Archive for February, 2009
February 28th, 2009
Ahimsa: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness
In his commentary on the Yoga Sutras, Vyasa [Vyasa was one of the greatest sages of India, author of the Mahabharata (which includes the Bhagavad Gita), the Brahma Sutras, and the codifier of the Vedas.] begins his exposition of ahimsa: "Ahimsa means in no way and at no time to do injury to any living being." Shankara expands on this, saying that ahimsa is "in no capacity and in no fashion to give injury to any being." This would include injury by word or thought as well as the obvious injury perpetrated by deed, for Shankara further says: "Ahimsa is to be practiced in every capacity-body, speech, and mind." We find this principle being set forth by Jesus in his claim that anger directed toward someone is a form of murder (Matthew 5:21,22), and by the Beloved Disciple’s statement that hatred is also murder.(I John 3:15)
Even a simple understanding of the law of karma, the law of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7), enables us to realize the terrible consequences of murder for the murderer. As Vyasa explains: "The killer deprives the victim of spirit, hurts him with a blow of a weapon, and then tears him away from life. Because he has deprived another of spirit, the supports of his own life, animate or inanimate, become weakened. Because he has caused pain, he experiences pain himself…. Because he has torn another from life, he goes to live in a life in which every moment he wishes to die, because the retribution as pain has to work itself right out, while he is panting for death."
Ahimsa is interpreted in many ways-which is to be expected since Sanskrit is a language that abounds in many possible meanings for a single word. But fundamentally ahimsa is not causing any harm whatsoever to any being whatsoever, including subhuman species. (Ahimsa is not usually considered in relation to plant and mineral life, but certainly wanton destruction of such life would be an infringement of ahimsa, partly because it would eventually have a detrimental effect on animal life as well.) To accomplish this ideal it is self-evident that violence, injury, or killing are unthinkable for the yogi. And as Vyasa immediately points out, all the other abstinences and observances-yama and niyama-are really rooted in ahimsa, for they involve preventing harm both to ourselves and to others through either negative action or the neglect of positive action.
"The other niyamas and yamas are rooted in this, and they are practiced only to bring this to its culmination, only for perfecting this [i.e., ahimsa]. They are taught only as means to bring this out in its purity. For so it is said: ‘Whatever many vows the man of Brahman [God] would undertake, only in so far as he thereby refrains from doing harm impelled by delusion, does he bring out ahimsa in its purity.’" And Shankara explains that Vyasa is referring to delusion that is "rooted in violence and causing violence."
Ahimsa includes strict abstinence from any form of injury in act, speech, or thought. Violence, too, verbal and physical, must be eschewed. And this includes any kind of angry or malicious damage or misuse of physical objects.
Ahimsa is a state of mind from which non-injury will naturally proceed. "Ahimsa really denotes an attitude and mode of behavior towards all living creatures based on the recognition of the underlying unity of life," the modern commentator Taimni declares. Shankara remarks that when ahimsa and the others are observed "the cause of one’s doing harm becomes inoperative." The ego itself becomes "harmless" by being put into a state of non-function. And meditation dissolves it utterly. However, until that interior state is established, we must work backwards from outward to inner, and abstain from all acts of injury.
In actuality, we cannot live a moment in this world without injuring innumerable beings. Our simple act of breathing kills many tiny organisms, and so does every step we take. To maintain its health the body perpetually wars against harmful germs, bacteria, and viruses. So in the ultimate sense the state of ahimsa can only be perfectly observed mentally. Still, we are obligated to do as little injury as possible in our external life. In his autobiography Paramhansa Yogananda relates that his guru, Swami Yukteswar Giri, said that ahimsa is absence of the desire to injure.
Although it has many ramifications, the aspiring yogi must realize that the observance of ahimsa must include strict abstinence from the eating of animal flesh in any form or degree.
