Tips In Fighting Bad Breath

                

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Bad breath is an embarrassing situation that many people encounter. One may feel that if they are brushing and flossing there is nothing they can do aside from breath spray and mints to, at best, camouflage the odor. Just as it is true for many medical conditions, it is true for halitosis as well; i.e., one must treat the underlying cause and not just the symptoms.

A proper diet can go a long ways towards nixing bad breath. One may want to add acidophilus to their diet, which can be obtained in yogurt with live cultures. The acidophilus helps the body?s digestive track and fights bacteria imbalances which can lead to unfavorable breath.

Another digestive issue which leads to poor breath is constipation. A diet high in animal proteins causes one to absorb bacteria. These bacteria enter the bloodstream and then the lungs and exit in the form of bad breath. A diet high is fiber, such as vegetables, fruits, brown rice and beans, promotes regular bowel movements which prevents bad breath producing toxins to build up in your system.

One may also want to increase the amount of Vitamin C in their diet. Vitamin C promotes healing and protects gums from cell damage. Poor gum health is also a cause of bad breath. One can get Vitamin C from many sources including cabbage, citrus, and red peppers.

Another tip that is also good for general health, as well all fighting bad breath, is to drink enough water. Drinking eight glasses a day will keep your mouth moist and prevent germs and bacteria from building up due to food particles. Drinking plenty of fluids, once again, also aids in promoting proper bowel functions.

A nature breath freshener is chlorophyll. Parsley is a good source of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green appearance so edible green plants are a good alternative to chemical breath fresheners.

Don?t forget to visit the dentist to ensure that bad breath is not the sign of tooth decay or gum disease. Otherwise, following a diet rich in fiber, Vitamin C, acidophilus and plenty of water should nix bad breath.

Rachel Gillespe is a staff writer at Women's Digest and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Wellness Digest.

Acid Reflux And Bad Breath

                

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Say you are at a party and all of a sudden you get that stinging feeling in your throat. You scrunch up your face, look around the room and walk to a place where nobody can see you as you try to swallow away that biting liquid. Your loosen your collar, swallow some more of your wine, and try to get back into the conversation. Yet, when you do get a circle and join in the conversation, people start to back away from you, pretend to scratch their nose, and claim to be needed elsewhere. You can?t help but wonder if your recent bout of heartburn is related to your recent unpopularity?

One way that you can check if you have bad breath (if your best friend isn?t at the ready), is to lick the inside of your wrist and let it dry for a few seconds and then smell it. If there is an odor, then your breath isn?t as fresh as it should be.

If you are experiencing bad breath, or halitosis, then part of your problem might be either related to, or a direct result of acid reflux/GERD.

Most experts, medical and naturopathic alike will tell you that bad breath is caused by what you eat, lack of saliva swishing around in your mouth, stress, dehydration, and stomach activity, i.e. acid indigestion. Since many people experience acid reflux in their sleep, chances are good that morning breath isn?t just a lack of saliva activity, but is related to GERD.

Most commentators speaking on bad breath list acid reflux as a major cause, in addition to the items mentioned above. It makes sense really. It stands to reason that acidic liquid rising up from your stomach is not going to smell pretty, and if that is getting up to your throat, through a loosening in the collapsible valve at the tip of your stomach, it?s going to make your breath smell pretty foul.

Not only that, but many of the factors that contribute to bad breath, are also causal factors for acid reflux. The foods that you eat are a major contributor to bad breath, like spicy or garlicky foods, which are also a major contributor to acid reflux. Stress is also a cause for both upsets.

It stands to reason then, that by counteracting the causal factors of GERD, you will also reduce your chances of having bad breath, not only in striking what may be the heart of your problem, but you?ll combat one or both of these ailments as well.

Contrary to popular belief, making changes to your diet and stress levels aren?t as difficult as some of the makers of pharmaceuticals would like you to believe. They would prefer you to think that a few changes in your diet, or a simple exercise plan will mean re-vamping your life entirely, but this is simply not the case.

Long term solutions are just that?long term. So, make the changes, but make them slowly, incorporating them into your life in small steps so that the changes don?t seem too drastic, making them easier to swallow (so to speak) and more likely steps that you will stick with.

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Acid Reflux. For further information on Acid Reflux please visit http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/acidreflux.html or http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/blog/2006/09/27/acid-reflux-and-bad-breath/

Are You A Bad Breath Victim??

                

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The chances are you may not even know! But those around you most certainly do yet they find it too embarrassing to tell you.

See if you can relate to this scenario.

You wake up in the morning?.have a taste in your mouth that?s like the bottom of a bird cage; your tongue is all furry, mouth is as dry as the Sahara Desert in a drought so you exhale a gust of air from the bottom of your lungs in total despair?.and the whole room scatters.

It?s a chronic bad breath case of the morning after the day before!

So what?s the cure?

Well first of all turn the clock back a bit and try to recollect what you were eating and drinking the night before. One of the best remedies for a bad breath problem is to be careful with your eating habits. That beautiful Italian dish with all the garlic went down a treat but it certainly doesn?t help your morning breath?.although it is one sure way to make sure you have the elevator all to yourself on the way to the office.

And then there is all that beautiful red wine?.lovely nose, fruity palate?.but man alive?.am I dehydrated this morning?.and the fur on my tongue?.oh dear!

Mouth hygiene is also dependent on the body being well hydrated. Now that means drinking plenty of water so here?s a good tip?.if you do happen to be having a few sociable glasses of wine?.for every glass you consume follow it up with a glass of water. Not only will the water help your bad breath in the morning but it will eliminate that fur on the tongue?.and there?s also the added bonus of it being a great hangover cure.

So now on a more serious note let?s have a look and see how all this can help cure your obnoxious breath problem.

