative method of advertising a business by creating a moving billboard on a vehicle, vehicle wraps provide companies with a method of advertising on cars in three dimensional form, providing an extremely high retention rate among those who see the vehicle. uses semi-permanent graphics that can be removed without harm to the vehicle if desired. It is typically used on vans, but also on cars, trucks, fleet vehicles, buses, trains and even aircraft, in fact anything on wheels or that has an exterior shell.

Many customers with vehicle wraps take advantage of their advertising in areas that normally would be very expensive. Booking advertising at such venues as , sports events, concerts and grand openings may need to be done well in advance and rates may be very expensive, this is ideal for your wrapped vehicle, simply drive around or park at a conspicuous location. Another advantage of this type of advertising is it is not like print, radio, or television. It cannot be switched off and the channel cannot be changed.

There is no standard price for advertising wraps which are normally installed by specialist signage companies, It depends on a number of factors including the total number of vehicles to be wrapped, how much printing is involved, how much vinyl material is required per wrap, designer time, how many installers will be involved and how long it takes to fit, All that becomes the basis for pricing a project.

Wrapping a vehicle is a sophisticated process of being able to print on vinyl films and perfectly cover the vehicle with that advertisement. A good wrap must be able to cover, but not hinder window visibility and all materials must be weather resistant to heat, UV, cold and wind. Good adherence to the vehicle body is important, as the wrap must stay on without it peeling off before purposely being removed. The process involves cutting edge software, durable printing inks, high performance adhesive vinyl materials and laminates. It begins with an accurate engineering drawing known as a template which is taken from the vehicle, the advertisement is placed on the template on a computer, this is printed on large vinyl decals which are then fitted properly into a seamless image by professional installers.

If the company doesn’t want to invest in vehicle wrap advertising, it can place advertising on vehicles in the form of magnetic signs, bumper stickers, window decals, etc. Companies seeking to attract business with a different format have found advertising on vehicles using these methods to be effective, without having to go the full vehicle wraps direction.

Vehicle wraps are like giant billboards, only more imaginative, they move in the area your company services and they create a visibly striking presence. They work all day , generating awareness for your company and are constantly reaching new and potential customers. Vehicle advertising is the best and most cost effective form of advertising available.

Ron Avigad
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/create-an-impact-and-drive-your-business-forward-nextgellccom-84062.html

Traffic on the freeway is bad. Traffic on the Internet is good. With over 60 million web sites on the Net, you need a solid strategy for steering customers to your home business web site.

Search Engines

Search engines are the yellow pages for a home business web site. Over 80% of Internet surfers use search engines to find information on the web. To get the most traffic to your site, list with the big search engine players Yahoo, Google, and MSN. Smaller search engines also get results from the big three so you’ll be covered in case customers visit less popular engines.

Looking Good

Your home business web site can be simple or complex but it must be functional and attractive. Make sure your site does what it is supposed to do – provide customers with concise, useful information about your product or service. Be wary of making things too complicated. The site should be easy to navigate or customers will look elsewhere.

Your web site should also look professional, not cheap. If you aren’t design savvy, spend money on a good web designer. The investment will pay off by attracting more people to your web page.

On-line Ads

The Internet has many sites where you can list your home business for free. To guarantee the greatest exposure, place your ad on several (20 or more) sites and repeat the process every month.

Banner advertisements can be as effective as TV spots in increasing customer awareness of your business. A banner ad should be direct, i.e. promote a benefit of rather than just the name of the product or service. Try participating in a banner exchange program such as LinkExchange that connects your home business web site to other company sites that have similar customer bases.

Affiliate programs offer an excellent opportunity to promote your web site. Affiliate businesses post links to your web page on their sites. You pay them a commission or set fee based on the amount of traffic sent to your web site. Pay arrangements vary and can be based on the number of people who visit your site or the number of customers who purchase your product.

Bloggin’ It

Bloggers are the hot new information medium. Getting them to write about your home business web site is an excellent way to gain exposure to potential customers.

Technorati Blog Directory provides a listing of blogs by industry. Do your research here to determine which blogs might be interested in writing about your business. Send a short, personal email to a few blog writers describing your web site and asking the blogger to write about it. Offer the writer something in return, for example, free product or a link back to his blog on your web site.

Off-line Ads

Cruising Down the Highway

Your car is a moving billboard for a home business web site. Window decals and bumper stickers are inexpensive ways to get the word out about your web site. Spend a few extra dollars for a personalized license plate with your web address.

