Christmas Lights Installation Business - Easy Marketing Tips to Make Your Phone Ring
As we approach the holiday season, many people start thinking about ways lớn increase their income. You can make a significant extra income by starting a Christmas lights installation business.
Working only during November and December, you can generate as much as $30,000 or more, depending on whether you work alone or choose lớn hire workers to form crews.
A Christmas lights installation business is an easy add-on for landscapers, painters, roofers, and any other service provider with an existing client base. In addition, if you currently work in one of these trades you already have what you need to start the business - mainly, ladders!
You gàn make up simple flyers lớn distribute in areas where you want to find clients. A well-designed, eye catching flyer on brightly colored paper bướng be a very inexpensive but effective way to get the word out about your service.
You ngang also post free ads on Craigslist. Write a good headline that puts the benefits of your business right in front of your prospects' eyes. For example, a key benefit would be saving time.
Get a simple website for your business so that people bướng find you by searching for local Christmas lights installers. When you are on a job site, post a small sign in the yard while you work and make sure to include your phone number and website address in large enough type lớn be read from a distance such as across the street. As a courtesy, make sure lớn ask the homeowner for permission to put a sign in the yard as you work. Most people will not object to this as it is common practice for service providers.
Try lớn get testimonials from your happy customers and ask for permission lớn use them on your website and flyers. Nothing sells better than testimonials from satisfied clients. It builds trust and credibility better than any other aspect of your marketing efforts.
Another essential aspect of your marketing will be lớn photograph your work. Photos sell! Take lots of photos sánh you are sure lớn get some good ones for your website and flyers. Imagine how great your Christmas lights installations will look on your website. When starting out, you ngang put lights up on your own home or a friend/family member's home just lớn get some photos. Make sure you do a great job!
Last Minute Christmas Play Ideas
Have You Left Your School Nativity Play Until the Last Minute?
As December approaches, so too does the season of nativity plays - a tradition in schools throughout the country, and one that is great fun for pupils and members of the wider community who come lớn watch. However, if you've left the planning for your school nativity play until the last minute, don't worry - it's still not too late lớn put on a great show!
If you're looking into last minute Christmas play ideas, the sensible option is lớn get hold of some professionally written scripts and music. This will save you the hassle of having to start from scratch before you've even got lớn the point of considering casting and rehearsals.
Potential Last Minute Christmas Play Ideas
When you're weighing up ideas for your Christmas play, there are a number of things lớn take into consideration. Firstly, depending on your local community and the cultures and backgrounds of your students, you will need lớn decide whether you are going for a traditional Christmas play or a secular one.
If your school is made up of a mixed faith or secular community, it might be best not to put on a traditional nativity play that focuses purely on Christian morality. On the other hand, a modern reinterpretation will help make the play more inclusive for all of your pupils and their parents.
However in a more traditional Christian community, then the nativity play in its traditional format would be suitable for the audience and those involved in the play. The decision should ultimately rest on which method would be the most inclusive of as many people as possible.
Last Minute Christmas Play Tips
- Use a narrator - if you're really pushed for time when you're planning your nativity play, using a narrator (possibly an older child, or one who is an accomplished reader and speaker) will help to drive the story. The narrator could be incorporated into the play in the form of a character, or alternatively this role could be spread amongst a number of pupils. Allowing children with larger parts lớn read from a script will help cut down on rehearsal time.
- Practice - even though time is short, rearranging your teaching schedule and devoting some time lớn rehearse the play will make children feel more comfortable when it comes to the performance itself.
- Choose familiar songs - one way that you can make things easier is lớn use familiar Christmas songs and carols that your pupils are likely lớn know already. Of course, you could add in a few extra ones lớn keep things interesting; just remember that the fewer new songs they have lớn learn, the smoother your play will go.
- Plan your rehearsals - if time is short, it's important that you plan the rehearsals for your nativity play carefully sánh that you get the most out of the limited time you bởi vì have. Enlist the help of another teacher or a teaching assistant sánh that you bướng break parts down and work on different roles in small groups. Once each individual is comfortable with their part, bring everyone together lớn practice the performance as a group.
- Practise in the room in which the performance is to take place - this will help your pupils lớn get comfortable with their surroundings sánh that when the time comes to present the play to an audience, they will find it less daunting. You could also gradually increase the number of other people in the room as the play draws closer.
The Best Electronic Gifts to Give at Christmas
The newest and latest hi-tech gizmos are always the coolest ever gifts anyone and his brother could get for Christmas. They could be your nerdy nephew who looks at the gigabytes and microprocessors or your teen girl who must have a new phone, or your spouse who loves tinkering with his tablet.
