Ostrich Canada

Welcome to Our Website!

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:40:00 +0000

Thanks for stopping by!

If you're looking to improve your web presence, we’re here to help!

In Barrie, Toronto, and throughout South Central Ontario, Ostrich Canada helps local businesses with:

- Content Marketing;

- Twitter;

- Internet Research and Business Reports; and

- Other Business Writing

For more information about us, feel free to browse the remainder of our website!

The Job Bank Website: Important Resources for Canadian Employers and Employees

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:23:00 +0000

Introduction

Are you a business owner looking to hire new employees and need some information to prepare yourself? Are you an employee looking to find out if you’re being paid fairly? Or are you thinking about a career change and want to do some research? If you’re looking for useful information on almost any type of occupation, the Government of Canada’s “Job Bank” website is a fantastic resource.

In this post, we’ll be detailing the website’s main sections and some of the different ways they can be useful for both employers and employees.

Our Findings

National Occupational Classification (NOC) Data and Information

In the “Explore Careers by Occupation” section of the Job Bank, every Canadian occupation is broken down by category and subcategory based on the nature of the position. These groupings are known as “National Occupational Classifications” (NOCs). Data and information for each category is further broken down by region so it is specific to every geographic area as well.

To perform a search, begin by typing the occupation or area you would like to research. You will notice that a dropdown list will appear below the search field, showing listings that contain the word(s) you are typing. Rather than typing your search query out in full, we recommend selecting an approximate match from the dropdown list to quickly find the information you’re looking for. This is because specific words may not have their own category or location. As an alternative, you may also search by NOC category here.

Once you have found the occupation and location you are looking for, you can then browse the sections available to find more specific information on the occupation. This information is broken down into two sections with four subsections in each. The main/default section includes the following four subsections:

- “Jobs,” which shows current job postings;

- “Wages,” which shows the average, median, and high hourly rates for the occupation;

- “Outlook,” which shows the employment potential for the occupation and local labour market news; and

- “Education & Job Requirements,” which details the necessary licences, certificates, and education required for the occupation

The dropdown list found at the top left-hand corner includes the following four subsections:

- “Description,” explaining what the job entails;

- “Included Job Titles,” listing the different job titles that fall under this job category;

- “Job Duties,” detailing some activities that workers of this occupation are involved in; and

- “Related Occupations,” listing some similar occupations

For employers, this section of the website could be useful in:

- Drafting job descriptions prior to hiring employees for new positions or to improve the ones already in place;

- Determining the appropriate wage (low, average, or high) for any given position;

- Drafting job postings for vacancies; and

- Much more

For employees/workers, this website could be useful in:

- Finding a job;

- Researching the necessary skills, certificates, licences, and qualifications for a new career or position;

- Determining the future demand for a given occupation;

- Determining how well you are being paid compared to the low, average, and high wage for a given occupation; and

- Much more

Other “Explore Careers” Sections

Other subsections of “Explore Careers” include searches by:

- “Education Program”—provides information on related educational programs, what graduates think, finding post-secondary programs, finding money for school, and more;

- “Wages”—provides low, median, and high wages for different occupations;

- “Outlooks”—provides employment potential and trends for different occupations; and

- “Skills & Knowledge”—helps match your skills and knowledge to occupations

Employer Resources

This section is especially important and useful for employers. In the “Employer Resources” section of the Job Bank, the following information can be found:

- Free job postings—Here, employers can post jobs for free;

- Tools to help employers hire, manage, and train employees, as well as handle departing employees and more;

- Labour market information;

- Programs and services for employers; and

- Regulatory information

Job Market Trends and News

In the “Job Market Trends and News” section of the Job Bank, the following news, data, and other information on the Canadian job market can be found:

- News for different industries by province/territory;

- Occupational projections;

- Industry summaries;

- Unemployment rates;

- Average weekly earnings; and

- More

Final Thoughts

All in all, the Job Bank website is a very useful resource, especially with its new format. Now, you can find almost everything you need to know in one place. Whether you’re an employer, employee, or job seeker, you should definitely bookmark this website for future reference.

References

(1)- The Job Bank website from the Government of Canada:

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home-eng.do

Links to More Information

If you’re seeking employment, “Indeed” does a great job of pooling listings from multiple sources for your area:

http://www.indeed.ca

“Eluta” is a similar site and also a great place to look for jobs:

http://www.eluta.ca/

For both employers looking to post jobs for free and prospective employees looking to find them, “Kijiji” is another great place to visit:

http://www.kijiji.ca

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Understanding Your Eyeglass Prescription: What the Numbers and Letters Mean

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:07:00 +0000

Introduction

Do you have glasses? Wondering what the numbers and letters on your prescription mean?

In this post, we’re going to explain what the numbers and letters on eyeglass prescriptions mean.

Our Findings

Acronyms/Words on Your Prescription

On an eyeglass prescription, there are a few different acronyms/words that all have important meanings. Here is what the main letters/words of an eye prescription mean:

OD (oculus dexter)—“ Latin for ‘right eye.’ Your prescription may just say ‘right’ or ‘RE’” (1).

OS (oculus sinister)—Latin for “left eye” (2). Your prescription may just say “left” or “LE” (1).

SPH (sphere)—“Indicates the prescription power, or how strong your lenses need to be to correct your vision. For an indicator of how much magnifying power is needed in a bifocal or progressive lens to correct your vision problems, look for ‘ADD’” (2).

CYL (cylinder)—“Denotes astigmatism (a condition where the cornea is irregularly shaped causing blurred or distorted vision). It also tells the lens strength needed to fix it” (2).

AXIS—“Describes the degree and direction of your astigmatism” (2).

PRISM—“Tells you the amount of prismatic power needed to correct eye alignment problems. However, only a small percentage of eyeglass prescriptions have this” (2).

Other letters you may see and what they mean include:

DV—“stands for ‘distance vision’” (1).

NV—“stands for ‘near vision’” (1).

Numbers on Your Prescription

In order to understand the numbers on your prescription, you need to know what they stand for. To start, the “standard unit of measurement on eyeglass prescriptions [is] called a diopter” (1). “A diopter can be a negative number ([indicating] nearsightedness and a lens that minimizes things), or it can be a positive number ([indicating] farsightedness and a lens that magnifies)” (1). “[This number] indicates how powerful a lens is in order to properly focus light on a person’s retina” and “is the distance [in metres within which] you [can] see an object clearly for a fine-detail task” (1). For example, “a nearsighted person who needs a -1.00 diopter lens can see objects at one metre clearly, but anything farther is blurred,” whereas “a farsighted person who needs a +1.00 diopter lens can see objects at one metre clearly, but anything closer than that is blurred” (1). For a more detailed explanation and other examples, click here and go to the end of the “What is a Diopter?” section.

Next, there are numbers that denote the correction and axes for astigmatism, known as “cylindrical correction” and “axis,” respectively (1). Under axis, this number “is the direction [in degrees] that the person’s vision is not distorted by astigmatism” and where the correction listed under “spherical” is applied (1). Perpendicular to this place on the eye (the number listed plus or minus 90 degrees to equal less than 180 degrees), the amount of correction required is the sum of the numbers under “spherical” and “cylindrical” (1). For an example and more explanation, click here and go to the “Putting It All Together” section.

