Articles for all

Brazil sues Twitter users over speed trap and traffic tweets

2012-02-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

by Dara Kerr February 6, 2012 7:05 PM PST

Twitter might have to decide quickly whether to start its new policy of removing tweets on a country-by-country basis.

An image displayed on the Reporters Without Borders Web site.

(Credit: Screenshot by CNET)

Today, the attorney general of Brazil filed a preliminary injunction to block tweets and suspend the accounts of Twitter users who use the social-networking site to warn people about radar locations, speed traps, and DUI checkpoints in the Brazilian state of Goias, according to the news group O Globo.

The Brazilian government claims that these Twitter users are putting people in danger since police can't properly do their jobs and that the users are also breaking the country's penal, criminal, and traffic codes. If the attorney general is granted the injunction, people who violate it could be fined up to $290,000 per day.

One such traffic-tweeting Twitter user, @RadarBlitzGo with 11,960 followers, tweeted its account suspension earlier this afternoon. Others like @LeiSecaRJ with 287,181 followers, and the less widely followed @PaznoTransitoGO are tweeting objections to the lawsuit.

Just over a week ago, Twitter announced that it would selectively remove tweets and block Twitter users at governments' requests. There was strong opposition to this policy and many people said it was akin to censorship.

Twitter said, however, that this policy involved more freedom of information because although the tweets would be blocked in that country, the rest of the world would be able to view the tweets. Until now, the only way Twitter could operate in those countries was to remove the content entirely from its site.

Having the outside world see tweets can be helpful for movements, like the Arab Spring uprising where dissidents sent out information instantaneously despite Internet shutdowns, but it doesn't seem very useful for people to know about speed traps in Brazil.

Twitter has not yet acted on its new policy, but when it does it says it "will clearly mark when the content has been withheld," and post it to the anti-censorship site ChillingEffects.org. Twitter told CNET it has nothing to share at this time on whether it will work with the Brazilian government to block users and remove the tweets.

Can Amazon replicate Apple's brick-and-mortar success?

2012-02-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

by David Carnoy February 6, 2012 6:33 PM PST

There are whispers that Amazon may soon be opening a physical store for its Kindle products and Amazon Exclusives.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

There's been some chatter lately about Amazon opening its own stores out in the non-cyber world. Yes, we're talking physical, brick-and-mortar stores, the kind people can actually walk into.

This is all speculation, of course, but Jason Calacanis got the ball rolling with a post late last year entitled "Rumor: Amazon Retail Stores Coming & Predatory Pricing Channel Destruction."

That was followed last week by a story in The New York Times Bits blog speculating (and citing that Calacanis story) that Amazon might just very well be exploring opening physical stores.

"For years, there has been speculation that Amazon will open its own outlets, presumably to sell Amazon-label products," David Streitfeld wrote. "The idea seems far-fetched, but before 2001 so was the idea of Apple operating its own stores."

No sources were quoted in the Times article, not even anonymous ones, but then the Good E-reader blog claimed that it indeed had a source who said Amazon was in the process of launching a retail store--or more precisely a "test" boutique in Seattle.

The article states:

Amazon sources close to the situation have told us that the company is planning on rolling out a retail store in Seattle within the next few months. This project is a test to gauge the market and see if a chain of stores would be profitable. They intend on going with the small boutique route with the main emphasis on books from their growing line of Amazon Exclusives and selling their e-readers and tablets.

That's right, the article says that one of the reasons Amazon would be launching the physical stores would be to showcase physical books from their new publishing division, which has signed some big authors to deals and is now run by longtime publishing executive Laurence Kirshbaum. Barnes & Noble has stated that it won't sell Amazon's physical books. Books-A-Million and Canadian bookseller Indigo Books just announced that it wouldn't either.

Amazon, according to this unnamed source, was working out some of the tax implications but was looking to launch the test store by the end of this year. In the past, Amazon has argued that since it has no physical stores or warehouses in most states, it shouldn't have to collect sales taxes in those states. However, it has a complicated relationship with affiliates--and affiliate tax laws, which cash-strapped states have used to collect sales tax. But word is that Amazon is increasingly resigned to a future where it will have to collect state taxes, so why not look toward putting more warehouse (or stores) on the ground near major metro areas? Or so the speculation goes.

Amazon at your local mall?
While Amazon won't confirm or deny any of these rumors, it is worth taking a moment to consider whether it would be a good idea for Amazon to open its own physical stores.

A lot of people think it would. Some say it would be a good way for Amazon to deepen its relationship with customers and also provide both hands-on demos and customer service, much like Apple and Barnes & Noble are doing in their stores.

While I certainly think Amazon has the discipline to create a great in-store Amazon experience, its formula of creating "premium products for non-premium prices" runs counter to the Apple formula of creating premium products for premium prices--with correspondingly huge margins.

As a result, Amazon would seem to have less room for error than Apple, and while it has plenty of high-margin products to sell in the form of accessories, the rumored mix of Kindle devices and physical books doesn't seem incredibly enticing, especially when prices for Kindles are so low (that's the stuff you don't mind buying online) and only going lower.

True, Amazon has sought to become more of a lifestyle brand through its advertising (its ads have become very Apple-like in their own way), yet it's still much more about efficiency and low prices; that's what it's known for. That's why I shop at Amazon.

At the end of the day, Amazon's gotten where it has because it offers the best online shopping experience with an incredibly metrics-driven focus. Whether Jeff Bezos thinks it can bring that kind of approach to a brick-and-mortar environment, I don't know, but he certainly isn't short on ambition and judging from his presentations at Kindle events, he's the closest person we have to an heir-apparent to Steve Jobs.

That said, Amazon has been so much about defeating the competition with its online vision for buying and selling it's hard to imagine it would jump into the brick-and-mortar world without some very careful consideration. (Yes, its products are in the Best Buys and Targets of the world, but presumably it has sold a ton more Kindles by simply plastering them on the Amazon home page day in, day out, month after month).