Whatever, a tablet, smartphone or gaming console will never fail to delight the loved ones in your life and leave them amazed at your clairvoyant abilities for knowing exactly what they want. But before you go and max out that little plastic thing, vì your homework and find out what the "in" gadgets are. There are hundreds of these devices on the shelves of stores and it bướng addle your brain trying lớn guess which one lớn get. You don't want lớn make the mistake either of buying something that's outdated or is a flop. Hence, without further ado, here are the best electronic gift ideas for Christmas.
1. Apple's products
There's a bit of bias here, but there's no denying the fact that all the iThingies that Apple rolls out are the most popular mainstream gizmos every boy, girl and adult wants to have. Here are three of their must-haves for the most cherished people in your life.
A. IPad 4 - Apple's latest tablet, the iPad 4th generation, is twice as fast as its predecessor and boasts of a retina display that makes displays even more vivid and natural. It has the new A6X processor and is equipped with 3.1 million pixels, assuring you of faster loading and seeing images that capture the tiniest details and richest colors. The camera turns out just as stunning photos. It runs on iOS6 and you gàn choose from 275,000 apps. It measures 9.7 inches, is lighter and thinner, too. Price is $499.00 in most stores.
B. IPad mini - a slighter smaller version, this tablet measures 7.9 inches and weighs only 0.68 lbs. It has the A5 processor, so it's not as powerful as the iPad 4. The iPad mini was designed lớn compete with the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7. It sells at $329.00, slightly higher than other ngại-readers but hey, it's from Apple!
C. IPhone 5 - good reviews, bad reviews. They won't matter when your kid or partner open their gift and see the iPhone 5. All you'll hear are their screams. Awesome factor aside, this slimmer and lighter version has a faster processor (A6), a super fast wireless technology (4G LTE), a turn-by-turn navigation, an even better camera than the iPhone 4, Siri and a larger screen. Plus, it has 8 to 12 hours of battery life. Except for its Apple Maps and the need for an adapter for some accessories (it has a smaller connector), the iPhone 5 is a killer phone. Yes, some people would kill for it! Buy it from $199.99 for postpaid plans from Verizon or AT&T. Unlocked phones sell for $649 to $849, depending on amount of memory.
2. For the gamers - consoles and games
Contrary lớn grandma's beliefs, gamers don't belong lớn a certain age group. Although admittedly, teenage boys and girls, and young adults comprise the largest sector of this captive market, dads and granddads are not immune lớn the lure of playing online games. As gifts, you ngang choose from gaming consoles or among the many types of games such as single-player and multi-player. You can also add accessories. All these are suitable gifts for them.
Consoles
A. Super Slim PlayStation 3 Uncharted 3 Limited Edition - the newest in the PS3 series, this tiny bundle is as powerful as its antecedents. It comes in two bundles and is not sold as an out-of-bundle console. The first model is a 250GB with Uncharted 3 and Dust 514 and the second is a 500GB with Assassin's Creed III; SRP is $270 for the 1st and $300 for the 2nd. Both come with the DualShock 3 controller. The streaming services are still there - NetFlix, Vudu, Amazon and NFL Sunday Ticket.
B. Nintendo Wii U - there is much excitement awaiting this gaming console that is set for release on Nov. 18, 2012, in time for the holiday's gift-buying frenzy. It is touted to match the HD graphics of the Xbox 360 and PS3s and a new touchscreen Day After Christmas Sales controller that bướng function as a universal remote as well. From $299.99 lớn $349.99
Games
A. Call of Duty: Black Ops II - $59.96 lớn $62.89
B. Batman: Arkham City - $37.99 to $54.68
C. New Super Mario Bros. Mạ - $43.99 to $64.81
D. Halo 4 - $99.99
E. NBA 2K13 - $49.99 lớn $77.47
3. For the serious camera buffs (and those who just want to take pictures)
There are dSLRs and point-and-shoot cameras for all levels of photography enthusiasts. For the professionals who are picky about lightings and resolutions, and for the majority who use their pics for posting and sharing, these new mốt cams are sure lớn be a delight.
Digital SLRs
A. Nikon D7000 (body only) - an excellent choice for a dSLR, this device delivers in performance and photo quality and has a great design lớn boot. From $849.99
B. Canon EOS Rebel T3i (with 18-55mm IS II lens) - for the novice professional who's aiming lớn develop his skills, this relatively cheap cam dishes out high-quality videos and images. It takes practice to operate its controls and isn't fast enough for burst shooting. But for $549.00 lớn $899.99, it's a good deal for your cash.