And that’s it! Hopefully this helps you better understand your eyeglass prescription!

References

(1)- Information on “How to Read Your Eyeglass Prescription” from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind:

http://www.cnib.ca/en/living/independent-living/pages/prescription-1007.aspx

(2)- Information on “Eyeglasses Prescription” from LensCrafters:

http://www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/vision-guide/glasses-prescription

Links to More Information

If you’re wondering what 20/20 vision means, check out our past post titled, “20/20 Vision: What the Numbers Mean and Other Information on Visual Acuity.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Information on Input Tax Credits (ITCs) in Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:05:00 +0000

Introduction

Are you a new business owner? Have you heard about getting the taxes back on business-related purchases? Not sure how to go about doing so?

In this post, we’re going to provide general information and links to resources on input tax credits (ITCs) in Canada.

Our Findings

As a GST/HST registrant in Canada, “you may recover the GST/HST you paid or owe on purchases and expenses related to your commercial activities” (1). This can be done “by claiming input tax credits (ITCs) on line 106 of your GST/HST return, or by claiming an ITC in the line 108 calculation if you are filing electronically” (1).

An input tax credit is defined by the CRA as: “a credit that GST/HST registrants can claim to recover the GST/HST they paid or payable for goods or services they acquired, imported into Canada, or brought into a participating province for use, consumption, or supply in the course of their commercial activities” (2). “To be eligible for an ITC, an expense or purchase has to be reasonable in quality, nature, and cost in relation to the nature of your business. The ITC also has to be based on a reasonable purchase price” (3).

“Purchases and expenses for which you cannot claim ITCs” include:

- “certain capital property;

- taxable goods and services bought or imported to make supplies of exempt goods and services;

- membership fees or dues to any club whose main purpose is to provide recreation, dining, or sporting facilities (including fitness clubs, golf clubs, and hunting and fishing clubs), unless you acquire the memberships to resell in the course of your business;

- goods or services you bought or imported for your personal use, consumption, or enjoyment; and

- any goods and services for which GST/HST was not paid” (4)

For information on “time limits for claiming ITCs,” click here.

For information on “what to do if you incorrectly reported recaptured input tax credits,” click here.

And for all other information on ITCs, view the CRA’s input tax credit webpage, found here.

References

(1)- The input tax credit webpage from the Canada Revenue Agency:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/bspsbch/itc-cti/menu-eng.html

(2)- Definition of input tax credit from the Canada Revenue Agency:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/glssry-eng.html#itc

(3)- Information on “how to calculate your ITCs” from the Canada Revenue Agency:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/bspsbch/itc-cti/hwt/menu-eng.html

(4)- Information on “purchases and expenses for which you cannot claim ITCs” from the Canada Revenue Agency:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/bspsbch/itc-cti/hwt/cnntclm-eng.html

(5)- Information on the “time limits for claiming ITCs” from the Canada Revenue Agency:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/bspsbch/itc-cti/hwt/mssdtcs-eng.html

(6)- Information on “what to do if you incorrectly reported recaptured input tax credits” from the Canada Revenue Agency:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/bspsbch/rtrns/djstmnts/ncrct-eng.html

Links to More Information

For information on how to register your business for GST/HST in Canada, read our past post titled, “Registering Your Business for GST/HST in Canada.” And for more information on GST/HST, check out another past post titled, “Information on GST/HST for Businesses.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Information on the Indian Head Shake, Bobble, or Wobble

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:04:00 +0000

Introduction

Do you know or work with someone who’s from India? Have you had trouble communicating with them at times, especially with regards to knowing if they’ve understood or agreed with something you’ve said? Well, the solution might be as simple as learning about the Indian head shake.

In this short post, we’re going to provide some information and resources on the Indian head shake.

Our Findings

As we all know, different cultures have different ways of communicating, both orally and through gestures. Sometimes, these differences create issues when messages are either not understood or misinterpreted. And with the growth of multiculturalism everywhere, it’s important to learn differences whenever you can.

One important gesture (or group of gestures) to be aware of is the Indian head shake. This important and commonly-used gesture can also be known as a head “bobble” or “wobble” (1). Rather than describe it using text, watch this video to see examples and explanations of this gesture.

Although the gestures from the video are exaggerated, it helps bring light to an important difference Indians can have in expressing the affirmative—they may use the head shake to say “yes” instead of the “nod” that other cultures use (1; 2). The head shake may also be used to: express understanding; express thanks; acknowledge someone’s presence; and communicate kindness (1).

So, if you’ve ever had confusion while communicating with someone from India in the past, hopefully now you’ll be better equipped to communicate with them in future situations.

References

(1)- Information on what the Indian head wobble means from About.com:

http://goindia.about.com/od/greetingscommunication/a/head-wobble.htm

(2)- A video on what Indian headshakes mean from “Meenfriedchickencurry”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj56IPJOqWE&feature=kp

Links to More Information

For a funny discussion on the subject, check out this article from CNN.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Turkeys Can Fly? Some Cool Information about Turkeys

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:57:00 +0000

Introduction

There’s nothing quite like cooking up a nice, plump, juicy turkey to enjoy with family and friends. But, did you know that there’s more to these fat, gobbling, beasts of birds than a funny voice and an ugly face?

In this short post, we’re going to talk about the one, cool feature of turkeys, as well as provide you with links to more information on the birds.

Our Findings

First and foremost, did you know that turkeys can fly?! Most people probably have no idea. It’s funny because after looking at their shape and size, you’d never think it, but they definitely can fly! Check it out in this video!

So, yes, turkeys can fly—they can actually reach speeds of 40 to 55 mph (2; 3). Turkeys fly up into trees at dusk to “roost” (i.e. rest at night), and may do so in large flocks (2; 3). At weights of up to 25 lbs. each, it’s surprising that those tree branches don’t snap out from under them (2; 4)!

Anyway, if you want to learn more about turkeys, including what they eat, how they live, and more, have a look at the links found in our references section below.

References

(1)- Flying turkey video from “Max Zaslove”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaRT_KaZF6g

(2)- Information about “The Wild Turkey in New York State” from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/turkey.pdf

(3)- FAQs about wild turkeys from the Massachusetts department of Energy and Environmental Affairs:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/fish-wildlife-plants/wild-turkey-faq.html

(4)- Information about wild turkeys from Cornell University:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wild_Turkey/id

Links to More Information

Not sure how to cook a turkey? Check out Butterball’s instructions here.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Title Capitalization Tool: Titlecapitalization.com

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:55:00 +0000

Introduction

Have you ever struggled to figure out which words you should capitalize in a title? Looking for a tool that will do it for you?

In this very short post, we’re going to introduce you to Titlecapitalization.com—an awesomely helpful tool that will capitalize your titles for you!

Our Findings

If you’re not an English major, we’re sure you’ve struggled with figuring out which words you’re supposed to capitalize in titles. Thankfully, there’s a tool out there that will do the work for you: the one at Titlecapitalization.com.

On this website, all you have to do is type in your title and the tool automatically capitalizes the words according to the Chicago Manual of Style. It’s that easy!

