Data entry typists usually input lists of items, numbers, or other data into computers or complete forms that appear on a computer screen. They also may manipulate existing data, edit current information, or proofread new entries into a database for accuracy. Some examples of data sources include customers’ personal information, medical records, and membership lists.

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A writer is anyone who creates a written work, though the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, as well as those who have written in many different forms.- wikipedia

Specifically, you could be a copywriter, novelist, poet, composer, lyricist, blogger etc.

Here are some companies who hire work at home writers.

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A virtual call center is a call center in which the organization's representatives are geographically dispersed, rather than being situated at work stations in a building operated by the organization. Virtual call center employees may be situated in groups in a number of smaller centers, but most often they work from their own homes.- whatis.com

Here are some companies who offer virtual call center jobs.

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People tend to think that a home business can only revolve around things like selling on eBay or taking surveys online.

However, the fact is that there is more to a home business than e-tail or money for surveys, because indeed, anything you can start, run and execute from your PC can qualify as a home business.

Below I will mention just a few of the many options you can find to make money from home without having to run a store (which means taking care of costumers, shipping, returns, etc.) or dedicate countless hours to taking surveys for pennies.

1.- Internet of affiliate marketing

Within this business model, all you have to do is promote products that are in demand. You do this by researching the market (there are very simple methods you can learn in order to do this) and the tapping into the several traffic generation techniques available.

The equation is simple, product in demand + traffic = sales and profits. Of course this is the very basic concept, but the bottom line is that it is rather simple both to understand and execute. This business is a great option for several reasons:

a - You require little to no money in order to start with all you need.

b - You do not require special skills or previous internet background.

c - Although it takes time and effort on your part, it will definitely demand a lot less than any other of the more traditional business models, including e-tail

d - This business has nearly zero expenses and you can grow as big as you want without the need for employees or location. You can truly make a lot of money within this business.

2. - Forex Trading Online

This busines can be very profitable but, a word of caution:

Forex trading is a business of risk and you will only be successful at it if you know how to manage your risk or at least you have good trading tools to help you do that.

Forex trading involves buying and selling currency for a profit. In order to do this you need to have a broker and a trading platform you can use from your PC. This will enable you to trade the forex markets at home or wherever have access to the internet.

The great thing about forex trading is that you can start with a small investment and small lots (this defines the value you assign to each pip) so you do not hurt your equity, and take advantage of the compounding effect to grow your investment fast.

However, the place to start should always be a forex demo account, where you can trade with paper or fake money, and no matter what trading tool you choose to assist you with your trading, always test it for several weeks before you commit real money.

Learn how you can start a solid internet or affiliate marketing fast by reading the information provided at this Affiliate Marketing Review

Also, to learn about the best trading tools to help you get strated within the forex trading business read the information provided at this Forex Trading Review.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Cadens

Can you really make money working from home? Of course you can. Business is changing. The internet has really had a dramatic effect on the way the world conducts business. Online transactions are carried out by the millions each and every day, 24 hours a day - 7 days a week! It may be time for you to get your online business going.

According to "Internet World Stats", they are 1,596,270,108 Internet users world wide, with a world population of 6,710,029,070 people. Now that's a lot of customers! 75 to 80% of internet users are buying products or services online. That is quite a customer base. No wonder Home Jobs are so popular. You can tap into a small percent of net surfers and make plenty of money for you and your family.

Everyday online shoppers spend up to 670 million + a day, according to USA Today. That is a staggering amount of cash. And it is increasing in volume every day. Customers buy a host of products and services. Nielsen Online tells us that 41% of internet users world wide have bought Books online. That makes "books" the number 1 best selling item online. What is a little surprising is that South Korea is far ahead of the pack with 58% of their internet users buying books online! Germany comes in 2nd place with 55%! United States stats are at 38% of internet users buying reading materials online.

Selling books and reports online is one of the quickest ways to home employment freedom. You don't have to stock any materials or pay hefty shipping cost. Everything is either drop shipped or electronically delivered! Just sign up with a affiliate program and start advertising it and writing articles to drive traffic to your products or services. Your first sale could be right around the corner!

I hope this article was informative and helpful.

For more information on working at home click here http://bigmoneyemails.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Kendrick

We are all in this race. The race to find a real opportunity to work online from home. Are you winning at the race? Or like many others are you struggling to find something real? Tired of looking at web pages that flaunt their paycheck? Never really mentioning what they do exactly to make a good living? Well I was too.

I started my search over a year ago, my search to find a job online. Something I could do as a stay at home mom. Make extra cash and hopefully help make ends meet. Well... needless to say I didn't always find what I was looking for.

As a matter of fact 99% of the time I found big promises highlighted by even bigger pay checks. Some of these websites I gave into, I admit I believed the hype. And... I didn't make near what they displayed in fact I didn't make a penny.

So to help you narrow your search below are two reputable companies that do hire people to work online from home. Now you might not make millions, but you will be making something. Something is often times better than nothing.

1. ChaCha - ChaCha is transforming the way people get information on the go. People send questions to ChaCha by way of text messaging and with in minutes their questions are answered. You have the unique opportunity to work from home online as a guide and help customers find answers to their questions.

2. Key For Cash - The name says it all! You simply get paid for your typing skills.

Now keep in mind that there is fierce competition for work at home positions. If you are looking to telecommute, most companies require you to work in office for a certain amount of time. After that the ability to telecommute is likely performance based. Not to mention most companies don't want any background noise.

With that in mind there are companies out there that do pay for data entry, however few and far in between. Searching for a "real" opportunity to work from home may feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Let me help you narrow your search, visit work online from home for more opportunities.

I currently work at home as an affiliate marketer, and although this article is primarily here to help, you can learn more about a great community that helped me make my dream a reality. Check out achievingfinancialfreedomonline.info to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Misty_Reese

So, you're a Mom looking for ways to make extra money from home. (Or maybe you're not a Mom, and you snuck in here anyway! That's OK, it happens... we promise not to kick you out!)

I'm a Mom too, and for the past two years I've been successfully contributing to my family's income by working online from home. Actually, since I have a laptop, I can work anywhere I can get a WiFi signal, so I'm not limited to working in my actual house. Meet me at the pool, anyone?

I'll bet you're wondering if it's really possible to make decent money by working online from home. I don't blame you... there are a lot of online scams just waiting to pounce on you. That's why it's critical that you do your research to sort out the true opportunities from the frauds. However, with a bit of caution, it's definitely feasible for moms to earn a respectable income from online sources.

One of the keys to earning an online income is to have realistic expectations. If you invest in every program that promises you will make six figures a year, you are sure to not only be disappointed, but to end up with less money than you started with. The old adage about things sounding too good to be true definitely applies when you are looking for ways to make money online.

