Month: July 2018
Self-Represented Litigant is a choice
Self-Represented Litigant: A person (party) who advocates on his or her own behalf before a court, rather than being represented by an attorney. These litigants are also known as pro se or pro per litigants.
Cases with Self-Represented Litigants: Legal cases in which one or more parties is self-represented.
People may be self-represented for many reasons, and for the most part do not choose to be self- represented. SRLs are often particularly vulnerable in terms of a relative lack of education, income and assets. They may be grouped into seven overlapping categories:
- People with a lack of social resources (low income, low education, low literacy, etc.).
- Low income SRLs with some social resources (people who cannot afford a lawyer but who have sufficient social resources and education to seek available services).
- SRLs living with social barriers that interfere with accessing justice (i.e. people living with challenges resulting from physical or mental differences, language and cultural barriers, people living in remote locations, etc.).
- SRLs who are unable to find a lawyer (usually people who live in small towns or remote areas).
- SRLs who were previously represented but who are no longer represented (usually in lengthy cases with no permanent resolution).
- SRLs in cases where representation is said not to be necessary (i.e. small claims, traffic court, etc.).
- SRLs who could access representation but prefer to self-represent (usually well-educated people who distrust the legal profession). SRLs in this category have been found to be a significant minority of the overall SRL population.
SRL is a choice that we all can make and we can Win!!!
Virtual Summits: Show Off Your Expertise (Even If You’re a Relative Newbie)
There’s a reason why so many top coaches and service providers are hosting virtual summits: they’re the perfect way to showcase your expertise…even if you think you don’t have any.
Seriously, everyone is an expert in something, but if you’re breaking into a new niche, or simply trying to “up level” your brand, then a virtual summit can be the perfect launch pad. Here’s why it works so well.
Invite your dream guests
It’s true what they say about surrounding yourself with greatness. When you associate with coaches and business owners who are just a bit ahead of you in the entrepreneurial game, they will bring you up by association.
Pull off a successful event, and you’ll find your inbox flooded with offers for interviews, speaking engagements, and JV partnerships, and all because you had the courage and forethought to put together a stellar event. So don’t be afraid to approach those “big” names.
Repackage and repurpose
Don’t let your big event fade into the background as soon as it’s over. Instead, turn the recordings into evergreen products that will continue to showcase you as the go-to person in your niche.
Consider bundling the recordings with transcripts and selling them as one-off products. You could also turn the transcripts into Kindle books, or use the audios in a stand-alone training program. If you have a coaching client who struggles with a particular task, share the relevant recording with her, then offer to answer questions after she’s watched it.
The point is, use and re-use this content everywhere you can, and it will continue to help you grow your business for years.
Blow your own horn
Blog guest posting, podcast interviews, and the speaker’s circuit…these are all fantastic ways to leverage a successful summit to show off your expertise. Because you’ve pulled off your virtual event (with a minimum of hitches) and had the backing of some heavy hitters in your niche, you’re in a great position to turn that “fame” into more opportunities.
Make the most out of your hard work by including the information on your:
· About page
· Speaker page
· Press page
· LinkedIn bio
And don’t forget to stay in touch with your speakers, so you can make the most of those connections, too.
To start – fill in the The Complete Assessment for a free assessment
Three Powerful Tools That Make Hosting a Virtual Summit Easy
Ask any online event organizer or host what her biggest struggle is, and she’ll nearly always say it’s technology.
From not knowing what apps to use to not understanding how they work to fighting to connect them with each other, tech is the one thing that holds most people back from hosting an online event.
Even just a few years ago, this was a legitimate concern. Today, though, you have lots of options for every piece of the puzzle, including video recording, landing page creation, and content delivery.
Google Hangouts Make Recording Easy
You no longer need to invest in expensive systems such as GoToWebinar or Adobe Connect. Now all you need is a Google account and a web cam. With Google Hangouts, you can:
· Share screens and slideshows
· Record your interview
· Invite guests with just an email address (nothing for them to download and install)
· Automatically post to your YouTube channel
The biggest benefit, though, is that it’s free. And you just can’t beat that!
Landing Pages Come Together Quickly With LeadPages
Landing pages—even if you use a CMS system such as WordPress—are a pain to get right. Getting your opt-in box aligned properly and connected to your autoresponder is frustrating. Split testing is nearly impossible. And formatting? Unless you’re a CSS whiz (or you hire one) you’ll likely have trouble.