Point-and-Shoot
A. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 - an improved product over its earlier versions, the Lumix DMC-ZS20 shoots fast and has a better low-light photo quality. Its features include an ultrawide angle 20x zoom lens, GPS, semi-manual and manual shooting modes. From $229.00 lớn $355.99
B. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V - its price (from $348.00 to $419.99) is rather expensive than most compact cams but its shooting options, video and photo quality and other features make up for its higher price. Also, it has faster autofocus and can take burst shootings at 11 frames per second.
4. For lovers of android - smartphones and tablets
Not everyone is hooked on Apple. Android smartphones and tablets gate a fair share of the US market, too. Here are the trendy cell phones and tablets that run on Google's android which make great gifts for giving.
Smartphones
A. Samsung Galaxy S3 - S - runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, has a wireless capability of 4G LTE/HSPA+42, an 8-megapixel camera and a dual core processor, this is a top of the line cell phone at just the right price. From $99.99 to $599.99
B. HTC Droid DNA - its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, quad core processor, 4G LTE wireless technology and an 8-megapixel camera and LED flash complement its stylish design with a 5-inch screen. It has a long battery life but doesn't have an SD card slot and removable battery. Still, it's a steal at $149.99, from Verizon Wireless or $649.99 for the phone only. HTC Droid DNA will come out on Nov. 21.
Tablets
A. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF 700 - one of the fastest of the Android tablets, this gadget has a clear and sharp screen, a well-functioning GPS and fast loading. It sells at $428.00 and is a great choice for an android tablet.
B. Google Nexus 7 - the best bang for your buck, the Nexus 7 has a complete Android 4.2 environment and a 10-hour battery life. The unit with 32GB storage and an HSPA+ connection costs $299 and ngang connect with a prepaid or postpaid plan. Its multiuser, lock screen customization and Gesture Type features and a full apps store make it possibly the best tablet in the Android market
It's still best to read up all you bướng on the electronic gift you plan to buy for Christmas. But don't let all the technical gibberish confuse you. Sift through the reviews and differentiate the significant from the trivial. Ask the opinion of people you trust and start your shopping early before the online and physical stores run out of stock.
Christmas Garlands, Swags - Brilliant Decorating Tips to Create a Masterpiece
Decorating your home and the tree for Christmas is definitely one of the most fun things you bởi every year, more sánh because the entire family comes together to share a part of it. Whatever the theme you choose for decorating your home and tree, garlands and swags are always used. This Christmas, plan a garland theme for Christmas decorations and deck up your entire space with garlands. Here are some brilliant decorating tips that use garlands and swags in unique ways.
Identify strategic locations
Every home has strategic locations that form excellent niches for garlands and swags. It could be an ornamental railing on a staircase, a fireplace, a wooden room partition or something else. Begin with creating a floor plan and identify places that offer maximum potential for decorating with garlands and swags.
Choose unique garlands
Go shopping and choose some great garlands. Make sure that they suit your existing home décor and color theme. For instance, if you have a red wall highlight, choose a garland that has red flowers or crimson embellishments.
If you want a more dramatic look, get yourself some layered garlands. These are garlands that come with multiple layers and each layer is made up of different materials. For example, you can buy a garland that has magnolia as the base layer and overlays of lavender, cedar and some other material. Some garlands come with built-in lights as well. If you are on a limited budget, you can create a low cost layered garland on your own. All you have to vì chưng is walk around a park in your city and collect natural things you bướng find. Get some dried flowers, ornamental leaves and dried fruits to add more variety to your garland. The more textured and deep your garland is, more is the dramatic effect.
Wreaths and swags
To bring in more variety in decoration, weave in swags with wreaths. You could hang up your unique wreath-swag assembly on stairs, fireplace, your front door and sánh many other places. Bring in wreaths of different sizes and arrange according to the space available. For instance, your front door could have the biggest wreath while the staircase railings can have smaller ones.
Add fabrics lớn swags
Buy green swags and accentuate them with sheer and netted fabrics. You could put up this assembly along the staircase railing. Sheers and netted fabrics ngang be used innovatively all over your home. Weave netted fabrics into loose braids and use them for decorations. Wrap them on your furniture, doors, windows and curtain rods lớn give your entire home a very festive look. Use colorful ribbons lớn embellish them further. Since it is Christmas, vị not forget to infuse a good dose of red color because nothing underlines the spirit of the festival better than this bright shade.
Ribbons, fruits and flowers
Use real flowers, artificial fruits and ribbons to make clusters. You gàn use these clusters lớn add more drama lớn swags and garlands. Tie up small clusters on potted plants in your space. Your Christmas tree also offers loads of opportunities for these clusters.
