Information Country

We have a serious problem brewing with GPS navigation systems for automobiles and even motorcycles. There are however problems with this devise as a high tech toy are more serious than you might think. Ask anyone in a metro area who has bought a new car with one of those cool GPS upgrades for their SUV or new sports car. We have had our customers complain (customers of the carwash business, which is my profession). Oh they love the gadget, but they are under whelmed by the lack of data and streets, which are not listed. You see we have been seeing incredible suburban growth in many cities. Places near large DMA metros are a problem out in the middle class suburbs. In many areas such as outside Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Columbus, Cleveland, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, DC Subs, etc. And in NJ, NC, NV, OH lots of other fast growing growth pockets.

When GPS devises for cars first hit the scenes at the CES and SEMA shows in 1996, they became increasingly more popular, powerful and better data. But like VHS and Beta, Apple and IBM, competition became increasingly greater causing much consolidation in the industry along with patent fights. Much of the technology was former Defense Contractors peddling their wares through subsidiary consumer level companies. But the tight market remained due to the costs. Meanwhile companies like DeLorme and others tried to flood the market with low priced GPS units, which made things even more competitive. And the bugs were not fully out of the system yet. Someday all cars will drive themselves and people can watch TV, do video conferencing and use their transportation as a portable office or entertainment system while they are being driven to the location they have punched into their computer. Some things will have to occur before this is a reality of course. But eventually your dexterity skills to actually pilot a car will be worthless and un-needed.

First the satellites will need to be laser aligned and use multiple satellites to get absolute locations of ground items and vehicles. The cars will need to have additional anti collision devises made up of networked sonar and optic flow sensors. All of which are now available and the technology is getting better and better. Many military applications today will be civilian tomorrow. Just like Radar, Microwave ovens, Nuclear Energy, Cellular Phones, Satellite Communication and Jet Aircraft in Commercial Aviation. The flow of transportation will be brought to the next generation to serve man better.

For the time being the incremental changes in these technologies has hit a slight road block even though Honda, GM, Ford, Mercedes, Daimler Chrysler and Toyota have invested billions in anti-collision and safety devices which they will add comfort and desirable options which they can sell to customers as upgrades. Smart Car Technologies can add Thousands of Dollars to the price of a car and consumers are glad to pay for them. A factory GPS system with display can cost up to $6,000.00 and they sell a lot of them on the higher end cars. It is a high profit item upgrade, although there are some, which only cost $1000. And if you wish to compare these, some are very incredible with many features;

http://www.gpsnuts.com/myGPS/GPS/review%20…he%20review.htm .

There are many companies, which sell after market computer assist items. These companies are doing quite well and the systems work great. The big issue is just because you have a super duper incredible GPS system, does not mean the street you are looking for is even on the map yet. In other words it is like using an old map. If you are a studier of maps like I happen to be, you will see the problem with older maps. Even some companies keep printing old map data year after year without adding in new on ramps, city streets, infrastructure freeway improvements and ring-roads, it is aggravating for those from out of town. Even more aggravating looking for an address or street in a new housing tract, which you can see but the devise insists, does not exist? Then there are problems in areas like Cape Coral, FL and Tehachapi, CA or El Paso, TX and Knoxville, TN where the roads have been scraped and ready to put in or put in but do not connect or have nothing there yet. Of course it is very aggravating to see a road and try to go down it and find it is a dirt road that connects to nothing yet or an entire sub-division that does not exist? Is it a Mirage? If so where is the white Tiger Show?

Jack Dangermond of ESRI had set up entire networks of software makers who developed data for their awesome software products for GPS and GIS needs. Used by government, military, utility companies, transportation companies, private companies with GPS units to sell to the public, First Responders and school districts for buses. After the Dot Com crash those software companies were among some of the survivors, but had significantly cut costs. Thus without the proper data the GPS systems bought by the upper, upper-middle and middle class for their cars were not always good enough to support the price point for the newest technology. This is especially upsetting since the upper, upper-middle and middle class citizens who pay the most taxes live in the suburbs for the most part. The chances of a middle class American; who bought a home during the 3 years last housing boom; not being able to find their house or street on their new GPS devise is a higher probability then them actually finding it. We interviewed one man who bought a new Nissan Sports car.