Another good strategy to use when you are starting out earning money online is to generate income from multiple sources. For example, rather than trying just to earn $200 each week doing paid online surveys, instead you may want to set a goal of $100/week doing online surveys and $50/week mystery shopping, and $50/week generating advertising revenue from your blog. Here again, realistic expectations come into play -- while $200/week is certainly achievable after 3-4 months, you shouldn't anticipate that level of income during your first week online.

Tammi Harris is a work-at-home mom of 4 children ranging in age from 7 to 15. She has over two years experience at successfully earning an online income from the comfort of her home, and publishes Money Tree 4 Moms in hopes of helping other Moms achieve or surpass her success.

For advice, tips, and techniques on how you can also build a profitable online business, visit Tammi's blog at http://moneytree4moms.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tammi_Harris

The latest buzz on how to get extra cash quick has dominated freelancers and stay-at-home moms recently.

In the past you only had limited ways to make cash online, but there seems to be quite a few opportunities now that are ready to be tapped in on.

There's still a tough question though: Out of the many ways to make cash over the Internet, which of them can really deliver you the income you need?

Now there are jobs online that are perfectly suited for homemakers who want to make an extra income while at home and there are also opportunities available to earn a full time income.

The talk has been centered on an online job called "rebate processing." So you may ask what rebate processing is and why it has made such an impact over the Internet?

You may have heard of several ways to earn cash at home and on how to make cash quick online, but your knowledge of rebate processing is limited.

Rebate Processing is another form of data entry. You earn $15 for every rebate processed. This may not sound a lot of money but soon adds up when you process a number each day.

You can work the hours that suit you and all you need is a computer and access to the internet. No more travelling to work each day. Work in the comfort of your own home.

The opportunity to earn cash at home by processing rebates is open to everybody wherever you live.

To find out more about this exciting and profitable opportunity, go to Process Rebates at Home

Barb Thornback also invites you to visit her website where you will find many ways to make cash at home

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barb_Thornback

Always give customers encouragement to order early. Potential customers will often intend to buy and then put it aside to send off later. Of course, they forget all about it. If you give the sort of inducement like 'Reply within 10 days and buy for Ј2 less' or 'Order within 10 days and get an extra report for free', people who like your advert are liable to send off immediately instead of waiting. So you have given a double incentive to buy.

1. They will get it cheaper or get something extra.
2. They won't put off ordering because they don't want to miss out on the extras.

Keep improving your advertisements and brochures even when they are doing well. A slight change, just a few words can mean all the difference of just one extra reply. That extra reply can be the deciding factor between gain and loss.

Always put a sales letter with your brochure, it makes all the difference. I prefer to make it a hand written letter. I find that even a copied hand written letter is read where a typed or printed letter is ignored.

Write and design your own brochures, leaflets and flyers. You won't get such good results if you keep sending out brochures that potential customers have seen a dozen times before. Make your's different so that people get a fresh look at it. Keep re-writing and designing it until it really sells.

Vary the offers in your package to get the right combination and the right amount. Keep records of what you send so that you can find the best combination.

Add a 'leader' to your brochures. A 'leader' is a piece of paper (usually coloured) that is stapled or stuck on the top left hand corner. It makes an attractive comment about the article being sold.

Fill in the order form for the customer.People are basically lazy. Filling the form in will get half the work done for them. Alternatively, design the order form so all they have to do is enter their name and date. An addressed envelope also helps - a pre-paid one even more so, BUT only if the response ratio justifies the cost.

Get other people to advertise for you. Use 50% commission brochures but offer fifty more for every sale.

You can buy postage stamps legally at a discount. Most Stamp Dealers have been checked by the Police recently so any stamps that they may wish to sell are unlikely to be illegal. You can also buy envelopes ready stamped which also saves money on envelopes.

Get commission brochures that are only printed on one side and have your advertisement printed on the back. Saves on the cost of paper.

This article was written by a third party not associated with millionhomebusinessideas.blogspot.com who is solely responsible for its content.

People are busier than ever and the world around them hasn't changed. Grocerys still need to be bought, deliveries still need to be made, gifts still need to be bought, etc. You can take advantage of the needs of these hyper-busy people by running an ERRAND SERVICE.

In essence, what you do is run errands for people and get paid for it. Think it sounds like a kid's business? Well, you won't make kid money! If you are in a good sized metropolitan area with steady clients, you can make $15, even $20, an hour!

You won't need much to start off with. You'll, of course, need a reliable car or, better yet, a van. The only real expenses at the start are: business cards and business stationery; a pager; and postage. Make a list of large businesses in your area, ones with large numbers of well-paid executives, such as banks, headquarters of large manufacturers, etc. You should then compose a letter detailing your services. List as many timesaving services as you can think of: grocery pickup, dry-cleaning delivery and pickup, post office errands, gift-shopping services, food pickup and delivery, etc.

Note: Don't transport people or children unless you have the proper licenses. Also, if you delivery messages, there may be state utility regulations you'll need to check into. Emphasize to these people how they will BENEFIT from your service: more time, less worries, less stress.

Be competitive with your pricing. Call other delivery services in the area and find out what they charge, whether hourly or by the job. Make your prices competitive and your services personal, and you'll get the edge.

Four other good ideas for publicizing your services: advertise in charity event publications that are read by executives; get permission to post your business card at dry cleaners, grocery stores, bakeries, upscale food stores and delis, etc.; produce press releases about your services showcasing a unique aspect of your business, i.e. you specialize in delivering wedding cakes, for example, and get them to all the newspapers and local magazines in the area; and notify senior citizen organizations about the services you offer.

Hints: Know your way around your area extremely well so you can plan the quickest route to efficiently accomplish all your errands. Be assertive, both with potential clients and with places you are visiting for a client. Be friendly, and you'll get more return business. Also, be confidential in respect for your clients.

If you're willing to hustle, you can make it in the errand business. Once you get that first steady client, if you're good, you can count on word-of- mouth business. Then you'll really be rolling!

This article was written by a third party not associated with millionhomebusinessideas.blogspot.com who is solely responsible for its content.

...and Earn $100,000 a Year, Collect Large Fees Helping Others....and Borrow All The Money You Need

Becoming a Money Broker is one of the easiest and most rewarding endeavors available. Virtually anyone can become a Money Broker with the smallest investment. You can start this business on a part-time basis, and earn large "Finders Fees," or open your own office and work fulltime with absolutely unlimited income potential.

Until very recently, the "secrets of money brokering" were closely guarded and known only to a few select bankers, investment corporations, and business consultants. No other business offers the potential income figure for so little investment! As an example, starting with less than $100, some money brokers have made $100,000 their first year in their business! This is the ideal way for a man or woman to supplement his or her present income, or change professions after a period of time. It is an absolute "dream-come-true" for the semi-retired, or retired office worker.

There is hardly another business requiring less than $100 in start-up cost that can put you in a six-figure income bracket so quickly. None of them give you the power, prestige, or status---respectability in your community---equal to that of the Money Broker.

