International Risk Mitigation Seminar Dates Announced

Dallas, TX – June 17, 2013 – M. Power and Associates will hold a conference this fall to create awareness and educate small and large business owners how to identify and prepare for threats that could injure their business or the economy.  The 2013 Risk Mitigation and C-TPAT International (RMCI) Conference will be held on September 11^th and 12^th, at a hotel in Dallas, Texas to be determined.

2013 RMCI Conference will provide an opportunity for the public sector and private sectors to develop joint efforts that will result in an increased ability for businesses and communities to prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters.  In addition to plenary sessions, which will look at the most common threats to business, the Forum will be divided into eight topic areas: container security, physical security, access controls, procedural security, personnel security, I.T. security, training and awareness, and business partner validations.

Panel Discussions that will provide participants the opportunity to have a “Question and Answer” session with subject-matter-experts will also be held.  Additional offerings including luncheons, a dinner, and a networking event will also afford opportunitities to interact with business counterparts in a relaxed atmosphere.

Among other things, the conference will encourage and empower the trade community to take more active measures to protect their businesses and communities.  With a 85% ownership of critical infrastructure, the private sector’s ability to prepare for and respond to disasters play a major role in how quickly communities are able to recover from disasters.  Many small-to-medium businesses around the world do not feel they have the skills or resources needed to develop and implement comprehensive security plans that protect our businesses and our economies.   They are not aware of the opportunities available for them.  Thus, this conference can accomplish the critical task of informing them how to prepare for disasters.

We intend to create a platform for interaction of business people in the trade community and the public sector.  To achieve this objective, we will focus on the 18 Sectors that make up Critical Infrastructure Key Resources.  All of these sectors share interdependencies with one another that have the potential to create major negative consequences when not properly addressed.

2013 RMCI Conference will serve as the catalyst that brings the public sector and private sector together with counterparts from the United States and around the world.

About M. POWER AND ASSOCIATES

M. Power and Associates is a management consulting firm that designs, implements, and maintains cargo security programs that are compliant with various Customs organizations around the world.

For more information, contact Miriam Marsh at 214-477-4813

miriam.marsh@mpowera.com

www.mpowera.com

Inverse Investments Accelerates Note Buying Courses

San Antonio, TX May 17, 2013

Inverse Investments announced today an accelerated schedule of events for note buying educational courses for note buying students of all sorts. With significant market shifts in view Inverse Investments is focused on using the “Note Buying For Dummies” workshops to not only teach, but show investors how to purchase discounted property notes, especially in pools of multiple properties at one time.    

“Come Prepared,” says Scott Carson, President and CEO of Inverse Investments. "When we do these events we want to spend our time actually doing what we are teaching. We are not the type of group to just teach and expect people to go do it on their own. That type of system rarely works out well for the students.”

Carson is clear and energetic when he talks about these events. He directs students to take care of setting up things like websites, business entities, business-oriented social media accounts, etc. so they do not have to “waste time doing that stuff” and spend their time really learning and doing deals.

The upcoming dates for the Inverse Investments “Note Buying For Dummies” workshops with Scott Carson are as follows:
Austin, TX July 18-21
San Diego, CA Aug 1-4
Chicago Aug 22-25
San Francisco Nov 7-10

Updates will be posted athttps://www.facebook.com/weclosenotes.

The “Note Buying for Dummies Home study Course” is also being released. This includes online access to two of Carson’s 4-day workshops from San Diego and Austin and covers content such as how to find banks and bad paper, finding Asset Managers, how to raise money for deals and how to market notes.

Scott Carson has been in the Mortgage, Finance and Banking industries since 2001. With this background and his vibrant personality a lot of students buy into him so rest assured he will be the one conducting the events. “I want to be sure people get what they think they are going to get when they come to Note Buying For Dummies workshops. They will get me helping them through hands-on, real deals that really pay money. We do this in a fun atmosphere with fun people,” says Carson.

Carson also leads a quarterly meeting of his coaching students in cities across the country where they get together and work note pools together. “I’ve found that masterminding with my like minded students has helped to not only help take their businesses to a next level, but mine as well.” Carson brings in hedge fund managers, servicing companies, and other resources for his students during these events.

In addition to the Note Buying For Dummies courses, Carson is expected to announce creation of a nationwide online note exchange for investors; the creation of a $50 million private placement offering for his company and students and his first book.

Inverse Investments and Scott Carson can be reached at 18866 Stone Oak Pkwy, #103-105, San Antonio, TX 78258 Main: 877-811-0569 email: contactus@weclosenotes.com or visit Inverse Investments and Scott Carson at www.weclosenotes.com. 

