0 How to Make an Outstanding MySpace Page

It all starts with a MySpace editor. What is a MySpace editor? It is a program to help you edit your MySpace page. There are many MySpace editors online and while they all have more or less the same basic format, they differ in terms of ease-of-use and number of features. Before you start editing your page, you should take a look at a few MySpace editors to see which one feels most user-friendly to you. Our MySpaceMix.com editor has several features that you might not see on other MySpace editors – all of which are designed to make it as easy to use as possible, even for MySpace newbies.

But no matter which of the MySpace editors you decide to use, there are a few simple guidelines to follow to make your page look terrific.

First, let's go through the features that are common to all MySpace editors. They include:

Mode, Background Color, Background Image, Background Music, Font, Main Text, Link Text, Image Borders and Image Effects.

You choose what to enter into each section, generate a MySpace code, and then copy and paste to your MySpace page.

Sounds simple, right?

Then why, do my friends ask, does my page so often come out differently than I imagined it?

Well, there are a few reasons. One is that it is hard to imagine how your page will look when you are clicking on a bunch of little color squares. The other is that lots of people aren't aware of some basic web design rules that can help you avoid all those clashes on your page.

The first rule is color. Make a list of the different elements on your page, and decide what kind of color scheme you want. For example, do you want matching or contrasting colors? Do you want your page to look preppy, cute or bold? Do you like pastels or brights? Once you've made a decision, you can look at the color squares and decide which colors will fit best with the look you want for your page.

The next step is the font. There are too many choices of beautiful fonts out there that would look gorgeous on a party invitation or a billboard but horrible on a MySpace page. You want to choose a font that has character to it, but is very clear on-screen. A good example is Comic Sans Serif. It's easy to read, and since it imitates the handwriting used for comics, it has an informal, friendly character to it. While you wouldn't use it on a business or professional site, it's perfect for your web page. Another good choice is Verdana, which is also very screen-friendly. If you prefer fonts with serifs (those are the fine cross-lines at the edges of the letters), then Georgia is the way to go. It's pretty, and is much easier to read on-screen than Times New Roman.

Now you have to decide if you want a background image or music. If you want an image, keep this in mind: When there's a single picture stuck in the middle of a MySpace page that doesn't go away, it can be very annoying to read the text, especially if the picture is in full color. Try using a black and white or sepia image that stretches across the entire background and is faint enough that it doesn't interfere with the text. Background music is fine, just make sure that it doesn't extend the download time of your page by too long, or nobody will have the patience to wait around.

Finally, the borders. These can be very useful in setting apart the different sections of your page, and giving the whole thing a very neat, organized look. You should select colors that are darker or bolder than the other colors you chose, because that's what will give the borders the contrast you need to make them stand out.

Now that you have these pointers in mind, choose your layout and make your page stand out!

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0 Writing Effective ALT Text For Images

Anyone who knows anything about web accessibility knows that images need alternative, or ALT, text assigned to them. This is because screen readers can't understand images, but rather read aloud the alternative text assigned to them. In Internet Explorer we can see this ALT text, simply by mousing over the image and looking at the yellow tooltip that appears. Other browsers (correctly) don't do this. The HTML for inserting ALT text is:

But surely there can't be a skill to writing ALT text for images? You just pop a description in there and you're good to go, right? Well, kind of. Sure, it's not rocket science, but there are a few guidelines you need to follow...

Spacer images and missing ALT text

Spacer images should always be assigned null ALT text, or alt="" . This way most screen readers will completely ignore the image and won't even announce its presence. Spacer images are invisible images that pretty most websites use. The purpose of them is, as the name suggests, to create space on the page. Sometimes it's not possible to create the visual display you need, so you can stick an image in (specifying its height and width) and volià, you have the extra space you need.

Not everyone uses this null ALT text for spacer images. Some websites stick in alt="spacer image". Imagine how annoying this can be for a screen reader user, especially when you have ten of them in a row. A screen reader would say, "Image, spacer image" ten times in a row (screen readers usually say the word, "Image", before reading out its ALT text) - now that isn't helpful!

Other web developers simply leave out the ALT attribute for spacer images (and perhaps other images). In this case, most screen readers will read out the filename, which could be 'newsite/images/onepixelspacer.gif'. A screen reader would announce this image as "Image, newsite slash images slash one pixel spacer dot gif". Imagine what this would sound like if there were ten of these in a row!

Bullets and icons

Bullets and icons should be treated in much the same way as spacer images, so should be assigned null alternative text, or alt="". Think about a list of items with a fancy bullet proceeding each item. If the ALT text, 'Bullet' is assigned to each image then, "Image, bullet" will be read aloud by screen readers before each list item, making it take that bit longer to work through the list.

Icons, usually used to complement links, should also be assigned alt="". Many websites, which place the icon next to the link text, use the link text as the ALT text of the icon. Screen readers would first announce this ALT text, and then the link text, so would then say the link twice, which obviously isn't necessary.

(Ideally, bullets and icons should be called up as background images through the CSS document - this would remove them from the HTML document completely and therefore remove the need for any ALT description.

Decorative images

Decorative images too should be assigned null alternative text, or alt="". If an image is pure eye candy then there's no need for a screen reader user to even know it's there and being informed of its presence simply adds to the noise pollution.

Conversely, you could argue that the images on your site create a brand identity and by hiding them from screen reader users you're denying this group of users the same experience. Accessibility experts tend to favour the former argument, but there certainly is a valid case for the latter too.

Navigation & text embedded within images

Navigation menus that require fancy text have no choice but to embed the text within an image. In this situation, the ALT text shouldn't be used to expand on the image. Under no circumstances should the ALT text say, 'Read all about our fantastic services, designed to help you in everything you do'. If the menu item says, 'Services' then the ALT text should also say 'Services'. ALT text should always describe the content of the image and should repeat the text word-for-word. If you want to expand on the navigation, such as in this example, you can use the title attribute.

The same applies for any other text embedded within an image. The ALT text should simply repeat, word-for-word, the text contained within that image.

(Unless the font being used is especially unique it's often unnecessary to embed text within images - advanced navigation and background effects can now be achieved with CSS.)

Company logo

Websites tend to vary in how they apply ALT text to logos. Some say, 'Company name', others 'Company name logo', and other describe the function of the image (usually a link back to the homepage), 'Back to home'. Remember, ALT text should always describe the content of the image so the first example, alt="Company name", is probably the best. If the logo is a link back to the homepage then this can be effectively communicated through the title tag.

Conclusion

Writing effective ALT text isn't too difficult. If it's a decorative image then null alternative text, or alt="" should usually be used - never, ever omit the ALT attribute. If the image contains text then the ALT text should simply repeat this text, word-for-word. Remember, ALT text should describe the content of the image and nothing more.

Do also be sure also to keep ALT text as short and succinct as possible. Listening to a web page with a screen reader takes a lot longer than traditional methods, so don't make the surfing experience painful for screen reader users with bloated and unnecessary ALT text.

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0 Designing your website

'First impression lasts' is very much true for online business. Website content (texts, graphics and animations) must create a 3D picture of product/service in the mind of the consumers, and entice them to buy it. Content can make a business click or sick on internet.

A website is like your online shop, your virtual interactive portfolio. For web design tool, it is important to determine your target audience and then design for speed, quality, and impact.

Speed
Keep the graphics to the minimum. Remember graphics don't entice customers to pay up, the content does. The rule of graphics is use only where necessary.

Quality
A customer cannot see you or touch your product or service. He can only see what is presented to him visually on the website. Your product or service has to make an impact as to be able to make purchase it. Quality here matters a lot. Nothing but the best is the rule when it comes to quality.

Impact
The rule of website usability is that your website has just 20 seconds. You either make an impact on your customer or you don't in these 20 seconds. To make an impact on your customer you need to get the right mix of graphics, colors, content and layout.

Impact of Content
Content is king, it is said. It either converts a visitor into your customer or it doesn't. Content can make or break a website. The power of the written word has been witnessed many a time. Products have become success stories, resumes transformed into high profile jobs, a 10-cent brochure into millions of dollars just because of the right word. Content should always be professionally managed by people who understand how it will impact your customers.

Impact of Colors
Pink is so feminine, ouch! Cute and light.
Blue defines power and professionalism. It's also for space and networking.
Red is associated with love, passion, warning, excitement and action.
Green is for money, nature, animals, health, healing, life and harmony.
Grey is associated with neutrality. A sense of being reserved.

Website design tools
Serverplex.com features an excellent web design tool. No coding knowledge required. No HTML tags or any complicated code. A simple interface where you type in what you want. Add pictures. And you have your webpage ready. The icing on the pudding is yet to come. This tool is free!

