Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Idul Fitri di Indonesia

Indonesia merupakan negara dengan penduduk muslim terbesar di dunia. Oleh sebab itu nafas Islam tidak bisa dipisahkan dari kehidupan sehari-hari penduduknya. Ini dapat dilihat dari betapa meriahnya perayaan hari raya umat Islam di Indonesia. Idul Fitri merupakan hari raya terbesar umat Islam di Indonesia yang dirayakan secara meriah tiap tahunnya pada tanggal 1 Syawal pada penanggalan Hijriyah. Pada hari yang fitri ini digunakan oleh umat muslim untuk berkumpul bersama keluarga dan saling bermaaf-maafan.

Dua minggu sebelum Idul Fitri, umat muslim biasanya sudah mulai sibuk menyiapkan perayaan Idul Fitri. Kegiatan yang paling mencolok pada saat ini adalah "mudik" atau "pulang kampung". Umat muslim yang ada di perantauan sebisa mungkin mencari cara agar dapat merayakan Idul Fitri di kampung halamannya. Biasanya pulang kampung juga difasilitasi oleh pemerintah dengan menyediakan berbagai program seperti mudik bareng ataupun pos-pos pengamanan di sepanjang jalan yang dilalui oleh pemudik.

Sesampainya di kampung halaman umat muslim dengan mengenakan baju muslim mengunjungi sanak saudara yang sudah lama tidak bertemu. Mereka saling bersilaturahmi dengan mengucapkan "maaf lahir dan bathin". Para orang tua biasanya memberikan uang kepada anak-anaknya sebagai uang hari raya. Berbagai macam hidangan disediakan pada hari Idul Fitri sebagai rasa syukur telah berhasil menunaikan ibadah puasa selama sebulan penuh.

Sehari sebelum Idul Fitri diteriakkan takbir di mesjid ataupun mushala, yang mengungkapkan kemenangan dan kebesaran tuhan. Pada malam hari sebelum Idul Fitri biasanya juga ditandai dengan pawai obor yang dilakukan mengelilingi kampung. Di pagi Idul Fitri setelah mandi dan bersih, umat muslim mengenakan baju muslim barunya. Orang tua dan laki-laki melakukan salat Ied di mesjid ataupun lapangan terbuka. Setelah itu mereka mengunjungi sanak saudara ataupun berziarah ke makam anggota keluarganya. Tidak lupa umat muslim juga menggunakan kesempatan ini untuk mendistribusikan zakat kepada kaum miskin atau yang tidak mampu sehingga mereka pun dapat merayakan Idul Fitri dengan bahagia.

Monday, December 27, 2010

5 Stress Management Tips for Overworked Bloggers

by: TJ Philpott

Show me a blogger who can not benefit from some stress management tips and I'll show you someone unconcerned about the quality of their blog posting! When creating a blog, if you want your platform to make any kind of impact on the niche you are targeting you best have patience and plenty of it. No matter what you are blogging about it will take time to attract readers and then even more time to gain their loyalty. During this time you will be investing a lot of effort that will seem to go unrewarded. Additionally you will be challenged by continually developing new ideas for your blog posting. As as result it is likely that you will be dealing with stress and the temptation to throw up your hands and walk away!

Here are 5 dead simple strategies you can use anytime for dealing with stress and discouragement when blogging to help you cope and remain productive.

Step Back

If you are not getting anything accomplished and you can feel your stress levels rising step back from the source of your frustrations and allow yourself to re-energize! Find something else that will allow you to be more productive or at least to enjoy yourself. Many times dealing with stress may mean simply gaining distance from it until you are able to think clearly again.

Look Elsewhere for Inspiration

When blogging any frustrations generally stems from a lack of new ideas and usually that is because you have 'tapped' out your current sources. Look elsewhere in places you may not have thought of previously to get a new perspective and hopefully a fresh supply of new ideas and inspiration.

Filter Out the 'Noise'

Whether it is your physical environment or a possible 'overexposure' to the net you may need to distance yourself from distractions. Another 'signal' you may be receiving here is that if has become harder to focus you may be getting too tired to be productive Take a break and try again later on when you are more rested.

Do Something Good for the Mind and Body

Go for a walk, bike ride, run or some type of exercise that allows you to work out the tension which in turn makes it easier to think more creatively. Without the stress of forcing yourself to be productive it is amazing how much a more relaxed mental state can produce! Physical activity is one of the very best ways of dealing with stress so exercise should be a part of your daily routine if it is not already!

For the record exercise is known to increase the flow of blood to your brain allowing you to think more clearly, quickly and creatively! Imagine how this will impact your blog posting efforts!

Embrace Reality

As mentioned earlier when blogging you need to have patience because you must first attract readers and after that gain their loyalty, and this takes time! Further considered that once that loyalty is gained you will need to maintain your blog posting efforts to keep subscribers satisfied. However once you have a loyal following you have also achieved a certain credibility, trust and influence which are immeasurable assets when marketing online!

Most any blogger, no matter what stage of development their site may be at, can benefit from the 5 stress management tips offered above. When creating a blog you need to realize your intended impact upon the niche you are targeting will not happen overnight. This means you will need to have patience and plenty of it before you can expect to see results. These suggested tips serve as a way to help you stay positive and productive when dealing with stress while also developing new content for your blog posting! In the meantime continue to share your enthusiasm and knowledge with your readers as they in turn will grow in numbers and more loyal each day.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Curbside Mailboxes for Your Home

Recently, my friend have just finished building his new house. Everything about the house looked perfect. Interior such as lighting, furniture, walls, paint etc were absolutely brilliant. I took my wife and children there to see the new house. My wife was amazed and immediately turned to me and said "we should make our house looks like this". But although everything seemed perfectly wonderful I noticed something was missing. In front of their house there was no mailbox around. I asked my friend why was the mailbox missing. He said that he couldn't find a good store to buy a mailbox. Then I remembered about Mailboxixchange.

Mailboxixchange is an online store where you can find any kind of mailboxes. From resident mailboxes, commercial mailboxes or curbside mailboxes, the site provides them for you. If you are planning to have a residential mailbox then you might want to check Whitehall Premium Mailbox Packages or Mayne Dover Post Mailbox Package. Installing this gorgeous and unique mailbox would surely enhance the beauty of your house.

Commercial mailboxes is used to store your valuables. That is why you need to choose the safest yet affordable mailbox that you can get. For this type of mailbox you should consider CBU: High Security Cluster Box Mailboxes or Rotary and Freestanding Mail Centers. These two are known for their material and security.

Last but not least, let us not forget curbside mailbox. This type of mailbox is suitable for people who love beauty. Its exotic and mysterious looks could fool us from a distance. You would not believe that it is a mailbox until you take a closer look. This is the reason that curbside mail boxes are one of the top sales in the store.

As soon as I told my friend about the site, he opened his laptop and start searching for his mailbox. Later on when I and my wife came there again, I saw this pretty looking curbside mailbox in front of their house which make the house even more perfect than it already is.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Benefits of Haste When Working Online

by: TJ Philpott

When working online there are many distractions simply because you have placed your business right smack dab in the middle of the information super highway! Although in one respect this is good since 'information is king' it can also slow you down! Successful entrepreneurs are notorious for making business decisions quickly and have learned to filter out the noise. Top entrepreneurs in their field know the importance and benefits of taking action quickly and how hesitation could be the difference between success and failure.

Here are the 3 biggest reasons why many successful entrepreneurs feel that working in haste gives them their biggest advantages and offers the greatest benefits.

Catch the Wave

Not all opportunities have a long shelf life therefore immediate action is require in order to capitalize. Also as we all know opportunity waits for no one and that includes all of us! Many top entrepreneurs realize their biggest advantage is taking action quickly to see if any future efforts are warranted.

Baptism By Fire

Another distinct advantage to making business decisions quickly is that it allows you to get involved in the 'action' and gain a better understanding of what to expect. In this way you are than able to put together a more effective strategy instead basing one upon theories or projections with no first hand knowledge! Sometimes you have to ask yourself how can you plan for something when you really do not know what to expect?

Is Further Planning Even Necessary

Yet another benefit in taking action quickly on a business opportunity is the efficiency of time you can experience. Not all opportunities pan out, and if what you are 'investigating' does not show promise, little time or other valuable resources of yours have been invested in the planning stages! You see the actions you are taking are not really reckless provided you do not risk much except the little time it takes to check it out! If it pans out then it is time to get 'serious' and invest more time and if need be resources to make the most out of the opportunity!

To make the most out of your efforts when working online employing a sense of urgency or even haste when making business decisions is not a bad idea. Online opportunities are plentiful but do require your taking action since they wait on no one! Besides many may not have long 'shelf' lives so to capitalize you need to move fast. Although this may sound reckless, many top entrepreneurs follow this strategy with much obvious success. The 3 main reasons fast action works best for any entrepreneur are reviewed above and shows that their 'fast actions' are very well calculated. In this way opportunities can still be quickly pursued but in a way that may save time and effort while also minimizing risks!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Qualities You Will Need For Business Success Online

by: TJ Philpott

The internet offers very few barriers to people looking for business success but that is not to say every aspiring internet entrepreneur can expect to make money. The infra-structure does indeed exist to do well however certain 'intangibles' will need to be added before financial success can be proclaimed!