Old Media Standby

Regardless of what the bloggers say, people still read the printed page. Run ads in the classifieds of large and small papers, trade magazines, and free weeklies. Your choice of print media will depend on the product or service offered and whether you do business locally or nationwide.

Sources

Gaebler Ventures, “Advertising on the Web” (gaebler.com)
Data Synthesis, “Internet Solutions for Today” (ictks.com)
“Top Ten Ways to Promote your Website” (agora-business-center.com)
“Using Blog PR to Promote Your Site” (sitepronews.com)

Larry Bregman
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-promotion-articles/tips-for-promoting-your-home-business-web-site-54007.html

Children, as well as adults, love to play the Dreidel Game during Hanukkah (also spelt Chanukah), and a wide range of dreidels can easily be purchased online at judaica shops. The selection and variation of styles available can be overwhelming, but the game played with them is always the same!

A dreidel (also spelt draydel and draydle) is a four-sided top or any shaped spinning item with four Hebrew symbols on it. The symbols are each a different Hebrew letter: nun, gimel, heh, and shin. These four letters stand for the words: nes, gadol, hayah, and sham. The translation of these four words is: “A Great Miracle Happened There.” In Israel, the last letter on the dreidel is peh instead of shin. This last letter stands for the word poh, which changes the meaning to: “A Great Miracle Happened Here.”

To play the Dreidel Game, you start with a “pot” in the middle. The “pot” can be made of candy, coins, chocolate gelt, or any other small thing of value, although most times children play with gelt. Gelt is the Yiddish word for “money,” but in this context, gelt often refers to chocolate coins widely available during Hanukkah. Each player is given a certain amount of gelt and puts one piece into the center to start the “pot.” The players then take turns spinning the dreidel, and whichever side faces up (or whichever Hebrew letter is pointed to) when it stops spinning determines what you do:

If the letter NUN is facing up, you do NOTHING.
If the letter SHIN is facing up, you PUT ONE piece of gelt into the pot.
If the letter HEH is facing up, you TAKE HALF the gelt from the pot.
If the letter GIMEL is facing up, you TAKE ALL the gelt from the pot.
If ever the pot is empty, each player puts one piece of gelt into the center. When a player runs out of gelt, he or she is out of the game! The winner is the last one left in.

Some dreidels are hollow and can be filled with candy or chocolate. Some play music when they spin. And still others can be stacked on top of one another as they spin. They are made from many different materials, including plastic, wood, ceramic, glass, gold, and silver. The plastic versions cost as little as ten cents, but gold and silver dreidels can cost in the hundreds of dollars. Even though dreidels are mostly enjoyed by children, no matter how young or old, many adults collect ornate and beautiful dreidels, and display them in china or curio cabinets.

“L’dor l’dor” means “from generation to generation,” and it refers to the importance of passing down traditions and religious practices to your children. Hanukkah is one of best times to pass down your Jewish traditions to your kids because of how many resources there are, and how much fun the holiday is.

Fortunately, it’s easy to help your kids enjoy and understand the Hanukkah season, and to get them involved in Hanukkah activities. Of course, most popular is the dreidel game. If your kids don’t have dreidels, buy at least one for each of them and teach them how to play. If you want to encourage their artistic side, you can get dreidels your kids can color and decorate themselves, or even ones that they can build themselves such as the new clay dreidel that can be molded, dried and then painted before it is played with.

Other activities during the Hanukkah season include reading Hanukkah books, eating candy and gelt, coloring, putting together puzzles, sending out Hanukkah cards, making cookies with Hanukkah cookie cutters, playing with Hanukkah stickers, and more. Kids can even get Hanukkah yo-yos that play traditional songs like The Dreidel Song, which begins, “I have a little dreidel.”

It is common for each child in the family to have their own Hanukkah menorah to light. But if you have kids who are too young to light candles, then you may want to consider some of the kid-friendly menorahs available today. For instance, there are stuffed menorahs with flames that Velcro on, and thin plastic ones that stick to the window and have separate plastic flames that can be attached.

Because the Hanukkah season is so festive, there are big parties and family gatherings. Many families give their children a present each night of Chanukah and decorate their homes with blue and white festive decorations and electric lights, often shaped like dreidels. Gifts run the gamut from gelt to clothing, from hanukkah toys and crafts to video games.