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0 How To Avoid Spyware?

Spyware is a kind of software that monitors the different activities of a user, without his consent or knowledge. Spyware is a major threat and menace to your productivity as well as privacy. Many PC's are affected with spyware and it greatly hampers their performance.

Spyware can spy on your personal information, the software installed in your computer and the web pages that you visit. Sometimes spyware can even hack your username and password. Spyware is a big menace for computer users but can be controlled with the use of spyware removal techniques.

Spyware can be present in any form of harmless program or software. The spyware is capable of sending information to the creators of the software or program without your consent.

Imagine the amount of damage that can be caused to you due to this unauthorized leakage of your personal information. A resent consumer study has found that around 80% of PC's in the United States of America are infected with some kinds of spyware.

Another study has indicted that the IT managers rate spyware as the number one threat for networks.It is likely to happen that you yourself have infected your computer with spyware.

The free smileys and the cursor that you download from websites are most likely to contain spyware. Be very cautious about whatever you download from the online sites. Most free programs and downloads have spyware attached to them. It is highly unlikely that people read the contents of the different pop-ups appearing on their computer screens during downloads. Spyware distributors take into consideration this aspect and embed the spyware in such program.

Spyware puts your privacy at risk. Spyware has become a leading threat to personal computers and online privacy. Spyware interferes with normal functioning of your computer and send information about your online activities to spyware manufacturing companies.

Installation of spyware in our computer without your consent amounts to bad netiquette. It is netiquette to seek permission to use personal information of any kind for any purpose. Incorrect use of your personal information online can land you in trouble.

You can follow some common and simple steps to avoid spyware installation in your system. The basic rule for avoiding spyware is to practice safe surfing. Safe surfing ensures that you are not lured into doing anything, which you do not wish to do. Be very cautious while you are downloading any thing, as it is very difficult to tell what program contains sypware and what program does not. Many legitimate free download programs come with spyware embedded with them.

Install a good anti spyware software, such as XoftSpy, with advanced features in your computer. Do not forget to run your spyware protection every day. It is extremely important for you to read the license agreement terms and conditions very carefully, before you download anything. This can help you in preventing spyware installation in your computer. Spyware threat can greatly hamper your work and other activities.

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0 IT Networks: How to Argue for a Bigger Budget

IT network managers have to fight the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mindset to win resources. With computer networks, that mindset is dangerously complacent. IT networks will keep pumping data until they die or let in hackers. Here are some winning arguments against "if it ain't broke…"

IT Network Maintenance: Better Analogies

Don't let your IT network's budget get lumped with IT in general--or worse, operations in general. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" sometimes makes sense in IT or operations. Upgrading workstations or desks can cost productivity, making it self-defeating.

You have to stress that IT networks are different from workstations or desks.
• IT networks are harder to repair.
• IT networks cannot be done without until fixed. You depend on them for email, web, file transfers, and in some organizations, printing, fax and telephone. If your network breaks you may be forced to rely on hand-written letters.
• IT network improvements rarely lower productivity on the front line. Instead, a faster, more reliable network can improve front-line productivity.
Here are the analogies you should stress to counter "if it ain't broke":
• Plumbing: IT networks will appear to function until they burst. The damage will be more expensive than maintenance ever could have been. In the meantime, you are losing productivity to all the little "leaks."
• Dams: If a poorly maintained IT network bursts, the eventual flood will harm overall productivity.
• War: There is no such thing as "good enough" when you are in competition. With an IT network, you're in a quiet arms race with hackers. You are also competing with your business competitors in terms of productivity.
• Health: Your IT network has to be in top physical condition. You can't make up for bad habits with a week or two of "rejuvenation." Meanwhile, your day-to-day performance will suffer.
• Cars: Don't wait for your IT network to conk out. Get a regular tune-up of up-to-date equipment.


IT Network Maintenance: What Can Go Wrong
Now, let's drive the point home. Here are some concrete, easy-to-explain reasons to keep your network up-to-date:
• Power supplies. Without redundant backups, your network is vulnerable to a shutdown. The lost productivity will make extra equipment seem inexpensive in comparison.
• Integrity. Faulty or contradictory data can break older networks. Newer equipment has solved these problems. Again, the potential cost of lost productivity makes newer equipment a good value.
• Firewalls. Hackers can leak trade secrets stolen from unprotected networks. Firewall software upgrades are relatively inexpensive.
• VOIP. Organizations worldwide are switching to VOIP--not just outside-line telephones but also switchboard and teleconferencing. If your network is out-of-date, it may fail when you eventually try this new technology.
• Speed. Older platforms such as 10BASET will throttle your bandwidth. You can now upgrade to a Terabit or more. Just think of the seconds, minutes, hours, and days lost as staff wait for email to arrive and web pages to load.
Final tip: show how cost-effective IT network maintenance really is. Get a firm cost estimate from a vendor. Just make sure your cost estimate is as competitive as it can be. You can often get new equipment at half the cost of retail by buying refurbished equipment.
Close your case for a better network with this wisdom: no matter what you pay, keeping your network up-to-date is cheaper than the consequences of letting it fall into disrepair.

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0 How to Sell your Timeshare?

The first question is, should you really sell in the first place? We find many potential sellers who want to sell for the wrong reasons. They can't get the reservations they want, are unsuccessful trading their time through the exchange companies, can't get the property rented or similar such problems. This tells us they probably don't understand just how to get the most out of their timeshare. Timesharing is an interactive sport. The more you learn about how to use it and the more attention you pay to making reservations at the right time, banking your time, etc. the more you will get back. If this is the problem it might be better to spend some time with the resort staff to find out how to make it work than to give up and sell it. In numerous cases we have given tips to our customers on how to achieve results and had them come back later and express their happiness that they didn't sell. On the other hand, there are some legitimate reasons for selling. If this is the case then this information will help you.

Suppose you lived in a 100 unit condo property all of which were absolutely identical. Let's also say that the current market values were $150,000. If you said, "I will sell, but I want $250,000", what do you think would happen? Right!! You would sit and wait and wonder why your condo didn't move. Furthermore, it wouldn't move until you adjusted the price to the current market level. Resale timeshare buyers are not dumb. They know they can steal these units on the secondary market and there is no way they are going to pay more than that. If your price is too high you simply will not sell it.

Another complaint we hear when we quote current market values is "I can't take that kind of loss. I paid a lot more than that for it." One time a banker said that to me. He said, "The bank has a lot more than that in it and can't take that kind of loss." I told him that the bank had already taken that kind of loss, the only question was when he was going to recognize it. It sounds brutal to say, "I don't care what you paid for it", but that is what the buyers do say. Resales do not sell for the original developer price. Does that mean you paid too much to begin with? Probably not. There are not a lot of developers who have become rich in timesharing. Many have even left the field. Chances are what you paid originally just covered the developer's cost, and the marketing (50% of the price). Remember all those "free gifts"? Guess what? They weren't really free.

Why this low pricing? Until recently, there wasn't a good marketing system for resales. What would stocks be worth if there were no New York Stock Exchange? Same problem. In the long haul, we believe resale prices should rise as the current levels present incredible values to the buyer. How long will it take? Who knows? In the meantime, your resale had better be priced right or it simply won't move.

How do we price it right? The same as with condos, you need to determine the comparative market values (comps). For what price has similar timesharing property been selling (closing)? The best source for this information is your licensed resale broker. The next best source is title companies. As time goes by, this information will become easier to come by. Your property manager might have some ideas as to values. If you follow Timesharing Today over time, you could call some previous sellers whose ads no longer appear and find out if and for how much they sold. That brings us to Rule 1: Your resale timeshare must be priced right (at the going market price).

The general lack of liquidity in the resale business has given rise to a new cottage industry known as the "Timeshare Resale Scam". In this scenario, you as a potential seller get a call saying, "We can sell your week if you will just send us $350, $500, $2,000" (your choice). If it will make you feel any better, I got hooked on this years ago myself. I sent them $350 and they put an ad in the local shopping news (on the other side of the country) at a cost of $9. The results were just as you might suspect: nothing.

Some of the frauds such as the recent Oscar Bradley scam (see Timesharing Today issue #30, Nov/Dec, 1996) were very elaborate. In that one, they would say they had the $4,000 value timeshare sold "to an offshore buyer" for $16,000. To guarantee the sale closing within a year you could buy an insurance policy with the British Guarantee Company for $2,000 to $4,000 (whatever they could get). They invited you to check them out by calling "The Timeshare Advisory Council" at an 800 number they would give you. Of course, that was Bernie down at the other end of their boiler room. Sadly, they fleeced a number of timeshare owners before they were driven out of the country. Lately we understand they are continuing the same scam by phoning from England where they are supposedly beyond the reach of the FBI. Their former leader is now in prison.

