Friday, April 29, 2011

"Should I Offer An Incentive With Newsletter Sign-ups?"


Bluepenguinuniversity.com.
Why incentives are not necessarily the best thing for attracting new newsletter readers.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

American Leads Can Help With Niche Market In Direct Mail

American Leads Company is one of Upward Trend's Trend Setter Package clients. Here is a bit about this company:

American Leads can help you target your Expecting and New Parent potential customer.  Current market conditions make it vital you either begin or continue a sound marketing strategy. With the current economy it is more important than ever to keep up marketing your product or service to new customers. Many of our customers have been with us over 20 years and continue because it is vital to their business.

Baby stores, diaper services and financial services are some examples of our customers who use these hot prospects to grow their business.
 We specialize in quality list data for expectant and new parents and families with a child or children below a target age.

Call 800 695-5323 or email us for a no cost count estimate for your specific area; prenatal or prenatal and recent births (in the last 3 months).  Each record includes name, postal address and a coded expected month of birth. Get our guarantee of your initial expense and the accuracy of the list.  Marketing experts indicate a minimum of 1,100 should be tested to establish a list's effective rate of return.  Use a coupon or code in your marketing to track the success of your lists.

A fresh list each month sets up a consistent marketing program that will keep your sales rising.  A new list of prospects of expectant mothers and recent births puts you ahead of your competitors who only market occasionally.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Sierra Truck & Van Has A Serious Selection Of Tool Boxes!


Hugh Lukehart of Sierra Truck & Van walks us through his showroom of sample truck boxes. They have a huge selection in stock and are a Weather Guard Outlet with a massive selection in stock of Weather Guard tool and RV boxes. Sierra Truck & Van is a truck and van accessories store with a large inventory of all kinds of truck accessories. They also sell commercial style trailers.

Sierra Truck & Van is located at 225 Lopes Road, Ste B, Fairfield (Cordelia) CA 94534. Telephone is 707-864-1064.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011

A & T Road Service Is The Truck Ambulance - 800-434-1205


A & T Road Service has a 24 Hour roadside mobile repair service for medium to heavy duty commercial trucks. We will go just about anywhere, for anything, at anytime. At A & T Road Service we like to think of ourselves as the "Ambulance Service for Trucks." If you are broke down, we will come to you and perform the necessary triage to get you back on the road.

We are also available to come to your shop for repairs and service of your fleet inorder to keep your downtime to a minimum and your business moving and prosperous.

A & T Road Service in a part of the BIT Inspection Program and is able to do inspections for you on-site. We are DOT Certified and all BIT inspections are performed utilizing DOT/BIT Inspectors. A& T Road Service meets all requirements under Title 49 of the DOT Inspectors Guide.

You can find more information about the CalBit Program and the requirements at their Website, http://www.northbaytruckcenter.com/. Call A & T Road Service at 800-434-1205

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Absolutely Delightful and Fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySey8kbOiO4

Britain's Got Talent: 35-year-old drama teacher Edward is hoping that Britain's Got Talent will change his life. Taking the stage in front of the largest audience he's ever had - the judges think they know what's coming - but no-one expected this!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Jim Buell, Service Mgr at North Bay Truck Center Talks About His Passion


North Bay Truck Center's Service Manager, Jim Buell talks candidly about how he thinks of what they do at North Bay Truck Center.

NORTH BAY TRUCK CENTER
Home of A & T Road Service
1245 Illinois Street, Fairfield, CA 94533
707-427-1386
24 Hour Emergency Service Line: 1-800-434-1205

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

New Nissan NV Vans Are Now In Stock And More On The Way. Check It Out!