So even if there's some truth to all this talk of Amazon stores, I think what we're really looking at is a small experiment, not a big leap.

Monstrous Hurricane Dora trudges away from Mexico

2011-08-02T02:54:00.000-07:00

AP – Thu, Jul 21, 2011

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Dora grew into a powerful Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph (220 kph) Thursday as it moved past Mexico's southern Pacific coast, toppling a lighthouse and destroying some small beachside restaurants.
The Mexican government discontinued tropical storm watches as Dora stayed well out to sea. But the waves generated by the hurricane battered the foundations of a small lighthouse about 35 miles (60 kilometers) east of the resort of Acapulco, toppling it Wednesday.
About 60 thatch-roofed restaurants on beaches in the area, around La Penitas and La Bocana, were damaged or swept away by the storm.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the center of the hurricane was located about 265 miles (425 kilometers) south of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, and about 500 miles south-southeast of the Los Cabos resort on the tip of the Baja California peninsula.
The fourth hurricane of the eastern Pacific season was moving northwest at about 13 mph (20 kph), and is forecast to stay offshore. It is forecast to strengthen some before weakening on Friday.
In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Cindy formed well out to sea and posed no threat to land as it moved east. Tropical Storm Bret was forecast to weaken as it moved away from the Bahamas and well off the U.S. Atlantic coast.

10 Best Ways to Justify Your Airplane Purchase

2011-05-02T02:38:00.002-07:00

by: Pat Redmond

For those of us who've caught the "aviation bug" finding a way to justify the purchase of an airplane becomes an all consuming mental task. Make this task simple by choosing the appropriate reasons from the list below:

1. The airplane will make money for me.
This one actually works! Learn about leasebacks and/or using your airplane in your business by visiting: http://www.airplanenoise.com/answers_to_why.htm
2. My business will benefit from my increased productivity when I fly instead of drive.

Save time and money by flying yourself! You can avoid hours at the security gate and layover time by flying yourself. Most regional trips will be completed in a fraction of the time you'd spend driving or flying commercially. Learn more by clicking the link: http://www.airplanenoise.com/business_justification.htm

3. The airplane will keep my family together.
Many people find their children off to college and their parents staying in the south. A personal aircraft allows you to stay in contact and maintain the relationships that are so important to you. After all. . . is there anything more important than our relationships with our family and friends?

4. Learning to fly provides a new challenge.
Most of us have dreamed about flying since our childhood. What's preventing us from taking that step? Life's too short to procrastinate!

5. I can vacation every weekend!
No doubt, every weekend can be earmarked for a new destination. Start with you own state, and expand to other states. Visit museums, recreation areas, friends . . . the sky's the limit! Start with this list: http://www.airplanenoise.com/great_trips.htm

6. I can make an airplane payment instead of an IRS payment!
With minimal business use (30%), your airplane purchase may be a depreciable asset. New tax laws significantly increased the tax benefit to owners. Learn more by downloading a FREE audio TeleClass at: http://www.airplanenoise.com/download_teleclass.htm
7. I can enhance my children's educational experience.
Children learn more from an experience rather than sitting in a classroom or reading a book. Trips to Washington D.C., Niagara Falls, Gettysburg, PA, Kitty Hawk are all great reasons to fly the family. Re-live your childhood at the same time.

8. Flying as therapy?
Well, believe it or not, some people fly for its therapeutic benefits. Life's problems seem to disintegrate as altitude increases. Try it next time you're feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges!

9. An airplane is a terrific status symbol.
If status is what you're looking for. . . you can't beat an airplane. Not only are pilots looked up to, but when it's your own airplane. . . "You've arrived!" No one even needs to know that the airplane is generating a positive cash flow.

10. I just WANT one!
Sometimes we just need to satisfy our desires!
"I'm worth it."
"I've worked hard and this is my reward."
"I only live once!"

I know you can add to this list!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author
Pat Redmond, helps business owners who are tired of long lines and baggage claims, fly their way to freedom! Enjoy dinner with your family tonight! To learn more about the General Aviation Business, sign up for FREE aircraft purchase tips and tools, visit her site at http://www.airplanenoise.com

3 Simple Tips for Building Your Subscription List

2011-05-02T02:38:00.000-07:00

by: Jinger Jarrett

Building your list online can be one of the most effective ways of promoting your business online. Once you implement your plan, it will continue to send new subscribers to your list forever.

There are a few obvious things you should do to make sure that you get more subscribers. Here are three of my best tips, and three of the easiest strategies for you to implement in getting
subscribers to your ezine.

1. Add your subscription information to all of your pages.
You may find this to be obvious. However, many sites I have visited seem to think of their ezines as an afterthought. You have to dig to find out that they have one at all.

By putting your ezine subscription box on all your pages, it won't matter what page your visitors uses to arrive at your site. He/she will always have an opportunity to subscribe to your newsletter. By not having to search to find the subscription information, you are more likely to get the person to subscribe to your ezine.

It certainly doesn't hurt to have a newsletter page with a longer description of your ezine.

Write a compelling description to go with it, offer a valuable premium for subscribing, and you will get more subscribers.

2. Submit to the Ezine Directories.
Once you have decided what the subject of your ezine is, and you have created a format, you need to create a sample issue. This should be in HTML.

Once you have your sample issue, you need to write a title and description of your ezine and submit it to the directories. Also, you will want to put a text version of your ezine on autoresponder, as well as have a subscription page link and a subscribe email address.

Once you have all of the elements you need to submit to the directories, put all of this information in a text file so that you can copy and paste as you submit.

The easiest way to find ezine directories to submit to is to search the search engines for the term "ezine directories".