Though the subject is oddly missing from every commentary on the Yoga Sutras I have read, the practice of non-injury in relation to the yogi himself is vital. That is, the yogi must do nothing in thought, word, or deed that harms his body, mind, or spirit. This necessitates a great many abstensions, particularly abstaining from meat (which includes fish and eggs), alcohol, nicotine, and any mind- or mood-altering substances, including caffeine. On the other side, it necessitates the taking up of whatever benefits the body, mind, and spirit, for their omission is also a form of self-injury, as is the non-observance of any of the yama or niyamas. It is no simple thing to be a yogi.
Next: Satya (truthfulness, honesty)
Swami Nirmalananda Giri is the abbot of Atma Jyoti Ashram, a traditional Hindu monastery in the small desert town of Borrego Springs in southern California. He has written extensively on spirituality, especially about yoga and meditation and the inner, practical side of the world’s religions. More of his writings may be found at the Ashram’s website, www.atmajyoti.org.
Continue Reading February 27th, 2009
Finally, to lose belly fat, consider doing cardio exercises. The calories burnt during your aerobic exercise means that much less calories directed to your tummy. You need not turn into a gymnasium rat, living in the gymnasium. If you only have a small spare tire to lose, doing easy things like taking a walk, or climbing the steps could be enough. If you have many pounds to drop off more intense aerobics may be needed. Anyhow, start small then ramp up gradually. You don’t have to settle for your love handle. You have a wide mixture of physical programs to get you to better fitness. These will not only make you appear well but live longer.
February 27th, 2009
Narcissists are either cerebral or somatic. In other words, they either generate their Narcissistic Supply by applying their bodies or by applying their minds.
The somatic narcissist flaunts his sexual conquests, parades his possessions, exhibits his muscles, brags about his physical aesthetics or sexual prowess or exploits, is often a health freak and a hypochondriac. The cerebral narcissist is a know-it-all, haughty and intelligent “computer”. He uses his awesome intellect, or knowledge (real or pretended) to secure adoration, adulation and admiration. To him, his body and its maintenance are a burden and a distraction.
Both types are auto-erotic (psychosexually in love with themselves, with their bodies and with their brain). Both types prefer masturbation to adult, mature, interactive, multi-dimensional and emotion-laden sex.
The cerebral narcissist is often celibate (even when he has a girlfriend or a spouse). He prefers pornography and sexual auto-stimulation to the real thing. The cerebral narcissist is sometimes a latent (hidden, not yet outed) homosexual.
The somatic narcissist uses other people’s bodies to masturbate. Sex with him - pyrotechnics and acrobatics aside - is likely to be an impersonal and emotionally alienating and draining experience. The partner is often treated as an object, an extension of the somatic narcissist, a toy, a warm and pulsating vibrator.
It is a mistake to assume type-constancy. In other words, all narcissists are BOTH cerebral and somatic. In each narcissist, one of the types is dominant. So, the narcissist is either OVERWHELMINGLY cerebral - or DOMINANTLY somatic. But the other type, the recessive (manifested less frequently) type, is there. It is lurking, waiting to erupt.
The narcissist swings between his dominant type and his recessive type. The latter is expressed mainly as a result of a major narcissistic injury or life crisis.
Sam Vaknin ( samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.
Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.
Visit Sam’s Web site at samvak.tripod.com
February 26th, 2009
Spy sunglasses are actually a brand name of designer sunglasses. Most people though refer to those mirrored sunglasses as spy sunglasses because they can’t see your eyes when they look at you. Therefore they have no idea whether you are watching what they are doing when you are wearing this type of sunglasses. They let you spy on others and watch the men and women without them knowing.
Spy sunglasses carry the Jeremy McGrath signature. These Spy optic sunglasses are more about fit and comfort than fashion, although they are very stylish. They offer 100% UV protection, even with the discount Spy sunglasses that you get from online sites. These designer sun glasses have a multi-layer coating on the lenses to manipulate the light spectrum. This means when you are wearing these sunglasses you have the maximum visual performance and protection.
Some of the different designs of Spy sunglasses that you can get include:
Abbey
Micro Scoop
Meteor
Griffin
Clint
and many more. Shopping online provides you with many more opportunities to get the discount Spy sunglasses you want because the online retailers have a much larger selection to choose from. Most regular stores will only stock one or two of the Spy optic sunglasses because of cost and space.
