Newspapers - You can obtain a wealth of article ideas by reading your daily newspaper. Keep a notepad with you while you read and jot down topic ideas. Many newspapers offer on-line versions that can be found by visiting http://www.allyoucanread.com/newspapers/, http://broadcast-live.com/newspapers/ and http://www.localfreepress.com/.

Calendars - There are hundreds of holidays and special occasions every year. Search through http://www.holidays.net/dailys.htm, http://www.earthcalendar.net/_php/countrysearch.php and http://www.madmanmike.com/us_events_dates.html. Using holidays tied to your niche will impress your readers and show that you are current and up-to-date with your article topics.

Surveys - Conduct surveys with your web site visitors or newsletter readers. Ask them what topics they would like you to cover and always have a field asking for questions. Surveys can provide you with a wealth of topics that are sure to please your audience. Use free survey generators such as http://www.ezquestionnaire.com/ or http://www.surveymonkey.com/.

Hoaxes - There are enough hoaxes and old wives tales in just about any topic that can give you plenty of article ideas. Explain or dispute hoax or tale and relate story to your topic area. You can find hoaxes and old wives tales at http://www.snopes.com, and http://www.stiller.com/hoaxes.htm.

Conferences - Meeting planners are charged with task of bringing in speakers and arranging roundtables on hottest topics for their target audience. You can take advantage of their hard work by checking out conferences in your field and making note of workshop and keynote topics. You can find conference listings organized by topic at http://www.tsnn.com, http://www.allconferences.com and by searching http://www.Google.com.

Get started today building your swipe file and add to it on a daily basis. This will help you become more organized and will ensure that you never run out of article ideas!

(c) 2004, Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights in all media reserved.

Bonnie Jo Davis is webmaster of Articles That Sell Center. The ATSC site offers free articles, newsletter and e-books. Visit http://www.ArticlesThatSell.com/newsletter.htm to sign-up for your free subscription to Articles That Sell Update monthly newsletter.

Next, determining what type of product you have is single most important part of defining your channel strategy. Product type, pre & post service requirements, and revenue generated per customer transaction are key. Understanding these points are important and will focus manufacturers sales & marketing resources.

For example, if transaction per customer is low (under $500), then channel will expect manufacturer to create demand in market through effective advertising to targeted end-user accounts. The ideal channel will fill orders to a broad customer base in order to cover individual sales costs. If product carries a higher value, channel will be more motivated to pioneer product because they will be able to sell additional value (local stock, service, integration, etc.) that not only covers their sales costs, but provides cross-selling opportunity yielding higher, overall profit per customer transaction. This dictates that sales & marketing resources are applied strongly to partner channels.

Understanding your value proposition per customer transaction is key to defining major components of your channel strategy.

E-traffic - new channel dynamic

If you are not utilizing power of web as an integral part of your marketing program and sales channel strategy, you are simply asleep! And your competition loves you for it.

The web has had a dramatic affect on channel partners. Most buying individuals have access to online information. Product pricing and specifications can be quickly downloaded for easy comparison-shopping. This real-time dynamic of web has forced channel partners to be true and tight.

However, web has also yielded many channel enhancements to forward-acting manufacture.

Many companies use their web site as a clearing and linking depot for their channel partners. Listing channel partners' web site gives customers quick access and information on local channel presence. Channel partner enhancements include creation of an Intranet. This channel-access only Intranet is virtually cost-free and provides timely (24/7) order entry, literature and information downloads as well as on-line service support. Surely you can think of other services that Intranet can provide. Done right, this can be a customer plus and a competitive advantage.

Blending all channels to market - dealing with channel conflict

Global Marketing's contention is that companies must utilize all channels to market. Typically small and mid-size companies favor one channel. Usually it is channel that assisted their early growth. Early on, there may not have been much choice, but to grow to next level, mutli-channel marketing must be deployed. And this brings up biggest barrier to an effective channel strategy - cross channel conflict.

Cross channel conflict is when two or more channels compete for same sale with same brand. Realize that any company will face channel conflict. As markets and products mature, you must add new channels to cover all major market segments. Conflict cannot be eliminated. The goal of marketing must be to optimize market coverage and manage conflict so that it does not become destructive. Balancing this conflict is demanding, yet essential to sustained growth.

Too much conflict is destructive causing price issues and loss of market share and excessive sales management time. Too little conflict yields less market share with major coverage gaps. Optimum market coverage drives high market share, low coverage gaps and manageable conflict.

Recognize that driving influences of channel conflict are both economic and structural in nature. Economics motivate channel and structural controls help to define and guide how conflict is managed. Pricing strategy, market penetration, channel support issues, and even company politics are challenges that generate channel conflict. Understanding, reviewing and managing these problems enhance your firm's ability to maximize market coverage and manage channel conflict.

One final point. Figuring out your channel strategy is only part of issue. Communicating your strategy and any required updates to all active channels on a regular basis is an imperative. Each channel must understand how they will part-take in generating businesses and make money.

Frank Williams is a marketer. With many post graduate courses in management, leadership, marketing and technology to his credit, Williams is a widely respected speaker, author and technologist. He has significant knowledge in marketing strategies and is the founder and CEO of Global Marketing, Inc. - a leader in business, marketing and sales consulting