Earning an Online Marketing Degree prepares a student for a career in the vast marketing field. While many marketing jobs are primarily sales related such as an account executive, there are many more facets to marketing than just sales.Nearly everything we buy, be it products or services, is marketed to us using a combination of consumer and market research. Consumer buying habits and behavior often define a marketing campaign which consists of advertising, branding, packaging, and pricing. Marketing is what makes us as consumers want to buy something.For the best and brightest, marketing can be an extremely lucrative career either in a large company with many products or as a marketing firm working with many different companies and products. An online Marketing Degree can be the first step in a very rewarding career.An Associates Degree is usually the first and most basic degree available at the college level. Most Associate Degrees are about 2 years in length and although their may be some employment opportunities with an Associates Degree, it is primarily a foundation for further degree work.The Bachelors Degree is probably the most basic requirement for a career in marketing and will require 4 years of study or an Associates Degree plus 2 years. A Bachelors Degree is most likely the starting point for anyone with a serious desire to go into marketing as a long term career.The Masters Degree and specifically an MBA in Marketing will set the graduate apart from many of his or her peers. The MBA is generally regarded as the most desirable graduate degree when it comes to many aspects of business be it an Online Finance Degree or an Online Marketing Degree. MBA’s will receive the best job offers at the best companies so it is wise to devise a long reaching plan if Marketing is where you want to be.An Online Marketing Degree will prepare the graduate in the aspects of product research, design, distribution, pricing and promotion and instill an understanding of human behavior. A degree could lead to a career in:Advertising
Market Research
Public RelationsGetting a marketing degree online is an attractive option to many potential students as online classes often allow for greater flexibility in course work and testing. Students working toward Online College Degrees tend to be more motivated and organized than their traditional school counterparts. Online degree programs also allow students the opportunity to further their education while still satisfying family and work obligations.Getting an Online Marketing Degree is certainly not easy but for the right person, it can be a step toward a fulfilling and lucrative new career or an advancement of their current career. Either way, the future looks bright with the appropriate online degree program.What if you just can’t seem to get ahead in life?I know how hard it can be when your stuck between a rock and a hard place. You want to go back to school so you can get a better job, a better life. But how do go to school when you have a job that you need to pay the bills? There is a way!Now you can go back to school without totally uprooting your family and lifestyle. Keep working, keep paying the bills, and earn the degree you need online! Whether you’re looking for a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree or a Doctoral Degree, there are many choices and one of them is perfect for you. Find the Online College Degrees you’re looking for.
Exciting Career Opportunities Are Everywhere When You Earn An Online Marketing Degree
Small Business Financing Options – Despite the Credit Crunch
There’s no question that the financial crisis and ensuing credit crunch have made it more difficult than ever to secure small business financing and raise capital. This is especially true for fast-growth companies, which tend to consume more resources in order to feed their growth. If they aren’t careful, they can literally grow themselves right out of business.Amidst all the gloom and doom, however, it’s important to keep one thing in mind: There are still options available for small business financing. It’s simply a matter of knowing where to look and how to prepare.Where to LookThere are three main sources you can turn to for small business financing:Commercial Banks – These are the first source most owners think of when they think about small business financing. Banks loan money that must be repaid with interest and usually secured by collateral pledged by the business in case it can’t repay the loan.On the positive side, debt is relatively inexpensive, especially in today’s low-interest-rate environment. Community banks are often a good place to start your search for small business financing today, since they are generally in better financial condition than big banks. If you do visit a big bank, be sure to talk to someone in the area of the bank that focuses on small business financing and lending.Keep in mind that it takes more diligence and transparency on the part of small businesses in order to maintain a lending relationship in today’s credit environment. Most banks have expanded their reporting and recordkeeping requirements considerably and are looking more closely at collateral to make sure businesses are capable of repaying the amount of money requested.Venture Capital Companies – Unlike banks, which loan money and are paid interest, venture capital companies are investors who receive shares of ownership in the companies they invest in. This type of small business financing is known as equity financing. Private equity firms and angel investors are specialized types of venture capital companies.While equity financing does not have to be repaid like a bank loan, it can end up costing much more in the long run. Why? Because each share of ownership you give to a venture capital company in exchange for small business financing is an ownership share with an unknown future value that’s no longer yours. Also, venture capital companies sometimes place restrictive terms and conditions on financing, and they expect a very high rate of return on their