How to Find a Natural Gas Leak in Your Home?

The most common way to find a natural gas leak in your home will be to use a simple mixture of water and soap. This mixture can then be applied to any gas pipes that you think might be leaking.

Let's think safety first, natural gas is flammable and if you don't feel comfortable, trying to find a natural gas leak, you can simply call your local utility company that supplies your home with natural gas and they will gladly send out a representative to help you with your problem.

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Remember these people are supplying your home with an extremely flammable product and they do not want any problems or bad publicity. These people are your friends and they are definitely there to help you. Even if you don't feel comfortable, you simply just don't want to deal with the problem, these professionals can usually find the gas leak within a few minutes.

That's the easiest way to find a home gas leak, however there is another.

If you think a pipe is leaking or even if you can hear a hissing sound and smell the natural gas, you can mix any soap, but I preferred to use a liquid soap with water to produce a soapy mixture.

Then you can apply this mixture with a brush around the pipes that you suspect might be leaking and if there are any bubbles that form around these pipes, you definitely have a leak and this gas leak should be repaired as soon as possible and then re-checked to make sure that it isn't leaking anymore.

To make any repairs to your gas supply system, make sure that the gas supply valve is properly shut off. The gas supply valve should be near your gas meter.

Remember, the gas is extremely flammable and this article is about helping you find the gas leak. I suggest that you contact a plumber to repair the damage.

How to Find a Natural Gas Leak in Your Home?

Grow Calendar 2011

You Need A Cake Marketing Plan!

Are you passionate about cake decorating and are ready to take it to the next level? Are you finally up to starting a cake business from home? Starting this business from home will be an amazingly fun adventure but you need to prepare yourself from day one.

Starting a cake business from home is just like any other business, you need a plan. You have your business plan and a crucial part of that includes a marketing plan. You can ask any business owner and they will tell you that marketing is going to be one of the most crucial elements of running your business. You have to reach customers to sell to, without these people; your business is nothing but equipment.

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Before you start your cake business, let's get the marketing aspect under control. A budget is crucial but sometimes frustrating. Most people don't have thousands of dollars to throw into their new company so budgeting is absolutely necessary. If you have your market strategy in place, stretching your budget will be much simpler.

So, your question is? How can I market for little or no money? Good questions, let's answer it...

1. Ask local schools, churches, YMCA's, Boys & Girls Clubs, Recreational Centers and libraries if you can post some flyers. Make these flyers at home for relatively no money. You just need paper and a printer.

2. Take photos of the finished products and place them on these flyers.

3. Offer some free or reduced priced cakes to your friends and family for their events. Ask your neighbors and people you work with or your spouse works with if you can use there event as a stepping stone.

4. Ask for testimonials from your customers, friends or family. Use these testimonials in your flyers or website.

5. Search for local events in your area and ask if you can sponsor or participate in the event. Offer samples or demos of your product for free. You will be surprised at the results you get.

It is very difficult when starting a cake business from home or any business for that matter to spend NO money. You are going to have to invest money in your marketing. Once you get out there and get noticed, the possibilities are endless. Offer cakes for all types of occasions and soon you will notice your calendar is never empty! Just remember, you must have a marketing plan in order to be successful in your new cake business! So, start planning, good luck and have fun!

You Need A Cake Marketing Plan!

Grow Calendar 2011

The Very Latest on Enclosures and Gazebos For Hot Tubs

One of the latest trends in hot tubs is gazebos and hot tub enclosures. They in fact serve several purposes, such is protecting the spa from the elements, blocking unwanted access and providing privacy for people who are using the spa. So just how are they made? Also can they be purchased in prefabricated form?

Definite Benefits of Prefabricated Kits

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The fact is that there are several makes and models of prefabricated gazebos for hot tubs and they do have their definite benefits. For one thing, the kits come with all the parts that are required to build it and also minimal carpentry skills are required.

A Broad Choice of Design Styles To Choose From

The number of styles that these prefabricated enclosures come in is also quite eclectic. What this means, is that no matter what the design style of your home, you should have no trouble locating a spa enclosure of a similar design style to match it.

Enclosure Plans for Hot Tubs Online

Even so, you can build your own if you have access to some carpentry tools. Even if you don't, you can rent just about any type of woodworking tool now, down at your local Home Depot or Lowe's Hardware store. Also plans are available online too.

A Few More Things To Think About

One thing that you will want to make sure of, is that no matter what your plans call for, you will need to build a floor with an underpinning support network that will support your hot tubs weight after it's filled with water. Also make sure that you treat your wood with a preservative to protect it from the water that it will be getting exposed to.

