Jun 26 2009

Beauty Shopping

When Mary Kay chatted recently with women around the world about what they wanted in the area of beauty, one of the things they talked about was how they shopped for their skinc are and cosmetic products.  For most of the women, it was "anything goes", meaning that they purchase their beauty products from all over — supercenters, department stores, direct sellers, specialty stores and online.  It's usually about what's convenient for her.  So you could say that one thing women want when shopping for beauty products is EASY ACCESS.

What she also wants is CONTROL over her shopping experience.  She wants it to be fun, social and casual, and sees the opportunity to browse as a part of the experience.  She wants to TRY IT BEFORE SHE BUYS IT.  She wants the opportunity to touch and experience it before she lays down that hard-earned money.  And she is much more likely to try a new product that has been recomended by a friend or family member. 

She wants PERSONALIZED BEAUTY ADVICE, WITHOUT PRESSURE.  She wants an advisor who is knowledgeable and is a good listener; someone who understands and knows her and her skin, and doesn't try to just sell her the latest thing that might not be right for her.  Ideally, the advisor could help holistically, with everything from makeup application to the latest fashion trends. 

Women also want someone who will reach out to them on THEIR schedule.

None of this is surprising or unique to the beauty industry, given that consumers have been in control of the buying process for quite some time now.  Consumers, specifically women consumers, want to call the shots, with as many options as possible.  When she has choices, she feels more in control.  The only rule is that there are no rules.  She gets to choose how, when, where, and how often she buys.

In beauty, just as in everything else these days, those who are best at giving the women what they want will be the most loved brands.

Jun 26 2009

EMERGENCIES EXCLUDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS MEDICAL INSURANCE

Traveling abroad is always a great experience. But can the excitement be similar if you or any of your family members falls sick or gets injured while traveling? Imagine what would happen if you discover that your standard travel insurance online does not cover international emergencies. Isn’t it horrifying?

Most travelers believe that their standard health insurance offers adequate coverage even while they are abroad. But the fact is that only travel health insurance are designed for international travel. All insurance policies have exclusions and travel insurance online is no different. However, it is imperative to be well informed in the clearest possible way about what you are and aren’t covered for.

Pre-existing medical conditions tops the list of exclusions. Pre-existing conditions include pregnancy or difficulties related to the same, any ongoing medical or dental condition, any condition for which you take medicines or any surgical conditions. Besides, mental disorder, anxiety or depression, traveling against the advice of the medical doctor is not covered by travel insurance online in any circumstances.

Other exclusions include medical tourism. Your travel insurance online may not cover expenses incurred while receiving a particular medical treatment abroad. Hence, travel insurance online may not be helpful in case you plan to go abroad for cosmetic surgery or for the purpose of obtaining treatment suggested by the doctor.

There are some extreme events and situations which are excluded by travel health insurance policies when you are abroad. These include losses incurred due to war or war-like situations, biological attacks, nuclear terrorism, natural disasters or epidemics. These kinds of exclusions are commonly found in almost all travel insurance online policies.

Additionally, even high risk sports do not qualify under travel insurance online. Sports involving bodily contact such as mountaineering, skydiving, skiing, caving, riding in races, bungee jumping, parachuting, etc are excluded from the clauses of travelers medical insurance. Some policies offer coverage for these risky sports, if an additional rider is bought by paying extra premium.

Other exclusions relate to loss of passport, fraud and deceit of your travel agent, any other losses arising due to irresponsibility of the insured person, attempt to suicide, alcohol/drug misuse, and the loss of checked in baggage or its valuables,.

Having travel insurance online is always the best deal. However, travel insurance online given by various travel insurance companies diverge in the additional cover offered. Thus, it is advisable to compare different travel insurance online plans online and read the policy wording before choosing one for you. Remember, genuine claims, as well as new injuries and sickness are covered after an investigation by claims department.

Jun 22 2009

Let’s Talk Beauty

In our recent conversations with women around the globe, we learned the "10 Things Women Want Now", which I've shared in previous posts.  Mary Kay  also wanted to hear what they were thinking specifically about beauty.  When it comes to what women want in beauty, the list is short and simple. 