Who lives in a newer developed area in the higher end Las Vegas, Clark County Suburbs, which only had the main streets on his GPS and had huge blank spots on his device? Some GPS devices allow the user to choose a satellite vendor and data vendor and software, but many of the Factory units do not. People think they are getting something really good and then find they cannot use it to navigate, which would really piss you off considering you may have paid as much as $6,000 for the unit. Even more dangerous is the information we learned from an EMT ambulance driver in Dallas area who told us of looking for streets for 15-20 minutes after battling through suburban gridlock to get to where they thought it might be. 3G cell phone technology may assist for those using cell phones to call in data to the dispatches. For all the training we are doing across this nation for first responders and on-going education of police, fire, Hazmat, etc. it appears that we have forgotten the problems of the system. Any time you build a system to serve humankind you must make it simple and make it work, that should be the first, the very first priority, then you can fix all the other issues.

With that said we interviewed a lady recently one evening who had a hell of a long day working for the Metro Police Departments Central Nervous System. The communications center and dispatch is to what we are referring. Although she was unaware of the problem at the center for bad data or missing data in the system, she could not say how they were able to get the information. Luckily serving a metro area they are probably connected to the planning departments computer, which they should be. And if the police department has the new data and no problem in this case, why have the software vendors not been able to access the data? It is a safety issue if someone with a GPS system pulls out a map and tries to read it while driving in an area they are not familiar with. It is guaranteed that in the history of the automobile in this country more people have been in serious traffic accidents from trying to read maps, than talking on cell phones, although cell phones no doubt a contributing factor in many lesser accidents will eventually pass this figure. Where the streets are, well frankly I cannot understand the need to keep this a secret unless it is the layout of Area 51, Prison, Power plant, Pentagon grounds, Military Bases, etc. If the emergency first responders divisions and contractors would share the data, there might be less accidents and they maybe able to get some assistance from the public being the eyes and ears

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

and also perhaps they could in fact use the idea of Smart Virtual Mobile Communities or FlashMob scenarios since budgets are strapped as the National Security “Red-Orange-Yellow-High-Risk-Danger-Days” come with high frequency, more police and first responders are on duty and that costs money. Without significant inflows the coverage of the Grid of a city is in jeopardy of slower response times. Fast response times are the easiest way to keep the peace, everyone, which gets away can cause problems another day and of course in case of International Terrorist Attacks.

It is essential to have the data for these devises and everyone is better served when communication flows. GPS units provide that and the data should be readily available and probably it is best to have the cities using the same formats as first responders and the same data can be used for utilities, consumers, military and even census data or academia studying urban sprawl and growth rates to have infrastructures ready during expansion. Things like water and energy, which has obviously been a major focus here.

There needs to be a nationwide coordinated effort to see that such data is filtered into the private sector, because as it stand the companies have been hammered in the industry and cannot perform the services to bring this stuff to market. Communication is important for government and citizen a like, increased efficiencies in business will save the government money and provide additional tax base and funds on the income of such businesses utilizing such data, as well as save money and time for all the government services discussed above. If we want a screaming economy we ought to be thinking how we can streamline and accelerate the flow of information to increase efficiencies and allow a small portion of the gain from the expanded pie to continue the growth. In other words, we make it easier for the Florist to deliver, the school buses to pick up more kids per hour and the soccer mom to take more kids to practice and still have time left to shop all of which serves man. The digital GIS divide is as important for our economy as the Digital Internet Divide. Kids in sports do less drugs, become more competitive, have higher work ethics and soccer moms can help keep the retail economy going. Every time you ease the flow, more things are possible. The exponential increase in American productivity is needed to offset the time lost in traffic and congestion. GIS-GPS systems can help in any emergency or simply driving around town getting things done to check off one’s list for the day.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