One of the latest variations of this scam is the "need" for a resale appraisal. They claim that this is necessary because their "lenders" require it. These frauds tend to originate in Florida where there is now a law against front fees for resales. The appraisals are priced at $300 up (Ridiculous). Some of these "Resale Brokers" will give you a list of several appraisers who are acceptable. Some are even offered by respectable national franchisees. Question: Why would their "lenders" need an appraisal before the buyer has even asked for a loan (Most don't)? The bottom line is that you will be relieved of your money without the production of any acceptable results.

The old saying of "Why buy the cow if the milk is free?" certainly applies here. Why would you pay a listing or "appraisal" ("advance "or "front") fee when it is unnecessary? Would you pay a broker to list your condo? Of course not. Just shop around until you find a broker who will work on a straight commission. Once you have sent a front fee the incentive to produce drops dramatically (to zero). It is not uncommon for you to be told not to call again to check on your "listing". Not to say all advance fee deals are frauds, just most of them. If you say no to all, you will be right most of the time. And that brings to Rule 2: Don't pay any kind of fee to list your timeshare for sale. This is particularly true if the agent is in a different state from the property or says, "We are an advertising agency, not a broker". Listing a timeshare normally requires a Real Estate License in the state in which the property is located. If they don't have one, beware!

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0 Making a Website Work For You

Making the decision to start a home business and to make money online is a step in the right direction but the next important step is in learning how to promote your website so people will drop by your site, browse, like what they see and will return again and again. By working at home your ultimate goal is to attract an audience and have customers eager to purchase the products you have for sale.

Keep in mind that when people go on the Internet to search for information, they are looking for speedy results. Do not keep anyone waiting with a slow output. In other words, make sure your website has the ability to download as swiftly as possible. Patience is not a virtue known to exist for cyber seekers! It is highly recommended that you ensure that your website has a size of less than 30K. A website should have the ability to download in approximately a matter of 8 seconds (and no more than that) with the help of a 56K modem. You can make your website as elaborate or as basic in design as you wish just guarantee that it is fast so you won't have to worry about chasing any would-be customers away.

Now it is time to grab the attention of your audience once you get them to your web page. Web searchers are likely to scan your page looking for what interests them most. Their eyes will immediately pick up on headlines, subheadings and words highlighted in bold print. The number one rule when attempting to promote a website is to always keep your audience, and their specific needs in mind. This is of paramount importance. Visitors to your site want to know what you have to offer them in particular and if they don't find it, they will go elsewhere. Let people know immediately what the purpose of your website is and then inform them of how you can be of service to them. They came to your site for a reason after all- so let your message shine through loud and clear!

Two other important ways to promote your website include providing plenty of free advice/ information on your site, for example in the form of tips as well as some customer testimonials, and starting an e-mail campaign to convince potential customers to become buying customers. Have a place on your site where customers can fill in their e-mail address so you can keep them up to date on what is happening at your site. Offering a freebie of some sort would also work as a terrific incentive to encourage customers.


http://www.thatswise.com/free/lessons/money_making_web.html

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0 Accepting Credit Cards on your Website

If you are building an online shop, you will need to address the question of taking payments for orders. You can, of course, request that a check payment be sent to you in the mail. Most shopping basket software allows you to select this option when you are setting it up. If you already have an offline, bricks and mortar business, you may simply wish to accept credit card payments over the phone.

However, there are some basic problems with these solutions and it all comes down to the way people shop on the internet. Customers expect to be able to add items to their basket and proceed to the checkout to pay. If they then find they must telephone you or print out and send their order, they may simply abandon their order and hop over to another website. Shopping online is all about convenience and if you are unable to provide this, you may be losing customers without even being aware of it.

So, what are your options and what is it all going to cost? Well, the good news is you can do it all very simply and cheaply. Paypal does not have a set-up charge and is a large and trusted online payment processor servicing 78 million accounts worldwide in 56 countries. Your only cost is a small percentage on each sale; a transaction charge. Payments from your website go straight into your Paypal account from where you can transfer amounts to your bank account with the click of a button.

Once you sign up with a payment processor, you can either link to their secure server from your shopping basket facility or build 'add to basket' buttons via a simple web query form. The html generated is then pasted next to items on your web page and your customers will be transferred to a secure server when they go to checkout.

Traditional merchant accounts are normally set up through your own bank and will become integral to your business account. Having your own merchant account gives you the choice of many different online payment gateways. Most, however, do charge a set-up fee, monthly fee and transaction charge. Just as you would offline, do make sure you research any company you sign up with on the internet. Print out and read their terms and conditions. Take particular notice of where they are operating from, their fees, when and how you will receive your money into your account.

Another point to consider is the question of chargebacks. This happens when a buyer requests a refund of an amount already paid to you. Reasons include not receiving goods ordered or items arriving faulty, damaged or not as described. Sometimes requests are made if the buyers card was used fraudulently.

If the chargeback request is successful, your merchant payment processor will charge you a processing fee. However, some companies will now provide you with insurance against chargebacks inclusive in your monthly fee. It's certainly worth shopping around for the right solution for you but knowing you have done your research will give you some peace of mind.

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0 Proven secrets of writing and publishing your own ebook... in less than a week!

In their ebook "How To Write And Publish Your Own Ebook... In As Little As 7 Days", Jim Edwards and Joe Vitale teach you how to adapt a proven ebook writing formula to vastly improve the performance of your own ebook writing techniques. Instead of re-inventing the wheel, you are taught how to find a topic, write about it and produce your own ebook, sometimes in as little as 7 days, reducing the trial and error sometimes associated with writing your own ebook.

Of course, we know about ebooks don't we? You cannot log on without being offered one. There are various degrees of credibility associated with ebooks from the brilliant informative ebooks that you hope that you are buying to the downright useless regurgitated rubbish that you are sometimes duped into buying. Well, we do not want to go down that route do we? No of course we don't, we want to produce a well thought out, well written and informative ebook that not only you will be proud of producing, but also an ebook that gives people value for money. So, having got that goal established, how do you even begin to research a subject that everyone is looking for and put it into words in the form of an ebook?

The authors are arguably two of the best exponents of the written word on the internet. Their step by step instructions in the "How To Write And Publish Your Own Ebook....In As Little As 7 Days" takes you logically and systematically through the creation process right through to the finished product. Their track record for writing informative and educational ebooks and articles, that have helped thousands of internet entrepenuers, is second to none.

At over 200 pages long, "How To Write And Publish Your Own Ebook....In As Little As 7 Days" has alot to offer those who really do not know where to start when writing an ebook. Of course, even those who are adept at stringing a sentence together will probably find something useful in the book.

"How To Write And Publish Your Own Ebook...In As Little As 7 Days" is designed to teach you:

How to conceive an idea for an ebook that has a market with people willing to pay or it - either directly or indirectly.

How to write your ebook quickly and concisely in a way that conveys information so that people can use and implement it quickly.

Take positive action towards selling your ebook online by giving you a road map to start marketing your ebook on the internet.

The main instructional section is 80 pages in length and filled with informative and motivational text. So instead of: write a book, look for a market, hope and then give up what about: identify a niche market, identify needs, wants and problems, write a book that satisfies those requirements and then market your book to your niche and make some money.

If you think you cannot write, think you do not have anything to say or you do not want to write a full length ebook, that's okay, every eventuality is covered to get you to start writing. I mean let's face it, how much motivation do you need? I bet if you were offered $50.000 to write a short ebook you would soon get your pen and paper out!

Of course, there has to be constructive criticism and for me, I get bored with featured authors who contribute to add a few more pages to the ebook. However, you cannot dismiss the valuable advice of Yanik Silver, Kevin Donlin or Neil Shearing whose life experiences are included - with appropriate links to their websites of course! However irritating these featured articles are (and they will appear in other ebooks as well) they do provide a valuable in site into how they got to where they are now. Just remember to concentrate on one thing - writing and publishing an ebook -do not get hijacked by outgoing links to other sites.

"How To Write And Publish Your Own Ebook.....In As Little As 7 Days" is finished off with bonus reports for accepting credit cards, ebook cover design, web hosting and more. All designed to get your finished product published and making money.

If you are looking for well written, informative and value for money instructions on how to write your own ebook, whether you want to write 10 pages or 1000 pages, then I believe that this ebook does deliver on its promise to get you to write an ebook in as little as 7 days. The only thing it cannot do is write it for you.

