Tuesday

3 Great Reasons To Buy Jewelry From Online Retailers

More and more people are starting to buy jewelry online and they have many great reasons to do so. Buying online has numerous advantages as opposed to making your purchase at a regular jewelry store. Below you will find a list of several of the advantages of buying jewelry over the internet.

1. Price – Online jewelry stores have one major advantage over brick and mortar jewelry stores and that is overhead. Online stores are virtual and do not require a fancy building with all the bells and whistles to impress their customers. They also have no electric bills, no salespeople to pay and no ongoing maintenance expenses. Since they do not have to worry about these expenses they are able to offer that designer watch you wanted at lower prices. They have less overhead to pay for and therefore have the ability to offer their jewelry at much reduced prices.

2. Selection – Online jewelry stores basically have unlimited space to display their jewelry. Since their store is online they can add products at will with little expense. However, a regular store has a limited amount of display space for their jewelry and they simply have to limit the amount of items they can offer the customer. This gives online stores a huge advantage over offline stores. Go take a look at an online jewelry store and you that they offer products from hip hop jewelry to high priced diamond jewelry..

3. Accessibility and Ease – Online jewelry stores offer the convenience of shopping online with allows you to go to your computer and look through as many products as you want. You can also do price comparisons very easily between different online stores. Compare that to driving around to 4 or 5 different stores offline which could take up an entire weekend. Not to mention having to fend off all the aggressive salespeople at each store! Shopping online is much more relaxing and accessible then regular stores.

The main concern that people have about buying jewelry online is that they do not get to see it in person and try it on. That is a valid concern, but any reputable online jewelry store will have a generous return policy where if that hip hop watche you purchased do not fit or live up to your expectations you can return them for a full refund.

If you are searching for jewelry and want a fair price, great selection and easy shopping, simply fire up your computer and head online where you will find thousands of online jewelry stores waiting to help you find that piece of jewelry you are looking for. Its easier than you think!

Saturday

Marketing Strategy : Branding Basics for Small Business

In most of the marketing literature, branding strategies are usually skewed towards large businesses. The nature of these strategies also demands heavy and sustained investment in brand promotion and brand equity development. Often such high decibel brand promotion strategies create an impression that branding is a game for large players.

One of the fundamental question before any marketer is whether to brand or not brand. Although marketing literature suggests that there is an option for no-branding, for all practical purposes a firm cannot escape branding. No-Branding decision is where the firm chose to sell its offerings as generic products or commodities. But even in such a scenario, the firms which are marketing such generic products are distinguished by their company name which should be considered as a brand.

For example if you are a salt manufacturer supplying to retail outlets, although you are not selling branded salt, your company name will act as a brand for your customer ( retailer). Even though such firms are not into selling branded products, they have a corporate brand. Through their sales personnel and transactions, these firms are already building their corporate brand.
One of the most important advantages of branding is that brands help to identify and distinguish the seller. Even when selling commodities, the buyer needs to identify the seller and developing a corporate brand helps in getting repeat business from the customer.

Commit to Branding
The first step in creating an effective brand is a conscious decision to invest in branding the business. Whether it is a corporate name or an individual brand name, the decision to invest in branding will bring in a big difference. Branding is much more than putting a label in the cover of the product. Branding is a long term strategy which involves development of a brand vision and creation of brand personality.
Branding need not be expensive
Investing in branding is not about the money set aside for brand promotion but the level of involvement of marketers in developing the brand consciously. Small and medium enterprises have the constraint of limited marketing budget which forces them to overlook the importance of branding their products/business. But when we look at the long term perspective, taking baby steps now will go a long way in establishing a powerful brand in the future.
Big brands are built over a period of time. It is possible for small enterprises to build powerful brand through a consistent investment in smart branding practices. It is advisable to set aside a small percentage of revenue for the purpose of brand development alone. Consider this budget as a Systematic Brand Investment Plan rather than an expense.