? Be careful about what you eat?.go easy on things containing hot spices, garlic, onions and eschallots etc
? Treat alcoholic beverages with care
? Drink plenty of fresh water throughout the day and keep well hydrated
? Brush your teeth after each meal (don?t forget to brush your tongue too) and rinse your mouth out with clean water after having a between meals snack
? If you notice any signs of blood coming from your gums have them checked by your dentist immediately?.it could be gum disease and this is also a major cause of bad breath
? Tooth decay also contributes to stinky breath so be sure and have a check up every six months.

You can see that with just a little effort on your mouth hygiene plus keeping an eye on what you eat and drink will all go a long way to giving you that mountain fresh breath?.you will feel better, your friends and work mates will love you for it and you will no longer be a bad breath victim.

Catch more fresh ideas on bad breath by the author Allan Johns at Allan?s ever growing health and disease information site at: http://www.betterhealthcentre.com/bad_breath/bad-breath-cure.htm

Bad Breath

                

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http://ebooksgaloreplus-bad-breath.blogspot.com http://ebooksgaloreplus-cure-bad-breath.blogspot.com http://ebooksgaloreplus.blogspot.com

There are lots of things that cause Bad Breath. The main 5 are; 1. Medications (including allergy medications) 2. Alcoholic beverages 3. Mouthwash with alcohol 4. Smoking 5. Dry mouth So, everyday over-the-counter hygiene products, beverages and medications can be the cause of your bad breath. Medications and alcohol dry out the mouth, which creates less saliva and can lead to less oxygen in the mouth. The combination of these two factors create the perfect breeding ground for the Anaerobic Sulfur-Producing Bacteria that cause Bad Breath. In laymans terms, oral bacteria causes Bad Breath. Think of your breath in the morning, it is probably not top-notch. This is because at night your mouth is resting and is drier than when you are awake. This is therefore the ideal time for bacteria to grow. This is the reason that when you wake up you are greeted with Morning Breath. When you are sick and congested, and breathing out of your mouth, you will probably notice that your breath smells. This is because your mouth is dry, so creates more bacteria, which causes Bad Breath. How do I Avoid the Bacteria That Causes Bad Breath? Those commercials and ads that tell us to pop a mint or use a mouth wash to deal with Bad Breath aren't always accurate. Many of the mints and washes people use to combat Bad Breath, can actually cause it or make it worse. This is because they only "MASK" the Bad Breath. The bacteria that causes Bad Breath live and breed beneath the surface of the tongue, on the tonsils and in the throat, not on the surface where it can be scraped or brushed off or dissolved with a wash or mint. Therefore, instead of getting rid of Bad Breath, many of these products contain alcohol which dries out the mouth creating a much more favorable environment for these odorous bacteria to grow. There are certain foods, like garlic and onions, which can cause bad breath because they contain the same compounds, previously discussed, that create Bad Breath. If you eat these foods regularly, it can create higher amounts of bacteria and lead to halitosis. The catch is that the Anaerobic Sulfur-Producing Bacteria that can cause bad breath are in everyone's mouth, because they are needed to assist in breaking down proteins in certain foods.

http://www.ebooksgaloreplus.com is run by an English mummy of two, living in the South of France, who has decided to work from home.

Avoid Bad Breath

                

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Bad breath can be a serious issue. No one wants to be known as having bad breath. However, brushing regularly and mouthwash may not always be effective. Here are some tips about avoiding bad breath.

If you are suffering from bad breath, brushing and rinsing your mouth may not be an effective remedy. There are many reasons why people have bad breath.

Besides eating potent foods such as onions and garlic, most dentists have found that the top bad breath contributors are a dry mouth or sinus infection. Even if you are following an oral hygiene regiment, these two contributors can still cause bad breath.

If you have dry mouth you can easily counter by constantly keeping your mouth moist by a lozenge or drinking water regularly However, if you have a sinus infection, you will need to see a doctor for a prescription to rid yourself of it.. Most people don't even realize that they have a sinus infection, but bad breath can be an indicator of one.

So if you are trying to avoid embarrassment look into these tips or see your dentist or doctor to avoid bad breath

More informations are available at http://www.health-00.info

Joel Dresse is the Webmaster of http://www.health-00.info, an informative site on health, breast cancer, exercise, weight loss and more subjects relatted to medicine.

How To Cure Bad Breath

                

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Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. Many people suffer from it either temporarily or as a chronic problem. Common causes are odiferous foods, smoking, poor oral hygiene, sinus conditions and medical issues. There are many cures for this ailment that are simple to use. If problems persist, though, it is advisable to seek the authority of a dentist or medical professional to rule out any serious dental or medical issues.

Certain foods such as garlic and onions produce bad breath. This is not a serious condition and will resolve itself in little time. Also, smoking can produce bad breath. Smoking can contribute to more serious dental and gum issues but the odor associated with smoking is unavoidable. It is, of course, recommended that smokers quit but short of that, there is little prevention for smoker?s breath. For a temporary fix, brush your teeth, chew gum or use a mint.

People with sinus conditions produce mucus that can be foul smelling. As a treatment for the sinus condition, a patient may be prescribed antihistamines which can cause dry mouth. If the mouth does not produce enough saliva to remain moist, this will cause bad breath. This is also why people have morning breath after sleeping for several hours allowing the mouth to dry out. Brushing and drinking plenty of water will help alleviate this.

There are several natural remedies found to help counteract the effects of bad breath. Chewing cardamom seeds, sunflower seeds, mint leaves and parsley are known to deodorize. Gargling with a mixture of lemon juice and water also helps. Brushing with baking soda and adding it to water for gargling is a popular choice in home remedies. Drinking teas with spices such as cardamom, anise, cinnamon and fennel are all reported to help sweeten breath.

The best way to treat bad breath is to ensure proper dental care. Brushing and flossing regularly will help deter bacteria from forming on teeth and tongue. As food particles can get trapped between teeth, flossing is essential to ensure plaque does not accumulate. Regular trips to the dentist for professional cleaning are also advised. When brushing, ensure a good toothbrush is used and do not neglect the tongue. Bacteria can get trapped on the tongue as well so thoroughly brush it.