To get started, you'll need stationary, envelopes, and business cards with your own letterhead. When ordering, be sure to include your phone number. Also have copies made of your Fee Agreement. We have presented a typical Fee Agreement form (which you may duplicate after eradicating the instructions we have given in blanks)

As we started, the investment in this business is small; when you have your stationary, envelopes, cards and the Finder's Fee Agreement in hand, you have spent part of it. The other part will be discussed now, because you have to "find" both borrower and lender to really get underway.

Once you have your "working paper," you will run some advertisements in your local paper under the headings "money to Loan," or "Business Opportunities." Typical ads might read:

MONEY AVAILABLE FOR BILL CONSOLIDATION, HOME REPAIR, BUSINESS EXPANSION, ANY WORTHWHILE PROJECT CALL JOHN 423-8821
(This ad would be used to "pull" BORROWERS)

BUSINESSMAN NEEDS CAPITAL FOR EXPANSION. EXCELLENT COLLATERAL AND REFERENCES. CALL JOHN JOHNSON AFTER 4:00 PM 423-8821

(This one would be to attract LENDERS)

In response to the calls or letters from prospective clients, you will have to be prepared (really BE prepared by practicing) with the proper answers and sales pitch--(to the prospective borrower):

"Yes, this is John Johnson. Thank you for calling. First I will explain how we operate. I'm a money broker, Mr. (USE HIS NAME!). I bring you, the borrower, and the lender, together. I have different money sources available---banks, insurance companies, private investment groups of doctors, dentists, lawyers, and other professional people. My sources are in business to make money by lending out money. Let's see-- I need to determine your needs and the purpose of the loan in order to properly prepare the necessary financial papers for your loan request as many as ten different lending groups in order to get the loan for you. Once I have an approval on your loan request, I'm paid anywhere from 2% to 10% of the total loan figure...important for you to remember, though, is that I don't get paid less I GET the loan for you. I do, however charge a $100 non-refundable Application Fee to cover my expenses in preparing your request for loan papers and presenting this portfolio to the lenders. In a nutshell, that's how these types of loans are negotiated. Now then, how much will you need?

(Note that five successful registrations per will bring you $500 each week.)

This is where you begin to acquire the information you are going to need to proceed--the amount of money needed---purpose of the loan---terms the borrower wants for repayment--and a profile of his background--education, employment record, date of birth, Social Security number, marital status, general health, and number of dependents.

Next you type this information onto the proper forms, assembling all into a portfolio and presenting it with a cover letter to at least five different lenders for their consideration.

When the loan is granted, you collect your Brokers Fee--a pre-determined percentage of the total loan figure.

(TYPICAL FEE AGREEMENT FORM) YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AGREEMENT FOR FINANCIAL SERVICE

The undersigned, Borrower's name, hereby appoints YOUR NAME, as his Agent and authorizes him to submit to lenders data information supplied by the borrower, for the purpose of the lender making a loan or investment direct to the undersigned. The undersigned agrees to pay to YOUR NAME, a fee of % of the amount of the loan or investment obtained. The undersigned hereby pays to YOUR NAME, $ as a non-refundable fee for the time involved to appraise the feasibility of loan requested; this fee is separate from any other fess due, if the loan is obtained.


Date Borrower

This article was written by a third party not associated with millionhomebusinessideas.blogspot.com who is solely responsible for its content.

There is a big money business that can be started for next to nothing, with low risk, that involves giving away special cards. These cards are DISCOUNT CARDS, wallet-sized cards that allow the bearer to receive discounts at participating businesses. These businesses pay to have their advertisement on the card. They profit from the increased exposure and from gaining new customers who come in for the discount and become return customers. The card-holders benefit from the discounts they can receive. And YOU benefit from the profitable advertising you sell!

This is a relatively simple business to explain. Here's an overview:

1) Design your card.
2) Figure your expenses and set your ad prices.
3) Contact businesses that frequently use discounts or coupons (potential advertisers for You) either in person or by mail, with an information package.
4) Gather the ads (and the money!) and print them together on wallet-sized cards.
5) Distribute the cards to the public.

That's all there is to it. Of course, there are more details you need to know, and those will be covered in this report.

This business works especially well if there is a college in your town, or any large number of people who either vacation there or move to town, but it can be run successfully in any area. The best part (besides the money) is that you can run this business from your kitchen table! Here's exactly what you need to do to make great profits in the discount card business.

First, think up a name for your card. A catchy name that has words like DISCOUNT, SAVER, MONEY, BUCKS, BIG, FREE or other dollar-saving words will stick in people's minds. If you (or a friend) have artistic ability, design a logo, either with your card's name, or a picture conveying the money-saving feature of the card.

Next, design how your card will look. It should fit easily into a wallet, so stick to credit card size. On the front, your logo should appear, along with, at most, six ads, in three columns of two. The back should be divided into, at most, twenty ad spaces, again in three columns (7 on the sides, 6 in the middle). This might sound like a lot, but they will be readable. Don't forget to put your business name, address and phone on the front or back, at the bottom of the card. You should also put together a poster with your logo and information about the card. Leave space for a list of locations where the card can be obtained, and for a list of the advertising businesses. This poster will be inexpensive for your printer to produce, and can be produced on your computer, if you have one, reducing your expenses even further.

Now figure your costs. The major cost to you will be printing, so check with a number of printers for price quotes. You will want a one or two color glossy card, with price quotes for quantities for 1,000 - 10,000 cards. Find out at what quantities significant price breaks occur. This can help determine exactly how many cards you want to produce and distribute. This number will be important when it comes to contacting your advertisers.

Don't be put off by how much the cards will cost! You won't have to worry about laying out a lot of money for the production of the cards, because you should require that advertisers pay at least half of their advertising price at the time they decide to advertise, the remainder when cards are distributed. Some businesses will prefer to pay 100% upfront, which is just fine! You shouldn't deal with businesses that won't pay anything upfront, unless you have some desire to deal with collection headaches.

You should be thinking about how to distribute these cards. If there is a college in your town, here's a few ideas. Contact the admissions department at the college, explain your discount card, and see if they would consider putting a card into the orientation materials each incoming student gets. Also, find out places where you may put a stack of cards for students to take. Prime locations are cafeterias and dining halls, snack bars, libraries and any other places where students group.

For the general public, great distribution spots are similar to the college spots. Restaurants, grocery stores, theaters, apartment buildings, anywhere where there are large groups of people. Don't forget that you can give a good supply to each advertiser, to give free to their customers. All you need to do is a few good, persuasive phone calls, and your distribution will be taken care of easily. Stress to the person you're speaking with that making the cards available to their customers will be good business for them, even if they don't advertise on the card, because their customers will appreciate being given these discounts and will look upon the business as their friend for doing so.

Now that you have your printing quotes, determine how much you can charge for advertising. Estimate what your phone, advertising, driving and postage expenses will be. Lump these all together and you have an idea of what your costs will be. Now, multiply that figure by five. Divide that figure by the total number of advertisers you will have on your card. The number you end up with is the average price you could charge per ad. Does this sound reasonable, considering the number of cards you'll be distributing? If so, it should make a good starting point.

