Online trading is so seductive - just sit, click, and rake in the profits! But as anyone who has ever seriously attempted online trading will probably tell you, it’s just not as easy as it sounds.
Many beginning traders are seduced by the lure of the “home run”, that big trade
that makes you an instant millionaire and retires you overnight to your own
private island paradise.
But then they wake up.
To really succeed at trading of any type, you need consistency, even if it’s
with small amounts. The ultimate goal is to keep trading over and over to
eventual riches, but by always going for the big wins they usually wind up with
big losses instead.
It’s perfectly understandable for people to not be interested in small profits.
After all, which would you rather have, big profits or small? But the fact is
it’s not such a simple choice. Small profits are more frequently achieved but
when traders refuse to take them, they often lose much, much more.
Small but steady gains over time can add up to some truly massive numbers. For
example, in options trading (my main area of focus for the last few years) it is
not at all uncommon to hear about profits of 100%, 300%, even 1000% in a single
trade! And while these results are absolutely possible, by expecting them to be
our every day results we train our mind to accept nothing less, and eventually
doom ourselves to disappointment.
Imagine training yourself to take 10% profits. And what if you also train
yourself never to put too much of your money into one trade, but instead to
manage it carefully? Say you put only 10% or less of your total trading account
into any one trade? If you could make just a 5% profit on only half of
your total account every month, compounding the profits monthly, you would have
a better than 31% return in 1 year’s time and over 115% in just 3 years! How
many investments are you currently involved in that have returns like that?!
The key is small numbers, not large ones.
In trading, there are typically only 4 possible outcomes:
1. A large gain
2. A small gain
3. A large loss
4. A small loss
Assume that over time, your small gains and small losses will average each other
out. That leaves you with only large gains and large losses. If you absolutely,
positively never allow yourself to take a large loss, that leaves only
the large gain. These large gains will ensure that you make a lot of money over
the long run. You aren’t specifically aiming for them, but we know
statistically that as long as you can survive in the trading game long enough,
you are bound to get some lucky “home runs” every now and then.
You can’t win if you’re not in the game, and the way to stay in the game is
through proper money management, risk assessment, position sizing, etc. Without
these components most new traders blow their accounts out and never return to
the game.
Don’t be one of those traders.
There are fortunes to be made in online trading, but you must be able to stay in
the game. It is said that “the best offense is a good defense” and nowhere is
this more true than in trading. Controlling risk and managing your money will
all but ensure your success. The last major obstacle is your own emotions, but
that’s a subject for my next article, “Emotions: A Trader’s Worst Enemy”.
Jonathan van Clute is a full time investor, educator, speaker, and online
options and sports arbitrage trader. In addition to his business activities, he
is also a musician, video editor/animator, and one of the world’s greatest
Segway Polo athletes. He can be reached via email at jonathan@PMLinvestments.com
and is speaking at an upcoming teleseminar, visit
http://www.snurl.com/PowerNumbers for details.
Posted by admin as Better Investment at 8:45 PM CST
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If you you find yourself saying “Hey, that’s a good idea,” to more than one of the following, you might be an ultralight backpacker. They are collected from various lightweight backpacking forums. For those of you that don’t share our passion for ultralight backpacking, let me explain that these are funny, but also mostly true stories.
You Just Might Be An Ultralight Backpacker If…
- Your wife’s purse holds more stuff than your backpack.
- You pack light for a family trip to Grandma’s house.
- You use the fruit scales in Walmart to determine the weight of a possible new piece of gear.
- At home you use just 4 toilet paper squares, to “practice”.
- You read that last one and say, “toilet paper?”
- You have no idea what the title, scale or contour interval of your map is because…. you cut away all of the margins to save weight.
- You sleep at home with the temps turned down while in the buff just to get used to the cold so you can take an even lighter sleeping bag.
- The thought of 1000 fill-power down gives you a little shiver down your spine.
- You’re glad you’re going bald.
- You’re wondering if your compass would still work OK without all that heavy liquid.