Below is a 14 page tutorial on formatting your ezine, as well as a list of ezine directories you can submit to.

http://www.nowsell.com/ezine-promotion/ezine-directory-1.html

3. Exchange Links with Other Complementary Ezines.
There are several things you should know so that you get the most from this technique.

First, you can contact other ezine publishers with complimentary ezines and ask them to swap ads with you. Make sure that you look at the subscriber numbers for the publishers and give the publisher a fair deal in exchange.

You can find ezines to exchange ads with by searching this ezine directory: http://www.jogena.com. I have found this to be the best directory to help you find ezines that accept ads.

You will also want to ask the publisher for a top sponsor ad so that your ezine information will be seen. If you simply exchange ads with an ezine publisher without qualifying your request, you
may find your ad buried deep within the ezine, reducing your chances of being seen and getting new subscribers.

There are plenty of ways to promote your ezine. What's important is that you create a plan and stick to it. Get your ezine listed in as many directories as possible, exchange ads with other ezines, and always keep marketing. You'll have a large list of new subscribers before you know it.

About the author:
Want even more high traffic sites to market on? Jinger Jarrett will show you how to market your business online to hundreds of high traffic sites for free. Grab a subscription to her premium ezine for just $5 per month. This is a limited time offer.

5 Tips to Buying BMW Auto Parts

2011-05-02T02:37:00.001-07:00

by: Dan Ford

If you are looking for parts for your BMW M3, X5 or Z4, you want the best. Whether you are needing to replace the brakes, hoses, lights or even the tell tale emblem you need to know where to look for factory direct parts at affordable prices.

1- The best place to find any type of part for your BMW is, of course through a BMW dealer. They will either have the parts needed in stock or be able to order them for you with short delivery times. They will be more expensive than other outlets, but you will know that the parts they are selling you are genuine BMW auto parts, not something that is generic.

2- If you choose to purchase your BMW parts via a dealership, be sure to take advantage of the knowledge they can provide. The mechanics at a dealership can be the best people to ask basic questions of. They will be able to give you insight as to what your vehicle actually needs and may even tell you how to go about replacing it.

3- If paying dealership prices is not what you had in mind, the next best place to look for BMW parts is online. There is a vast array of online stores, which specialize in genuine, generic, new and used parts for your BMW. The prices are usually less than purchasing through a dealer, however, keep in mind that these stores may lack in knowledgeable sales staff.

4- While you are surfing the web for the best prices on the parts you need, whether they be side mirrors or tail light covers, you might also be wise to look up the "how-to guides" that tell you how to install them. There is a lot of information on the web in regards to BMW and BMW auto parts, their uses and their replacement.

5- As long as you are looking for parts for your BMW, you may want to check out the selection of accessories that are also available. These include items such as shift knob replacements and custom door handle parts, to name a few. The best way to begin a search for accessories is online or through catalogues.

About the author:
Dan Ford has been writing about bmw parts online and offline for a long time. Visit or to read more about matters like bmw performance parts and bmw engine parts.

5 Automotive Tools Every Auto Owner Needs

2011-05-02T02:36:00.002-07:00

by: Mike Scurria

Automobiles are sizeable investments. As a car becomes older, its maintenance becomes increasingly important. There are many tools that every auto owner should have. Auto shops can sometimes charge exurbanite amounts for a simple fix that could have been done at home for much cheaper. Having the proper tools and knowledge will allow any auto owner to save money, learn more about their automobile, and maintain their car.

1. Every auto owner should have a jack and jack stands. When working on a car, more often than not, the car must be elevated. Simple procedures like rotating tires can be done at home with the help of a Jack. Additionally, all car owners should have a jack in their car with them wherever they go. In the unfortunate event of a flat tire, having a jack and a spare tire can lead to a simple tire replacement. In a garage, having a powerful jack and strong jack stands makes it possible for an auto owner to reach every point underneath the car and thus solve problems more efficiently.

2. One of the most important car maintenance practices is the oil change. To maintain an automobile, the oil should be changed once every 3,000 miles. Quintessential to a successful oil change is having an Oil Wrench that takes the oil filter off and allows the oil to be changed expediently. Without an oil wrench, an auto owner may be forced to take their car to an auto shop and overpay for a simple oil change.

3. Often when dealing with parts of the engine, or the hard-to-reach spots under the hood, proper tools are required. A 3/8-inch Socket Set can allow an automobile owner to loosen and subsequently tighten a wide variety of bolts. Different extensions allow the auto owner to obtain the best angles for torque and therefore make auto jobs quite a bit easier.

4. When changing oil, having a funnel, some rags, and a bucket is very helpful. Once again, the oil change is one of the most important maintenances for a car, and it can be done easily by anyone. However, many people do not have the proper tools or knowledge for a successful oil change. Having a funnel can also be useful when refilling any other fluids in one’s car. The funnel serves to make sure that fluids do not get over filled, which can lead to significant problems.

5. Finally, every auto owner should have a pair of solid vice grips. Some times a part will just not come loose. Other times, a car part may not seem to be tight enough despite one’s best efforts. Vice grips can hold a wide variety of car parts and allow the user to obtain more leverage for either tightening or loosening a part. When encountering a part that will simply not come loose, many auto owners will give up and take their car to a shop. Having vice grips can help one to avoid this problem.

Unfortunately, there is no car in existence that doesn’t require constant maintenance. However, with the right tools, anyone can fix minor problems and maintain his or her automobile without the assistance of an auto mechanic. The right tools can lead to a longer last vehicle, and large cost savings.

About the author:
Mike Scurria is very interested in automobiles. Learn more at .

7 Ways to Use Website Audio in Your Marketing Arsenal

2011-05-02T02:36:00.000-07:00

by: Roger C. Parker

Most visitors to your website are using computers with audio capabilities. Recently introduced techniques make it easy to take advantage of this capability.

In the past, web audio was primarily decorative, consisting of musical fanfares or other clichéd sound effects. Now, you can use audio to multiply the impact of your message and create stronger bonds with your visitors.