London is the most mind-blowing place in the world for history and of course for magnificent girls. The charisma of the escorts that live in London really makes it the greatest place to get yourself a pretty call girl. The escort market in the capital is profoundly competitive and this makes the escorts who work in the call girl industry try and be as desirable as they can at all times. The lovely escort females come in a variety of nationalities including Spanish and the girls work most days either in a hotel or the girls may come to your home. Make sure you try Escort Girls from Lucy Bond.

Escorts in the capital offer romance to their punters and will spend one hour at a time with them for exchange of a fee. The fees for London call girls range from one hundred and forty pounds per hour to 400 pounds per hour. The fee does not include any cab expenses or extras like clubbing or theatre. The call girls with Lucy Bond are stuning, the gorgeous escorts are hand picked by the escort business and have been hand selected for their education.

The escort business is new to the capital and have fantastic rates available for new customers. The beautiful escorts from the escort company are all experienced and offer in calls and out calls.

Enjoy The Outdoors? Take Your Mio A201 GPS Walking, Camping, Mountain Biking or Motorcycling…

Fitting neatly into the palm of your hand, the Mio A201 is a truly portable GPS and PDA rolled into one. With its rotating GPS antenna, the Mio A201 allows you to navigate in both portrait and landscape positions; offering you flexibility and comfort depending on your choice of activity.

The PDA is an integral part of the Mio A201, and since it’s supported by Windows Mobile 5, you can choose from a variety of navigational software. This is the beauty of this product. The Mio A201 is just as at home on a mountain bike and in the countryside; as it is in the car. Unlike previous PDA’s from Mio Tech, the Mio A201 has a new removable Lithium-ion 1200mlAh battery. With over 4.5 hours of operation from one battery, and the ability to double, or triple its operational life, this is the perfect GPS device for the off-road navigator.

Forgotten your compass? Mio Tech have also developed their software, Mio Map V2, to accommodate all you hikers and cyclists out there. The GPS receiver computes the direction of travel as part of the GPS solution, giving directions relative to true north.

Prefer Warmer Climates? Take the Mio A201 on Holiday With You… (you could even use it on your plane)

You go on holiday to have fun and relax, right? Well, what can be more frustrating than being in a country you want to explore, unable to find anywhere, without following a tourist bus to make sure you don’t get lost (again).

Hiring a car on holiday need never be troublesome again with the Mio A201. The Mio A201 operates perfectly with the TOMTOM Navigator 5 Software & Maps of Western Europe (Including GB), offering you as many hassle-free excursions as you want, within Western Europe. And don’t overlook the use of the Mio A201 GPS in finding your car in a busy city. Long-stay car parks, particularly those at airports, display an endless wave of parked cars. By simply marking your location as you leave will help you avoid any embarrassing situations.

If you prefer to explore new cities and towns on foot, thanks to Mio’s adoption of the new SiRF Star III chipset , you will find your Mio A201 will have no problems maintaining accuracy in the hustle and bustle of new city centers.

Traveling to your destination on commercial flights can sometimes become a bit tedious. With its improved accuracy and flexibility The Mio A201 can brighten up your journey; informing you of your ground speed, distance to your destination, real altitude and direction, and also your location on a world map.

All Work, No Play? The Mio A201 Gives You Both…

Unprepared for your meeting? Travel to and from work a lot? As a pocket PC, the Mio A201 can offer you the opportunity to catch up on work anytime, anyplace (if you really want to). With a generous 192MB of memory, the Mio A201 provides the latest version of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Media Player 10. You can even prepare a powerpoint presentation on the move.

