Archive for Fundraising

After Deal Dies, Yahoo Weighs Its Next Move

{ May 4, 2008 @ 9:44 pm } · { Fundraising, McCain, Yahoo }
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SAN FRANCISCO — How low will Yahoo’s stock go on Monday? And how long will it stay there?

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Related
DealBook: MicroHoo: The End of the Beginning (May 4, 2008)
Microsoft Withdraws Bid for Yahoo (May 4, 2008)
Times Topics: Microsoft-Yahoo DealThese questions are high in the minds of Yahoo shareholders, and probably its management, as the company considers its options after Microsoft’s decision to withdraw its offer to buy Yahoo for $33 a share, or approximately $47.5 billion.

Much will depend on Yahoo’s next moves, which could include a partnership with its chief competitor, Google.

People close to Yahoo said that the chief executive, Jerry Yang, and his team, who told Microsoft they would not sell for less than $37 a share, greeted Microsoft’s decision as a victory. High-fives were exchanged Saturday afternoon when they learned Microsoft was backing down.

Yet some Yahoo shareholders, large and small, have indicated that they favored a deal at around $34 to $35 a share. Even those who were holding out for a higher price said a merger with Microsoft made strategic sense.

“I don’t believe that Jerry Yang as a founder, as someone who is emotionally attached to the company, was really looking out for my interest as a shareholder,” said Darren Chervitz, co-manager of the Jacob Internet Fund, which owns about 150,000 shares of Yahoo. “I don’t think anything Yahoo puts out there is going to be comparable with what Microsoft was offering.” … continue reading this entry.

Clinton, McCain Push Gas Tax Break Economists Panned (Update1)

{ May 2, 2008 @ 10:46 pm } · { Clinton, Fundraising, McCain, Panned }
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May 2 (Bloomberg) — Hillary Clinton and John McCain are both pushing a “gas-tax holiday” to give consumers an 18.4- cent-a-gallon price break. Clinton says the plan will take excess profits from oil companies. McCain says it will help families buy school supplies.

Economists have a different take: They say the oil companies may end up the biggest beneficiaries, while the aid to families wouldn’t be enough to buy a $35 backpack.

The trouble with the plan, they say, is that oil prices are rising because of low supplies, and companies will continue to charge the average $3.60 a gallon and just pocket the money that would have gone to federal taxes.

“That’s $10 billion, and it’s going into the pockets of oil refiners,” said Leonard Burman of the Tax Policy Center in Washington. “The last time I checked, they didn’t need it.”

Supplies are “being cleared at the current price,” said Donald Parsons, an economics professor at George Washington University in Washington. “If you take away the tax, you’ll have the same number of consumers willing to buy the gas at the same total price.”

Senator Clinton, 60, a New York Democrat, embraced the proposal that McCain, 71, an Arizona Republican, floated in a speech on April 15. McCain’s idea originated not with his economic advisers but with Republican pollster Bill McInturff.

“I don’t know any prominent economist who favors this McCain-Clinton proposal,” Greg Mankiw, former chairman of President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers and author of a bestselling economics text, said on his blog. … continue reading this entry.

Three Business Tools Help Entrepreneurs Market Inexpensively

{ March 24, 2008 @ 11:51 pm } · { Blogroll, Business, Fundraising, Industrial Mechanical, Strategic Planning, Web Development }
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If you are a new business owner, or an entrepreneur, marketing your business can drain your budget. If you are between jobs, you feel drained of time and money. However there are three tools that when used correctly can give you just the boost you need for a very minimal investment of time and money: Your handshake, your business card and your introduction. Your handshake is one of your business tools when networking. A few weeks ago I met an interesting businesswoman who was new in town. When she shook my hand, it felt like she was competing for the strong man award. Her grip was so tight I winced. I’ve always hated a half-committed handshake but this was going a bit too far. When you greet someone, look him or her in the eye and grasp their hand firmly web to web, then give a shake or two then disconnect. Don’t place your other hand on top, or put your free hand on their shoulder unless you are already close acquaintances. Drop the philosophy that says if you want more power make sure you twist your hand to where your counterpart’s hand is facing the floor and yours is on top. Handshaking is not a platform to showcase your strength or play psychological games as to who is more worthy. You are there to build relationships, get acquainted and treat the other person as your equal.

Business Card Many mistakes are made with business cards. The first rule is HAVE ONE. Excuses range from “I’m just out of college” to “I just changed positions” to “I’m unemployed” to “I’ve just started my business so I haven’t had time.” … continue reading this entry.

Easy Profits with PPC

{ March 22, 2008 @ 10:54 pm } · { Customer Service, Fundraising }
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Pay Per a Click is one of the four basic types of Search Engines. Pay per a click is also one of the most cost-effective ways of targeted internet advertising. According to Forbes magazine, PPC or Pay Per Click, accounts to 2 billion dollars a year and is expected to increase to around 8 billion dollars by the year 2008.

Let us take a look at how PPC Search Engines work.

These engines create listings and rate them based on a bid amount the website owner is willing to pay for each click from that search engine. Advertisers bid against each other to receive higher ranking for a specific keyword or phrase.

The highest bidder for a certain keyword or phrase will then have the site ranked as number 1 in the PPC Search Engines followed by the second and third highest bidder, up to the last number that have placed a bid on the same keyword or phrase. Your ads then will appear prominently on the results pages based on the dollar amount bid you will agree to pay per click.

How do you make money by using PPC into your affiliate marketing business?

Most affiliate programs only pay when a sale is made or a lead delivered after a visitor has clickthrough your site. Your earnings will not always be the same as they will be dependent on the web site content and the traffic market.