Some families choose to get and fill Hanukkah bags for their kids so they don’t feel left out when their non-Jewish friends receive gifts and candy in stockings. Again, all of these wonderful items are easily available online as you shop from your armchair, and you can shop to your heart’s content as you plan on making this a hanukkah for your kids to remember with hanukkah toys, activities, dreidels, puzzles, cookie cutters, menorahs, and more.

Adam Barnett
http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/hanukkah-the-dreidel-game-hanukkah-crafts-fun-for-kids-70639.html

The major problem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) program is that nearly all vehicles pass current tests. This makes it hard for consumers to compare between vehicles. This situation triggered the need for the NHTSA to overhaul its crash test program. Some of the standards have not been changed since its creation in 1979. The crash test program overhaul will also reduce three crash ratings to one.

The safety agency earlier held a day-long hearing with automakers, suppliers and safety advocates to discuss ways so as to overhaul NHTSA’s crash test program for new vehicles and create a single safety ranking. The hearing is aimed at toughening the standards and give rewards only to the most deserving vehicles.

Among the revisions contemplated is the awarding of higher ratings to vehicles that have more safety features, including crash-avoidance systems. Other revisions include increasing speeds in some crash tests, increasing the weight of crash barriers, expanding the scope of the new tests to account for additional injuries, considering the use of dummies to better represent female drivers, and improving frontal, side-impact and rollover testing while gauging new auto technologies and features like electronic stability control, brake assist systems and lane departure warnings.

The proposal to overhaul the crash test standards do not require for new legal requirements. This is because what would only be changed is how the safety agency conducts tests that are used to assign the ratings.

Automakers offered support for the proposal to overhaul the crash test standards for new vehicles. On the other hand, safety groups suggested that the NHTSA should also test child restraint systems to ascertain how they hold up in crashes and rate them accordingly. The standards should not be limited to the efficiency of brakes, steering, suspension or even the K & N cold air intake – it should delve deeper than the current standards.

At the said public hearing, General Motors Corp., the Honda Motor Co., and the Toyota Motor Corp. all endorsed the efforts to give vehicles a single overall ranking for performance during simulated frontal, side and rollover crashes. Toyota’s Chris Tinto said it is hard for engineers to figure how much weight to give each of the current three scores, let alone for consumers to try to interpret three numbers.

The NHTSA introduced a list of changes that it is considering. However, the safety agency did not disclose the final details of their proposed revisions. In 2006, 87 percent of vehicles received four or five stars for side impact crashes while some 95 percent garnered top ratings for frontal crashes.

Safety groups criticized the safety agency for not going far enough in toughening the standards. At present, tougher crash tests are conducted by outside groups like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The institute’s standards have gotten more attention and have stressed safety flaws of those vehicles which got top ratings in government tests.

Adrian Lund, the institute’s president, offered harsh criticism of the NHTSA initial revisions, calling them “timid” and “disappointing.” He said that the NHTSA has been delinquent in doing research, noting that it still is not considering the roof strength in assessing new cars. He said, “These tests don’t challenge industry to design safer cars and instead reinforce what they’re already doing.” Lund also said that the NHTSA should not focus all of its efforts on crash-avoidance technologies such as electronic stability control at the expense of ensuring that vehicles are crash-worthy.

At the much-concluded 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, NHTSA officials announced that the agency planned to toughen several of its voluntary car safety crash tests used to rate new vehicles. The safety agency said the new program would encourage automakers to voluntarily invest in safety technologies.

Joan Claybrook, who was NHTSA administrator when the program was introduced in 1979, said Wednesday that the program is “long overdue for updating.” Claybrook said the program should include ratings for child safety restraints, pedestrian safety and vehicle performance in rear-impact crashes. She also suggested automakers be required to add the ratings to new car Window Stickers.

Lauren Woods
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/nhtsa-to-overhaul-crash-test-program-115281.html

For millions of Americans their home is their safe haven: the place to which they retreat for time with loved ones, relaxation, and the majority of life’s important events. From precious loved ones to prized belongings those things most valuable to us are centered in the home as well.

Unfortunately, for hundreds of thousands of families however, their haven is breached each year; either by theft, burglary, or even violent crime. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (www.ojp.usdoj.gov) over three quarters of all crimes in the U.S. are made up of property crimes. With the estimated 2005 burglary rate of 726.7 per population of 100,000, the likelihood of experiencing a home burglary was greater than being the victim of car theft with a rate of 416.7 per 100,000. Although the monetary losses can be significant, certainly the emotional effects resulting from the feelings of vulnerability and unease are discomforting at the least.