Hopefully, the authors will collaborate again in the future to write an ebook that will again take the mysteries out writing and publishing on the internet.

Ian Simpson reviews software and informational products on the internet for their value and usefulness. Subscribe to his free newsletter at http://www.information4income.com

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0 Yes You Can! How to Write a Report or E-course

In my article about offering bonuses, I suggested writing your own report as one possible bonus. You could also write a report or ecourse as a stand-alone product. You may find the very thought of writing these intimidating, so I'll help you get started.

I'm assuming you are working with a website or product in a well-defined niche area, one in which you are at least somewhat knowledgeable. I'll also assume you have been writing web copy, articles and/or sales letters. You've already generated lots of information.

Whatever you are planning to write always starts with what you know, and the easiest way to get started with that blank page is to make a list. So make a list of what you already know about your topic. Do this quickly; it should be easy because you can just write down the titles of articles you've already written

I'll talk about writing a report, but the only difference between that and an e-course is that an e-course is a step-by-step process. If your information lends itself to that format, then use it instead of the report, which simply provides information; a course leads you through action steps.

I'll use my favorite golden retriever example. You've decided to write a report about finding the right puppy. You've already written articles about puppy mills, SPCA and other animal shelters, pet shops and breeders. What haven't you written about - maybe it's classified ads from unknown owners, golden retriever rescue leagues, and buying purebred vs. a mixed breed. You also haven't written about any diseases or other physical disorders common to the breed, which will come into consideration when deciding what puppy to get. There's your list, open to being edited, of course.

That's what you know. The next step is to research and fill in some details. You'll also be looking out for things you've forgotten about and important things you don't know, which should be included.

You've gotten about 5 pages in writing already done (your articles), you should write a 10-page report at least. You may want to add a few pictures, charts or diagrams, so it may end up being a 15-page report, including cover, table of contents, and resource page

It's good practice to add something to your articles that you've already written, so start your research there. You may find a picture of a puppy mill and an article by someone else that you can add a reference to, giving it's author full credit. You can add links to the SPCA and rescue leagues, and call up a friend who works in a reputable pet shop to ask him a few questions. Quotes from experts also make valuable additions, as do new research findings or news articles.

You then tackle each of the additional subjects one at a time. Inevitably, reading about each topic jogs things in your memory that you already know. Write that down quick. It helps when you're doing the final editing and writing to have as much as possible already in your own words.

Alright, you've got the subject matter of your report done, but it's all for naught if you haven't got some structural elements in place as well. Use plenty of white space, this gives the reader's eye a rest. Choose an attractive font that is also easy to read. Then focus on what I call the interest-catchers. You can have the most interesting report on the planet, but if your title and cover isn't provocative, creative, intriguing, or otherwise captivating, no one will download and read it.

Also, your chapter headings, which will be read in the table of contents, must be engaging. And finally, assuming that somewhere in the report you are promoting yourself, your webpage, your newsletter, your ebook, some action that you want your reader to take...promote with pizzazz. Ask yourself, why would someone feel they HAVE TO click on your link? Make it so.

With planning, research, and creativity, your report can establish you as a writer, expert, and trusted information source, so execute it carefully and spread it around. Whether you give it away on it's own, use it as a bonus, or sell it, you will be amazed at how it enhances your online presence and ultimately, profits.

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0 How To Clear A Stubborn Inkjet Printer Clog

Do you own an inkjet printer? Has the printhead ever clogged up on you, creating streaks or missing colors from your printing?

Clogs can be incredibly frustrating. Normally when you find out you have a clogged printhead, it's because you're right in the middle of printing something important. It's one of those problems that you never ask for. It just seems to throw itself in your lap without warning, and then taunts you in your efforts to fix it.

The printhead is the mechanism of your printer (or inkjet cartridge), where the ink actually comes out.

For the most part, printhead clogs can be normally be flushed out with a couple of "head cleaning" cycles. A head cleaning cycle is a built-in function of your printer. It's a specialized routine meant to address this type of problem.

This "cleaning cycle" works by sending a strong 'print signal' to your printer, while at the same time drawing a small vacuum from underneath. The combination of these two steps works in an attempt to suck out clogged ink from the printhead. From my experience, you'll probably need to run between 3 and 5 cycles to fully clear a clog.

The location of the head cleaning cycle proceedure varies for each printer brand, so refer to your printer owner's manual for specific instructions to find yours. Check the index first.

If you don't have your owner's manual anymore, you can check our your printer manufacturers website. Most likely, they will have your printer manual online.

There are times however, when a few standard head cleaning routines don't seem to solve the problem. A stubborn printhead clog like this can be persistant enough to make you want to rip out your hair.

For times like these, you'll need to pull out the big guns!

For stubborn inkjet printhead clogs, there are various cleaners out there specifically for this purpose. These cleaners are formulated to disolve dried or "gummy" ink which may have accumulated from infrequent printer use, or even just a general build-up over time.

I personally brought an old printer "back from the dead" using a product called 'Clog Buster'. It was a printer I had purchased off of eBay which apparently hadn't been used in awhile. I spent a few hours trying to revive the printer, and 'Clog Buster' was the only thing that worked when nothing else did.

The only downside with using a cleaning product like this however, is that you usually don't have it in your immediate possession when the clog hits. Unless you have some already on hand, you'll have to wait for it to be shipped to you. In the meantime, your printing project will have to remain on pause until it arrives.

(But maybe I can help...)

The good news is that you MAY be able to solve the problem using some basic household products. In fact, Windex glass cleaner can actually work well for dissolving dried ink. What's the secret ingredient?

Ammonia.

Tough printhead clogs can usually be brought into submission by soaking the printhead in a solution of 50/50% ammonia and distilled water.

A important word of warning... Ammonia is potent and powerful stuff. When working with ammonia, always make sure you've got adequate ventilation, and avoid mixing it with other chemicals. Very important.

So, if your printhead is located on the inkjet cartridge itself, you'll want to soak the printhead in the 50/50 solution for an hour or two.

If the printhead unit is located inside your inkjet printer itself, then you'll first need to remove the inkjet cartridges. After those are removed, put some of the solution into the top of the printhead (directly into the nozzle holes) and let it sit a few hours. Go ahead and put a little more into the printhead resting seat. (This is the rubber rectangle part that seals off the printhead unit while the carriage is in it's resting position.)

If this initial soaking doesn't work, then repeat another time using 100% ammonia for up to one hour. Afterward, make sure to rinse completely with distilled water.

If the clog doesn't immediately clear, go ahead and let the printer sit overnight and try it again the next day. Sometimes the clog will breakdown slowly and release later as the ammonia takes it's toll.

Finally, for those of you wondering about the effectiveness of using alcohol to unclog cartridges and printhead -- here's a quick note...

Alcohol won't work as well as ammonia, but may work better than a few cleaning cycles. The downside is that alcohol may actually dry out the plastics and metals in the printhead. This could actually increase the chances of clogging later on down the road. So try to avoid alcohol if possible.

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0 How to Create a Successful Internet Business.

I am in the process of creating an Internet Business. Of course, my goal is for it to be successful. As with any business in the development stage, the first thing I need to do is develop a business model. The reason I need to do this first is that it describes the way in which my company makes money. After developing the model, I will have a map of what I need to do to be profitable. Developing a business model is critical. Because I am in the process of developing my own model, I thought it might be beneficial to other internet entrepreneurs if we work through the process together.

One of the best generic business models I have ever run across is the B-I Triangle, developed by Robert Kiyosaki with Sharon Lechter, introduced in "Rich Dad's Guide to Investing" and explained very clearly in "Rich Dad's Before You Quit your Job". I highly recommend that every entrepreneur read "Before You Quit Your Job", even if you have already quit. The reason the B-I Triangle is such a good business model is that the authors present the model in a very elegant, yet simple graphic that is easy to understand and remember. The model has five jobs that are required for success. These five jobs of a business are held together in a framework of a successful business.

The five jobs are product, legal, systems, communications, and cash flow. The framework holding the five jobs together are Mission, Leadership, and Team. Each one of these aspects of your business needs to be fully developed to create a truly successful business.

The remainder of this article briefly defines the aspects of the B-I Triangle in general terms to set the stage for the future articles. First listed are the five jobs of this business model. They are:

Product –Whatever you are offering your customer.

Legal – Includes multiple aspects of your business, beginning with the right entity structure for your business. You also need to remember other aspects of your business require legal support as well including copyrighting, partnerships, licensing, etc., just to name a few.

Systems – Business structure required to support your company.