Here are 5 common characteristics most successful entrepreneurs share that contribute significantly to any financial success they experience. Check to see how well you measure up!

Passionate

If you do not have a passion or little enthusiasm for what you are doing it will show in both your efforts and results. A successful internet entrepreneur is always one that has a lot of energy and enthusiasm for their field of interest or niche and being passionate helps to supply both. Without either it will be difficult to stay motivated!

PMA

Another 'must' is that you need to be confident that you can and will succeed and this confidence comes from a positive mental attitude. If you doubt yourself in any way it will make your efforts more difficult thereby challenging any motivation you do have. Your financial success is merely a product of your supreme confidence and your willingness to roll up your sleeves and do what it takes!

Innovative

Whether it is the product, the marketing strategy or even the way you brand yourself or your business you want to be different in some way to help you stand out. This is an area most successful entrepreneurs excel in and focus upon since it is easier to gain a competitive edge this way then to try and 'outwork' the competition! It is simply a matter of being different!

Determination

Achieving financial success on any level normally requires overcoming setbacks and possessing the willingness to maintain a sustained effort until you reach your goal. In a nutshell this calls for a strong determination and as mentioned above, the belief that you can succeed!

Resourcefulness

As already mentioned unexpected setbacks will likely be a part of the landscape on your entrepreneurial journey. Your commitment, confidence and other resources will be tested and there will be times that you will need to improvise. The resiliency and resourcefulness you demonstrate in these times will contribute greatly to your level of confidence feeding back into your level of productivity!

When looking for business success online your expectation need to include a certain investment of time and effort to be sure. In addition however it seems that most internet entrepreneurs who experience financial success possess certain intangibles that give both themselves and their businesses an edge! As discussed above these qualities are 'ingrained' more or less in the attitude and energy most successful entrepreneurs bring to their work environment. The best news here is that these intangibles or qualities can be acquired by just about anybody provided the desire to do so exists!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

3 Steps to Success as an Online Entrepreneur

by: TJ Philpott

The steps to success when starting an online business always begins in the form of some type of inspiration from which everything evolves or develops. Being inspired is one thing however, it is what is done with the inspiration that separates the successful business entrepreneur from the daydreamer! There needs to exist the willingness for taking action along with the acceptance for change along the way.

Here are the 3 main stages of starting an online business that all entrepreneurs must cross to develop their dreams into successful financial realities!

Idea

Here is where it all starts with what amounts to be the seed or inspiration that helps dictate your actions. The idea can be one either developed by you or perhaps even presented to you by another, but it is normally one that captures both your attention and enthusiasm. It is at this point where taking action is probably the most important thing you can so you can convert your enthusiasm into something more tangible. Any progress you experience can now help you to establish momentum which is crucial when starting an online business for the motivation and encouragement it produces.

Tuning In

Listening to the 'resident' experts in the field, staying current with any new developments or simply continuing your own education in your chosen niche is an absolute necessity! There must exist a willingness to learn and accept new ideas, some of which may be in conflict with your own beliefs. By expanding your thinking as well as your own pool of knowledge you can expect to improve on both a personal and professional level. In this way you will be better able grow a more rounded and rock solid business.

Persistence

The most common trait found in any successful business entrepreneur is persistence! Once you have taken action you must be relentless with your efforts! There will be mistakes made and unexpected developments that may tend to discourage you but it is up to you to make the necessary adjustments and continue moving forward. In fact learn to embrace these situations as learning experiences because that is exactly what they are!

The steps to success you need to take regardless of your field of interest or niche, will always be consistent when starting an online business. On the internet there are countless opportunities available for the aspiring business entrepreneur and all require you actually taking action to make them work! The point here is your taking action will be motivated by a specific inspiration or idea and needs to be accompanied by a certain adaptability and determination on your part. These stages, as reviewed above, are necessary for building a strong business foundation. Having a great idea or being inspired by one along with being motivated is a terrific start! By also possessing the willingness to continue your learning and being adaptable to change, you will be setting the stage for long term success!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Learn to Make Your Blog All It Can Be!

by: TJ Philpott

It is important to learn how to make your blog serve as a viable tool that can help you build your business because it possesses enormous potential for both branding and marketing purposes. The best blogging sites are successful at utilizing their platforms to not only promote goods and services but to also help create and establish unique identities. They have learned how to get the most out of their blogs and so can you.

Here are 5 simple guidelines you want to follow in creating and establishing your site to help you build your business and work more efficiently.

Crystal Clear Theme

The theme of your platform needs to convey a clear and consistent message that reflects both the image you want to establish as well as the business you represent! This will be the first and most fundamental step of your branding and marketing efforts and the key will be clarity and consistency!

Passion

You will discover that to build your business you will need quite a reserve of patience and energy . Possessing a genuine enthusiasm or passion for what it is you are building will make you efforts a lot easier and give you better results as well!

Personality

One of the primary reasons many blogging sites gain popularity is due to their uniqueness which is emphasized in the personality or tone of the site. Do not be hesitant to allow your personality to be reflected in your platforms design or the content you post. People will look for and be drawn to this and you will find that it helps boost your branding and marketing efforts as well! You can not have a brand without an identity and your unique personality will help to establish this identity.

Promotion

Posting to your site is a great 'start' for generating the traffic you will want and need but do not stop there! Use other means to attract visitors such as article submissions, social networking, link building and any of the many other available techniques.

Posting

The most important task you will need to perform and as often as possible is posting updates to your site. This is where it starts and what attracts people in the first place. Always strive to use great quality content because this is what will build your business and reputation. As the saying goes your reputation proceeds you and what your updates reflect will be the basis of how people perceive you online!

Learning how to make your blog a more efficient and effective tool to help you build your business is not hard to do and is highly recommended. These sites possess tremendous branding and marketing capabilities that when exploited can make yours one of the most notable blogging sites in your chosen niche. The 5 simple suggestions offered above are not difficult to implement or follow but do require diligence and patience. If you are willing and able to invest the necessary effort, you will likely achieve a large and loyal following along with a business that can earn you a nifty income.

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Benefits Of Blog Entries With Teeth

by: TJ Philpott

Many people feel more is better in terms of the number of blog entries they update their platform with and this is a widely accepted strategy. On the other hand it would seem that publishing content more frequently to your site would thereby compromise the quality of what you offer readers. With little time to conduct more meaningful research or develop new ideas, frequent updates would tend to be more conversational and less informative. Now the question is what makes popular blogs so attractive to people, what they have to say or how often they say it? It seems in most cases that visitors would be more interested in useful information than simply casual conversation. After all it appears that social network sites would probably already fill that void!

Here is a look at 3 reasons why publishing more useful information, even if it means less frequently, would be of more benefit to both readers and bloggers alike!

Impact vs. Impression

Most popular blogs tend to post updates that carry more of an impact and are less concerned with simply pinging the search engines on a more frequent basis. The reason behind this is that they realize their readers want something more worth their while to view that goes deeper than a simple 'journal' entry.

Quality Time Invested

By taking the time required to conduct the necessary research needed to create any useful information, bloggers get more out of the time they invest. They are able to learn more about their own interest and as a result can than pass it along to their own readers who in turn benefit as well! A much better investment of time for everybody concerned!

Bedrock vs. Sand

It comes down to whether the blogger wants deeply embedded loyalty returning visitors or lots of uncommitted traffic that reflects a high turnover rate. Do you want to build a foundation on bedrock or sand? By publishing content that holds lesser value, which is what the more frequent updates tend to contain, readers are prone to be less loyal. Reasons for this are that because the content is not that 'riveting' people invariably stumble upon other sources/blogs more compelling and useful to them! Now serving up quality content is like finding a diamond in the rough for visitors which leads to them developing a deeper rooted sense of loyalty to the site.

It would appear that the quality of your blog entries is what attracts visitors and not necessarily the quantity. Popular blogs gain their notoriety based upon the useful information they offer and not by publishing content that reflects little research or preparation. This is generally what you can expect with very frequent updates. The 3 reason you should focus more on quality and not quantity are discussed above and hard to ignore. By frequently publishing content to your site that is more conversational and less informative you will find yourself competing more with social network sites. This is a competition in which you will not do well and most likely eventually lose!

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Should Blog Posting Be Methodical?

by: TJ Philpott

Does your blog posting follow a logical process by talking about or dispensing information on the same topic? What is being discussed here is whether it is important to maintain a certain 'continuity' with your blog entries. In order to become one of the top bloggers in your field obviously you will need to generate traffic and then of course keep attracting visitors back. The question is does the sequential process of your updates, in terms of the specific theme of the content, affect the popularity of your site? Does everything need to be presented in a logical order or is it OK to deliver it in random fashion like a Quentin Tarantino movie where it all comes together at the end?