If bad breath is a persistent condition, seek consultation with a dentist. It may be a sign of a more serious dental issue or gum disease. If a dentist rules out dental problems as a cause, a referral to a medical doctor may be in order. Certain conditions such as liver and kidney diseases can contribute to bad breath.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for PoorBreath.com. To learn more about bad breath remedies and how to cure bad breath, visit us.

How Bad Is Your Breath? 14 Simple Tips For Reducing Mouth Odor.

                

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Bad breath, morning breath, breath odor or halitosis are all terms used to describe a noticeably unpleasant odor exhaled on the breath. Halitosis is not a problem by itself, but it can cause concerns in our interpersonal relationships.

We are all familiar with how the consumption of certain foods such as garlic and onions can affect our breath. This occurs because these foods are absorbed into our bloodstream, where they are transferred to our lungs and exhaled. Fortunately, bad breath caused by the foods we eat is only temporary.

The truth is, most breath odor comes from food particles trapped in our mouths. When food remains in the mouth, it becomes a breeding ground for the bacteria that can cause bad breath. Other causes can include poor oral health, improper cleaning of dentures, periodontal disease as well as smoking & tobacco products. Bad breath can also be sign of an underlying medical condition of the stomach, lungs and bloodstream.

Another little known situation that can contribute to halitosis is xerostomia (dry mouth). When our mouth is dry, saliva production decreases, leaving the mouth's natural ability to clean itself impaired. Saliva is the mouth's natural mouthwash, which contains properties that reduces bacteria in the mouth. Alcohol consumption, certain medications, breathing through the mouth instead of the nose or a salivary gland disorder can contribute to having a dry mouth.

Recommendations For Wellness

Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly after every meal to remove food particle from the mouth.

When you are brushing your teeth, also brush your tongue. The tongue is covered with thousands of tiny hairs that can trap bacteria.

Have regular check-ups with your dentist to rule out gum disease and to correct any faulty restorations, overhanging fillings or leaking crowns, all of which can trap food in the mouth.

Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless lozenges to increase the flow of saliva.

If your mouth is dry, drink plenty of water. Try swooshing it around in your mouth for at least twenty seconds to loosen any food particles the bacteria can feed upon.

Avoid breath mints and mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Instead of helping, they can make things worse. They only temporarily cover the smell and tend to dry the mouth, creating a more favorable environment for bacteria.

Snacking on vegetables such as raw celery or carrots can keep plaque from forming.

If you are going to an important meeting or on a big date, avoid foods that can cause bad breath, such as onions and garlic.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine consumption, which can dry the mouth.

Quit smoking. Tar and nicotine can build up on the surface of the teeth, tongue and cheeks. It can also dry the mouth and inhibit saliva flow.

Chlorophyll is a natural breath freshener and is found in leafy green vegetables like parsley.

A few drops of peppermint or tea tree oil can be applied to the tongue or toothbrush to help freshen the breath. In addition to its refreshing nature, their antibacterial properties will kill the bacteria found in the mouth.

Baking soda has a long history of being used to maintain good oral health and for fighting bad breath.

A mixture of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% water can be swooshed around in the mouth and used as a mouthwash. Hydrogen peroxide can kill many of the bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. is the author of the books "Avoiding the Cosmic 2x4" and "The Power Within". It is it is her unique gift as a medical intuitive and clairvoyant that illuminates and enlivens her work. Visit http://www.soulhealer.com or call (972) 475-3393 for more information.

Strategies To Minimize Chronic Bad Breath

                

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Bad breath simply comes and goes for some people. Perhaps we only wake up with bad breath in the morning. Or eating certain foods, like onion or pizza. These are more obvious triggers for bad breath. But the bacteria that release the volatile sulfur compounds of bad breath find a great breeding ground in tongues that are coated or lined with cracks. Mucous and phlegm also contain proteins, and these bacteria exist to break down proteins. So if you suffer from phlegmatic nasal conditions, there's a good chance there is an associated increase in bad breath.

However, despite any existing conditions like fissured tongues or excess phlegm, that are more difficult to change, there are things we can avoid to minimize bad breath occurring.

What makes bad breath worse?

* A dry mouth:

Saliva keeps bad breath at bay because it is rich in oxygen. The bacteria that lead to symptoms of bad breath are anaerobic bacteria, meaning they live in an environment that does not have oxygen. When you have a dry mouth you're creating an environment that is more similar to their 'home', one that has little oxygen. So the bacteria thrive, and so does bad breath.

This is a problem for people who sleep with their mouths open, in particular. Breathing through your mouth all night dries out your mouth so you wake up with less-than-pleasant morning breath.

* Certain foods that are high in protein like meat, and for those who are lactose intolerant, dairy:

If you don't digest dairy products well, the bacteria have more of a chance to digest the proteins in milk and produce the volatile sulfur compounds that result in bad breath.

* Not flossing:

Similarly, if you don't floss after a meal, especially if you've eaten meat, the bacteria in your mouth have ample time to break down the meat proteins stuck between your teeth.

* Acidic foods and drinks like coffee:

Acidic foods and drinks create an environment in which bacteria will multiply faster

* Alcohol:

Even if its in a mouthwash, alcohol will dry your mouth out, and then you have all the bad breath problems associated with a dry mouth

* Sugar:

Sugar is food for bacteria. Enough said!! And this is why even mint flavored sugar products won't make your breath smell any better.

* Toothpaste containing SLS, or sodium laureth sulfate:

SLS is a harsh chemical that damages the lining of the mouth, albeit on a microscopic level. In the lab, SLS is used to destabilize membranes, and make protein and fats soluble. That's why it has a 'soapy' or foaming effect. Because it is a soap, it has a drying effect in your mouth. This of course leads to bad breath. It has also been linked to canker sores, and many people who suffer from these have found relief by switching to a toothpaste that doesn't contain SLS.