The Very Latest on Enclosures and Gazebos For Hot Tubs

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Church Marketing - Top 10 Items to Include in Your Church Welcome Packet!

So, you put a marketing plan together, even got a budget that didn't have "shoestring" associated with it, ran your campaign and guess what? It all came together. People have started to flow into your church. And if you have read my past articles, you are saying that you are done and have done the warm hand off to others as these folks are on their way to becoming regular visitors and perhaps even members. You job is done.....almost!

Let's face it, marketing's job is never done, but there is one thing that you should give some thought to before the marketing team's job is considered done. And that is a good welcome packet.

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Why have welcome packets?

A welcome packet can be a marketing tool to provide new visitors information about your church, its' doctrine or belief's and some of the ministries or activities that go on there. It gives the guest something to review when they have left the church and have some time to reflect.

There are several objectives of insuring your guests are given a welcome packet when they visit:

* Makes them feel welcome! You want to express your gratitude for allowing you to share and to also indicate that they are welcome to return

* Understand your structure. One of the reasons visitors come is to learn something about your church. How it is organized. What sets you apart from the other churches in the area. Welcome packets can accomplish that.

* Become familiar with your worship style (is it more singing then they would like?) and church beliefs.

* Review activities calendar. Visitors want to know the upcoming schedule of events and ministry meeting times.

What should go into the packet?

While there is no absolute must have list, here are some ideas that will help to make a great impression and give guests a reason for returning:

1. Video or DVD of your organization

- It could be a video tour of the entire grounds or maybe just a 30 second clip that tells about each ministry in the church. Perhaps it is the vision for where you want to get to.

2. Refrigerator magnets

Are you looking for an inexpensive marketing tool that has long term staying power? This may be better than you think! According to a study at Purdue University, the average American visits their refrigerator 22 times a day. What else could you get that is going to get that much exposure? And strange as it sounds, even if people don't like them, they tend to put them on their refrigerators.

3. Letter of Greeting from the Minister

Perhaps a personalized message with an invitation to return the following week. Studies have found that a personal interaction with the Minister can have a dramatically positive effect on whether someone returns or makes a church home. (So, don't forget about the Minister making a personal phone call to follow up the next week either!)

4. Information on the membership process of your church.

Some visitors are ready to become members from day one. They may have just moved and want to keep their denominational affiliation intact. Others just feel good and know when they have found their new church home. It takes the awkwardness out of them having to ask.

5. Invitation for on-line survey.

A quick survey of a visitor's church experience is good. But they may feel uneasy filling out one in church especially if they are the only guest that day. Online surveys provide an easy way for you to determine how things really are since they are truly anonymous.

6. Audio recording -

Could be a recent Sunday Message or perhaps something more of an invitation. Keep in mind that at the least we are a CD world. Cassettes are dead. Podcasts or downloads are a great way to get them to your website.

7. Informational brochure

- General info about the church and its' ministries (if you can't do a video or want to cover your bases). It could also include a brief history of the church, or the denomination if that is deemed important.

8. Calendar of events -

Announcement flyers of public events such as fall festivals, Christmas programs, etc.

9. Coupons!

A coupon to turn in at the church book store or on the website for a free token of appreciation or a discount. I love the coupon that entitles the user for a free cup of coffee with the minister!

10 Tote bags or bookmarks -

Both of these have become very inexpensive and help to keep your church in the guests mind. Be sure to include your website address on these!

While these are not all-inclusive, they do make a favorable impression on any church guest. A good welcome packet can make the difference if a visitor comes back for a second look. It can provide the answers to some of the questions that arise after they have left the church. Of course, nothing beats a personal note or phone call from the minister

How do they get distributed?

Don't leave it up to chance whether a visitor gets a welcome packet or not. While my experience has gone from having to look for them myself or being told to pick one up on the way out, anything short of personally handing one to me loses some of the welcome packet's purpose... to make me feel welcome. Make sure your church doesn't make that mistake!

Church Marketing - Top 10 Items to Include in Your Church Welcome Packet!

Grow Calendar 2011

Church Marketing - Top 10 Items to Include in Your Church Welcome Packet!

So, you put a marketing plan together, even got a budget that didn't have "shoestring" associated with it, ran your campaign and guess what? It all came together. People have started to flow into your church. And if you have read my past articles, you are saying that you are done and have done the warm hand off to others as these folks are on their way to becoming regular visitors and perhaps even members. You job is done.....almost!