Develop and protect the brand elements
Once a decision is made to build a brand, the next step is to develop powerful brand elements.
Brand elements include name, logo, symbols, mascots, color schemes, taglines etc. These brand elements should be prominently displayed in every communication that goes out from the firm be it visiting cards, gifts, brochures etc.
The next logical step is to protect the vital brand elements like Brand Name, Logo, etc. This is very important to prevent plagiarism and to challenge the rip-offs and copy cats.

Explore promotional opportunities
The fragmentation of media is in fact a big blessing for small brands. The proliferation of media has given lot of low cost promotional opportunities for small brands. The competition among the media has kept the advertising rates low especially for second –rung media. Small brands can make use of regional media options in a much more effective way than large brands operating in a national scale. Local newspapers, radio stations, cable TV channels offer excellent cost-effective vehicles for small brand promotions.
Brand promotions through these low cost media may not give a substantial ROI or a significant impact in sales in the short-term. In the long term, such small media exposure will increase the visibility of the brand and benefits will start accruing.
Corporate brands which operate in a business to business environment should explore their brand promotions in a different manner. For business brands, sales professionals are the biggest promoters of the brand. It is important for small businesses to ensure that the sales force is communicating the right kind of message to the customer. Business brands should try to communicate their brand message through every possible contact opportunities.
Every business has some communication materials like brochures, pamphlets etc and these materials offer some amount of information about the company and products. When endeavoring to brand development, these materials are of immense value. These materials should communicate the core Brand Manthra to the consumers. It is commonly observed that these communication materials are only used as a product catalogue rather than a branding tool.
It is a myth that brand building is expensive. Brands are built over time and through consistent systematic investment. The new highly connected environment has opened up many cost effective promotional platforms which can be used by small business to build their brands.

Advantage of Promotional Products

Several business owners are using promotional products to build a good market. There are numerous benefits of using promotional items and interestingly, there are different online and offline stores available from where one can choose promotional items easily. However, lots of business owners prefer online promotional products due to their wide range of items and easy availability. Some of the benefits of promotional items are discussed below and definitely will provide a clear vision to the people who are thinking for their brand promotion.

The first benefit of promotional products is that it helps in the retention of customer's interest. There are different types of reliable and durable products available and one can choose depending upon the choice and interest. One can offer promotional items as gift to customers and usually they keep these items for long time. It is the most effective marketing strategy as it affects the customer's or viewer's mind everyday and as a result, the brand image becomes much stronger in the minds of customers.

The business owners or marketers widely use promotional products in trade shows or exhibitions to generate more traffic. One can distribute the promotional products in the trade show as there are thousands of people gathered in trade shows, it can prove to be very beneficial for the company's or brand promotion. One should always consider the type of promotional product in order to achieve best results. The promotional product should match the theme of the business. Several marketers offer promotional products to encourage people towards their booth. Several marketers are applying this strategy and it can prove to be very beneficial to get good results. A pamphlet with promotional item can be an added advantage for the business owners.

Custom Promotional Carabiner Key Chains: Lowest Price Guarantee!

What is the best promotional item that you can give to your customers? Certainly custom key chain can be an excellent option! Engraved key chain from custom promotional key chains gives you a unique opportunity to promote your company's products with some of the finest quality of cable key chains along with wide varieties of other key chains which they offer. You can also find attractive and lovely cable key chain that comes with a cable key holder. These engraved key chains are uniquely made using reflective nickel metal over brass which is well polished.
Carabiner keychains are among the least expensive advertising tool available and people love them. This feature makes them a great promotional product! You can get carabiner key chains custom engraved with your name, logo or message at wholesale prices too. From large carabiners to standard multi functional carabiner key chain flashlights, bottle openers, pens, everything you can find.
Some companies have specialized in producing key chains as custom promotional items for businesses and individuals. The range is vast; from 50 to 500,000 you will find best quality custom key chains at the absolute lowest wholesale prices guaranteed!

Tuesday

Yoga For Women

Yoga has been gaining immense popularity due to the short-term as well as long-term benefits that it provides.

Today Many Women are spending their lifes with stress overload, due to their heavy responsibilities at home and office. This can cause exhaustion, depression, as well as numerous stress-related physical complaints.  Taking up yoga can help redress the balance, by instead, engaging the parasympathetic (quietening) nervous system which produces the ‘relaxation response’. 