A soothing video tour of the new Nissan NV vans. Future Nissan in Roseville has just received their first shipments of the new Nissan NV vans and many more are on their way. Give Laura O'Donnell a call at 916-865-8579. See more on their blog at http://futurenissancommercial.blogspot.com/.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Green Valley Floral Easter Season Tour



Green Valley Floral is all dressed up for Easter and Spring. Here is part 1 of a tour of their shop. So many unique gift items. They search for the best items and it is always changing. Stop by their shop at Rockville Corners in Fairfield at 4160-A Suisun Valley Road, or call us at 707-864-0822. Visit our website at http://www.gvfloral.net/.

Monday, April 18, 2011

It's That Time Of Year. . . Blue Fish Can Help!



Blue Fish has seen a lot of pools that are a variety of lovely green shades, but most people prefer the sparkling blue pools over the green. Being able to see the bottom is a nice feature too, don't you think?

Well, fear not, fret not. Blue Fish Pool Maintenance loves to turn pools blue again. They know how to get that job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Give them a call at 707-330-3330. They'll send out the emergency team and get them turning your pool back to sparkling blue again! Guaranteed! See their website at http://www.bluefishpools.com/.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Total Home & Garden Show Huge Hit - Today Is Final Day!


Saturday was a spectacular success at the Vacaville Total Home & Garden show. The traffic to the show was steady all day long as people came by the thousands to see 237 vendors in one location and experience the fun and seeing friends, tasting the food. It's only once a year for three days, and today was day 2. Tomorrow is the last day of the show. If you haven't yet stopped by, please take the opportunity to come see for yourself! Sunday, the show will be open from 10am to 5pm.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Chade-Meng Tan: Everyday Compassion At Google


Google's "Jolly Good Fellow," Chade-Meng Tan, talks about how the company practices compassion in its everyday business -- and its bold side projects

Velo Wrench Bike Shop, Home of "Vinny The Wrench" Has Become Upward Trend's Latest Trend Setter Package Client


Velo Wrench Bike Shop, home of Vince Coons, or "Vinny the Wrench" has become Upward Trend's latest Trend Setter Package client. We will be building them a new website, adding a blog, managing and creating social media including Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In and YouTube, along with a monthly newsletter, SEO optimization, video services and consulting. All of these services are included in the Trend Setter Package.

We look forward to serving Velo Wrench Bike Show and helping them grow their business. Velo Wrench Bike Shop is located at 1011 Mason Street in Vacaville, CA. Their phone number is 707-451-4706 and their current website is http://www.vinnythewrench.net/.

Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show Opens! More Today and Sunday



Here's some fun at the Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show. 237 vendors in one location, plus great food and friends coming and going. A good time for all and see some great stuff. These shots were taken just a couple hours after the opening yesterday. Great weather too!

Friday, April 15, 2011

The Total Home & Garden Show Opens TODAY! Over 237 vendors!


It's finally here! Today is the first day of the Total Home & Garden Show in Vacaville at the Nut Tree Complex behind Lowe's. Discount tickets available at The Home Depot. Come join us! Perfect weather too!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Huge Ribbon Cutting Tomorrow At 10am!

Huge Joint Ribbon Cutting
3 Chambers of Commerce
PLUS KUIC Coffee Break
  
Joint Ribbon Cutting with Dixon, Vacaville
and Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and Coffee Break with 95.3 KUIC
hosted by Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show
Friday, April 15th, 10:00am
50 Nut Tree Road
Nut Tree Complex - Behind Lowe's

Tony Robbins CANI! System Explained

"CANI" stands for Constant And Never-ending Improvement. It's an acronym that Tony developed more than a decade ago and he was influenced by Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Dr. Deming is credited as one of the leaders who brought one of the first quality movements to the Japanese. His basic premise was that the secret to help the Japanese achieve world power and economic success was if every single person and organization commit to constant improvement.

The Japanese have a single word for "constant and never-ending improvement" and it's called "Kaizen." Kaizen is from the Japanese words Kai and Zen where "kai" means change and "zen" means good. Yes folks, change is good.

