When Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?

Thinking about visiting Ireland but not sure when to go? It’s true that there are drastic differences between the seasons. Summer in Ireland is distinctly different than the wintertime. However, when you go also depends on your travel personality and your reasons for visiting this beautiful country.

Visit in the Summer

Most travel guides recommend visiting Ireland in the summertime. In the summer the days are not only warmer, they’re also longer. If you are a traveler who enjoys packing your visit from sunup to sundown, then these long days are invaluable. The country is in full swing and everything from bed and breakfasts to wacky attractions are open.

The downside is that because summer is such a pleasant time to visit Ireland, it's peak travel season. You’ll be amongst the many other tourists. You won’t have much luck finding cheap airfare or hotel stay.

Spring and Fall

During the spring and fall you’re likely to find wet weather. You’ll also find some deals on travel and thinner crowds. It’s also the prime festival season. Let’s not forget that St Patrick’s Day is in March and there are wonderful fall festivals to consider including the Folk Festival in Cork and the Fringe Festival in Dublin. Many travel experts strongly recommend visiting Ireland during the spring or fall. Bring a raincoat and a smile for a lovely stay.

Winter

Winter is generally considered the least desirable time to visit Ireland. It’s cold and wet, and the sun may not shine as often as you’d like. Additionally, many attractions including hotels and restaurants are closed during the winter – this is particularly true in the more rural areas. However, it’s also the cheapest time of the year to visit Ireland. You’ll be able to find good airfare prices as well as reasonable hotel rates. And you won’t have to fight the crowds.

The Bottom Line

If you plan to visit Ireland to explore nature and take in the coastline then winter is a time to avoid. However, if you plan on heading to a large city and checking out every pub within walking distance then winter may be a perfect acceptable and certainly more affordable option. The cities are abundant with opportunities for culture, dining, shopping and theater all year around.

If you’re not on a tight budget, then any other time of the year provides more benefits. You’ll have more options in terms of hotels, dining, and attractions. Identify your reason for visiting Ireland and establish a budget. Those two factors will lead you to the best time for you to visit Ireland.

Imagine more and better vacations for the rest of your life.  Click here for details.

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School is NEVER Out!

This is one in a series of excerpts from a book that is part of my daily personal development routine.  The book is written by Mike Brescia entitled "Today is Your Day to Win."

It's a quick morning read and is set up in a daily reading format so when you get to the end of the book you just start again.  I've been using the book nearly 10 years and I get something new and fresh from each read.  I strongly encourage you to add this title to your success library.

It contains great motivational quotes as well as great questions to ask yourself about improving every area of your life.

Here are a few excerpts from today's reading:

Today's Empowering Quote:

Phil Jackson knows how to coach me.  He gets me angry.  When I get angry, I dominate.  It's perfect.  -Shaquille O'Neal

Today's Empowering Question:

Who else can I learn important skills and lessons from now?

Today’s Winning Beliefs:

•    I see each day's new challenges as the way toward high achievement

•    I overcome all challenges that come my way

•    I learn something valuable from everyone I meet

•    I'm now achieving my potential

•    I am getting better at everything I do

•    I believe I can learn anything

Every day is a great day to learn something new and develop new skills for life and business.  Incorporate these ideas and concepts into your daily routine consistently and you'll begin to see gains in the areas of your life you're seeking to improve.

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Imagine a business where you can earn almost $10,000 in ONE transaction and take deeply discounted vacations whenever you like.  NOT mlm or network marketing.  NOT a gifting program.  NOT your ordinary home business.  And it's been working for over 22 years.  Click here for details.

Is Coastal Vacations the right business for You?

Well, that depends...

There are literally THOUSANDS of home businesses out there to choose from.

I use that word "businesses" loosely, because there's a lot of junk on and off the internet.

Cash gifting, HYIPs, autosurfs, and other pie-in-the-sky schemes are often called businesses when there's no real product or service being exchanged.