Taking up yoga provides Fitness and Flexibility to the body and provides solutions to the Health Disorders and one can achieve an All-Round Development Of a calm, stress-free mind.

Women can take up yoga at any age and without being in top physical condition. It is a relaxing experience, not an exhausting one and carries with it an overall sense of well being. The psychological benefits of the practice are as marked as the physical changes.

Yoga Benefits Women In Every Life Stage

The Importance of Yoga

Yoga have been developed over centuries of research and experience. They have been found to be extremely effective in Increasing flexibility of the body which leads to a healthier body. Yoga also helps in losing excessing flab and weight which is a major problem which women are facing now. Yoga routines will vary depending on the purpose for which you seek to do yoga - it may be for better fitness or for specific ailments. Yoga can be a wonderful antidote to our stressful lives.  The deep breathing, stretching, and relaxation techniques not only help release tension in the body, but can also quiet a busy mind.


Here are two simple yoga practices which keeps your mind and body relax. 

1. ‘Legs up the Wall’ Pose 

In this passive inversion, you can’t help but relax as it nourishes the nervous system and rejuvenates the circulation. Sit side on to a wall and then flip the legs up the wall to lie on your back.  Shuffle your bottom in as close as possible to the wall. Have your arms to the side or bent up overhead. Close your eyes and stay here for anywhere between 2 – 15 minutes.  Breathe deeply and slowly. 

2.‘Alternate Nostril’ Breath

I’ve coached corporate groups in this breathing technique, and after just a few rounds, people appear so much more relaxed and calm.  It’s a great, quick-fix way to centre yourself at any time when you are feeling anxious – before that job interview, or difficult meeting, for example! 

Sit up tall in a comfortable position on the floor or in a chair.  Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.  Then place the index and middle fingers of your right hand at the point between the two eyebrows.  Close the right nostril with the thumb and take a slow, gentle breath in through the left nostril, then close the left nostril with the ring finger and exhale without force through the right nostril.  Inhale again through the right nostril, and then, closing the right nostril and opening the left nostril, exhale.  That’s one round.  Complete 5 – 15 rounds in your own time. When finished, lower your hand to your lap and breathe naturally for a few cycles before opening your eyes, and easing back into your day .

To get the maximum benefits of yoga one has to combine the practices of yogasanas, pranayama and meditation.Regular practice of asanas, pranayama and meditation can help such diverse ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure, digestive disorders, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins and heart conditions.

According to medical scientists, yoga therapy is successful because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body. Yoga acts both as a curative and preventive therapy. The very essence of yoga lies in attaining mental peace, improved concentration powers, a relaxed state of living and harmony in relationships.

Yoga and Diet.Diet also plays a vital role in yoga It is said that our level of development, mental and spiritual, is reflected in the kind of food we take.

Some of the Food to be taken for good health are Fresh fruits,vegetables,whole grains,wheat and oats. Butter, ghee (clarified butter) and all good natural plant-based oils like sesame, olive and sunflower. Dairy products like milk, ghee, yogurt and cottage cheese from dairy animals who`ve been treated well.Avoid taking meat,junk foods,alcohol,tobacco.

Yoga Meditation

Yogic meditation is a means of training the being to tune itself to the workings of the Divine Being. The central principle of such meditation is to concentrate one`s mental faculties upon the object of quest. But it requires long hours of practice for the mind to be able to attain such sustainable levels of concentration and absorption. This discipline, above everything else, is the essence of yoga meditation.

The success of yogic meditation depends largely on the sincerity and strength of the yogi behind it. It is not the duration but the intensity of the aspiring consciousness, which is more important and ultimately effective. Fatigue is to be avoided at all costs, since it weakens the power of concentration and jades the mind.

Yoga meditation puts the being of the meditating yogi in a condition of increased and conscious receptivity to the workings of yoga shakti or the power of yoga. With a deepening of this state of mind there is often a total withdrawal from the external environment.