Spy sunglasses are the favorites among those that like extreme sports. These sunglasses are designed in California, but handcrafted in Italy. If you order from another state you don’t have to pay any tax. This, in itself provides you with discount Spy sunglasses, but there are many retailers that sell very cheaply because they don’t have to carry an extensive inventory and have low overhead costs.
Each pair of Spy optic sunglasses is optically correct. Most of the Spy sunglasses are actually handpainted by Italian artisans and go through extensive testing before they go to market. The unique features of these Spy sun glasses, even when you buy at a discount, include such things as ARC prismatic lenses, polarized lenses and a scoop design put then far ahead of other sun glasses designers. In order to get your discount Spy sunglasses, you need to make sure you shop at an authorized dealer. There are many replicas available, but they are not the real thing.
Be anonymous in Spy sunglasses.
For a website totally devoted to Sunglasses visit Peter’s Website Sunglasses Explained and find out about Sunglasses as well as Discount Sunglasses and more, including Gucci Sunglasses, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Rayban Sunglasses, Chanel Sunglasses, Oakley Sunglasses and more.
February 25th, 2009
Albeit Property Index is seen as a fledgling business, doing business only since March 2007, they have very swiftly proven their mettle. In point of fact a extremely straightforward business entirely concentrated on offering consultation services to essentially anyone who is attempting to rent, buy, sell or let real estate assets in the most popular regions of the world. What they agree to do is assist you laser target squarely what you are looking for very quickly plus, of course, straightforwardly.
Property can easily be purchased everwhere in our times, maybe the most called for area being real estate for sale in Portugal. It should really be easy as one-two-three to determine the fabulous real estate available in Portugal, the rationale for picking properties here is the houses and apartments available and the glorious option of spending your life right amid this bouncing populace. It is one of the truly favored regions of the world in our times, and in view of the overall attractiveness and the great sunshine surrounding you here, how could you say no. Property in Portugal is immersed in culture, art and history, this country has been and still is home to a good number of indigenous civilizations.
The Property Index site has a vast range of property for sale in Portugal, view the range online.
Around 25 years ago you’d find only very few of UK citizens in search of real estate in Portugal. Just ask about anyone who has emigrated to Portugal and they’ll be sure to confirm this. Many would descry it as a passing fad and others descry it as a that’s more or less an obsession. Patrons keen on moving over here will typically range from young well to do couples keen on a challenge in life to older people meaning to take it easy and enjoy themselves. Do bear in mind, however, that there could be snags when acquiring real estate in a foreign country; there are obviously hundreds of steps to consider when strategizing, visiting or signing up. If you miss out on only a single procedure that may kick up insurmountable snags plus, more important, a financial hammering.
Naturally, as is to be counted on with this well-liked location, real estate could be high-priced in this region and this, of course, is unquestionably owing to the increasing buyer demand. Nonetheless the real estate buyer patently is rather spoilt in terms of choice in a destination so great in terms of phenomenal vista. It patently has the whole kit and caboodle anyone may really hunger for etc.
February 23rd, 2009
Roger, 33, is a successful engineer. Married with one child, Roger called me because his marriage was falling apart. His wife, Laura, had recently told him that the marriage was over unless they got some help. She told him she just couldn’t take it any more.
Roger and Laura were both on the phone for their first phone session with me. Laura described what the problem was for her.
“Roger is never present - not with me, not with our daughter. He just does his own thing and doesn’t consider what anyone else might need. If I get upset or irritated, he completely retreats and waits for me to fix it. He can retreat for days at a time and the energy around the house is awful. I try to take care of myself, but I just can’t be around his negativity.
“On top of that, if I ask him to do something, he either refused to do it, or says he will do it and then doesn’t, or ends up messing it up. I know he is competent because of the work he does, but he sure doesn’t act competent at home. The only time he is really interested in me is when I’ve completely pulled back. If I want anything from him, he retreats. I can’t live like this anymore!”
“Roger,” I said, “Do you know what Laura is talking about?”
