the computers

JPEG Photographs Into PDF Documents

2008-12-29T19:55:00.002+07:00

If you already know what JPEGs and PDFs are then skip to the "Why should you convert JPEG images into PDF documents" section to learn about some of the benefits and advantages of converting your JPEG photographs into PDF documents.

What is a JPEG?

JPEG (pronounced "jay-peg") is a royalty free image format that was created by a committee known as the Joint Photographics Expert Group. It was designed to compress photographic images so that they take up much less space.

However, the JPEG format is a "lossy" one. This means that when a JPEG image is decompressed it is not quite the same as the original image. But don�t worry as this is not a big issue because it is possible to set the quality level that should be used for an image.

At a high quality level the human eye will not be able to distinguish the differences and you will still get a very useful space saving with about a 10:1 compression ratio � ie an image will be compressed to one tenth of their original size.

At medium quality levels you will be able to spot slight differences (known as "compression artifacts") but these should not normally detract from the image and you will get a compression ratio of around 20:1.

Of course lower quality levels are available that allow a compression ratio of 100:1 to be achieved but the resultant images will look very "blocky".

JPEG is probably the most popular image format in use thanks to its high image quality and low space requirements. It is widely used on the Internet and as the storage format for photographs taken with most digital cameras.

What is a PDF?

PDF is a royalty free general purpose Portable Document Format created by Adobe Systems. It is ideal for storing and displaying fixed layout documents in a device and resolution independent way.

What this means is that a PDF document will be displayed in the same way no matter what device it is viewed on � whether it is on a PC with a large screen or on a small personal organizer.

It is also important to note that a PDF document can be printed to any printer and the printed output should look exactly the same (or at least as close as possible subject to any limitations that the printer might have).

Because of the benefits outlined above, PDF is widely used on the Internet and is extensively used within the print industry where printing accuracy is a must.

Why should you convert JPEG images into PDF documents?

While JPEG images are easy to use there are some limitations with them that make PDF documents a more attractive way of distributing images.

First of all if you want to display and print a JPEG image then what you see on screen is not necessarily what you get printed! This is because the screen resolution is likely to be very different to the printer resolution and the application that is used to display the image on screen cannot always take this into account.

However, using a PDF document that contains the same image, not only is the image displayed at the correct size on screen but you get a perfect printed copy.

If you want to store or distribute a number of images together then it makes more sense to put them into a single PDF file. Especially if you want to send them via email (you only have to include one file attachment and the recipient can open the PDF document and scroll through all of the images straight away) or display them on a web site (you only need to link to one file not lots of them).

With a PDF document you can also restrict what can be done with it � you may only want authorised users to be able to view the document in which case you can password protect it. Or you can prevent a user from editing or printing the document if you only want them to be able to view it on screen.

You can of course do much more with a PDF document, for example, you could create a simple PDF photo album of your images with a built-in slideshow using some fancy page transitions between each image.

How can you convert JPEG images into PDF documents?

While you could use the fully featured and relatively expensive Adobe Acrobat application to convert JPEG images into PDF documents, this can be both time consuming to learn and overly complex if all you want to do is to convert some JPEG images.

There are some free applications available, such as Open Office, but these do not generally allow you the same level of control or automation as dedicated third party tools.

A better solution could be to use a dedicated tool such as one of the "Image to PDF" range of products from Utility Warrior.

There are some other advantages to using a tool that is dedicated to the job of just converting JPEG images into PDF documents � it will probably be cheaper for a start!

Also, these tools will often be much smaller in size as there is no unnecessary code bloat, and this can also mean that they are faster in operation � which can be very important if you have thousands of JPEG images to convert!

Hopefully this brief article will have given you enough grounding to evaluate the solutions that are available to convert your JPEG images into PDF documents to best find one that matches your needs. Happy converting!

- Adrian N -

Fundamentals of ASP.Net programming vs. PHP programming

2008-12-13T20:25:00.002+07:00

Hyper-text-pre-processor (PHP) and Active-server-pages (ASP) are the two standard programming languages for website application development and more significantly when it comes to produce database-driven websites to interrelating hugely with databases. PHP is an open-source programming language which is derived from lots of different languages. On the other hand ASP is such kind of programming languages which preferring Microsoft product mostly.

Both programming languages PHP and ASP are used to develop dynamic database oriented websites. Active Server Pages (ASP) is normally from Microsoft and is used only with Internet Information Server (IIS) that runs on Microsoft Servers also. But on the other hand you can say PHP is platform independent programming languages and can connect with several kinds of databases.

There are a lot of differences between ASP and PHP.

Expenditure

To run ASP.net programs first need to install IIS on a Windows server platform, this is not a free package. PHP programs can run on Linux, which is free package. Even the database connectivity is expensive for ASP, because it require MS-SQL product of Microsoft that needs to be acquired. Same time on the other hand PHP generally uses MySQL for database connectivity, which is freely accessible.

The Simplicity in Coding

PHP codes itself are very light in weight, a contract programmer who begins his career into PHP, does not felt any pressure to look the source code to understand. Whereas In ASP codes are not so easy to quick understand.

Database Compatibility

PHP generally being extremely flexible as it uses MySQL for database connectivity, which is freely accessible. Same time on the other hand Database compatibility is expensive for ASP, because it require MS-SQL product of Microsoft that needs to be acquired.

General Run Time

If we evaluate the running speed of PHP and ASP then PHP should gets the upper hand. Normally it is viewed that PHP code runs quicker than ASP code. Due to COM based architecture, ASP uses server space to run while PHP code runs on its own inbuilt memory space.

Background Language Support

ASP has a similar like Visual Basic
type of syntax that also linked to Microsoft products as well. On the other hand PHP codes are based on generally C++ language and the syntax, which is used in PHP, is quite similar to C/C++ syntax. C/C++ is still considered by maximum software programmer is the finest programming language and people who love C++ language would certainly feel more relaxed with the PHP syntax.

Running Platform Connectivity

PHP codes can run on different platforms like UNIX, Solaris, Linux, and Windows whereas ASP codes are mostly linked with Windows platforms. Though, ASP programs can run on a Linux platform with the help of ASP-Apache installed on the server.

Further Tools Cost

Several tools used in PHP are mostly free of cost in the market and as PHP is open source a lot of codes can be available in open source forums and blogs. PHP has inbuilt attributes like ftp, encryption methods, even email also from a web page but in ASP such attributes are not obtainable and for this reason only some more features are required which are not free that increase the total cost as well.

Larger Applications Support

PHP is just as protected as ASP from coding level. The main difference is only for private data like �social security numbers�; �PIN numbers� etc. ASP is more practicable option. Organizations like government firms normally don�t have much stipulated commercial budgets and looking for required security, they really helpful ASP.net.

Is Internet Phone Service (VoIP) Worth the Switch?

2008-12-06T20:32:00.002+07:00

You've seen the advertisements. You probably know at least one person who has tried it, but is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a.k.a. Internet phone or digital phone, for you? Let's face it. Your traditional phone service works pretty well, so why switch? The answer is savings.

Let's start with the basic monthly plan. The average monthly residential Internet phone plan is approximately $25/month. Business plans are roughly double the residential rate. Usually included within this price are loads of free features like voice mail, call waiting, three way calling, caller id, and call forwarding. Traditional phone service ranges from approximately $15/month to $60/month depending upon add-ons, long distance, taxes, and surcharges. Internet phone service may be for you if you are on the higher end of this scale. Moreover, many cable companies offer Internet phone service as part of a bundled package- Internet, television, and home phone service on one bill. This combination may prove to be very cost effective.

International calls are extremely cheap with Internet phone. Rates can start from around $.02/min., depending upon the destination country. Also, some calls may even be free. For example, if you subscribe to XYZ Internet phone service, and you call a friend overseas who also subscribes to XYZ, the call should be free. You can even take your Internet phone service with you when you travel. If you have a wi-fi Internet phone, you should have service wherever there is a wi-fi hotspot worldwide. Or if you take your hardware with you (i.e. telephone adapter, router, IP phone), you should be able to use your service wherever there is a broadband Internet connection available. Thus, frequent travelers or people with overseas relatives and friends would greatly benefit from Internet phone service.

