Actual for You - Finance

Market Research: Qualitative, Quantitative and Everything In Between
For people considering market research, a point that often trips them up is the difference between qualitative and quantitative market research. Unfortunately, there are such important distinctions between those two types of research methodologies that it’s difficult to consider the pros and cons of conducting market research until those differences are made clear. That’s the goal of this article.I know that it’s stating the obvious, but the terms really are made much easier by remembering their root words – quantitative market research measures the quantity of respondents who feel or act in a certain way. While qualitative market research is helpful in understanding the quality of a customers’ behavior or attitudes – why do they feel or act in a certain way.Qualitative = Quality (hows and whys or “directional”)Quantitative = Quantity (less depth, but includes solid numbers)Quantitative Market ResearchQuantitative research is a rigid research tool that typically asks every respondent an identical set of questions, generally allowing the respondent only to select from a gr

market, and bullion investors like to feel and heft their coins. Packaging the coins in tubes enables investors to more easily inspect their coins. Collectors, on the other hand, want their coins in as pristine condition as possible. Although capsules are excellent for protecting collector coins, coins individually packaged in capsules require more space for storage. The other aspect that the Mint has to consider is the coin’s theme.

The Mint should make the theme something uniquely American, as it did with its American Eagles coins. For the Gold Eagles, the Mint chose a slimmed-down rendition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ famed Standing Liberty, which he created in 1907 to grace a new Double Eagle ($20 gold coin). Nearly one hundred years later, the Saint Gaudens, which the coin is now called, is viewed as the most beautiful coin produced by the U.S. Mint.

For its Silver Eagles, the Mint chose A. A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty design, which was used on half-dollars 1916-1947. Walking Liberty halves are among the most popular silver coins ever turned out by the U.S. Mint. Judging by the success of the Silver Eagles program (more than 128 million sold since their inception), putting the Walking Liberty on Silver Eagles was the right move.

Some may argue that the Standing Liberty and the Walking Liberty designs are being used in the American Eagles program, and, therefore, the Mint should go onto another design. However, the Standing Liberty and the Walking Liberty are immediately identified as American by the world’s bullion coin buyers. Besides, is not Miss Liberty as much our nation’s icon as is the eagle?

If the U.S. Mint avoids the problems that have surfaced with Gold Maple Leafs and offers gold bullion co

90s Web Design: A Nostalgic Look Back
Remember the days when every PC was beige, every website had a little Netscape icon on the homepage, Geocities and Tripod hosted just about every single personal homepage, and "Google" was just a funny-sounding word?The mid-late 1990s were the playful childhood of the worldwide web, a time of great expectations for the future and pretty low standards for the present. Those were the days when doing a web search meant poring through several pages of listings rather than glancing at the first three results--but at least relatively few of those websites were unabashedly profit-driven.Hallmarks of 1990s Web DesignOf course, when someone says that a website looks like it came from 1996, it's no compliment. You start to imagine loud background images, and little "email me" mailboxes with letters going in and out in an endless loop. Amateurish, silly, unprofessional, conceited, and unusable are all adjectives that pretty well describe how most websites were made just ten years ago.Why were websites so bad back then?Knowledge. Few people k

In April, the U.S. Mint revealed plans to strike in early 2006 new .9999 bullion coins to go after the growing world market for .9999 fine (24-karat) gold coins. Studies show that pure gold coins claim 60% of the world’s gold bullion coin market, which is some $2.4 billion annually. The Royal Canadian Mint’s Maple Leafs hold the number one spot for pure gold coins. However, problems with Maple Leafs have surfaced.

If the Mint avoids the problems that have developed with Gold Maple Leafs, it has a golden opportunity to grab an even bigger share of the gold bullion coin market. The U.S. Mint’s American Gold Eagles are the best selling 22-karat gold coins in the world.

Despite being the world’s best-selling 24-karat gold coins, 1-oz Maple Leafs’ design and packaging leave them susceptible to damage. As a result, Gold Maple Leafs have fallen in disfavor among U.S. gold bullion coin investors. Indications are that gold bullion coin investors worldwide have the same frustrations with 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf coins.

It is nearly impossible to remove, inspect, and put 1-oz Gold Maple Leafs back in their tubes without scratching them, no matter how carefully done. Gold Maple Leafs have smooth, clear fields around Queen Elizabeth’s likeness and sharp milled edges. As the coins are put back in their tubes, the edges scratch the fields--and sometimes the Queen’s raised image.

And, Heaven forbid that a 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf is dropped on a floor or even a hard tabletop. But, most of the damage is done when investors handle the coins. If Gold Maple Leafs are handled roughly, as investors are used to handling Krugerrands and Gold Eagles, Gold Maple Leafs are easily damaged. Consequently, many badly damaged Gold Maple Leafs have come back into the secondary market.

Until a few years ago, Gold Eagles and Maple Leafs sold at the same markups over spot. But, as Maple Leafs, which investors have bought since 1979, started coming into the secondary market, problems surfaced. Now, to keep investors in the U.S. market buying Maple Leafs, the Royal Canadian Mint has to offer new (current year) Gold Maple Leafs at a half-a-percent below Gold Eagle prices.