Communications – Required to reach your customers. Also necessary for partners, investors, employees, vendors, and other people involved, even superficially, with your business venture.

Cash flow – The meat of the matter. Without positive cash flow your business will collapse.

The framework that holds your entire business together consists of Mission, Leadership, and Team.

Mission – The true purpose of your company

Team – People who support the purpose of your company and the jobs necessary for success.

Leadership – Multiple jobs including defining the company's mission, creating the team, keeping the company strong, growing the company, etc.

This article is the first of in a series of nine articles designed to work through the eight aspects of business model as they relate to creating a successful internet business. I am writing these articles to help me develop my business model. Let's work together and by the end of the series of articles, we both will have developed a model for many successful years of business.

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0 10 things you should be monitoring on your website

10 things you should be monitoring on your website

By David Leonhardt

Every business needs to know how it is doing. That's the idea behind exit surveys, customer feedback forms, suggestion boxes and other devices. Without feedback from the customer, monitoring inventory, expenses, revenue and other benchmarks, a business can take a quick slide down a slippery slope, without the owner ever seeing it coming – or being able to stop the slide.

Webmasters also have things they should be monitoring on their websites. Most of these can be classified as traffic related or server performance related. Here is my top ten list.

Monitoring website traffic

Traffic totals. You want to know how much traffic you are generating. If the line on the graph is heading down, you know you have to find out why.

Referrers. It's not enough just to know how many visitors you are getting. You need to know where they are coming from. I discovered I was getting a lot of visitors from a Thanksgiving site. They were all being funneled into my Thanksgiving Happiness article. Suddenly I knew I should get more links from other Thanksgiving sites. Valuable information.

Searches. Much to my surprise, my happiness site started getting a ridiculous number of hits from the search for "hairdressers". It just so happens I wrote a humor column on a hairdresser experience. I was surprised to see it getting so much traffic for such a generic, competitive search term. If that had been a term of a little more relevance for me, this information would have lead me to properly optimize the page and get even more traffic.

Pages viewed per visit. If people visit only one page per visit, you have some work to convince them to visit more pages, like those that make you money.

Pages visited. So you threw up on your site something cool as an add-on. How were you to know that other webmasters would link to it and send a whole bunch of traffic your way? Well, now you know, so add some copy to the page to pull visitors into the rest of your site.
Monitoring website performance

Forms. Are they all functioning? A good website monitoring service can keep tabs on them for you. The last thing you want is to have lost hundreds or thousands of subscribers because a sign-up form stopped functioning

Shopping carts. Slow and complicated shopping carts are responsible for an estimated $25 billion in lost sales. Make sure yours is functioning properly. A good website monitoring service can watch this for you, too.

Download speed. Clear your cache and test your pages. Hmm. Maybe those images are a bit large. Time to compress them, or even remove some. Remember that some people are on a much slower connection than you are. I use a satellite connection sometimes, but when I don't, my connection speed is 28K.

Server speed. re there problems with server speed? Maybe not where you are, but on the other side of the world. Global website monitoring can alert you to a transatlantic connection problem, so you can take it up with your web hosting service.

Server accessibility. All the web hosts promise 99% accessibility. But is that for real? Who monitors them? By one estimate, 75% of inaccessibility is not on the hosting server, but rather on the Internet's backbone network and in global routing. A global website monitoring service can help identify the problem, so that you can work with your web hosting company to resolve it before too many sales are lost.

Fun. If you are not having fun, audition for that drummer position in the local band. There is no point spending your life doing something that bores you. Webmastering should be fun.

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1 Domain Name Register Tips And Information

When we say "domain name register" we are basically dealing of two things. On one hand, the term domain name register is another term that is often applied for domain registration, and on the other hand, the domain name register may refer to a certain company which provides a domain name registration, such as those domain name registrars.

So in this article, I will cover in general those two areas for identifying the rules for the domain name register. It is a fact that presenting both those ideas will greatly help in better understanding of the matter.

So, the domain name register is then a process through which a domain name consumer registers a domain name with a domain name registrar company. The process for the domain name register essentially comprises selecting a domain name that the domain name consumer desires. It is then noted that the purpose for the domain name register is to make sure that someone else has not already taken the domain name and through collecting information about the consumer.

The data collected is consist of the name, address, phone number, e-mail and occasionally a few other information like the fax number. Speaking of the data collection of the domain name register, it is interesting to learn that the above mentioned data is collected for the domain name consumer, the Administrative contact, the billing contact, and the technical contact.

Moreover, in the domain name register, each of those mentioned contacts has the capability to perform several moves relating to the domain name, however, the consumer is the ultimate holder. The administrative contact then has almost completely the same willpower as of the consumer. Why? Perhaps it is for the reason that the consumer is always a corporation and the Administrative contact is the person within the corporation who is also responsible for the domain name.

Also compiled in the domain name register is the Domain Name System or DNS which the domain name consumer would like to apply. Generally, the DNS for the domain name register is consists of a principal and secondary name server that lets the internet traffic know about where the internet host for the domain name can be found. Along with this, in the domain name register, the DNS data is given by all web hosts and then can be taken by simply asking those who process the domain name register for the DNS that the consumer greatly needs to connect the domain name to their domain name servers. So such is the matters involved in the domain name register.

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0 Choosing A Perfect Domain Name

Registering a domain is an easy task, but most of the people are not aware of the process of registration. If you have chosen a domain name, then check it on the 'whois' to know, if anyone else has not registered it, and if it is available to you, then register the domain as soon as possible. Make sure that your domain name is a memorable one. Mostly the best domain names had been taken already by the dot.com sites.

Avoid the trademarked names, it is unethical and also the companies, who have spent plenty of time and money on creating and building their brands, are now trying to get their names back. The pending legislation would soon make it very hard to register the trademarked name of someone else.

A memorable domain name is the best one, because it sticks in the mind. A perfect business name is a nice choice. If you choose a phrase or sequence of the words that describes your product, is also a good one, for example, officestationery.com.

The domain names that arouse a visual image can also be used as these are easy to remember, like GreenValleyResort.com. Short names are much better than the longer names, but if adding the length makes is more memorable, then you can choose the longer one. You should make sure that your domain name is easy to pronounce, and soon you will hear people talking about your domain name many times a day, in conversation, on the phone, or in other radio ads. It is better to avoid the name that only works in print, and also needs to be spelled out when spoken aloud to be understood.

You should be wary of selecting a domain name that contains the homophones, for example – TwoStars.com, TooStars.com and 2Stars.com, all sound exactly alike, but these are three different websites. Do not use the shady characters, spaces are never allowed, and also the name can't start or end with a dash. The length can up to 63 characters. You should make sure that you are dealing with a trustworthy and reliable domain registration service provider.

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0 Data Recovery First Aid: 3 Tips To Increase Your Chances Of Success

Let's get to the important part first - if you've just lost your data, skip past this introduction and go directly to our first tip, so you can start your rescue operation. If not, a few minutes spent now might help you a lot in the future. Pay special attention to our third tip.

I always thought of myself as a reliable guy with reliable data. I never deleted my files accidentally, I made regular backups and had a power supply for my computer to protect me against surges and outages. However last year I experienced two cases of data loss where I needed to use recovery software. The first was a dead hard drive that'd hardly served a year. Subsequently, I accidentally deleted a large project file that was too big for the Recycle Bin. Happily I've got all my data back, thanks to good advice and a little preparation.

These handy tips will help you stay confident in the face of data loss, no matter how it occurs.

Tip #1: Use your system as little as possible until you recover all of your lost files. The more activity taking place on your hard disk, the greater the chance that some of your lost data might be written over.

- Don't copy any files to the disk containing your lost data;
- Avoid browsing the web, because your web browser saves cache files on the disk;
- Don't launch any unnecessary programs, because they can also use your disk;
- Don't restart your computer.

Tip #2: Before you go further, take steps to free up some space on the disk containing your lost files. The more free space your system has, the less chance of overwriting any lost files with new ones. You can do one or more of the following things.

- Delete old files that you don't need anymore (you can also move them to another source, like a USB flash drive, instead of deleting)

- Empty your Recycle Bin - making sure that you haven't put any important files in there by mistake;
- Empty your browser cache. For Internet Explorer, click on the "Tools" menu, then select "Internet Options". Then, on the "General" tab, click the "Delete Files..." button.

Tip #3: To install any software after data damage increases the risk of your data being overwritten, so if you haven't had any data problems yet, consider installing a data recovery program just in case. Prevention is always better than cure, and a recovery program is good insurance for your data. However, if you don't yet have a recovery program, find one and - if possible - avoid installing it to the disk where your lost files are located.