At least with mlm/network marketing you normally have a product or service, but very few people are making any money because they cannot create the organization it takes to generate the massive sales volume needed to throw off substantial income.

With so many choices out there...good, bad ,and ugly; why choose Coastal Vacations?

What makes it stand apart from all the others?

Well, first of all, let's look at some facts:

According to a recent home business poll, here are the TOP 10 criteria people are looking for:

Substantial immediate income
Low initial capital
Extreme Product value
No need to keep product on hand
Easy to use system
Company stability
Duplicatable
Worldwide appeal
Exponential growth
Long term income

Now, that's a pretty tall bill for any one business to fill.

Most businesses meet at least 2 or 3 of these criteria, but very few can meet more than that. Many people have tried program after program, trying to find the perfect one, and finally decide to give up. They lose hope that the "REAL THING" truly exists.

Well, what if I told you that Coastal Vacations meets *ALL* of the above criteria, and even more?

We have merged two of the hottest industries today - Travel and the Internet. The result is a business that blows the competition away.

Let's take a closer look at that list again as it applies to Coastal...

Substantial immediate income - $1,000 - $9,705 for every new client referral

Low initial capital - Start your very own REAL business for less than $1500 capital up front.

Extreme Product value - The Coastal level I Package is worth over $15,000, and yet we retail it for just $1,295.

No need to keep product on hand - You mail the order to the shipping center, and they drop ship the product directly to your clients.

Easy to use system - Full training provided by your own personal mentor who has had established success in the business and can show you the ropes. If you can give out a website address and a phone number, you can do this!

Company stability - The Coastal package is over 25 years old, and has been marketed this way for over 20 years. All the companies we represent are at least 15 years old, and are all licensed and bonded, as well as listed with the BBB.

Duplicatable - The company offers tools for your success and also for the success of anyone you teach. Marketing systems are already in place, one simply has to plug-in and get started!

Worldwide appeal - The Coastal opportunity is available worldwide. The package can be used by anyone, anywhere.

Exponential growth - Although Coastal is NOT mlm or network marketing, there is exponential growth built in.

Long term income - Once you are a Coastal Director, you are a Director for life! There are no yearly agent fees, no minimum sales requirements, no inactivity penalties.... this business is yours forever.

But we don't stop there..... there's more.....

No waiting on checks - You are paid directly by the customer, so you get paid FIRST. You then send the wholesale cost into the shipping center, and the package is drop shipped to your client. Because the company doesn't pay you anything, they don't keep track of what you do. There are no 1099s at the end of the year. It is up to you to keep track and report what you make.

No restrictions on marketing - Most companies make you get your ads approved and have to "OK" your ideas before you can use them. Not Coastal. This is YOUR business. You are completely independent. If you can dream it up, you can do it.

Everyone loves to travel!!! - Travel is the one thing that has universal appeal. Families, businesses, non-profit organizations, retired couples... everybody.... loves this package. Even the biggest skeptic will perk up his ears when you start talking about the benefits of wholesale vacations with the Coastal package.

Dozens of effective marketing methods - Our Directors use many different methods.... some use the Internet exclusively, some just over the telephone, others solely in person. You can use postcards, seminars, trade shows, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, business-to-business... the possibilities are endless! And, as part of your personal training, you will be taught about each of these methods and how to use them.

What an incredible opportunity!  I've been developing businesses for over 20 years and I’ve never seen a business that offers such reward for so little risk.  As Coastal Directors, we earn between 77% and 88% commission from every sale we personally make.

Coastal Vacations is lucrative enough even within the first few months to support an entire household by itself.

How many people can say that? That their business they run from their home pays all their bills all by itself?  Very few.

I encourage you to take the 3-step tour at our website and view the recorded webinar found there.

After that, you may have some questions, but you should have a pretty good idea if this is right for you. Please feel free to call me at my home office, 270-339-3672 with your questions.