For some, home security seems a distant concern; something that only those living in large urban areas need to consider. Statistics from the Bureau of Justice indicate otherwise. Although burglary rates are higher in urban areas, it has been far more equal opportunity than one might suspect. The Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics shows a 2005 urban burglary rate of 37.7 per 1,000 households, while in rural areas it was 29.4 and in suburban areas it was 24.7.

Certainly, homeowners insurance can help to defray the cost of any material losses. Replacing home electronics, jewelry, and other possessions or replacing broken windows and doors after a forcible entry can all be accomplished relatively easily except in the instances of prized family heirlooms or similarly loved personal items. However, replacing the sense of well being is not so easily achieved. Questions regarding what would have happened if someone had been home at the time of the burglary can linger. For millions of those with children at home alone for portions of the day or left with a young baby sitter, these concerns become amplified.

Although insurance goes a long way in covering the loss of material items after the fact, other home security measures can take more proactive steps in preventing loss and assuring the safety of those in the home. With many home security systems offering 24 hour per day monitoring and fees that are more affordable than the average home insurance policy, such systems seem to be a wise step in the direction of prevention.

Most home security systems today offer Window Stickers, yard signage, and even sirens which act as deterrents to potential invaders. Most also possess a panic button to allow any occupants in the house to summon help immediately with the push of a single button. These systems are also dependable as they switch to battery powered backup when power is out. Each home security system offers their own specific features but may also include things such as the ability to warn parents when young children slip out of the house unattended or when children fail to arrive home from school on time.

It is estimated that only 20% of American homes have home security systems installed. This is either a reflection of a sense of security or perhaps a lack of information about the features and affordability of a good home security system. For the average homeowner, the six figure home security systems that make the news aren’t something to consider. However, in most areas quality home security systems that feature free equipment and free installation with a monthly monitoring fee in the neighborhood of $25 to $30 is much more worthy of consideration.

Certainly burglary or any type of forcible entry into the home is not inevitable but like all risks homeowners must assess not only the likelihood it will occur but also the potential outcome to determine if the cost of prevention is justified or not. For homeowners who determine that greater home security is a need, there is most certainly a home security system available to fit their pocketbook.

Christine Peppler
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-security-articles/does-home-security-deserve-your-serious-attention-87358.html

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “YourMPG” database revealed that diesel-powered vehicles have higher mpg figures than those displayed on new car Window Stickers. The detailed findings were incorporated in EPA’s “Final Technical Supporting Document,” which has the new fuel economy labeling rule.

The “YourMPG” data covers 221 diesel drivers quantifying their own fuel economy and giving out their real-world MPG to the Internet database. The data, compiled by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are compared with the real-world data with the projected fuel economy calculations for new cars. EPA document says in part, “As can be seen, diesels appear to perform the best with respect to their label fuel economy, outperforming the label by 4.3 percent.”

The document also reveals that diesel was the only power source that offered an increase in real-world mpg. As a fact, gasoline-powered vehicles showed a decrease by between 1.4-1.7 percent. Also, hybrid vehicles decreased by more than 8 percent compared to their current fuel economy label.

“It’s long been known that diesel is the most fuel-efficient internal combustion engine ever produced, typically providing 20-40 percent greater fuel- efficiency than other technologies,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting diesel technology. “These reports from real diesel drivers across the country reaffirm diesel’s superior fuel efficiency, and will help consumers make future buying decisions when the next generation of clean diesel vehicles arrives over the next several model years.”

With the increasing price of gasoline, some auto enthusiasts prefer better fuel economy. However, their bother is performance that goes with fuel efficiency. This is the reason why some enthusiasts are shifting to diesel engines that have all that and more. Analysts in the industry say that diesel engines have better fuel economy and performance. It is also more reliable compared to gasoline engines.

Recently, automakers announced a number of vehicles powered by diesel. In addition, automakers assured consumers that they will be more diesel options in their upcoming lineups. A heightened diesel revolution is expected to start in 2008. Auto parts Volkswagen are now upgraded to complement the sought-after changes. Also, Jeep Liberty performance parts are advancing even more to cope up with the revolution.

At the recently held Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler made a joint venture to produce powerful diesel-powered vehicles for Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Audi brands under the Bluetec label. BMW, Cummins, Honda, GM and Nissan also announced their plans to produce light-duty clean diesels to the American market. These vehicles will be made available in early 2008.