Most recovery programs work fairly similarly. You need to select the disk where the lost files are located, let the program analyze the content of the disk - this can take a while - and then select the file you want to recover. Then, provide a location where you want to save that file. You should try to avoid recovering files to the same disk. You could use another hard drive, a network or removable media like a floppy disk or USB flash drive.

After you recover your files, check that they are correct. If you've recovered applications, check that they still run, or if you've recovered documents, check that your words are still there. Even the best recovery software can't guarantee 100% results. If some parts of your files were overwritten - meaning that other data was saved to their location on your disk - after recovery they might contain invalid information. Depending on the type of file involved, partially recovered files like this can be mended by special utilities.

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0 How To Recover Lost or Deleted Data Files: Data Recovery Software Information

Have you heard of data/file recovery? The definition of the term Data Recovery is "..Making previously lost or damaged data available again.." A data recovery software or method can help us recover destroyed data e.g. an accidentally deleted file. It happens all the time. You delete an important file on your PC and send it to your recycle bin by mistake. You realize what you've done only after you've cleaned the contents of the recycle bin.

What do you do now?

That file you deleted was so important. Fortunately there are lots of methods (Data Recovery Methods) and software (Data Recovery Software) available to help you get your lost files back.

Let's start by mentioning some possible reasons for the loss of data:

* You accidentally delete an important file. Then you immediately shred the contents of your recycle bin

* During today's system crash some files just disappeared and cannot be located or accessed

* You format your hard drive but then you remember those important .zip files previously stored in the newly formatted empty medium.

* A power outage prevented some files from being written to the hard disk.

* Data loss can also occur due to physical damage of the storage media. For example the surface of your CD-ROM may be scratched off or your hard disk may suffer from all kinds of possible mechanical failures.

..and the list goes on.

Is Data Recovery Important?
Data recovery is a very misunderstood concept. A lot of people may not even be aware of the existence and the importance of data recovery. Maybe they think of it on a personal level. The truth is, lost data causes financial disasters to companies all over the world. The cost associated with computer downtime and lost data is enormous (several million dollars) for businesses.

How to deal with data loss?
Losing files is easy but recovering them can be difficult. If the loss was due to physical damage then you need someone with experience, a hardware technician or something. It wouldn't be wise to try to overcome hardware failures alone unless you are a professional.

Now, if the loss of data was due to logical failure or human error then the solution is data recovery software. The data recovery software should be able to:

- Undelete files even after you've shred the contents of your recycle bin
- Recover files after you've been infected from a malicious threat (trojan, worm or other virus)
- Recover files from reformatted hard disks or after your system crashes or your hard disk fails
- Recover all types of files (all kinds of documents, images, music, videos, email messages, zipped files etc)
- Recover data from all types of storage mediums (hard disks, external drives, CD-ROM, usb drives, floppy disks etc)
- Recover files easily and successfully. Should be user-friendly allowing someone with no data recovery skills to use it
- Take/create backups of critical system files or files you choose

The best way to avoid data loss is to start taking backups of your important storage mediums. Either create backups of data on CD-ROMS or use an external drive or zip drive to back up your critical files. If you want to go further look for software that automates the process of backing up and storing your data. These programs are kind of "set and forget". You set it up to take backups every hour or every day or month etc. and let the software do the rest.

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0 Beginners Guide to Blogging

A blog is basically an online journal wherein you can digitally pen down your thoughts, ideas, opinions and practically anything that you want people to read. Blogs come in different styles, formats, and settings, depending on the preference of the user. Many blogging sites, offer built in features such as hyperlink, straight texts, pictures etc. Some blogging sites, even allow you to put video and mp3's on your blogs.

Instead of writing texts, some bloggers choose to make their blogs more audio friendly, by using spoken word entries. This is called audio blogging.

Basically a blog contains these features:

title- which allows you to label your post

body- this is the content of your post

trackback- other sites can be linked back to your blog

permanent link- every article that you write has a URL

comments- this allow readers to post comments on your blog.

One of the advantages of blogging, is that it is made of only a few templates. Unlike, other websites that is made up of numerous individual pages. This make it easier for blog users to create new pages, because it already has a fix setting that include: slots for title, body of the post, category, etc.

This is especially useful for first time users, since they can start blogging right away. They can chose from a number of templates that blogging websites provide.

Anyone who wants to start a blog can do so by becoming a member of a blogging website of their choice. Once they've become members, they automatically become a part of that particular blogging community. They can browse through other bloggers pages, and link them back to their own blogs. They can also make comments on other members' blogs.

Blogging is not just limited to personal usage. There are a lot of blogs that follow a theme such as: sports, politics, philosophy, social commentary, etc. These blogs espouse on their specific themes. This way blogging becomes a medium in which people can share their knowledge and opinions about a variety of themes and topics.

Some bloggers even use their blogs as a means to advertise. Some authors advertise their books on their blogs. While other bloggers, use their blogs to shed light to currents issues, events, news and catastrophes.

Nowadays in education, blogs also play an important part. Professors use blogging to document the lessons that they have discussed and taught. This way, students who who have missed classes, can easily catch up with their assignments.

A lot of entrepreneurs benefit from blogging by promoting their businesses on their blogs, with millions and millions of people logging onto the net everyday, blogging has become a lucrative move. Some bloggers who run online businesses promote their merchandise online. While others profit through advertisement.

But by far, the most popular blog type is the one that takes the form of a personal journal. This is the kind that is usually used by first time bloggers. Individuals who want to document the daily struggle of their everyday lives, poems, rants, opinions, find that blogging offers them a medium in which to express themselves.

Bloggers usually communicate within themselves. This is one of the appeals of blogging. It creates a community of people sharing their ideas, thoughts, and comments with each other.

Blogs varying in topics, themes, and set-ups, can be found in blog directories. First time users who want to get an idea of what the blogging world is all about can browse through a number of blogs using these directories. This way they'd get an idea of what these blogging communities are like.

Blogging is popular all over the world. Blog is short for the term weblog. There are no rules when it comes to blogging. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves how ever way they want, and the best thing about blogging, is that most blogging sites are free.

There are numerous blogging websites to choose from in the net. This give first time users the option of joining a blogging community that appeals to their interests.

Just search any blogging directory and you'd get a listing of a lot of blogging sites that are available on the net. It's easy to search a blogging directory, because it is organized according to category. This way you would get exactly what you are after. Blogging is really for everyone. It is fun, simple and easy.

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0 Create A Blog

Short for web log, create a blog to express yourself to the world. For anyone that has ever put a pen to paper, or even had an opinion in their head can, and should, create a blog. Blogs are perfect for practically any thought ever expressed. Good or bad. Blogs are freedom of speech on steroids. Where else can your share your thoughts on everything from civil war to civil rights? You can create a blog about your dogs eating habits. Your topic is only limited to your imagination.

Blogs are truly the essence of the internet, they provide an automatic audience for what ever you would like to share with the world, it's like an electronic soap box. As the technology advances, I can't imagine what blogs will be like in 20 years. You can create a blog with pictures, movies,audio and obviously the written word, which still is the most powerful.

It is truly amazing how far the internet has come, and yet we are just getting started. Just think, there was a point in time, not that long ago I might add, that it was widely believed that no one would need a computer in their house. Now some people take them with them where ever they go.
When you create a blog, you are creating a time capsule of what ever you want and letting the world see it as it is being created. The first thing that you should do is read as many blogs as you can before you create a blog. This way you can see the different ways people express themselves to give you ideas on how far you want to go.

Another incredible thing about blogs, is that you don't have to learn how to speak another
language to create a blog. You can have a blog up and running in about 5 minutes at no cost.
It only make sense that google would jump both feet into the blog world, if they didn't invent it, they sure helped make it what it is today. Blogger, which is run by google, has made it as easy as they possibly could to create a blog, in just under 10 clicks of a mouse you can be telling your story to the world.

Who would have ever thought that you could get paid for writing about the events of your life? When you create a blog, companies are more than happy to pay you a commission for customers that you send to their web site. Once again, google has made that process very simple. With goggle adSense, you agree to put advertisements on your blog, and when someone clicks on that advertisement you earn a commission. Depending on how many visitors you get to your blog, you can earn a good amount of money for basically doing nothing..


One word of advice, well maybe two words of advice are, DO IT. You might think that you can't write, but I can tell you once you get started it will come easy to you. Don't worry about spelling or grammar, just get started. The world is waiting to here your story about how you feel about world affairs or affairs of your world.

http://Create--a--blog.blogspot.com

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0 7 Reasons You Need to Market with Articles Now

Looking for a simple way to get an edge on your competition?