- Your woman says, “Go down baby!” and you hop out of bed hootin and hollarin and order a Western Mountaineering Highlite!
- You no longer have tags on any clothing you wear.
- Your mailman is trying to figure out why people send you empty boxes all the time.
- You eat with $40 titanium chopsticks instead of a plastic fork because they weigh .01 ounces less.
- You walk through the grocery store thinking “saltines have 1760 calories per pound, but mixed nuts have 2720 calories per pound”.
- Your waterproof/breathable rain jacket cost more than your best suit.
- You shave ALL the hair off your body to save a few ounces on your “from the skin out” weight!
- Your trail runners weigh more than your multi day pack.
- You know the weight of your backpack, and not your wife.
- You have to take your tent down to use your combination spork/toothbrush because you used it as a stake.
- You compulsively weigh things you have absolutely NO intention of ever taking backpacking, just because.
- You take laxatives before a trip, just to “lighten the load.”
A Note To Backpackers: You might be an ultralight backpacker if you can easily come up with more of these from your own experience.
Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. More of “You Might Be An Ultralight Backpacker,” plus advice and stories can be found at The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com
Posted by admin as University of Leisure at 3:11 AM CST
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How many books have you read about successful traders? How they did this or that and made a fortune and are still doing it. You say to yourself, “I’m going to follow his method and get rich”.
So you subscribe to his newsletter (they all have one, $250) and buy his course on CD Rom ($495)and next time he is anywhere near you attend his seminar with a $500 discount for only $2495. You do understand you must do exactly as he does and you try your best to follow the directions, but for some reason you still are not making money. At least you are not losing as much as you did before (I hope).
Go look in the mirror. You are not Richard Russell, Richard Wyckoff, Bill O’Neil or any one of the great gurus of the market place. Each one of them has devoted every minute of his life to understanding the market. Each one is very successful and each one has a completely different way of approaching trading. Can you copy any one of them? It is very doubtful.
These great teachers can help you, but you have to develop your own method and style of investment. Whether it is long term or short term it must be something with which you resonate. When I was a floor trader there were a thousand guys trading and I know there were a thousand different guide lines. No one had the same buy or sell signal. If they all followed a pat program they would all be buying and selling at the same time so it could not work.
I have stood in the pit and watched the same person offer to buy and when there was no seller he would then offer to sell usually at the same price. Yes, he was scalping for one or 2 ticks, but he knew what he was doing even if it looked strange. A friend of mine could arbitrage by standing in the middle of the gold pit and hit buys and sells that were off by one or two ticks because they could not hear each other due to the noise of other traders who were shouting their offers.
You can look at the basic trading style of one of the “greats”, but you must adapt it to your method. I have not seen anyone able to successfully copy a trading program exactly. You will improvise and find a slightly new approach that becomes “yours”. It then becomes part of your cellular being. It works for you and probably won’t work for anyone else.
If the programs the hype masters are selling work so well why aren’t there more rich traders? And if the programs are so darn good why are they telling you?
To be a successful trader you can’t copy cat an existing program, but you can take a basic trading vehicle and modify it your own plan. Turn that cat into your own tiger.
Al Thomas’ book, “If It Doesn’t Go Up, Don’t Buy It!”
has helped thousands of people make money
and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method.
Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com
and discover why he’s the man that Wall Street does
not want you to know.
Posted by admin as Better Investment at 8:49 AM CST
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Tanzania’s natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of the creation. These areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and have a high reputation for being uncrowded and unspoilt. The magnificent collection of game sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the border with Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can positively say that this is one of the finest game viewing areas anywhere in the world.
The game aside, the spectacularly diverse cluster of eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling experience for many a visitor. The stars of the Northern Circuit are the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, very dear to the hearts of nature lovers. But no less sparkling and indeed complementing the two are the other members of the circuit: Arusha, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. In terms of wildlife, the abundance and diversity of the wildlife here is difficult to imagine.
