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Guess what? Its the same stuff!!

Several years ago, I made a career transition from Auto Mechanic to Internet Marketer. I was just thinking back to my auto mechanic days and comparing different sales tactics between the Brick & Mortar world of auto repair and the virtual world of Internet Marketing.

When I was in the auto repair business, I owned my own shop. I attended many different seminars etc. regarding the selling aspect of the business.

Alot of topics were covered and alot of different approaches to winning the customer were discussed. Did you know that there is an equivalent to IM backend sales in the auto repair world?

Its called Upselling. The basic idea is that while your customer’s car is in your shop for repairs or whatever, you look for other needed or sometimes not really needed items or services to perform and then sell these to the customer. Or offer free oil changes and (hopefully) sell other services.

It was never referred to as backend sales, but its the same thing.

Many of the seminars I attended and the sales coaches all had one common theme: Try something, analyze results, track sales, rinse & repeat. The “something” might be a summer special on oil changes or coolant system flushes. Or maybe a free giveaway. Or just a different advertising method.

Computing the “conversion rate” was simple: keep track of approximately how many people knew about your offer and count sales of same. This was usually done by running a printed coupon ad and counting coupons or something similar. Sometimes a live radio broadcast was done and a head count taken. Then a sales count.

It was never called a “conversion rate”, but its the same thing.

And finally, we had alot of regular customers, some who were almost too loyal .

So I guess that those customers could be called our opt-in list since they made the choice to use us for their auto repair needs. Same thing.

So I guess that in IM we’re all using mostly time-honored and proven business methods, just the audience is much bigger and the medium is different…..

When I think of it that way, it gives me more confidence because I guess I’ve done it all before, sort of.

Written by Darrell Hagan on August 18th, 2008 with no comments.
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Where do we go from here?

Hmm. Good question. People have been pondering this since the beginning of humankind. Various religions throughout the world offer as many answers. Some believe that if you live a “good” life, then you will arrive in heaven and join loved ones, but if you lead a “bad” life, then you will be banished to hell, to be tormented throughout eternity. Another belief is that at death, you will be transferred into the “spirit realm”, where you will join ancestors and departed loved ones. Still others believe that the dead are taken before God in order to be judged, and are then reincarnated or reborn into another body. But all of these beliefs share one thing in common - the idea that some part of us survives beyond the death of the physical body. That somehow welive on along with the ability to see, hear, think, and be self-aware. But, this is apparently impossible medically. The five senses - Sight, Smell, Hearing, Touch, and Taste, are linked to the brain. The brain dies along with the body and therefore, these senses must also cease to function. NothingnessMemories and feelings are also lost. So according to this belief, a person who dies simply ceases to exist. Like an extinguished flame, you simply go out. This was touched upon in the Star Trek: Voyager episode Mortal Coil in 1997. In the episode, one of the show’s main characters, Neelix, gets killed suddenly and unexpectedly. Using 24th-century magic, Neelix is revived after approximately 18 hours of being dead. He is quite shocked and upset to discover that during such a long period of being dead, he didn’t see, hear, feel, or be aware of anything. All of his life, he had believed that after death, he would rejoin family and friends in “The great forest”, his people’s version of paradise. Although ST Voyager is simply a TV show, the idea which that episode tries to convey is valid nevertheless. Lets assume for a moment that this is true. If so, then it really doesn’t matter because after death, you will certainly not suffer in any way because you will no longer be aware. By the same token, you will also not feel pleasure. In fact, since you have totally and completely ceased to exist, you won’t feel nor be aware of anything. The idea sounds pretty scary because just as in the ST Voyager episode, it shakes your belief in your reasons for living because if you’re simply going to be poofed into nothingness, then why try to be a good person? What’s the point of living? Well, as our fictional friend Neelix discovered, there are people in the here and now who love, need, and rely on you. That’s the reason for living and doing your best. In other words, since you’re not dead yet, you should make the best of your existence in this life. Simple pleasures such as eating, sleeping, being warm, making love, watching TV, being with loved ones, etc. should never be taken for granted, even if you believe in the above non-existence idea. Its kinda like a really good bowl of ice cream: love and enjoy it until its gone. Now, lets assume for a moment that you don’t simply cease to exist and that there is indeed life after death. There certainly seems to be evidence to support this. Throughout the ages, there have been many reports of Near Death Experiences or NDEs. An interesting website on the subject can be found here. So if we really do continue after death, then what? Whoo boy, does that ever change things. For openers, you can kiss your computer goodbye. Not that you’d need it anyway, because you probably will no longer have arms, legs, hands, feet, or any of your other physical attributes. Also, you might have to get used to floating from place to place rather than walking. Simple physical pleasures will be no more. But then again, you won’t need to go potty anymore, weight won’t be a problem, and if you currently suffer a painful existence, then hopefully you will find relief and happiness. Ultimately, I’m not sure that it really matters whether or not there is life after death because you cannot change whatever happens anyway. So don’t worry about it - just be and do the best you can, and enjoy the ride.

