One of the most controversial jobs in America can be considered by some to be welding. While the age-old industry continues to be a necessity in society and in many construction and manufacturing jobs, the increase of lawsuits alleging that welding fumes are toxic continue to grow. In March 2006, one such case occurred in the Illinois Supreme Court, which found these fumes to indeed be toxic and an increase of Parkinson's disease among those in the welding profession.
The Original Case
Though several welding rod cases have produced multi-million dollar settlements, the original case in question is a landmark because it is the only welding rod verdict ever decided in favor of the plaintiff. The case, entitled Elam v. A.O. Smith, contended that the plaintiff, a 64-year-old Illinois welder who worked in the profession for 30 years, suffered neurological damage from long-term exposure to the toxic fumes that are a byproduct of welding rods. The case was previously tried before a hung jury (Illinois law demands a unanimous jury); Jack Elam was awarded $1 million in compensation during the retrial. The jury found that A.O. Smith failed to provide adequate safety warnings about the dangers of manganese in welding rod fumes.
The verdict was a watershed in more ways than one - it unleashed a wave of welding rod litigation once attorneys knew that it was possible for a verdict to be awarded in the plaintiff's favor. Since this case, welding rod litigation has become so prevalent that in Ohio, a multi-district lawsuit is in the works; it numbers well over 3,000 plaintiffs.
Lost on Appeal
The defendants in the original case quickly appealed the case, contending that it did in fact adequately warn workers of the dangers of working with welding rod fumes. However, in December 2005, the 5th District Appellate Court of Illinois found that the company did not warn workers adequately, upholding the $1 million verdict. The court was taken before the Illinois Supreme Court on second appeal. However, it dealt a devastating blow to the welding industry - and gave an encouraging nod to former welders looking to get compensated for their own occupational welding rod-related illnesses - when it effectively upheld the verdict by declining to review the case.
Former Welders Cling to Hope; Continue to Litigate
Despite the fact that the $1 million verdict is the only one ever given to a welding rod litigant, former welders who are suffering from Parkinson's, manganism and other occupational illnesses related to their welding work are retaining hope. Experienced welding rod lawyers believe that the Elam v. A.O. Smith will set a precedent that allows other litigants to collect damages for their occupational exposure to manganese. If you are suffering health problems due to your work as a welder, contact a doctor and then an experienced welding rod litigation attorney who can analyze your case and tell you whether you may be qualified to monetary damages.
More than likely if you've heard of niche marketing, you are or have been involved with the Internet business for a long time. If you haven't, you should most definitely look into niche marketing. Online Million Dollar Formula review will help you and will explain why niche marketing is so popular and how helpful it can be.
To understand niche marketing, you have to know what it is. Simply, think about it this way. The Internet is a crowded place with millions, maybe billions of people surfing and searching the web all the time. The chance of your products selling to some of these people is very low. This is because not everyone is looking for what you offer, and there is competition. There are most definitely many other businesses trying to sell similar products to earn money.
This is where niche marketing comes in. Instead of targeting absolutely everyone surfing on the Internet, you target only the people that will be interested in what you have to offer. For example, if you were trying to sell a product for dog lovers, you wouldn't want to waste your time marketing to people who don't even own a dog. That would be a waste of time, as they wouldn't be interested in your product. Niche marketing is just that - marketing to the people who would be most interested in your product to get the biggest amount of sales.
Now, once you have defined your target market, it is now time to use a marketing method the right way to generate the most sales. This seems just like plain common sense, but there are many marketers that don't seem to even think about it.
Sticking to the boat lover niche, you will definitely want to find websites on the Internet that boat owners go to. Look for blogs, forums, and websites that are relevant to what your product is aimed towards. You can then post on these blogs and forums as well as write articles on your product and post it.
Now, when speaking to your target market, you must remember never to talk down to them, and never to speak higher than them. For example, if your target markets are teenagers, you don't want to sound like you are better than them. Speak at their level. This makes the niche market more comfortable with you.
A mistake that many people make is choosing a niche that is widely used. If you pick a niche that is marketed by hundreds of companies, your idea is probably not unique and you won't be able to catch too many eyes. The competition in this area would also be highly increased. Being unique is important so that you stand out in the marketing business.
The last thing to remember when targeting your market is to price your product/service correctly. Think about your target market again. What income level are they? If they are in a middle-income level, you don't want to overprice your product, and if they are in a high-income level, you don't want to under price. It is definitely worth taking some time to find out more about your target market before you start pricing.
Though it takes time and effort, niche marketing is well worth your time. You will most definitely get a few bites from a market that is so hungry for something new. The Internet is full of competition, so make sure that you do all of your research. Put some effort into this and the time you spend is sure to help you.
Both Alan Haburchak & Trisha Frauenhofer are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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