There’s another term for it, but I prefer OPGI for three reasons:
1. Nobody’s ever heard of it and it arouses curiosity,

2. I think it’s more complimentary to the people involved,3. It’s less likely to turn people off than “swipe” file.

So what DOES OGPI stand for?It stands for Other People’s Good Ideas.

Let me ask you a blunt question. Just how creative are you? Do you believe that you can write exciting, order pulling ads off the top of your head? Sure you can, but are there other people doing it more effectively than you could? Really, just how good are you at that sort of stuff?(Aside here: If you are really great at it, have I got a deal for you! Now back to the rest of us.)

I’M WILLING TO TELL YOU THAT I’M NOT THAT GOOD AT IT!

Most of us are not that great at creating effective ads and ad copy. Simple fact. Even if we have the basic talent, there’s going to be a lot of trial and error before we get it right.

Whenever we want to learn a new technique or skill, we go to the experts. We read books, we watch professionals at work, we listen to the instructions of those who have been there…done that. We do this all in order to acquire the basics and refine our skills as they develop. This works in the world of business as well.

By the way, did you ever see a fast food company establish a new location? Shortly after, there were several other fast food facilities there as well, weren’t there? They saw what the first one did and learned from their research, didn’t they? It’s a lot easier to plan something if you can see who’s being successful and how they are doing it.

That’s what you need to do. That’s why you are going to learn from your competition (and others) and not just read books on marketing. A book can give you some great generic tips and ideas on product, location, presentation, etc. but what is going to show you what actually works? Simple question, simple answer. What’s working for others is what will probably work for you.

To use Other People’s Good Ideas, you first want to establish a “swipe file”. This will be a collection of advertisements, letters, and other marketing material that appears to be successful, eye catching, or of other value to you in preparing your own ads and copy material. Now, you are not going to use someone else’s material word for word, but if a technique, headline, or turn of phrase is working for someone else, surely there is some way to adapt it to your needs.

If something stands out or catches your attention, you want to keep a copy of it and see if you can use a variation of it in your own marketing. Something a little less obvious is the ad that doesn’t seem to that great, but keeps running week after week, or month after month. It will usually only keep running like that if it is helping someone make money! You may have to study the ad carefully, maybe even order the materials offered, or acquire a sample of the product in order to determine the effectiveness of the ad.

Maybe it’s the guarantee, the service after the sale, the quality of the product. Maybe it’s the backend.

In marketing, companies often lead with a freebie or inexpensive item in order to elicit inquiries. Once the marketer establishes a relationship with the customer, he or she begins to present other products to the customer. This will be the backend, or the actual product the marketer wants to sell.

For example; I could offer a free network marketing report, such as this one, which cost me nothing to acquire, since I wrote it myself. When someone requests the report, I can include an offer for a collection of my network marketing reports for a small fee…barely enough to cover my mailing and advertising costs…maybe even at less than my cost. If the customer is willing to part with cash to order these reports and trusts me enough to believe that I will fulfill my end of the bargain, it is time for me to present my backend (no, not that backend)…the product or service on which I really hope to make money.

That’s an overview of the backend, and that is where the money is made in direct marketing. Ads requesting up-front payment for products or services don’t do very well overall, but once trust is established you can start asking for money. If you don’t believe me, just order my report on the two-step marketing process. It’s only a dollar!I’m just kidding. It’s free, and there will be a link to it at the bottom of this report.

There are two other areas in which OPGI’s can help us.

First, the products other people offer may be important to us. Sometimes people new to marketing see a large group of people marketing the same or similar products and conclude that the market is saturated. Let’s take a fresh look at this. All this activity may very well indicate a hot market or product. If a lot of other people are selling something, it may very well be because they are successful doing it!Secondly, see where ads are being placed. In terms of types of products and services, there isn’t much new under the sun. There may be a new weight loss product, but weight loss products have been around for a long time. If people selling a certain product or opportunity are not advertising in an established publication or at an established site, it is probably because it has already been tried and didn’t work. Don’t reinvent the wheel. If exercise equipment is not being advertised in a quilting magazine, there may be a reason! If fourteen ads offering power saws are found month after month in a woodworking magazine, there may be a reason.