The Hurst Convention Center was bustling with nearly a thousand Real Estate Investors this past weekend for the 3^rd annual REI Expo. With so many speakers and sponsors there was something to be seen every which way. One thing was certain, this was a well run event and could be at least partially attributed to the veterans that were hired though The Military Veteran Peer Network to staff the event.

Tim Herriage, Founder of the REI Expo served as a Marine and it shows in the way he runs the event. When asked about the veteran staff he said, “Whenever I get the opportunity to help out a fellow vet I take it. They did not disappoint.”

“The Military Veteran Peer Network or the MVPN is an organization that helps vets that have gone through some hard times to get back on their feet. They are good people, they just need another chance at life.” said Anthony Suber of MVPN. MVPN helps the veterans with a place to stay, counseling and work opportunity.  

Belinda Savage of IRA Services attended the event as a sponsor. She commented on how well the event was run. One of the veterans identified himself as such and told her that his paycheck was going to pay his tuition and that it would change his life. Savage said, “I was so grateful to have been blessed to hear this from this fine man that had given so much for us. It really touched my heart deeply.”   

The giving didn’t stop with the paycheck. Scott Carson of Inverse Investments, also an event sponsor found out the staff were veterans and took up a collection for them. He raised over $600 in the little time that was left. As Carson talked to others about the veterans they emptied their pockets to give what they had. Carson said, “It was really cool seeing people giving back to those that gave so much. Those guys went out with dreams and so many came back to an unexpected cold welcome. This was our chance to make that up to them in a small way.”

Carson continued, “Those guys have given so much there is no way we could really ever thank them enough for what they have done for us. Those guys went out of their way. They are the reason we can have these events. Both veterans that served and those serving now give us our freedom to enjoy all the little things in life.”           

As this money was divided equally and presented to the veterans in a private room, many looks of amazement turned to humble tears and strong words of gratitude. One veteran looked upwards and thanked his maker.

The REI Expo thanks everyone that helps make this event so special on so many levels.

Military Veteran Peer Network http://milvetpeer.net/

Scott Carson Inverse Investments /http://www.weclosenotes.com/

Tim Herriage REI Expo http://www.reiexpo.com

Written by: Samuel Sadler elleven group http://www.ellevengroup.com

Energy Swing Windows Manufactures Windows in Murrysville

I did this press interview 2 years ago. It has been fun continuing to watch this company grow and still bring innovation to the window industry. February 10, 2011 – Murrysville, PA – Energy Swing Windows is manufacturing and installing windows in Murrysville. In a recent interview Energy Swing Windows CEO, Stephen Rennekamp commented “In the perfect world a company would sell, manufacture, install and service custom windows entirely in-house. Welcome to our perfect world. With us homeowners deal directly with the manufacturer. We make every window for a specific opening in a specific home. Every homeowner gets the best case scenario every time.” That is very different from the middle man approach so common in their marketplace.

No one else in Murrysville both manufactures and installs custom windows. Their competitors rely on another company to manufacture the windows and would then either install them or they may have subcontractors install the windows for them so the only role they really play is middle man. This is a very popular business model, not so much because it is what is best for the homeowner, but it is relatively inexpensive to open and operate this type of business.

Energy Swing Windows has a different philosophy and they attribute their growth in Murrysville to that philosophy. “If a homeowner has a problem, they only have one call to make. They won’t get the run around. They won’t get two or three companies blaming each other for the problem. They will get the same people they bought the windows from coming out and taking care of the product both labor and material. Most homeowners do not understand that most window manufacturers will have the homeowner send in their faulty part and send them a repaired or replacement part. The homeowner would then have to reinstall the part themselves or pay for the part to be reinstalled a second time,” Says Rennekamp.

“It makes a lot of sense to manufacture a window specifically for an opening instead of trying to fit a mass-produced window into a custom opening,” Says Rennekamp. With variables such as brick or siding on the exterior or drywall, cinder block, metal, plaster or jamb and casing on the interior, significant risks are taken if the replacement window is not custom manufactured for the opening with the correct surface systems in place for that specific application. Many contractors simply use caulk and backer rod to try to aesthetically fix an imperfect window installation or size issue. Over time that installation will fail and leave the homeowner with significant problems. Energy Swing Windows offers the solution.  

Google Transcribing Youtube.. Good or Bad for You?

Action required for Brand Management- 

Since 2009 users have been able to use a "transcribe" option on YouTube videos. As great as this feature is, it is just as entertaining at times. When Google translate came out this was just as entertaining and comical fail websites and videos popped up all over the place. Now Google will be transcribing YouTube videos to make the text Google searchable. Either, yea! or Oh, no! might apply here. 