Business owners stand to benefit the most from switching to Internet phone service. High long distance volume, systems integration, phone number mobility, and local market presence are the main reasons why. First, businesses have inherently high call volumes, especially domestic and international long distance. VoIP should lower these expenses, lowering monthly overhead. Second, VoIP is highly flexible and meshes well with other business applications. Third, businesses spend thousands of dollars annually on advertising, and those dollars are wasted if a phone number has to be changed. VoIP allows a business to keep the same number regardless of location. Closely related is the issue of local market presence. With VoIP, businesses can have a local phone number but be located in a different city, state, or country. The cost to you is just a local phone call. Despite the many benefits of VoIP for businesses, there is one major concern - security. Since voice conversations travel via the Internet, VoIP systems are susceptible to the same perils as your computer (i.e. hackers, viruses, etc.). Small to medium sized business are less of a target than larger businesses. However, all businesses utilizing VoIP should have up-to-date security software and contingency plans in place to minimize the threat.

Despite the many benefits of VoIP, there are a few issues that require consideration. These issues include: voice quality, power outages, emergency services, alarm systems, fax capabilities, digital video recorder (DVR) devices, local number portability (LNP), and broadband Internet requirement. For you, these issues may be just a intermittent irritation, like a dropped phone call or poor signal reception during a cell phone call. For others, these concerns could be insignificant or a deciding factor.

With Internet phone service, voice quality depends heavily upon the quality of your high speed Internet connection. So if your connection is not fast enough, voice quality may be inconsistent. It's always best to test your broadband connection with a VoIP speed test before subscribing.

Presently, unless an alternate back-up power source is readily available, Internet phone service will not work during a power outage because vital pieces of equipment such as routers, analog telephone adapters, and modems require power. Aware of the problem, some companies supply equipment with built-in battery back-ups. Other companies will route calls to an alternate phone number during an outage. Or, you could purchase an Uninterruptable Power Source (UPS) to provide power during an outage. The amount of power supplied by UPS's will vary by model and price. Barring the aforementioned, be ready to use a cell phone during a power outage, or consider keeping a bare minimum landline as a back-up.

In 2005 VoIP companies that interconnected with the public telephone network were required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide 911 service and disclose service limitations. When you dial 911, calls are routed through a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). E911 (Enhanced 911), which is utilized in many areas, allows the PSAP to automatically discern your location. Due to the dynamic nature of VoIP, your location is more difficult to determine. Many companies have bypassed this obstacle by sending the PSAP the address of the subscriber. However, all PSAP's are not set-up to receive VoIP data. In which case, you would have to provide your location to the call center. As more and more people use Internet phone service, upgrades are being made to provide E911.

Presently, most alarm systems use a landline for monitoring purposes. Your alarm system may work with VoIP, although some equipment adjustments and testing may be required. Since VoIP data travels at higher speeds, these adjustments involve the lowering of these speeds. Similarly, faxes may be sent over a standard VoIP line, with equipment adjustments needed in many cases. To mitigate this problem, many companies offer designated fax lines as an add-on or as part of a business service plan. Additionally, many digital video recorder (DVR) devices require landlines to receive updates. However, some subscribers have reported successful DVR operation with VoIP. For a seamless transition, if you already have a DVR, you may want to check to see if it has a broadband port before subscribing to VoIP service.

When subscribing to Internet phone service, many people prefer to keep the same phone number, and in most cases this is possible through local number portability. LNP is the process by which consumers can transfer their phone numbers when changing telecommunications carriers. This process can take from approximately 10 to 20 business days until completion.

Finally, VoIP requires a high speed broadband Internet connection. For those of you who already use broadband Internet, this is not an issue. However, millions of people still use dial-up or have no Internet access at all. Therefore, this segment of the population must evaluate the cost of upgrading to broadband Internet versus the benefits of Internet phone service.

Is VoIP worth the switch? Individual answers will vary. Using the aforementioned considerations, a side-by-side comparison between your traditional phone service and your potential VoIP provider should prove to be informative at the very least. Savings is the key. If your potential savings outweigh all other factors, by all means, internet phone service should be worth the switch.

- Christopher S -

XCACLS, SUNINACL, And Other Permissions Security Recovery Tools

2008-12-03T09:23:00.003+07:00

XCACLS And Other Permissions Security Recovery Tools

You Have 50GB Of Data To Move Along With Permissions Security
----------------------------
This article is about several tools that can save a Windows administrators you know what in the event of a large scale permissions security problem.

Here is a fictional scenario we can use to illustrate the use of the XCACLS tool. We need to move or copy 50GB worth of data that is comprised of several thousand directories containing hundreds of thousands of small files from one storage system to another. These systems happen to part of a Windows 2000 Domain and permissions are quite granular in definition. We start the replication of that data using a favorite replication or synchronization tool and walk away for the evening. When we return the next day, everything has copied and all looks well. That is until you try to access the data.

The Data Is Copied, But I Cannot Access It: Permissions Security Problem
--------------------------------------------------
What you did not know, until just now, is that the root directory of the drive that you copied the data to had the wrong permissions assigned to it. In addition, inheritance was configured such that any data that is placed on the drive is over written with the permissions of the root directory. In this case, it was an old account that no longer existed. Believe it or not, that can happen, and system administrators will know what I am talking about. Now you are left with trying to figure out what to do. Do I format the new drive, change the permissions and inheritance on the root directory so they are correct and start all over again? Do I make the changes on the root drive so they have the correct permissions and wait hours upon hours for the permissions to propagate? No, there is another, very fast way of resolving this issue with XCACLS or another tool called SUBINACL.

XCALCS Quickly Resets Permissions On Directories And Files
----------------------------
Becasue I have limited space in this article, I am going to use XCACLS as the tool to correct this problem. However, in complex permissions structures, you will most likely want to use SUBINACL to fix the issue. I will talk about SUBINACL briefly at the end of the article.

XCACLS as a very fast tool that can set, remove, add, and change permissions on files and directories. For intance, the following command replaces all existing access rights and accounts with that of "dmiller" on the file "file.txt" with read-only access: "xcalcs file.txt /Y /T /G domain\dmiller:r". Although that is pretty easy and helpful, what about changing all my directories and files, which I have thousands of, to allow the domain\dmiller account to have full access? To do this in a very fast fashion you could execute the following from the root directory of the drive: "for /d %g IN (*.*) DO xcacls "%g" /Y /T /G domain\dmiller:f". This will go through every directory, subdirectory, and file and replace the current permissions with dmiller having full access to the object. You'll notice I put "" around the %g in the example. This is not required, but if you have directories that have names with spaces in them you will need to have the "".

What Other Ways Can I Use XCACLS To Change Security Permissions
----------------------------------------------------------
To give you a few additional handy examples of how you can use this tool take a look at the follow command prompt methods for replacing, updating and removing accounts and permissions from large numbers of directories and files.

The following command replaces all existing access rights an accounts with that of dmiller with read only access rights:
for /d %g IN (*.*) DO xcacls "%g" /Y /T /G domain\dmiller:r

The following command does not replace existing account permissions, instead, it adds the account, in the example the local admin account, with read only permissions:
for /d %g IN (*.*) DO xcacls "%g" /Y /E /T /G administrator:r

The following command removes the account "administrator" permissions from all directories, files, and subdirectories: for /d %g IN (*.*) DO xcacls "%g" /Y /E /T /R administrator

This command should update all the directories and their contents to allow Domain Admins full access:
for /d %g IN (*.*) DO xcacls "%g" /Y /T /G "Domain Admins:f"

I did a test on my XP Pro workstation and was able to change the permissions on approximately 10000 directories and files in less 1 minute. On one of my servers I was able to achieve a 500% increase in speed. It is blazingly fast.