investments.Commercial Finance Companies – These non-traditional money lenders provide a specialized type of small business financing known as asset-based lending (or ABL). There are two primary types of ABL: factoring and accounts receivable (A/R) financing.With factoring, companies sell their outstanding receivables to the finance company at a discount of usually between 2-5%. So if you sold a $10,000 receivable to a factor, for example, you might receive between $9,500-$9,800. The benefit is that you would receive this cash right away, instead of waiting 30, 60 or 90 days (or longer). Factoring companies also perform credit checks on customers and analyze credit reports to uncover bad risks and set appropriate credit limits.With A/R financing, you would borrow money from the finance company and use your accounts receivable as collateral. Companies that want to borrow in this way should be able to demonstrate strong financial reporting capabilities and a diverse customer base without a high concentration of sales to any one customer.How to PrepareRegardless of which type of small business financing you decide to pursue, your preparation before you approach a potential lender or investor will be critical to your success. Banks, in particular, are taking a much more critical look at small business loan applications than many did in the past. They are requesting more background from potential borrowers in the way of tax returns (both business and personal), financial statements and business plans.Lenders are focusing on what are sometimes referred to as the five Cs of credit:o Character: Does the company have a strong reputation in its community and industry?o Capital: Lenders usually like to see that owners have invested some of their personal money in the business, or that they have some of their own “skin in the game.”o Capacity: Financial ratios help lenders determine how much debt a company should be able to take on without stressing the finances.o Collateral: This is a secondary source of repayment in case a borrower defaults on the loan. Most lenders prefer collateral that is relatively easy to convert to cash, especially equipment and real estate.o Conditions: Conditions in the borrower’s industry and the overall economy in general will play a big factor in a lender’s decisions.Before you meet with any type of lender or investor, be prepared to explain to them specifically why you believe you need financing or capital, as well as how much capital you need and when and how you will pay it back (if a loan) or what kind of return on investment a venture capital company can expect. Also be prepared to discuss specifically what the money will be used for and what kind of collateral you are prepared to pledge to support the loan, as well as your sources of repayment and what measures you will take to ensure repayment if your finances get tight.You should also ensure that your financial statements and records are current and that your internal control systems are adequate for handling the level of accounting and bookkeeping lenders and investors expect.
Pros and Cons of Staying Current on Health News Through a Health and Fitness Blog
If you are like millions of others living and working throughout the world, you are probably concerned with how to make the most of your days on this earth. We have done an excellent job of improving our odds for a longer life, but keeping up with the changing trends in health news can be a daunting task. How do you find out about the latest reputable research and advice that could set you well on your way to 100? Many choose a health and fitness blog, because blogs are usually updated daily with useful content that one can dissect and incorporate in their day-to-day journey towards a healthier existence.But you must be careful if you are going to follow the latest developments in health news through a health and fitness blog. There are many reasons to do it, and there are many reasons not to. It all depends on how analytical you are, and on each of the following pros and cons:Pro – keeping your body apprised of new research and developments in the health news community: Face it. Advice and recommendations are constantly changing to conform to advanced research. While it may seem fishy how often the health news changes, keep in mind we are living longer today for a reason. In many cases, the things we used to think nothing of are now highly important. No one ever talked about the dangers of smoking when cigarettes first came along. Years down the road, it has been recognized as the true killer that it is. It’s important for you to stay vigilant and do your best to learn of the changing trends.Con – keeping up with how quickly health news changes: While staying on top of things is often good, it can also be cause for concern. It can frustrate you to the point that you give up entirely, or it can lead you down certain paths before medical research has had the opportunity to verify validity. You know counting calories works. You know where to find good diets. Stay conservative until you have reason to believe that a piece of research is genuine and authenticated.Pro – trusting the credentials of health and fitness blog experts: There are a lot of great health and fitness blog writers out there who will provide you with invaluable information for free. You should listen to them.Con – trusting the credentials of health and fitness blog experts: There are a lot of horrible health and fitness blog writers out there who will lead you astray and give you the kind of poor information that might negatively influence your health. You should not listen to them. But you should always research the person(s) providing you with health news and advice.Eventually, you must take the health news available to you through a reputable health and fitness blog and figure out how to use it in your life. And you mustn’t wait because each day you are not leading healthy is a day you could lose later down the road. Listen well and make good decisions. Your body will respond accordingly.