1.  Women Want . . . Natural Beauty

Women believe that "true" natural beauty is about enhancing what you already have; that the way you "make yourself up" should be complementary to your assets or features, and not overshadow them. For some, natural beauty is associated with youth and staying young (notice that I didn't say "looking young"), and many admit that it does become increasingly more difficult to achieve as you age.  In many ways, this aspect of beauty has little or nothing to do with makeup, and is more about acknowledging what is already naturally beautiful in themselves.  (But don't think that means women don't want to wear makeup.  See #3.)

2.  Women Want . . . To Be Noticed

Women want to create an impression.  They want to be noticed.  It is an important source of their strength and confidence.  Right or wrong, like it or not, exterior beauty is one, if not the primary, channel to get noticed.  Being "put together" with a great outfit, good jewelry, shoes and purse get her noticed.  External beauty is perceived as being connected to success.  This is one way of being recognized and valued by family, friends and co-workers and demonstrating to the world that she is achieving self-actualization.  While it may seem counterintuitive, and goes against what many a feminist would argue for, dressing well and being made up is an expression of feminine power; it's a way to show the world that you care.

3.  Women Want . . . To Wear Makeup

These women told us that they view makeup as an opportunity, an enhancement.  While the degree of importance varies greatly across cultures and lifestyles, all agreed that makeup was important to them.  For some, it makes them more secure about themselves and they feel more beautiful and alive.  Others thought it showed effort and professionalism.  One Korean woman said, "In Seoul, if you don't wear makeup, people ask if you're sick, and men think you're lazy."  In Eastern Europe, the ritual of makeup is a visible indicator of someone who is aspirational and self-realized, and was described as "a condition of the soul — it is a necessity, like breathing."

4.  Women Want . . . Their Beauty Products to Change With Their Needs

Whether its a simple moisturizer change with the different seasons of the year, or responding to the needs of her aging skin, a woman wants to make sure that she is doing what her skin needs RIGHT NOW, and she realizes that changes over time.  Many women say they commit to a more thoughtful regimen of skin care and higher quality products as they age.  At the same time, they shift to more subtle and nuanced color cosmetics with passing years.  They expect innovation and customization from the brand that they use and are always on the lookout for something new or better.  Some women are driven to rotate among favorite products every now and then because they believe that, after a while, their skin stops responding to the efficacy of specific products. (This is totally a myth, by the way, that drives our entire industry crazy.)

The final question we posed in the area of beauty products was this one:  "If you could create the IDEAL beauty product, what would it be?"  Here's what they said:

The IDEAL beauty product must be EFFECTIVE; it works and delivers on the promised benefit.

The IDEAL beauty product must be FOR ME; it's personalized for MY skin type, MY skin tone, at this stage of MY life, in THIS season and matches MY beauty regimen.

The IDEAL beauty product must be RELEVANT AND CONTEMPORARY; it has to be up-to-the-minute, beautiful to look at, technologically-advanced, derived from the latest ingredients and from a brand that "gets me".

The IDEAL beauty product must be A GOOD VALUE; it has to be affordable, not so inexpensive that it fails to be credible or impress, but not so expensive that I can't afford it.

They also had a lot to say about how they wanted to shop for and purchase their IDEAL beauty products.  But for that, you'll have to wait until the next post!

 

Jun 22 2009

Cashing In On Blogging. Interesting Points to Remember

Blogging is very famous nowadays not just among businessmen but also to the students and other people. Aside from it is a funny thing to do, it gives something that no human being could ever explain.

On the psychological perspective, blogging helps a person express himself thus giving him an outlet of his hidden outrages in life. All things that a man has to say that can alleviate his emotional state can actually be posted to a blog.

Businessmen, on the other hand, use blogs to advertise and also to sell their products and services. Blogging is very essential in their line of work. Aside from they are profiting from making business through their blogs, they can also garner patronage over their clients who had been satisfied by their services.

Students, use blogs to post their shout outs regarding their academic problems and also their scholastic related issues. There are also students who post articles on their blogs that wish to help their fellow students that are also on the same situation as they are.

Aside from the fun it brings, blogging can also give you profits even if you are not a businessman. In fact, there had been many people of different jobs that claimed to have gained benefits through their blogs. There are many ways one can profit through blogging.

1) Trade Advertising – the most common way to generate income through your blog is by means of selling spaces in your blog to business institutions. Through this, you may directly consistently earn money.

There are bloggers that offer the spaces in their blogs for a certain period. This would mean that a space can expire depending on the agreement of both the blogger and the business institution. You just need your blog to be known in order to garner more business institution to advertise in your blog.