Of course, if you have the insight to establish a link that has not been seen before, that is great. For example, I marketed weight loss meals that required no refrigeration and could be prepared several different ways. I marketed to truckers who not only tend to have a problem finding healthy meals on the road, but who are constantly searching for less expensive ways to eat while over the road. (I know because I was one once.) I made the point to them that using my meals, they can eat for a day for about the same amount that one truck stop meal would cost…plus they eat a healthier, balanced diet and are less likely to gain weight while over the road.

Anyway, if you are selling drill bits, ask yourself, “Where are drill bits being sold?” Is it in cooking magazines or in woodworking magazines? Look thru a magazine for computer games. How many ads for weight loss products do you see? Now look thru a health magazine. Did you find some weight loss products? If you did, ask yourself why that company chose to buy that expensive ad in that magazine. The same steps apply to the internet. Just look at web sites instead of magazines.

The Atkins’ diet has been a craze for a couple of decades. Here’s how you can gain from it.

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All of you who are reading this article right now have definitely been on a diet at some point or the other of your lives. The battle of the bulge is an ongoing problem and we are always on the lookout for various means to win this war.

Along with exercise, our diet and nutrition also plays an important role in reducing our weight. Hence, this obsession persists in all of us to undertake some form of dieting. But going on a diet is definitely not an easy thing. What to eat and what to stay away from is always a perennial problem.

One of my friends told me that she ate the normal menu which she cooked for the family, but her weight loss recipe is “portion control.” This is a really simple diet plan. In this plan, you cut down on the portion of food you consume. For example, if you usually have two pieces of toast for breakfast, you should eat only one piece. If you normally eat two cups of rice for lunch, cut it down to one cup. In this way, you are automatically reducing your calorie intake by half.

Another popular method of dieting is to stop all intake of fatty foods and sugar. In this diet, you cut down on your oil, butter and ghee intake which automatically reduces your fat deposits.

While I was leafing through a magazine, I read about one of our Hollywood celebrities following the Atkins’ diet. This immediately aroused my curiosity about the diet. Though I have heard about the diet many times, I had no inside knowledge about it. So, I immediately set to work on it and found out certain basic facts’ about the Atkins diet which I want to share with my readers.

The Atkins’ diet made its first appearance in 1972 and was invented by its namesake, Dr Atkins. According to him, this method enables us to lose weight by inducing a change in metabolism. Our body burns both fat and carbohydrates to provide energy. If we reduce the intake of carbohydrates significantly, our body starts burning only fat to provide energy. This method is called “lipolysis”, which in turn induces ketosis. In ketosis, our body burns fat as fuel. Atkins also felt that ketosis will affect insulin production which will result in less fat being formed. And, once your body enters ketosis, your cravings for carbohydrates will reduce significantly which, in turn, will reduce your body weight.

The major difference between Atkins’ diet and other types of diet is that, while most diets restrict calorie, intake, the Atkins’ plan encourages us to eat more. While most of the diets recommend low fat, high carbohydrate intake, Atkins’ does just the opposite. Instead of carbohydrate and sugar, this diet wants us to consume plenty of fat and protein.

The core principle of the Atkins’ diet is that, by limiting carbohydrates, our body is forced to burn its stored fat, rather than carbs for fuel.

The Atkins’ diet has a four carbohydrates stage plan induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. With the help of these four stages, you can reduce as well as maintain your weight throughout your life.

Induction – phase 1: This phase lasts for two weeks, by the end of which you can obtain significant results. Another point is that, in this diet plan you can begin at any of the phase. But it is recommended to start with induction. As you cut back on your carbohydrates significantly in this phase, you will jump start your weight loss programme. In this phase, only 20 gm of carbohydrates are allowed and hence your weight loss is significant. As you drastically cut down on carbohydrates your body shifts into high gear and starts burning fat. This takes about 48 hours to occur and you may feel hungry and irritated for the first three-four days. But don’t worry, as soon as your fat starts getting converted to fuel, you will feel fit as a fiddle. Induction will strengthen your immune system and also improve our long-term health.

Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase 2: In this phase, the weight loss pace slows down as you add nutrient-rich carbohydrates to your diet. During this period, you will boost your body’s ability to burn fats as well as understand your body better. You will find the right amount of carbohydrates which you can consume and still lose weight. Your body will also prepare itself for permanent weight management. The amount of carbohydrates which you can eat is increased to 25 gm per day for the first week and increased in five gm instalment for the next few weeks. If your weight loss is significant, you can increase your carbohydrate intake. A person has to be on OWL till he or she is within three-five kg of their goal weight.

Pre-maintenance – (phase 3): Pre-maintenance is a practice run for lifetime maintenance. In this phase, you are fast approaching your target. As long as you continue to lose weight, you can increase your weekly allotment of carbohydrates by another 10 gm. You will be in this phase till you reach your goal and stay on it for one month. The ultimate goal here is to achieve a state of balance called Atkins’ Carbohydrate Equilibrium (ACE). The ACE is your individual level of carbohydrate intake wherein you neither gain nor lose weight.

Lifetime maintenance phase 4: In this phase, you have to focus on your individual ACE and strive to stay within two kg of your ideal weight for the rest of your life. By following a sensible eating plan, you gain energy, better health and confidence in yourself.

By following these four phases, you not only achieve your dream weight but are also able to maintain it throughout your life. You can learn more about this diet by reading the book, Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution. But, as with any other diet, this plan also has its pros and cons. The good point is that this diet recommends exercise as a vital part of the weight loss programme. Another point to be noted is that you cannot start on carbohydrates after you lose weight as this will result in your gaining back all that you have lost.

Medical experts advise that people who have gout, kidney problems, diabetes or are pregnant women should not follow this diet plan. As this diet is very stringent, do consult your doctor/dietician for proper advice.

Your dietician will provide you with a proper menu chart as to what should be eaten, in what quantities, etc, based on your eating habits and general lifestyle.

Happy dieting and hoping to see slimmer and fitter readers.

Low carb diets do not prohibit the intake of carbs from one’s diet completely. One is allowed to take some carbs although in small quantities. However, you just can’t eat any carbohydrate foods you think of. There are carbs that are recommended for low carb dieters.

Which foods are allowed for low carb dieters?
The scale that determines the value of carbohydrates is known as the glycemic index. When you use this index, you will determine the foods to eat in a low carb diet and the foods to avoid. The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates according to their glycemic load by giving each food points. The higher the glycemic load of a food item, the less it affects our blood sugar levels thereby helping to maintain a balance that helps prevent unwanted weight gain.

When determining which low carb foods for weight loss to include in one’s diet, one should choose carbohydrates that have a low or medium glycemic index. The thing you must not do is eat foods with high glycemic index. Examples of food with a low glycemic index are non-starchy carbohydrates, whole grain cereals, and legumes. Low glycemic foods are those with a score of 55 or less on the index. Medium glycemic foods are those with a score of between 56 and 69 on the index.

Examples of carbohydrates to eat on the low carb diet

Hence, if you are on a diet of low carb foods for weight loss, you must be disciplined concerning the carbs you eat. Even if you follow beauty tips make sure that your diet is working for an excellent look. Choose foods such as whole wheat bread, oatmeal, bran, sweet potatoes, beans and most fruits. Foods that are ideal for low carb diets are packed with fiber and healthy fats.

Foods that you must not include in a low carb diet are processed foods. Hence, don’t eat processed cereal and claim to still be on the low carb diet. The additives, chemicals and sugars contained in processed carbs affect the blood sugar negatively thereby promoting weight gain instead of weight loss.

Keep in mind that even if most fruits are allowed on the low carb diet you must eat them in moderation. Processed fruits and overripe fruits are out of the question. This also applies to the packaged fruit drinks that are in the market. These foods are high in additives chemicals, and sugars that will cause you to gain weight.

Portion your food

The portion size of the carbohydrates you eat will also affect the success of your low carb diet. Hence, even if you eat the right low carb foods, you must eat them in moderation. Your food should be composed of mostly proteins and healthy fats with very little carbohydrates. This way, your blood sugar levels will remain balanced so that you achieve the weight loss you require.

The low carb diet provides you with nutrition and weight loss hence it can be of great benefit in your life. Beauty tips will help your improve your outward look but good diet will improve your look from the inside out. It is an excellent diet to adapt because you don’t have to deprive your body of any of the food groups. For this reason, taking low carb foods for weight loss will help you achieve good health while maintaining your ideal weight.