“I know what she is talking about, but I don’t see it the way she does. I just feel like she always wants something from me. I end up feeling criticized and trapped a lot. I shut down to get away from feeling trapped.”
“Do you still feel this way, now that she wants out of the marriage?”
“It’s funny that you should ask that. No. As soon as she said she wanted out, all of my feelings for her came back. I can’t figure it out!”
“Roger, was one or both of your parents controlling with you?”
“Yes, my mother. She was incredibly controlling.”
“And did you learn various ways of resisting her?”
“Yes!” Roger laughs. He obviously gets pleasure out of being resistant.
Roger has a deep fear of engulfment. As soon as someone wants something from him, his terror of losing himself is activated and he automatically resists. He does not even stop to ask himself if he wants to do whatever it is the other person wants. He does not stop to think about what he wants or what is in his highest good. He just resists. He resists because not being controlled is more important to him than anything. Not being controlled is more important to Roger than being loving to himself or to others. Not being controlled is his God.
While Laura can certainly be controlling at times - as we all can - she does not cause Roger’s resistance. His choice to resist rather than care about himself and others started as a small child, and has continued into adulthood. As long as not being controlled is more important to Roger than being loving, there is nothing Laura can do.
The real issue is that Roger has never developed an adult part of himself capable of thinking about what is best for him. He is operating from a small child aspect of himself who automatically resists in the face of Laura’s requests, just as he did with his mother. Until Roger is willing to do the inner work necessary to develop a loving adult self, he will continue to respond on automatic pilot, and Laura will continue to feel unloved by him.
The irony of the situation is that Roger is being controlled by his resistance. He is not deciding for himself what he wants and doesn’t want - he is just automatically resisting. He is not even conscious that he is choosing to resist.
Because Roger did not want to lose Laura, he was willing to do some inner work. The first step was to become aware of his resistance.
“Roger, I suggest that you consciously choose to resist rather than just doing it automatically. By choosing it, you will become aware of it. Are you willing to try this, or do you want to resist this too?”
Roger laughed. He could already feel his desire to resist doing what I asked him to do. But he did choose to try it.
Within a few months, Roger was very aware of choosing to resist. He was also aware that it was no longer much fun. It was not making him happy. Roger decided that it was more important for him to be loving than to resist being controlled. He was on the road to healing.
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including “Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?” She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: www.innerbonding.com or email her at margaret@innerbonding.com.
February 23rd, 2009
Adults, with eyes to see, can learn so much about success in life from children.
When a baby is born, it has instinctively in it everything needed to succeed in life. A child is like a fresh piece of canvas, ready to become a unique contribution to the world. A child has had less exposure to adult conditioning with regards to behaviour and expectations. Every child has the seeds of success for life within them. By observing children being children, adults can re-learn principles of success that have been buried by their adult world.
As I was driving home last week, I noticed a little boy and his mother by the side of the road. They had stopped walking and the mother was adjusting a toy crossbow to fit more comfortably over the boy’s shoulder. I realized that at that moment in the heart and mind of that small boy, he was not on a sidewalk by a busy road. Perhaps he was hunting in a forest, or was an intrepid explorer of the unknown, ready to pull out his bow and arrows at the slightest hint of danger. In his imagination he was a hero, confident, skilled, and brave. He was alert, prepared, with the expectation of overcoming danger or threat with his skill and swift reflexes.
For a child involved in imaginative play, there is very little distinction between fantasy and reality. Children live and play out their dreams totally in the moment.
There are many principles of success that can be learned by looking through the eyes of a child. Children’s eyes see with clarity and perception and reflect the reality of who they are. Children are uncluttered by training, brainwashing, and by living according to the unwritten rules and etiquette that have assailed the adult mind. For a child life has limitless possibilities that have not been squashed by logic, common sense, or limiting expectations that become part of the adult mind.
What principle of success can be drawn from the little boy with his bow and arrow?