SUBINACL Is More Complex But Man Can It Really Save The Day
-----------------------------------------------
I cannot go into specifics about this tool in this article but I will tell you what it can do. And again, it does it very very fast. Using the same scenario as above, let's say that you had to fix the permissions on thousands of home directories. With SUBINACL, you can actually go to the original directories and files, use the tool to create what is called a "play file", a text file that contains the right account and permissions from the source files, then use that same file to tell SUBINACL to fix the permissions on the target storage system, the one with the screwed up permissions. It's quite the life saver if you ever find yourself in the type of predicament.

Also check out "CACLS". This command is inherent to Windows XP Professional.

Conclusion
----------
These tools are contained in the Windows 2000 and 2003 server resource tool kit, however several of them also exist native to the Windows XP environment. Check them out if you don't already know about them. Even if you have no use for them right now it may save you hours of hard work and stress in the event of a future permissions problem.

You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included.

Original URL (The Web version of the article)
------------
http://www.defendingthenet.com/NewsLetters/XCACLS-SUBINACL-AndOtherPermissionSecurityRecoveryTools.htm

Page rank improving � through web directory

2008-11-22T20:08:00.002+07:00

In order to attain a better-quality web site visibility through search engines rankings has turned into a need in today�s virtual business world.

The growing usage of directories like the leadinglinksdirectory serves the obligation of every single commercial body to an increase in its web traffic.

This could be completed via increasing its web visibility at the internet.

The most advantageous manner to do that might be to be listed on a link directory. The usage of such a net directory saves you the time waste of exploring for every commerce body target website.

This look for might probably turn out to be a time spending exertion because there is an ever increasing number of web sites which cause the discovery of this info deliberately tricky as so to try and put off spam as well as robotic submissions.
Obviously the directories are supposed to be search engine welcoming and to experience a high page rank, and that will cause the operation of directory submission to become an efficient and a crucial tool intended for online marketing.
Through doing it in the appropriate way you should achieve an elevated place with search engines results as well as the benefit of getting your website indexed, and clearly catch a click through net traffic in the direction of your web site.

There seem to be situated a growing discussion taking place on the net whether directories are worth submitting to. There are those who would sa that it�s a time waste submitting your website that even with a gigantic figure of directories are insignificant, those persons of course put their faith in search engine rankings in the web, but many of the webmasters fall short on the road to grasp the diversity between the search engines to the directories.

This breakdown to make the difference between these two might perhaps guide the way to a massive fall down in the effectiveness of using internet directories in order to enhance the sites page rank and also to create net traffic, towards the web site.
The automatic "spiders" exercised by the search engines whose mere reason is to blindly gather info. from within the internet pages consequently as to include them on their database.That is why search engines in addition operate human editors to try and study website pages prior to when they are stored on to their directories.
That is the main cause why it�s authoritative that you cautiously select the directories you want.

We at The Leading Links Directory believe the means of a human editor could create a diversity and also that an imperfectly designed site a one that is not professionally designed may be noticed by the eyes of search engines such as an unconstructive website. That is the major reason we specially utilize chosen special human edited web sites as well as continue standard maintenance and inspection with in our internet site including its different categories.

Once you submit your website onto a directory whether it�s a free directory or else an un free internet directory, it is necessary to check it when ever you can and to observe that errors ( if you found any) are corrected, and that the info. might be found on the web site is up to date time and again. So you are most likely to recognize you chose the best internet site intended for you.

To cut a long story short there might be some individuals who may say the use of directories are nothing but websites containing categories, simply a cluster of internet links assembled from the internet.

Nevertheless they really are a method meant for surfers to very easily position the web links they were looking for, by means of the operation of specific categories, similar to Greeting Cards as well as Web Services, every one of them including precise data and information in relation to specifically these subjects, without the need to lose precious working time examining the net for it, and the usage of sub-categories makes the work of "fishing" for information and data even still easier.
Nonetheless for you it�s a great way to lift your internet site�s popularity at the search engines rankings.

With choosing the internet directory appropriate for you, a general one or rather a specific one that will truthfully portrays your site, inside the directory you can be able to choose the best fitting category and also sub category as so to feature your website.

Prior to submitting your site to an internet directory might demand a little bit of work, however it might fetch you the search engine rankings that your website ought to carry out!

- Jeff G -

Using a Proxy to Access Any WebSite

2008-11-21T08:39:00.002+07:00

Many school classrooms primarily use computers and the �net to gather and save information. More and more colleges are offering entire learning environments via a web-based medium where no physical classroom is even necessary. Employers are also following suite and using the Internet as a mass communication tool for employers to interact electronically with one another with little cost. With this significant increase in the �net�s usefulness, there has come about stronger laws governing exactly what content is distributed.

One such very popular proxy (http://www.proxymy.com) has become notoriously popular for allowing students to access MySpace (a popular social networking website) from their school internet connection. Not only do proxies such as ProxyMy.com allow access to MySpace from school and colleges, but they are also almost necessary to use in the work environment. Employers are able to browse and track every single website their employees visits at work. An anonymous web based proxy can ensure privacy when surfing the web.

Access to otherwise filtered websites, and securing browsing privacy are two great benefits of a CGI based anonymizer proxy. Another great benefit, not to be overlooked, is also the security offered when browsing the net through a proxy. As great of an educational tool the internet has become, it is also a nefarious medium for advertisers to distribute all sorts of unwanted advertisement including: spam, pop ups, viruses, and predominantly spyware.

A CGI proxy allows anyone using it to block cookies that track browsing habits for these ads to ensure your computer�s safety, privacy, and right to browse the internet as it was meant to be seen: An uncensored medium.

- John D -

�Just Google It�

2008-11-18T23:07:00.002+07:00

I caught myself using this seemingly overworked phrase�again�in the midst of a sales presentation: �Just Google it.� I have heard this phrase on TV and radio and in conversations with friends�everywhere. And Webster�s has added the new verb �google� to the dictionary!

Why is Google the first name that comes to mind when we think of looking for something?
Classical marketing laws would tell us it�s the �first in market�first in mind� rule. That rule points us to such brands as Coke, Xerox, Kleenex, Lite (Miller), etc.

But we �FedEx� a package now�right? Many other shipping companies were in the market long before FedEx. We �Google it,� not �Yahoo it��or �MSN it��or �Lycos it,� etc. So the first-in-market rule doesn�t seem to hold water in today�s fast-paced, high-tech marketplace.

Consider this modification to the rule:

�The first to make the biggest brand impact and reinforce its image with a great product or service will eventually become first in mind and in market�sometimes.�

OK, that�s better�and note that I left some wiggle room.

How do you keep that initial brand momentum in place?

After being marketed for decades, �Coke� is still used as a generic term. If you ask for a �Lite� and you get a Bud Light, you give the bartender the evil eye. And when we want to look something up�we �Google it.�

Why do some brand impressions last while others fade?

That�s because some companies continue to reinforce their �brand language� with smart marketing and advertising. And it�s because these companies produce very good products that are constantly improved and expanded upon. For businesses of all sizes, here is a list of media we find highly effective:

�Web Site Overhauls�Make your site more compelling and maximize it for strong conversions, by helping customers find what they want, piquing their interest and having calls to action that match their buying habits. Internal and external research has shown that sites in numerous industries fail to achieve core objectives.

�E-mail Campaigns�With a 56/1 ROI, they are the best way to keep in front of prospects as they go through a normal sales cycle.

�Online Advertising and Promotion�PPC, organic SEO, ads, social and viral campaigns�all work extremely well for most products and services.

�Impactful Print and Electronic Media�Echo your brand language and intrigue your prospect base from all marketing challenges.

�Blogs and Online PR�Effectively use blogs and press releases to enhance your �online value� relevant to your industry (which Google loves).

�Trade Show Marketing�This differs from industry to industry, but these shows are a great way to get in front of a large percentage of your target market in a short time frame. Today�s shows are much more interactive and informative than those in the past.

What can businesses of all sizes learn from this?