Here is a look a 3 points to consider when deciding upon the direction to take and maintain with any new blog entries and how it may effect your traffic.

Some People Prefer a 'Patchwork' Approach

Many subscribers do not mind and rather enjoy constant variations or diversions in the content presented to them. In fact most people are use to randomly accessing blog posts according to their current interests and/or needs. This is made both possible and convenient for visitors by the fact that most blogs maintain categorized archives allowing people to view whatever posts or topics they choose and when they choose to do so.

Some People Like Order

Many people are more comfortable with being methodical and this is not unusual, at least I hope not since I share this trait. Presenting blog entries in an order where one leads naturally into the next works very well and is easier for people to follow. Keep in mind however that this approach can be hard to maintain since you may not always be able to develop new content for continued follow-up. Also it may make it uncomfortable for readers if you try to 'divert' to any new or late breaking trends or news relevant to your blogging theme.

As pleasant as 'order' may be it is impractical to expect that you can, or should always maintain it!

So How Do You Know?

In most cases, as mentioned above, you will be categorizing and archiving your postings as the amount of content grows on your site. This in turn will allow for readers to have easy access to related material with which they hold a 'current' interest. As far as I am concerned at this point problem 'solved' and you can take whatever direction your heart so desires. It would seem that some type of logical order would only be called for during the infancy stages of your platform when your archives are not yet stocked.

The logical manner of your blog posting would seem to be of more significance when you first launch your platform. Having little content to offer readers you would want to be mindful of giving your blog entries a more clearly defined direction to help you generate traffic. However over time to become one of the top bloggers in your field it would be the quality and not the order of your updates that ultimately counts. So do not get too hung up on trying to maintain a certain 'order' to what you publish if you already have a respectable archive to offer. Your focus now is purely your quality!

Saturday, December 04, 2010

How Can You Profit Using Public Domain Products?

by: Ian Basford

It is important that you attempt to maximize the potential of each business you begin, but you should start by spreading your income base quickly by setting up four or five small online businesses and focus on expanding them later. Using public domain products, this approach is fairly easy and quite successful.

You can pick several public domain works, create a different product for each of them, and after you have set up individual websites for each product, return to improve and expand on each website. This will allow you to generate multiple income streams and then maximize the income potential of each stream within a short period of time.

So many people think of the public domain for starting a new business that they forget the most important aspect of using the public domain – instant content. If you already have a website or blog that can use supplementary content, use the public domain for possible subject matter. Not only can such new content be used to increase any AdSense income you make, but it can also 'sell" your other products and services by building your business reputation as an expert.

It's not always possible to find relevant content. Information on the latest computer or DVD technology is unlikely to be in the public domain, but there are many niches that have timeless appeal. Woodworking or cookery, for instance, are popular subjects that have a timelessness about them. They were popular ten or twenty years ago and they will still be popular in another ten or twenty years. If you operate a business that works in 'timeless" niches, the public domain can become a far better resource than any ghostwriter you can ever hire!

When you begin an internet venture, it is a good idea to choose your first business from within your own hobbies and interests. Many people share their hobbies and interests, and if there are enough people like you searching for information on these topics, you could quite easily make a lot of money.

This advice is both good and bad. While it is helpful to start a first online business in a niche that you have an interested in, it's often the case that these niches are not very profitable. There might be too much competition, for example, or not enough demand, or there may not be any buyers for your product in that market.

Hobbies such as cricket, playing poker, crochet patterns or even architecture, on the other hand, are excellent avenues for starting small websites using public domain material. By using public domain works that outline everything from playing tips to history and immediately usable information, you can carve your own little niche and not only build yet another income stream, but enjoy yourself at the same time.

On a final note, you should assess your current resources (your business and your hobbies) to see how the public domain can bring in new income opportunities for you. Importantly, you should continue your education by reading as much on the subject as you can.

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

What Is Pay Per Click? - A True Story

by: Neal Coxworth

New people to the world of internet marketing may find themselves asking "What is Pay Per Click"? It's a natural question, because most of the time clicking is for free, right? Pay per click or PPC as it is sometimes known is also known as a 'contextual ad network'. Sounds impressive, doesn't it?

All that really means is that the appropriate ad will be shown to you based on what you are searching for. In other words, the ad you see fits the context of what you are looking for. If you are searching for Porsche Carrera sideview mirrors, you may see several ads on the side of the search results that show companies offering German car parts.

The whole idea behind any advertising or marketing, is to reach the correct consumer, with the right message at the right time. Because PPC does this so effectively, it has become the choice of many small, medium, and large companies to conduct their advertising campaigns. It has also led many beginners to go gray early or pull the hair straight out of their head. (I'm guessing here of course)

The nice thing about the Google Adwords program, which is Googles' PPC program, is that almost anyone can start an account and begin advertising. You don't have a minimum "spend" as you might with radio, TV, or print advertising, and you can do the whole thing yourself. Did I mention that is the nice thing about it? It is also the worst thing about it.

Here's why. PPC and Adwords is NOT for the faint of heart. It is program that has many rules, many nuances and details that must be mastered to get the contraption to actually produce profits for you. Because anybody can do it, many, many people end up losing money attempting to navigate this confusing and complex world. It's not impossible, but it is not something you can learn in a couple of hours either. The big cherry on the cake here is that once you do set up your PPC campaign and test it to know it is working effectively, you can pretty much let it run for as long as you like and it will keep working.

Just remember, it requires some upfront investment of time and money to get to that point. By the way, Google is not the only game in town here. There are others such as Yahoo and Kontera that also can produce the results you may be looking for. Oh yes, you'd better be sending that traffic to a website that knows how to convert it to sales.

So know you know the answer to the question "What is Pay per Click"? Are you ready to learn more and get some real details as to how this crazy program works so you can put some money in the bank? Click the link below for free information and details on how to get started learning PPC, site building, keywords and everything else you'll need to know.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Beware The 'Google Work From Home Scam

by: Neal Coxworth

In these difficult times, there are a lot of well-meaning people who are searching the internet everyday for work at home options and then run straight into the "google work from home scam". This is one of the more sophisticated offerings of a highly dubious nature on the internet. As with many of these types of sales pitches, the issue isn't so much with the product, but the expectation that comes with it.

When the product is clicked on a web page ad it goes through to a very slick site adorned with recognizable corporate logos of well-known brands like ABC news, Google and CNN as well as "testimonials" from attractive housewives who are making "hundreds" per day online. The ad usually goes on to explain that you will be "posting links" online for Google, which will give you the links to post.

The pitch is for a so-called "starter kit" that will help you get started online. However, upon further review, what is truly being authorized is monthly recurring charges on your credit card as high as $80 per month. Needless to say, the starter kit really starts much of anything in the way of income, and attempts to return the package at the so-called customer service line are usually unsuccessful.

However, underneath this unfortunate scam is a kernel of a real idea. That idea is an affiliate marketing career that you can start at anytime, from anywhere, even in your spare time. Is it overnight or "ridiculously easy"? Absolutely not. If you are not ready to work and learn to acquire your business, you will most certainly fail. However, there are many people who have learned that with diligence, the internet can be a great place to earn additional income, or even make a full time living.

Either way, I would avoid the Google work from home scam at all costs, and try and make sure you are locating real opportunities for work at home cash. In short, any job you have to pay to find out more about, is probably a bad deal for you. If you are interested in learning more about affiliate marketing for free, click the link below for more information.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Why You Need To Check The Bids…

by: Anthony Harris

When using pay per click advertising to your advantage, the keywords that you choose are extremely important. In fact, the keywords that you choose to associate your ads with will have an important impact on where they appear, as well as their success.That is why it is important that you carefully choose your pay per click advertising keywords. Below are a few tips that you may find helpful.

One of the best ways to determine whether or not a particular keyword or keyword phrase is good or popular is by examining how much money they are selling for. When it comes to pay per click advertising keywords, you will find that the best keywords are the ones that go for the most money. Since it is impossible to tell on your own how much keywords are going for or what their current bids are, you will need assistance. This assistance can come from a tool that is known as a keyword worth tool.

Online, there are a number of websites and tools that claim to give you an up-to-date and accurate bid for a number of keywords or keyword phrases. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, you are urged to use the tool provided by Overture.This program can be found by visiting http://uv.bidtool.overture.com/d/USm/search/tools/bidtool/.With Overture's keyword worth tool, you will need to enter in a particular keyword or keyword phrase. To use this free program,you will also have to successfully key in the verification code provided to you. The results that you will be presented with will include advertisements that are using those current keywords, as well as how much those advertisements cost. Researching a keyword's current bid will not only help you choose which keywords are popular, but it will also give you anidea as to how much you will have to pay for advertising.