One of the most powerful and yet unused principles of success is the process of visualization. Visualization is the act of creating compelling and vivid pictures in your mind. This is just what the little boy was doing. He was “that hero”; he acted like him, dressed like him, and could picture himself in another time and another place. For him, it seemed like reality. This is a spontaneous, natural process for a child.
Researchers have found that visualization accelerates achievement in powerful ways. It has been proved by research that when performing any task in life the brain uses the same identical processes that it would if you were only vividly visualizing that activity. The brain sees no difference at all between visualizing something and actually doing it.
This principle also is applicable when a person is learning something new. Visualization makes the brain achieve more. In a study by researchers at Harvard University, it was found that students who visualized in advance were able to perform tasks with nearly 100 percent accuracy. Students who performed tasks without using visualization only achieved 55 percent accuracy.
Visualization is frequently used by Olympic and professional athletes to improve performance.
Jack Nicklaus, a legend in the golfing world, once described how he uses visualization. “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp in-focus picture of it in my head. It’s like a color movie. First I “see” where I want it to finish, nice and white and sitting high on the bright green grass. Then the scene quickly changes, and I “see” the ball going there: its path, trajectory, and shape, even its behaviour on landing. Then there’s a sort of fade out, and the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality.” The results of the power of visualization for Jack Nicklaus are convincing: he has won over 100 tournaments earning over 5.7 million in the process.
For a child a high proportion of time is spent in visualization. Adults may say, “He’s only playing” and not see the potential power for success that the child is practicing. Visualization is a process that is naturally strong in the learning and formative years of the child. Research now confirms that visualization activates the creative powers of the subconscious mind. It focuses the brain by programming its reticular activating system (RAS) to notice available resources that were always there but previously unnoticed. Visualization, incredibly, also magnetizes and attracts you to the people, resources, and opportunities you need to achieve your goal.
Next time you see children playing, pause to watch visualization in its purest form. What can you learn and apply to your own life to accelerate and achieve greater success using the principle of visualization?
Barbara White, an experienced educator and parent of three
teenagers, speaks with humor, insight, and passion to both teachers and parents
on the subject of
learning and
personality styles. Her latest presentation “Learning Through the Eyes of a
Child” is both entertaining and inspirational. For more articles and information
visit her websites
www.livingbeyondbetter.com
and http;//www.articlesbeyondbetter.com
February 23rd, 2009
How often have you said to a your friends, “I always seem to pick guys who are bad for me.”
According to Hypnotherapy specialist Roderick Piggott, women who experience a series of broken and unequal relationships, are often suffering from issues of low self-esteem and poor self-image. This causes them to choose the wrong partners again and again.
Low self-esteem can really impact negatively on a persons quality of life, making them feel that they don’t deserve love and respect and are not fit to enjoy a proper, fulfilling relationship. Motivation levels can sink, leaving them feeling low and robbing them of any enthusiasm.
If you suffer from low self-esteem, you blame yourself for things that aren’t your fault; you underestimate your abilities, and you expect things to go wrong for you. Often, low self-esteem is associated with a range of other problems, such as lack of confidence, depression, anxiety, stress and jealousy. If you feel that your opinions and thoughts are worthless, you will find yourself unable to connect or communicate effectively with others, which can become a real issue. This can be picked up by partners, leading to a shift in the balance of a relationship, turning it into something that is unequal and disadvantageous to the weaker partner. Frequently this leads to an abusive relationship and often the cycle is repeated many times.
It simply may not be the “wrong” man that you choose, it is very probable that a partner will become frustrated and lose respect. Attitudes then change taking the relationship off course.
There are many things that might happen in life that can cause low self-esteem. It could be a traumatic childhood, maybe a respected figure in your life belittled you, perhaps failure at a career or at school, or even a lack of social life or friends. Whatever the causes, it is important to try and get your life back on track and get over these feelings of worthlessness for the sake of yourself and those around you. These negative emotions can reflect in everything you do and say, and can start to affect your whole life.
Women who realize that they need self-esteem help are often too embarrassed to admit to anyone that they have a problem, however many sufferers of low self-esteem are benefiting from hypnotherapy treatments at home, which can literally change peoples lives for the better.