Written by Darrell Hagan on March 13th, 2007 with no comments.
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Review: Sangean ATS-909 Portable AM/FM/SW Receiver

The Sangean model ATS-909 portable AM/FM/SW receiver has been on the market for some years now, and has become quite popular. This receiver was also marketed by Radio Shack for a time as their model DX-398. The ATS-909 and the DX-398 are identical in every way except for the name and the supplied accessories. Some years ago while working as Chief Engineer of a large local broadcasting company, I was looking for a quality and rugged portable receiver which I could takeSangean ATS-909 in Black along during visits to transmitter sites(both AM & FM) in order to listen to transmitter output while “tweaking” various settings. I also wanted said receiver to be able to act as an all-purpose radio which I would use for everything from listening to my favorite FM stations during a summer picnic in the park to acting as a full-blown receiver for copying various digital modes on the HF frequencies, and listening to SSB on the Ham Radio bands. After looking around for a while, I finally chose the Sangean ATS-909 because of its apparent ruggedness, small size, capabilities, and specifications. I thought that the protective vinyl carrying case was a good touch too, since my particular ATS-909 might see some harsh environments. I had previously owned a Radio Shack model DX-440, aka Sangean ATS-803, so I was somewhat familiar with Sangean product quality. Well, to say the least, I haven’t been disappointed. This rugged little black box continues to amaze me with its versatility and performance. ATS-909As described above, I’ve used it in every situation from transmitter sites to picnics and motel rooms to digital mode surveillance. In fact, I’m listening to my favorite FM Classic Rock station on the ‘909 as I write this. After the warranty period, I did perform some of the recommended performance modifications, especially with regard to the AGC system. Although not really necessary for most users, I found the modifications to be quite worthwhile. My ATS-909 really shines now, especially on SSB and digital modes. If you don’t wish to do the modifications yourself, don’t fret. There is a company called RadioLabs which will either professionally modify your ATS-909 or sell to you their “Super 909“, an ATS-909 with all modifications already done. Either way, you end up with a very nice performing portable receiver. Here is a brief rundown of stock features for this unit:

One of my favorite features of this receiver is that its quite smart - if I hurriedly enter a given frequency via the keypad, the ATS-909 automatically selects the correct band and mode. Along the way, it also remembers what frequencies and modes I have recently used. Thats especially cool because I can toggle very quickly between, say, 3840 LSB, 630 AM, and 104.7 FM just by tapping the band selector buttons at the left of the keypad.Sangean ATS-909 in Titanium
I’ve noted that some ATS-909 owners have found the audio to sound “tinny” or “flat” with the stock speaker inside the radio. My unit does not seem to show this. If you plan to use your ATS-909 with an external antenna (a jack is provided for this) on the SW bands, it should work well if you use the RF gain control properly and as needed. I’ve used it with a full-size G5RV antenna which is mounted 70 feet above ground and it works very well, with little or no signal overloading. With this antenna, the ATS-909 works very well on all frequencies from the MW broadcast band on up thru the 10-meter Amateur Radio band. As with most portable receivers of this type, do not expect miracle receive results on the SW bands with just the built-in whip antenna. Although adequate for local FM reception and for some of the stronger SW broadcast stations, the whip generally won’t do for much beyond that. Sangean does thoughtfully supply a portable roll-up wire antenna with the ATS-909 because of this.

In summary, I’ve found the Sangean ATS-909 to be a very capable and versatile performer right out of the box, and the above described “enhancements” make it even better. Sensitivity and stability are second to none. Signal selectivity is adequate, and is easily enhanced. It might have been nice to have a Noise-Blanker feature, but the ‘909 is not really intended to be a full-featured communications receiver. Lots of good information is available about this receiver, and there is an active ATS-909/DX-398 user’s group on Yahoo. At the time of this writing, average price for a new ATS-909 is around $240. The “Super 909″ from RadioLabs will relieve your pocketbook of $329.95.