For example, if you are planning to distribute 8,000 cards with 26 advertisers, and your estimated expenses will be $1200, the formula is ($1,200 x 5)/26, or $230.77 average ad price ($28.85 per thousand), and your profit would be $4,800. Considering the benefits the advertiser will get from the cards (they will be kept and used for a long time, usually 3 to 6 months, and 5,000 people will be exposed to their ad repeatedly over that period of time), this will probably be reasonable. You need to consider the economy in your area, the size of your area, and any competition you might have, as this can effect what you may be able to charge.

When you decide how much to charge for ads, here are a few things to keep in mind. Ads on the front of the card should be much higher priced than on the back, and, as a result, should be slightly larger. On the back, you can set two different ad rates by putting using "boxed ads." An ad with a black box around it will be noticed more than one without, so it can be slightly higher. A good example of ad prices corresponding to the above average ad price would be $200 for a plain ad on the back of the card, $230 for a boxed ad on the back, and $260 for an ad on the front of the card.

Now's the time to contact potential advertisers. Here's a short list of the types of businesses that will be most likely to take advantage of your service: Restaurants, particularly fast-food and snack establishments + Theaters + Printers + Dry cleaners + Oil change and auto parts businesses + Travel agencies + Clothing stores + Hair salons + Formalwear stores

This is not a complete list, but it should give you an idea of the types of businesses you need to contact.

This article was written by a third party not associated with millionhomebusinessideas.blogspot.com who is solely responsible for its content.

Here's a pleasant home-based business that will challenge your creative as well as your managerial skills. It's a fun business for those who have the flare for creating appetizing gift packages.

A FUN PRODUCT
Gourmet gift baskets have become popular in recent years. They are a collection of desirable items, and in such a variety that they appeal to all. By determining the markets you want to target and the type of baskets you want to produce, you can set your income goals for as little or as much as you like.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
From the very large and the very small, businesses have needs for gift giving on a pretty constant basis.

By targeting corporate accounts, you protect yourself from potential sales fluctuations common to what are generally considered seasonal items. Businesses love gift baskets because they are "safe" compared to other gifts like chocolate (many people now carefully watch their fat intake) or wine & spirits (many people don't drink). Of course, other possible clients for your gift baskets include associations, retail outlets, fund raisers, and individual customers who purchase for themselves or as a gift.

CREATIVE DESIGNS
Gourmet gift baskets are fundamentally a few nice items placed in a unique arrangement and presented to look extravagant. Use your imagination and keep an eye for unusual and appealing products. To keep unit price low, inventory most commonly used items by purchasing direct from the manufacturer or main distributor. Look for large pretty items; they will give your product "size".

THEME MARKETING
Focus on a theme and build around it. From a corporate perspective, create presentations that communicate the corporate logo or marketing slogan.

Do not limit yourself by just using baskets as your main vehicle. For example, a basket with an Italian theme can use (as its basket) a large pasta bowl to hold a small vinegar, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes and kitchen utensils.

Raffia or "grass" can be used to cushion the items, sealed together with shrink wrap. Finish your basket with a bow or creative ribbon, and you've got a product that can be retailed for around $39. Your cost: as low as $12.

This article was written by a third party not associated with millionhomebusinessideas.blogspot.com who is solely responsible for its content.

Operating a used book store is a lot like Owning a recycling center - not too glamourous until you take a look at the owner's bank account.

This is an ideal "absentee-Owner" type of business, or a small investment type business for someone to start while holding down a regular, full time job. The type of person "best-suited" to running a successful used book store, is the man or woman who loves to read, has collected books over the years, and enjoys associating with people of similar interests.

Start-up risks are rated high, with the average time period needed to become firmly established, about 3 years. After that "becoming established" stage however, you should be able to enjoy ownership of a business without extreme market fluctuations, plus an income close to 50,000 per year or more.

This article was written by a third party not associated with millionhomebusinessideas.blogspot.com who is solely responsible for its content.

Ideally, a used book store will need a market population of at least 50,000 per sons to support it. Try to locate your store in a "high traffic" area, as near as possible to a college or university campus. Something to bear in mind is the shopping habits of the average used book buyer: First, he's a browser. He notices your shop, drops in and begins looking around to see what kind of books you have available. If he spots some thing that really interests him, he'll probably buy then and there. If not, and provided you've made him feel comfortable this first time in your store, he'll be back - dropping in to browse whenever he's in the area.

Shopping Malls are excellent locations for book stores. Locations near other, or "new" book stores are also very good -if the buyer doesn't find what he wants in the "other" book stores, he'll check your store. Grocery store shopping centers are generally poor locations for book stores of any kind.

It's important that there be a lot of casual strollers in your location area, and that you encourage these people to drop in, and browse around.

If you want the entire front of your store to be a show window, take pains to arrange your window display in an uncluttered manner, showing the kinds of books you have... However, a window display is not really necessary... more important is a window for the passers-by to see into your store. At any rate, if you do go with a window display, keep it low - never more than 36-inches high - leaving a lot of room for the people passing by to see into your store, and notice the people browsing through your books. We know of one successful operator who had members of his family, relatives and friends, purposely "browsing" through his store, just to project that kind of image for the store.

Once you have your store location selected, paint the entire interior in a dark, warm color, such as mahogany. Install a lighter shade of indoor/outdoor carpeting through out. The lighting should be indirect, and somewhat subdue to give your store a warm feeling. Locate your checkout counter parallel to one of the side walls. You don't want it blocking or guarding the easy entry or exit from your store. You want your customers to feel comfortable just visiting your store. In other words, do everything you can to encourage the browser, because it's been proven time and again that the browsers are the book buyers. Allow the people to come and go generally as they please; to pick up and thumb through the books that interest them: to read them, and "fall in love" with them. These will be your real book buyers.

Your book shelves should run along each side wall, and across the back of the store. Don't build them more than six feet high. Partition these shelves into sections about four feet wide, and at the top of each section, place a sign indicating the general subject matter of the books to be found in that section.

Paper the walls of your store, from the top of your book shelves to the ceiling with posters - colorful and descriptive travel posters, broadway show billboards, concert posters and full color dust jackets from books that are perennially popular.

The next thing is to build or buy half shelves, tables and revolving racks for other or more books. The half shelves - about 4 feet wide by 4 feet high and similar to book cases in your home - should be located at right angles to your wall shelves, and in the rear of your store. The tables should be about 3 feet wide by 4 feet long, and about 30 inches high. These also should be located at right angles to your wall shelves, but closer to the front of your store. A revolving wire rack, to hold currently popular or specially featured books, and located at the front of your store, will be a special extra merchandising effort that will really pay off in the sales of your books.