Even though you may want to change the way you feel, to be confident in your thoughts and ideas, to have a sense of faith in your own abilities and know consciously that you are worthwhile and respected, your emotional subconscious mind knows different. Your mind goes back to your deepest insecurities, together with the emotions that are held alongside those memories. Your beliefs are accessed. Your conscious and subconscious mind is in conflict. The subconscious mind wins, every time because your emotions rule. You can change your beliefs by changing your emotions. Hypnosis can do this. And it is easy.
Hypnotherapy treatments work in a very natural way, People are constantly capable of change, which can happen more powerfully in an altered state. In this altered state, which we call hypnosis, suggestions to the sub-conscious mind can supply us with the feelings and emotions that go with imagination and creativity to bring about changes within your feeling system, your emotional system, and this can change your values, perceptions and beliefs. It’s what makes hypnosis an incredibly powerful means to achieve your dreams.
Your subconscious mind has the power to end your struggle with your low self-esteem. Your life will improve if you begin to believe in yourself and your abilities, you will feel respected, giving you that extra boost to increase motivation, and your enthusiasm will increase noticeably. Some people say it feels like magic because it is so easy to make powerful changes. Hypnotherapy simply allows you to access the resources you already have in your subconscious mind.
Partner at Imagine Me Media - The Hypnotherapy DVD company. Imagine Me… with High Self-esteem, is just one of a series of titles in the Imagine Me… range of helpful DVDs now available. www.imaginememedia.com
February 19th, 2009
Hello. Mr. Cheapie here again with three more fantastic I-can’t-believe-I-didn’t-think-of-that frugal shopping tips. I already gave you my best frugal eating tips at:
http://www.thehappyguy.com/frugal-living-tip.html
Now let’s move away from food, because it is to always important to buy the sizzle, not the steak. That’s the first tip. If the steak was any good, why would Madison Avenue spend all its efforts selling the sizzle?
Let’s face it, you don’t care which widget fits into the combotubulator under the hood; you just want a sporty new set of wheels painted in flamethrower red.
Here is how you negotiate down the price of a new vehicle. Just say, “No engine, please. No transmission. No coolant. Nothing under the hood, please. Nothing that doesn’t shine when I polish the car in my driveway.
You would be amazed at the astounding bargains you can negotiate on a new car with no engine. Plus, the car will weigh much less, so you will save on gas.
Next, head over to your favorite furniture superstore to buy a TV. Tip: NEVER buy a TV at an electronics store. They will try to sell you a whole bunch of useless and expensive features. The last thing you need is another 962 satellite channels that never seem to have anything on anyway.
Go straight to the wall unit section of the furniture store. They always display life-size cardboard TVs in this section. Most people leave their cardboard TVs behind when they pick up their wall units, so you can get yours for a song.
As a bonus, you always know what is showing on your new cardboard TV and you can save even more money by canceling that useless satellite or cable service.
Next, head to the office furniture section and check out the desks. See those cardboard computers?…
Apply this principal to any electronic equipment - telephones, microwave ovens, blenders. Imagine the fortune you can save just by saying “hold the steak.” If you’re a technophobe, you’ll be even happier.
But what if you really, really want the steak? Suppose you run out of ice cream, you’ve eaten all your foam mattresses and food stamps, and you are so hungry that you are willing to pay for the steak?
The second tip is to pay for the steak with online coupons. You don’t have to flip through flyers for coupons any more. For instance, I found this place that offers lots of free online coupons:
http://www.specialoffers.com
Coupon shopping does have its drawbacks, like the first time you try it you will find the coupons are extremely hard to cut (unless you took my advice and bought one of those really cool cardboard computers at the furniture superstore).
But you’ll get the hang of it, and before you know it you will save even more, because you can slash your scissors budget. Plus, you won’t have to clean up all the coupon clippings from the floor. And think of all the trees you will save.
My third tip is to bid at online auctions. Yeah, I know, you think auctions are only for antiques, multi-million dollar canvasses by dead people with funny accents and celebrity underwear.