Create great products or services, and make sure your marketplace is aware of and impressed by your brand. All companies need to continue to effectively promote their brands and their key advantages to their target customers and prospect base. This should be done by a reputable firm or agency through the use of innovative and compelling media and strategies.

- brandsthatsell.com -

Protect Your PC with these Top Free Software Programs

2008-11-17T11:33:00.002+07:00

This is a dangerous world for a computer user- threats multiply by the hour designed to swipe your data, cripple your network, steal your identity and in general- wreck havoc. Fortunately you can arm yourself to battle these menaces with several top software programs. And the best part is that these applications are free. So strap on your seatbelt and let�s get started!

The first weapon in your arsenal should be anti-virus protection. Many of the popular and expensive programs tend to slow down PC performance and require an annual paid subscription. My impression is that they work no better than their �freeware� cousins. A good recommendation/alternative is AVG Free Edition from Grisoft. This program may not feature every single bell and whistle offered by some of the more commercially available apps, but it does provide rock-solid protection with all the tools needed to keep your system free of viruses, worms and Trojans.

Next in line: the firewall. A firewall is essential in preventing others from breaking into your machine. These hackers will steal your data, destroy your system or attempt to convert your computer into a �spam zombie� (remotely using your computer to send spam email) so using an effective firewall is a must. Owners of Windows XP (Home or Professional Edition) may be familiar with its built in firewall, however many options abound. While there are numerous offerings in this category, the Zone Alarm Free Firewall is a sure bet.

Now that we have anti-virus and firewall protection, let�s address a topic I hear more and more frequently: what to do with all of those pesky passwords? Luckily there is a stellar new program, CyberScrub KeyChain designed specifically to address this perplexing problem. Distributed free, KeyChain stores not only your user names and passwords, but all of your addresses and credit card details. All passwords and sensitive data are stored under a single master pass phrase, eliminating the need to recall scores of unique access combinations. You simply highlight and click a password protected website from a small browser toolbar and KeyChain fills in and submits your log in details. As powerful web-based form filler, the long and tedious process of typing in your credit card and address info is a click away, making shopping a snap. All data is protected with strong encryption for your safety.

Of course no discussion of computer protection would be complete without discussing the scrounge of spyware. Every bit as insidious as a computer virus, spyware seems to multiply exponentially with new forms of malware limited only by the creative schemes of the evil geniuses that produce them. Spyware can easily take control of your machine, opening and closing your CD bay, serving objectionable browser ads, hijacking your homepage, logging your keystrokes to steal your passwords and more. So if you don�t have protection against this menace, take action now. Lavasoft offers a very good program, Ad-Aware SE Personal.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, it will provide the essentials to protect your PC and data. So don�t delay- your computer needs you!

- Bill A -

Top 5 Reasons to Start Blogging for Your Business Now �and Why You Shouldn�t Wait

2008-11-16T15:00:00.002+07:00

Unless you�ve just come online and are new to the way business is done on the Internet, you know how important blogs are� or do you? Here are five reasons you should start a blog for your business now � or maybe a reminder of why it's important for you to take your business blog seriously.

1. A business blog is a sure-fire way to get found by people searching for your product or service. Search engines index blogs more frequently than static websites.
2. A blog shows your personality, your expertise, and your character; people will hire or buy from you when they feel they trust and like you.
3. A blog showcases your business in a way a website cannot, and is a fast way to get noticed by other people in your field, leading to joint ventures and affiliations.
4. A blog expands your global reach, pulling in qualified prospects you would never have reached before.
5. A blog allows you to interact with readers, get feedback, introduce them to your ideas, and builds relationships, creating customer evangelists who will spread the word about you.

In spite of these great marketing advantages that can result when publishing a blog, many business owners and entrepreneurs hesitate and procrastinate.

Why? Here are some common reasons:
- I won�t know what to write about
- I don�t want to share my personal life
- I don�t have time to learn another web application
- My children use blogs; my colleagues don�t
- Why would anyone want to read about my business?
- I�m not sure it will bring a sufficient return on investment

Many are mislead into thinking a blog is primarily a personal online diary, or for political rants, or for young adults and kids.

What we're advocating is a Business Blog: one used for creating relationships with prospects, showcasing your expertise, and making it easy for customers and clients to find you and your business.

When used by savvy professionals a business blog increases the likelihood of getting found on the Internet, and helps create credibility and trust like no other online tool.

Blogs are easy to learn, do not require tech skills, and cost only a few dollars a month. Most professionals can learn to set one up in a couple of hours. Writing and finding material to write about requires 20-40 minutes a day. Or, you can hire a professional to set a blog up for you and train you how to use it effectively for your business. Then you spend your time and energy writing short posts, or articles.

World-wide, there are over a billion people using the Internet and that number is growing rapidly. In the US, blog readers are more educated and spend more money online than do non-blog readers.

Does it makes sense to have a blog for your business? We may be biased, but based on our experience, blogs are a terrific tool to help you attract, engage, and inform an audience that wants what you've got. It's time to get started now.

- savvyebiztips.com -

Blog Tips for SEO

2008-11-12T22:36:00.003+07:00

Blogs are the current rage, and many webmasters have blogs but fail to use their blog to it's full potential. Blogs provide a steady stream of fresh content, and if this content is written and managed properly, blogs have the ability to increase a website's ranking in the search engines.

1. Host Your Own Blog
In order to prosper from a blog, be sure to host it on your own domain. Hosting the blog on your own server will maximize the links to your website. Link popularity is one of the factors search engines use to rank websites. Resist the urge to use free hosting services, do not give away your link popularity!

2. RSS Feeds
All blogs should have an RSS feed. An RSS feed will allow for your blog posts to be easily syndicated. The syndication will result in links back to your blog from RSS directories or others who display the feed. Blog entries should be available via an RSS feed. Website visitors who subscribe to the feed will receive notification when new blog posts are added. If the title is of interest, they will click through to your website. This gives subscribers an easy way to know when a blog has been updated.

3. Use White Space
Be sure to make your content scannable. Few website visitors actually read blog posts; most web visitors simply scan a blog entry to determine its relevance or point. With that in mind, the blog posts should be displayed in short paragraphs. Overly long posts should be segmented into concise paragraphs or broken into bulleted lists to make scanning easier. Avoid the urge to "clutter" the post.

4. Titles Matter
You only have seconds to grab the attention of scanners browsing your blog. Use keywords and catchy titles to draw readers in. Blog post titles can be bolded for emphasis and white space should be used to buffer the content.

5. Grammar Matters
You will be judged by your knowledge and use of the English language. Search engines will make note of blog entries that lack proper punctuation or capitalization. If a blog post does not respect the rules of grammar and punctuation, it is possible search engines will make the assumption that a bot cobbled together the posts leading to a potential ban.

6. Legibility
As with any web design select fonts carefully, do not use micro or macro-fonts. Colors should be web safe, making it easy to discern and read. The background and background color should not obscure the text.

7. Navigate
Give readers somewhere to go, include links to additional information resources or extended information in the blog post. Including links in the actual blog post will ensure back links should the RSS feed be syndicated.

8. Communicate
If you create a post about someone, let them know, they might surprise you and link back or they might blog about your blog post, essentially creating a virtual dialogue. This is an easy way to build link popularity. Be warned however, simply mentioning a popular blogger on a blog will rarely result in a link back, the content of the blog post must "grab" their interest.

9. Incorporate SEO
Blog posts should be written as you would write a web copy. Posts should be natural and make sense while still incorporating keywords and keyword phrases that relate to the content.

10. Speed Matters
Web pages that are slow to load will frustrate users, be sure to use reliable web hosting. Compress graphics to maximize load time.

Use your blog to help your website attract traffic. Attention to search engine optimization
details could mean the difference between popular and unpopular.