References:
1. www.therabreath.comYou don't have to live with bad breath. For your guide to bad breath treatments, click here: http://www.vitaminstohealth.com/bad-breath-cause.html

Your Baby's Ugly...and You've Got Bad Breath

                

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Ever wondered what to give the "Person Who Has Everything"? A Gift Basket could be just the thing. Have you been from shop to shop and thought "Yes This is It" and then discounted the gift because it wasn't really what you wanted.

My best friend has everything and when I say everything, "I Mean Everything". She has either been given or purchased every conceivable gadget available in the last 5 years. She loves to shop. One of her motto's is "Shop Til you Drop, Spend Til the End". And she lives by that rule!

When it comes to gifts for my friend -- she is "The Hardest Person to Buy For". Oh did I tell you, she even has a kitchen sink on her car key tag !

It was while looking for a present for my friend that I thought "What About A Gift Basket". I was in a specialized shop and the sign said "For the Person Who Has Everything" and the light turned on.

I'm not sure if you are aware but these days gift baskets have changed. No longer are they the old style cane baskets (although there are some very attractive cane baskets available on today's market). Today Gift Baskets came in all shapes and sizes. In fact, it is basically up to your imagination as to what a "Gift Basket" should be. You can use old shoes, buckets, calico bags, pot plant holders in fact anything that holds what items you purchase to fill the basket with.

Gift Baskets are lots of fun to create and very easy to make. Gone are the days of saying... oh I'm not creative enough to make a professional looking basket. Anyone can make a professional looking basket -- as long as you have some imagination and a willingness to give it a try.

If you are stuck for a present for that "Person Who Has Everything" then a Gift Basket is for you!

Firstly decide on a theme or if you aren't sure then write down the interests of the recipient ie. golf or tennis, shopping etc. You could even base it around a coming event. Once you have made the list, work your way through it until you find something that stands out that would fit into your Gift Basket "theme".

For today's basket lets say your friend loves to entertain and one of her favorite meals is "Italian" food.

You could choose a selection of baskets for this theme; today we will use a large pasta bowl as our "basket" or a large cooking pot. Our basket needs to be large enough to hold the goodies that we are going to purchase so that we can then turn this into a Professional Looking "Gift Basket". If neither of these ideas appeals to you, let your imagination take over and choose something that fits into your theme selection.

Next take yourself down to the local supermarket or deli who specialize in gourmet foods. Set yourself a budget as to what you want to spend and then go about buying non-perishable items to fill the basket. Speak to the shop attendant to ensure that the items you are purchasing fit into your theme. Buy different colors and types of pasta to give variety of color and shape to your basket.

Next take yourself to a department store or kitchenware shop and purchase some really great utensils to go with the other items that you have purchased.

You could also add an "Easy Step by Step Guide" if they need cooking help, or send them to a "Cooking Lesson" for something extra.

Once you have gathered these items, it is time to begin to assemble your gift basket.

Depending upon the type of basket you have chosen you may need to fill the bottom of the basket with some shredded paper, as this will give the basket height. Place the items in the basket to give a layered effect. Layering items at different heights in the basket makes the overall design more pleasing to the eye.

Use small pieces of tape to hold items in place. Next wrap clear cellophane around the outside of the basket and tie the top with wired ribbon or curling ribbon to match the color scheme of your gift.

To finish off our basket make a gift tag and tuck a small item into the ribbon around the basket to give a professional look.

Congratulations, you've done it... "A Present For the Person Who Has Everything" -- A Gift Basket!Donna Hamer is the author and publisher of 101 Gift Basket Ideas. For a Free 5 part Mini Course on how to create your own "Personalized Gift Baskets", visit http://www.101giftbasketideas.com

We've all felt stress in our lives. And we're left wondering what's the best way to try and deal with it.

Some exercise, others veg out in front of the TV, I however have discovered the amazing zen of charm bracelets.

Charm bracelets are both a way to collect memories without large obtrusive knick knacks everywhere and is also a fun hobby for people that like collecting things.

It's almost like a treasure hunt looking for new charms to add to your collection and display like a trophy to everyone you come in contact with for them to admire your work and your chance to tell them all about the history of each charm.

See, it's not just about collecting the charms simply to collect them, it's about what they mean to you.

Much like someone that gets many tattoos, there's a story that goes behind them and a memory of when they got it.

It's the same with charms, there is a certain story, a certain reason for having the charms you have and everytime you look at them, they remind you about the things that are special to you.

You can collect charms that remind you of a trip you went on, of a certain belief you have, or a special time in your life. And best of all, these can all be worn on your wrist.

You can even make multiple bracelets for different periods in your life or for different moods.

It's a relzxing, almost theraputic hobby that will help you relieve stress and live your life with great joy and happiness. And all those memories are a short glance away.

I would reccomend this hobby to anyone, and once you've got you're very first charm, you'll know what I mean.

The charms are endless just like your memories. Carry them with you always.Juliette is the nation's leading expert on the creation of charm bracelets and rare charms. Her site is http://www.coolcharmbracelets.com

One of the biggest and hottest growing trends in the art of tattoo design is Hawaiian arm or leg band tattoos. As this trend goes a lot of people think to themselves, well of course." At least that is what I said to myself at first. You can hardly drive more then 10 minutes on the freeway in southern California where I am from and not see a big SUV like a Lincoln Navigator or a Cadillac Escalade and not see a Hawaiian sticker. Things with flowers designs, or turtles, dolphins. Ya see it started off with the sticker and then the car seat covers with hibiscus flowers everywhere and it just grew from there.

This trend of Hawaiian design has then met it's match with the whole tribal tattoo movement. Tribal tattoos have been the hottest thing in the tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school WWII era Hula dancer. You see these influences have been all around us for a long time my grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos still. Granted it is a little saggy and faded now but he still has one on his forearm nonetheless.