Let's face it, marketing's job is never done, but there is one thing that you should give some thought to before the marketing team's job is considered done. And that is a good welcome packet.

Grow Calendar 2011

Why have welcome packets?

A welcome packet can be a marketing tool to provide new visitors information about your church, its' doctrine or belief's and some of the ministries or activities that go on there. It gives the guest something to review when they have left the church and have some time to reflect.

There are several objectives of insuring your guests are given a welcome packet when they visit:

* Makes them feel welcome! You want to express your gratitude for allowing you to share and to also indicate that they are welcome to return

* Understand your structure. One of the reasons visitors come is to learn something about your church. How it is organized. What sets you apart from the other churches in the area. Welcome packets can accomplish that.

* Become familiar with your worship style (is it more singing then they would like?) and church beliefs.

* Review activities calendar. Visitors want to know the upcoming schedule of events and ministry meeting times.

What should go into the packet?

While there is no absolute must have list, here are some ideas that will help to make a great impression and give guests a reason for returning:

1. Video or DVD of your organization

- It could be a video tour of the entire grounds or maybe just a 30 second clip that tells about each ministry in the church. Perhaps it is the vision for where you want to get to.

2. Refrigerator magnets

Are you looking for an inexpensive marketing tool that has long term staying power? This may be better than you think! According to a study at Purdue University, the average American visits their refrigerator 22 times a day. What else could you get that is going to get that much exposure? And strange as it sounds, even if people don't like them, they tend to put them on their refrigerators.

3. Letter of Greeting from the Minister

Perhaps a personalized message with an invitation to return the following week. Studies have found that a personal interaction with the Minister can have a dramatically positive effect on whether someone returns or makes a church home. (So, don't forget about the Minister making a personal phone call to follow up the next week either!)

4. Information on the membership process of your church.

Some visitors are ready to become members from day one. They may have just moved and want to keep their denominational affiliation intact. Others just feel good and know when they have found their new church home. It takes the awkwardness out of them having to ask.

5. Invitation for on-line survey.

A quick survey of a visitor's church experience is good. But they may feel uneasy filling out one in church especially if they are the only guest that day. Online surveys provide an easy way for you to determine how things really are since they are truly anonymous.

6. Audio recording -

Could be a recent Sunday Message or perhaps something more of an invitation. Keep in mind that at the least we are a CD world. Cassettes are dead. Podcasts or downloads are a great way to get them to your website.

7. Informational brochure

- General info about the church and its' ministries (if you can't do a video or want to cover your bases). It could also include a brief history of the church, or the denomination if that is deemed important.

8. Calendar of events -

Announcement flyers of public events such as fall festivals, Christmas programs, etc.

9. Coupons!

A coupon to turn in at the church book store or on the website for a free token of appreciation or a discount. I love the coupon that entitles the user for a free cup of coffee with the minister!

10 Tote bags or bookmarks -

Both of these have become very inexpensive and help to keep your church in the guests mind. Be sure to include your website address on these!

While these are not all-inclusive, they do make a favorable impression on any church guest. A good welcome packet can make the difference if a visitor comes back for a second look. It can provide the answers to some of the questions that arise after they have left the church. Of course, nothing beats a personal note or phone call from the minister

How do they get distributed?

Don't leave it up to chance whether a visitor gets a welcome packet or not. While my experience has gone from having to look for them myself or being told to pick one up on the way out, anything short of personally handing one to me loses some of the welcome packet's purpose... to make me feel welcome. Make sure your church doesn't make that mistake!

Church Marketing - Top 10 Items to Include in Your Church Welcome Packet!

Grow Calendar 2011

3 Easy Exercises For Lower Abs

Are you looking for an exercise for lower abs? Well, I am going to do you one better. Today, I will share with your 3 exercises for lower abs. These exercises have been passed on to me by various trainers and therefore trust me, you are going to get only the best.

Are you ready to get rid of that nasty pouch or beer belly that we all detest with a passion. These exercises I will outline below, will hopefully help you do that. Just make sure to do them regularly to get the best results. Rome was not built in one day.

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Here are 3 exercises for lower abs:

1. Lay on your on your back with your legs stretched out on the floor. Put your hands on your sides and rest your head on the floor. Now all you have to do is lift your legs to a 45 degree angle of the ground and then bring them down again, but make sure not to rest your legs on the floor. Repeat this movement for 10 - 15 repetitions and then rest your legs back on the floor.