In locating your half shelves and tables down the middle of your store, stagger them - one 3 feet from the wall shelves, the next one 6 feet out, then 4 feet and so on. This will allow more people to be "seen" in your store; cut down on the appearance of a formal or military layout, and project a more casual atmosphere for browsing - and this is precisely what you want. This kind of arrangement will cost you some space, but it'll be worth it with increased traffic.

Another merchandising idea that works very well is a couple of revolving wire racks on wheels... These you push outside and position near the entrance to your store. You can feature popular paperbacks, and a few oversize hard cover books with bright, flashy colors in these racks.

Your store hours should match those of your neighbors... In fact, you could "jump off to a quick start," by opening a half hour earlier than your neighbors. Use this opening half hour to take care of paperwork, and get yourself organized for the day. When the early shoppers see you're open early, they'll begin coming into your store to "browse and kill time" while they wait for the other stores to open.

If you cannot be there to "open the store," then hire part time help. The best arrangement is housewives or college students in 4 hour shifts at the minimum wage.

First off, write out a list of duties you want each clerk to perform while he's on shift. In addition to taking care of sales transactions, you might want him to do some stocking, dusting, cleaning, sorting and pricing... Regardless, you'll have fewer problems and enjoy bigger profits if you formally write these "shift duties" out, and post them as job requirements, and explain them when you interview for hired help.

Look for, and try to hire only book lovers who are personable, outgoing, and have some sort of business aptitude. You then train these people in all phases of your operation, with the thought in mind that they will run the store in your absence, and eventually be your store manager. The best way to find such people is by talking with your customers, observing which might be willing to work for you, and which of them might best fulfill your needs.

You'll need an outside sign for your store - preferably one that hangs at right angles to the flow of traffic in front of your store.

Many successful used book stores utilize hand-carved wooden signs, while others display painted sign with calligraphic lettering. By all means, spend the extra hundred dollars or so to have spotlights installed on your storefront, focusing on your store sign. Backlit plastic signs just don't create the comfortable image necessary for the success of a good used book store.

Newspaper and/or broadcast advertising will be much more expensive than it's worth. Your best bet is to create a comfortable feeling and open invitation for browsers, price your stock fairly, concentrate on personal service, then let word-of-mouth advertising and time do the rest.

Even so, you should run an ad in the yellow pages, Perhaps an ad in the college paper, and from time to time, special sales ads in your local shopping newspapers. Inexpensive flyers inviting people in to exchange books, or to just browse, can be printed at your local quick print shop and handed out or placed under the windshield wipers on the windshields of cars in the larger shopping center parking lots. Advertising, and special sales during holiday periods such as Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day are generally quite effective in bringing new customers into your store.

Most used book store entrepreneurs use their own book collections as a start-up inventory base. In addition, talk to as many neighbors, friends and relatives as possible for the donation of books. Then start making the rounds of all the garage sales and flea markets. You should have at least 10,000 books in stock when you open for business - and that's a lot of books. Search for books to sell - those you can buy for $.25 or less - in all the thrift shops, Goodwill stores and Salvation Army outlets. Church bazaars and estate sales can also sometimes provide you with almost "complete" libraries.

You might place a small ad in your newspaper announcing hat you're looking for good used books to buy. Generally, you evaluate a book according to the price you think you can get for it in your store. Then you subtract two thirds of that total, and offer that as your "buying" price. Always separate the books you feel certain you can sell from those you aren't sure about.

It's going to take awhile for you to become proficient as a book buyer, but with practice and some experience, you'll quickly develop the "intuition" you need to realize a profit on every book you buy. Always flip through the pages of each individual book, and be sure of its condition before you quote a price. In many instances you'll also find that out of a box of 25 books, you're only interested in buying 10... The seller will generally be wanting to get rid of his books, now... And for a couple of dollars more than your "bid price" on the 10 books you want, he'll let you have all 25 of them... This is like a wind fall to you because you can always use the "unwanted" books as leader items or extras to generate traffic during two-for-one sales; all books on a certain table for just a nickel each; or your choice of free books for everyone coming in to browse on certain days...

You should carry hardcover as well as paperback books. Pay no more than 25% of the new price for a mint condition used hardcover book, and buy only those you are certain can be sold in your store. Pay no more than 10% of the new price for a mint condition used paperback, and steer clear of the hard-core sexually oriented books.

Visit the libraries and book stores in your area. Observe what the people are interested in reading, and what they're checking out or buying. Stock your store with these kinds of books.

Below is a listing of the kinds or types of books you should consider stocking in your used book store:

BUSINESS BOOKS: These should include books on leadership, career advancement, time management and people management.

HOW-TO BOOKS: These should include all the self-help and self-improvement manuals you can find - mail order, auto repair, carpentry, metalwork, home building, gardening, and business start-up.

COOK BOOKS: You'll probably be surprised at how many people buy books relating to the culinary arts. A well stocked cookbook section will mean definite profits for you. Forget about books on dieting, home economics, and etiquette - these just don't do well in used book stores.

SPECIAL INTEREST BOOKS: Watch and listen to the people of your area. Be on the lookout for people into World War history, aviation, sports perfection, movies and just plain old book collectors...

PAPERBACKS: Woman's romance, science fiction, mysteries and historical novels are all good movers - currently enjoying an upsurge in popularity and sales. These will be the "best- movers" in your inventory, so develop good sources of supply, and price them for fast sales.

Building and maintaining your inventory, while continuing to rapidly turn that inventory over, can be handled in a number of different ways. It's not a good idea for you to exchange two or three of your customer's books for one of yours. There's always a variance in price, plus you may not want the type of books your customer is offering to trade.

The most feasible plan seems to be to give the customer a "credit chit" for each book you buy from him. Simply have a supply of business cards promoting your store, printed at your quick print shop. On the back of the card, have them print something along these lines:

"The bearer of this card is entitled to
cents credit on 50%
of the listed purchase price of any book at Ye Olden Book Store. /s/ Your Signature."

Then when someone brings in a couple of books to sell, you pay him in credit chits, marking in the amount and signing your name on the card. An easier way might be to have your signature printed on the cards when you order them - you or a clerk would simply fill in the credit amount, and emboss the card with a notary-type embosser.

Usually, you allow 20 to 25 cents for mint condition paperbacks, and about one quarter of your selling price for hardbacks. Always make sure the customer under-stands that regardless of how many "credit chits" he has, the credit chits can only pay for half the purchase price. This of course, is to protect your cash-flow problems, and your income of "hard money."

Many used book stores add to their income potential by adding tape cassette lending libraries. These are real money makers with a kind of service that lends out "books on tape," and special learning programs where portions of the rental fee applies to the purchase of the original tape cassette.

A great many used book stores add to their income by running mail order book selling operations in addition to the retail business. This is a natural, either for a retail operator wanting to expand his market or a mail order operator wanting to increase his income.

With the high prices of placing ads today, why not save money? There's no special secret to writing and placing advertisements in magazines, tabloids and newspapers. And why not claim the discount given to advertising agencies?