Although it is best that you determine the worth of each keyword, or at least the amount of their current bids, you do have another option. You can also research popular keywords with tools that are known as keyword research tools or keyword suggestion tools. These tools, such as the one that can be found at http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/suggestion/, allow you to enter in a particular keyword or keyword phrase. You will, in turn, get results that include the exact way that those keywords were searched for. Each word or phrase will also be listed in order, with the most searched for appearing first. Both of the above mentioned resource tools are extremely helpful, alone, but when combined they can provide you with everything that you ever needed. For instance, if you first use a keyword research or suggestion tool, you will get an idea as to what keywords are popular and which ones are not. Once you have a list of popular keywords, you can then use a keyword worth tool, like the one mentioned above, to examine the average cost of each advertisement. Since most of these tools,including the two mentioned above, are free to use, there is no reason why you shouldn't at least give them a try.

As it was mentioned above, the most popular and effective keywords or keyword phrases will be the ones that cost the most money or the ones that have the highest bids. Although associating these keywords with your advertisements will cost money, it is worth every penny. You will find that most pay per click advertising programs allow you to control the amount of money that you want to spend each day. What does this mean for you? This means that you can still participate in a pay per click advertising program even if you are on a budget! With something this easy, why wouldn't you want to give pay per click advertising a chance?

Checking the current bids of popular keywords is an easyand effective way to make the most out of pay per click advertising.

Monday, November 22, 2010

FAQ's And The Answers For MLM Business

by: Jeff Schuman

There are many people that are considering starting an mlm business, but are unsure this is the right choice for them. If this sounds like you, then you have to be aware of some FAQ's that are asked about this type of business and the answers for them.

The following are the frequently asked questions, along with the answers to help you make the wise choice for you.

One: What exactly is an mlm business?

Multi level marketing is what MLM stands for, but you may have heard of it referred to also as network marketing. This type of business gives you many chances to earn money.

You can recruit other people to join the opportunity and start their own business. To earn money, you will also be able to promote products that are provided by that opportunity.

Plus, in many instances you will be able to make money from anything that is sold by the people that you brought in to the business. Be sure to check out the compensation plan carefully for any multi level marketing business before deciding to use that one to get your business started.

Two: Is this type of business legal?

There are many people that are sure that this type of business is not legal. The truth is that it is a very legal way to start a business and earn money.

There are many scams these days that you want to watch for, but those are the ones that gave the legitimate mlm opportunities a bad reputation. If you find an opportunity that is legitimate, then it is definitely legal.

Three: Can you really earn money with this type of business?

If you are willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen for you, then anyone can make money with this type of business. You are the only one that can get yourself started earning money, so be willing to learn and take action and it will be very easy for you to make money with your new business.

Four: What mlm opportunity is the best for you to get your business started with?

The best opportunity to get your business started with will all depend on your likes and dislikes. You are the only one that can decide which is the best opportunity for you.

Time will be needed to locate the best one for you, but with a little research, this will not be difficult to do.

Five: What needs to be done to be successful with a multi level marketing business?

The key things to being successful are marketing and traffic. There are many other things involved to reach success, but these are the two most vital things that will be needed.

These are not all of the frequently asked questions that are asked about an mlm business, but they are the most important ones for you to know the answers for. Now that you know the questions and answers, you will be able to decide if this is the best business for you to start or not.

Friday, November 19, 2010

The Way To Get Additional Income From Your Blog Traffic

by: George Hutton

If you've got a website, and you've been publishing content for a while, it can feel pretty good once you start getting a steady stream of visitors. Most people struggle to get more than twenty or so a day. It can take a long time to start to get consistent traffic to your website.

Now that you've got some visitors, you may be thinking that it's time to start making some money. After all, over a million people today in the United States alone make their sole income from blogging. If they can do it, you certainly can. If you'd like to start making money from your website, then this article is for you. I'll go over a few tried and true methods for turning your hits into dollars.

Most any person who wanders across your site is a potential customer. Everybody loves to shop and buy things. Stores are everywhere, newspapers and magazines are covered in ads for this very reason. All those rich TV stars ultimately all their income from commercials on TV. There's no reason why you can't get in on the game.

If you sign up for Google Adsense, they will automatically put ads on your site that are relevant to the topic your looking at. Take a look around here. What kinds of ads do you see? Something related to online publishing, or websites? See how that works? It's pretty easy. The way it works is every time somebody clicks on an add that's on your site, you split the cost with Google. So if you've already got a blog or site that is getting some traffic, that's a great way to make some extra money.

Another popular method of making money is through affiliate marketing. If you run a blog on marathon training, for example, you can recommend shoes, or running gear, or books on training. When people by those items through your links, you will get a commission. Most everyplace that sells something online has some kind of affiliate program, in order to help sell their product. Commissions range from a few cents, from books, to a few hundred dollars, for higher priced items.

And lastly, you could create your own product, and sell it to your visitors. If you've been blogging for a year or so, you've certainly got enough content to create an ebook. Pull together your best articles, arrange them in some kind of orderly fashion, give your ebook a catchy title, and sell it on your site for ten bucks or so. If you sell one a day, that's an extra three hundred bucks a month. I'm sure you could think of something to do with that, right?

In short, there's not limit to the ways you can make money from your website traffic. Whether it be ads, affiliate marketing, or selling your own product, there's no telling how much extra cash you could make. Who knows, in year, or even less, you could be retired.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Effective MLM Marketing Methods That Are Always Effective

by: Jeff Schuman

When you have an mlm business, one of the most important things you need to do is marketing. That is why you need to be aware of the mlm marketing methods that are always effective for everyone.

Understanding these methods will let you start getting an education on them. If you really want to get it working effectively to bring traffic to your business, be sure you do it one method at a time.

Here are the most effective methods any network marketing business owner can use to build traffic.

1. Article marketing - This method is and always will be effective because you are using articles to provide people with free information they are searching for. At the end of the article, you will place your resource box to lead them back to your website.

This is an effective method to use because majority of the people that read your article, if they like it, will take the time to click through to your site to help them learn more information.

Once you have them on your website, it will be up to you to get them to purchase products from you.

2. Blog marketing - This method can be used effectively for marketing many different products at once. These days, people like reading blogs since they always provide free information.

Provide your readers with quality information and you will soon gain loyal readers that become customers. You will also start getting noticed by the search engines for your blog and will start seeing traffic from getting good placement in the free organic search results.

3. Social networking - This method is effective because it lets you interact with your potential customers. You can let them get to know a little about you and your business without shoving it down their throat.

This helps them to trust you more and most of the times, once they trust you, they will purchase products from you.

4. Forum marketing - This is a marketing method that search engines like because forums are packed full of free and new content. Once you start using this method, you will find that you are getting placement with a few of the major search engines.

These are the most effective mlm marketing methods that you need to use, but definitely not all of the methods. The secret is to educate yourself on using each one right and then get it going to bring traffic to your website while you are in the process or setting up another method. Over time, this will help you get a lot of traffic to your business so you can make the most money possible.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

How to Make Money With Drop Shipping

by: Suzanne E Morrison

There are many ways to make money online, but one that is often overlooked is Drop Shipping. In this article we'll take a closer look at how drop shipping works.

Basically drop shipping is where you act as a middleman between the manufacturer and the customer. The customer purchases a product from you and receives the product from the manufacturer. You get paid for making the sale. This is one excellent way to start an EBay Business.

This is a great way to.

1. You do not have to store the products. This makes it a popular business model for Internet marketers.

The drop shipping business can be very profitable. As a matter of fact most Internet marketers do not really have any place to store products anyway.

Renting a storage space can be extremely expensive. It also takes away the advantage of working from your home if you have to leave home to conduct business. You do not have to worry about that at all when you sell products as a drop shipper.

2. It's inexpensive to get into. When you look at all the expenses of starting an off line business most ordinary people cannot do that.

Why would you want to pay for rent, utilities, employees, and so on. You can have a legitimate business from the comfort of your own home where you sell products at retail pricing and then let the drop shipping manufacturer take care of the rest.

3. Focus on Internet marketing. This really is the key to making a lot of sales. The key here is getting traffic to websites and having a great sales page.

In the off-line business world you would have to do various forms of advertising such as yellow pages, newspaper advertising, direct mail, or possibly radio and TV ads. With a drop shipping business you can do all of your promotion online and budget according to the amount of money are working with.

4. This is a profitable business to be in. Because you are able to control your overhead you can make a lot of money in the drop shipping business.

It is important is to find products that are competitively priced and allow you to sell them at a high margin. Fortunately there are many excellent drop shipping companies available for you to use.

Because of this these are four reasons you can make money with drop shipping!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Things to Look For In POS Software

by: Jason Harrison

As a mid-sized retail chain that deals in sporting goods, you have multiple locations to deal with. If you have anywhere between 3 and 25 locations, it is time you looked at POS retail software. POS retail software is used to calculate sales, sales tax, and change because it is a computerized cash register. There are many other things POS retail software can do, so it is important to look at your needs when determining the type of POS retail software you need for your business.