Damaged 1-oz Gold Maple Leafs are such a problem that one important secondary market maker stopped dealing in the coins for a while. The head trader said he did not have time to discuss with buyers and sellers the conditions of the coins. Further, he said his staff did not have time to inspect each coin and classify it as to the amount of damage. It is commonplace for sellers to say the coins are in “perfect condition.” Yet when Gold Maple Leafs arrive, they often are badly scratched or rim nicked.

Another major bullion dealer (perhaps the nation’s largest) currently buys back “perfect” Gold Maple leafs from established dealers at a little over spot, which means investors receive less than spot if their dealers unload to this firm. For scratched or damaged coins, this firm pays less than spot, which enables the firm to send the coins to a refinery at a profit if the firm has no buyers for Gold Maple Leafs.

The secondary dealer returned to trading Gold Maple Leafs but buys all them only at prices that enable him to profitably melt the coins if they are really beat up. As noted, because of the problem with secondary market Gold Maple Leafs, the Royal Canadian Mint has to price Gold Maple Leafs below Gold Eagles to entice investors to take Gold Maple Leafs in the U.S. market.

Luckily--the free market being what it is--there are dealers who will take the time to evaluate Gold Maple Leafs and pay more for the ones in better condition. Still, the spread (the difference between what an investor can buy and sell for at any moment) on “perfect” Gold Maple Leafs is about $4 wider than on Gold Eagles. However, the U.S. Mint’s new 24-karat gold coins need not be problem coins.

For example, the 1-oz Austrian Philharmonics and The Perth Mint’s 1-oz coins are .9999 fine. Yet, these coins are not easily damaged during normal handling because of their designs and/or their packaging.

Philharmonics come ten to a tube and can be taken out and put back in their tubes without scratching. The Perth Mint coins come individually encapsulated in hard plastic capsules. As long as Perth Mint coins remain in their capsules, they maintain their perfect conditions.

Hopefully, the U.S. Mint knows of the problems with Gold Maple Leafs and will design its new .9999 fine coins and their packaging so that the coins are not easily scratched or damaged. If the Mint opts to go with packaging its new coins in tubes, as it does Gold Eagles and as Philharmonics are packaged, then the Mint needs to avoid milled edges.

Although Gold Eagles have milled edges, old U.S. gold coins ($20 Libs and St. Gaudens) were minted with lettering on the edges. So, lettering is not new to the U.S. Mint. With lettering, the edges can be smooth, making the coins less likely to scratch other coins in handling. Philharmonics, which are not prone to damage, have lettering on their edges.

[Over the centuries, mints learned to design gold coins to guard against “shaving,” a process by which a small amount of metal is “shaved” from the edges. Milled edges that have been shaved are clearly detectible. Light lettering on the edges solves the problem as well. If no lettering can be seen on coins that are known to have been minted with lettering, then the coins have been shaved and no longer have their original gold content.]

As do Maple Leafs, Perth Mint .9999 fine gold coins have milled edges and carry a likeness of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse (front). However, to protect its coins from damage, The Perth Mint encapsulates them in plastic capsules. When Perth Mint bullion coins are removed from their capsules and put in tubes, the coins are susceptible to scratching as are Maple Leafs.

In going after a piece of the $2.4 billion .9999 fine gold bullion coin market, the Mint needs to consider the mindset of bullion coin investors. Bullion coin investors seek alternatives to paper money; they are not coin collectors. Bullion coin investors prefer coins packaged so that they can be easily stored and secured.

This means the Mint should package the coins twenty to a tube, which has become--primarily because of Gold Eagles--the preferred method. Five tubes conveniently total one hundred coins. Further, the tubes should be made of the same durable plastic from which Gold Eagle tubes are made. Hard plastic tubes, such as those used for Philharmonics, can and do break when dropped. Gold Eagle tubes, on the other hand, are virtually indestructible.

For protection against “shaving,” the Mint should design its new coins with lettered edges. Lettered edges would make the coins much less susceptible to scratching.

The Mint is going after the bullion coin market, and bullion investors like to feel and heft their coins. Packaging the coins in tubes enables investors to more easily inspect their coins. Collectors, on the other hand, want their coins in as pristine condition as possible. Although capsules are excellent for protecting collector coins, coins individually packaged in capsules require more space for storage. The other aspect that the Mint has to consider is the coin’s theme.

If the U.S. Mint avoids the problems that have surfaced with Gold Maple Leafs and offers gold bullion coi

Keyword Writing Strategies
Keyword writing is a critical tool in strategic web site marketing. This type of writing emphasizes and repeats industry specific keywords and can actually help recruit clients from new and niche markets. In addition to harvesting keywords from web site statistics programs, a savvy internet marketer will consider what visitors are most desirable and lucrative and lure them to their site. Driving that audience there can be achieved through the careful selection and repetition of keywords. The more the keywords are mentioned on a web site, the more easily a user typing them into a search engine will find a company or organization.Case Study of a RealtorOne of the clients of Sidhe Communications is a successful REALTOR in Williamsburg, Virginia: Elaine VonCannon, http://voncannonrealestate.com. We utilized Williamsburg as a keyword in her web site writing, and also plugged in terms like retirement and relocation, home buyer and home seller, and other words which would bring the buying clients to her site. Sidhe C

es, Gold Maple Leafs are easily damaged. Consequently, many badly damaged Gold Maple Leafs have come back into the secondary market.