Written by Darrell Hagan on March 11th, 2007 with no comments.
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Comment system fixed

Hi everyone!

The comment system is now fixed. Sorry about that…..

Written by Darrell Hagan on March 11th, 2007 with no comments.
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Is this a BLOG??

Well, um, no. Not really. Point16 does feature articles and comments, but it is not a blog. A so-called “blog” (short for weblog) is usually an online journal of sorts which is associated with a business, individual, or other activities, and is usually used to report about same.

Point16 features unique and original articles and opinions on various topics, unique and quality digital products, various news, and other things. Sometimes, whole page(s) are devoted to a single thing.

Except as noted, all written content on this site is totally original.

Thank you and enjoy your visit :)

 

Written by Darrell Hagan on March 7th, 2007 with no comments.
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I quit smoking…….and you can too!

Make no mistake about it. For most people, quitting smoking is not an easy thing to do. And some people shouldn’t quit smoking. Under certain circumstances, there are legitimate reasons to smoke - i.e. - already on your deathbed, too late to quit so may as well enjoy it, etc.

But nowadays, there are certainly more reasons not to smoke besides the obvious health benefits. Cigarettes are much more expensive than ever, and getting even higher. Most U.S. states, counties, and even cities now have some form of anti-smoking law(s). These restrictions range from not allowing smoking in enclosed public places to not allowing smoking anywhere except in the privacy of your own home. And besides, nobody thinks its cool anymore.

So unless you have some very compelling reasons to smoke, then you probably should quit.

I smoked for 25 years. At my peak in the 1980s, I was smoking about 2-1/2 packs a day. Camel unfiltered. Very strong. I was convinced that I’d never be able to quit. By the mid 1990s I was still smoking lots and lots. I tried everything - Nicotine Gum, Nicotine Patches, so-called “xx-step quit smoking program”. Nothing worked. For me, smoking was as much a lifestyle as a habit, and I couldn’t imagine life without it. But, in January of 2002, I finally quit. For good. How you ask? Well, here goes. But don’t tell too many people. If this gets out and catches on, bad things might happen to Big Brother: Sharp decreases in cigarette tax revenue, healthier people who don’t need to rely so much on the system, and other such nastiness. I’m about to reveal to you my super-secret, guaranteed, ultra expensive, revolutionary, patented method for quitting smoking. Are you ready? Good.

Sit back, light up a cigarette, relax, and read this.

I guarantee that if you do this, you will quit smoking.

Okay then. Here goes. What I did to quit smoking was just that - I quit. Cold. Yep, I tossed my pack of smokes in the trash and never looked back. I had finally had enough! I was tired of having to go outside in the winter, tired of not being to stay indoors for very long at a time, etc., and tired of not being able to breathe properly. But most of all, I was tired of cheating the woman I love out of our precious time together. Taking years off my time with her. You see, she has never smoked. Highly allergic to it in fact. I never could smoke anywhere near her. Was it hard for me? I’m not going to lie - you bet it was hard. For two long months, it was hard to resist the cravings. And I was working with 2 other people who smoked. I was also combating the various secret chemicals with which modern cigarettes are laced in order to keep you hooked. And if all of that wasn’t bad enough, I also liked to smoke. I enjoyed smoking as much as most people enjoy a good back rub.

But I prevailed. I kicked its ass. And so can you.

The cravings began to get weaker and less frequent. I began not to think about smoking, and every time I thought I wanted to smoke, I reminded myself of all the reasons to quit. Sort of a self-hypnosis, I guess. The final straw for me was during a plane trip - I had to change flights in Memphis, Tennessee. As I came into the terminal building, I looked for somewhere to smoke. Smoking is only allowed there in designated areas, of which there were only 2 at the time. According to the building map, I was a good 1/3 to 1/2 mile from the nearest one, having come in at the end of the concourse. What did I do? I walked to the smoking area, smoked, and walked back. As in the classic ad, you might say that I literally walked a mile for a Camel, since Camel brand was what I smoked.

It does get easier, and eventually you don’t really want to smoke anymore, even when your family & friends do.