And if you’re looking for an explanation behind why it capitalizes the words that it does, click on “See the rules” below the tool’s input bar and it will explain the rules that the tool applies.

And that’s it! Now you don’t have to struggle to figure out what should be capitalized in your title!

References

(1)- Titlecapitalization.com’s website:

http://titlecapitalization.com/

Links to More Information

If you’re looking for help with academic or personal writing, check out our past post titled, “OWL at Purdue, Part One: Academic and Personal Uses.” And if you need help with business writing, check out our past post titled, “OWL at Purdue, Part Two: Business Uses.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Organic Products in Canada: Information on Canadian Organic Standards, Directories of Certified Organic Producers in Canada, and Other Related Links

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:52:00 +0000

Introduction

Looking to find an organic operator/producer in Canada? Want to learn about the organic accreditation policies and procedures, as well as the industry’s governing bodies?

In this post, we’re going to provide links to information on Canadian organic standards, directories of certified organic producers, and other Canadian organic-related information.

Our Findings

Basic Information on the Canadian Organic Industry

In 2009, the Government of Canada created the “Canada Organic Regime” to regulate the organic agriculture industry (1). This included creating “Organic Products Regulations” that “define specific requirements for organic products to be labelled as organic or that bear the organic agricultural product [logo]” (1). “The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of the Regulations. Under the Regime, Certification Bodies are accredited based on the recommendation of CFIA designated Conformity Verification Bodies. The Certification Bodies are responsible for verifying the application of the Canadian Organic Standards” (1).

Organic products labelling standards in Canada are as follows:

1. “Only products with organic content that is greater than or equal to 95% may be labelled as "Organic" or bear the organic logo.

2. Multi-ingredient products with 70-95% organic content may have the declaration ‘contains x% organic ingredients.’ These products may not use the organic logo and/or the claim ‘Organic.’

3. Multi-ingredient products with less than 70% organic content may only contain organic claims in the product's ingredient list. These products may not use the organic logo.

4. Certified organic products must also bear the name of the certification body that has certified the product as organic” (1).

The following is the “Canada Organic” logo:

For information on “Canadian Organic Standards,” click here.

For a list of the “Accredited Certification Bodies,” click here.

And for a list of the “Conformity Verification Bodies,” click here.

Directories

If you’re looking to find information (contact or otherwise) on Canadian organic producers, two of the Canadian organic Conformity Verification Bodies have directories available. Click on the Conformity Verification Body below for its directory.

Committee on Accreditation for Evaluation of Quality (CAEQ)—Canada-wide organic operators certified by many different Accredited Certification Bodies

Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC)—Primarily B.C. organic operators.

Some other lists of Canadian organic producers can be found below in references #4-11.

References

(1)- “Canada Organic Regime: A Certified Choice” from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/organic-products/labelling-and-general-information/certified-choice/eng/1328082717777/1328082783032

(2)- The “List of Operators Subject to Organic Control” from the CAEQ:

http://www.losoc.info/losoc_RechercherEntreprises_GrandPublic_En.do

(3)- Search form for organic producers from COABC:

http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/search/search.php

(4)- The Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association’s “FVOPA Membership Listing”:

http://www.fvopa.ca/page/fvopa-membership-listing-/

(5)- The Global Organic Alliance’s “2013 Certified Member/Client Directory”:

http://www.goa-online.org/2013%20GOA%20Membership%20Directory.pdf

(6)- Oregon Tilth’s certified organic operators search:

http://tilth.org/producer-search/producers

(7)- The Organic Crop Improvement Association’s (OCIA) “Organic Product Search”:

http://www.ocia.org/organic-product-search/advanced

(8)- The Pacific Agricultural Certification Society’s “PACS Membership Listing”:

http://www.pacscertifiedorganic.ca/pacs_certified_organic_pacs_membership_listing.html

(9)- Pro-Cert Organic Systems’ “Certified Client List of Operators Located in Canada with Products in Compliance to the Canadian Organic Regime”:

http://www.pro-cert.org/images/documents/Clientposting/2013%20Webposting%20Pro-Cert%20Operators%20-%20COR%20060513%20-2.pdf

(10)- Quality Assurance International’s directory of certified clients:

http://www.qai-inc.com/listings/listings_advanced_search.asp

(11)- Organisme de Certification Quebec Vrai’s “Members directory”:

http://www.quebecvrai.org/members

Links to More Information

For more information on the organic industry in Canada, check out reference #1.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Determining What Size to Make Your Website

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:48:00 +0000

Introduction

Designing a website and not sure what size screen you should make it for?

In this post, we’re going to pass on some thoughts about what you should consider when determining what size to make your website, as well as what screen resolution we recommend.

Our Findings

So, you’re making or redesigning a website. What screen size/resolution should you make it for?

If you ask different people, you’ll often get a different answer. However, the answer you’ll get will likely be one of the following six:

1. Design your website for the most commonly used screen size of all internet users.

2. Design your website for the smallest-used screen size of all internet users.

3. Design your website for the most commonly used screen size of your website visitors.

4. Design your website for the smallest-used screen size of your website visitors.

5. Design your website to be responsive/adaptive.

6. Design your website to be responsive/adaptive in tandem with option #1, #2, #3, or #4.

To us, the best answer is simple:

Design your website to be responsive/adaptive as well as optimized for the smallest-used screen size of all internet users.

Why? Well, first of all, by having a website that adjusts as it’s resized, a website will lack structure; in other words, if a website constantly adjusts as it’s resized, it may lose its desired look as it’s made smaller and smaller or bigger and bigger. As a result, it needs to have some sort of design foundation that remains the same after a certain point, both when it’s made larger and smaller.

As for which screen size/resolution you should design your website for, we recommend choosing the smallest-used screen size of all internet users. This is because we assume you want your website to appeal to the largest audience possible, and designing your website in this way does just that. Now, when we say this, we don’t mean going crazy and designing it for a resolution of 640 x 480 or something like that; we mean you should design your website at a size that discriminates against the smallest user base possible. Specifically, if you use statistics offered by w3schools.com and StatCounter.com, choosing to design your website at a resolution of 1024 x 768 would only discriminate against somewhere around 1% of all internet users (1; 2). As a result, this is the resolution we would recommend at this time.

With all of this said, we want to emphasize that this is only what we recommend at this time. Since technology and screen size usage rates will continue to change, it’s important to keep up with the times and design your website accordingly.

And that’s it! Hopefully this makes it easier for you to choose the right screen size for your website!

References

(1)- “Browser Display Statistics” from w3schools.com:

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_display.asp

(2)- The “Top 10 Desktop, Tablet, & Console Screen Resolutions from Mar. 2009 to May 2014” from StatCounter.com:

http://gs.statcounter.com/#resolution-ww-monthly-200903-201405

Links to More Information

For statistics on screen resolution usage rates, check out the references found above.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

High Efficiency and Regular Laundry Detergent: What’s the Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:45:00 +0000

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between HE and regular laundry detergent? Have you bought either of them and are not sure if the one you have is right for your washer?

In this post, we’ll be passing on information that explains the difference between HE and regular laundry detergent, as well as when and why you should use each type.