If you’re visiting clients all day, the Mio A201 PDA has the ability to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook on your desktop, so your calender and contacts can go with you. What is really handy is; to make client visits quick and easy, you can plan your journey direct from your contact list in Outlook, rather than looking up the address on the navigation page.

When you’re ready for a break, you can relax and listen to your choice of music on its integrated MP3 Player, or browse through your album of digital photos. Sporting a 320 x 240 pixel colour LCD touch screen the Mio A201 ensures pictures and games appear vibrant, and maps easy to read.

If you have a travel companion, the Mio A201 can enable you to exchange files, photos, and music wirelessly via its built in Bluetooth connectivity.

Always Running Late? The Mio A201 can calculate your quickest route, and bypass those traffic queues (all within the speed limit)…

Of course , it is almost guaranteed you will hit a traffic snarl up when you’re running late.

On board re-routing options are a key feature for any GPS navigational system, and the Mio A201 gives you just that, with the addition of quicker route planning and calculation with its generous 312MHz processor and 64MB of RAM. Accompanying this, Mio Tech. have teamed up with the Traffic Message Channel (TMC), to provide you with free, up to date traffic data via your Mio A201.

Encouraging you to drive safely (and not only when there is a speed camera around), the latest Mio Map Software incorporates a pretty impressive feature enabling you to take note of the speed limit for each road you drive on. By activating this option, your Mio A201 will remind you to ease off your accelerator as your speed creeps above the speed limit.

Book a Table at a Restaurant, or a Room in a Hotel. With More Than 750,000 Points of Interest (POI) at Your Fingertips, You Can Prepare Your Day on The Move…

Whether you’re in a new city, or on a long journey, it’s very handy to know where the next petrol station or service stop is. If you tend to be a more organized person, it can be convenient to have contact details of your favorite restaurant, or hotel at your fingertips, so you can book in advance.

Having an on board database of POI, and an ability to view contacts which are in the vicinity of your location, or across a region, the Mio A201 caters for both the prepared, and unprepared driver.

So, with the ability to connect your Mio A201 wirelessly with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, and transform your GPS/PDA into your very own hands-free kit, why not start planning your day, on the move?

If you want to see the Mio A201 GPS full specification, or read about a variety of GPS systems and features visit http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk.

With GPS systems becoming mainstream, Tracey Simpson has wrote this article to help readers understand what GPS systems can offer. Please visit http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk to read about a variety of GPS systems and features.

Playing online poker is a comfortable and convenient atmosphere. Being able to put your feet up, play in your pajamas and have a mascot sitting next to you as you click on that bet. Bringing a good luck charm to your game can help ease the tension of betding, winning or loosing.

A simple stuffed bear, a coffee mug or even a glass, can make the online poker player feel more comfortable. A stir of laughter can erupt as you look over at the stuffed animal you dressed in your favorite Texas Holdem outfit. The simple shirt that becomes your favorite as you click onto another table of poker, suddenly worn every time you enter the room and click on that chair to start a new hand.

Sometimes a specific beverage is the favorite item while playing poker. Perhaps a small cup of coffee, a soda or even a refreshing ice tea during the summer time will fill that extra need during online poker playing. Having that extra beverage boost could give the energy you wish to have and the confidence you may want during play.

Overall, whatever chosen as a good luck charm is a personal preference. Poker can be fun with a mascot, beverage or even a simple item of clothing that is your favorite to wear during the next click of your card. Choices are limitless.

What’s sexy about chaps? The daredevil spirit, the rough and ready attitude of a cowboy - don’t be afraid to get down and dirty with a cowboy session! You’ll find wearing them gives you a natural swagger, especially if you team them with a good pair of boots.

Cowboys used to wear chaps over their denim to protect their legs from rope burns or thorns. Which is why they go so well together with a little bondage gear - how about lassoing your lover (gently!) and roping them down? A leather whip is a good way to show them who’s boss - just be careful how you crack that baby! If you’re into power play, then let one partner act like a headstrong wild horse, while the other teaches them to be submissive. Breaking in a partner might take some punishment - like a light spanking over your knee - or they might even have to be hog-tied and gagged! (Be sure that you and your partner are comfortable with bondage and trust each other first.)