2. Now the second exercise, continues from where you left of with the first one. Simply raise put your hands behind your head and lift it up of the ground slightly. Now all you do is bring in your legs to your stomach bending at the knees then kick them out again but do not make your legs touch the floor. Repeat this movement 10 - 15 times, and then we will move on to the third exercise.

3. The third exercise you can do, for your lower abs is as follows. Bend your legs at the knees and let both big toes touch, so that your knees are outwards. With your head still in same position from the last exercise, that is slightly off the ground with your hands behind your head for support, rock your legs back and forth using your bum as the pivot point. You should feel it, right where you want it, that is your lower abs.

There you go, 3 simple exercises you can do for your lower abs. Now it is very important that you do not overdo these exercises, always start with a lower number of reps and build your way up. Also if you start to feel any discomfort or pain, stop the exercise immediately, or you are going to end up hurting yourself. Always remember to breath as you do these exercises, or you will go south.

Don't forget to have fun with these exercises for lower abs, if you do not have fun with your workouts, it all starts to seem like work and we all know how much we hate work, right? Play some music, watch tv just have fun with them.

3 Easy Exercises For Lower Abs

Lowes Build

A Child Care Center Marketing Plan

One of the leading factors that will contribute to your success or failure when you start a child care center is marketing. In order to win customers and grow into a larger business with more than one facility or just to maintain your existing group sizes you need a solid marketing strategy in place.

Here is an outline of a child care center business plan to guide you.

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Identifying a Hungry Market

The first step in putting a child care center marketing plan together is to identify your market. This may seem obvious at first but there are many niches or sectors in this industry. These range from infant care, regular child care for preschoolers, after school care, weekend and evening care. The niches vary by the age of the children, location, what time the children are there and also increasingly by the quality and style of care, facilities and educational program.

The most successful operators identify a niche that is not being catered to sufficiently in their local area and they move into and dominate the market. Doing extensive market research for your childcare business and working on differentiating yourself from competitors are the keys here.

Packaging and Pricing Child Care Services

Once you have defined your niche you can then look at clearly defining the services that you offer to meet niche demands and you can look at ways of packaging your services in a way that appears to enhance their value. While still being flexible in what you offer you can put together attractive packages with catchy names such as 'Saturday Koala Club' for example. List what is included with each package and offer discounts for customers signing up for a full package (clients who prepay for every Saturday for three months in advance get 10% discount for example).

It is also important to do research into child care pricing so that you can come up with rates that make your business marketable.

Branding

By now you should have a fair idea about the child care brand that you will be establishing. Give some thought to thinking about how you want the public to perceive your business and note down a company philosophy and the values that you want to project to the community. Then you can meet with a graphic designer and start discussing how to visually represent the brand that you want to create with a logo design.

Child care Center Advertising and Promotion

The next step is to get word out about your new child care center and the services and packages that you offer. Advertising is an important part of any marketing plan and you should look at the many options available and start running some campaigns several months before opening for business.

Networking and Cross Promotions

Advertising is not the only way to go about attracting clients. You should look at ways of cross promoting your services with other local business and network in your local community to meet a wide range of people.

Don't write off working together with competitors to cross promote each other's services respectively. If you get an enquiry and find out that the child in question would be better suited to a program at another daycare then you are doing the parents a favor by letting them know. And if the other daycare center is also referring children that they feel are more suited to what you have to offer then this arrangement is a win win for all involved.

Word of Mouth Marketing

If you serve your existing customers well they will refer friends to you. This kind of 'word of mouth' advertising is free and can be fully exploited by giving your clients every reason to talk about you to their friends. Providing a great service is one thing but there are many other ways to get customers talking about you. Make their interaction with your business so unique, interesting and memorable that they can't wait to bring your center up in a conversation with their friends.

Refining a Sales Process

If your advertising and networking efforts are successful you should start to receive a good number of enquiries from families. At this point you need to have developed an effective sales process right through from making the appointment, the interview session, a tour, some soft selling and then closure of the deal.

Don't Stop Marketing to your Customers

Keep marketing to your existing customers even after they have signed up with your service. There are always additional products and services that you can sell to maximize the revenue that you make off each client.

Many small centers spend too much time focusing on the day-to-day work of running their business and neglect their marketing. To make your child care business a success you need to ensure that you, as the owner, or another trusted staff member can devote a large part of their day towards marketing. This will ultimately help to determine how successful and profitable your business will be.

A Child Care Center Marketing Plan

Grow Calendar 2011