Our Findings

The big differences between HE detergents and regular detergents are that HE detergents produce fewer suds and disperse more quickly than regular detergents (1; 2; 3). With this formula, HE detergents work more effectively at lower water volumes than regular detergents (1; 2; 3).

Since HE washers use less water, they require a specific formula of detergent that is effective in that amount of water (1; 2; 3). Regular detergents, on the other hand, are designed to work with larger amounts of water and are therefore ineffective under the conditions that take place within an HE washer, regardless of the amount of regular detergent you use (1; 2). Therefore, to get clothes to wash correctly, you have to use the correct formula of detergent for your washer.

For more information on the subject, have a read of each of the references found below.

References

(1)- Information on high efficiency washers and detergents from the American Cleaning Institute:

http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/assets/1/Page/HE.pdf

(2)- Information on high efficiency detergents from Tide:

http://www.tide.com/en-US/product/tide-he.jspx?ms=true#faqs

(3)- Information on high efficiency detergents from LG:

http://www.lg.com/us/support/answers/washers/high-efficiency-detergent

Links to More Information

That’s it for this one!

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

How to Become a Seller on Amazon: Information on Signing up and More

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:42:00 +0000

Introduction

Do you want to sell goods on Amazon? Not sure if you can or how to go about doing so?

In this post, we’re going to explain how you can sign up as an Amazon seller, as well provide links to more information on the subject.

Our Findings

If you didn’t know, almost anyone can sell on Amazon’s websites! To create an account, you have to go through the following steps:

1. Go to the Amazon Services Webpage—First, go to the Amazon Services webpage, found here.

2. Create an Account and Agree to Terms—Next, you need to create an account and agree to Amazon’s “Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement.” Of course, make sure that you read and agree with all terms and conditions before proceeding.

3. Provide Credit Card Information—In order to create an account, you need to have and disclose a valid credit card. This is to allow Amazon to receive payment for monthly subscription fees (if applicable) or other negative account balances (1).

4. Provide Seller Information—Then, you need to provide your contact information, including address and phone number.

5. Verify your Identity—Finally, you have to verify your identity. This is done by responding to a phone call or text message.

And that’s it! It’s that simple to become an Amazon seller!

How Selling on Amazon Works

The selling process on Amazon goes through the following steps:

1. Upload your Inventory—When you’re signed in, go to “Inventory” and “Add a Product.” From there, follow the directions and fill in the forms provided. Once this is complete, your item will be available for purchase.

2. Buyers Find and Purchase your Product—Eventually, a buyer will find your product and place an order.

3. You Ship the Product to the Customer—You will be notified by Amazon that an item has been sold. At that point, you pack and ship the product to the address provided by Amazon.

4. Amazon Transfers Payment to You—Once you have shipped the product, Amazon will transfer the funds you are due for the sold product.

(1; 2)

More Information

For the fee structure of this service, check out Amazon Services Canada’s pricing here or the U.S. Amazon Services’ pricing here.

For answers to frequently asked questions, check out the Amazon Services Canada FAQ webpage here or the U.S. Amazon Services FAQ webpage here.

References

(1)- U.S. Amazon Services’ webpage:

http://services.amazon.com/content/sell-on-amazon.htm?ld=SCSOAlogin

(2)- Amazon Services Canada’s “How it works” webpage:

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/seller-account/mm-product-page.html?topic=200347400

Links to More Information

For information on Fulfilment by Amazon, check out the Canadian website here and the U.S. website here.

And for a cheaper way to send items from Canada, check out our past post titled, “Access to Cheaper Shipping for Small Businesses: VentureOne from Canada Post.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

20/20 Vision: What the Numbers Mean and Other Information on Visual Acuity

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:40:00 +0000

Introduction

Most people have heard about “20/20 vision.” But, do they really know what it means?

In this short post, we’re going to explain what “20/20 vision” means and provide some other information on visual acuity.

Our Findings

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “a value of 20/20 is normal vision” (1). “This means you can read 3/8-inch letters at 20 feet” (1).

The test performed to determine one’s visual acuity is commonly known as an “eye exam” and professionally known as a “refraction test” (1). This test is performed by having the subject sit in a chair, focus on an eye chart that is 20 feet away, and judge the improvement/decline to their sight based on different lenses (1).

To apply the definition of 20/20 vision, if a person had 20/60 vision, it would mean that someone else with perfect vision (i.e. 20/20 vision) would be able to see the same thing at 60 feet as this person would see at 20 feet; in other words, a person with 20/60 vision has far worse vision than someone with 20/20 vision (2).

And that’s it! Now you know what 20/20 vision actually means!

References

(1)- Information on refraction tests from the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003844.htm

(2)- Frequently asked questions on eye conditions from the University of Michigan:

http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions/faq.html

Links to More Information

If you’re looking for more information on how often eye exams should be performed and answers to other frequently asked questions relating to visual acuity, check out the references found above. Also, for a glossary of eye and vision-related terms, check out this webpage from the American Optometric Association.

Finally, check out our past post titled, “Understanding Your Eyeglass Prescription: What the Numbers and Letters Mean.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Getting Involved in Social Media: The Value of Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:38:00 +0000

Introduction

Do you own a business? Unsure if you should get into social media?

In this post, we’re going to discuss the value of social media for different types of businesses.

Our Findings

In sum, social media can be useful for any business under any circumstance. Why? Because anything done with clear motives/goals and done correctly can be successful. However, the cost/time of social media versus the value it produces might not make it worthwhile.

In general, a business is either a product business or a service business. Also, a business can be small, medium, or large. Moreover, a business can operate strictly locally (in different sizes of cities), nationally, or internationally. And finally, a business can have a small, medium, or large customer base. These business characteristics matter in deciding whether social media is a worthwhile marketing endeavour. In the following sections, we’ll explain under what circumstances social media is most effective and if/how social media can be effective under other circumstances

The Ideal Situation for Social Media

In our opinion, the situation where social media is most effective is if a business:

1. is large (i.e. has people and money);

2. operates on a national/international scale;

3. has a large customer base; and

4. involves the sale of a product.

Besides these characteristics, a business needs to have an audience that participates in social media in order for it to be an effective marketing tool. In this ideal circumstance, you have a large and geographically dispersed customer base, and using regular media marketing would be quite expensive; that is, if you were to pay for TV, radio, print, and other regular forms of advertising everywhere you sell, you’d have to spend a fortune. Instead, you could pay the salary of one to a few people—to manage your social media accounts—and have access to most or a large portion of your customer base. In other words, look at it this way: Facebook apparently has over 1 billion active users—that’s about 1/7 of the world’s population in one place (1; 2). Is there a more cost-effective way to market your business than paying a few thousand dollars in salaries to sell to over a billion people? Definitely not.

Why It’s Easier to Sell Products than Services through Social Media

So, we’ve explained why social media makes sense for a large national/international company with a large customer base. Now, why does it have to specifically be a product-based company?

Products are tangible. You can see a product, feel it, and sometimes hear, smell, and taste it. Oftentimes, you don’t need to physically be in front of it in order to determine that you want to buy it; that is, you can guestimate that a product is right for you without having it in your hands. That’s why online retailing is so huge nowadays. Universally, this fact is more or less understood.