On top of the heap are the highly regarded “big five”: elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion. And then a wild array of plain animals: wildebeest, zebra, eland, hartebeest, oryx, reedbuck, giraffe, Thompson gazelle, and many more of the same genre. But do not forget the merciless predators: cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures. The Northern Circuit is an ornithologist’s paradise too, and over 500 species of birds are on record. On safari, you will be a witness of the shocking and fascinating dance of life and death on daily play by this combination of animals.
The starting point for northern safaris is usually Arusha town. The town sits near the base of Mount Meru and is in sight of mighty Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. From Arusha, the nearest protected area to see wildlife is Arusha National Park, just 32 km away. In this park of 137 sq km area, you will see baboon, colobus and vervet monkeys, duikers, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard, hyena, zebra and a wide range of antelopes. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded, including Eurasian migrants, who visit between October and April. One of the unique attractions of the park is that walking safaris are allowed and you can get off your vehicle for a nature walk. Due to its proximity to Arusha, the park is very popular for day trips.
Wildlife aside, Arusha National Park is a treasure with a rich tapestry of habitats including grassland, montane forest, heath and alpine desert and soda and fresh water lakes. Three spectacular features stand out: the Momela Lakes, Mount Meru, and Ngurdoto Crater. Mount Meru stands at 4,575 m and is Africa’s fourth highest mountain. It is however overshadowed by nearby Kilimanjaro, which rises above it by over 1300 m. It is regrettable that the snobbish instinct of many climbers makes them to overlook Mt Meru. The mountain can be scaled in three to four days with overnight accommodation in alpine huts.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, is located in the Great Rift Valley - that monumental fracture of the earths crust. The area is filled with volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes and forests. Covering 8,288 sq km, its main features are the Ngorongoro Crater, the Empakai crater, the Oldonyo Lengai Mountain and the archeological site of Olduvai Gorge. Olduvai Gorge is the prehistoric site where Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo habilis (”Handy man”) regarded by scientists as mankind’s first step on the path of human evolution. Be sure to have a look at the remains of our worthy predecessor, whose valiant industry spurred by necessity, got him making simple stone tools.
Unlike in the national parks, the colorful Maasai people, their livestock and wildlife coexist within the conservation area. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest caldera in the world that has its walls intact. The crater floor is a drop of 600 m and covers an area of 260 sq km with a diameter of 19 km. This magnificent natural amphitheatre is a stunning attraction in its own right and is one of the wonders of the natural world. The crater supports a year round resident population of a variety of wildlife. You will have no trouble spotting lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and many species of plain animals- wildebeest, zebra, reedbuck, Thompson gazelle and many more. The crater floor is dotted with watering holes and holds almost 30,000 wild animals. Ngorongoro is four hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. And from either Lake Manyara or Tarangire you will be on the road for two hours.
Lake Manyara National Park spreads between the cliff of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara, a shallow soda lake. The park covers 330 sq. km, 70% of which is occupied by the lake. The varied ecosystem consists of ground water forests, acacia woodland and open grassland along the lakeshore and sustains a wealth of wildlife, including the Big Five -lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo. Other animals to be seen in the park include baboons, impala, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich and hippo.
Lake Manyara is famous for the elusive tree-climbing lions, which can occasionally be seen along the branches of the acacia trees. It is also an ornithologists’ paradise and is host to over 400 species of birds. The water birds hovering around the lake include pelicans, spoonbills, Egyptian geese and hammerkops. In addition, migratory flamingoes arrive in hundreds of thousands creating a spectacular sight over the soda lake. You will arrive at Lake Manyara after driving from Arusha for two hours or flying for just half an hour.
Tarangire National Park is a one and half hour drive from Arusha making it very popular for day trips. Tarangire is a park of giant baobab trees, rolling savannah and acacia parkland. It is famous for its dense wildlife population, which is most spectacular in the dry season between June and September. It is during this period that thousands of animals- wildebeest, zebra, eland, hartebeest, waterbuck, giraffe, impala, gerenuk, buffalo and oryx migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire River in search of water. The predators -lion, leopard and others- as is the custom in the savanna follow closely by. If lucky, you will spot the peculiar tree-climbing python, kudu and roan antelope, a rare experience in the northern safari circuit. Birds are also abundant here and over 550 species have been recorded.
