How to Create an Online Pawn Shop

Purchase a domain name for your online pawn shop. A domain name identifies your website and is the address people type into their web browser to reach your website. Choose a name that is easy to remember and spell. Online domain registrars typically charge from $2 to $14 per year or more as of 2010.
Purchase web hosting for your website. Because your online pawn shop should have a lot of images, you may have to pay more for your web hosting services. Web hosts are responsible for maintaining the servers that handle your content and the traffic to your website. Web hosts typically charge from $3 to over $100 per month as of 2010. TheSiteWizard website offers hints on how to select the appropriate web hosting service.
Determine the structure of your online pawn shop. One option is a system in which customers mail a product to you so you can sell the product online. You also may set up an escrow account from which funds are released to the customer only after the product is received. Avoid a system in which you may have to mail products back to your customers; that is costly.
Determine the appearance of your website. Sketch a design for your proposed website. Use word-processing software to write the welcome message, frequently asked questions and other content for your website. Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
Create your pawn shop website. Your website will be an e-commerce site where people can view items and add them to a virtual shopping cart to make purchase. Free or paid website templates are availabe online. You also may hire a website designer. A directory of designers is a available at the GetAFreelancer or Elance websites.
Produce images of items already in your possession you would like to pawn. Use a digital camera and use the same background for all images, if possible.
Attract customers. Besides using the typical social networking methods, advertise in forums your target market is likely to visit. Consider using advertising conduits such as Google AdWords.
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How to Host a Foreign Exchange Student

Know what you are getting into. Realize that hosting an exchange student is like adopting him or her for the time they are in this country. These students have financial resources and are almost always covered with medical insurance policies, but their housing, supervision and emotional support come directly from the host family. It is also true that because of cultural differences, exchange students sometimes have difficulty integrating into the hectic and competitive society that exists in American high schools and junior high schools.
Go through a rigorous placement process. Prior to 2006, background checks were optional and at the discretion of the entity responsible for the exchange student's placement. Following a series of articles from all over the world that documented apparent abuse of students during their stay in the United States, legislation was initiated to establish oversight of the placement process. At that time, many if not most exchange student agencies voluntarily began requiring criminal background checks on the adult members of prospective host families.
Decide which organization you want to use for placement. There are a large number of entities that handle placement of exchange students. Some of these organizations work with designated countries, some with designated religious affiliations, some with specific educational organizations and others without a defined population of any kind. The Council for Standards on International Educational Travel (CSIET) is such an organization. CSIET has a list of vetted programs throughout America.
Check the websites of three of the oldest exchange student organizations: the American Field Service, The Rotary Youth Exchange and The Youth for Understanding Foundation. These organizations have long standing reputations. They place a large number of students.
Check smaller organizations, and organizations that serve specific populations of students. AYUSA, The Center for Cultural Exchange and The World Heritage Student Exchange Programs are examples of such programs.
Apply with one of the organizations after considering the responsibilities inherent in the program and the type student you would like to host.
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