On social media, not only will you likely have access to a big chunk of your customers, but you can seamlessly direct people to your online store and get sales on the spot for products. It doesn’t get more cost-effective and efficient than that. Conversely, since services are largely intangible, customers often need to experience them in some way before they make a purchase. Therefore, no matter how much you can interact and build a rapport with your customers through social media, you’ll still have to spend on in-person sales, telephone customer service agents, and/or others. Consequentially, it’s not a simple “point and click” sort of sale, and thus social media can’t do it all for you. All the same, the ability to build a rapport on social media is definitely a benefit to the sales process, so it obviously has value and is worth consideration.

Other Circumstances Where Social Media Marketing Makes Sense

As we’ve mentioned, the general characteristics that we believe determine the value of social media to a company are company size, the size and location of the customer base, and the type of business. Obviously, you don’t have to be a massive international corporation selling products in order to find value in social media. For example, social media (and online marketing avenues in general) would have great value to a small clothing company—it gives them nearly the same marketing opportunities as much larger companies, helping them better compete. That being said, if you’re a company of one or two people, can you spare a person to sit on Twitter for a chunk of each day?

As a result, it’s not so much a question of if social media has value for a company—because it often will have value—but more so if it’s the best use of the company’s limited and valuable resources. This is where the answer to the social media question is: “It depends.” It depends on how much of your target market is active on social media, if they want to be reached there, if you have someone who can commit time to social media, and so on. Altogether, if you can clearly prove that social media provides more value than it costs and you have the means to do it, then it makes sense. However, this should never be a guessing or hoping game; you need to measure its value and know.

Circumstances Where Social Media Marketing Isn't as Effective

The easiest way to answer when social media marketing isn’t as effective is to look at the opposite side of the ideal situation: If a large company with a large market, selling products internationally is perfect for social media, a small company with a small market, selling locally is not a very good situation for use of social media. For example, if you provide services in a small town to a small customer base that doesn’t use the internet, social media obviously doesn’t have any value. Now, as mentioned earlier, social media can be successful in almost any situation if done well, but less-than-ideal situations would obviously provide less value; if you’re a one-person company in the aforementioned situation, personal selling would be a much better use of a company’s resources than using social media.

Final Thoughts

The biggest thing we want to emphasize is social media isn’t right for every business. First, in order to produce value from using social media, you need to be able to devote enough time to the endeavour. Also, just because it produces good value to some businesses, it doesn’t mean that it’s the best option in your situation. And finally, we have to emphasize that there are lots of people out there who will try to sell you on the subject because they want to make money off of you. Remember that if they’re not echoing what we’re saying here, they’re lying to you and you should speak with someone else.

We hope this helps! Good luck!

References

(1)- Facebook company information:

http://newsroom.fb.com/company-info/

(2)- United Nations Population Fund’s “Population Trends”:

http://www.unfpa.org/pds/trends.htm

Links to More Information

Check out the Twitter page of “Blame it on fast foods,” managed by Ostrich Canada and found here.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

PIPEDA: Information on the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:35:00 +0000

Introduction

Do you ever worry about how your personal information is being handled? Want to know your rights regarding the handling of your personal information?

In this post, we’re going to introduce you to PIPEDA, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, and connect you with information on the how your information is meant to be handled.

Our Findings

PIPEDA for Individuals

“When you do business with a company, you do more than simply exchange money for a product or service: Unless you pay in cash, you also leave behind a trail of personal information about yourself. Your name, address, credit card number, and spending habits are all information of great value to somebody, whether that’s a legitimate marketer or an identity thief” (1). As a result, laws have been created to protect individuals from the mishandling of personal information. One of these laws is the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

Under PIPEDA, private-sector organizations must “collect, use, or disclose your personal information by fair and lawful means, with your consent, and only for purposes that are stated and reasonable” (1). They must also “protect your personal information through appropriate security measures and destroy it when it’s no longer needed for [its] original purposes” (1). Moreover, “you have the right to expect the personal information the organization holds about you [is] accurate, complete, and up-to-date. That means you have a right to see it and to ask for corrections if [it’s] wrong” (1).

For more information about PIPEDA for individuals, check out the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s “Guide for Individuals” on PIPEDA, found here. Also, check out the “Information for Individuals” webpage (found here) that covers subjects like:

- How to file a complaint

- How to protect your privacy

- How to protect your privacy in the workplace

- How to protect your identity

- How to protect your personal information online

- and More!

PIPEDA for Businesses

If you own or operate a business, knowing what’s required of you under PIPEDA and related legislation is absolutely critical. To learn about your responsibilities, check out the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s “Guide for Businesses and Organizations,” found here.

And if you’re looking for up-to-date information on interpretations of and rulings related to PIPEDA, visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s “Legal Corner,” found here.

References

(1)- “A Guide for Individuals” on PIPEDA from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

https://www.priv.gc.ca/information/02_05_d_08_e.asp

(2)- “Information for Individuals” on PIPEDA from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

https://www.priv.gc.ca/resource/ii_e.asp

(3)- The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s “Guide for Businesses and Organizations”:

http://www.priv.gc.ca/information/guide_e.asp

(4)- The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s “Legal Corner”:

https://www.priv.gc.ca/leg_c/index_e.asp

Links to More Information

Check out our past post titled, “Canadian Information on Recognizing and Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Identity Theft.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

The New NHL Playoff Format: How the Standings and Playoff Seeding Work

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:33:00 +0000

Introduction

Confused about the NHL’s new standings structure? Wondering how teams are seeded for the playoffs?

In this post, we’re going to explain the NHL’s new standings and playoff formats.

Our Findings

As part of the NHL’s realignment in 2013-2014, both the league standings and playoff seeding will follow a new format. Each of these new formats is explained below.

New NHL Standings Structure

Under the NHL’s new standings structure, the top three teams in each of the four divisions secure playoff spots. Thereafter, in each conference, the two teams with the highest point totals secure the two “wild card” positions. Here is how it looks:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1st-Best Atlantic Team

2nd-Best Atlantic Team

3rd-Best Atlantic Team

Metropolitan Division

1st-Best Metropolitan Team

2nd-Best Metropolitan Team

3rd-Best Metropolitan Team

Wild Card Spots

7th-Best Eastern Conference Team

8th-Best Eastern Conference Team

Western Conference

Central Division

1st-Best Central Team

2nd-Best Central Team

3rd-Best Central Team

Pacific Division

1st-Best Pacific Team

2nd-Best Pacific Team

3rd-Best Pacific Team

Wild Card Spots

7th-Best Western Conference Team

8th-Best Western Conference Team

New Playoff Seeding Format

In the NHL’s new playoff seeding format, the top team in the conference plays against the 8th-best team in their conference. Next, the best team in the other division plays against the 7th-best team in their conference. And finally, the 2nd and 3rd-placed teams within each division play against each other. Here is how the Eastern Conference’s playoff seeding could look:

Atlantic Division

1st-Best Atlantic Team

(assuming this team has the highest point total in the conference)

vs.

8th-Best Eastern Conference Team

2nd-Best Atlantic Team

vs.