According to Robbins from his Lessons in Mastery series, he didn't want to embrace the word "Kaizen" because it was a Japanese word and after-all, Dr. Deming was an "American..." therefore it was only proper to create an American word that meant the same as Kaizen. Transformational vocabulary is an important component to the tenets that Robbins teaches, so you can probably understand why Tony wanted to create a brand or a name for the association.

It is very easy to get caught up in your goals and desired end-outcomes...to the point of becoming overwhelmed. CANI offers a solution and a point of reference to focus your attention on. If all you did was improve one tiny aspect of your life every single day, you would achieve mastery in uncommon time.

Benefits of CANI include:


  • Creates a personal and business momentum that will be hard for your competitors to catch up with.
  • Personal satisfaction and fulfillment because it will cause you to grow personally.
  • Leads to innovation. Innovation creates leverage.

Tony Robbins once said, "We only learn our limits by going beyond them." CANI! is a principle designed to encourage you to make small incremental improvements daily...and in doing so, you will be forced to find a way to go beyond your current set of self-imposed limitations.

Which areas of your life do you want to apply the principles of CANI! Today?

o Prosperity & Financial

o Family Relationships

o Friendship Building

o Health & Fitness

o Spirituality

o Recreation & Pleasure/Joy

o Education & Career Advancement

o Public Service/Volunteering

If you define your success as a "journey" rather than an end-destination, you can take comfort in the fact that personal growth and satisfaction can come from constant and never-ending improvement (CANI!).



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5380

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Upward Trend Welcomes Patrick Moore As The Latest Trend Setter Package Client

Patrick Moore is an author, business owner, speaker, kindred soul. He found a way to bring himself from the brink of death and destruction to a live with purpose, meaning and health. He's published a book telling the story of his life change titled, Motivated By Pain, available at http://www.motivatedbypain.com/. He is already writing his second book. Patrick is also the CEO and owner of Anytime Fitness in Vacaville, CA. He has also started a non-profit organization at http://www.moore-life.com/.

As part of Upward Trend's Trend Setter Package, we will be rebuilding a website for Patrick, adding a blog, managing and expanding social media including Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in and YouTube, SEO optimization, a monthly newsletter, video and more.

We welcome Patrick Moore to our growing list of clients. To see more about the Trend Setter Package of services, go to http://www.trendsetterpackage.com/.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Upward Trend Welcomes Electric Pilot As Our Latest Trend Setter Package Client


Upward Trend welcomes Electric Pilot, The Electrical Industry Search Engine as our latest Trend Setter Package client. We will be doing social media including Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, YouTube, Internet consulting, SEO optimization and a blog for Electric Pilot. Their website will remain as a separate entity at http://www.electricpilot.com/.

Electric Pilot is a link to more than 10,000 electrical contractors, over 6,000 electrical product distributors, and over 4,000 electrical product manufacturers. There are over 70 categories covered on their website and will include industry news, events and promotions.

We are looking forward to serving the Internet expansion of Electrical Pilot.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Smart and Easy Book To Help Schools & Business Save Energy and Reduce Costs


Sue Pierce is an Energy Consultant and an Upward Trend client. Her book, School Cents, The Energy Behavior Management Guide was just published a few weeks ago. I bought a copy for myself and just finished reading it and it is an articulate and easy plan to put any organization where many people are involved in decision making on track to helping their budgets go further.

In chapter one, Sue states, "As a school official, you probably know the annual energy bill to run America's primary and secondary schools is a staggering $6 billion - more than is spent on textbooks and computers combined. What you may not know is that the least efficient schools use three times more energy than the best energy performers and the top energy performing schools cost $.40 per square foot less to operate than the average performers." Just imaging saving 20%, or $1.6 billion . . . or even better, using that money for something more useful.

From the Introduction: "When I first started working with school districts on saving energy, many elected officials and superintendents were skeptical. "We wish you well, but I don't think simple behavior changes will do much." "You thing we can reduce energy use by 10% through behavior changes? No way!"