If you handle your own advertising correspondence, work with layout artists and write your own ads, it's well worth your while to set up your own in-house ad agency and save a ton of money.

Even if you don't create your own ads, you can profit from setting up your own agency and placing the ads that bring sales directly to you.

If you have somethings to sell - especially by mail order - advertising is they way to make that product reach people. Although advertising agencies produce excellent ads of all types and sizes with every demographic appeal, they also charge for it. That's why they're ready to claim the fifteen percent discount usually granted for placing ads.

You can learn how to create and design your own ads - with no background in copywriting or art. And, you can set up your own ad agency to place these ads where THEY'LL MAKE MONEY FOR YOU.

Do you have a product that you're ready to sell? Now's the time to find out the best angles to use and the tricks of the trade to putting money in your pocket.

STARTING YOUR BUSINESS

Do you have a mail order business? Maybe you sell clothing, camping supplies, or information through ads to the mail order trade. Perhaps you've run classified ads for years and are ready to branck out into larger display ads.

Not only small home businesses, but larger mail order companies and hundreds of major advertisers everywhere set up their own in-house agencies to produce and place ads. Even magazines create in-house departments under another name to get the agency discount.

What might set advertising agencies apart from homemade operations is the appearance of the letterhead and the ad form. They must look sharp and professional.

Start with a name for the ad agency you want to establish. It can be anything, but must be different from the name of the company that will be using the space. Then register the name with the county clerk. Check first to be sure you're not using a company name already in business.

Designing letterhead is easier than you think. You don't have to create an elaborate or clever logo - the initials of the company will do. You can choose the mark - the special type style - at a printers, or use one of dozens of press-on letter styles available at art supply stores. Using photo offset, an instant printer can run off a thousand sheets at a very low price. If you go to a printer, check and compare the total printing costs. Typesetting can be expensive and there's a minimum charge. You may want to wait to get all your typesetting and printing done at the same time - letterhead, ad form, ad copy and any sales literature you may be preparing. Investigate ways to get by with the lease expense.

Establishing your own ad agency is so easy that the most important part is the form you send in when you place ads. Although there are no federal restrictions for in-house ad agencies, some publications may quibble. If your form looks as good as the rest, you'll have no problems.

The following page is a representation of a sample ad order form. Just copy this form and have your company design or logo printed on top. You can choose a color paper to have the forms run off on - they'll be more noticeable. Then all you do is send in a copy of the ocmpleted form with your check and final artwork for your ad - and claim a big discount for being your own agency.

NAME OF ADVERTISING AGENCY Address
To the publisher of:

Order number:
Date:

Please publish advertising of:

For (product):Space to be ordered within one year from through

Space
Dates of Insertion:

Position
Times

Copy


Rate Less agency commission
Less cash discount
on gross
on net

Mail all invoices to: Accepted for publishing on
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN TO AGENCY

THE INSERTION ORDER FORM

The following will describe what the various terms on the insertion order form mean and how to fill them in.

Space indicates what type of space you are buying: classified or display. If you want display space, indicate the size. Fill in the number of times you want the ad to be repeated. It will run in the number of consecutive issues you indicate. Then fill in the actual dates of insertion for the ad.

The position of the ad can be an important factor in selling. Although you rarely can be guaranteed a certain position in the publication, ask for it anyway. You'll probably get at least the nest best position.

If you are running a short ad that will be printed by the publication, you can type out the copy in the instructions space at the bottom. The key designates the address code you'll use to analyze responses.

For example, you can use a letter to indicate the name of the publication, and a number for the month of issue. Insert this key in the address, perhaps as a department division or suite number. When you get inquiries or orders with that key, you'll know which ad pulled the response.

HOW TO DETERMINE RATES

Every publication that solicits advertising has a rate card. This card is available from the advertising coordinator, who is the contact for the publication and can be very helpful in assisting you. The best way to get a rate card is to write for one or call if the publication is in your city.

The rate card has the general information you'll need for placing your ad. It should indicate the total circulation with a breakdown of subscriptions and newsstand buyers. Keep in mind that most publications have two to three readers for every one purchase.

The advertising rates may be broken down a number of ways, depending on how the publication sells space. Display rates may be sold by the column-inch or lines. Or, they may be broken up into fractions such as a half-page or quarter-page. Some publications have a minimum size space ad, so keep this in mind when designing the ads for certain publications.

The rate card will tell you the amount of discount you are entitled to as an ad agency. It will also give you the deadlines for placing the ads for the next issue and the issuance date, the actual
day the magazine comes off press and goes to the newsstands and to subscribers.

If you have any questions concerning the type of space you need or the actual rate, just ask the advertising coordinator.

TAKE YOUR 15% DISCOUNT

As an advertising agency, you are entitles to a fifteen percent discount on the ad space, unless the publication grants only lower discounts. The easiest way to subtract a 15% discount is to multiply the rte charge by .85. Immediately, you have the exact figure for placing the ad.

TAKE ANOTHER 15%

Many publications realize that the mail order businesses don't operate with a high capital for placing ads. Because of this, they offer a fifteen percent discount for mail order display ads. To compute the fee for two discounts - fifteen percent for impute the fee for two discounts - fifteen percent for mail order and fifteen percent for the agency discount, simply multiply the total rate charge by .70. This will give you the fee.

TAKE YET ANOTHER 2%

Whether you are an ad agency or not, you are entitled to take a two percent discount for sending your check with the order. Most publications offer this discount to discourage billing and encourage cash sales. To figure out the two percent cash discount, Multiply the total rate charge by .98 - after you have already taken the other appropriate discounts. That will give you the total you will pay for placing your ad.

WHERE TO PLACE ADS

The rule of thumb for placing ads, especially for mail order, is to look through the publications catering to the same product you are selling, and do the same. Although advertisers are always looking for new and innovative ways to sell products, they usually stick with the proven ways of selling.

What are you selling? Where are the logical places these products are sold? Go there and place your ads where people will look for your products.

There is no reason you can't hit a successful ad campaign the first time, but more often, you'll find it necessary to spend some time testing different ads, different display sizes, and even different lead products. Testing is the name of the game, and if you're careful, you don't have to go for broke, but can build a sound winner.

A number of significant successful companies have made a fortune from advertising an appealing product and delivering a good deal. There is no reason why you can't too.

BUYING SPACE

There are two types of advertising space in a publication - display space and classified ads. How you use ad space is entirely up to the type of appeal that will sell the product best, and the financial budget you are working with.

Don't shortchange classifieds. A small, well-written classified ad can bring hundreds of responses on a continual basis.

Often, classifieds are used in a two-step approach of first placing an ad that has no price mentioned and soliciting the reader's response for free information. Then it is followed up with a sales letter or brochure - some kind of sales literature - that gives the pitch for the product.

Classifieds are the least expensive ad to place. People who run mail order businesses find them to be the best dollar-for-dollar investment in advertising. Look at the classifieds section of the publications you are planning to place ads in. If your product could be sold with a classified ad, you should start there.