Chaps fasten around the thigh or come with their own belt - the best thing about them is that they are not joined at the crotch. This means you’ve got easy access to your cowpoke’s private parts - showing off their bare behind or turn them round for a full-frontal peek. Because chaps are leather, they feel and smell great - just imagine the sensation of your lover’s legs encased in leather. Fringes add another element of style and sex appeal - let the fringe brush over your skin for a thrilling sensual experience - coupled with the contrast of hot skin and cold leather…

If you’re dressing up for the rodeo, try a hat, chaps, and a good pair of cowboy boots. What else can you need? This outfit would look so hot on men or women - you may want to add a leather bikini or pouch, but otherwise, cowboys and girls ride best half-naked!

For those of you with a motorbike in the garage, why not try saddling up and getting the motor going while you’ve got your chaps on? The feel of that engine throbbing away between your legs, and your lover holding on tight behind you - should be enough to send you galloping towards the bedroom. Once you’re in there, there’s no need to take off your chaps while you get down to business. You might even find the belt gives you a handy thing to hold onto while your bucking bronco writhes away under you. Of course, you should ride them bareback…

For more information about lingerie please have a look at this link:Cheap Trashy Lingerie | Blouses See Thru

Shayla Moore is a writer for http://www.oasislingerie.com She has many intresting topics and ideas for all to read about. Check out more of her articles.

There has been recent debate in the medical community about defining and prescribing medication for such “disorders” as social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. American society is plagued by self-induced stress. Should this be something we pop pills for? Retrospectively, society accepts the unhealthiness of prior forms of medicated stress relief. It is generally accepted that smoking, for example, causes more problems than it relieves. Why does America swallow anti-anxiety medication so freely, without worrying about harmful side effects? These are powerful drugs that target chemicals in the brain. Medication should be the last resort in any anti-anxiety therapy. First, people who suffer anxiety should be proactive and try to resolve their concerns.

One example of a disorder that is suddenly widely prescribed is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD was first recognized as a serious problem among veterans returning from war. These men suffered cold sweats, panic attacks, nightmares, and compulsive behavior as a result of near death experiences and the mental anguish of war. Some doctors are now claiming that this same level of shock is regularly induced in car accidents, they cite numbers as high as 9% of car accident victims suffer “significant post-traumatic stress symptoms”.

A few years ago, I was in a rather serious car accident, and I experienced symptoms like these medical journals described. I would often upset myself by dwelling on the accident. I displayed obsessive behavior in that I avoided left turns wherever possible, even on deserted streets. I could not manage this out on country roads, but in the city grid I was careful to take three right turns instead of making just one left. Riding in a car that slams on its breaks still causes me to spin around and look behind for the car that always seems to be on the verge of collision. Was this Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? As annoying as these symptoms were, I find it would take a rather presumptuous hypochondriac to insist that these small neuroses could rival the intense stress of a veteran returning from the horrors of war. Perhaps I was stressed and absorbed by my experience, but I certainly never needed medication.

What I did need to do was to be proactive. I worked with the insurance companies to work out the claims. I spoke with my lawyer and found someone who wanted to buy and rebuild my totaled car so I did not have to consign it to a junkyard. I took responsibility for the situation and did not let it take control of me. It did hurt to think about my car for months, but I don’t obsess about it anymore. If you feel overwhelmed by a car accident experience and all of your real medical needs are met, you do not need a doctor. Talk to a lawyer about your situation and be proactive about filing papers and taking action. I felt overwhelmed after my car accident, but talking to an experienced car accident attorney helped me to answer my questions, address my doubts, and quell my anxiety. No pills required.

If you have more questions, contact a car accident lawyer or read more car accident articles at our website http://www.hugesettlements.com. If you use this article, please include these links.