Serengeti National Park is Africa’s most famous wildlife sanctuary and Tanzania’s largest national park. The park is located 6 hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. It lies in a high plateau between the Ngorongoro highlands and the Kenya/Tanzania border and almost touches Lake Victoria in the west. Appropriately named “endless plains” by the Maasai people, it features short and long grass plains, acacia savanna and woodland in parts of the north and east.
Within its 15,000 sq km area, Serengeti hosts 3 million large mammals. More than 35 species of plain animals- zebra, wildebeest, eland, giraffe, and others are found here. And so for the big five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino. The park is the staging-zone for one the most spectacular events in the natural world- the annual migration of wildebeest. This commences around June when over 1 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle head for the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of pasture. Following on their heels are the predators of the savanna- lion, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures.
If you can spare the money, viewing the migration afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience. The best time to view game is from December to May when the grass is short. Avoid late June-October, when most of the animals will have evacuated with the migration and are best seen in the adjacent Maasai Mara in Kenya. The keen ornithologist will have a good time trying to sight the 500 species of birds on record.
Camping sites can be found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and all the national parks of the northern circuit. Facilities are pretty basic and this is where budget travelers prefer to spend their safari nights. If you can afford it, overnight at the luxury safari lodges and tented camps. In this class of accommodation expect to find all the creature comforts associated with rated accommodation. You can check online some of the Tanzania hotels and lodges available for your safari.
It is generally recommended to take an escorted Tanzania safari package that includes transport, guide, park fees and accommodation. Tour guides have valuable local knowledge about the animals, where to find them and how to get where you are going. But if you know the country well and have good knowledge of animals, then self-drive car rental in Tanzania is an option.
The relatively high elevation in northern Tanzania means that it never gets too hot. Indeed the nights and early mornings can be quite chilly. You are well advised to take along a heavy sweater and a windbreaker or jacket. Expect temperatures to average from 15C in May to August and 22C over December to March. The weather is best between June and September, but do not bet on seeing any animals in the Serengeti. For a safari covering all the parks of northern Tanzania, September to March is a good time. But remember that some of the other parks in the region offer nearly year round game viewing opportunities. April and May can be a challenging period for doing a safari for it is when the weather is at its rainiest.
On safari, bright coloured clothing may get you in trouble with wild animals. If you are wise you will pack brown, beige and khaki clothing. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are adequate. For ladies, short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts are ideal. Though the northern region is well outside the predominantly Muslim coast areas and ladies do not have to dress
too conservatively, modest attire is still a good idea. Remember to bring along a pair of sunglasses to shield you from the sometimes harsh tropical glare. Binoculars will come in very
handy for spotting animals.
Copyright © Africa Point
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of Africa Point - the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Tanzania safari and tours at the website.
Posted by admin as University of Leisure at 8:08 PM CST
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If you are a big fan of dancing, then take a class. It can be more fun to just go out and dance, but if you love to dance you could take a class, you could do both. Taking a dance class can give you the right way to do things.
You could study a wide variety of dance and learn as much as you can. If you are only focused in and enjoy one type of way to dance, then that is fine too. There are plenty of people who only like Salsa dancing and study it, take classes, and practice it on a regular basis. There are others who are diversified in a wide variety of dance and this might be the way to go. Who knows, maybe later in life you could be out at a very prestigious event and be asked to Tango dance with your boss, wouldn’t it be cool if you were really good? All of the people that you work with will wonder how in the world you are able to do that. Dancing is super great for your health, taking your Acceletrim diet capsules before you dance can help give you some positive side effects, like energy and a faster metabolism. Being energetic can influence your partner to be livelier and dance better.