So the whole tribal tattoo and the growth in interest for Hawaiian designs have combined to make a hot and growing market for Hawaiian tattoos. This is really an up and coming thing and it not huge yet. However many tattoo artists are spotting the trend and jumping on it already.

Of course there is a lot of controversy on this subject also like anything. If you look on the internet there is a controversy about getting Kanji and Japanese Tattoos also. Anytime you try and take the designs of a culture and do not depict them accurately it creates a sense of bastardization or what I call the "Disney Effect" towards the culture. I mean how would you feel if you were in China and someone said, oh you should try this hot new restaurant out it serves this great food that is really American. They have fried chicken and apple pie that is the best." Well, at first you would be excited right? Sure it would be nice for a good home cooked meal if you have been out of the US for a long time. However once you get there you see the place has really tacky and awful reproductions of 50's art and the all the food tastes kind of strange. It would probably bee kind of close or resemble what you were thinking of but it would be missing something or a few key ingredients. I bet this would leave you feeling a little sad and like your culture was not totally understood.

Well, I can not speak for you and maybe you will feel different but I was pretty sad when after staying in Japan for 3 months I was invited to a 1950's classic hamburger joint. When we got there it was Elvis with a funny accent playing on the jukebox and when my hamburger came it had a fried egg on top of it with teriyaki sauce. WOW what a surprise that was for me. I kind of felt weird about being in the place that had tried to recreate something from my own culture.

So, the same controversy rolls on in the world of tattoos. Anytime you get a tattoo design from another culture just make sure you go with a professional. Do not have your friend trace out some Kanji in a book for a tattoo and don't go and rip some design of the internet because it states that it is Hawaiian. Go to a real custom tattoo designer and have them do the research and come up with some designs. After all this is going to be on your body for the rest of your life and since Hawaiian arm band tattoos and leg tattoos are typically big it will be a significant investment in pain, time and money to get the thing done. So you should consult with a professional and get top notch work done.

 Chris is the owner and webmaster of http://www.designmyattoos.com where you can find custom tattoo artists waiting to design a tattoo for you. Either a Hawaiian Arm Tattoo or some other tattoo design.

This success mistake has cost me so much money that I'm almost embarrassed to tell you.

"So Mike, why are you telling me?"

Because I know that if you can steer away from this success mistake, it can help you improve your income and change your life. That's my goal.

Here's how this came about:

Yesterday, I was reading a book about investing from the very successful money manager Peter Lynch.

Even though he was talking about 'investing', he zeroed in on a success principle that so many people miss.

I did.for 7+ years and it cost me a fortune.

And it caused me a bunch of stress.

What's so interesting is that Warren Buffett used this same success insight to become the 2nd richest person in the world.

Here's the deal:

I used to be so 'short-sighted' and wanted immediate gratification.

If my new 'business idea' didn't work out in 30-60 days, I quit.

Then I'd try something else and, after a week, I went onto something else.

This downward spiral happened for a while because I was 'ruled' by a short-term vision and the desire for immediate gratification.

This is how 98% of the world operates.

THIS is why only 2% of the world live their dreams.

Here's what Peter Lynch was saying and what Warren Buffet knows.

Also, Michael Dell knows this, Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Oprah and others all know this.

***One of the biggest 'secrets' to success is taking the LONG-TERM VIEW.

(Let me say that again)

***One of the biggest 'secrets' to success is taking the LONG-TERM VIEW.

When Warren Buffett makes an investment, he's looking 5-15 years out, sometimes more.

All great entrepreneurs understand that in order to WIN BIG they must take the long-term view.

3-years, 5-years, 15-years, 20-years+.

You need to give yourself time for your idea or business to grow.

Most people never do this - it's unfortunate. AND it's also never too late to start.

You need to EXPAND your horizon.

Change your perspective.

You need to take the NEXT STEP today and keep in mind your long-term view. Not necessarily a specific long term goal, but a longer term VIEW.

There's a season for everything.

Take the time to plant the seeds, water them, and be patient for your harvest.

Stay disciplined.

I know you can do it.Resource box: If you're scattered, if you procrastinate too much, and if you want to 'rev up' your income, see Mike Litman's site at: http://www.powerofconcentration.net

Only about 20% of your copy is going to get read. The rest will simply be scanned. I'm sure you've heard the statistic before. It's nothing new. While it might sound frightening or frustrating, it's a fact of copywriting life. So what do you do next? Give up? What difference does it make if only about 20% will be read anyway?

It makes a world of difference. Especially if you understand that there are some sections of your copy that are practically guaranteed to get read. If you know what these are and work to reinforce them, you'll see your conversions increase dramatically whether your copy is geared toward online or offline promotions.

HEADLINES

Headlines have always been and will always be the most important section in any copy. They are the first thing to get read and have the greatest impact on whether any of the other copy gets read. Those stories you've seen floating around the Internet about marketers who have made minute changes to a headline and tripled their conversion rates are true. It happens all the time. In fact, it's happened to me.

Headlines and sub-headlines can guide your visitors to read deeper into your copy. If you set up a structure of progressive headlines (http://www.marketingwords.com/articles/articles_progressheadlines.html), you'll have a better shot getting your point across. Pay a lot of attention to your headline. It's the powerhouse of your copy.

CAPTIONS

Captions started with newspaper journalists. When they would run a picture with a story, they would add a few words underneath to explain what or who the picture was of. People got into the habit of looking for the captions in order to relate the importance of the image with the information they were receiving. This still holds true. Captions in advertising pieces are highly read. Don't waste the space!

FIRST SENTENCES

When you scan something -- an article, a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a website -- what do you read? Almost everyone reads the first sentence of each paragraph. These sentences are vitally important in order to get your potential customers interested enough to keep reading. If you create exceptional first sentences, one of two things will happen. One: The prospect will be more likely to continue reading the copy. Two: The first sentences in each paragraph will be enough to convince him/her to buy.