When comparing POS retail software systems, you want to begin by choosing a company that has experience. They need to have installed hundreds of POS retail software systems with a positive client rating. There is no substitute for years of experience and a good track record. They should have the background to deal with whatever your unique situation can throw at them. They should also have great customer service skills and easy to use support.

Because you have multiple locations, you need your POS retail software to provide you with inventory management tools, work with your barcode scanner, and give you flexibility. For instance, you want to be able to search your POS retail software inventory database using vendor, category, SKU and keywords. You want your POS retail software to track and record the date and location of each sale, as well as the employee making the sale. By integrating all of your information into a POS retail software system you will be able to access anything you need in real time.

Some of the benefits of having this type of information at your fingertips include accurate inventory ordering. Your hosted POS retail software can help you with trending so that you know when and how much inventory you need. Your POS retail software can also let you know immediately when you reach a pre-determined level of inventory before you make a new order. Other managers may be authorized to place orders, but the POS retail software will send you a notification each time someone does so you can monitor the situation. Another benefit is the time of day aspect of recording sales. You can see when each location is the busiest so that you can more accurately create employee schedules. This will save you money as you make sure you have adequate customer support without overdoing it.

Comparing POS retail software systems means you need to compare costs. You want a system that has sophisticated software at an affordable price. You want them to use advanced technologies that will help your business grow. Be sure to ask questions about these things as you price out the different POS retail software companies. A company that puts all of your data on their secure server frees you up to manage your business while they manage your data. This is called Software as a Service or SaaS.

By understanding what POS retail software can do, you will be able to choose the right supplier for your business needs. Going with a POS retail software company that has plenty of experience, has the right management tools and is affordable is more possible than you might have thought. With your finger on the pulse of your business, you will be able to increase your profit margin.

Sunday, November 07, 2010

What’s The Deal With ADSL Deals?

by: Alan Spencer

Save money with ADSL

If you get a subscription right now, the first three months won’t cost you a thing. Depending on which deal you choose, this means you’re saving a lot of money. But this isn’t the only cool deal around, there are lots of different subscriptions to choose from and they all come with cool, money saving perks. If, for example, you like to extend your subscription with some extra security measures, it will be cheaper when you fix this with your ADSL provider than when you take care of it yourself.

The power of ADSL

With ADLS you get very fast internet which makes downloading big files more easy than it’s never been before. But how does it work? Without getting too technical, ADSL comes in through an analogue or digital phone line. This means the availability is very high. But there’s a minor flaw in the whole ADSL game. If you don’t live close enough to the power station, the speed of your internet goes down rapidly. Bandwidth always stays the same, but quality (speed) might decrease. Don’t worry though, it’s just something you might like to know. And it might happen, it’s not guaranteed to happen!

One or more providers

Another factor why ADSL is faster is that within most cable networks usually one provider rules the line. For real, you can’t choose another company. ADSL however is on your own phone line and you can see for yourself who holds that line. You don’t share it with others, and therefore the speed doesn’t decrease when others around you go online.

What do the others offer?

Of course it’s wise to look around so you can see what everyone has to offer. The choice isn’t really that big of a deal, as you can go online with whatever you choose. But what are the perks? The providers want new customers so they’re bound to have discounts and other win-win options. And your bank account wins too! The speed of your connection is just one of a few things you need to pay attention to. But surely, less money means more fun!

What’s the deal?

If you order an ADSL subscription you’ll get the so called Dongel. This device is free of charge and makes it possible to get online immediately. Of course your account first needs to be activated. This Dongel is very convenient when you’re on the road. Just switch it on and if there’s a Wi-Fi hotspot you can go online. On trains for example! You’ll save a lot of money, because as we all know Wi-Fi is free.

Why ADSL?

If you want to use fast and easy internet and you want to do this often. Because of the stable, fast connection that is ADSL, you can go online whenever you like. Unlike cable internet, you don’t share the connection with others so those other users don’t slow down your internet. And you can use the internet as much and often as you like, for a permanent amount of money. So no extra costs when you use it more than you did last month.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

How To Get Better Internet

by: Alan Spencer

Faster is better

Just think about it: how exactly do you use your Internet? Because if you’re thinking about getting a new internet subscription, it’s important you know how you use internet in the first place. There’s no reason whatsoever to get a very quick (thus more expensive) connection when all you do is write emails and surf around. A basic subscription will do. However, if you download a lot and there are several internet users around, you will need faster internet with a higher download and upload speed. Choose the subscription that suits the way you use internet. That way you won’t pay for something you won’t use. No one likes paying too much, huh?

Save money on stable WWW

Whether you’ve got super fast or standard internet, it has no influence on the stability and reliability of the internet connection. They’re both connected to the same network and speed has no influence on it, nor has in any influence in static or interruptions. But if you get a fast subscription right now, the first three months won’t cost you a thing. Depending on which deal you choose, this means you’re saving a lot of money. But this isn’t the only cool deal around, there are lots of different subscriptions to choose from and they all come with cool, money saving perks. If, for example, you like to extend your subscription with some extra security measures, it will be cheaper when you fix this with your provider than when you take care of it yourself. Saving money is good!

Come prepared: compare

It’s definitely a must to do some decent research before getting an internet subscription. Of course the costs are a valid reason to check things out, but there are other perks you want to make sure not to miss. Get the most out of your description, for example with a combination of digital (or high definition) tv or phone? Usually there are deals around and you want to check them out. Save money and see for yourself what are the cons and pro’s. Every offer has it’s cool perks, choose the best one! Except for the costs it’s wise to do a bit of research before you subscribe to a provider. Of course speed is a reason, but also the possibilities to make to most out of your internet connection. Lots of choices!

In short

Let’s recap. It’s important you know how you use internet while choosing an internet subscription. Don’t get a very quick (thus more expensive) connection when all you do is write emails. A basic subscription will do. However, if you download lots of stuff and there are several internet users around, you definitely need faster internet with a higher download and upload speed. So choose the subscription that suits the way you behave online. That way you won’t pay for something you won’t use. Super fast or standard internet, it has no influence on the stability and reliability of the internet connection. They’re both connected to the same network and speed has no influence on it! The only influence is noticeable in your wallet! Nice.

Monday, November 01, 2010

POS Software Systems: A Secret to Success

by: Jason Harrison

Are you a retail business owner with more than one location to manage? Whether you are small or very large, the chances of you having way too much to remember is high. Not only are there items to be stocked or put on the floor, but you have pricing, discounts, transactions, ordering, advertising, and employee schedules to worry about, among other things. Make your life a little easier by purchasing a POS software system. It might just save your bacon.

If you think you can do this all by hand, you must not expect your business to grow. Any growing business needs some sort of POS software system to keep themselves organized and on the ball. A POS software system that meets the needs of your individual business can be the secret to expansion and efficiency. The benefits of the POS software system outweigh any of the myths and/or cost associated with it.

What's so important about the POS software? In this technological world, first of all, a traditional cash register just won't cut it. To cut down on time wasted and errors made, the POS software system offers a PC-based ?checkout" program that allows you to make all the computations and recording that you need to in a simple, fast process. Not only can the POS software calculate the price, adding sales tax, and subtracting whatever discounts or coupons that are presented, but it can also make a note of the sale in the database that contains your inventory. Especially if you have multiple stores to manage, it will be important to have a common POS retail database so that you can determine the needs of each of your locations in one single step. The POS software will help you to do so easily, and keep on top of your inventory management.

Having the inventory automatically updated by POS software systems will take a load off of your mind, as well as enable you to view trends in purchasing, and detect any errors. Because POS software is a web-based system, it will be easy to view spreadsheets of changes to inventory and accumulated revenue to be able to see any possible inconsistencies found therein. Because of the indifference of the automated POS software system, errors will show up, and you will be able to ?trust' the report that it gives you on any of the goings-on in the business. Not only does the POS software system offer organization, then, but protection as well.

If your small retail chain has hit its stride, and is becoming more and more successful in a short period of time, chances are that you have also seen a substantial change in the number and variety of product sold. Having a POS software system with a bar code scanner will be something that you will shortly be grateful for. Not only can you begin to predict trends in the popular items, but with POS software, it will be easy to scan in new items, and keep tabs on everything that is going on. That way, you and the employee don't need to necessarily know the price and sales on everything. The POS software system can do it for you.

Let the POS software company manage your system through its hosted, real-time service. Most likely the company will even offer POS software support. Let your mind do what it does best?establish good ground for growing your business, and see what fruits come of it.

Friday, October 29, 2010

A Good Alternative To Resume Rabbit

by: Silas Reed

There are quite a number of websites that would promise you all the benefits of submitting your resume over their website but ultimately you will find that you are not getting the exposure you actually demand. You are not even being called by well known companies and the job search results are proving to be quite futile for you since you are not getting the jobs that suit your qualifications perfectly. So in these cases how do you intend to help yourself? Will you sit idle and wait till you land up on the golden opportunity, or decide to shed off your passive gown and take up an active role? I think it is time that you change the resume submitting site.