Jenny Mclane
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/diesel-vehicles-better-in-realworld-fuel-efficiency-83063.html

Physical improvements you can do to make your home less attractive to burglars.

Burglars, thieves, and muggers are opportunists. They prowl about looking for things such as high bushes around doors, windows, or garages to hide behind; open doors or windows for easy access; an inviting open garage door; an accumulation of flyers & newspapers; little or no lighting around entryways and garages; empty big-ticket-item boxes on the curb; a darkened house indicating nobody home.

Have an inventory of your property along with photos or videotape. Store the pictures/video in a secure place away from the house such as a safety deposit box. Include a description of each item, purchase receipts, and any serial numbers (helpful for insurance/recovery identification). Contact your local police department. Many offer a free home security inspection. Mark your property with a code in an inconspicuous spot using indelible ink or an etcher (Some police departments loan etchers for personal use).

Don’t keep all your jewelry in one easy-to-find place.

Burglars and muggers hate light. Have all entrances to your home and garage well lit with fixtures out of reach from ground level. Install lights with motion sensors but be aware they may give false alarms. Use photocell controlled lighting. The lights come on at dusk and stay on until dawn and cost pennies per month. If you have an electrical or fuse box mounted outside, secure it with a strong lock.

Muggers and burglars don’t like to work in the open. If you have bushes or shrubs near any windows or doors, trim them down to clear the view from windows and trim them up 1-2 feet from the ground to eliminate potential hiding places. Trim shrubs around the garage doors.

Keep doors and windows locked at all times, even if you’re in the back yard.

Install a peep hole/wide angle viewer at a height convenient for everyone in the house.

Don’t rely on door handle locks. Experienced thieves can easily open these. Don’t rely on chain locks. They can be easily cut or pulled out. Install deadbolt locks in all outside doors. Make sure the lock has at least a 1” bolt or throw. If you already have a deadbolt, check the length of the kick plate screws. These screws should be at least 3” long to go into the frame. If there is a window next to or in the door, you should have a double cylinder deadbolt (requires a key from each side). That way, a burglar can’t break the window to gain access to the deadbolt lock. Keep the key nearby but accessible only to your family for emergency use. Patio sliding doors are particularly susceptible to break-ins. Use anti-slide bolts or a track bar to reduce track clearance.

For double hung windows, you can purchase locks & clamps that attach to the windows to restrict movement. An alternative is pinning. Drill a down-angled hole through both windows and insert an eyebolt or pin having a head. This is for emergency removal. Drill a second hole no more than 4 inches lower and the window may be opened for air circulation yet not allow access. Louvered windows allow easy access since the panes are easily removed. Replace them with a more secure window type. The most secure basement windows are made of glass block. Before changing basement windows, check fire codes and be aware of emergency exits. An exterior air conditioner should be securely mounted on the inside of the window frame. If possible, remove the air conditioner in cold weather.

There are many fine wireless or wired-in alarms and alarm systems on the market in a variety of price ranges. You could purchase a D-I-Y system or have a professional install one for you. Wireless systems run on batteries and will work during a power outage. Some wired in systems connect you to a central monitoring center through your phone line and have a monthly monitoring fee. Remember, an alarm system will only help you if you turn it on! If you are unable to invest in an alarm system, put alarm warning stickers on doors and windows.

Stay safe

James Hopkins
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-security-articles/uninviting-burglars-make-your-home-less-attractive-to-burglars-pt-1-125474.html

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released the results of the crash and rollover safety tests that they have conducted. The government agency awarded 24 vehicles for the 2007 model year with its highest safety rating of five stars. These 24 vehicles have performed well in both the front and side crash tests that were conducted by the agency. These tests are done in connection with the institution’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The program is aimed to help the public choose which cars are safe and capable of protecting people in the event of a crash.

Of the 24 vehicles that received the five-star rating from the agency, seven of them are four-door passenger vehicles. The remaining 17 vehicles are four-door sports utility vehicles. The Dodge Caliber, Ford Five Hundred, Kia Optima, Mercury Montego, Subaru Legacy, Saturn Aura, and the Toyota Camry are the first seven four-door passenger vehicles which have received the agency’s highest rating for front and side crash tests.