To your Success,

Curtis Staggs

Coastal Freedom

5 Ways A Home Business Can Make Your Life Easier

Home businesses come in many different shapes, sizes and forms. These types of businesses provide individuals with an alternative to the office job setting and provide various freedoms to the business owners as well. In fact, there are five often-cited ways in which a home business can make one’s life easier overall.

Child Care Issues

Perhaps one of the most often cited features of a home business which can make one’s life easier is that by owning a home business, individuals are able to work while staying at home with their children. This makes the need for daily child care a nonexistent factor. Although some individuals who work from home still opt for putting their kids in daycare, having a home business does make doing without child care a possibility.

Transportation Issues

Another way which home businesses can make a business owner’s life that much easier relates to transportation issues. When owning a home business, one can conduct their daily business affairs from the convenience of their home office. This gets rid of the need for commuting to an office each day and putting mileage on the car, not to mention paying costly gas bills. It is also a time saver with regard to not having to commute to and from work which is also a highly regarded trait of owning a home business.

Tax Deductions

One who has a home business is also able to reap the benefits of multiple tax deductions and incentives which may be available to them. Using a home office enables a business owner to save money in the long run by seeing deductions on their annual tax returns. Although this only happens once a year, the rewards are often quite good for home business owners who operate their business out of their home office.

Being Your Own Boss

An additional incentive for home business owners is that they are their own boss. This is a wonderful thing to consider. No more bossy employers enforcing strict, unyielding schedules. Being your own boss is a sure way to make one’s life easier. One can work when they want to, take a break if they like and pursue their occupation in the manner which they see fit.

Reduce Overhead This Way

Lastly, an individual who runs a business out of their home will often find that their life is made easier by saving themselves money in the end. As opposed to those individuals who own businesses which are run out of separate offices, home business owners will see large reductions in overhead. Making use of the home as a workspace is a great way to make life easier on the individual and their wallet.

Coastal Vacations is an association of entrepreneurs, professionals and home-based business owners dedicated to providing the highest quality vacation values and travel benefits on the market today, and making them available to their clients at rock-bottom prices. This has in turn created one of the hottest and most lucrative business opportunities in the World.  I have been a member of Coastal Vacations since 2004.  This business has saved me money, allowed my family to take more and better vacations, and continues to create cash flow from the comfort of my home.  For more details about Coastal Vacations, click here

12 Second Commute

I recently discovered 12 Second Commute, also known as 12 SC, and what I have found is a treasure trove for anyone building businesses online.  It has certainly made my life easier and saved me time promoting my businesses.  They have all the tools and resources an internet marketer needs to earn income online, it’s affordable and in one all inclusive system.  Here’s a sampling of some of the system’s features:

** World-class Autoresponder that can be setup by anyone in less than 40 seconds.
** Ad Tracker, Contact Manager, Capture Page Creator, URL Rotator and more.
** Unbiased Training and Support so you never struggle again.
** Multiple Streams of Income built in so you earn as you learn.
** Stunning capture pages you can use to promote any program

The people behind 12 Second Commute have been helping others earn money online in a solid and consistent fashion since 1999.  They even give you a FREE trial account with no credit card required so you can see how powerful and easy to use our system will be.  So, what do you have to lose.  Click here to try it out.  You might like it.  I’m betting you do!

Tips For Making Your Website Look Professional

Many people believe that designing a website is difficult, but that in only true if you do not take the time to learn how to build one. Like pretty much everything done on the web today, there are many software programs available which can make web design really simple.

Continue on for some great tips on how to choose the best web design program to build your site.

Before you publish any web page, check it carefully for broken links. Nothing is more frustrating to a visitor than clicking on a link and being taken to an error page. You can check your links manually, or there are programs that will scan your site for you and report any broken links.