I bring up this point because businesses need to be aware of how this could affect their businesses for the good or bad. Although they should have done this already, businesses now need to go back through all the old video content relating to their business and make sure there isn't anything that could hurt them. I know, all part of brand management 101. But, now businesses will have to go through all the text once Google is "finished" and make sure there aren't any miss-interpretations similar to the ones that come through Google Translate. 

This hockey clip is a prime example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-EpbyLqK0c

   

After all is said and done this should be good thing as the videos with fake, misleading or bad content will drop in search rankings and increase Google and YouTube search accuracy.This should put a considerable nix on video spamming which is a welcome change. 

The spin..........Creativity = free advertising

A few of you can actually have fun with this. Imagine the additional coverage you would get if you intentionally made a video that would be mistranslated in such a comical way that it went viral? You wouldn't have to do much to Trump the hockey video above. I know someone will steal this idea, what else is new? But it is documented as being here first. If you can't pull it off, call my studio and we will make it happen for you. We love clients that allow us to use our creativity. 

 

YouTube Changes Ranking Rules

YouTube Search is changing the ranking rules again. This time it is a good move I support. I have always hated geting some lame video that has nothing to do with what I just searched for and now it sends you through all the other lame videos this same person made.

Well, YouTube Search is making some changes to address that. YouTube Search will now rank time viewed over click counts. This should take all of those garbage clips and drop their rankings like rocks and put the good content at the top. I won't even make a comment about how long it took them to get to this point, but now we are here...great.

YouTube Analytics also reflects "Time Watched" so you can track your video watch time and pinpoint what is working for you and what isn't.

When you make your YouTube videos keep the new search rules in mind. Put great content up front, give the viewer some sort of promise it will get better and an incentive to stay through the end. Take a fishing show for instance. Early on you need to capture interest with a type of fish the viewer would want to catch. Tell them they will see one caught. Then show them the how to's from knots to rigging, bait, etc.. Be entertaining during this portion, espcially if the clip will go over 5 minutes in duration.

Then give the viewers what they want at the end, actually catch the fish. Any other video should show the final product or the success of the system, or the completion of the magic trick. Here is a sample pattern for this format as a sales video:

Attention getter/intro
General Overview
laugh or interest builder
Content
Soft Commitment
Testimonials 
Finish/Close

Happy YouTubing

"Social" Media Made Simple

Why is "Social Media" so widely misunderstood? This is not named some idiotic brand with some trendy spin that you have to Google to find out what it is. But yet nearly every day I find myself in conversation with people that have no idea what it really is. It's "Social" and it's "Information".

The very essence of your social media campaign should be social-based information. Content, activities, subjects, presentation of material people are INTERESTED in on a social level. Making a Facebook page for your chain link fence product is not going to magically spur 2000 likes. No one cares. A Facebook page featuring content on how to keep children safe from the dangers of unattended swimming pools...now you have a shot at social media. Every soccer mom in America would share that with their friend who has kids and a pool or kids that live near a pool or body of water. Swimming pool contractors would send the article out in their newsletters, (if properly distributed). Day cares and home school groups would send it out as well. The list goes on. Why? Because it is now interesting and you have created a message that applies to enough people that they would share it. Now your chain link campaign is moving. 

This is the time when you use your creativity. If you admit you could use a little more creativity, hire someone that has it and knows how to use it. Most social media should cross the typical business lines into creating a personal interest in the material being presented. It is extremely difficult to capture someone's attention on a social level with the same old material spun one more time. This is why some of the old Fuddy-Duddy marketing gurus can't quite get their finger on it. It's a new paradigm altogether. If you stick to the business theme, there should either be real value given to generate the excitement you are looking for. The "free report" gig still works if the content is strong enough and the supply is short enough but it has to be stepped up a notch. 

A few platforms you can start your social media campaign from are: 

Humor- (Be careful not to diminish your brand with this one)

Cause-oriented or Not for profit

Activities, events 

Peripheral and associated interests

Industry good or bad news that directly affects the intended audience

Warnings such as safety recalls and scams

Money and time savings

These are just a few of the platforms that hold interest on a social level. You notice I did not add ball bearings, hospital supplies or insurance to the list. I did not add Dentistry or Chiropractic or limestone to the list. This is not a time for executives and entrepreneurs to be offended that people don't love their product or service as much as they do. This is a time to understand the concept, make money at it and benefit their industry because of it.  

Keep the message short and sweet. This paradigm could accurately be titled as "Hey411plsTTYL". Roll with the times on this one.   

In summary, social media is about giving someone such engaging information that they would want to share it or be a part of it. If it is used correctly it will profit us all tremendously. If it is abused it will become as congested as the highways we call the "Internet Superhighway".  With too much peripheral information making it difficult to find the exact information we really want.