LeadPages has taken all the work out of landing page creation by providing an ever-growing library of proven, editable templates ideal for any type of event.
Protect Content With Wishlist Member
If you’ll be delivering replays, you don’t want them available to the public. You can protect content with a simple password set up on your site, but for a more professional look and feel, consider upgrading to a membership site. Wishlist is easy to use and configure, and will automatically create protected pages for your summit recordings.
If you’ve procrastinated hosting your own event because you didn’t think you could manage the tech, you can no longer use that excuse. These three tools together make it super easy to create, promote and host a virtual event. So what are you waiting for?
To start – fill in the The Complete Assessment for a free assessment
Seven Step Strategy for conducting preliminary searches of U.S. patents and published applications
This is a suggested Seven Step Strategy for conducting preliminary searches of U.S. patents and published applications using free online resources of the USPTO and its bi-lateral partner EPO (European Patent Office). Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) (www.uspto.gov/ptrc) are available nationwide to provide training on this Seven Step Strategy.
PTRCs provide online access to the PatFT (Patents Full-Text and Image) and AppFT (Applications Full-Text and Image) databases on the USPTO website and the Espacenet Worldwide Database on the EPO website. In addition, most PTRCs provide access to additional USPTO patent databases available through PubWEST (Public version of the Web-based Examiners Search Tool) and PubEAST (Public version of the Examiners Assisted Search Tool). Always call your nearest PTRC to make an appointment before visiting to make the best use of your time.
The use of patent classification in searching U.S. patents and published applications usually results in a more comprehensive search than one done by word and phrases (keyword searching). Because keyword searching must anticipate the often technical language of patents, it serves best as a supplement to a classification search. Accordingly, patent classification searching is the focus of the Seven Step Strategy.
The USPTO has transitioned from using the over 100 year old U.S. Patent Classification (USPC) system to Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC), a new classification system jointly developed with the European Patent Office (EPO). The USPTO currently only uses CPC for classifying new utility patent documents; however, it will continue to use U.S. Patent Classification for classifying design and plant patents. This version of the Seven Step Strategy reflects this transition to the primary use of Cooperative Patent Classification in utility patent publication searching.
The Seven Steps in a Preliminary Search of U.S. Patents and Published Patent Applications
- Brainstorm terms to describe your invention based on its purpose, composition and use.
- Use these terms to find initial relevant Cooperative Patent Classification using the USPTO website’s Site Search box(www.uspto.gov). In the Site search box found in the top right hand corner of the home page enter “CPC Scheme [plus keywords(s) describing invention]”; for example, if you were trying to find CPC Classifications for patents related to umbrellas, you would enter “CPC Scheme umbrella”. Scan the resulting classification’s Class Scheme (class schedules) to determine the most relevant classification to your invention. If you get zero results in your Site Search, consider substituting the word(s) you are using to describe your invention with synonyms, such as the alternative terms you came up with in Step 1. For example, if you find searching for “CPC Scheme car mirror” is getting unsatisfactory results, try searching instead with “CPC Scheme vehicle mirror.” (If you continue to be disappointed with the CPC Classification search results, look for your search word in the International Patent Classification Catchword Index https://web2.wipo.int/ipcpub/#¬ion=cw; CPC is based on International Patent Classification).
- Verify the relevancy of CPC classification you found by reviewing the CPC Classification Definitionlinked to it (if there is one).
- Retrieve U.S. patent documents with the CPC classification you selected in the PatFT (Patents Full-Text and Image) database (https://patft.uspto.gov). Review and narrow down the most relevant patent publications by initially focusing on the front page information of abstract and representative drawings.
- Using this selected set of most relevant patent publications, review each one in-depth for similarity to your own invention, paying close attention to the additional drawings pages, the specification and especially the claims. References cited by the applicant and/or patent examiner may lead you to additional relevant patents.
- Retrieve U.S. published patent applications with the CPC classification you selected in Step 3 in the AppFT (Applications Full-Text and Image) database (https://appft.uspto.gov). Use the same search approach used in Step 4 of first narrowing down your results to the most relevant patent applications by studying the abstract and representative drawings of each on its front page. Then examine the selected published patent applications closely, paying close attention to the additional drawings pages, the specifications and especially the claims.