If you have actual products to sell, display ads are your better bet. You'll probably need an illustration to show the product - something to catch the eye. You can also include a line or two about sending for a catalog if that item doesn't appeal enough, but has captured interest.
DISPLAY ADS

Display advertising space is the area in a publication designated for companies to show their products and describe the benefits - appealing to consumers and potential buyers.

Display space comes in all sizes - from full page to a smaller fraction. Since some publications don't have classified space, it may be your logical answer to place a small, one-inch ad. But if your ad is that small and there is a classifieds section, place it there - you'll save money and the ad will be seen by the same amount of people, maybe even more.

Your guideline for determining what size the ad should be is to decide what is going into the ad and what type of approach you plan to make. What sells the products is the appeal and the equality of the ad - not necessarily the size.

Some products need full one-page descriptions; some don't require a large space. You may be able to get by with a small, appealing ad that has a clear illustration, you certainly don't need to go full size.

If you have a limited budget, take out a small ad. A publication with a good reputation and a high circulation makes money from the high ad rates it can charge. Don't sacrifice a good pulling magazine for larger ad space in another publication. You have to consider the dollar-for-dollar response.

Other ways to save money are to advertise in the regional editions of publications, and to buy remnant space which is the "leftover" space sometimes available just before the magazine goes to print. If you have a good working rapport with the publication, you might be able to place a low- cost ad at the last minute.

Depending on your product, you need to consider where you want your ad to appear in the publication. You'll most likely not require the prime spots such as the back cover, the first page or the inside covers.

But is has been proven that a right hand pulls betters response than one on the left side of the publication. Ads placed closer to the front of the magazine pull better than those towards the back. Think about where you want the ad to show up.

KEEPING RECORD

How will you know if your ads are pulling the response you want? When you place different ads in different publications, you need to have a method to determine which ads are drawing the best results. To do this, you keep accurate records.

For each ad you place, you have an address key. Use a separate record sheet for each key. At the top of the sheet, put the pertinent information, such as the name and issue of the publication, the date of issue, the cost of the ad, and the information about the ad you placed.

The main body of the record sheet may be divided into the two categories of inquiries and order. These in turn are separated into date received, number received, and running totals of inquiries, orders and sales.

The reason keeping records is important is twofold. First, you must respond to any orders you receive without getting them mixed up. Second, you need to figure out which publications are bringing the highest responses.

Good records will indicate which headlines pull better, which size has a better draw, and which products out of a catalog have more appeal.

Testing is the best way to achieve results in advertising. The majors do it - you can too. Testing can be just as exciting as the sales you make.

WRITING COPY

You've seen hundreds of ads in magazines, newspapers, and through the mail. Most of them are the same; most of them have similar products to sell. You read some of them because you're interested in the product, you read some of them because they're interesting to read, and most of them you pass by.

There are no best ways to describe a product or form an appeal for services. But there are proven methods of writing to catch a few people who didn't know about the product to read the ad and to get the people who are interested in the product to buy.

Your main concerns in creating ads are to get the reader's attention, sustain that attention, and push for action to buy. The longer you can hold interest, the greater number of people will respond.

Use short, simple sentences and paragraphs. Keep your writing concise and to the point. Rambling words and ideas will make the reader lose interest quickly. Always be relevant to what you are selling.

Subheads help cut copy into small, digestible pieces, as does the use of block paragraphs. Using italics, capital letters, bold face and over sized print can help grab attention to the words.

Make the copy rewarding to read, the product appealing to have, and the offer too good to pass by, and you'll have plenty of business.

CHOOSE AN APPEAL

What will put your product to best advantage? What can the reader gain? The headline is the stopper. If is the few words that will make the reader stop and look at the ad. Think of how your product can appeal to the readers you want to induce. Can I manage to save, gain or accomplish something ordinary or special? Can I increase my finances, good health or general well- being? Maybe the product or service can help avoid worries, losses and mistakes. Or help decrease fears of pverty, illness in the family, loss of job.

The attitude you choose shoots for the person's emotional state. It is the emotions that catch hold, then reason follows through to decide to read on or not. Consider the typical buyer you desire and go after that person. Use the words "you or "your," or imply that direct approach with "we" and "our." Make the reader believe you are writing directly and honestly, offering the best available.

Consider a headline that uses "which one" or a comparative price. The choice alone entices you to read further. Or you might use an underdog approach such as I went wrong too, but will tell you how you can avoid it.

The headline that includes "how to" is always an appealing catcher. Invite the reader into your copy and then lead quickly into the main text of the ad.

SHOW THE ADVANTAGES

Most ads placed by small in-house agencies don't solicit the national retail trade that large advertising companies handle. Instead, they offer an unusual product or service, a great price on closeout items, or products for the mail order consumer. More often than not, these ads will be short, concise, and stop not long after the headline. For many products, there's not much that needs to be said that a picture or drawing can't show.

But for those items that sell even better with copy, you'll need to think about the benefits you want to descrive, and the best ways to show these advantages.

You've caught the reader's attention with the headline. Now hold it. Follow through with the facts that answer the headline. You have to convince the reader not only to want to have the product, but to want TO BUY IT.

Whatever you considered for the headline, study it again. What will this do for me? Why do I want to buy it? Is it less expensive than the other similar products? Is it the same, but a newer model, or a more efficient design?

Push the emotional appeal. How will this make me look better, feel better? What will my family and friends say? You might try to tap into the market of avoiding embarrassment, eminating problems, minimizing risk.

Will this help me enjoy my leisure? With the continued trend towards increasing leisure time and the money after-work activities to the public, people are looking for more and more interesting things to do with space time. Can your product tap into this?

Money is forever the great desire. Now more than ever, people seek financial security, and look for ways to save money - especially over the long run. Saving money and buying at a lower price are sound copy points. But they must be followed through with believable reasons and sound facts.

For example, ads for woodburning stoves often appear in northern regional editions of publications, or magazines catering to homeowners. A small ad with a drawing of a woodburner may draw attentional with a headline about saving heating costs. It can include an address to write for more information.

A larger space ad could include the advantages of a woodburning stove over and above the savings on gas bills, such as efficiency, superb craftsmanship, quality of materials, or easy to install. Any benefits that sell the product can be used to appeal to the reader.

A still larger ad could have an "exploded" drawing of the inside of the stove, and might also include information about how it works, how it saves you money. It might mention the reputation of the company. But consider whether the cost of a larger ad will bring in the extra response to make it profitable.

Stick to the facts. And stay with the BUYING POINTS. A potential customer may be sold, but will that person buy? Endorsements and testimonials are effective ways to dramatize facts and back up the benefits of your product, but don't use ones that seem transparent. They'll ring falsely. There are federal laws against misleading advertising, and they do check up on and prosecute against fraud.

If you use an endorsement from a famous or popular person, that person should use the product. Any testimonials you use must be true, and the people must be available for verification.