- feedforall.com -

5 Reasons To Why Blogging Is The New Internet Marketing Tool

2008-11-12T08:40:00.003+07:00

Did you know that one of the easiest home based businesses to start is Blogging? This type of business is one of the most growth potential in the Internet. Blogging is a concept that started in late 90s. It used to be a way to comment an existing webpage, an opportunity for visitors and readers to react or voice out one�s opinion on the said page. What started as a single-sentence commentary has evolved into pages of personal take on just about anything and everything under the sun. As it continues to move forward, online advertising has tapped into the blog�s potential.

Here are 5 reasons why Blogging:

1) Is simple - The simplest way to get your piece on the net is through blogging. No skills are necessary� an average adult can read and type, or at least click a mouse. It�s like having a virtual piece of paper and you just write your ideas, experiences, new products, and hope that the truth behind your articles comes out and entice your reader to also try your product. If you have a PC and an Internet connection (who doesn�t?) then you can blog and advertise.

2) Is authentic - In this day and age where advertising saturate our lives, we question the credibility of promoters� claims. However, in blogs, real people share their real-life experiences, unscathed by paid advertising. Reading blogs about first-hand product use is like talking to people about their first-hand experience. You definitely want to buy a tried and tested product.

3) Is free - Because blogging is yet to be proven as a mainstream online advertising media, most sites see it as something to augment current marketing tools and thus offer it for free. Any opportunity for free webtime is definitely a bonus especially to businesses that are starting up. Needless to say, paid blog pages can generate more income for your seriously growing business.

4) Builds credibility - As you get more and more into writing your experiences on a particular product or industry, your readers come to realize that they can depend on your posts for their own information needs. As such, you become an expert on it; as a consequence, more readers visit your site and more bloggers link to your blogs. As companies and professional organizations notice the growth of your readership base, they may soon get in touch with you for advertising on your blog page, or make you an affiliate, which pays for every referral generated from your blog site.

5) Builds your market - Unless you are a Hollywood star, chances are, only your Mom reads your posts. Mom has a lot of friends, so she lets her friends know how interesting your blog site is. But you need not depend on Mom to increase your readership base.

Build your market through blogging by:

*Using your e-mail - Today, blogging is overcoming the e-mail�s popularity in quickly and effectively reaching and expanding a market. In this age of speed and quick access, logging in and downloading e-mail is simply taking longer than clicking into a blog site. Let them explore your site by using a short e-mail message as teaser to your blog site. If your e-mail is on an entirely different subject, use your e-mail signature to give a link to the site.

*Using subscription - An easy way to get your readers e-mail is to give them an opportunity to subscribe to your blogsite. Keep some exclusive information for your subscribers to entice readers to subscribe and give their e-mail address. Just be responsible in using their e-mail address, as the last thing you want is a comment on your blog that you are a spammer.

*Understanding your readers - Conduct a simple survey for your readers to understand their profile and advertising preferences. Ask consumers to give you feedback on a post, an ad link, or a trial that you shared. In this way, it is like interviewing your readers without the commitment and intrusion of a face-to-face interview.

*Joining a blog network - A network of blogs maybe a collection of blog sites that share the same industry, interest, readership base, payment mode, etc. Consumers find credibility and convenience in clicking one link to several real bloggers about a single subject. Clearly, more bloggers are better than one.

*Using RSS - RSS is the fastest growing technology on the Internet today. As such, having RSS feeds to your blog is definitely another means of generating awareness for your readership base. Having a variety of feeds can add interest to your blog site.

Give your business a boost by effectively using blogging as an Internet marketing tool. One of the most effective methods of getting targeted traffic
to a site.

Start now and the opportunities are endless!

- simplyrichsg.com -

Pinging Tricks

2008-11-10T11:05:00.003+07:00

You’re a blogger and are constantly hearing about pinging. The thing is, you don't know what it is and what it can do for your blog. Well that's fine because a lot of bloggers don't quite understand pinging. In this newsletter, we will explain what pinging is, how it helps your blog, and what the best pinging services are. After you've read this newsletter, you'll know exactly how to use pinging to make your blog popular.

What is pinging?

When a blog is pinged, it essentially tells a web blog tracking system that the blog has been updated. Thus, pinging is the process of telling tracking services that a site has been updated.

So how does pinging work? Well, a ping service scans regularly blogs for updates. Whenever there is a new update for a particular blog, that is reported back to the pinging service’s site. You can almost think of ping services being just like search engine spiders—both scan sites looking for information, and both report that information back to their specific site. The difference is, a ping service only reports back new blog posts.

Why is pinging useful for my blog?

Pinging, in effect, tells people that there is a new blog posting available. Those who are loyal followers of your blog will see the ping and want to visit your blog. Those who haven’t read your blog before will see the ping and perhaps think “hey, there’s a new blog I haven’t been to before, I think I’ll check it out”. Pinging helps to increase your traffic because it tells people when your blog is updated. Those who visit sites with pinging services will see this information in the form of a scroll on the left or right side, or top of the page. The scroll is usually in XML format and typically includes the title and URL of your blog, as well as the date and time of the update.

OK, so now I know what pinging is. Who offers pinging?

The answer is, there are several pinging services available which you can use to have your blog pinged. We’ll go over some of them right now.

Weblogs.com

Weblogs.com is probably the most well-known pinging service. Weblogs.com monitors sites for updates and then pings whenever there is an update to report. Virtually every blog software is available to use Weblogs.

Yahoo’s Blo.gs

Another popular pinging service. This one is offered by Yahoo and has a built-in integration with movable type and other tools. One cool thing about this service is that it offers the ability to give out updates via Instant Messenging services like AOL and ICQ. It is a direct pinging service, so those who sign up for subscriptions to your blog will be sent an email anytime your blog is updated.

Blogrolling.com

Blogrolling allows its bloggers to manage their blogrolls (updates) through a web-based interface. Recently updated blogs are also highlighted on Blogrolling’s web site. Data is automatically retrieved from other sites like blogger.com and weblogs.com every 5 minutes. Often times your blog is already being pinged by Blogrolling, so you might not have to sign up for it. Search on the site first for your URL before signing it up.

Technorati

Available at http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping, Technorati is another service that pings blogs. It gets its data from a variety of places and is definitely a site you should go to for blog pinging.

These are just 4 of the many different blog pinging services available. A quick search on Yahoo or Google will reveal many other possible blog pinging services to use for your blog. It is best to sign up for as many as you possibly can to ensure that your blog is well-pinged. A well-pinged blog will definitely help your blog attract more visitors. So sign up for as many as possible and watch your blog traffic increase.

Pinging tells people when your blog is updated. It is an incredibly useful, and easy to sign up for service, so be sure to sign your blog up for pinging!

- rowner.freegoogle.hop.clickbank.net -

What a Website Needs to Succeed!

2008-11-08T18:22:00.003+07:00

A Proven Formula for All Websites

Every business needs a website. It is an absolute MUST! Nowadays, it’s like not being in the phone book. The Internet is a digitally-indexed database that is searchable. Whenever anyone wants to know more about anything, they look it up on the Internet, in their own time, 24/7, without the pressure of a sales person. With search engines, such as Google.com or Yahoo.com, the information they are looking for can be found in seconds.

If you aren’t where people are looking, you CAN’T get the sale.

Even if you aren’t planning on selling anything online, you still need to have an Internet presence, telling your story and being a 24/7 sales person for you. The Internet is information. So, even if you just have an informational website, people can find out more about you, your company, what you have to offer, and why they should choose you over your competition. A website gives you the opportunity to get all of that across to your potential customer.

Following, are proven components of a website and why you will need them in yours.

A Home Page is the window into your website and should be short, sweat, and to the point. Statistically, it has been proven that you get about 3 seconds, once a person arrives at your website, to get them interested enough to click for more information. If you can get them to click, then you have them! If you try to give them all of the information at once, then you will lose them.

Some websites try to give you their inventory on the home page, or write a story that scrolls forever. This is not good. A home page should not scroll. This is a big “No No”. When people get to a home page and see paragraphs, trust me, they go on to the next website. It needs graphics that represent the services, happy pictures, happy customers, and a quick sales pitch. Remember, people are lazy and won’t read large amounts of text, unless they have a need to. And included on the home page, needs to be quickly gotten across, why someone should use you over your competitor.