Not so long a go it seemed like laptops for gaming were only attainable from particular companies and they were usually built to order. Even though they did not sell a large deal they still produced the most in comparison to other types of notebook. These trendy laptops were just too expensive. In my perspective they were the best laptop computers available. I reckon we all got thrilled about them but the large number of us would never buy laptop computers that were so pricey. Things look set to shift though because now the gaming portables niche has attracted the attention of larger brands.

These notebooks have a particular price bracket and these brands are aware they don’t have to be price aggressively in this sector. Profits have been so low recently that this is a fantastic chance to make more money by selling computers. In my point of view well known manufacturers can employ leverage to induce prospects to buy laptop computers despite cost. I believe smaller resellers are really concerned about this. I’m fairly certain that the bigger brands will seek to squeeze the little ones out. In my point of view if anyone’s going to pay a lot of money the established brand always wins.

With that these units are in addition considered to be the best laptop computers already, even though they really aren’t. This contains the potential to be increasingly positive for small retailers. This is an enormous sales point that must be mentioned. People that buy high spec laptop computers will normally see past the useless features. For consumers of this kind, how well it performs typically is of greater importance than how it looks.

This is really good news from a customers position. Ultimately it will drive prices down even more and make the newest technology even more obtainable for everybody. I say that a little hesitantly however as the laptops business is an extremely fast changing market. Technology is constantly getting better and the new units should usually be high priced when it just comes out. It is tough to tell what will take place now that the large manufacturers have become involved in making laptops for gaming.

This web site (http://www.rizeon.com) is selling a couple of great laptops for gaming at very cheap prices.

If you’re a home-based business owner, it could be difficult to manage your time. Since your office is located within your home, you tend to spend much more time working in your office than spending quality time with your family. There is that temptation to spend more hours on a project, and the worse case scenario is that you tend to think about your business all the time.

As a home-based business owner, I have been in situations where I have spent so much time on business-related projects that my son has knocked on the door wondering if I was going to work all night. So personally, I have been guilty of this and it is very easy not to pay attention to how much time is spent in your office or working on projects.

Family and friends take advantage sometimes because you work from home you’re always available. They tend to drop by unexpectedly, or they call you on your business line instead of your residence line. When it comes to your family, make a conscious effort to dedicate time with them so that they feel as important as your business. If you have little children not quite school age, arrange a trip to the library, a matinee movie, or a trip to the park but try to schedule these outings at the same time every day or as your time permits in between client appointments.

Now, if you have a spouse, it is very important to allocate time alone with him or her. If your spouse is supportive, encouraging, and understanding of the time that’s dedicated to your business, sometimes you might take advantage of his or her understanding. On the other hand, if your spouse is resentful, you may have more problems than you bargained for. Keep communication open all the time. Another scenario would be that your spouse isn’t interested at all about your business venture. Find the right time to discuss your day-to-day schedules and projects. You should understand his or her needs as well.

It is important to talk to your spouse regarding what your business structure and hours will be prior to starting your home-based business. In the end, it will alleviate the ‘you don’t have enough time for me’ argument.

Article written by Yasmeen Abdur-Rahman of The Brownstone Workshop located in Cary, North Carolina. Yasmeen is a Lifestyle Entrepreneur Coach and Virtual Assistant. She provides coaching to entrepreneurs who are overwhelmed and stressed due to managing a business and family life. Contact Yasmeen at (919) 319-6271 or via e-mail at yasmeen033@aol.com or http://www.thebrownstoneworkshop.bigstep.com. If you would like to reprint this article, please keep the entire article intact and provide the author’s information.

You have seen them on all kinds of cars: tail lights that are an obvious aftermarket modification that give even the most nondescript compact sedan an attention getting, stylish look. From Neons to Civics, and from Dakotas to Escalades, and for mostly any model in between, enthusiasts are changing their vehicle’s appearance with these cool looking mods. Exactly what are they? Some call them European tail lights while others call them Altezzas, after the name of a popular manufacturer of this type of tail light. No matter what you call them, you can install a pair in less than one hour on your vehicle.