Aside from the aforementioned seven vehicles, the NHTSA also gave five star ratings to seventeen four-door SUVs. These are the Acura MDX, Acura RDX, Audi Q7, Dodge Nitro, Ford Freestyle, GMC Acadia, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe, Infiniti FX35/45, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Sorento, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-7, Saturn Outlook, Subaru Outback, and the Toyota Highlander.

All the abovementioned vehicles have shown that their safety features are adequate to protect passengers and the driver in the event of a front or side collision. Their safety can be compared to that of a vehicle equipped with EBC Redstuff brake pads whose stopping power is a great addition to a car’s safety features. The list of vehicles is not complete though since the government agency has only tested 63 of the 70 vehicles slated to be tested for the current model year. Only 79 percent of the vehicle scheduled to be available to the public this year has been accounted for and the rest are yet to be tested. The complete ratings for 2007 models are easily accessible to consumers who want to look into a vehicle’s safety ratings before buying one. The information can be viewed at www.safercar.gov where not only the current ratings are available but safety ratings for previous model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also performed rollover tests on the 63 vehicles that have already been tested for front and side crash safety. Of all the vehicles analyzed, only three vehicles got the highest rating of the agency for rollover resistance. Incidentally, none of the 24 vehicles which got five star ratings for front and side crash safety tests also got five stars in the rollover safety tests. The cars that performed satisfactorily in the rollover safety tests are the Mazda6 four-door, the Pontiac Solstice Convertible and another convertible, the Saturn Sky. These three vehicles have been engineered for maximum stability that is why they have the best rollover protection among all the vehicles for the 2007 model year.

The agency uses the star rating to give consumers an easily understood rating system. Their evaluation system gives a star for the lowest mark and five stars for the highest rating. This comes to play when comparing the safety of a vehicle against another vehicle. The agency will also implement the posting of the star ratings on the windows of vehicles. This use of Window Stickers will be made standard beginning September of this year. Said measure will be of great help for consumers since it will be easier for them to know the safety rating of car just by looking at it.

Anthony Fontanelle
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/nhtsa-reveals-safest-vehicles-for-2007-model-year-107073.html

Since I own my own business web site and have looked for many
ways to advertise cheap and for free, I have noticed how many
sites there are out there that will try to get you to either
join or buy advertising in one form or another. There are sites
out there that will promise you the moon if you either join
their “viral marketing” scheme or site that will cause your
email box to become inundated with email ads from others who
have fell for this.

But there are plenty of offline and online ways to get free or
cheap advertising without joining these things and risking a
backed up inbox or having your email address splattered all over
the net for any desperate advertiser to get hold of. And here
are a few.

Magnetic signs. How many times have you seen a car that
obviously belongs to a real estate agent or a plumber with his
or her ad on the side of it? This is a good and inexpensive way
to be a rolling billboard for your own web business, wherever
you go.

Flyers How many times have you visited a shopping center or mall
and came out to your car to find something on the windshield?
This is a good idea, but in some cities and parking lots it may
be illegal to do this, so check it out with the business and you
local city office first.

Free enterprise Many convenient stores, drug stores and grocery
stores, etc. have bulletin boards you can place flyers on. And
if not, some may even let you place a flyer ad in their window.
Just be sure and ask first.

Free online classifieds There are lots of free classified ad
sites on the web, some you have to sign up for, others you
don’t. Just write your ad and keep it on your computer then
simply join, copy and paste your ad every where you can find a
free classified site on the web.

Link exchanges I know many people already know about this, but
some newbies to the internet actually don’t, and I have visited
lots of new sites who aren’t doing this yet. So if you’re new to
the web and have a site, join a link exchange site and open a
links page and go to town trading links with other business web
sites! (This is also good for the search engines for link
popularity)

Business cards I know most already do this, but sometimes it
slips our minds to hand a card to the convenient store clerk or
the person behind the counter at the dry cleaners. Also put them
on the bulletin board in the break rooms of manufacturing
companies. You can also place them on counters (after asking) in
stores or businesses that may be pertinent to your business (for
example if you sell home decor or furniture, place them on the
counter of an insurance company or a real estate agency). But
don’t expect a clothing store to put them on their counter if
you sell jeans and shirts, that would be like asking the Coca
Cola company to put a Pepsi machine in their foyer (sacrilege!).

T-shirts Have a t-shirt printed up that has a small ad and web
address for your business on the back of it, because it will be
seen better than on the front. People are always looking at
others as they walk away or if they’re standing in line behind
you at a checkout counter or at the bank. You could even have
some printed up for friends and family. But make it a cool color
that will go with a good pair of jeans or shorts so people won’t
hate to put it on.