The About Us page sometimes gets left off, in favor of making the home page the About Us page. You will want to have an About Us page that explains in detail what you have to offer, your history, your mission statement, and a good reason that a potential customer should use buy from you over your competitor. This can be seen as the detailed version of the home page. However, it is a mistake to forgo the About Us page in exchange for a detailed home page. Again, this will just push people away who do not want to read all of the details to find out who you are and what you have to offer. This information should be available for those who wish to see more information after they are intrigued by the home page.

Design rules. For uniformity and good design, websites (any marketing piece) should have rules for graphic elements and text. For example, all headings should be the same size/style/color, etc. All subheads should have their own size/style/color, etc. This helps the eye make sense of what it is looking at. Guide your visitor with well-placed graphics and text.

Make sure that your website has good navigation, with buttons/links for all main sections of your website. And be sure to keep these navigation buttons/links visible on ANY page. There is nothing more frustrating than to not be able to find your way while browsing a website. People will leave before becoming too frustrated. Don’t let this happen on your website!

The constant, flashing email (or other) button/advertisement is a "No No" these days. In the old days, flashing and blinking graphics were used. As websites became more graphically sophisticated, these types of elements were not used any more. It can be annoying to see something flashing just off your vision, when you are trying to read the web page.

Text links at the bottom are rarely used any more. They were implemented back in the day of the text-based websites, when they were just starting out. This was for the dial-up users who had the option to turn off graphics for faster web page loading. When this happened, there were no links for navigation, unless a webmaster placed text links at the bottom. Nowadays, most people have broadband connections, and this just isn't necessary any more.

The biggest problem I see with websites these days is that a person has to read quite a bit to see what, exactly, a website is selling. When people show up at your website, you get about 3 seconds to peak their interest. Get it across very quickly, with icons/graphics/bullet points that are easy to understand. Tell them why they should choose you over your competition. And then tell them where to go to get started.

Another very important element is testimonials. More important than telling them why a potential customer should use your services over your competitions’, is a customer of yours saying the same thing. Not only is a testimonial someone who used your services, but they can say "how" you were able to help them. This gives new potential customers ideas on how your services will help “them”. Testimonials are also sales pitches from your happy customers, people just like them. They are people who were in the same position as they are right now and they got through it, so they can too. They also build credibility. When you are endorsed by other people, you have credibility and that you can do what you say you can do. And even though they may be saying the same thing that you are saying, it is coming from someone just like them, and not someone who is trying to sell them anything. They have nothing to gain by saying this. You do. So they need to hear from them. You absolutely MUST have endorsements for your business; otherwise, you are just blowing your own horn!

The next best thing to a testimonial page is an FAQ page. An FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page answers questions for your company 24/7, when you can't be at the phone to answer, and for people who would rather look over your information than speak to someone who might try to sell them something. FAQs also help to give scenarios of how they can be helped, by answering questions that other potential customers have asked, and they might not have thought of themselves. This gets them thinking and gives them answers in a risk-free environment. It is VERY important to have an FAQ working for you 24/7. It's like having a free sales person working for you around the clock, fielding all questions that might come up! It's a MUST-have for ANY website!

Your website should also have a clear "call to action". A lot of websites say that “we are here and we do this”, but they don't tell them how to get started, or tell them where to go to get started right now... no call to action. Now that they have the information, now what? People are like sheep. They must be led. You must lead them to the next level; otherwise, they probably won't get there. You should have calls to action by all services, and on your home page. You should sprinkle testimonials throughout, as well, leading them back to the full testimonials and then to the call to action, which should be placed on the testimonials page, as well. You could offer a FREE Consultation by calling right now… or click HERE now to email us 24/7 for a FREE Consultation… something that tells them where to go from here and a reason to get started right now and how.

There also needs to be graphics to help tell the story; high-end icons that help draw the eye to the item of interest, to get them to read it. Having a text-only page usually does not get read. People are lazy and will not usually read paragraphs of information in hopes of getting the information they are looking for. They would have to first be extremely interested before reading the “fine print”. And to get them interested, it should be broken up with graphics that represent each section. They will see the related graphic first, and then move to that area if interested. But to give them a page of information usually doesn't work.

You also need meta tags. This is very important to search engines. These are hidden key words and phrases that describe what you offer, but also your location, etc. Search engines rely heavily on key words and phrases in order to give your website as a result in a search done for your type of business. In fact, it is also good to have misspelled keywords that people might type in order to find you. Obviously, you won’t want to have misspelled words or phrases on your page, since this will give the wrong impression of who you are. With meta tags, misspelled words are hidden in the code of the website, but can be used to bring people to your website who may not be able to correctly spell some your services. Even putting your competitions’ names and products in your meta tags can help get traffic to your site, so that they can compare your products and services to your competitors’.

Another item that puts you high on the search engine results listing is having articles about your type of business, both on your website, and other websites that link back to yours for more information on the subject. Offering free information makes you an authority on the subject, not just someone trying to sell their wares. This plays heavily in search results, along with one-way links back to your website. When you get one-way links back to your site for more information, this gives you much credibility and definitely helps to make you an authority that other sites rely on. So when someone looks up your type of product or service for more information, obviously the search engine will give a site that has the most helpful and free information (and one that other sites rely on for more information on this subject) a higher rating and puts them higher on the search results list.

A FREE Tips & Tricks or Hints page is also a good way to get relevant traffic. People are always looking for How-To's and DIY information on all types of subjects. On my site I have FREE Tech Tips that get hits all the time, which pertain to my services. Again, a percentage of these hits click on my services. And the only way I got them there was because of the FREE How-To's that I offer. So, you have to entice people to your site, by offering more than your competitor's website. This is where these types of pages come in handy.

It is also good to have a Privacy Policy page. This shows integrity and also builds credibility and a higher ranking in the search engines. This is one item that search engines look for, in particular. Websites with a page dedicated to a Privacy Policy get a higher ranking and your site will show up higher in the search results.

A Guarantee page is also a good idea. Again, this gives credibility and will give you an edge over your competitor, who may not offer a guarantee. A website that has a guarantee, but is hard to find, makes a potential customer feel like they have something to hide and may not purchase from that website. However, if you have an easy-to-find Guarantee that you put right in their face (whether you dedicate a page to it, or you put it right on the Home page), it eases potential customers into a buying position.

You may want to have a form that allows a customer to request more information about your product or service, and which also lets the customer type in their personal information and what they are looking for. This not only helps you by getting their contact information, it also helps by prompting the potential customer into thinking about other aspects. By doing it this way, you will also get all of the information needed to correctly quote a product or service more effectively, without having to make additional phone calls to the customer. The more common way of requesting information is just by posting an INFO email address and hope that the person requesting the info knows enough about what he is looking for to provide all of the info to get a good quote. This is not usually the case. Most of the time they need a form to fill out. In most cases, there is info that is left out. A form ensures that you get everything needed to quote the product or service accurately. And, also, by offering a form to request more info, leads will be generating 24-7 for you. All you have to do is the quote and give them a call. This reduces the need for cold-calling, and gives you an excuse to call and close the deal.

If you incorporate all of the above pages, along with the “way” these pages should be shown, your website will have a higher ranking in the search engines, which puts your website higher in the search results, thus significantly increasing the traffic to your website!

The above categories aren't the only things you can do to increase traffic to your website. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) should also be done, as well as swapping links with relevant websites, and posting articles and links back to your website from online article and content websites.

- MichiganTechGroup.com -

5 Essential Ingredients of a Successful Online Work at Home Business

2008-11-07T22:48:00.003+07:00

The internet changes daily as far as what works and what doesn't when it comes to making money online.

If you are new to work at home online businesses, your head can spin with all the hype, sales pitches , and outright lies as far as the reality of starting up an online home based business.

