Nippon Oil, Nippon Mining to merge
Japan's top refiner Nippon Oil Corp and sixth-ranked Nippon Mining Holdings said they are considering a merger to create the world's eighth-largest oil major to better compete amid sliding prices and slower demand
Another Goldman unit hit by decline
Goldman Sachs' plans to expand its wealth management operations have been dealt a potential setback by a dramatic decline in the value of another of its funds
Chinese group sues Vale Inco
A large Chinese battery manufacturer is suing two units of Vale, one of the world's largest mining companies, in a patent infringement case that highlights the growing number of Chinese companies using local courts to protect their interests
Harvard endowment loses $8bn in four months
The world's wealthiest university placed the decline at 22%, bringing the figure to $28.7bn and underscoring how higher education has been hard hit by the global financial crisis
Adobe slashes revenue forecast
The US software group lowers its outlook for the November quarter to $912-$915m and announces job cuts, the latest indication of how the crisis has hit the technology sector
Carlyle to cut 10% of staff as downturn bites
Private equity firm Carlyle is cutting 10 per cent of its staff in the latest indication that buy-out firms will not be immune to the meltdown in the markets
Fortress suspends Drawbridge redemptions
The listed private equity group has suspended redemptions at its flagship fund in order to maintain assets after investors sought to withdraw more than $3.5bn in funds
Vodafone to appeal against India tax ruling
The Mumbai High Court dismissed a landmark challenge by Vodafone against a $2bn tax case in a blow to the UK group and a potential setback for other companies looking to make major investments in India
EDF tries to scupper Buffett's energy bid
The French state-controlled utility launched a direct challenge to billionaire Warren Buffett with a $4.5bn bid for 50 per cent of the nuclear fleet owned by its US partner Constellation Energy
Discounts drive 15% sales jump on 'Cyber Monday'
US online retailers saw an annualised 15 per cent jump in sales on the Monday following the Thanksgiving weekend, according to early estimates, as aggressive bargains boosted traffic on the day the industry has dubbed 'Cyber Monday'
US auto union makes concessions
The main car workers' union said that it would suspend a contentious practice that allows so-called 'idled' car workers to collect virtually full pay and benefits without working
New Star agrees £240m rescue with banks
One of the UK's best known fund managers has agreed to a debt-for-equity swap deal that will leave a group of four banks, including HBOS, Lloyds TSB, HSBC and RBS, in control of the group
Iberia gives BA merger ultimatum
The chief executive of the Spanish carrier said it would be 'too complex' for BA to pursue deals with both it and Qantas of Australia
Merckle at risk of losing empire
German billionaire who lost large sums by betting on falling share prices may have to hand over control of large parts of his industrial empire to his banks.
Dassault in pledge over Thales chief role
Aircraft group will not put forward own executive should Ranque leave in wake of stake sale


is highly interested in the needs and activities of others. The make-up of our society and culture puts our attention on ourselves and as a result, we can be blind to obvious opportunities and fail to create the ideas which produce value for other individuals and groups.

We all get good ideas. Most of us can remember a time when we saw a new product or heard about a unique idea that we ourselves may have already considered, but just put on the back burner while life went on. Nearly everyone has experienced this.

So how do you gain a marketering focus, and then, apply this in some systematic mode which yields marketing success for your valuable ideas and products? I know, a big question. Prior to the internet, one really had to get involved in major activities in order to be in the right zone to attain substantial benefits. Maybe move to New York City, Chicago or L.A. and hook up with the industries of advertising, PR and marketing. Maybe end up stuck in a cubicle too. But since the arrival of the internet, the ability to find niches and create exponential marketing campaigns to serve them is very real and potentially profitable, requiring as little as a home computer and internet connection to get into action.

Helpful internet sites exist featuring tools for surveying, monitoring and staticizing the needs, interests and desires of the marketplace through web traffic and search word analysis. This isn't top secret, Homeland Security information either-- and it also cuts a bunch of time from pre-internet methods of finding niches-- although centuries old rules still apply. Positioning and location fundamentals completely embrace such things as keyword relevance, search engine optimization and site/ad ranking. The niches communicate with their search terms. People vote with their key words. Anyone observing this, can create an empire without having to climb someone's corporate ladder.

So, take advantage of the opportunities the internet provides, start looking at the needs, interests and desires of others, find niches and use the tools to exchange something of value with those niches.

Discover a little about HTML and website building. Read more about it in ezines like this one. Surf around and go to the bookstore. It's never been easier to do this. If you’re interested and willing enough to find the right niches, you'll find success! Many people are.

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