So you see, quitting is really the only true way to quit. Even if you use patches, gum, or whatever, you will still need to quit. You will need to make up your mind to quit the gum or the patches. So why not take control and just quit? I know you can do it.

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 27th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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Twisted words………

On my way home from work one bright summer day, I decided to pleasantly surprise my lovely wife by bringing to her one of her favorite snacks. I reasoned that if the way to a man’s heart is thru his stomach, then maybe it works with girls too. Also, I was just being thoughtful because I love her :).

Anyway, I stopped at the nearest convenience store. I collected the snack (a large pepperoni stick) along with some other items and got in line at the checkout counter. I could tell right away that the young checkout clerk was new to the job because of an obvious lack of confidence, and I had never seen her before.

When my turn came, she rang everything up nicely except for the pepperoni stick. “How much is that?” she asked. “My wife” I replied. The clerk and everyone else in the room looked at me kinda funny. “How much is that?” she asked again, indicating the pepperoni stick with her finger. “My wife!” I loudly replied again, somewhat puzzled. By now, this young woman behind the counter, along with everyone else in the room, were looking at me very strangely, and a couple of them were perturbed that I was holding up the line. I couldn’t understand why this clerk would ask me such a strange question! After all, she was a complete stranger to me.

After several seconds of feverish thought, it suddenly hit me. I started laughing so hard that I almost cried. Got some giggles from the people around me too, once I explained.

You see, the young woman’s question didn’t sound to me like what she was saying at all! The local atmosphere or my silly mind must have distorted her words. Everytime she said “How much is that?”, thats not what I heard. What I heard instead was “WHO MUNCHES THAT?”. :) Pretty funny.

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 20th, 2007 with no comments.
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Get free software!

A free download section has been added along with some cool and useful programs. Some of these programs are created by our own programmers, and some are obtained elsewhere. These programs are totally free and contain no malware, spyware, adware, nor any other such nonsense.

Anyway, go to the download page and help yourself if you find anything useful to you.

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 8th, 2007 with no comments.
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Puppy Bowlâ„¢ - How cute is that?

For the last three years, Animal Planetâ„¢ has been airing its own version of the Superbowl: Puppy Bowl™ . For those of us who are animal lovers, and even some who may not be, this is one of the most adorable shows ever conceived.Puppy Bowlâ„¢ image ©Animal Planet Puppy Bowl III premieres on Sunday, February 4 2007 on Animal Planet. If you miss it or want to watch the Super Bowl also, don’t fret. Puppy Bowl III is repeated throughout the day. You can also purchase Puppy Bowl III on DVD, along with previous Puppy Bowl games (Puppy Bowls I and II) here . So treat yourself to one of the cutest shows on earth!

Written by Darrell Hagan on February 4th, 2007 with no comments.
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Digital TV: How you can get the jump on it.

By February 17th 2009, all commercial television broadcasters in the United States will be required to change the way they transmit their signals. This is being done primarily in order to make more effecient use of available radio spectrum space. Spectrum which is no longer needed by television broadcasters can then be re-allocated to other services such as police, fire departments, etc. Other benefits include vastly improved picture quality, more available channels, and interactive capabilities.

Making the switch to Digital TV (DTV) need not be complicated, painful or expensive. It is not necessary to buy a new television set in order to receive DTV signals. So-called “Set top converter” units are becoming available for use with current analog TV sets(Information here). These converter units will be easy to use, simply connecting between the TV set and the antenna lead or TV cable. Your TV set then functions as always, except that it will receive signals from the converter unit rather than direct.

If you already have cable TV, you may not need to do anything. Your cable provider might provide both Digital and Analog signals on the same cable. Your milage may vary, depending on your cable provider.

Note that if you use a converter box with your current TV set, you will not be able to realize the full picture quality of DTV, but it will certainly be watchable, and will be at least as good as current analog signals.

Another alternative is to replace your current TV set(s) with newer DTV-ready units. This is likely the thing that television  manufacturers and dealers would like for you to do, because it results in higher-dollar sales for them, and they don’t have to support analog TVs any longer. The good thing about buying a new DTV-ready set is that it will allow you to take full advantage of the new picture quailities and other features offered.

For some excellent further information about Digital TV and the transition, go here: http://dtvfacts.com

For Info from the US Government about this, go here: http://www.dtv.gov

 

 

  

Written by Darrell Hagan on January 31st, 2007 with no comments.
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