FIRST IN BULLETED LIST

Just as with the first sentence in each paragraph, people also almost always read the first entry in a bulleted list. If it hits home, they might keep reading. But, knowing that you have their attention for at least one second, always make sure your first bullet point is extremely powerful and enticing.

PS's

Writing a direct mail or Web sales letter? The PS is another hot spot. Take advantage of this real estate. Repeat offers, remind readers of bonuses, reinforce guarantees or recap limited-time offers. This section is the final pitch before your reader either acts or trashes your copy so make it count.

Have you noticed something about these five sections? Why do you think they are virtually guaranteed to get read in any piece of copy? They are unusual. They are limited. They stand out. They are eye-catching.

You only have a limited number of headlines and sub-heads in copy. They are almost always offset by bolding or underlining so they easily catch the eye of the reader. Captions only appear when there are images. They do not appear all throughout the copy. First sentences are also rare. Only one sentence in each paragraph can be the first one. This tells the reader to keep going or jump to another section that might be of more interest. First entries in bulleted lists are unusually formatted and catch the eye of the reader. PS's? There's only one, and since it's the last thing on the page, most often, it stands out too.

These rare elements give you five guaranteed shots at building curiosity, promoting benefits, generating interest and closing sales. If you haven't done it before, now is the time to review your copy to be sure you're making the most out of these opportunities.Karon Thackston is a veteran copywriting pro who specializes in SEO copy. Learn how to write SEO copy that impresses the engines and your visitors at http://www.copywritingcourse.com. Get more tips on incorporating keyphrases into your copy with Karon's latest e-report "How To Increase Keyword Saturation (Without Destroying the Flow of Your Copy)" at http://www.copywritingcourse.com/keyword.

I began the journey of owning a home based business several months ago. Like many others, I found the task of marketing my business overwhelming and frustrating. Without marketing, you don't make sales, and without sales, you can't profitably run your business.

After spending countless hours on the computer and throwing many dollars down the drain, I learned one very important thing: You must combine mass marketing with a personal touch.

There are many great marketing tools you can use to achieve mass marketing including pay per click engines, placing ads, buying leads, banner advertising, and exchanging links just to name a few. While these methods can produce positive results, they lack the personal connection many new business owners need to build a true customer base.

On the other hand, personal touch methods such as emailing your family and friends about your new business can be a great way to start spreading the word, but this approach may not help you reach enough people to give your business the jump start it really needs.

So where did this lead this flailing entrepreneur? Message boards.

I initially visited message boards to get help with my marketing dilemma. In the process, I realized this was not only a place to exchange valuable information with other home business owners, but this was also a great place to market my own online business.

Not only did I find plenty of message board group members willing to give information, I found many interested parties for my own business. Soon, I realized that not only was I becoming a more educated marketing guru, I was introducing my new business to many new friends (and customers).

By joining message board groups, not only will you find a new outlet to advertise your business, but you will also build credibility among your peers.

Follow these simple steps to begin utilizing message boards to market your home business today:

1. Visit a search engine and do a search on message boards.
2. Click through to the message boards and search for forums related to work from home and/or your specific type of business.
3. Join a few message board groups. (Note: Some message board groups will allow you to post without being a member, but membership increases your credibility).
4. Post information about your business. Remember to give specific instructions about how to reach you including email address, Web URL, etc.

Message boards are an efficient and effective way to reach a targeted market with direct contact, and, best of all, they are free. As you will soon see, these message boards are quite powerful as there are thousands of subscribers who receive posts from message board groups in their email boxes each day.

Start joining message board groups now and take your home business to new heights!

Leslie McGuirk is a CPA and holds a Masters of Business Administration. For additional information on home business and marketing ideas, subscribe to mailto:buckyshome@getresponse.com or http://visit www.buckyshome.com. If you are interested in getting a free website to market your own home business, visit http://www.buckyshome.com/pips.html.

Too often, when we say we are "taking care of business", we think about the paperwork, the accounting, the inventory, etc... the trivial things that are important to get done in order for our business to run smoothly and efficiently. While necessary, they are not the most important.

We need to change our thinking about what "taking care of business" means. We need to make sales in order to have a profitable business, and we know without our customers or consultants, we don't have a business. They are our lifeblood, they are what keeps us moving forward, and meeting their needs should be our primary mission.

Without consultants or customers, there are no sales. Without sales, there is no revenue... without revenue, there is no business and we might as well go back and get a j.o.b. It is crucial that we take care of our customers and consultants. CRM (customer-relationship management) is a buzz-word in "big business". Many large corporations have implemented systems and technology to supposedly create customer care. Some have been successful, many have not.

Most of these systems simply give the illusion of customer care, but have failed miserably in actually providing it.

How many times have you been through the "round robin" of "press 1 for this" and "press 2 for that", only to spend an hour or more and never actually speak to a live person or get your problem solved? You hang up in the phone in frustration and vow never to spend money with XYZ Company again. This approach to customer care continues to baffle me as to why large companies believe this is effective. How can they possibly think that customer relationships can be created and nurtured by a recording?

Are those who make these decisions that far removed up the "corporate ladder" they can't see this isn't customer care at all and having the opposite effect?

Each and every one of our customers and consultants should be made to feel like they are our most important one. If we don't take care of them, someone or some other company will. Small and home businesses have an incredible opportunity to take back customer care and relationships the way it is supposed to be. We are in an incredible position to "take care of business".

Technology is wonderful. Without technology, there would be no internet and many of us would not be in business. However, there is no technology on this earth that can replace human connections. Technology will never replace our customers knowing that there is someone who truly cares about their needs.

So, how about you? Are you taking care of business?

 Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who specializes in personalization and customer care for all her clients. She exchanged her suits, hose and heels for working at home in her "jammies" and is on a mission to empower other women to do the same. She can be reached at: http://www.CommuteInYourJammies.com or http://www.PattysPrettyPaper.com

10 Classic E-zine Advertising TipsKen Hill

1. Target your advertising.

The more targeted the e-zine is for your offer, the greater your response will be for your proven ad.

