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New Page 3 Windows Server 2003 Standard R2 with SP2 5 Clients Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition helps you to increase the effectiveness of your computing operation while reducing IT costs. New features simplify and improve branch server management, storage management, and identity and access management. Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition is the ideal multipurpose network operating system for the everyday needs of organizations of all sizes, but especially small businesses and workgroups. The R2 edition builds upon the success of the original release. Protect your network with the advanced security features of Service Pack 1. Use the Security Configuration Wizard to create security policies based on a server’s role. Implement other features to protect against malicious code and activate security updates at installation. Improved file replication and centralized printer management removes the need for local administration and backup in branch offices. You’ll experience better identity and access management across security boundaries. Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) provides improved total cost of ownership (TCO) and better security when collaborating with partners or deploying internet-facing web applications. Easily configure and provision storage area networks (SANs) for efficient storage setup and management. Plus, increase your team’s ability to work together by using SharePoint sites to communicate information, discuss ideas, and collaborate on documents. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is a cumulative service pack that includes the latest updates and provides enhancements to security and stability. In addition, it adds new features and updates to existing Windows Server 2003 features and utilities. 128MB of RAM required; 256MB recommended; 4GB maximum 1.25 to 2GB of available hard-disk space 133MHz processor required; 550MHz or faster recommended Support for up to four processors on one server VGA or hardware

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trying to find some ideas from other areas cities or small towns that i can bring down to the mobile, daphne, penscacola, georgia or just the south in general. it usually takes the trends so long to get here. also trying to find business ideas that work in sm.towns that might work in mine. or at least a website where i can bounce some ideas around.

My first answer would be opening a unique restaurant. I live in Upstate NY, where plenty of independent restaurants can compete with the chains because customers get food that isn't "cookie cutter" and the service is more attentive and personalized. There are a lot of good independent restaurants around here, and sometimes people "religiously" align themselves with certain restaurants that are "just that good" for them. We have tons of Italian restaurants, for example, with each one doing things a little differently, which isn't unusual since that's the way it is in the various regions of Italy anyway. We also have a large number of pizzerias that differ from one another. Domino's, Pizza Hut, and Little Ceasar's have a hard time competing for customers who want "real" pizza.

To keep costs down, it helps to use a minimal subset of ingredients across your menu items. It's amazing how many different items you can offer with a very small subset of ingredients. Also, some of the ingredients are incredibly inexpensive, like your own special sauce, pasta, pizza crust, etc. Trying to diversify so much that it results in the need for ingredients that might not be used frequently can take away from the bottom line,

Clearly, I'm talking mostly about Italian stuff because that is what I'm the most familiar with. For Mexican/Hispanic stuff, look at how Taco Bell uses a certain subset of ingredients to offer a large menu. If you want to have a Mexican restaurant, make it different enough that it doesn't taste like a "cookie cutter" franchise. Super-sized burritos don't cost much to make, but offer a lot more value than Taco Bell.

Forget about chicken in the south, unless you have a special spice blend that will lure people away from the existing chicken franchises.

Forget about a restaurant that has a wide range of choices that require a wide range of ingredients. Shoney's, Denny's, and similar places have you beat there due to economies of scale.

Burger/hot dog/BBQ joints might work if you can stand out. Large menu variety, small number of ingredients. Again, people are loyal to such places so you would need to stand out.

Forget Chinese restaurants. To a lesser extent, same for Indian, Japanese, and some lesser-known ethnicities, except maybe Greek. I don't know about Spanish, French, or some of the others.

Seafood probably wouldn't work unless you can do something different. Crab shacks or crawfish shacks might work in the south. New Orleans might be a reference point.

When in the south, do as the southerners do. Collard greens, corn bread, black eyed peas, sweetened iced tea, RC cola, pork, chicken, etc. Southern family-style restaurants.

Buffets are hit and miss. Some survive a long time, while others fold quickly. One of my most memorable buffets in the Nashville area (Madison, to be specific) served what appeared to be pans of frozen food, like mashed potatoes, baked fish, salisbury steak, green beans, etc. The food wasn't spectacular, but the variety was nice and it was like eating in a cafeteria except I could go back and have a little bit of everything. They always had a lot of customers.

Steak houses are a dime a dozen. You'd have to try hard to differentiate yourself. Same for pizzerias but if I remember correctly, the popular pizzerias were the chain ones. If you can do something different, that might be an option. Better to go with a more complete Italian menu though.

If you want to go with a chain, I liked Bojangles chicken (if they are still around) and Shakee's pizza. The thing about Shakee's is that they are concentrating on the west coast and there are very few franchises outside that area. If you could get them to support you, that might be an idea. Unfortunately, most franchises require a lot more investment than striking it out on your own.

Up here, we have some restaurants that have earned a good enough reputation to sell their sauces and spice blends in stores. The prices are marked up significantly, so they are probably doing pretty well just on the sales of those products.