3rd-Best Atlantic Team

Metropolitan Division

1st-Best Metropolitan Team

(the highest points in the Metropolitan Division, based on the assumption above)

vs.

7th-Best Eastern Conference Team

2nd-Best Metropolitan Team

vs.

3rd-Best Metropolitan Team

Now, if it was the 1st-Best Metropolitan Team that had the highest point total in the conference, the 7th and 8th-best teams would simply switch spots.

Then, in the second round, the two winners within each division play against each other; in other words, the second round is the equivalent of a division championship. Next, in the third round, the winners of those two series play for the conference final; that is, the division champions face each other for the conference championship. And finally, the remaining team from each conference play against each other for the Stanley Cup.

And that’s it! It isn’t too complicated!

But, if you’re still confused, have a look at this videoprovided by the NHL that explains the new Stanley Cup Playoffs format.

References

(1)- “Stanley Cup Playoffs format, qualification system” from NHL.com:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=711015

(2)- “The Explainer: New NHL playoff seeding format” from CBC.ca:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/the-explainer-new-nhl-playoff-seeding-format-1.1871216

Links to More Information

If you’re looking for a third explanation, have a look at reference #2 in the “References” section above.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Pricing Your Book: How to Price a New Publication

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:31:00 +0000

Introduction

Are you about to publish a book? Not sure what price to set?

In this post, we’re going to go over some thoughts and ideas on determining the price of a new publication.

Our Findings

Of course, when you’re pricing a new publication, you have numerous options and can choose any one you’d like. That being said, there are some important things to keep in mind as they will have a major impact on your book’s profitability. The following are some of those factors.

Market Prices

First, one of the most important things to keep in mind about pricing in general is that no matter what price you want to set, you can only set it within the range of what people are willing to pay. For example, you could price a book at $700.00, and sure, you’d make a lot of money per book, but if nobody is going to buy it at that price, you’ll make nothing. This reality even transfers over to comparably minute changes in price in certain situations, where as little as a $2.00 difference can have a huge impact on sales volume and profitability.

As a result, one of the most important things to do when setting a book’s price is to know what comparable books are sold for. This involves looking at books that:

1. Are on similar topics

2. Are approximately the same trim size

3. Have the same format (i.e. paperback, hardcover, or e-book)

4. and Have a similar page count

After you’ve found a sufficient amount of comparables to your book—and of course, the more the better—you can then construct a range within which you should set your price.

Book Costs and Target Profit

After you have a price range for your book, you can then look at how much your book costs compared to that range. This will allow you to see your potential margins and profit per book based on whatever price you set. As you do this, be sure to not only factor in the cost to produce the book, but also distribution/shipping, seller commissions, mandatory discounts, and any other costs involved in getting the book printed, sold, and distributed. This allows you to get a true indication of what you can make per book, in turn allowing you to determine how many books you’ll need to sell to meet your target profit.

High End, Low End, or Average

Alongside comparing book costs to target profit is evaluating whether high-end, low-end, or average pricing is your best bet. Besides knowing your margins, you’ll have to weigh the potential for higher sales volume at lower prices versus lower sales volume at higher prices. Of course, these pairings don’t always turn out being the case; sometimes, a higher price may sell more from being seen as of higher quality, whereas a lower price may sell less if it’s seen as of lower quality. As a result, this part of the decision requires careful consideration and depends on each book’s unique situation.

One final thing to note on what point to choose within the range is your book’s life cycle. As with most products, your book will likely lose its value over time. Consequentially, if you price your book at the low end of its range, decreasing its price over time may not be viable due to its margins; in other words, you may wish to price higher at the start to allow for discounting as you attempt to maintain sales volume at the end of your book’s life cycle. Conversely, pricing too high at the start may not create enough sales to stimulate reviews and recommendations, so it’s clear that this decision requires careful consideration.

E-Books (if applicable)

Another thing to keep in mind is the pricing of your book’s e-book version, if applicable. If you are going to be selling an e-book version, this may allow you to price higher for your paperback and use a lower price on your e-book to stimulate sales. Of course, the rules applicable to the paperback (mentioned above) still apply, but having an e-book version combines to give you more flexibility in your pricing strategy overall.

Other Ideas

“Pay What You Want” Pricing

If it can be done, you could use “pay what you want” pricing as a strategy. By using this, you allow the market to pay what it thinks is fair—which may be higher or lower than what you would like to sell it for—and it may also be a great marketing strategy. This could be done with your paperback, e-book, or both. In any case, it’s something to consider.

Using a Book as a Marketing Tool

If writing books isn’t your main business, you could use your book more as a marketing tool than as a direct generator of revenues. What this means is if, for example, you run a consulting business, maybe giving away your books could help market your business and draw in customers to your most profitable business function: Your consulting services. Likewise, maybe running a YouTube channel or a website is more profitable than book sales, so giving away books or e-books may be a worthwhile method of promoting your main area of business. Again, it’s something to consider.

Conclusion

Pricing your book clearly depends on numerous factors. Altogether, if it’s meant to be an important source of income over time, you’ll need to price your book consistent with comparable books, all while keeping costs and target profit in mind. If you do this and market your publication well, you should do fine.

References

Just us!

Links to More Information

Many studies have shown that odd-number pricing may help increase sales. Have a look at these two reports on the subject:

- “Increased Consumer Sales Response Through Use of 99-Ending Prices”

- “Effects of $9 Price Endings on Retail Sales: Evidence from Field Experiments”

And for more information on publishing in Canada, check out the following posts:

- How to Become a Book Publisher in Canada: Signing Up with the Canadian ISBN Service System

- Getting and Assigning ISBNs in Canada

- Information on Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) Data for Canadian Publishers

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Canadian Information on Recognizing and Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Identity Theft

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:22:00 +0000

Introduction

Technology has done wonders to increase the convenience and speed of communication throughout the world. These days, we can communicate with anyone from across the globe in a moment’s time.

But, with all of these advances in technology have come many threats. Since we now can communicate personal and confidential information over the phone and internet to anyone, anywhere, the ability of fraudsters to access such information has greatly increased.

To help you protect yourself, in this post, we’re going to connect you with some Canadian resources that will help you recognize different ways people try to commit fraud and identity theft.

Our Findings

To protect Canadians from fraud and identity theft, the Canadian Government and its agencies offer numerous resources on these subjects. The following are some of those resources.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s Website

This website has information on:

- Different scam types

- Identity theft

- How you can recognize a scam

- How to report fraud

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s “Scams and Fraud” Webpage

This webpage has information on:

- Identity Theft and Identity Fraud

- Payment Card Fraud

- E-Mail Fraud/Phishing

- Mass Marketing

- Internet-Related Fraud

- and More

The Competition Bureau’s “Fraud Prevention” Webpage

This webpage has information on:

- How to recognize fraud

- How to report fraud

- Common scams

- Victim stories

- and A fraud quiz

The Government of Canada’s “Get Cyber Safe” Website

This website has information on:

- Cyber Security Risks, including scams and fraud and common threats

- Protecting yourself, including your family, your identity, your money, and your business

- How to protect your devices

- and More

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s “Fact Sheets” Webpage

This webpage has information on:

- PIPEDA (the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)

- The Privacy Act

- Identity Theft

- and More

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s “Fraud” Webpage

This webpage has information on:

- Identity fraud

- Debit card fraud

- E-mail and phone fraud

- Real estate fraud

- and Online fraud

The Canada Revenue Agency’s “Security” Webpage

This webpage has information on:

- Protecting yourself from fraudulent communications

- Security of taxpayer information

- Protecting yourself against identity theft

- Fraud prevention

- The CRA and internet security

- and Internet security tools

Conclusion

The best way to make sure that you won’t become a victim of fraud or identity theft is to never give anyone personal information over the phone or through the internet when they contact you. Instead, contact the applicable party yourself using an official (published) phone number to ensure that you’re not communicating with a fraudster. And, as it’s always recommended to do, report all scam attempts to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (found here).