Always aim for satisfaction. Self-respect, security and accomplishment are human aspects everyone strives for. Never talk down to the readers as though you know something they don't or you're better than they are. To you, the potential customer is POTENTIAL GOLD.

ASK FOR ACTION

You've caught the reader's attention with a catchy headline. You've followed through with good copy that demonstrates benefits and appeals to the reader. Now - before you lose that interest - ask for an order.

You can close the gap between reading the ad and acting upon impulse. The purpose of the ad is to make people buy. You have to tighten the desire to want not the desire to buy.

A money-back guarantee is the most useful tool in pressing action. It goes for the bottom line. What do I have to lost? And it affirms the quality of the product. If you are willing to back the claims you make with a full refund, you can get a hook into those borderline buyers.

If you give a time limit the product will be offered for sale, or mention a limited supply, or have a reduced price for a certain time, you'll increase the impulse to act. And that's what you're after. Appeal to the reader's urgency; make the product totally desirable to have - now.

HOW TO USE ILLUSTRATIONS

The major reason to use display space is to illustrate your product. Some items are very difficult to sell without a picture or drawing. And some illustrations work better with your product than others.

The illustration may be selling the only product you have, or you may want to use a lead illustration - something out of your product line that is particularly appealing. Then give the compan'y name and address for people to write for a free catalog.

Be particular about using photographs. Never put in your own picture - it won't help sell a product. And be very choosy about models for clothing. Avoid using models if possible, and if absolutely necessary, you'll need professionals.

An advantage to photography is that you can picture your product in full, glowing color. But it is not usually that important. Considering the additional costs, it may not bring in the additional response to make it worthwhile.

You can have your product pictured indoors or out. But consider the size of the ad, and get rid of extraneous visual matter in the background. You are aiming for a clear, appealing view of what you have to offer adn you want the reader to buy that product.

In using photographs, always to go top quality. You can find dozens of excellent professional photographers from the yellow pages and at the photo supply stores. Look at the photographers' work, and don't get a portrait-taker if you need to illustrate a product.

Can the photograph or product be converted or illustrated with art? Line drawings are beautiful ways to show off a product in a clear and direct manner. They can be simple - just an outline. Or they can be more elaborate with shading and hatching. Line art is easy to draw and reproduce. And usually, it can show up a product to best advantage. There are no extras to detract attention.

Consider the simplest and most direct way to illustrate the products you want people to buy. Maybe you can try a layout with a photo and one with a simple drawing. What difference does it make?

What is the competition doing? When testing new ads, go with the tried and true. Don't try to be different. It is the sound and worthwhile that bring in the customers - time and time again.

WORKING WITH ARTISTS

If you're not an artist, don't stop creating here. There are no special tricks to designing a good page, and there is no great expense in having someone else do it.

The best way to find an artist to draw line art, design and layout a page, and past up the ad, is through design studios. Don't commission the studio - there's usually too much overhead. Talk to individual designers and get somebody who does free lance work. You can negotiate a very reasonable fee. But get a professional. It's worth the extra hourly fee to have somebody who knows how to design.

Work directly with the artist - be sure your desires are well communicated. And be sure you are satisfied with the work accomplished. You both have something to say, but more so, let the product speak the loudest.

DOING THE LAYOUT

You don't need to hire a designer to do the layout for your ad. You are capable of doing it yourself - after all, you know the product best. Consider what you want to say. You need to make it different from the other ads, yet you shouldn't try for innovating design awards. The ad must be interesting to look at and should have a feeling of movement and action. That movement is not necessarily in the illustration, but the placement of illustration and copy in the ad, so the eye goes from one to the next in easy, exciting movements.

You'll need to consider where the illustration will be, and its relation to the headlines and body text. Perhaps you are showing the product in use, or maybe the illustration is just a simple picture of the product.

A rule of thumb in layout is to use contrast. The most obvious contrast is the black print on white paper. Use that white space. Although it's not apparent, the white space is as important in the visual appeal as the illustration and type.

Don't try for symmetry. The unusual or irregular catches the eye more readily. The illustration works hand in hand with the headline to grab reader's attention.

Be simple and direct. Don't push too much copy into a small area, crowding the illustration. If you don't have room, cut copy or reduce the illustration.

You can use any size and style type you want for the ad. But don't get carried away. You shouldn't use a special typeface unless it helps sell the product. And, never use a headline type that's hard to read.

Using different sizes of type help point out the benefits of the product. Bold or italicized type also bring more visual appeal to the ad.

If you find that the illustration is too big for the ad space you want to use, you can reduce it to a smaller size, or crop out portions not absolutely necessary. A "bleed" photo runs straight off the page. Check with the advertising coordinator first to be sure the publications will do bleeds.

A good way to do a rough layout is to use a pencil to sketch in the places for the type, the illustrations, and lines to indicate body copy and the name of the company. Try different pencil layouts until you're satisfied you have the product at its best appeal.

CAMERA-READY COPY

Most publications require final artwork for display ads. Camera-ready copy means that it's ready to go - to be made into the films printers use for reproduction. The type has to be typeset, the art must be clear, and the layout must have these elements pasted down.

Even if you get as far as producing a rough layout, it won't cost too much to convert it to final artwork. But if you're doing the whole thing, you have to be sure you have all the elements. To have copy typeset, you go to a typesetting shop and give them typewritten copy for every character you want to show up on your ad. You can discuss with them the size of type and pick styles. Final artwork should not be a photocopy of a drawing, but the original drawing or a photostat. A photostat can be made of the original if it needs to be reduced or enlarged to fit the exact size of the layout.

If you are using a photograph, it should be a professional quality print. Any areas that need to be cropped should be indicated with a red grease pencil that won't harm the surface of the photo - don't cut the photo.

If you are using color photography, you may need to have color separations made before you submit the ad. This is a process whereby the color in the photo is separated into its four elements of red, yellow, blue and black. The advertising coordinator will be able to tell you what you need, and a local printer can help you with the separations.

If you have no experience in pasting up layouts, you'll need to get a professional. Why make a mistake so late in the game? Although it is a simple process of gluing the type and illustrations down with rubber cement, you need the correct tools to be sure everything is exactly straight.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

Setting up your own in-house advertising agency is easy. Placing ads and claiming your fifteen percent discount is no problem. The challenge comes in writing appealing ads that are winners. The reward is selling product through those ads month after month, year after year.

At any stage of the advertising game you can call in professional advice. A free-lance pro can offer sound, money-saving tips and be worth every dollar spent. Even if you commission the artwork and layout of the ad, you'll still save a bundle over ad agency costs.

If you have your own home business, or if your company has expanded into advertising, there's no reason not to set up your own agency. There's no hassle, and the savings are great. If you need specialized LEGAL advice or assistance on this subject, the services of a professional person is recommended.

This article was written by a third party not associated with millionhomebusinessideas.blogspot.com who is solely responsible for its content.