2. Track your ads.

Don't leave your ad campaigns to guesswork. Use ad tracking to show you exactly which e-zines and ads are most profitable.

3. Run your ad for multiple issues.

You'll get a better response, and possibly save money as many publishers offer special deals on bulk advertising.

4. Spend lots of time writing your headline.

An effective headline will successfully grab your reader's attention and target your audience.

Your winning headline will also get people to read the rest of your ad, leading to more traffic and sales.

If you're new to writing headlines, and need some help check out my "9 Power Packed Headline Formulas" at: http://www.scstats.com/r.cfm?i=5652

5. Don't try to sell your product from your ad.

Write your ads to create interest and get people to visit your site.

From here, your powerful sales page will do the selling for you, and you'll be able to get people to join your e-zine or mailing list for successful follow up.

6. Don't use all caps in your headline.

You'll appear like your yelling at your reader, and your ad will come off as amateurish.

7. Include a "call to action."

At the end of your e-zine ads, include a call to action that tells your reader what you want them to do next (i.e., visit your site or subscribe to your e-zine).

8. Don't be cute or funny with your ad.

You might put your reader in a good mood, but don't count on that translating into more visits to your site or more sales.

9. Offer something for free.

Provide an incentive for visiting your site such as a free ebook, sample chapter, or trial.

10. Subscribe to or view the archives of the
e-zines you would like to advertise in.

You'll be able to see the quality of the content provided, how many ads are published in each issue, and you'll get a good idea of the products those readers are interested in by the ads being run.

: Ken's articles have been published in numerous e-zines and web sites all over the net. Keep up to date on his latest articles, and get more new valuable tips by visiting him at: http://kenhill.blogspot.com

11 Creative Ways You Can Use AutorespondersShery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

1. Pick 4 or more articles you've written that have a common theme and put them in an autoresponder series. Announce it on your site as an e-mail course on the go.

2. If you have a page for related links, create a related links file and put it on autoresponder. This can be a one-page e-mail containing 15-50 links that are of interest to your visitors. Put your own promotional texts or blurbs at the top, middle and bottom of the e-mail.

3. Create a fun or trivia quiz, put it up on your site and put the answers in an autoresponder that your visitors can request. This way, you'll know the people who took your quiz.

4. Write reviews of books, music, e-books, sites, software or anything you can think of and put each review (or related reviews) in an autoresponder. If what you are reviewing have affiliate programs, use your affiliate links in the autoresponder.

5. Run a contest on your site or e-zine, then have your visitors or subscribers send their responses to your autoresponder. This way, you won't have to worry about manually sending them a confirmation receipt.

6. Create a frequently updated autoresponder and let your visitors and/or subscribers know about it. You can put in weekly tips or links to useful resources in the autoresponder and a reminder to the people who request it that you update it every week or on a regular basis (e.g. tell them to request for the same autoresponder again a week from now). You can use this method instead of using autoresponders with limited follow up messages.

7. If you've written 20 or more articles and you have them on separate autoresponder accounts, create a master list for your articles. In this master list, list the titles of your articles, their autoresponder addresses and their short descriptions. You can then just promote this master list.

8. Put excerpts or free chapters of your e-book, book or paid e-mail courses in an autoresponder series, then include your follow up sales letters at the end.

9. If you're selling your own products, put your testimonials on autoresponder, along with the description of your products, an excerpt or a free chapter. This will increase your credibility.

10. Keep track of people who download your free e-book, e-report, or free software by putting their download links in an autoresponder. When you promote your free product, you can just promote the autoresponder address.

11. Put links to your hidden pages on autoresponder. A hidden page could be the affiliate page where you have all the graphics, text links, promotional articles that interested affiliates can use. Let people know they can have free access to your affiliate page by requesting the autoresponder. This way, you can have a list of people who are interested in becoming your affiliates.

Shery is the developer of creative, motivating and fun e-mail courses for writers at http://WritingBliss.com. She also authored the e-book that lets you create your own original and profitable E-mail Workshops, eCourses and Tutorials in only 3 days. Visit http://EmailWorkshopsHowTo.com for more info.

Running a contest for your e-zine subscribers or web site visitors is one way you can generate interest and give more exposure for products or services you want to promote.

A contest could be as simple as spotting a word or a set of words within an e-zine's issue or searching for a graphic on a site. A contest can run for one issue, or it can last for a month or more.

If you plan to run a contest, make sure you have a "contest management response system" in place.

This could be as simple as an automated e-mail receipt to let your participants know their entry has been received.

Run a contest that asks your participants to send their responses to specific e-mail addresses. Then create an automated receipt confirmation for each account. Include a link to your products, affiliate links, or services in your confirmation receipt. Every time someone enters your contest and sends her entry, she receives a confirmation message. Thus, you've just exposed your products to your contestant.

Encourage multiple entries and your contest participants get exposed to your promotional texts multiple times.

Ok, what about contest prizes?

If you publish an e-zine and you sell advertising space, you can give away free ad space to the winners.

If you have your own product, or a product you have resell rights to, you can give away free copies of it to your winners.

If you have a service, why not put that up as a prize?

In any case, though, let your prospective contestants be interested in the prizes. Yes -- put the complete prize descriptions, along with the contest mechanics, on autoresponder too.

And then include links where they can purchase the prizes. Hey, some people might not want to wait to win your contest! So it's good to cover all bases.

Run a contest that lets autoresponders handle entries and confirmation receipts and you'll have a promotional tool that can bring in profits for you!

 

 Shery is the developer of creative, motivating and fun e-mail courses for writers at http://WritingBliss.com. She also authored the e-book that lets you create your own original and profitable E-mail Workshops, eCourses and Tutorials in only 3 days. Visit http://EmailWorkshopsHowTo.com for more info.