- Broaden your search to find additional U.S. patent publications using keyword searching in PatFT or AppFT databases, classification searching of non-U.S. patents on the European Patent Office’s Worldwide Espacenet patent database (https://worldwide.espacenet.com and searching non-patent literature disclosures of inventions using the free electronic and print resources of your nearest Patent and Trademark Resource Center (https://www.uspto.gov/ptrc).
For more information email me badawy@badawy.ca
All About Product Funnels for Coaches
Do your clients move predictably from one product to the next, allowing you to accurately calculate your expected income from month to month? Or do you experience radical ups and downs, with some months high and others…well, pretty low?
If you’re not able to predict your income each and every month, chances are your funnel is out of whack—or maybe doesn’t even exist. Tighten your product and services funnel, and your business will grow on autopilot.
The Funnel Opening
Here is where all your potential clients first arrive on the scene. Perhaps she read your blog, received a forwarded email from a friend, attended a free webinar, or downloaded your opt-in incentive.
She’s not yet a paying customer, but she is getting to know you better. She’s learning whether or not your personality and style is a match for her, and whether or not she believes you can help her.
Your job for this potential client is to entice her to make a purchase.
Low-Cost Offers
Often called “tripwires,” these low-cost items are a way for your customers to take you for a test drive. No commitment, no risk, just an easy-to-consume eBook, self-study course, or other small purchase.
But don’t let her just buy and bolt! A well-planned funnel will include a related product as an upsell, too. She’s already in a buying mood, so make sure she sees what the next logical step is for her, and she might just pick that up as well!
Mid- and High-Range Offers
You see where this is going, right? A solid funnel moves smoothly from free to low-cost to high-end, with each step along the way being the very next thing your ideal client needs in her training arsenal.
For example, a great coaching funnel might include:
1. A free webinar
2. An eBook or small training program
3. A self-study course or membership
4. Group coaching
5. Private coaching
6. VIP coaching
Not all clients who enter your funnel at the top will make it all the way to your VIP coaching level, but you should build your funnel as if that’s what you expect to happen. As you increase the number of people who are active in your funnel, you can tweak your landing and sales pages to increase conversions and reduce the number of opt-outs you experience.
With analysis and attention, you’ll see a rise in the percentage of those who continue in your funnel all the way through to the end.
To start – fill in the The Complete Assessment for a free assessment
Slide Secrets: How to Create Attention Grabbing Slide Presentations
If the very thought of PowerPoint makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone. The world is filled with incredibly boring presentations, and you’ve no doubt sat through your share of them.
Now that you’re preparing your own presentations, how can you ensure your audience doesn’t feel the same way? By creating engaging, fun slides that grab and hold their attention.
Bullet Point Poison
While you may want to outline—and yes—use bullet points in your notes, the last thing that should appear on your slides are bullets. They’re the hallmark of an amateur presenter, and should only be used as a last resort.
More Slides, Not Fewer
It’s a common mistake many new (and even experienced) presenters make: too few slides. As a general rule of thumb, plan at least one slide per minute, on average. So a 45 minute presentation should have 45 slides, give or take a few.
Fewer Words, More Images
You’ll often see presentations—particularly in the corporate world—that contain nothing but words. Some presenters even read right from their slides. Talk about boring!
Instead, mix up your slides to include words, images, screenshots, graphs and other visually appealing elements. Use images that match your personality and style. For example, one of the highlights of watching any presentation by Nicole Dean is her liberal use of dog images. Not only do they help to solidify her message, but they keep the viewer entertained as well.
Don’t Forget Branding
Like all of your web properties, you want to be sure your slides are clearly branded. Your site colors, logo, tagline, URL and other elements help to remind viewers of who you are and what your business is. Consider creating a PowerPoint theme that you can use for all your presentations.
Clearly State Your Offer
The last few minutes of any presentation are typically reserved for your offer, so don’t skimp out here. Be sure your offer is clearly presented on your final slides, including the URL, any discount or bonuses, and the deadline for claiming them.
Finally, take the time to study the slides of the presenters you truly enjoy. Chances are if you are attentive to their presentation, others are as well. Follow their lead when it comes to number of slides, types of images, and how the offer is presented, and you’ll soon be wowing your audience, too.
To start – fill in the The Complete Assessment for a free assessment