But online is different. You can even bid on used chewing gum…which is why I advise being very careful what you bid on. For instance, I found this site:
http://www.farmandfieldauctions.com/fly-fishing-gear.html
Feel free to bid on used fly-fishing-gear. I am sure you will get a great deal. But stay away from any auction for used bait.
Notice all the used hunting supplies you can buy at:
http://www.farmandfieldauctions.com/hunting-supplies.html
However, you will also notice how few auctions there are for used moose meat. There is a reason for that. If aliens capture your brain and you are compelled to bid on used moose meat, please watch for the “urgent” label.
My best advice is not to bid on used chewing gun, used fishing bait or used moose meat. These have very little sizzle, and what steak they have is probably not very tasty.
Happy shopping.
Read more satire and funny stories:
http://www.thehappyguy.com/humor-articles.html
Buy his happiness book:
http://www.thehappyguy.com/happiness-self-help-book.html
Find personal growth articles for reprint
http://www.thehappyguy.com/self-actualization-articles.html
Info@thehappyguy.com
About the Author
Mr. Cheapie is really David Leonhardt, a humor columnist:
http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/positive-thinking-free-ezine.html
February 19th, 2009
Kim Skinner
Website promotion almost always involves some kind of written ad copy. What I mean is, you can only add so many meta tags, and keywords to your website, and submit it to so many search engines.
Not only are you going to have to write some ad copy, you’re going to have to write some pretty good stuff to get them to buy, once they’re at your site. And this, my friends, is where the AIDA formula comes in.
There are so many formulas in selling, yet this is the one I use the most because I know, from experience, that it’s the easiest one to put to use in almost any sales situation. Here is the formula:
- A: Attention
- I: Interest
- D: Desire
- A: Act
You must first get the prospects’ attention, if you want to sell to them. Think of it, in this formula, as getting to first base on a baseball diamond. Here are some examples:
“Work At Home In Your Pajamas”
“FREE ________”. (Anything free gets attention).
“Buy One, Get One Free”
Second base is Interest. We can begin to build interest if we have someone’s attention. Interest is developed by giving a prospect the multiple benefits of what you have to offer that will positively affect their lives, or solve a problem for them. Examples:
“With our new, great tasting, vitamin bars, you will eat your way to a healthier lifestyle.”
“Our psychics will take all the guesswork out of your life!”
I made these up, but you get the idea.
Third base of course, or the third step, is Desire. You build desire by making your offer irresistible. You know you have succeeded with a powerful and compelling offer when people feel badly if they DON’T order. I try to make offers so juicy, that you just have to say yes. Example:
“A year from now, you can be living the lifestyle you desire, or you can just be another year older. It’s up to you.”
Here are a few ways in which you can also do so:
- Give strong guarantees, better than your competition.
- Spend time and attention of packaging your products attractively.
- Give at least one bonus that the customer can keep, even if they don’t like the offer, just for their trouble.
- Build urgency. Most people will put off making a decision to act. Build your offers in any business to get people to act now. They’ll be happy they did, if you properly package your offer. Finally, you get to home plate with asking people to act, the action phase of this direct response formula.
Many ads get the first three elements of the AIDA formula correct. Then, they forget to close the sale. You have to ask people to buy! If you’ve given them a reason to buy, a slew of great benefits, strong guarantees, and great bonuses, you shouldn’t be shy to do so.
When you ask people to act, make it easy for them to do so. Tell people “it’s easy to order.” Or, “all you have to do” is make this call, fill this out, go to your secure order form. Offer as many payment options as possible, especially credit cards. As a rule of thumb, the easier it is to buy, the more orders you’ll get. Remember, you have to lead most people to a decision. If you can do it in a charming manner, and eliminate the risk that the purchaser goes through, you’ll find that asking people to order is easy.
Also, you want to create that urgency once again. Examples:
“This offer will expire 10 days from today.”
“Supplies are limited. Buy Now!”
Use the AIDA formula. It’s simple, basic, and time tested.
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Kim Skinner, of K & D Publishing, is the author, and publisher of Success Online Weekly, a free
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