Successful businesses who are in it for the long haul continually apply innovative marketing strategies and tactics to differentiate themselves and get that edge. Two such killer marketing strategies are positioning and relationship building. And guess what? Article marketing is a proven tactic that just happens to address both of those marketing strategies. Is it the "be all, end all" of positioning and relationship building? Absolutely not. However, it is an excellent step in the right direction. And on top of that, there's probably a good chance that your competition is not using this tactic. Face it. It takes some time, skill, and effort to write and effectively use articles, that's why the masses don't do it however, those looking for an edge do.

So why choose article marketing as one of you marketing tactics? Here are 7 exceptional reasons:

1. It is quite simple. People love to buy from and deal with the best. Writing and effectively marketing your articles helps you position yourself as the expert in your field.

2. Let's take this first concept a step further for reason #2. Let's be blunt here, as an expert, you can justifiably increase your rates and charge more for your products.

3. If your articles are good and distributed properly, they can spread like wildfire and literally cause a viral marketing frenzy. Ultimately driving business your way.

4. A big part of Internet marketing has to do with the Search Engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. It's critical that we play their game. That being said, Search Engines love content such as articles! Many Internet marketers try the latest fad to trick Search Engines into getting a better ranking. If you have a lot of time and/or money on your hands to keep up with the latest trends and the ever changing Search Engine rules, then do what you feel is right. However, one tactic still holds true with improving Search Engine ranking, and that's article marketing.

5. People love to be and feel well informed – It helps them make better decisions. Your articles can serve as the source for the input they seek. And who better to buy from then the source that provided the information in the first place.

6. Talk about getting major bang for the buck, articles can easily be repurposed in a variety of ways. For example:
==> They can become content for your or someone else's newsletter;
==> Used as free giveaways to prospects/clients, in seminars, at networking events, etc;
==> Used to spark conversation in a blog or an online networking group such as Ryze;
==> Combine multiple articles into an eBook, book or info-product that can be sold or given away in exchange for contact information;
==> Become the basis for a live seminar or teleseminar;
==> And we can go on and on and on.

7. Articles when distributed properly are a great way to stay in touch with clients and prospects. Studies have shown that on average it takes around 7 touches before a prospect buys. Why not use articles as some of those touches? This will help continually boost your prospect's perception of you as someone who consistently adds value.

We live in an age where information is king. We all know something others would be interested in knowing. Share your knowledge and like a magnet you'll draw your prospects towards you.

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0 What is Niche Marketing?

The word 'niche' is defined as: "A special area of demand for a product or service". 'Marketing' is defined as: "The opportunity to buy or sell". If you put the two works together, niche marketing means buying or selling a product or service in a special area of demand. All that really means is that a product or service is being sold to the people who are most interested in that particular product or service and not to the world in general.

Oftentimes big businesses use niche marketing. For example, a company that makes computers and computer accessories might advertise all-in-one copy/printer/scanners to the home computer user while at the same time advertising single function machines to large businesses.

One of the things that make niche marketing so attractive to sellers is that their advertising budgets go further. It costs less to advertise to a specialized market than it does to advertise to a broader market.

Niche marketing must be designed to meet the unique needs of the targeted audience. Niche marketers must tailor their product to meet those unique needs. If, for example, you have designed a product to make poodle grooming easy enough for the untrained professional to do it, those who own poodles will be most interested in your product. Those who own Blood Hounds or cats couldn't care less. If you have written an e-book that will explain how to start and succeed at an online business, those who are looking for that information are your niche market. Those who are happy doing what they are doing are not interested at all.

Niche marketing is a very effective and cost efficient way to advertise and sell specific products or services to a specific audience or, hopefully, buyers of that product or service.

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0 Multi-Media Technologies Changing Lives For The Better

Multi-media technologies, are a meld of audio, video, and imaging software, used to capture, edit, store, and search, retrieve, transfer, distribute, and access information through multiple means. Hence – the term multimedia.

As these technologies become more advanced and versatile, they've enabled content creators to design and facilitate the presentation of information to new levels.

What about the audience? Today's audience is highly sophisticated, with a bigger appetite for media experiences where fast motion, brilliant color, energy, textures, powerful sounds, and richer content are the order of the day, engaging their senses, and piquing their interest.

The good news is, the use of multi-media technology has gone mainstream. There are many websites which offer free and cheap downloads of multimedia programs to give anyone from the budding filmmaker, teacher, the lawyer, CEO, marketing whiz, and to the homemaker the ability to communicate their ideas, in vivid details, from the big picture to the tiniest details.

Indeed, these technologies permeate our daily existence. And makes it a fair question to ask. "Is there value to be found in using multimedia technologies?" Yes, and here's why.

In today's world, information has become the new currency, with many countries scrabbling to move heavily into an information-based society. Technologies such as multi-media software, give an added advantage to it's' users, providing them the tools to clearly convey ideas and thus, produce valuable content. That gives them premium importance.

Nevertheless, it may surprise you to know that not only has multimedia technologies revolutionized the way we live, work, create, but it has spawned new industries and killed old ones.

For instance, in the work place, these technologies provide office workers the means to communicate, and collaborate, with colleagues on the other side of the planet, from different time zones, through desktop video conferencing, shared workspace, and multimedia messaging. Companies in fact, purchase multi- media technologies, to provide the employees the ability to create, edit graphics audio and video files, and use these to create presentations, and other work related products.
For one's entertainment needs, there's a choice between movies or videos on demand, and pay-per-view, among others. In this instance, multi-media technologies give the consumer the freedom to select what she, or he wants to watch.

For audiophiles, there are many free and cheap software programs, which provide the users the freedom to select the file format, how it will be recorded, and where it will be stored. All you'll need is a high bandwidth, and the pc equipment to record and capture the audio.
For serious gamer's multi-media software have created stimulating new games, better quality special effects, richer playing environments, betting/gambling software, multiplayer games, and polling. These technological tools, have accelerated the growth of the video game industry, and expanded research for better computer graphics, simulation, modeling, and artificial intelligence.

Even if you were not a serious gamer, you would greatly appreciate the ability to download interactive video games, while you're in your pajamas, in the privacy of your home.

Advertising has become intuitive, for as the differences between television and the internet continue to blur, advertisers have turned to interactive infomercials, to get consumers to buy. These tools allow advertisers to track the users' preferences and create an infomercial especially suited to the users' needs. Another nifty product is the virtual catalogue, where the customer can inspect the products before purchasing them, in the privacy of their home.

The use of multimedia technologies for home shopping, banking and financial transactions, telephony, medical advice, restaurant or hotel guides, is a commonplace activity for consumers.

Even the way we learn and package information from books, magazines, atlases, and newspapers has improved. One brilliant example is the educational CD Rom. Think about the fact that an entire 32-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica book set can be compressed into two cds.

In retrospect, one can see the world has benefited immensely with the use of multi-media technologies. It has brought humanity closer by making distance a non-issue, freedom of choice a reality and the conveyance of ideas, more precise.

For your own personal multimedia file usage, please visit http://www.multimedia-downloads.com for all your audio, video and imaging software needs.

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0 Your Information Technology Career: Certification vs. Experience

Whether you're just starting your Information Technology career, or wanting to get further ahead in your current IT career, you have probably thought about earning one of the many popular computer certifications such as the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification, or the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) cert.

A major point of frustration for individuals pursuing one of these certifications is a possible lack of experience with these technologies. Many future CCNAs or MCSEs simply stop trying to earn their certification, feeling that their lack of experience will hold them back.

Adding to this are those in IT who will stop everything they're doing at the drop of a hat to stomp on the dreams of others. I recently saw a post by an IT newcomer on a popular website where he declared his intention of earning his CCNA. Within minutes, several naysayers popped up and told him that he shouldn't bother, it wouldn't do any good due to his lack of experience, etc. (Did you ever notice that people who bash certifications generally don't have any themselves?)

I am in no way discounting the importance of experience. What I am saying is that every single one of us was a beginner at one point, and a lot of IT professionals forget this. None of us was born knowing everything we know today, and we shouldn't spend any time dismissing the goals of others in the IT field, or those just breaking in

I am speaking from experience on this point. I had a tough time breaking into the IT field, and made a lot of calls and knocked on a lot of doors before I got in. I found out later that the reason I got that entry-level job is that I had a professional certification where the other candidates did not.

The pursuit of certification is the pursuit of knowledge, and in our field, you can never have too much knowledge. If your work is strictly on the Local Area Network side, don't let that stop you from pursuing a CCNA. If you work exclusively on the WAN side, don't let that stop you from going after your MCSE. If you're just breaking into Information Technology, don't let a lack of experience prevent you from studying for your A+, Network+, or even your MCSE or CCNA.