There are however a few things to look for in your search for a work at home business that can become some nice additional income, or even better, your "job". Working at home, generating $1000 a day is far from what I call a "job".

To help ease your frustration, and point you in the right direction for what you should be looking for in today's online marketplace, the following summarizes the 5 essential ingredients in a winning work at home online business opportunity.

Later in this brief overview, I will offer a "secret" to online success that is rarely mentioned in the many articles written on the subject.

1. SYSTEM- This may be the most crucial item to your success. You need a System that generates prospects, educates them on your business opportunity, sorts and weeds out those that are not interested in your offer, then closes the sale at a conversion rate that ensures profitability. The System must be as automated as possible so you aren't spending hours cold calling or following up with people that are probably not interested, then trying to use your sales closing skills to make a sale.

Think of the successful off line businesses such as McDonalds, Tim Hortons or Subway. Do you think they could duplicate those businesses all over the country, setting up new franchise owners to run these businesses, without a SYSTEM that works?

2. BIG Profits- This is important as the advertising needed to result in sales can be quite costly. For some $1000 price point business programs, it isn't unusual to spend $200, $400 or even $600 to make that $1000 sale. Of course, there are ways to also spend $0 in advertising, but the reality is advertising is often on the range where to make $1, you may need to spend $0.40. Your profit is still $0.60. Would you do that over and over if you had a automated system in place to make this happen? Big Profits allows enough profit so your advertising cost is well covered by your selling price. You can't do much advertising to make a profit on selling a $20 ebook for example.

3. Hot Products- Yes, the product must be tangible and have use and value. There are many new business opportunities that offer $75,000 or more worth of downloadable products that sell for $1000. That's pretty HOT, and full of value. Having a product that can be downloaded, means NO shipping. Now that is just way too easy.

4. Leads and Traffic- This is probably the most perplexing for most new work at home business owners. An online business will never make any money without a source of leads (prospects). The key to providing leads to an online business is they need to be targeted.

This means you need to advertise to a niche market of people looking for exactly what your offers. Seems so simple a concept, but so may people struggle in building their prospect list.

5. Support and Training- as with any business start up, you need to learn your work at home online business program.Make sure that your business program has ample training and resources so you know exactly what to do to get those prospects to your System. This is not always easy to figure out when doing your due diligence on an offer.

As a suggestion, make sure you ask for examples of where and how you will advertise. Also ask where will you get the wording for the ads,who will write the ad copy and the followup messages, what the conversion rates are for your system. If your sponsor can't provide good answers, then they may not be that successful themselves.

This is just a brief overview of what today's online business programs need to cut through the many offers out there and make your business stand out to others.

Earlier I mentioned I'd offer a "secret" to successful online work at home business programs that is rarely mentioned in the various sales pitches. The true secret just might be you.

Most people do not realize they are starting up a real business. There will be ups and downs, profitability may not come overnight, or you may expect riches in the first few days.

I am sure some people have had such success, but most starting out, very likely start with leads, no prior list of prospects, and a small advertising budget. You then need to make good decisions to leverage your sales to grow your business.

The best way to accomplish an online business start up is with the very best automated SYSTEM. Then you can spend most of your time on advertising and growing your prospect list- leaving the rest to the system to close sales which will deliver you paying customers. Then you can train your new customers to do what you know how to do!

For more information on automated systems, please take a look at our main business review website.

To your success!

- businessreviews4you.com -

The Top 7 Overlooked E-bay Success Tips

2008-11-06T23:07:00.003+07:00

Last year alone, millions of people made a profit on e-bay. Some were just selling odds and ends, while some ran huge businesses exclusively on e-bay. The amount of commerce done on the internet is only expected to increase, making prospects for e-bay users bright. You very well may be one of the people who's discovered the great benefits of making money from e-bay auctions. I myself have been an e-bay user for a little over a year and have had great success with my auctions.

When my friend began her business on e-bay selling high end purses, it started out quite rocky. Her auctions weren't getting the hits she wanted and usually sold off of one bid, instead of creating the bidding frenzy that beautiful bags like she had should have!

So, she called me up knowing I had been successfully using e-bay for almost a year at the time. She gave me her login information (we're best friends- she trusts me!) and asked me to check her her sales and current auctions and see if I noticed where the problem was. When I saw her current auctions, alot became obvious!

So, I compiled a list of things that I had used which had made me successful which I suggested she implement into her own auctions. I even revised the auctions she had active at the time. One of those auctions- a gorgeous brown Coach purse- sold for $546.00. She had listed it for $125.00. It was her biggest sale yet and she was thrilled.

The funny thing is, the methods I use are not some internet guru secrets. They are just things I picked up during my time using e-bay, but seem to be overlooked alot of the time. Here are what I have found to be the top 7 overlooked tips for successful e-bay auctions:

1. The Importance of a Good Title- When you're creating a title for your auction, you've gotta think like a buyer. When I checked my friend's listings, she had a beautiful, brand new brown patchwork Coach purse titled as 'coach purse'. This is way too general! A buyer knows what they want; in your title, include color, any brand name, main keywords that people will search, and condition is possible. I changed her title to "Brown & Beige Patchwork Coach Purse-Brand New". By the next day, it had over 100 new hits. Previously her auctions were hardly even reaching 100 hits throughout the whole 5 days.

Another mistake people often make is writing things like 'The best wristwatch ever!!!!" Even if you do believe you're selling the best wristwatch ever, is this really what a buyer is searching for? Of course not. Use a more descriptive, detailed title like 'Gold Armani Wrist Watch w/ Leather Band-New".

One more thing when it comes to titles: make sure keywords are included. For example, whatever the item you're selling actually IS, include that in the title. On e-bay, I mostly sell high end women's heels. I always make sure to include in my title 'Womens Shoes" because this is a common keyword. An example of a title I would use is:

"Brown Marc Jacobs Womens Silver Stud Pumps Shoes"- I know that 'pumps shoes' sounds awkward, but many women will search for "marc jacobs womens shoes", and I want to be sure my item shows up in the results. Use these tips when creating your title and you'll be sure to see increased traffic to your auction.

2. Give honest descriptions- Sure, that stain, tear, or other defect may be sooo small that it's almost impossible to notice. Still, mention it in your auction. If you send an item out and a buyer realizes that the item has a defect that you didn't mention in the auction description, they will be disappointed and very possibly leave you negative feedback. Anyone familiar with e-bay knows that feedback is everything. It is what makes people feel comfortable buying from you and proves that you are a trustworthy, reliable buyer.

It's best to provide a photo of any defects so potential buyers can see what they're getting. And believe me, if you say that there's a defect but don't show a picture, people will e-mail you asking for some. I have sometimes had a defect so tiny on a shoe that I couldn't even get it to show up in a picture. If that's the case, say it! Provide a picture of the area where the defect is and also explain in your listing that it's so miniscule that you can't get it to show up in the picture. Buyers will trust you much more and be way more willing to buy from you in the future. You also won't have to deal with an unsatisfied customer who can damage your feedback rating and make future potential buyers hesitant or even completely dissaude them from buying from you.

3. Offer International Shipping- So often I see sellers who are providing great products but don't offer international shipping. Let me tell you- about 30% of my sales are to international buyers, and very often international buyers will pay more for products. I never understood why people are restraining their own sales potential by not offering international shipping.

Remember, the buyer is the one who pays the shipping, not you!! Even though international shipping is expensive, you are not paying it! And don't be discouraged thinking sending things internationally is difficult- it's super simple and not much different then sending things within the country. If you use USPS (the method I find most efficient for prices and service), you may have to fill out a short customs sheet that takes no more than a minute. Don't be lazy! Offer international shipping and see your sales soar!

4. Send a Thank You card with your purchase- You can get packs of black decorative cards from any general store, WalMart, or even discount chains like TJ Maxx. Buy a couple packs and with people's packages, send a nice thank you card.