Yoga and Woman’s Life Stages

A regular yoga practice is beneficial in every stage of life. When an individual goes through changes, such as those associated with pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause, illness or injury, yoga helps them approach life with more equanimity. Yoga practitioners with depression, eating disorders, arthritis, or bone loss find that yoga can contribute to their healing. Special sequences of poses are available for a wide variety of health conditions. A yoga practice is healing and preventative of many types of illness. It can be emotionally balancing and spiritually nourishing. Yoga can help women on a day-to-day basis by allowing time for inner focus in a culture that is often hurried and which many women find stressful.

Pregnancy Yoga

In pregnancy, yoga helps bring your whole being into balance. Taking time out from a busy life to process the changes you are experiencing is beneficial. Yoga can also help you prepare emotionally and mentally for the anticipated change in your life when you give birth. Emotions are calmed and quieted with the practice of yoga poses and breathing exercises. Breathing exercises develop your inner awareness and can help you give birth by making it easier to consciously relax the body with breath. Yoga postures help you become more adept at changing positions, which is useful in the process of labor and childbirth. You will feel more comfortable in your body which helps you feel better in pregnancy. Aches and pains of pregnancy can be diminished or alleviated with a yoga practice. You can work with your bodily changes to learn how to move ergonomically, freeing your energy with better posture. You can more easily tap into your instinctual self, which will assist you in the birth process.

If you have ever had a miscarriage, do not do yoga during your first trimester. These early months are the most vulnerable time of pregnancy. Avoid standing poses, inversions, twists, and backbends at this time. You can do forward bends, preferably gentle ones over bolsters or pillows. As you progress to the second trimester, you can vary the poses more. Twists can be done very gently in the last two trimesters. Shavasana, the relaxation pose in which you lie on your mat, can be done lying on your side instead of your back. In the third trimester, modify the yoga poses as your weight distribution changes. Your center of balance is different. Don’t put pressure on or compress the belly to keep the baby safe. The priority in prenatal yoga is not to put stress on the baby-to-be. Learn to use yoga props to adapt poses so they are easier for you to perform. Doing poses next to the wall or with a chair works well, and a prenatal yoga teacher can show you how.

The yoga pose that is considered the best preparation for childbirth is Baddha Konasana, or Cobbler’s Pose, and is also called the Bound Angle Pose. It is a hip opener that also works to open the pelvic area. Sit upright on your yoga mat or a cushion. Place the soles of your feet together and bring the heels toward your pelvic area. Your knees will splay out to the sides. You will feel work in your upper thighs, next to the groin area. Breathe and relax with the intensity so that you can release it. If your knees don’t reach the floor, you can place a pillow under each one. You can sit upright, or you can lean forward with your chest supported on a bolster or two. A third way to do the pose is reclining. Try leaning back onto a couple of bolsters with a small extra pillow for your head. The reclining version helps if you are getting up to urinate frequently at night. If you do this for 10 minutes or more at bedtime, it can help.

Pregnancy and ashtanga yoga are an especially good match since this form of yoga follows a well-defined set of movements to come into and out of poses in a way that completely absorbs the consciousness while stilling the thoughts.

Yoga for Menstruation

Women are cyclic in their nature and physiology. Most sequences of poses for menstruation include supported forward bends. Forward bends quiet the brain and are perfect for this time in which one typically feels like going inward. For health reasons, it is suggested that you avoid doing inversions during menstruation. Some women also avoid standing poses or backbends at this time. Having a regular practice with a variety of yoga poses for the rest of the month is recommended for women, keeping them healthy, fit and emotionally centered. Yoga helps a woman deal with heavy or irregular menses and PMS. Special sequences exist for these and other problems. Depending on why she is having difficulty becoming pregnant, certain yoga poses may help women become more fertile.

Overall, a woman can balance her endocrine system, improve her blood circulation, develop better posture, become more toned, have better physical balance, increase her flexibility and strength, and build her immune system through yoga practice. A lifelong and daily practice will cultivate the many health benefits and spiritual growth possible with yoga throughout all stages of life.

Some women have found that a regular yoga routine will even out their periods and alleviate the anxiety and depression common at "that time of the month." Also, by strengthening the abdominal muscles, yoga has been found to decrease painful cramping.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/yoga-for-women-1076387.html