References

(1)- The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s Website:

http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/recognizeit.html

(2)- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s “Scams and Fraud” Webpage:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/index-eng.htm

(3)- The Competition Bureau’s “Fraud Prevention” Webpage:

http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/h_00122.html

(4)- The Government of Canada’s “Get Cyber Safe” Website:

http://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/cnt/prtct-yrslf/index-eng.aspx

(5)- The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s “Fact Sheets” Webpage:

http://www.priv.gc.ca/resource/fs-fi/index_e.asp

(6)- The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s “Fraud” Webpage:

http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/Eng/forConsumers/topics/fraud/Pages/home-accueil.aspx

(7)- The Canada Revenue Agency’s “Security” Webpage:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/scrty/menu-eng.html

Links to More Information

If you’re concerned about the legitimacy of a government contact, check if it is included in this list of Canadian Government Departments and Agencies. And, again, contact them via an official phone number rather than give them information when they contact you.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Information on Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) Data for Canadian Publishers

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:20:00 +0000

Introduction

Publishing a book? Not sure what Cataloguing in Publication is or how to get the data for your book?

In this post, we’re going to pass on information about how to get Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) data for your Canadian publication.

Our Findings

“Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) is a voluntary program of cooperation between publishers and libraries. It enables the cataloguing of books before they are published, and the prompt distribution of this cataloging information to booksellers and libraries” (1).

In order to “be eligible for CIP, a publication must meet the following basic criteria:

1. The publication in question will be published in Canada (i.e. by a publisher with a Canadian address).

2. The publication is not yet printed/produced.

3. For printed and other tangible media, it will have a print run or production of at least 100 copies.

4. It is intended for public distribution” (2).

Canadian publishers obtain CIP data by submitting “information about a forthcoming title to a CIP agent library” (1). This can be done by trade publishers via this webpage. The process takes about ten business days for completion (2).

For answers to some frequently asked questions about Cataloguing in Publication, go to the FA Q webpage, found here. We also recommend reading the “Exclusions” section of this webpage.

Otherwise, for the complete guide to Cataloguing in Publication, which covers most of the information you require, click here.

We hope this helps!

References

(1)- Library and Archives Canada’s Cataloguing in Publication webpage:

https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/cip/index-e.html

(2)- The “users guide” to the Cataloguing in Publication program:

https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/cip/041003-3000-e.html

Links to More Information

Want to learn how to become a book publisher in Canada? Check out our past post titled, “How to Become a Book Publisher in Canada: Signing Up with the Canadian ISBN Service System.”

Looking for information on how to get an ISBN in Canada? Check out our past post titled, “Getting and Assigning ISBNs in Canada.”

And if you need advice on how to price your book, check out this post titled, “Pricing Your Book: How to Price a New Publication.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Keeping Track of Your Twitter Statistics: TwitterCounter.com

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:16:00 +0000

Introduction

Looking to start keeping track of your Twitter stats?

In this short post, we’re going to introduce you to Twitter Counter’s Twitter Statistics tracker.

Our Findings

If you’re wondering how many tweets you’ve made or how many followers you’ve gained each day, Twitter Counter is the best place to find that information. On this site, you can check your Twitter profile’s follower, following, and tweet counts over the past three months. Of course, the website does offer a more comprehensive history and other statistics, but these do have a cost. Instead, check out our recommendations under “Links to More Information” for another option.

Twitter Counter also allows you to look up the top 100 Twitter accounts by followers, following, and tweets. This can further be broken down by location, so you can use it to find top accounts in your area as well.

So, if you’re looking to have an idea of your growth in follows/followers and how often you tweet, Twitter Counter is the best place to go. You can check the website out by clicking here.

References

(1)- Twitter Counter’s website:

http://twittercounter.com/

Links to More Information

If you want to keep track of your stats over a longer period of time, here’s what we recommend:

1. Create an Excel spreadsheet.

2. Record your statistics from Twitter Counter over the past three months using two columns—one column for the date and one for total followers.

3. Record the difference from day to day in a third column (i.e. one day minus its previous day).

4. Create a line chart that will provide a visual representation of your growth for columns one and two.

5. Record your statistics every three months using Twitter Counter.

And if ever you’re looking to find out your daily average increase/decrease in followers, simply highlight the applicable cells with your mouse and take advantage of Excel’s average function (found alongside the “count” near the bottom of the program window).

And that’s it! Hope this helps!

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

How to Become a Book Publisher in Canada: Signing Up with the Canadian ISBN Service System

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:13:00 +0000

Introduction

Want to become a registered book publisher in Canada? Doing so is easy!

In this short post, we’re going to give you information on how to register your business as a book publisher in Canada.

Our Findings

In Canada, the process of registering a company as a book publisher is simple.

First, before you begin the process, you may wish to register a business name. This will act as the name of the publishing company under which your book will be published. It isn’t absolutely necessary to do this however, as you may also use your personal name as the publisher name.

After you’ve decided on your publisher name, the only thing left to do is join the Canadian ISBN Service System (CISS). This process consists of filling out a form with your information (found here), and that’s it! If your application is approved, you’ll receive an e-mail stating so as well as your sign-in information.

Yes, becoming a book publisher in Canada is that simple!

References

(1) The Canadian ISBN Service System’s “Join CISS” webpage:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ciss-ssci/041002-1000-e.html

Links to More Information

If you need help with how to fill out the form or how to use the website, go to CISS’s “Help” webpage, found here.

Otherwise, if you need information on how to get an ISBN in Canada, check out our past post titled, “Getting and Assigning ISBNs in Canada.”

If you’re looking for information on Cataloguing in Publication data, including how to get it for your Canadian publication, check out our past post titled, “Information on Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) Data for Canadian Publishers.”

And if you’re looking for advice on how to price your book, check out this post titled, “Pricing Your Book: How to Price a New Publication.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

A List of Verified Twitter Accounts That May Follow You Back

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:11:00 +0000

Introduction

Want some verified people to follow you back on Twitter?

In this short post, we’re going to forward you to a list of verified Twitter accounts that may follow you back.

Our Findings

The Twitter account of Ostrich Canada’s first publication, “Blame it on fast foods” by B. J. T. Pepin, has a list of all the verified Twitter accounts that follow them back. This list can be found at their Twitter page, here. And while stopping by, follow them too! :)

If you like Blame it on fast foods’ Twitter page, check out the book’s website, found here.