For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any more than going on a blind date is. You are asked a bunch of questions about your work. You answer them. They ask a bunch more; you answer them. Youre graded on your performance (you receive a job offer or not). Yet interviews are predictable processes and as such can be planned for

What does an employer want to know about you?

• Do you have the skills to do the job that needs to be filled?
• How will you fit in with my company?
• If I hire you, are you someone I will need to worry about?

How does this get determined in an interview?

• By asking questions about what you have done and how you did it or decided it should be done.
• By asking behavioral questions that will give an employer a sense of the scope of your experiences
• By asking concrete questions to ascertain your knowledge
• By observing your body language or physical response to questioning to observe whether it is consistent with a successful person.

The fourth way (observing body language or physical response to questions) is particularly interesting because it is not skill or experience based and is completely subjective and emotional. AND it is part of the decision process.

And want are firms trying to find out about you? Leadership. Honesty. Trustworthiness.

You can practice with a friend or family member but they may not be much better than you. So how do you practice you presentation and get immediate feedback in order to improve your presentation and demonstrate these attributes?

Toastmasters (www.toastmasters.org) offers people an opportunity to practice how to speak throughout their program. Whether you answer extemporaneous questions off the cuff for 1-2 minutes in Table Topics ("Its warm! Its summer! People start to go to the beach and spending time outdoors. Tell us about a time you had fun at the beach, Jeff." Notice that you only find out when you will speak at the end when you hear your name) or by doing actual 4-6 minute speeches, Toastmasters offers concrete opportunities to get used to being "on the spot" as happens in an interview. It also gives you an opportunity to observe others and learn from them and from the evaluations that are given.

There are Toastmasters clubs throughout the world. To find one, you can go to http://www.toastmasters.org/find/.Jeff Altman has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in technology, accounting, finance, sales, marketing and other disciplines since 1971. He is also co-founder of Your Next Job, a networking group focused on assisting technology professionals with their job search, a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist. For additional job hunting or hiring tips, go to http://www.newyorkmetrotechnologyjobs.com

If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at jeffaltman@cisny.com (If youre looking for a new position, include your resume).

I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that 98% of businesses are small businesses. That bodes well for the entrepreneurial spirit that has made our nation great. The bad news is that 80%, that's right, four out of five new businesses will fail in their first five years.

After years of building my own companies and consulting growing businesses, I've come to the realization that too many business owners can't see their business through an objective eye, which often leads to their demise. It takes an incredible amount of intense drive, determination and a strong ego to breathe life into a business and create products from scratch, but it's also that same ego that won't let a business owner be objective about what their business needs to succeed. The business is up and running at light-speed and management doesn't have the time or willingness to stand back and take a real look at what they have created. They are too close to the problems to see them. Just like a proud parent, they have spent sweat and time creating this "baby," and they refuse to believe that it might be less than perfect.

I call this the "business parent trap." It is in this trap that business owners often create and introduce products that would not test out in the marketplace. There's an attitude of "Hey, it's gotta be great because I thought of it."

I've found that there are usually two basic things wrong with a business: the product (the Baby) and the management (the Breath).

So how do you assess your business? Are your employees going to tell you that you're headed in the wrong direction? Not likely. Occasionally a consultant will be brought in to review the company's performance in a given area. Unfortunately, when management does bring in a consultant, they often are really looking for affirmation not straight-forward constructive criticism. Sadly, some consultants are more than willing to "affirm for a fee."

If you're going to succeed, then someone needs to tell you if your baby's ugly or you've got bad (corporate) breath. So here are some blunt yet truthful thoughts for your business, and perhaps you:

GET OVER YOURSELF: Know yourself, trust yourself, believe in yourself...then Get Over Yourself. You're really not the smartest person in the world. You built the business and know it better than anyone else, but no one else really cares how much you know.

SPECTATOR SPORT: Conversation with you should not be a spectator sport for others. Remember that there's a huge difference between listening and merely waiting for your turn to talk. You hired your employees and perhaps a consultant because you assumed they had brains, so let them use them. Ask questions and listen to answers.

JUST ANOTHER PRODUCT Realize that even though you think that your new product or service is the greatest thing since the flip-top beer can, the world just sees one more product and must be convinced. You created this product and you know every function of it, but customers do not buy functions, they buy only benefits. Whether your product is a high tech internet service or office furniture, you must show how it is uniquely beneficial to your customer. Functionality makes your products work, Benefits make them sell.

PAPER WEIGHT: If you have the high tech inventive skills to create a product, chances are that you don't have the skills to market and sell it. Many small business owners think that marketing and sales are the simplest part of their business, so it is almost an afterthought. There is only one reason that inferior products outsell better ones; and that is successful marketing. Think of your marketing plan as the complete story book that sells your product. If your story book is a best seller, then your product will be a best seller. Without the right story that will build sales and distribution, your wonderful product is just another paper weight head for a land fill.

STAND BACK: Your competitors are not all stupid. Guess what? They think their babies are cute too, and they may tell better stories that make them look even better than yours. So stand back and look at yourself and your baby and try to look through the eyes of a disinterested party, because believe it or not, the world is a disinterested party.

Remember, there's an 80% chance that you will not be in business in 5 years. As busy as you are, and successful as you think you are, you must set your ego aside and realize that there are things beyond your control. Successful companies know that the secret to success doesn't lie in knowing everything; it lies in knowing what you don't know, and finding those who do.

I wish you good luck and great success. Steve Baker is a business advisor who has founded successful start-up companies and specializes in market development. He founded a company that did $500 million the first year and he was sued for $1.4 Billion. He speak on How to be a Successful Failure, and he is the author of the award winning book, PUSHING WATER UPHILL With A Rake; Memoirs of a Successful Failure. He lives in Colorado where he is an avid poor golfer. He can be reached through his website www.PushingWaterUphill.com