Audio’s power comes from its ability to engage more of your visitor’s senses. The more senses you engage, the easier it will be to effectively communicate. Instead of just reading your words and looking at your picture, you can communicate with your voice – and the voices of your clients.

The power of audio can be appreciated by comparing the newspaper column version of Tom and Ray Magliozzi’s Car Talk with the program aired each week on National Public Radio. Although the newspaper column and radio program address the same topics, it’s far more fun to listen to Car Talk – where you can experience Tom and Ray’s intonations and phrasing – than to read the same words.

Here are some of the ways you can employ audio on your website:

Welcoming messages. You can create closer emotional bonds with website visitors by personally welcoming them to your site and introducing some of the features they should explore.
Testimonials. Audio testimonials are far more powerful that written testimonials, especially if you include a photograph of the individual speaking the testimonial. The next best thing to a face-to-face referral is a recording of a client explaining their satisfaction with your product in their own words.
Guarantees. Your satisfaction guarantees gain impact when you deliver them in your own voice. Place them on your order form, at the point of sale. People are inherently cautious about ordering products and services from the Internet. Reassure them that their credit card and personal information are safe with you.
Seminars and teleconferences. Short excerpts about upcoming events can make your event even more appealing. Snippets from past seminars can whet visitors’ appetites for more.
Tips. Add interest to your site by describing an audio ‘tip of the day’ or ‘tip of the week’ in your own words. Be sure to offer access to previous tips, too.
Audio postcards. You can include audio invitations and testimonials as links in email sent to clients and prospects. To arrange an audio testimonial, simply provide your client with a phone number and password, and invite them to call up and express their satisfaction with their purchase from you. Audio postcards are a great way to stay in contact with your clients and prospects with an announcement of an upcoming product or service. They are also a quick way to acknowledge a special occasion.
Streaming audio can be used to allow visitors to playback longer events, like seminars or teleconferences.

When you add audio to your website, allow your visitors to maintain control. Don’t begin playing your message when the webpage loads. Instead, invite visitors to ‘click here’ to hear your voice. Keep your messages as short and concise as possible.

And avoid ‘scripting’ your introductions and guarantees. Write down the key ideas you want to communicate, but deliver them in your own words as conversationally as possible.

Web audio is no longer a futuristic luxury. Web audio is here now and it’s as close as your telephone. It is an affordable and easily added feature that can set you apart from the competition and help communicate your message with added impact.

Roger C. Parker is the $32,000,000 author with over 1.6 million books in print. Do you make these marketing and design mistakes? Find out at www.gmarketing-design.com

1,001 Deals and Steals: A Guide To Online Classifieds

2011-05-02T02:35:00.001-07:00

by: Donald Lee

Some naysayers way back in the 1990s predicted that online shopping wouldn’t last. Sure, and they said television was a passing fad, too! As we all know, just the opposite has occurred. There’s a television in every household, and more than likely, the homeowner bought their television online—along with his books, music CDs, clothes, and maybe even his home.

Internet shopping is bigger than ever. You can find anything and everything for sale online. Many times, you can find it cheaper online than anywhere else. Internet shopping offers so much more than a discounted price tag, though.

Imagine a shopping mall where there are no lines, where there are no jammed parking garages, and no pushy sales clerks. This is no land of make believe. It is the Internet, where you can discover unprecedented selection, convenience, and opportunities. Online shopping gives you the luxury of browsing hundreds of stores from your living room, while saving on time and frustration. It provides you the chance to compare prices to your heart’s delight on a near limitless selection of brands and models.

For even more benefits, try your hand at classifieds and auction Web sites. These sites are like yard sales and flea markets rolled into one. Unlike retail shopping sites, they offer:

Access to super secondary markets. Take your pick of secondhand or brand-new wholesale goods at steeply discounted prices. The vendors at classifieds sites can get away with it because they aren’t paying high rent for a storefront or a warehouse. And in many cases, you’re not paying taxes.

Tools to locate unique and rare collectibles. Imagine a classifieds site to be like a sunken pirate boat, laden with cultural artifacts, hard-to-find heirlooms, and priceless antiques. The Internet is your deep-sea vessel, sonar, and oxygen tank all in one.

Reach beyond your neighborhood. Search through the inventory of a vendor from your home town, or if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, try that fellow in California, Texas or Canada for that matter.

Close relationships with vendors. You deal with real people—not big, impersonal corporations—when you buy on classifieds sites. They can provide more details about the product, which you can then use to bargain for a reasonable price.

Despite this bounty of benefits, you might still be hesitant to dive into Internet shopping. Don’t be embarrassed. You have good reason to take your time and weigh your choices. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Internet fraud tops the list of the thousands of fraud cases that happen every year. In some ways, WWW could stand for the Wild West Web, in that anything goes. Vendors can be villains in disguise, and there aren’t any online Wyatt Earps to protect you from these bad guys. You’re on your own.

But give yourself some credit. You have the common sense it takes to survive the WWW. It is the same commonsense that helps you make the most of your money on your standard shopping trips. Become familiar and comfortable with an online vendor before jumping into a purchase. Ask questions and do a bit of research.

After doing your research, you’ll feel more confident in searching for your online booty. To refine your findings and whittle your list to only the exceptional sites, look for these additional qualities:

A focus on local shopping, so you can feel more confident buying from neighbors.
Free education and advice on safe purchasing.
No-cost and easy browsing through available merchandise.
Search tools that let you prioritize items by category, location, and distance.
A straightforward pricing system that avoids the haggling and risk of auction bidding.
Quick price comparisons among different vendors.

Unbelievably, a few trustworthy, practical, and exciting Web sites exist that have all of these features. To find these websites, simply browse through Yahoo’s directory under the classifieds category. The best of the online classified sites offer these services free to buyers such as you. Some of these sites can link you at no charge to your neighbor selling the antique lamp that you’ve been hunting for or that retiree looking to unload an incredible piece of real estate—or the cowboy looking to sell his big-screen television.