European tail lights are an easy to install modification of your car’s tail light assembly. Available as either “clear tail lights” or “red tail lights” your stock tail light assemblies are replaced with a custom fitted unit developed for your particular make/model. In short what you are doing is installing crystal clear or red lenses that go over bullet-style taillight and turn signal lenses. The new lenses, paired with style rings and platings, help to accentuate the light emitting from auto tail lights and turn signals for a distinctive look that is vastly superior to the original design.

Euro tail lights are marketed in an assortment of styles and bezel colors including chrome, carbon fiber, black, etc.; some surfaces are paintable for a customized appearance. What’s more, new LED or light emitting diode tail lights are catching on tool. This particular mod features the fitting of new bulbs that light quicker and illuminate brighter than standard tail light bulbs. LED bulbs are filament free and can bear up under grueling road conditions better than any stock bulb. At some point in the future all vehicles will likely come equipped with LEDs, but why wait that long?

Naturally, if you already own certain European models - BMW and Audi are two examples — then you probably are satisfied with your stock lights as they are what inspired the whole “Euro tail light” craze in the first place.

Best of all, Euro tail lights are street legal and meet stringent Department of Transportation (DOT) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) regulations. No need to worry about being ticketed by highway patrol either unless you modify the mod illegally!

Manufacturer directions are simple to follow and assembly can be completed in as little as 30 minutes for the pair. So, before you know it you’ll be cruising down Rodeo Drive in your little deuce coupe for the whole world to see!

Matt Keegan is an auto aficionado and contributing writer for
PitStop Auto Parts, a seller of discount auto accessories including

IPCW tail lights and
APC tail lights for your car, truck, van, or SUV.

One of the first things you must do for your business is define your target market. I hear business owners tell me all the time that “anyone can use their products,” or “they don’t want to narrow down their customer base by excluding groups of people.” I understand that there is fear around excluding a portion of the population - you feel it’s money walking out the door. But, do you really want to try and be all things to all people? When you narrow your focus and choose a target market, you will be able to market your business more effectively.

Here are three reasons a target market will help you work smarter in your business.

1. Spend your advertising dollars wisely. We all know that ads must be seen at least 7 times before it even registers with a potential customer. If you market to “everyone,” where are you going to place your ad to ensure that enough people see it 7 times? That is, enough people who are then willing to try your products or services. That’s a lot of advertising dollars spent for simply guessing where to put your ad.

2. Know your customers. Customers also want to know “what’s in it for me?” How do your products and services benefit them? With a target market defined, you can determine what to talk about with potential customers. With a defined target market, you will be able to discuss specifically why potential customers will be interested in your products or services.

3. Hear it from the source and meet their needs. Once you choose your target market, do some research to determine what other interests the people in your niche have. Find out where they like to hang out online and offline. Start hanging out in those places too and get to know the people. For example, if you product appeals to moms, join a few mom’s groups. When you connect with them, ask what their needs and concerns are. This is a great way to conduct your research - nothing like getting information directly from the source. You can then use that information to further develop products and services for your business.

Truth be told, I was terrified to choose a target market. I felt that I would be limiting myself. I too, was afraid that I would lose out on income. The truth is, because I chose a target market, I was more successful and actually gained more business. My advertising efforts were focused, and I positioned myself as someone my target market could trust with their needs. And, believe it or not, I attracted other projects and clients that aren’t even in my target market. Do yourself a favor - make your business life easier; choose a target market now.

Copyright 2006 Jennifer Givler

Jenn Givler is a Business Empowerment Coach who teaches entrepreneurs how to create a Powerful Business. Get her free e-book Be Empowered! http://www.jgivlercoaching.com/newsletter.htm