Twelve months later that District had reduced energy use by 15% across approximately 3,000,000 square feet of building space. Twenty four months later the program had reduced consumption by 26% for an avoided energy cost of over $2,000,000. And yes, now they are believers as are many other school districts I work with!

At a time when money is desperately needed in the classroom, it breaks my heart to see schools ignoring the money that could be saved by changing simple ways of behaving in the buildings. School Cents. . . The Energy Behavior Management Guide is a step by step guide on how to save energy through behavior modification. I have taken the process I have used over and over with great success and documented it here for other school districts to use.

This Guidebook will provide you with the basic tools you need to implement an energy behavior management program in-house with District staff and to keep the energy savings in the District."

For a very small $14.95 investment, we think you will find this book of value for any organization. I might also mention that the book has a lot of places to make notes in and is a larger size (8"x10") to make it easy to write in and have it lay open. Buy your copy here: Pierce Energy Planning Amazon Store

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Upward Trend Welcomes Blue Fish Pool Maintenance As Latest Trend Setter Package Client


Leland and Jenn Stith of Blue Fish Pool Maintenance just became Upward Trend's latest Trend Setter Package client. We will be building them a brand new website, a blog (already online), social media including facebook, twitter, linked-in and YouTube. The package also includes a monthly newsletter to follow up with previous clients, video, and SEO optimization.

Blue Fish Pool Maintenance is headquartered in Vacaville and serves Solano, Napa, and Yolo counties. You can reach them at 707-330-3330. Their current website is http://www.bluefishpools.com/.

We have started their new blog and their social media has been started with links from the blog. The blog address is http://bluefishpoolmaintenance.blogspot.com/.

We look forward to serving the Stith's and Blue Fish Pool Maintenance and expanding their Internet presence.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Dixon Landscape Materials Coming To Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show


Our client Dixon Landscape Materials will be showing off some of their products at the Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show, April 15, 16 and 17th--just barely 6 days from today.

See more about Dixon Landscape Materials at their website, http://www.dixonlandscape.com/.

Friday, April 8, 2011

TEDxPresidio - Chip Conley - Superhuman or Super Human?


No hotel executive in the world has overseen the development and creation of more boutique hotels than Chip Conley, founder and CEO of Joie de Vivre, California's largest independent hotel company and America's second largest boutique hotelier. At the age of 26 with no industry experience, Chip transformed a seedy 1950's "no-tell motel" into the world-renowned Phoenix Hotel, a legendary rock 'n roll hotel catering to the likes of David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt and Little Richard. Inspired by the French expression for "joy of life," Chip created Joie de Vivre with the intention of developing what USA Today has called "the most delightfully schizophrenic collection of hotels in America.""

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Triple Ribbon Cutting To Kick Off Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show

On Friday, April 15th, at 10:00 am, The Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show will be hosting a triple Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening event with the Dixon, Fairfield-Suisun & Vacaville Chamber of Commerces and a live coffee-break with 95.3 KUIC. This event is located at 50 Nut Tree Road behind the Nut Tree Complex and next to Lowe's Home Improvement.


The Vacaville Total Home & Garden Show runs Friday, April 15th from 12:00noon to 6:00pm, Saturday, April 16th from 10:00am -6:00pm and Sunday, April 17th from 10:00am - 5:00pm. Last year over 20,000 people attended this great event.

On Saturday & Sunday HGTV Celebrities Jake Moss & Ian McCartt will host live demonstrations along with Jake Gandolfo, a finalist from the Gordon Ramsay's hit series "Master Chef". There is an interactive booth for kids called "Kids Growing Strong" where kids and their families can learn about growing food and make healthy food choices. The BloodSource bloodmobiles will also be on site on Sunday, April 17th, from 10:00am - 4:00pm.

For more information about the Home Show, go to: http://www.vacahomeshow.com/

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Solano Wine & Food Jubillee Is This Friday The 8th Of April!