Copyright 2004 Donald Lee

Donald Lee is a public relations manager at BSCCOM Inc. BSCCOM Inc. provides free online advertisement services for Canadian and U.S. regions. For more information please visit: http://www.buysellcommunity.com.

Explosive Success Via Email!

2011-05-02T02:34:00.000-07:00

by: A. T. Rendon

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that email is the most
important communications development in the history of
the world thanks to the Internet.

The reason is simple.

We can now communicate on a global scale in a matter of minutes.

This is an awesome power and responsibility. The power is the
act of communication itself. The responsibility comes in making
use of this power in a reasonable and non-spam manner.

That is why it is so important to establish a mailing list of people
that have agreed to receive your email messages.

You can either build your list in a slow but steady manner, as
detailed in our FREE Report, "Starting Your Own Newsletter!",
available to you FREE of charge via auto-responder by email at:
mailto:free_report@emailexchange.org

Or you can pay one of those online services to send out emails
as confirmations whenever they post a free ad on the networks
system.

Either way, here are a few tips to "Explosively Increase the
Success of ANY Email Advertising Campaign!"

1. Your Subject Line is the MOST Important Element.

The 'Subject Line' will either get your email read or immediately
deleted. It is the single most important element of your email
message. If you have a bad 'Subject Line' then you may as well
not even bother sending out the email in the first place.

Whatever time you invest on preparing your email campaign,
make the 'Subject' of the email your top priority to provide you
the opportunity to have a successful email campaign.

2. Use Action Words.

Action words bring your message to life for the reader. They can
help you convey to your target audience the importance of your
over-all message.

For a FREE List of the Top 50 Action Words, send an email to:
mailto:action_words@emailexchange.org

3. Do NOT OVER Capitalize.

Some Capitalized letters are essential but too many can convey
the sense of shouting and no one likes to be shouted at.

Worse still, your message can take on a cluttered or amateurish
look if you use all capital letters.

4. Do NOT use too many Exclamation points!

Same problem can arise here as with the use of too many
capital letters. Do not risk having that a cluttered and amateurish
look to draw attention to your message.

Your message itself should do the work of attraction.

5. Personalize When Possible.

If you have an email program that allows you to PERSONALIZE
your email messages, make use of it by making the 'Subject'
message a personal one for the reader.

I make use of the FREE Aureate Group Mailing Software which
has that feature built in and allows me to 'Personalize" all email
that I send to my various lists.

To download your own FREE copy of this Email Program visit at:
http://www.infacta.com/download.asp

6. Keep it 6 to 8 words maximum.

A short Subject Title Line is better because if you make it too long,
many of the email programs in use will actually cut off your 'Subject'
message and make it either unreadable or at the least, unappealing.

Make liberal use of these few tips and you will see a definite
and 'Explosive Increase in the Success of your Email Campaigns'. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.T.Rendon is an entrepreneur and published writer.
Subscribe to FREE Business Classifieds Newsletter
& receive FREE online access to our Password
Protected "FREE Submit To Over 2.7 MILLION FREE
Ad Sites!" mailto:subscribe_fbcn9@emailexchange.org
Visit us at: http://emailexchange.org/?Articles

5 Dynamite Ways to Generate Ideas for Parenting Articles

2011-05-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

by: Terri Pilcher

The key to selling reprints to parenting publications is the creation of dynamite ideas followed through with professional writing. Here, I’m focusing only on finding those lucrative topics.
Most topics in regional parenting publications are straightforward: finance, parenting tips, health, sports, and education. The trick is to twist them in an unusual way.

If you’re a parent, what do you wish you knew about a topic? Write down questions that you have as you go through the day. When I was driving the other day, I complained to myself about bad teenage drivers. Then I wondered, “What can parents do to encourage good driving?” If you already know the answer to the question, it won’t make a good article unless you’re an expert on the subject.

Take a generic topic and make it seasonal. Choose a season about four months away, because the lead-time for parenting publications is 2 to 6 months. Four months from now is April. What happens in April (or would be published in April) that I can combine with a topic like health? In April, parenting publications start printing their summer guides to camps. What can parents do to make sure their children stay healthy at camp? What are the traits of a safe camp? Change to camping plus another topic like education or finance to create unique articles.

Who do you know who has an unusual or remarkable story – something that affected children? What did the parents learn? Write an article using the anecdote as an introduction to the information you want to give. A great anecdote can sell a story.

Visit online parenting forums and read the questions people ask. Use some of these as a basis for your article ideas.

When you research a piece and talk to experts, look for what you don’t know. “Joe says insurance is important for families,” won’t make an article interesting. Too many people know that insurance is important. But a quote like, “Joe says disability insurance is the most neglected area of insurance, but it protects young families from the biggest threat to their security,” will make parents keep reading.

If you give editors timely articles that readers will want to read, you’ll sell your work over and over again.

About The Author

Terri Pilcher edits a FREE weekly e-zine for writers, “Writer’s Guidelines Magazine”, that provides 10 writer’s guidelines. She recently published “MONEY Markets 2005: 101 Publishers That Pay in 6 Weeks or Less”. Her website contains the writer’s guidelines for almost 200 parenting publications. http://www.powerpenmarketsearch.com.

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

2011-05-02T02:31:00.000-07:00

by: C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot

There are over 50 Acupuncture Schools in the United States. Acupuncture laws differ from state to state, therefore, each acupuncture school entails its own philosophy and instruction outline. Acupuncture School education and training is approximately 3,000 credit hours. Because there are varying therories of Acupuncture, some schools teach the 5-Element style of acupuncture as opposed to the more familiar TCM style. While some acupuncture schools have mandatory herbal curriculum, other acupuncture schools list this course-study as an option.