2) Trade the Products of Others – This sounds illegal but its not. On this type of profit making, you’re actually helping businessmen sell their products. There are companies that offer equivalent compensation to bloggers who mentions their product in their blogs.

Through it, the company may have a larger chance of selling the product. The product and company that one will mention in his blog will be highlighted. Whenever a reader clicks on the highlighted product or company, the reader will have direct access to the seller.

3) Ask for Contributions – there is no limit in blogging except those moves that are abusive to others. You may initiate and make a club through your blog and ask your members to pay for the membership.

Think of a good service that you may offer to your members. It can be a finding-your-match service or whatever that comes out of your mind. Let them pay for the service you are offering and that’s how you profit.

4) Sell Your Products and Services – Enough of the boxed idea that blogging is solely made to air opinions. You can make use of your blog to market you products and services to others. These can help your earn money anyway.

There are many people out there who made use of the bogs to find the products and services they want. This is because in blogging people are actually dealing in real time. In addition to that, hoaxing and fraud is very minimal in blogging since people do negotiate personally and directly.

These four ways are not just the ways one can earn bucks out of blogging. You may as well visit sites pertaining to blogs and blogging. For sure, there are topics and articles there on how to earn money by blogging.

I hope you will find these blogging tips useful for your blog.

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Jun 20 2009

Blogging – Why It Works So Well For SEO. Interesting Points to Keep in Mind

blogging is one of the most efficient ways to increase your website rankings on search sites like Google and Yahoo. Blogging refers to posting your website links to blog sites in order to increase your website rankings. Blogging work best for the SEO as it is the one of the most effective tools to make your website popular amongst the people. If your website is more famous it will generate more revenues as more and more people will visit your site.

You can follow these simple rules for SEO and your blog will definitely rank much higher in search engines. You should use your primary keyword most often in your blogs. The URL that you post on the blogs should contain a primary keyword to optimize your website. You can also use the main keyword in sub domains to get better results. In case your website is about automotive parts then you can use the keywords “Automotive Parts” in your website. Also it is necessary to use your main keyword in the title of your posts and the titles of your web pages. Also use the main keywords and key phrases in your H1 and H2 headers to make them more searchable.

Next you can use your secondary keywords in the body of your post in the blog. The more times the keywords are found in the webpage or post, the better are the chances of the search engines will be able to pick up the keywords. However it should not look like spam. You should refrain from posting the same keywords again and again in the same post as then Google will ban your site for some time and your rankings will fall drastically.

You should also use your primary and secondary as much as possible in the anchor texts for linking the text to other blog sites or other blog posts. Also make every effort to make your site easier for search engine to track. Also it is very much necessary to make your navigation bar of the whole website on every page of the website. All your previous posts should be linked to all pages so that they can be easily searchable by search engines.

You should also create back links to your website on as many blogs as possible. This is because it will help a lot in getting the rank of your website higher in the search engine pages. The more links you have created the higher will be the rank of your website on search engines. You can get back links to your website is to submit your blog and RSS feeds to as many blog search engines and blog directories as possible. Exchange your links with other blogs and network with as many people as possible on the blogs. If you find any interesting information on a blog then don’t forget to link it. The track back will become a link to your blog after some time. In the end to optimize search engine results for your website you should update your blog frequently.

Hope You will like reading such blogging tips

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Jun 19 2009

WORRY FREE TRAVEL WITH – TRAVEL INSURANCE

Traveling promises an exciting and memorable time but can become a nightmare if things go out of control. There are various risks or emergency situations which could arise during your travel. You may at times feel helpless in a foreign land where you are completely unaware as to where to turn during such tough times. In order to protect you from such unexpected risks, a travel insurance policy is a must to enjoy a holiday without really worrying about safety and security of your trip.

Travel insurance plan is a written contract or agreement between you and the insurance company which states that the insurance company would cover any losses or emergencies that you may across in a tour if you agree to pay a fixed premium.

The insured pays the premium of the chosen medical insurance for travel policy either on a single payment basis or even multiple installments.

All the reasons for taking travel medical insurance finally explains the various risks that you need to cover in order to ensure a safer, protected and relaxed trip. There are various policies available for choosing, offering various coverage options. You need to do adequate research on the terms and conditions stated in the policy and the coverage it would offer under certain conditions.

Travel insurance plan is like a safety net which you can turn to in case of accidents while you are away from your native land. The policy covers the expensive medical treatments, consultation fees, hospitalization expenses and also medical procedures in case you end up having a serious illness or end up meeting with an accident during the course of your travel.