For protection against “shaving,” the Mint should design its new coins with lettered edges. Lettered edges would make the coins much less susceptible to scratching.

If the U.S. Mint avoids the problems that have surfaced with Gold Maple Leafs and offers gold bullion co

Buying Wholesale Mannequins
Many mannequin manufacturers sell their mannequins in wholesale. This means that they sell large quantities at a discount. There are many advantages to buying a wholesale mannequin. Buying mannequins wholesale can save stores that need a large supply of them money. Wholesale mannequins made by the same manufacturer are usually of consistent quality. A wholesale mannequin is as good as a mannequin made by a smaller manufacturer, there are just more of the wholesale mannequins.Large stores that need a lot of mannequins can save money by buying them wholesale. Wholesale mannequin dealers offer discount to customers who buy large quantities. Many Internet wholesale mannequin seller give customers free shipping if they order enough mannequins. A store that sold only one type of clothing, say, women’s clothes, for example, could buy several copies of the same type of mannequin and get a discount on them. Other stores with more varied types of clothing could buy a few models of many different mannequin models to display all of the types of clothing they offer.Another advantage of buying wholesale mannequins i

low Gold Eagles to entice investors to take Gold Maple Leafs in the U.S. market.

For protection against “shaving,” the Mint should design its new coins with lettered edges. Lettered edges would make the coins much less susceptible to scratching.

If the U.S. Mint avoids the problems that have surfaced with Gold Maple Leafs and offers gold bullion co

Brahman Cattle In South Africa Is A Major Breed In The Production Of Red Meat
The first and formal adoption of the world Brahman originated with the inception of the American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) in 1924. Cattlemen attending their organizational meeting wrestled with the question of what to name this American Bos Indicus breed that Mr JW Startwelle called “… an entirely new breed of beef cattle”. Mr Startwelle, however the first Secretary of ABBA and early driving force of their association, was indeed historically instrumental, when he suggested the word Brahman.The Early History in Southern Africa:The introduction of the Brahman to the South African beef cattle scene originated back in 1954 when Mr Jurgen Crantz, of Windhoek, in South West Africa as they knew it in those days, initially imported eight males and ten females from Texas, USA, to be landed at Cape Town harbour.Five of these bulls originated from Mr JD Hudgins, Texas, while one came from Mr Albert B Fay, Texas, another one from Mr VW Frost, Texas, as one from Laxy 3 Ranch, Texas. All ten females were from the famous JD Hudgins Ranch. We today salute the inspirations and motivations of Mr J

rd against “shaving,” a process by which a small amount of metal is “shaved” from the edges. Milled edges that have been shaved are clearly detectible. Light lettering on the edges solves the problem as well. If no lettering can be seen on coins that are known to have been minted with lettering, then the coins have been shaved and no longer have their original gold content.]

For protection against “shaving,” the Mint should design its new coins with lettered edges. Lettered edges would make the coins much less susceptible to scratching.

If the U.S. Mint avoids the problems that have surfaced with Gold Maple Leafs and offers gold bullion co

Capture Greater Profits by Leveraging Paid and Natural Search Synergies
When paid search emerged into the main stream in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s it was triumphed as a user-friendly replacement of the often confusing and technically-demanding strategy of natural search optimization (commonly called, “SEO”). As such, paid search opened new doors for entrepreneurs to visitor traffic to their websites that produced cost –effective leads and sales.Unfortunately, as with most new technologies, as demand increased, competition reduced the early-adopter advantage and today the greatest rewards from paid search are derived by advertisers with the strongest strategic edge. Even more unfortunate though, through the ascent of paid search’s popularity, many entrepreneurs and business owners lost their focus on integrating natural search optimization into their marketing mix.An effective search engine marketing strategy must combine the benefits of paid AND natural search. By building a paid and natural search marketing strategy, entrepreneurs and business owners create a “profitable” synergy that generates greater performance and higher ROIs then either paid or natural sear

If the U.S. Mint avoids the problems that have surfaced with Gold Maple Leafs and offers gold bullion coin investors a strong alternative, then it has a golden opportunity to capture a big share of the .9999 fine gold bullion market. With the right planning, the Mint could shake the Maple Leaf’s hold on the .9999 bullion coin market.

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Creating successful small business systems can have varying degrees of success depending on many variables. The size of the companies location, number of people, level of skills, company resources and various other items come into play. How do you manage to create a system that will be beneficial and able to be revised as changes in the market, industry or people resources change?

When I first started out in search of Prosperity by way of an Internet business income opportunity I very easily became distracted by the overwhelming amount of information that flowed into my inbox each day. Sign up for this, sign up for that. I felt like I spent most of my days signing up for one Internet business income opportunity after another.

I have a simple question for you. What's your competition up too? If you just shrugged your shoulders and thought to yourself: duh... I don't know? Then listen in...

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