Taking dance classes will give you the reason behind the moves and you will know why you are dancing. When you know the why behind it you will be able to get a lot better. Dancing is a great way to express yourself and get healthier.
Posted by admin as A Funny Farm, University of Leisure at 1:02 AM CST
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Secret Tips For Negotiating Your Credit Card Debt
A lot of people think that it is hard to lower their credit card debt because they are worried that the credit card company doesn’t care about them. In actuality the credit card companies would like to service you and work out some kind of debt negotiation plan that works for you. They would rather have you pay a small amount of money instead of none at all. While negotiating your credit card debt there are a lot of strategies that you need to remember. These tips and strategies could benefit you greatly in the process.
When negotiating with your credit card company, it is important that you are honest about your debt circumstance. Credit card companies can be very forgiving when a individual has real hardships in their lives. Some credit card companies are now offering a type of insurance that allows you to stop payments if going through a personal crisis.
The next matter that you need to remember when attempting to negotiate your credit card debt is to make certain that you are addressing with a person that will actually be able to aid you. Many of the low level employees at the credit card company may be instructed that they are not allowed to make those kinds of decisions for the customer and may try to deter you from pursuing the matter further by stating that there is nothing that they can do for you. Be persistent until you do find someone in the company that may be able to help you and go to the local branch of the company, if you are able, to talk to someone about your circumstance face to face.
Always remember to be polite and respectful when speaking to your credit card company about negotiating your debt. It may be hard at times, but getting angry at them will only make matters worse. Being respectful to those attempting to aid you is very essential for seeing any results. Remember, you want these people to help lower your debt, not make things worse for you.
Posted by admin as Credit Ratings etc., Money + Finance at 2:54 PM CST
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Were you able to find the best natural skin care cream for you? Is it one of the branded types of skin care cream that you probably saw in some advertisements on the TV or a home shopping channel? Well in my opinion, that is not actually the place where you can find the best natural skin care cream that would help you with your skin problems. After reading this you’ll probably realize why. Most of the companies and manufacturers of branded and popular cosmetic creams claims that they have the best natural skin care cream that anyone can ever imagine. And these companies and manufacturers spend their time and their money to advertise their products so consumers will be able to get a grasp on their product and patronize it. If you do your own research on some of the ingredients that they use for these products, you will be amazed that most of them are contaminants that may be harmful to your skin. Two of these that are mostly present are parabens, which studies says may cause allergic reactions and appearance of rashes to the skin, and alcohols which is known to strip off the skins natural oils that makes it more exposed to bacteria and other airborne elements. Let me share this with you, I have read one of the reviews in the internet regarding a product that is not that popular. This may actually help you more on your quest to obtain the best natural skin care cream that would be the prime solution for your skin problems. The review actually mentioned about ingredients that are not that common but can surely help in the elasticity, firmness and radiance of the skin. It mentioned about a company in New Zealand that produces Cynergy TK which is a new breakthrough in skin care technology and is an effective ingredient in skin rejuvenation. Now that you have read this and have completely done your research, I hope you realize that not everything that we see on TV ads or anything that is being offered on it is actually the best for us. Sometimes there are some things that we overlook because they don’t have a big name, but they ought to be like your secret weapon against all those harmful skin care elements out there and now you don’t have to worry about your skin appearance ever again. Yes, natural organic skincare is here to stay, and it is fast becoming the weapon of choice for so many beauty enthusiasts and fanatics. it really is the only way to go for natural organic skincare. Infact, if you look at any skincare faq - oh, there are a lot of natural organic skincare faqs, oh yes there are - they tell you; natural organic skincare is best. So give it a go. What do you have to lose? and there is so much, in fact, to gain.
Posted by admin as Be A Beauty at 5:09 AM CST
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Would you like to experience a new outdoor adventure along with the rest of your family or perhaps just all by yourself? If you are a person who likes the outdoors you probably would enjoy fishing very much. Along with the fishing experience you also get to enjoy nature whether it is the ocean or the woods and mountains surrounding the lake where you are going fishing.