In this article we will take a look at the features of a good website which you can choose to go with. The features must make you feel confident so that you are ready to move for a better alternative. Now let us take a look at them.

It must be a well reputed and well known site

A site that is well known and has a good reputation can actually help you attract the attention of potential employers. They are well equipped enough to make your search really short and just bring forward those options which are good enough for you to consider. All the big names and the companies that would value your qualifications and experience would be brought in front of you within a short period of time.

The site should protect your personal information responsibly

Now there are quite a number of sites that can not help sending emails to you even after you have removed your resume and also give the link of your email id to other sources that would keep buzzing you over a period of time. You should avoid such sites that would be a constant source of problem to you even after you have bagged a job with the help of them. And you must be careful with the fact that you are not disclosing some of your real confidential and personal information to them. If the site is not responsible enough then chances are that your information gets tampered.

Such a site should be used that is user friendly

If the sites are not user friendly, then you will naturally not feel very comfortable working with them. In a site there are many other features apart from just uploading your resume. There can be features of using free tools and if these processes land up to be confusing then chances are that you will not feel very happy working with it and you shall not even get to extract the best out of the site. Moreover not only you, even the recruiters must find it easy to use or else your resume would remain undiscovered for a long period of time.

So these are some of the features you must look for your alternative search. Resume boomer is quite a good option in this case and even sites like careerbuilder and indeed.com may also be considered.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

SaaS Platform Makes a Difference

by: Jason Harrison

If you are a retailer with anywhere from 3 to 25 locations, you may be struggling to keep track of all of your inventory and sales. In fact, you probably need to look into POS retail systems. Point of sale retail systems make the difference between getting real-time information and always being a step behind the game. It can make the difference between a sale and a loss. In order to survive in today's up to the minute world, one needs to be fully integrated and connected.

Locating a company that offers Software as a Service (SaaS) is the best way to go for POS retail systems. This type of platform can help you get the integrated POS retail system you are looking for without bulky servers and costly overhead. Cost-effective service with highly trained support of all technical issues is important to you. Your business wants to link all of its locations together so that you can easily manage store operations without time being wasted. Knowing what is on hand, in transit or on order is exactly what POS retail systems provide.

One benefit of a POS retail system with a SaaS platform is that sales can be increased. For instance, if a customer in a clothing shop wants a particular piece of clothing in a certain size, he wants it now. If it is not in the store location where he is shopping, your salesman can immediately determine where it is through the hosted POS retail system, and can find out how long it will take to get it in. This may save you a sale and actually give you a repeat customer, because we all know that happy customers come back and shop again.

Another benefit of POS retail systems is the ability to reduce costs. Double ordering can be eliminated through the instant knowledge of real-time inventory one gets with a POS retail system. If you know what is selling and what isn't, you can order ?hot' items on the fly. Having notification of all orders being placed by managers or purchasers through your POS retail system will help you stay on top of your inventory as well. Lack of information can be expensive. Having instant, accurate information at your fingertips with a POS retail system will help you to reduce costs.

Instead of hiring a company that has high prices and expensive POS retail system hardware and software with long-term contracts, you can find a company that has short-term subscriptions and reasonable prices. Going with a POS retail system that offers SaaS will provide you with easy support. Choosing a company with the experience of years of providing POS retail systems will ensure that they can more easily tailor your POS retail system to meet your needs.

With the SaaS type of POS retail system, you can integrate your current hardware rather than needing to purchase new things. Whether you use Java, Windows or UNIX applications, the company can interface with your current system. Your new POS retail system will keep you integrated and on top of things. You will wonder how you ever got along without your SaaS based POS retail system.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

How to Choose the Best Point of Sale Software

by: Jason Harrison

With many technological innovations, we hear the promises of ?unmatched excellence', ?the most user-friendly', and ?just what your business needs.' But amid all of these promises, we know that one of the products must be superior to the others. With point of sale software it can seem difficult to know which system will actually be the best for your retail chain and the situation it finds itself in. ?How can I get the most of my investment in a POS software system?" is the question on most entrepreneurs' minds.

Number one is the selection of your particular software. You need to make sure that the point of sale software is right for your business. If you are running a clothing store, one which features a bar code scanner is essential, yet at the same time, a restaurant may not need such a tool. If you are in a very niche specific part of the market, it would be wise to look into point of sale software systems that are designed specifically for such endeavors. As you look at the types of systems, be sure to look at hosted systems that offer Software as a Service (SaaS) because this type of system can truly meet all of your needs.

Once you select the proper system, it is important to know how to use it. It might seem like common sense, but you need to be familiar with all of the capabilities of your particular point of sale software system. If you purchase the software, trained specialists will give a tutorial and you must take full advantage of this. With the help of these professionals and the manual, you as the owner must get very familiar with the different operations that your system can run. Using a hosted SaaS system really cuts down on the amount of time you must spend learning new software, because they work with your existing software and hardware.

Another helpful tip is that you need to develop trust in your point of sale software system. The algorithms and procedures that the system is designed to run have been well tested in the retail chain store industry and will help you to make correct decisions. You must go by the numbers generated by your point of sale software. Your gut feelings or hunches need to be ignored in favor of the concrete evidence that the computer will give you. With this tip in mind, you need to review your business's performance on a weekly or even daily basis to know what is actually happening on the sales floor. Just having point of sale software that can make fancy reports is not enough. You need to look at and analyze the reports to make the correct business decisions.

Finally, you need to make proper use of the inventory reports that the system will give you. Underperforming stock needs to be sold as soon as possible. As the merchandise sits on your sales floor, it is costing you money. You need to determine a price or amount of time at which the product is costing you more money than it is worth. The hosted SaaS point of sale software system will be instrumental for inventory management.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Online Tutoring from Tutornext

When I was a primary school student I have always had difficulties in solving my homework. Be it physics, math, algebra or calculus I needed guidance to do my homework. Fortunately there were a lot of people whom I could ask for homework help. Usually my parents accompanied me when I was doing my homework and if not there were always my brother and sisters. That was a long time ago when math help or algebra help was very hard to find. But now with the help of Tutornext you can find an online tutor for your K-12 children with ease.

Tutornext is an online tutoring system where you can choose a tutor to help your children with their math problems. The system is student driven meaning that you get to choose which subjects you want the tutor teach your children. This is to ensure that what the tutor is teaching comply with the curriculum of your child's school. Tutors on the site are experts in their subjects and before becoming a tutor at Tutornext they have to undergo months of rigorous training. So you need not worry about guidance for your children anymore. Whenever they need calculus help, physics help or any hard subjects all they have to do is log on to the website and get online tutoring 24x7.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Clash of the Titans: Interactive TV vs Regular TV

by: Alan Spencer

Quality on screen

Interactive tv is a form of digital tv and that means nothing more than razor sharp images and lots of eye for detail. A regular tv is analogue and that results in static. The images are granular and that won’t happen with interactive tv.

Amount of channels

Digital or interactive tv means a lot more channels than you get on your regular tv. Lots of foreign channels, but also theme channels about travelling, cooking, cars… basically any subject has its own channel! Of course sports and films have their own channels too, but you’ll have to pay extra for those.

Making decisions

With a regular tv you’re forced to turn to your tv guide. This isn’t the case with interactive tv. You can choose whatever you want to watch, whenever you want to watch it. It’s no problem is you’ve missed something you’d wanted to watch, because you can tape the stuff you want to see! Another advantage is that you can fast forward those annoying, long commercial breaks. This of course, is impossible with a normal tv.

A box

A normal tv you just switch on and you can watch tv. Or flick through channels because that’s why you’ve got that remote control. It’s not as simple with digital/interactive tv. You’ll need to install a box that receives digital tv. Plug it in with the scart cable and then just kick back and relax while flicking through a whole mother load of extra channels. If you want to be able to tape things, get yourself a hard disk recorderd. When you decide to get ITV, you usually get the choice anyway: a tv-receiver or a tv-receiver with hard disk recorder. Of course it’s possible to tape stuff with a normal tv as well. Use the almost extinct videorecorder or the more modern dvd recorder.

Interactive participation

With ITV you can actually participate in programs. With regular tv you just grab a pen and write down answers during a quiz or test, with interactive tv you use the remote control to push buttons to vote and pick answers while watching.

Home cinema

Of course you can just as easily hire a dvd or watch a movies at home with your regular tv set. With interactive tv however, you’ll bring home the cinema. Or more like the video shop, because with one push of the button you’ll enter a long lists of movies you can watch. Apart from those there are also lots of tv series available. Just sit back and watch whatever you want without having to leave the house on a rainy day.