The annual Solano Wine & Food Jubilee supports NorthBay Healthcare in its tradition of caring. The Jubilee is Solano County’s premier fundraising event, making possible vital programs including Hospice, Bereavement groups, and Community Outreach. See more at http://www.wineandfoodjubilee.org/.

Monday, April 4, 2011

24th Annual Solano Wine & Food Jubilee Is This Coming Friday, April 8th.



The annual Solano Wine & Food Jubilee supports NorthBay Healthcare in its tradition of caring. The Jubilee is Solano County’s premier fundraising event, making possible vital programs including Hospice, Bereavement groups, and Community Outreach. See more at http://www.wineandfoodjubilee.org/.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Mike Young, 203k Expert Consultant and Author

Mike Young is one of the largest 203k consultants (http://www.203konline.com/) in the nation with well over 2,500 projects completed since 1994. While HUD doesn't guarantee the quality or warrant the work a consultant provides it is easy to see that exerience is everything. You need to find a consultant that has a few projects under his belt and has stood the test of time. We qualify.

Experience counts
The 203k was created in 1961 as a way to refinance or purchase a home and get money to complete necessary repairs on 1-4 unit buildings. The program wasn't being used like it could have been and in 1994 "consultants" were introduced to the program in an effort to take some of the mystery out of the program. Now you have a friend in the business that can litterally hold your hand and get you through the maze of paperwork need to complete the transaction. Rather than have each and every home buyer read the manual and all of the mortgagee letters that revised it, a '203k Consultant' is responsible to keep up with the program and it's changes. We have always been available to anyone, anywhere in the country who has questions about the program, whether you are a buyer, contractor looking to become a consultant or just looking to get more work, a home inspector looking for additional streams of income, we are glad to assist you in any way we are able. We have been completing 203k projects since 1994.



Need More Information? Our book is available now. This book is a buyers guide to the 203k and can save you up to $950 on your next 203k project. Click here for more info: 203k Book


There has been a stigma surrounding 203k loans for many years that they have to be poor properties in poor neighborhoods. That is totaly untrue. With the current loan limits as high as they are you are assured of geting a home or 2-4 unit building in nearly every neighborhood in America. High Cost areas loan limits are as high as $729,750. This book is a "Borrower's Guide to the 203k loan process" The secrets in this book can save you up to $1,000 in the cost to get your 203k loan. The FHA 203k loan is a fantastic loan program and can be used anywhere in the USA or it's colonies and possessions.


The Mike Young Team is proud to offer the following services

Real estate consulting
Mike Young has been a home inspector for over 20 years, a real estate appraiser for about 18 years, an investor for over 35 years, a 203k consultant for rehab projects for 15 years, and has rehabbed over 300 properties during the past forty years. Investors who need guidance in buying, repairing, and selling investment properties.

203k Consulting Services
We can create your bid specifications, all of the necessary forms required of the program, work to complete the 'work write up' in a timely manner so the consultation will never be the reason to hold up the project. We can do as much or as litte as the homeowner or home buyer requires. You can be hands on, or let us run with the ball. In any case it is always our intention to provide you as much assistance as YOU require.

Custom designing homes
Mike can help you design your new home, offer suggestions for useability, and functionality. Mike has designed many AC systems for quiet running as he believes an air conditioning system should not be heard or felt... just maintain a comfortable temperature for the occupants. Mike has been asked to trouble shoot AC systems in residential and commercial high rise and low rise buildings and was able to find the root cause of the problems and solve numerous malfunctions in these systems. Email at mike@my203kConsultant.com or call for more information 704.451.1599. Our services are billed based on what we provide. Your initial consulation is FREE.

Training
We can train your lending staff in how to make 203k loans a stand alone profit center. We can train you, the investor, home inspector, appraiser, architect, engineer, how to become a 203k consultant. If you are in our area or are willing to travel to our area we are happy to provide some "on the job training.