Pens I have heard (and seen) that lots of businesses have their
name printed on pens. Personally, I’m not real crazy about this,
because I myself hardly ever actually read the pen I’m writing
with. But that doesn’t mean nobody does. So I leave this one up
to you.

Bumper stickers Have a bumper sticker with a smart quip or
saying printed up and pass them around to your friends. The car
behind you or them at the stoplight will no doubt read it.
(Examples: STOP HONKING AND START SHOPPING AT
http://www.yoursite.com – or – IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WAY I
DRIVE, THEN STAY AT HOME & SHOP! http://www.yoursite.com)

If you think about it long enough, you can come up with all
sorts of other ideas like this. Just make sure that if it
involves other businesses or their property, always ask! Because
the last thing you want is to be professionally embarrassed or
humiliated! Good luck

Rick. Young
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/scam-and-scheme-free-advertising-for-your-business-web-site-230.html

Among the strongest advertising tools a company can use to promote their products or services are large format printing materials. Exhibition graphics such as custom banners, posters or stickers, as well as floor graphics and window graphics are highly effective means of making a certain service or product popular, because they can have a strong visual impact and trigger the desired reaction with potential customers. Large format printing advertisements are made with the help of high quality large format printers, as specialists in exhibition graphics inform. The whole process involves thorough knowledge of both graphic design and digital printing, to ensure the computer images are accurately coordinated with the printed ones.

Reliable equipment is a must when it comes to large format printing products. High quality exhibition graphics require not only very competitive large format printers, but also high performance computers and proficient designers to operate them. Large format printing products involve setting up various resolutions modes and good knowledge of design programmes, to ensure maximum quality when it comes to colour balancing or adjusting sizes. Reliable equipment can ensure high quality and speed, but may not be enough when it comes to designing and processing images to result in advertising materials such as banners or posters. Only exhibition graphics specialists are recommended to deal with such products effectively.

Perhaps the most popular advertisements in large format printing are banners. These exhibition graphics are widely used in promotional campaigns, because they can have a strong visual impact. Companies usually choose to have custom banners made, with a design that should persist in the minds of potential customers. Used both indoors and outdoors, for product launches or openings, these large format printing advertisements are generally made of vinyl. Exhibition graphics providers take special care with double-sided banners, so that the message on one side does not show through to the other.

Similar large format printing products, occupying less space, are posters, which are also custom made, though standard sizes are often required for specific locations such as bus stops. With both types of exhibition graphics products, the designers must think of the effect, in the sense that the images or texts printed on the advertisement should trigger a reaction in the viewer on the spot. Large format printing advertisements usually draw attention through their size, but there are other means by which designers can make sure their products will have the desired result. Memory colours and special fonts are often used in exhibition graphics, their choice depending on the reaction you want future clients to have to your advertisement.

Widely used among large format printing advertisements are floor graphics and window graphics. Due to their strategic placement, these products of exhibition graphics are impossible to miss. Anybody passing by a shop window will notice the window graphics, especially if they have an attractive design and colouring. While walking inside a shop, customers will inevitably cast a glance at the floor graphics laid out and read the message. This type of large format printing advertisements is particularly favoured by retail shops, sports centres and shopping malls, though other types of businesses involving face-to-face interaction with customers often choose them as well.

Much like floor graphics and window graphics, stickers are also popular among exhibition graphics. With these adhesive labels, producers pay special attention to the used material also. According to the specific requirements of the customers, stickers can be either permanently adhesive or removable after a short while, depending on whether they are designed for and on time they will be used in promotional campaigns. Like most large format printing advertisements, stickers can get a company’s advertising message across effectively, because the impact they make is visual and it takes little time to leave a mark on potential customers.

All exhibition graphics are meant to catch the eye and make a strong impact on the viewer. By using them in any type of marketing campaign, a company can create a strong image for itself in the minds of the people who come across their advertisements. Therefore, large format printing products are not to be overlooked when you devise your marketing strategies. Exhibition graphics can prove invaluable when it comes to making your products or services popular on your targeted market. We are most certainly influenced by everything we see, so an effective design brought to life with the help of top quality equipment can work wonders when it comes to selling an image.

Amelie Mag
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/sell-your-image-through-exhibition-graphics-62278.html