The main purpose of attending an acupuncture school is to be educated and trained to be healers in the art, to learn the science and philosophy of acupuncture, and to be instructed in herbal and Oriental medicine. Attaining a professional license as an acupuncturist is rewarding in many ways. One not only learns to heal others but also learns to heal himself - spiritually, mentally and physically.

Fundamentally, all aspects of traditional Oriental medicine are introduced in the first year of academic instruction. This includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, anatomy, body therapy, biosciences and Tai Chi. This prepares the aspiring acupuncturist for clinical apprenticehsip. During the second year at an acupuncture school, classroom experience teaches in-depth philosophy of acupuncture practice, Oriental medicine and advance needling techniques.

Apprenticeship begins with licensed acupuncturists in a clinical setting. During the third year of acupuncture school training, students begin practicing on their own patients as interns. Acupuncture school classroom instruction is mainly comprised of clinical case discussions; thus, deepening acupuncture therapy understanding. If you'd like to learn more about acupuncture schools, please visit the link below or click on the directory button at the top of the Holistic Junction homepage for more targeted search by category and state.

©Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
by C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot in conjunction with Holistic Junction
About the Author
C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot is the Public Relations' Director & Staff Writer for Holistic Junction -- Your source of information for Acupuncture Schools

$27,817 Monthly With Affiliate Programs

2011-05-02T02:29:00.002-07:00

by: John McLaren

I still remember thinking that promoting Affiliate Programs was a waste of time. Until I started making a small fortune.
At the end of 2004, I started some time exploring the concept of promoting affiliate programs through pay-per-click search engines. I knew of some Internet Marketing gurus who were claiming you could make thousands of dollars every month. But I was skeptical. I remember thinking, “I know what these guys are about. They just want to sell more books.”
But I decided that at least it was worth a look. The concept is quite simple. Choose a product – and one that has an affiliate program, of course. Set up an advertising campaign at a PPC search engine like Google and choose how much you want to pay per click. Write a three line advertisement and add your affiliate link. Whenever anyone clicks through your ad and buys the product, you earn a commission.
So I looked. And thought about it. And looked some more. I was still very uncertain about the whole concept, but I finally decided to test for myself whether it could really work. And since I knew I’d be spending quite a bit of money on advertising clicks, I felt it was well worth investing in a book so I could learn from more experienced marketers how to maximize the profitability of my campaigns.
As my business grew over several weeks I purchased and read several ebooks. By far the best I read was Chris Carpenter’s Google Cash ( http://tinyurl.com/6gdaq ). His approach is genuine, down-to-earth, and he explains very clearly how to build your own affiliate marketing business. And importantly, he makes a fortune doing what he explains in the book.
I started by testing 20-30 campaigns on various products. Most of them were unsuccessful, but I expected that from what I had been reading. I would test a product, and if it didn’t work, I would drop it quickly. The key with this business is identifying the affiliate products and campaigns that are successful. Once you find one that works, the money starts rolling in.
By February of 2005 I had identified several campaigns that were turning a profit. With one of these I was spending $0.08 per click to promote an affiliate product that pays me $18 commission on each sale. Approximately 1 visitor in 100 buys the product, so I make around $10 profit for every 100 visitors that I send.
What a formula! For every 1,000 visitors, that’s $180 in commissions. That might not seem like all that much, but remember once you have a successful campaign it keeps going all day, every day. If you send just 1,000 visitors to a program like this every day, then by the end of the month you will have earned $5,400 in commissions, of which $3,000 is profit.
Does it seem too simple? Well, if it was so easy everyone from your Aunt Mabel to the mailman would be doing it. In fact, while the concept is simple, getting your campaigns to run profitably does take some work. Since I can't possibly teach you all you need to know in one article, I'll give you a few tips here and recommend Google Cash for a detailed explanation:

Choose Your Product Wisely. The program should pay a commission of $15 or more, otherwise it won’t be worth paying for your clicks. And if the commission is very high, be careful. Some products like web hosting and satellite dish installations may pay commissions of $100, but you face intense competition from other affiliates, so the price you need to pay to get ad exposure and clicks will probably also be very high. Sometimes it is better to identify a niche product with less competition from other affiliates.

Track Your Campaigns Carefully. If you’re paying around 7 or 8 cents per click for a program that pays close to $20 commission, you need to make at least one sale for every 250 visitors. If you send 300 to 400 visitors with no sale, consider dropping it.

Days Of The Week Do Matter. When testing campaigns keep in mind the day of the week and even the time of day. Some products sell better on Mondays through Fridays, during business hours. Others, like entertainment products, sell better in the evenings and on weekends.

Getting back to my own experience, after identifying several campaigns that ‘worked’, I spent some time fine-tuning them using techniques I read about in Google Cash. By the end of February I had earned $27,817 in commissions for the month, all on products I had never even heard of at the end of 2004. My profit was a neat $10,795.
It’s incredible really. I made this money without a web site. From home. Working an average of just an hour or two a day.
I’m finally making the amount of money online that I dreamed about.
How about you? Would you also like to build an affiliate marketing business? Could you use some additional income? I encourage you to proceed, but be smart about it. There are risks involved and you should be aware of them. You should read Chris Carpenter’s book. That way you’ll be on a fast track to more profitable campaigns. And his book will save you hundreds of dollars, easily, as you avoid some common mistakes and pitfalls.
Good Marketing!

About The Author

John McLaren has worked for many years selling IT consulting services. Now he works from home, just a few hours each day, building his highly successful affiliate marketing business. For more professional advice, he recommends the book, Google Cash, available at: http://tinyurl.com/6gdaq.

Fast Weight Loss…Can you really lose 60lbs in 30 days?

2011-05-02T02:29:00.000-07:00

by: adrian bryant

Is it better to lose 2lbs a day or 2lbs a week?