One last idea that comes to mind is Jamaican food. Up here, there aren't many of them but they are doing well. Once again, you have the typical foods of the south, like greens, pork, chicken, and possibly beef, along with cheap stuff like rice and beans. It's pretty spicy, perhaps too much for some tastes, so you can water it down a little but still offer hotter items for the people who really want it hot. The black pepper alone should be good for people who don't like it too hot.

Outside restaurants, there isn't anything I can think of. Anything that isn't already taken by the big chains is offered at flea markets, farmer's markets, etc. The one remaining item is again food, which (for me, anyway) is carnival/fair food. Funnel cakes, fried dough, blooming onions, etc.

Something that offers amusement rides is yet another choice that popped into my head, only because it's past that time of year here. An amusement park would be really cool,. but it involves a considerable investment. Being in the south, you can have a stationary amusement park and you can stay open for a considerably longer time than up here. But like I said, it requires a considerable investment, like $39K to $100K or more per ride. Ouch. A road side hot dog/burger/BBQ joint with a single kiddy ride might be an idea.

OK, one more idea. A real deli. Sandwiches and subs that are better than the chains. Up here, most pizza/pasta places offer subs, but it's hard to find a good reuben. I've had some good reubens up here, but the best I ever had was at the Carnegie Deli in NYC. Give me a reuben like that up here, and I will buy at least one a week, no matter what it costs!

I am starting a business and I would like to get more customers into my shop. Do you guys know any other marketing techniques that shows better results that I don't know?

I think one of your best bets is "relationship marketing". Most of your cost is involving paying for dues in organizations that your business might cater to, or to networking events, chamber of commerce, small business organizations, and local clubs. The rest is up to your time and your ability to network.
You can also connect to consumers with simple and inexpensive direct mail pieces. Write a simple letter (the keyword being "simple") and start sending them around your town. Just say what you do, and why you're different from others who offer the same services or products. Put together some type of promotion, to entice those who read your direct mail piece to "try you out". Two things are important here: a simple promotion and a good list of potential customers. Your local Chamber can help you with the latter.
Referrals are also good. Give your customers a reason to tell their friends about you. Offer both the current customer and the new, referred customer a "reward" for their business.
Finally, get in touch with local newspapers and magazines: you'd be surprised how many times they're looking for interesting business stories to tell.
Good luck and have fun!

I am engulfed in a report for a college course and have hit a roadblock. I am in dire need of an example online bookstore business plan. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have tried all search engines but hit what seems to be software and books. Is there any free examples of what I need out there?

there is an outline of what a business plan involves at the site below but it is open for any business not already filled in.
http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html

The main objective of every business is to grow and keep on profiting. Besides, what kind of entrepreneur would want to see their businesses fail? Although business has its risks, you, as an entrepreneur should know that you need to take risks in order for your business to flourish.

However, you also would never want to take too much risk on your business. This is why in all kinds of businesses, you always plan, plan and plan some more before you make a move.

As an entrepreneur you should have a written guideline for you to start your business’s marketing strategy. The guidelines are used by your business to judge your business’s actions accordingly.

A good marketing strategy should have the following goals in order to create a good marketing plan:

- Competitor

- Description of key clients

- Reasons why your product is unique

- Distribution channels

- Price strategy

- Research and development

- Expenses

- Marketing segments the company will compete in

With all of these included in your marketing strategy, you can be sure that you can really pave the road to success for your business.

Think of marketing strategy as a compass where it will guide your business to the right path. Having this kind of “compass” will make it clearer for you on what actions to take if you encounter an obstacle in your business’s path.

Decision-making is also the key in every business. With a marketing strategy, you will find that it will be easier for you to make a decision when it comes to leading your company to success. It will also help you prevent making the wrong decision.

Another advantage that a marketing strategy can provide is that you can set specific goals for your company. Whether it’s a short-term goal or a long-term goal, a marketing strategy will make it easier for you to set goals that can affect the way you run your business.

Depending on the situation, you can try different types of marketing strategies that will tailor your business’s needs. Here are some examples of the different types of marketing strategy:

- Market dominance strategy – This kind of strategy is used by companies to take control of a particular business.

- Innovation strategy – This strategy deals with the company’s rate of new product development and also innovation.

- Growth strategy – This marketing strategy is formulated to make the company grow.

- Warfare based strategies – A business competition is always there. And, sometimes your company needs to be aggressive to attack the competition or defensive to protect your company from losing profit.

These are some of the strategies that you can use in order to maximize business profit and minimize loss. Sometimes, it will be necessary for you to change your marketing strategy to cope up with the changes in the business world, such as new competitions, new technology or falling client numbers and profits.

So, depending on the situation, you should always plan on what kind of marketing strategy you should use for the benefit of the company. Running a business isn’t always smooth. There will be times that your business will be in danger of losing money or have decreased profit. Because of the ever-changing situation in the business world, you need to think of a marketing strategy to minimize risk and maximize profit.

Mario Churchill
http://www.articlesbase.com/affiliate-programs-articles/marketing-strategies-increasing-your-business-profits-72149.html