In case of the death of the insured, the insurance coverage also includes funeral expenses and death benefits for the beneficiaries of the insured. Hence, you need to designate a beneficiary while you buy a travel medical insurance policy.

In addition, medical insurance for travelers policy covers baggage loss. The limits that are set for the lost baggage would be fixed. With the vast choices of insurance policies available, you need to finalize on an insurance policy with a lot of care. The insurance policy should be suitable for your needs and should cover most of the important travel risks expected out of your international tour.

For people who enjoy traveling, precautions need to be taken for a carefree trip in order to enjoy your experience rather than repent later of not securing your travel. Travel insurance plan is one of the basics while you plan your trip and should be the top priority in your checklist.

Jun 18 2009

Recipe: Penne tossed with cherry tomatoes, asparagus and goat cheese

Penne tossed with cherry tomatoes, asparagus and goat cheese — one of many healthy recipes from Mayo Clinic.

Sponsored by:
Chemotherapy.com – http://www.chemotherapy.com

Jun 17 2009

Mary Kay Learns “What Women Want” – The Final Chapter

We've reached the final piece of the puzzle in "10 Things Women Want Now", and it is the ONE THING that everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE!) needs to pay attention to right now.  That thing is TRUST.  Whether you're an individual, a small business, a multi-billion-dollar global corporation, a service provider, a charity, a government organization, you name it, if you're not focusing on BUILDING TRUST with the women who interact with you, you will not be successful in these times. 

Women value the intimacy and trust they have with their closest friends, their husbands and boyfriends and their family members.  They are somewhat skeptical, however, when it comes to trusting the companies and people they do business with.  Their trust must be earned.  The best way to gain that trust is by being open and honest with her in everything you do.  If you're not, you can bet she can "smell" it a mile away.  That 'women's intuition' kicks in and once your intentions appear questionable, it can be really difficult to regain her attention, let alone earn her trust.  And with so many choices today of where to take her business, you can bet she will take it somewhere that does provide her with the level of confidence and trust that she's seeking.

I think this is one of those areas that's not "new" as far as women seeking out people and companies they trust, it's just a matter of the degree of importance.  There have been so many instances of things in society over the past 10 years that have really shaken women's trust in institutions and the people behind them.  That's what has brought us to this place we are today, where women just will not do business with people and companies that they don't trust.

Mary Kay Ash knew in 1963 when she began our company that the success of our business would be built around the relationships of the people.  That is evident in her decision to use The Golden Rule as the founding principle of our business, and she was passionate in instilling that belief within each of us.  "Treat everyone you meet as if they are wearing a sign around their neck that says 'Make me feel important'" is the approach she taught. She also was very aware of the fact that a woman who has a bad experience with a company will tell many other people about it.  Likewise, a woman who has a good relationship with a brand and trusts the people that represent the brand will also tell many others about it.  (And of importance to note is that "the people" are one of the most important parts of developing and keeping that trust.)

This reminded me of a conversation I had with my husband just last night on this topic.  He was telling me about his day, and that he had gone to lunch with one of his horse-trainer buddies at the sub shop (the brand shall remain nameless, although several of my friends will know of whom I speak because I did share my experience with them).  I reminded him that I have not stepped foot into one of their shops for almost one year now, and I used to visit at least once a week, because of the last experience I had with one of "their people".  I no longer trust the brand because of the actions of one of the employees who was serving me, so I have taken my business elsewhere.  (I might have given them a second chance, except that after my experience I wrote a personal letter to the Chief Marketing Officer of the company, as I thought he'd want to know — I certainly would have wanted to know if a Mary Kay customer had an experience like I had.  Well, let's just say that the company business philosophy must be radically different from the Mary Kay philosophy that I'm accustomed to, because he never even responded to my letter.  That action, or inaction, definitely said to me that they did not value my business, so I chose to not give it to them.  I have changed doctors, switched grocery stores, and found new hairstylists all for similar reasons.

There are also many companies that I LOVE doing business with, primarily because of the people involved.  They are genuine and seem to really care about my satisfaction and want to keep my business.  I TRUST THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE EARNED IT. 