Yes it’s very possible that you can lose 60lbs in 30 days but I don’t think you would want to and here’s the reason why:

Let’s say you do lose 60lbs in 30 days… how much of that weight you lose do you think is going to be pure body fat? Remember-- body fat makes us look ugly.

Anytime you try to lose more than 2lbs a week or 60lbs in 30 days (2lbs a day!)…A larger part of the weight you lose is only going to be water and muscle. Losing a lot of water and muscle weight does nothing to improve your looks and it slows down your metabolism

Slow metabolism = easier weight gain

Every time you see a weight loss ad that’s too good to be true…the ad is basically saying “Hey you can lose 60lbs in 30 days but some of that weight you lose is going to be water and muscle weight”

Whenever you are trying to lose weight (body fat) for good and look your very best you definitely do not want to lose any muscle. Every time you lose muscle your metabolism slows down. A slower metabolism makes it easier for you to gain weight

As a matter of fact you may be one of those people who gain weight just by looking at food. The reason for your easy weight gain is that you probably don’t have that much muscle to begin with and when you try to lose 60lbs overnight you are only going to lose more muscle making it very easy for to gain all the weight back you just lost!

The more muscle you have the better you look. Even if you had two people of the same height & weight but both had different amounts of muscle in their bodies--the person who has the most muscle will always look better.

Are the outrageous claims that the weight loss ads make true? Can you lose 60lbs in 30 days or 10lbs overnight? The answer isn’t No but a big Maybe.

But if you do happen to lose 60lbs in 30 days you’re only going to look worse (because of the muscle you lose) and you’re going to gain it all back quicker than you lost it (because you’re metabolism is slower now that you lost muscle)

What if you have to lose 10lbs in one week to pass a physical exam? In this case you may have no choice but to go on “Dr. whoever’s rice cake diet” to lose 10lbs in a week. All you’re looking for in that situation is a quick fix to your weight loss problem.

But if you want to lose weight for good, look your best, & keep your metabolism burning at a steady rate… You got to lose weight at a much slower rate.

You want to try to lose no more than 2lbs a week or 3lbs at the most when you want to lose weight permanently. Usually when you lose anything over 2lbs a week you are only losing water and muscle weight which again has no effect on long-term weight loss or significantly improving the way you look.

Losing 2lbs a week is a lot simpler than trying to lose 10lbs a week. One of the things you can do to start losing 2lbs a week is to substitute higher calorie foods you eat with lower calorie foods.

For example a simple trick that I have most of my clients do is to replace all the sodas and juices they drink with water. The drinking water trick is taken very lightly by a lot of people---but many of my clients tell me that they see a difference in their weight after drinking only water for a couple of weeks.

The other thing you can do is to increase your daily physically activity. This doesn’t mean that you have to start signing up for marathons regularly. To gradually increase your physical activity you can--

* Park in the back of parking lots so you have to walk more to your destination
* You can take the stairs instead of the elevator—it doesn’t have to be all the flights…walk some flights and take the elevator the rest of the way.
* Play golf or play with your kids everyday

The point is to just do something…It doesn’t have to a lot at first but after about a couple weeks start to take 20-30minitue walks in the park or ride a bicycle everyday.

Long-term weight loss doesn’t happen in 60 days or overnight… it happens in the Long-term. Just remember that the next time you see a weight loss ad that promises you unbelievable results.

About the Author
Adrian Bryant has helped many people reach their fitness goals in his 10+ years of personal training. Adrian holds a B.S. degree in Exercise science from Longwood University. Adrian continues to help people lose weight with his web site weightlossmadeeasy.net

3 Simple But Powerful Off-Line Advertising Strategies

2011-05-02T02:28:00.000-07:00

by: Al Martinovic

There are several ways to advertise and get the word out about your business online and the best of them include f-ree search engines, pay per click search engines, writing articles, utilizing press releases, doing joint ventures/ad co-ops, and posting to message boards and forums related to your target market.

But one advertising method that's neglected by most online marketers is off-line advertising.

There are several low/no cost ways to advertise off-line and I want to share 3 of them with you.

1) Business Cards

If you are serious about your business you must have business cards. They are cheap and are a great way to attract potential prospects or customers. Simply hand them out to people who you feel may be interested in your business.

Also, whenever I visit a restaraunt, bar, or club, I'll leave my business cards in all of the bathroom stalls. (Just make sure nobody is in there of course... lol!)

And don't laugh at this! It really works. When I visit the bathroom an hour or two later, I'll find that all of my business cards are gone and I'll have a fresh new set of sales the very next day.

You can get f-ree professional looking business cards at VistaPrint.com, all you have to pay is shipping and handling:

http://www.vistaprint.com

2) Flyers

With today's technology, flyers are very easy to make. You can simply design a flyer online and just print it out and make copies. Then you can post them in area businesses where you feel your potential customers may hang out. (Just make sure you ask permission from the business owner.)

Or simply hand out your flyers to people you meet on the street. Many bars and clubs don't have a problem with posting flyers in their establishments either, especially if you are a patron.

And don't forget about supermarkets! Many have bulletin boards, at least here in New Jersey where I live, and you can post your flyer there. There are hundreds of people walking into supermarkets everyday and they are in a buying mentality. Take advantage of it and post your flyers often.

Here's a site that lets you create and print flyers or brochures online for f-ree:

http://www.mybrochuremaker.com/

3) Automobile Advertising

What... ? Yes you read that right! Your car is not only a driving vehicle but a great advertising vehicle as well. You can stick magnetic signs or plates on your car with your company name and/or domain name for all to see.

Your business can be exposed to hundreds, if not thousands of people everyday whether your car is parked, you are driving, or even when you are stuck in traffic. It's fairly inexpensive and a great way to "drive" home your message.