Hope this helps you get some verified followers!

References

(1)- Blame it on fast foods’ Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/Blamefastfoods/

Links to More Information

If you want to see a list of all the verified accounts on Twitter, visit @Verified’s “Following” list, found here.

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Checking Your Website for Broken Links: InternetMarketingNinjas.com

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:09:00 +0000

Introduction

Want to check your website for broken links without having to download anything or check each link manually? Well, we’ve found a site that can help you out!

In this post, we’re going to introduce you to InternetMarketingNinjas.com’s “Find Broken Links, Redirects, & Site Crawl Tool.”

Our Findings

If you have a website with many links and have ever tried to check each one manually, you’d know how frustrating and time-consuming the process is. But fortunately, you don’t have to waste your time doing that thanks to InternetMarketingNinjas.com’s free “Broken Links, Redirects, & Site Crawl Tool.”

To use the tool to check your entire website for broken links, all you have to do is:

1. Go to the “Find Broken Links, Redirects, & Site Crawl Tool” at InternetMarketingNinjas.com, found here.

2. Enter your website’s address under “Full URL of website home page.”

3. Select “Up to 500” or “Up to 1,000” under “How many pages of our website do you want crawled?” (or follow the directions provided if you want to select “Unlimited”).

4. Click “Ninja Check,” and that’s it!

Once the tool has finished, all you have to do is look through the results to find out which links are broken and need to be fixed. For more information about status codes—i.e. which ones are broken—check out the descriptions provided by InternetMarketingNinjas.com, found here. It’ll take some time to fix each broken link, but it’ll be a lot easier than checking each one manually!

References

(1)- InternetMarketingNinjas.com’s “Find Broken Links, Redirects, & Site Crawl Tool”:

http://www.internetmarketingninjas.com/seo-tools/google-sitemap-generator/

(2)- Descriptions of status codes from InternetMarketingNinjas.com:

http://www.internetmarketingninjas.com/header-checker/

Links to More Information

Here’s another place to check webpages for broken links from www.it-india.com:

http://www.it-india.com/check-broken-links/

And for information on how to fix broken links, check out our past post titled, “Fixing Broken Links: Using the Internet Archive.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Fixing Broken Links: Using the Internet Archive

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:07:00 +0000

Introduction

Do you reference others’ material on your website? Often run into broken links from content being removed?

In this post, we’re going to introduce you to The Internet Archive’s “Wayback Machine” and show you how it can be used to fix broken links.

Our Findings

If you frequently reference information from other websites on your own website, you’d know how difficult it can be to maintain a website free of broken links. Things can be especially frustrating when the information that you referenced is still reliable, but it’s no longer available and is difficult to find elsewhere.

If you don’t want to scrap the article, what can you do to fix the broken link? Well, thankfully, there’s a great solution out there: The Internet Archive.

The Internet Archive collects (saves) webpages and other types of digital content, allowing the public to have permanent access to such content, even after the content has been removed by its original publisher. As a result, if you reference others’ material and they remove the webpage, you may still be able to reference the content via The Internet Archive.

How to Do It

If you’ve come across a broken link and are not sure how to go about finding archived digital content, here’s how you do it:

1. Go to The Internet Archive’s “Wayback Machine.”

2. Copy and paste the broken link into the search field and click “Browse History.”

3. And you’re done! If the content has been archived, the search result will provide you with an archived version of that content.

From here, to fix the broken link, simply copy the web address from the address bar and put it in the broken link’s place—that’s it!

If you want to help prevent referenced material from disappearing without being archived, you can save the content by submitting it under “Save Page Now” on the “Wayback Machine” webpage.

And there you go! Now you have an easy way to fix your broken links!

References

(1)- The Internet Archive’s website:

https://archive.org/

(2)- The Internet Archive’s “Wayback Machine”:

https://archive.org/web/

Links to More Information

If you’re looking for a tool you can use to check your website for broken links, check out our past post titled, “Checking Your Website for Broken Links: InternetMarketingNinjas.com.”

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

Access to Cheaper Shipping for Small Businesses: VentureOne from Canada Post

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:03:00 +0000

Introduction

If you own a small business in Canada and only send parcels on occasion, there are few options available for cheaper shipping rates. That being said, there is one option out there that any business owner can sign up for: VentureOne from Canada Post.

In this post, we’re going to provide information about Canada Post’s VentureOne program and how to sign up.

Our Findings

If you’ve sent a parcel recently, you’d know that it surely isn’t cheap. For business owners, this definitely matters since expensive shipping rates have a huge impact on profitability. And if you don’t send any volume of parcels, access to cheaper shipping rates is limited.

Fortunately, there is one provider that offers better rates on shipping for small businesses: Canada Post’s VentureOne. Through VentureOne, you receive savings of:

- 5% on selected shipping products

- 3% extra when you prepare your shipping labels online

- 5% on packaging products

- and 5% on Unaddressed Admail

And you get all of this for free!

Signing up for a VentureOne account is easy! You can do so by filling out a paper form and mailing it to Canada Post, but we recommend using the online option. To sign up, all you have to do is:

1. Go to the VentureOne webpage

2. Click on one of the “Join Now” buttons

3. Click on “Sign Up”

2. Complete the form.

3. Submit, and you’re done!

After you’ve signed up, you’ll receive your VentureOne account number, providing you with access to better rates immediately. To use it, simply provide the number to the Canada Post teller before you begin your transaction and you’ll receive a better shipping rate.

And there you go! Now every small business owner can have access to cheaper shipping rates!

References

(1)- Canada Post’s VentureOne webpage:

http://www.canadapost.ca/web/business/ventureone.page

Links to More Information

That’s it for this one!

Want to make a request for free research? Follow the directions found on the right.

Have a comment you'd like to pass on? E-mail contactostrichcanada@gmail.com

The Difference between 10 and 13-Digit ISBNs

noreply@blogger.com (Ostrich Canada) — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 13:01:00 +0000

Introduction

Wondering why there are 10 and 13-digit ISBNs? Want to know what the difference is between the two of them?

In this post, we’re going to explain what the difference is between 10 and 13-digit ISBNs.

Our Findings

In 1970, the ISBN was created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as a way to identify book titles and help make warehousing easier (1; 2). Original ISBNs were 10-digits long (2).

In 2007, ISBNs were increased from 10 to 13 digits (3; 4). Although publishers were allowed to use both 10 and 13-digit ISBNs on publications from January 2005 to December 31, 2006, the 13-digit ISBN became the new standard as of January 1, 2007 (3; 4). Thus, from January 1, 2007 onward, the 13-digit ISBN became the only number provided on publications (3; 4).

And that’s it! It’s that simple!

References

(1)- History about ISBNs from Bowker:

http://www.isbn.org/ISBN_history

(2)- Information about ISBNs from Bowker:

http://www.isbn.org/about_ISBN_standard

(3)- Information about ISBNs from Library and Archives Canada:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/isn/041011-1020-e.html#d

(4)- Information about ISBNs from the U.S. Library of Congress:

http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/13digit.html

Links to More Information

For more information about the transition from 10 to 13-digit ISBNs, check out the references found above.