Software for 203k consultant and lenders

The best 203k consulting software in the business. We have been voted that way by several mortgage bankers associations and continually hear from our clients that they are so pleased with the reports our consultants provide for their underwriting that they "demand" our product be used for their convenience in underwriting the 203k. They just close them faster than their competition.

Draw Inspections and occupancy inspections
Lenders or banks that require any type inspection please call us for a quote. Draw inspections, vacancy inspections, health and safety inspections, and any other type of building inspection residential, multi-family, commercial, and industrial properties.

If you are a consultant and need a professional looking email address fill out the form on our home page and in the 'comments section' let us know and we'll be happy to provide one that looks like this mike.young@my203kconsultant.com for a nominal annual fee. Let your customers know you are in the business with more than a "free email address" you obtain online.

Call Mike Young, 203k Consultant at 707-812-7668 for more information.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Enjoying Your Backyard By United Valley Landscaping

Ooohh. . . the soothing sounds of the water flowing in the brook. . . flowing over the rocks and spilling over the larger ones like mini waterfalls. . . surrounded by natural plants, shrubs, grasses and shaded here and there by some nice trees. Oh, it is so, so pleasant and enjoyable. Have a little party in the back yard, do some entertaining and let your guests feel the atmosphere of your back yard escape. . . or NOT! Maybe you just want to go out there and enjoy it all for yourself!

Either way, any way, there is no doubt that this back yard brook will enhance your experience in your own domain. United Valley Landscaping can help. Give Marco a call at 707-455-7548 and see how easy it is to have this great retreat in your yard.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Sometimes Prospecting Is. . . by Kirsty Dunphey

I've worked in real estate for half my adult life and I've been to more training sessions that I can count on the ABCs (Always Be Closing), on hard sells, on how to deliver the perfect pitch presentation and yet, the more I work in this industry the more I realise that any sales based industry has a whole other level of prospecting for new business that rarely gets spoken about. Sure, sometimes you'll go into a presentation cold with nothing to assist you but your materials, your winning smile and your ability to close, but sometimes, just sometimes...

Sometimes prospecting for new business is... about patience...

Are you prepared to wait until the time is right for the client, not just for you?

Sometimes prospecting for new business is... about being persistent...

I've had clients come on board after chasing them for 2 years (and longer). Do you have a system in place that reminds you to follow up as appropriate with persistence without being annoying?

Sometimes prospecting for new business is... about timing...

A simple question, asked at the right time can be an amazing form of prospecting. Recently I touched base (after being persistent & patient for about a year) just to make sure a client's current property manager had been in touch regarding an upcoming due date. They hadn't, and the business was mine.

Sometimes prospecting for new business is... about perception...

When someone searches for you, or for your industry online. What do they do see? Can they see honest, real testimonials and reviews of your performance. Do they see a website that is both functional and representative of the type of brand you wish to convey?

Sometimes prospecting for new business is... about words...

So often, you won't even hear the most powerful words as they're spoken when you're not around well before you're called in to pitch for the business. They're the words said from your current clients and customers to their friends and family. It'll either be the strongest recommendation you can get, or... you know the other alternative.

Sometimes prospecting for new business is... about approaching from a different angle...

After 18 months spent following up (with patience and persistence) one client in three party relationship, I happened across another who I'd had little personal contact with. It turns out this was the better approach and suddenly, we had new business.

Sometimes prospecting for new business is... unpredictable...

Our company recently got a new client, one of our largest, from an unpredictable referral from someone we dealt with who referred us simply because "we pay our bills on time". Are you making time to find out the origin of your current clients?

Stay Fabulous,

Kirsty

Reproduced from Kirsty Dunphey's newsletter, Advance To Go and originally reproduced from Kirsty's blog - www.kirstydunphey.com/blog

How to Subscribe - Subscribe by visiting http://www.kirstydunphey.com/