Having being born into a family of fishermen there is for me no such thing as spending a day out on the ocean which is my favorite place. I never was much into lake fishing although ice fishing on a lake can be a lot of fun. By the time I reached school age I had probably done more fishing than many people get to do during their lifetime and I could have found my way blind folded to all the best fishing spots around.
One of my earliest memories is from fishing and II can remember my grandfather wrapping me up in a blanket early in the morning and placing me in the front of his 17 foot fishing boat. There I laid eating the breakfast he had made me while he was heading for one of the many spots which was great for some early morning fishing. I could not have been more than 3 or 4 years old.
These are the kind of memories many of my friends has too and it could be similar to the ones you could create together with your family. Imagine being out there on the big open waters and having whales pulling up along side your boat? Yes it can be kind of scary but at the same time it is something which does not happen all too often. What about getting the biggest fish you could ever imagine on the line and you are barely able to get him to the boat?
There is nothing like catching fish and being able to pull into a deserted beach, on a small island and cook it right there on a campfire. Even though I never got into fishing on a lake does not mean I never did it. Being out there in the wild after the sun has gone down, hearing only the fish breaing the surface of the lake, is something very special. Ice fishing is another fun way to fish but it takes a lot of patience and a lot of warm clothes.
Fishing is not only a way to catch food but it is also a great way to relax and enjoy yourself and your family. You do not need a boat or expensive fishing rods in order to enjoy fishing. For hundred of years all people used was a poll, line and a hook and that is still all you need to have a good time fishing. You should try it sometime.
Posted by admin as University of Leisure at 11:42 PM CST
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Gourette is one of the top ski domains for all year round play and rest. Gourette is a corner of paradise and offers the vacationer walking, sailing, horseback riding, events and so much more for all the family to enjoy.
When the snowfall commences to settle on the trees and peaks, and the rivers start to ice over, Gourette varies its costume from vivid fall colors to white. Gourette pullulates with winter fun ” winter luge, cross country skiing and monoskiing.
Gourette was called the number 1 skiing mountain in the Alps year after year by ski publications and eager snowboarders. It rises a lofty 3800 m into the sky, it with 70 trails, the longest being 8 kilometres, and in total there is 625.5 kilometres of skiing. There are trails for beginners and reasonable skiers, and 43 trails for expert skiers.
Gourette’s lifts can deal with 20000 skiers an hour therefore there is no wasting of fun time standing to get to the top. You are able to opt for the bubble for a first-class panorama of the resort and the surrounding area. For the hungry monoskier] or {mountain visitor, there are umpteen lunch spots that have vin chaud and soups, baguettes or sit down lunches. So what are you delaying for? Book your chalet holiday now.
Posted by admin as School of Sports, Traveling, University of Leisure at 5:00 AM CST
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What more could a business expect other than precisely knowing what its customers need and are ready to pay more for. Companies usually spend a large amount of money in research to understand their consumers, but a simple YouGov poll and a research report by Convergys may come as a free insight into the mobile broadband customers in the UK.
Convergys, a customer management and billing service provider has conducted a customer scorecard research on a YouGov poll with more than 2000 adult respondents based in the UK. Results of the research, other than telling the gospel truth of the customer expectation of good service, also revealed some startling statistics. Most importantly, the report showed that 17% of the respondents agreed to pay a higher price if they were given a good and responsive customer service. Meanwhile, a meager 5% said they prefer to pay less even if it meant getting bad service.
Overall, the report indicates that the brand or price is not as important for a UK customer when they compare mobile broadband as is good service in the mobile broadband industry. Jean-Herve Jenn, International President of Convergys asserts that this is indeed an opportunity for the service providers. The report has shown that customer service can drive operators’ revenue higher and allows them to gain more market share. The ball is now in the court of the operators and they need to take quick action to ensure that their customer service acts as their strength and not weakness.
Posted by admin as Better Technology, End Users, Telecommunication Center at 5:34 AM CST
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