Here are a couple of sites to check out for this very sort of thing:

http://www.iditplates.net

http://www.magneticsigns.com

Those are just a few of the ways to advertise off-line. I'm sure you can come up with other clever ways as well.

You've got a brain... use it!

3 Internet Home Based Businesses Anyone Can Do

2011-05-02T02:26:00.001-07:00

by: Kent Thompson

Copyright 2005 Kent Thompson

If you’re serious about having a home based business, then you need to prepare. The leading reason for a failing home based business is the lack of preparation people commit after they’ve made a decision to start a home based business.

So what kind of home based business opportunity should you take on? Do you want to have an internet-based home business? Millions have done it, are doing it and are earning good livings doing so.

Here are three different kinds of Internet based business models you can try:

1) Be an online retailer for reputable companies. Your home based internet business can give reviews about all the products and services of these companies. Your customers will browse around your website, and then click on to the link. The link will send the customer to the company’s customer service website, which takes care of processing and shipping their order.

Your home based online business website does the marketing, promoting and advertising aspects for these companies. Your commission comes from the proceeds of the sale. You don’t even have to spend money for expensive e-commerce software.

2) You may not be able to bear the pain of separating from your oldest possessions, but how about auctioning these things off? For a minimal entry fee and closing fee, you can put your prized possessions on auction at Ebay or other spin-offs found on the net. This is a virtually free home based business since you don’t pay for web presence. You’ll get traffic since Ebay receives as many as 4 million visitors a day, and you won’t need to worry about your e-commerce software. Plus your small home based internet business stays open even when you go fishing!

3) Sell information. You can start your home based internet business by writing on a subject that you enjoy or are knowledgeable about. If you can do this, then this small home based internet business is for you. Write your e-book and sell it on sites like Ebay.com, ebookAd.com, or Clickbank.com.

These home based internet business are all simple and easy enough to do. You can earn a living on these ideas if you view this small home based business with passion and commitment.

Just remember these home based internet tip:
Constantly fine-tune your marketing strategy and always test new ad copies to see what brings you the most sales!

About the author:
Find out how you can make $1000 per sale in one of the hottest home based businesses! Check out

3 Easy Ways to Treat Body Acne!

2011-05-02T02:25:00.000-07:00

by: Venkata Ramana

Are you suffering from Body acne? or Zits below the neckline? Don't worry. You are not alone! Lot's of teen get body acne. It is common in the winter months, when you are wearing piles of heavy clothing.

Sweat can clog skin pores and lead to breakouts all over. Other things that can cause body acne are tight fitting clothing ( It traps sweat against the skin, leading to clogged pores and blemishes) stress and hormones. Body acne commonly pops up on the chest and back.

Ø To zap body acne and prevent it from coming back, you can wash your body daily with a salicylic acid based cleanser. Look for this ingredient on product labels.

Ø Shower daily and be sure to shower as soon as possible anytime you have been sweating - such as after playing sports, working outside or just being in the sun. After your shower, you can follow up by a body moisturizer that contains Alfa Hydroxy acid. This will exfoliate skin and help prevent breakouts, without drying skin out.

Ø At Nighttime you can treat body acne just like facial acne, by applying an acne zapping gel or cream at the effected parts.

Ø If your body acne is particularly bad and wont respond to this treatment after about a month, you will probably need to see a dermatologist. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Venkata Ramana is a Fitness Enthusiast and a Professional Body Builder. Visit his http://www.awacne.com/ and http://www.awdepression.com/ websites and gain maximum Information to stay fit and healthy.

3 Essential Tools for Starting and Maintaining a Small Business

2011-05-02T02:23:00.000-07:00

by: Ryan Hough

We believe that there are 3 factors that drive the success of small businesses.

1) Acquiring start-up capital
2) Finding customers
3) Accounting for, budgeting and controlling sales and expenses

The following resources will help your small business achieve these success factors.

Acquiring Start-Up Capital

An adequate supply of capital is essential as many profitable businesses fail because they don’t have enough cash to pay their employees and suppliers. But what is an adequate supply of capital? The only way to tell is by doing a significant amount of research on your potential market and formally documenting this in a business plan. I’m sure you know that a business plan is a very important document that is crucial to convincing your banker to lend you money.

There are two ways to obtain a business plan.

1) Do it yourself by amending a business plan template, or
2) Hire a professional to do it for you.

Obviously obtain 1) will be a great deal cheaper.

Our research led to a website that has over 60 high quality and free business plan templates. We also found a directory that you can use to easily find a business plan writer in your city – where ever you live in the world.

Finding Customers

Finding customers is a difficult and expensive task for service business owners such as accountants, lawyers and plumbers. We believe that a cost effective marketing strategy for service business owners is to simply give all their personal contacts a few business cards.

Our research led to a few websites that have pre-designed business card templates. We felt that the diversity and quality of these designs was outstanding. In addition, we found that you can obtain a significant saving by finding a printing service on the Internet. We found that you could get 2,000 full color business cards for as little as US $150.

Accounting For, Budgeting and Controlling Revenue and Expenses

Accurate accounting is very important for small business owners. It’s essential that you have timely access to information that could make or break your business. If stocks are running low – you need to know about it. If a large proportion of your debtors haven’t paid – you need to know about it. If you do not react to these situations quickly you may have a situation where you don’t have enough money to pay your employees – or worse still someone is stealing cash out the till.

Our research led to a website that compares and reviews top accounting software for small businesses. The cheapest software cost US $89.99 and the most expensive software cost US $1,499. It was interesting to note that the top 3 ranked websites were not the most expensive and cost between US $250 - US $300.

Hopefully you now have an idea of some of the tools that you can use to grow and maintain your small business. If you would like to benefit from our research please visit our website. We do not charge for this research and offer the content freely on our website.

About the author:

Ryan Hough is the webmaster of best quality small business resources.com, who's aim is to help you save time and money by finding reviews and case studies that will enable you to choose the best resources at the right price.