Jun 15 2009

Personal Blogging, Documentary, and History. Interesting Information to Keep in Mind

blogging When it comes to personal blogging, documentary is the default genre. There are plenty of blogs that serve other functions, but many blogs are primarily catalogues of the life experiences of their author. Although there are quite a few blogs that focus on collecting poetry and other forms of creative writing, the vast majority of personal blogs are in some sense documentaries.

For many years, the act of making a documentary was meant to be an objective act of reporting the sights and sounds that the filmmaker, writer, or photographer encountered. However, in contemporary times there has been a movement towards embracing the subjectivity inherent in the documentary form. This means that modern documentaries often reflect the distinctive voice and sensibility of their creator, and the fact that todays documentaries often revolve around personality blurs the lines between documentary and memoir. Blogs rest somewhere between these two genres, muddying the distinctions even further. Personal blogging, documentary, and memoir are now irrevocably intertwined, for better or for worse.

Although few bloggers think of themselves as making documentaries in any formal sense, every time somebody sits down in front of a computer and types up a record of their day, they are documenting their own historical moment. The things that we take for granted about our daily lives, like the way that we use specific modes of transportation, or the kinds of products that we buy, often seem quite fascinating to people who live in circumstances different from ours, and it is this kind of fascination that is at the heart of many documentary projects. When people think about blogging, documentary is not very likely to be the first adjective that crosses their minds, but a few decades down the road it is very likely that todays blogs will be seen primarily as very subjective documentaries of our era.

The people of tomorrow will almost certainly look to the blogs of today for insight into our historical moment.

When it comes to blogging, documentary may not be the aim of most people who spend their time posting their thoughts and ideas on the internet. In some ways, the documentary aspect of blogging is more of a side effect than a primary goal. However, the fact that so many people are interested in publishing these public online diaries shows that personal blogs are about more than just rumination. The fact that bloggers are so stimulated by and interested in sharing their ideas with each other reinforces the idea that personal blogs are, in some ways, documentaries meant for public consumption. Documentaries appeal to people who are curious about other ways of life, and many people who regularly read others personal blogs are looking for this same kind of new perspective. blogging tips

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Jun 14 2009

IMPORTANCE OF COMPREHENSIVE TRAVELERS MEDICAL INSURANCE AND ITS COVERAGE

We all have to travel, either for business or for pleasure. Whatever may be the purpose, we expose ourselves to a lot of risks while traveling. We all feel that we are quite healthy. However, accidents don’t come with warnings. Travel medical insurance can make a big difference simply by covering the various unforeseen expenses you incur during your travel.

It might seem that spending on health insurance for travel is nothing but an additional financial burden. However, having a secured future against unforeseen expenses will help you enjoy your trip even better. We all have to prevent ourselves from uncertainties. Isn’t it?

Did you know that a night spent in the hospital can cost you as much as $2500? Needless to mention, the heart surgery; which can cost you as much as $100,000. Don’t you think that travel medical insurance is the best way of covering yourself against these heavy unforeseen expenses?

Expenses such as ambulance cost, loss of baggage or other personal belongings, personal accident, hospitalization, home burglary, etc. are all covered under travel medical insurance. However, travelers’ health insurance would be extended only during medical emergencies. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a policy which will provide you with maximum coverage against your expenses.

The amount of medical coverage allowed by the travel medical insurance companies varies widely. While young people are allowed policies which are nearly of $500,000, older people are generally allowed to purchase policies ranging between $50,000 and $100,000. Most of the travelers medical insurance companies offer a comparison tool exclusively designed for the older people. The advantage of this tool is that you will be able to pick the best buy.

Some travel medical insurance give fixed benefit and do not cover all your expenses. With each type of policy you will face some kind of limitation. Suppose you have bought a policy of $100K, then you will get a maximum cover of about $20K, for a personal accident. However, for a mere dental expense your policy of $100K will provide you a cover of $500. The exact coverage varies from company to company. Any expense that you incur above the ceiling has to be borne by yourself.

It is important to know that for certain expenses there are a deductible which is levied. The deductible is basically a fixed amount which is pre-determined by an agreement between yourself and your travel insurance company at the time of purchasing the policy. You will have to pay this amount towards your medical expenses before your travel medical insurance company starts covering you. Generally the lower the premium amount the higher is the deductible you have to pay.

Travel medical insurance covers losses other than medical expenses. The travel insurance company will also provide you coverage against repatriation costs, loss of personal belongings, medical evacuation, etc. Isn’t it really a wise decision to protect yourself against such unforeseen financial expenses?

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