Because one day, opportunity is going to knock - and the more you know, the readier you'll be to answer that knock! Use your long-range vision to envision the day when you will have both experience and certification - an unbeatable combination.

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0 How Free eBooks can Explode your Affiliate Income

There are many free ebooks available online today. Some are very informative and provide valuable information. These are the ebooks you need to capitalize on. Others are pure garbage. There are authors who think "free" and quality don't belong together. Keep away from these books.

Whatever you you promote or write, make sure it's good quality. If you don't like it or find it useful, why would anyone else?

What's the Secret to Making Money with Affiliate Products?

Most experienced affiliate marketers earn income by creating free unique reports or ebooks that examine a specific topic. Anyone can do this. All it takes is research, unique content, and a little imagination.

Whenever someone reads a free ebook and purchases a product from an affiliate link, the marketer earns a sales commission.

The problem is you do not have the time to explain to them the value of the products you are recommending.

What's the Solution?

The solution, you can produce an ebook that discusses topics related to your product. Of course the affiliate product will be an extension of your product. This ebook should be minimum 5 pages, and up to 15 pages long.

In reality, it is quite easy to write a 5-15 page ebook that is informative and useful, while still having potential for a profitable affiliate marketing income. In this ebook, talk about a topic that relates to your product. From there, try to provide any or all solutions to the situations your readers may be experiencing.


How Do I Find a Topic?

You need to find a topic where you can simply create at least five pages of content. The best way to do this is to explore forums that pertain to your product.

Many individuals will post comments on forums. Your job, provide the answers to their problems.

Try being part of a forum group. Not only can you participate in the discussions, you can also get referrals. The opportunity for potential customers is there as well.

How Do I Find Related Affiliate Products?

If you look hard enough, you will find that somebody has already created a product that provides a solution to the problems people are having.

All you have to do is find this product and become an affiliate. Seeing that you want the best results from what you are offering, you may want to get some feedback from others who have used the product. Again, use forums.

After looking at the forum and support material, you can easily create your ebook. Most affiliate programs have marketing material that you can use to help create your content.

What's My Main Focus?

You will talk about the problem and ways they can find the solution. In this free ebook, you will discuss the topic in general terms. You will refer to your product, not too often though. The key is to talk about the benefits of using the product without obvious sales talk or being too pushy. Just mention it enough to peak their curiosity. This should lead them to your site.

Once they are there, they can click on your affiliate links. Most affiliate products have a sales page, so you can leave the selling to the referral site.

As long as you do a good job pre-selling your readers on that particular product, they will arrive at the site ready to buy.

In your ebook, you want to provide useful information while gently persuading the reader to check out your affiliate link. As long as you focus on creating good content for your reader, you will see your affiliate revenue increase.

Free ebooks are a great way to earn long-term affiliate income because they can be easily distributed and provide quality value to the reader. Not all things that are offered free of charge are useless. Sometimes they can help pave your path to success.

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0 The 5 Top Reasons why Affiliates join an Affiliate Network

An affiliate network is a meeting ground for advertisers and affiliates to "meet". There are possibly 100's of good reasons why both advertisers and affiliates can benefit from signing up to a network, but in this article we will focus solely on the 5 top reasons why affiliates benefit from being part of an affiliate network.

1. Campaign Selection: An affiliate network gives affiliates access to 100's of niche merchant's products and services. The network uses it's time and resources to find the clever publishers who have figured out new ways to drive converting traffic. It also provides a greater variety of top performing, reputable campaigns. In this way, affiliates will easily get exposed to upmarket products such as banner rotations. With a single affiliate network, affiliates can easily work with multiple advertisers, multiple offers and multiple payment style options such as pay per click, pay per lead, pay per impression, etc. all under one umbrella, the affiliate network.

2. One Single Relationship: The relationship between the advertiser and the affiliate is of utmost importance. These relationships are necessary for structuring increased commissions (if the affiliates volume increases), in advertisers delivering affiliate-specific content, and in the advertiser and affiliate working together to assist the affiliate in maximizing the traffic to his site. The affiliate only deals with one advertiser, namely the affiliate network, rather than each of the merchants individually. This frees up a lot of space on the affiliates calendar since the affiliate does not have to use any time building relationships with anyone except their affiliate network manager. Affiliate marketing is about relationships, and that is then all taken care of by the affiliate network. The affiliate network will provide top quality support and a great training area for the affiliate to build up their skills, learn and grow.

3. Real Time Tracking: Testing and comparing each and every change and idea is fundamental for taking an affiliate's business from strength to strength. The most important tool for testing is real time tracking. This allows the affiliate to know immediately how their new idea is translating and helps to guide the affiliate as to whether it is an idea worth pursuing. The software to track impressions, clicks, leads and sales for each campaign can be both pricey and require a lot of upkeep. The network will provide this service for free to their affiliates. The network will also provide affiliate with advanced reporting tools for checking their stats, graphs for analyzing trends, and even cookie testing capabilities for monitoring fraud

4. Risk of Payment: Every advertiser has an element of risk as to whether you will actually receive the payments from them. As many companies can be virtual or on the opposite side of the world from where the affiliate is based, it is often very difficult to avoid doing business with dishonest advertisers. This means that no matter how much revenue the affiliate generates, some advertisers will never pay the affiliates. Joining an affiliate network gives the affiliate much stronger protection. The network will have built strong relationships with a number of the advertisers it works with and thus there is minimal chance the affiliate will not get paid.

5. Monthly, Correct Payments: Affiliate networks ensure all payments are checked and paid monthly (or as alternatively agreed). This means that the affiliate does not have to waste valuable time checking and reconciling the advertisers' figures.

The role of an affiliate is to maximize the traffic to their site and provide rich and useful content to their site. This keeps an ever growing visitor base arriving at their site, and ensures the visitors look around the site before exiting the site. An affiliate network encourages the affiliates to concentrate on these vital functions by assisting the affiliate in maximizing the spend of each visitor the affiliate attracts.

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0 How Do I Get Traffic To My Website?

Internet Marketing requires you to sale other people's products or services, or if you have decided to create your own product, sale your own. But whether you are selling your own or others, we all have one thing in common – getting traffic to our websites. But what is most important is not just getting traffic, but targeted traffic. Thus, How Do you or I get traffic to our sites?

In my early beginnings on the Internet, I tried many methods of getting traffic to my website. I was definitely a newbie in training – some of the software or services that I bought did me no good. I found, at times, that it was truly difficult to decipher which was a good deal and which was not – who was honest, and who was not – but I guess it goes with the Internet territory – and you must always do your due diligence.

However, I have found three methods of getting traffic to my site or affiliate product or service – Buying it – PPC, such as Google, Mamma, Overture, linking or the hard one Search Engine Optimization.

Pay-Per-Click

If you have the money to invest in Google or some of the other search engines pay-per-click programs you can make some money. Here you create an ad or ads relevant to your affiliate program, and place a bid on the keywords you select. This takes time, energy, persistence and money – and research. Also, I would advise that you read your affiliate programs rules, as well as, the rules of Google Adwords before jumping into the pay-per-click arena. You usually have to put "aff" after your ad or something similar to that – it's dependent upon the affiliate program you are in. The idea with pay-per-click is that you pay only when the individual clicks on your ad.

Linking

Linking can be by either paid or unpaid methods. The paid methods are paying for your link to be shown in Ezines, newsletters or on other peoples' sites. It can be costly, so the best suggestion that I can give you is to research the Ezines, newsletters and or other people sites that you want to link with before buying. In most cases, if ezines are accepting advertising, you know they must have at least 500+ subscribers, or I should say, be sure that they have at least 500+ subscribers before advertising in their ezine. Know what you are getting before you put your money down – and as they always say, be sure to read the fine print.

The unpaid method is through article creation. This requires hard work on your part, but the return will be seen in the long term. Keep in mind, your articles should be relevant and address the subject matter of your site and products. Content reigns king on the Internet – and if it is relevant to their needs – they will eventually come to read.

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization is basically the optimization of your web pages so that you can get a decent ranking by the search engines, and thus, to pull people to your website by it relevance. This is a difficult chore and needs to continually be worked at – and within the ethics of the Search Engines.

To conclude, getting targeted people to your site is really part of growing your business. And Internet marketing – well, it's not for the faint-hearted, but for the determined, persistent individual who wants to really make a living on-line. Thus, if you really want to make a living on-line – don't give up and promote.

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