Watch missed shows

With a regular tv you have to wait for the rerun if you’ve missed a program you wanted to see. And waiting sucks, especially if they air the rerun at a ridiculous time at night or in the morning right in the middle of the week. If you’ve got interactive tv, you can watch everything you’ve missed today or yesterday with Missed Airings. The whole grid of the three main channels is available, but you can rewatch other channels too. Just adjust your subscription.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Web Hosting Rating

Nowadays more and more people join the online venture by making a website or blog. They create this website to promote themselves, sell products online or making money through Google Adsense, Pay Per Click, etc. In their mind, the most important thing to achieve is high traffic. They achieve this by Search Engine Optimization (SEO), link exchange or joining social networking. But most of them probably neglect the one thing that really affects traffic that is web hosting. For me choosing a good web hosting company decide whether you can be successful with your online business.

To know which web hosting company is the most suitable for your business, you need to ask the expert. Just go to WebHostingRating.com and be amazing of how easy that you can find information related to web hosting. On the front page of the website you can find the Best 10 Cheap Web Hosts for the year 2010. If you are in a hurry then just check out this section and read the reviews of each web hosting. These reviews were made by people who have used the service before. The more good reviews a web hosting company get the better it is. On the site you can also find information on Linux Hosting. My advise is that you need to read all the reviews before choosing a hosting company. Better be late than sorry right?

So a high traffic website always starts with a good web hosting company. Choosing one is a little bit tricky but thanks to reviews provided by WebHostingRating.com you can easily choose the best hosting company for your website.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The Difference Between ADSL & Cable

by: Alan Spencer

Through the phone line

Although most people don’t even use their home phone anymore (cell phone, anyone?), the line that makes that connection is the main difference between ADSL and cable internet. ADSL enters your house through that line, while cable comes in via a datanetwork your cable company provides. Both connections are broadband.

So?

Cable goes through a network and that means you actually share the available connection with other people. And if those people like to download you’ll soon notice that the speed of your internet connection decreases. How ‘bout that! You’re paying for stuff that’s not even yours alone! ADSL on the other hand is just for you so there’s no sharing with the rest of the ‘hood. Be aware though: cable is not guranteed to be slower than ADSL! It can actually be faster…

Tech talk: ADSL

Without getting too technical, you might want to know ho wit works backstage. ADSL comes in through a analogue or digital phone line. This means the availability is very high. But there’s a big flaw in the whole ADSL game. If you don’t live close enough to the power station, the speed of your internet goes down rapidly. Bandwidth always stays the same, but quality (speed) might decrease. It might happen, it’s not guarenteed to happen!

Tech talk: cable

Cable is commonly described as a possibility to reach a high maximum download speed. But again, you share this with other people so you might end up paying for a service that doesn’t really live up to its prize…

One or more providers

Another factor is that within most cable networks usually one provider rules the line. For real, you can’t choose another company. ADSL however is on your own phone line and you can see for yourself who holds that line. That’s the law, to be exact. But the signal goes down if you’re too far from the power station, the maximum distance is said to be 4 km and basically that’s nothing.

So what’s the best choice?

First of all it’s wise to look around so you can see what everyone has to offer. The choice isn’t really that big of a deal, as you as you can go on the internet. But what are the perks? The providers want new customers so they’re bound to have discounts and other win-win options. And your bank account wins too! The speed of you connection is just one of few things you need to pay attention to. Some providers let you customize your subscription after sealing the deal. It’s important you get to have a say in things, as you don’t want to get stuck in a deal that doesn’t result in what’s best for you.

Compare gifts

While browsing around for internet subscriptions, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the extras the providers are, well, providing. A free phone for example, or tv on demand (internet tv). And think about how you want to use your internet. Are your main activities surfing and emailing? You will definitely not need a fast and expensive connection. But if you’re ready to download all those movies you still haven’t seen, you want to invest in the speed of your internet connection.

Conclusion?

You don’t share ADSL, but if you’re located too far from the power sation, this might have an influence on the speed of your internet. You do share cable with other people, and this might have an influence on your connection speed as well… whatever you choose, it’s a matter of trying and see for yourself. No matter how many neighbours you have, you’ll still be able to download stuff. Also when you’ve got ADSL!

Friday, October 15, 2010

How to Use Twitter Like the Pros

by: Matthew Loop

For those that haven't heard, Twitter is a super-sweet medium where folks can glance into your life to see who you really are. This being said, it's a good idea to post "Tweets" about things that are going on in your life daily, as well as what you're doing and thinking about. Now, I'm not saying you need to document your entire life's story, but simple let people know when something worth posting surfaces. I recommend Tweeting articles and videos that are comical in nature or regular things that allow someone to look into your world.

The tweets that you post daily are very revealing about yourself and basically tell others if you have things in common or if you're just plain crazy! I've met several people that are interesting in outdoor sports, internet marketing, and people that have the same type of dog I do. It's pretty incredible with whom you can connect with in this form of social media

When navigating on Twitter, pay attention to what people are saying. If there is a question someone has posted, go right ahead and answer it. I know, at first it may feel like eavesdropping, but I assure you everything is fine. When viewing a Tweet that you want to comment on, don't think, just do it.

This is a short-list of reasons to use Twitter every day:

1) You can easily establish connections and meet new friends

2) You get fresh, minute-by-minute insight as to what is happening in peoples lives

3) You get access to links to articles folks have read and particularly enjoyed

4) It's the perfect place to ask legit questions and obtain answers

5) You can connect with people in your local area

6) You can get loads of new business

Twitter is actually pretty easy to understand, you just have to begin today and get familiar with it. I would rate it much simpler than many other social networks that I've discussed in the past. Keep in mind that you always want to add value to a Twitter conversation. This is very basic. If you contribute something of value, individuals will thank you and be inclined to remember you. Some my decide to also follow you in return. In its basic form, though, you'll have gotten someones attention.

The first thing to do once you get on Twitter is to get yourself a user name. I chose @MatthewLoop, so feel free to follow me so you can stay up-to-date on the newest social media happenings and strategies. Decide which of the examples below you want to mimic. If you want, you can alter the names later, but makes sure you think ahead. In a local niche, review these hypothetical listings below for ideas.

- Plummer & your Name = @PlummerJack

- Attorney Related = @AttorneyLady

- Name & Area / Location = @JaredMI

- Brand-Name = @FreeCreditBen

Do yourself a favor and set-up an account on Twitter today. I can promise you it's just as fun and addicting as Myspace, YouTube, or Facebook. In the coming days I will also be putting up a video on one of my YouTube channels so keep your eyes posted as well. Continued success!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Bing Search Engine

by: Sue Cooper

The Bing search engine is Microsoft’s foray into the search engine market. It is not their first attempt at creating a search engine though. In fact, the Bing search engine was developed from the Microsoft Live search engine. It is a powerful search engine which yields many relevant results for just about any keywords you enter.

The results obtained from Bing are typically quite useful. They are also well laid out with a list of results appearing in the main column of the results page. There are also subheadings, which feature related keywords and a few results for these related keywords. This feature is useful from a user’s perspective because it can help them find a wide variety of information for one subject rather quickly. The layout also clearly distinguishes results from sponsored sites by placing these results on the right hand sidebar under the column heading Sponsored Sites. The other keywords featured on the results page are listed at the top of the sidebar on the left hand side for easy navigation. There is also a list of related searches you can jump to for even more information.

The Bing search engine does not just let you search for relevant websites though. Like other popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo!, there is also the ability to search for keywords in specific categories. Some of these categories include images, videos, shopping, news, maps and travel. There is also a really cool visual search feature which lets you navigate through pictures which may be of interest to you. To use this feature you can either enter keywords or navigate through a series of categories until you find a photo of interest to you.

Although Bing might not be the most well known or the most popular search engine available, it is definitely worthwhile for website owners to monitor their rankings and take measures to attempt to improve their rankings. This is simply because it is a Microsoft product and many people are fans of anything Microsoft does and will utilise this search engine out of brand loyalty. However, it does not make sense to optimise for this search engine at the expense of more popular search engines, such as Google. For example, it would not make sense to make changes to your website simply to improve your Bing ratings if these same changes lowered your Google ratings.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Who Created Google?

by: Sue Cooper

Do you want to know a secret? The answer to the question in the title of this article is me. That’s right, I created Google. No, really, and so did you. You don’t believe me? Okay, maybe that is because you have already heard the story of how Google was created by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, PhD’s of Stanford University, and how the concept for Google was born of Page’s dissertation idea to investigate the mathematical properties at work online. It is truly a great story and Page and Brin do get the credit for creating the company known as Google, but they are not solely responsible for the popularity of the company. This is where you and I come into the picture.

Well, before we come into the picture I have to admit the marketing team at Google also played a significant role in the success of Google. While Page and Brin put together the concept behind the page rank system, it is their marketing staff who really helped to promote Google as the superior choice in search engines. The fact that Google produces reliable results is important, but there are other search engines out there such as Yahoo! and Bing that are also doing this, but they are not nearly as popular as Google.