Allow users to cancel an action if they so choose. This could mean ordering products, opting in to an email newsletter, or returning to the homepage from deep within your site. If visitors cannot cancel an action they are not interested in, such as providing their contact information, they will feel they do not have a choice and won't buy anything.

Give your visitors the ability to search your site so that they can more easily find what they are looking for. If someone cannot find what they are looking for right away, their next thought will be to look for a search field. Put this somewhere obvious and include a search button.

Always ensure you are giving meaningful feedback, as this is what creates the communication between a website and its visitors. For example, if an action taken by a visitor results in an error, do not simply display "error occurred."  Instead, provide a message that explains what happened and how the visitor can correct the error by taking a different action. Without this feedback, visitors are more likely to grow frustrated and just give up by leaving your website.

Have a site map. These are useful to your clients and the search engines, as they give a detailed overview of your entire website. It can be a guide for viewers searching for a certain part of your site, and also allow you to keep track of its structure and layout.

Use a tracking service, rather than displaying your visitor counter for all to read. Many websites still display their counters, yet they do not serve any real purpose. There are many high quality tracking services available, and some are even free. Use these instead of showing off how many people visit you.

When designing your website, you should avoid using too many different types of fonts. You must also consider how different fonts appear on the standard computer screen; smaller serif fonts (Times New Roman, for example) are somewhat hard to read. Most sites use Vedrana, which is easily read in different colors and sizes.

Do not use images for your background. When you think about some of the biggest websites on the Internet, they do not have images as backgrounds. When you use image backgrounds, you represent yourself as someone who is not well-versed in web designing. Images as backgrounds also cause your site to load slower, which can lead to user frustration.

Make text easy to ready by using colors that contrast or backgrounds that are easy to read text on. When your text is harder to read because the background or text color creates eye strain or portions of text that are unreadable, site visitors are less likely to stick around.

As stated in the above article, web design today is made simple with the many easy to use software programs that are on the market. If you can follow some simple instructions then you too can enter the world of web design.

Apply the tips from this article so you can understand what to look for in a web design program.

Curtis Staggs

Shameless American Capitalist

What is Direct Sales?

Direct Sales marketing is a simple and effective way to market products or services direct to the consumer. It involves the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location by an independent salesperson. Products are sold through in-home product demonstrations, parties, group meetings or demonstrations, over the telephone, over the Internet and through one-on-one selling.

Direct selling is a growing industry with sales in the U.S. having doubled in the last decade to nearly $25 billion and are now more than $82 billion worldwide.

Do people purchase products from Direct Sales representatives?

Yes. Direct selling is a rapidly growing industry. U.S. sales totaled $28.7 billion in 2002, up from 26.7 billion in 2001, with more than 55 percent of the American public having purchased goods or services through direct selling. That's more than the number who have purchased through television shopping and on-line computer services combined. People value the products available through direct selling and 45 percent of Americans want to buy from direct sellers. Those who have purchased by direct selling are exceeded only by the percentage of those who have purchased via retail stores (96%) or through mail order catalogs (83%). As mentioned, worldwide sales are also strong with nearly $85 billion in sales.*

An opportunity for growth is seen with public interest in purchasing through direct selling (38%) exceeding those who have purchased (27%)! Here are a few reasons why consumers enjoy buying from Direct Sales Representatives:

• Direct sellers can arrange their calls to fit the consumer's busy schedule and can deliver their purchases directly to them.
• Direct salespeople are knowledgeable about their products and take the time to personally demonstrate and explain their products to the consumer.
• Since the products are going directly from the source to the consumer with only the Direct Seller involved substantial savings from advertising, processing and shipping can be passed on to the consumer.
• Direct sellers build a personal relationship with the Consumer giving them one-on-one-attention.
• The Consumer knows who to go to with questions and concerns, as well as who to refer friends to, rather than dealing with a company full of unthankful employees.

Coastal Vacations is a direct sales opportunity that promotes the benefits of a vacation lifestyle while developing financial freedom through business ownership.