Think about when your friend asks you the name of a song and you can’t think of the answer. Do you tell him to just DogPile it? Do you tell them to Yahoo! it? No, you are much more likely to tell him to Google it. That is because the marketing team at Google has done such an excellent job of branding this company that their name has come to mean search engine in the minds of many internet users. It is the first place many of them turn for any information they want.

Which brings us to why I created Google! Right, it wasn’t just me, you helped too. Page and Brin created the concept their marketing team promoted, but it is the users of the internet who embraced it so wholeheartedly. It is also the users of the internet who have remained loyal to the brand. While other fads on the internet have come and gone, this search engine is showing no signs of losing popularity because the internet users are happy with the results they receive when they use Google.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

How to Increase Facebook Fans on your Fanpage

by: Dean Won

What are the best methods to raise your Facebook awareness? There are more than 500 million Facebook profiles with about 50% of who sign in at least once a day to post and check on friends updates. Facebook presents businesses with a huge opportunity. A lot of businesses already use their Facebook pages to drive traffic, increase sales and invariably make more profits, and there’s nothing to stop your business from being a part of this success. If you are looking for ways to advertise products and services to thousandsof Facebook fanson your fan page to increase sales, drive traffic all at no extra cost, here are some tips to get you started:

Facebook Giveaways: If you sell a particular product or service, try offering Facebook only freebies to say the first person who types in the word ‘GO’. Facebook freebies are an existing way to create the buzz amongst your fanbase. They’ll tell their friends about what won from your business and that invariably sells you off by word of mouth to another potential client.

Post Updates Regularly:An active fanpage is more likely to attract more fans. Create contents, discussions and participate with your own thoughts. It may be something that has to do with your business but don’t let it seem you are marketing your business doing this. Blackberry uses Facebook successfully to have people send in photos snapped with their Blackberries. It’s a great way to keep users interested in the product while serving to attract new customers. Employ this strategy and you’ll increase the fans on your fanpage in no time.

Use a Facebook Marketing Service:GettyFans is one example of an affordable marketing service for businesses. A facebook marketing service can help build your facebook fans by the thousands within days or weeks. There are a good number of marketing services out there but getting the right one that provides quality customer support and delivers on sales points may require extra effort.

Upload a Picture to your Fanpage: A lot of people seem to forget this but truth is no one wants to interact with a faceless business. It may be your company logo, office space, or some fun graphic that exemplifies the business, pick up a nice looking graphic and upload that to your fanpage. You will be surprised at how many people sign up after that.

Promote your Fanpage:Post links to your Facebook fan page to as many places as possible. Your website home page, press releases, business cards are favorite places. Chances are someone visiting your website would stumble on these links and click ‘like’ to show support for the business. Promote your fanpage on your twitter page, blog posts you write. You should also mention it in conversations with friends, colleagues, and family.

There is no singular get a million fans to your facebook fan page trick to employ. The best you can do is put these tips to action and watch as your facebook likes increase.

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Microsoft Exchange and Android

by: Adrian Gates

Android Platform is an open source software mobile device platform from the Open Handset Alliance. Companies have built various devices with an array of bells and whistles added to phones, netbooks and tablet PCs, all based on the Android Platform. The market place for the Android apps is ever expanding, becoming more comprehensive. What else mobile devices running on Android OS platform can be configured hassle-free to sync well with Microsoft Exchange Server. Thus, helping the users to be always connected with their Outlook mails, notes, calendar, tasks, etc. even when they are on the move. Businesses can accommodate Google Android phones as well as BlackBerry, Palm, Windows Mobile and iPhone devices with hosted Exchange.

To Use an Android Mobile Device with Hosted Exchange, follow the below steps:

• From the Home screen, tap the gray Application button.

• Tap Email.

• Tap Next.

• Using the keyboard, enter:

• Email Address

• Your full email address

• Password

• Your email password

• Tap Next.

• Tap Exchange account.

• Complete the following fields, and then click Next.

• DomainUsername

• Your full email address preceded by a backslash

(For example, jane@coolexample.com. Please note that some phones do not require the backslash.)

• TIP: If your phone uses the HTC Sense user interface for Android, Domain and Username are two separate fields. The Domain field should be empty. Enter your full email address in the Username field.

• Password

• Your email password

• Exchange Server

• webmail.apps4rent.com

• Use secure connection SSL

• Select this option

• Accept all SSL certificates

• Select this option

• Select your desired Account options, and then tap Next.

• Select your desired settings on Set up email, and then tap Done.

Android Platform Releases

Version 1.5 was the first major release to the Android Platform. This consisted of correcting many significant bugs reported by users including email, Bluetooth and multi-media. Version 2.0 brought with it several Google Android API for users to take advantage of, such as account management, sync adapter and Bluetooth. The email support was enhanced to allow for unified management of multiple Google email accounts, Microsoft Exchange and even Facebook. Version 2.2 brought with it the world's fastest browser as well as an enhanced Android Market Place and flash support for Google Android. Internet connection by hot spot and/or tethering was also improved.

All in all, with Google Android and Microsoft Exchange Server hosting from an application service provider, companies can confidently add the Android Platform to their employee communications options.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Taking Paid Surveys Online-Think Big

by: Jeff Schuman

It seems to me that people who are thinking about taking paid surveys online should start thinking bigger. Just as with Internet marketing being a numbers game, taking paid surveys online is a numbers game as well. To make more money you need to change how you approach it.

1. Survey companies will pay you to give them your opinion. This form of consumer research is not new and in many ways is even more valuable than ever before.

This is true because survey companies can reach a larger number of people via the Internet than they ever could on the telephone or in a shopping mall.

There are plenty of companies you can take paid surveys for. The key is to join more than one survey company and then get a system in place to start taking these surveys.

2. It is going to take you a few minutes to complete a survey. It could take as long as one hour depending on what is involved.

How long the survey takes is based on your speed and the particular needs of the company requesting you to complete the survey. The more questions the survey contains the longer it is going to take you.

You may as well be prepared to spend some time completing the survey if you expect to make money taking them.

3. How much money can you make? I have seen surveys that only pay a few cents, some that pay a few dollars, and some that pay $50 or more once you complete it.

You need to be done able to differentiate between paid surveys and surveys that pay you in points or prizes. There's nothing wrong with completing surveys and earning rewards for them, but if you need to make cash then that is the type of surveys you should concentrate on.

Most survey companies have different categories so you know exactly what type of survey you are taking.

4. Get a system in place and stick to it. You can always log in to your member area and find surveys you can take to make money.

You should set a schedule every week know in advance what hours you are planning on working. Stick to this schedule and do not become sidetracked by outside interests.

If you are doing paid surveys for a part-time job you will have to work if you expect to get paid. The more hours you can schedule yourself to work the more potential money you will make.

If you had a part time job that scheduled you to work 20 hours a week you would not make any money unless you showed up and work those hours. The same thing is true when it comes to taking paid surveys.

5. One final point to make is refer members and earn money on their completed surveys. If you are willing to spend a little time training people you can actually earn as much money referring people as you can taking paid surveys online yourself.

Think big in terms of how many companies you join, how many surveys you take, and how many people you refer.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Blogging - What Is It All About ?

by: Frank Breinling

Blogging is hard even if you're a natural or trained writer. It's difficult to write and write well on a consistent basis, let alone every day. It is all about sharing knowledge and experience. Thus it is important, that you must have lots of knowledge relevant to your blog niche.

Blogging is an art form in its own and is a valuable resource in this day-and-age. Print media simply CAN NOT keep up with the digital world (or the public's demand) and for a company that, as the author has pointed out, has tons of money invested in blogging, it's pretty damn stupid to go and insult that which gives you money. It is still the center of the social media universe. Now you could easily argue I am a bit biased on that point but the facts support the argument. Blogging is much closer to the informal discussions you have in the hallway or via email than it is to peer-reviewed papers. We have to convince faculty members (and other people involved in science) that blogging is the new email.

Blogging is the perfect small business marketing tool. If you're selling and gaining leads via the web, then the web is also your main marketing super-channel. It isn't just a hobby, it's a way of experiencing the world. Blogging isn't dead in my eyes. I think a person's first instinct is to give up if their blog isn't popular, but all it means is that they have to get better.

Blogging is often taken as informal writing. While this may be true, it does not mean that it is okay for a blogger to disregard writing rules. It is about not following a form, but making your own form. To all those bloggers out there who say you "have to be a niche blogger" in order to be successfull I say . Blogging is not for the faint of heart!

Blogging is one of those things which has inserted itself into American culture whether we like it or not. According to the BlogWorld site, of the 147 million Americans who use the internet, almost 40% of them read blogs. Blogging is a GREAT way to achieve that level of communication. Blogging is a reflection in the mirror of what we want to show to the world. For the most part, blogging is about us.

Blogging is not a unique concept, its simply one of the oldest concepts applied to HTML rather than pen and paper. In this matter the buzz word blog and ever possible tense there of are nothing more than keeping a journal and using HTML rather than Pen and Paper to do it.