You don't have to write a dialog, just a simple "Name of Buyer, Thanks so much for your bid! Enjoy your purchase, and I hope to do business with you in the future! Your Name or Business Name" If you want to really go all out and rake in some super feedback, include a small free gift. When I sell a pair of shoes I usually include a free headband or pair of earrings. If you'd like to try this out, try to find something that compliments whatever it is that you're selling. You could also include a little bag of candy or some tea light candles (go to the dollar store for great knick knacks and free gift ideas). Use your imagination to make your customers satisfied and loyal!

5. Offer combined shipping Buyers love combined shipping. If you offer a good combined shipping deal, and have more than one item they're interested in, they're ten times more likely to buy both items. Some people choose to determine combined shipping depending upon the two items the buyer is interested in, while others have set shipping rules. A good example is to charge $_.__ for the first item and offer to send the second item free, or for $1.00-$2.00 more. Usually the additional weight of the package isn't much so it's possible to offer combined shipping without losing any profit at all. Determine your own rates depending on the weight of the items you sell and the shipping service you use.

6.Keep communication with Buyers open and offer more pictures upon request. Of course in your listing you must include good pictures to attract buyers. Most people include 2-4 pictures per listing, depending on the size of the items and any special details you've got to show. I always include at least 3 pictures, and more if I feel the item needs more pictures of some detail it has that is unique.

Even though you have already provided your buyers with good pictures, it's helpful to write in your listing "Contact me with any questions or for more pictures. (with your contact info)" This is another method that makes buyers instantly trust you more and feel more comfortable placing bids. They feel that the communication lines are open and that they can get more info on the item if needed. And don't be discouraged thinking that you'll spend the whole day responding to e-mails requesting more photos; If you've already included good pictures, most people won't bother asking for more. Of over 50 listings where I've written this, only one person ever asked me for additional pictures. Check your e-mail though at least once a day to see if you've got any questions, people love quick responses and will reward you with good feedback for your effective communication.

7. Always use Delivery Confirmation- This is a biggie! Make sure that when you post your shipping costs, delivery confirmation costs are included so buyers aren't questioning the extrra expense when they receive their invoice. Delivery confirmation is a cheap effective way to ensure both your own and the buyer's investment.

First of all, you do not want to get scammed. What? Scammed? Yes, it happens. I know that most of the scamming referred to on e-bay is about sellers who scam their buyers, but don't be naive; we sellers are also at risk. Although the majority of the e-bay community is good people who are just trying to conduct legitimate transactions, there are those rotten apples which make it hard for all of us.

The usefulness of delivery confirmation was brought to my attention my an acquaintence of mine who does some selling on e-bay. He sold some very high quality digital remote for around $250.00. He shipped the item using delivery confirmation, and after about a week told me he received an e-mail from the buyer saing she'd never received the product. She filed a whole complaint with e-bay and made a big fuss about it. GOOD THING he had the delivery confirmation number and was able to prove that the product had been shipped to her address. Don't let one of these scammers get a chance to cheat you out of your money.

Making delivery confirmation a requirement is also something that will make serious bidders trust you more and see that you're a legitimate business person who wants to secure shipment. Think about it; if someone requests NOT to use delivery confirmation, you can guess where their intentions are. The extra .75 is not breaking anyone's piggy bank, so don't feel bad about it.

There you have it! Use these highly useful yet highly overlooked tips to generate more traffic to your auctions and enjoy higher sale prices. To e-bay success!

- freelancemommystudios.com -

A Guide to RSS Aggregators

2008-11-06T11:10:00.001+07:00

One of the most popular features of Internet portals, websites, pages and even emails is a frame that features an organized list of news headlines and periodic updates from other web sources. Really Simple Syndication, formerly “Rich Site Summary” or simply, RSS makes this possible.

Most users visit a lot of websites whose content continually change, such as news sites, community organization or professional association information pages, medical websites, product support pages, and blogs. As Internet surfing became an intrinsic part of business and leisure, it became important to get rid of the very tedious task of repeatedly returning to each website to see updated content.

RSS easily distributes information from different websites to a wider number of Internet users. RSS aggregators are programs that use RSS to source these updates, and then organize those lists of headlines, content and notices for easy reading. It allows computers to automatically retrieve and read the content that users want, then track changes and personalize lists of headlines that interests them.

The specially made computer programs called “RSS aggregators” were created to automatically find and retrieve the RSS feeds of pre-selected internet sites on behalf of the user and organize the results accordingly. (RSS feeds and aggregators are also sometimes referred to as "RSS Channels" and "RSS Readers".)

The RSS aggregator is like a web browser for RSS content. HTML presents information directly to users, and RSS automatically lets computers communicate with one another. While users use browsers to surf the web then load and view each page of interest, RSS aggregators keeps track of changes to many websites. The titles or descriptions are links themselves and can be used to load the web page the user wants.

RSS starts with an original Web site that has content made available by the administrator. The website creates an RSS document and registers this content with an RSS publisher that will allow other websites to syndicate the documents. The Web site also produces an RSS feed, or channel, which is available together with all other resources or documents on the particular Web server. The website will register the feed as an RSS document, with a listed directory of appropriate RSS publishers.

An RSS feed is composed of website content listed from newest to oldest. Each item usually consists of a simple title describing the item along with a more complete description and a link to a web page with the actual content being described. In some instances, the short description or title line is the all the updated information that a user wants to read (for example, final games scores in sports, weblogs post, or stock updates). Therefore, it is not even necessary to have a web page associated with the content or update items listed -- sometimes all the needed information that users need would be in the titles and short summaries themselves.

The RSS content is located in a single file on a webpage in a manner not very different from typical web pages. The difference is that the information is written in the XML computer code for use by an RSS aggregator and not by a web user like a normal HTML page.

There are 2 main parts that are involved in RSS syndication, namely: the source end and the client end.

The client end of RSS publishing makes up part of the system that gathers and uses the RSS feed. For example, Mozilla FireFox browser is typically at the client end of the RSS transaction. A user’s desktop RSS aggregator program also belongs to the client end.

Once the URL of an RSS feed is known, a user can give that address to an RSS aggregator program and have the aggregator monitor the RSS feed for changes. Numerous RSS aggregators are already preconfigured with a ready list of RSS feed URLs for popular news or information websites that a user can simply choose from.

There are many RSS aggregators that can be used by all Internet users. Some can be accessed through the Internet, some are already incorporated into email applications, and others run as a standalone program inside the personal computer.

RSS feeds have evolved into many uses. Some uses gaining popularity are:

•For online store or retail establishments: Notification of new product arrivals
•For organization or association newsletters: title listings and notification of new issues, including email newsletters
•Weather Updates and other alerts of changing geographic conditions
•Database management: Notification of new items added, or new registered members to a club or interest group.

The uses of feeds will continue to grow, because RSS aggregators make access to any information that individual users like more convenient and fun.

In the mean time, Good Luck on your journey to success…

- Secrets2InternetFortunes.com -

Internet And Business Online – The Act Of Interdependence

2008-11-05T11:12:00.002+07:00

The best role of business online is that of interdependency. We’ve all heard the old saying, “No man is an island.” When it comes to online business this is especially true.

If a business owner who takes their business into the online world determines they will be self reliant and never accept the help of anyone then that individual will not be in business long enough to change their minds.

It is accepted fact that the greatest tool for long-term exposure to your website is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Without it potential customers can’t find you. It is unreasonable to expect that you can adequately develop a website without optimizing your website for the best possible search engine ranking.

Search engines also place a high value on sites that have links placed on existing sites. These ‘backlinks’ demonstrate to search engines that others trust your site. By placing your link on their website these other businesses indicate a trust and recommendation for your site.

In effect the two strategies listed above rely exclusively on what others can do for you when it comes to your online business.

Shirley Temple once proclaimed in her movie Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, “I’m very self-reliant.” American westerns are filled with lines dealing with pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and holding down the fort. Many of us have grown up to believe if we want something done right we have to do it ourselves.

This thinking is in opposition to the rules associated with an online business.

The online world can only exist because people share. Individuals share technology, but the also share links, reviews, blogs, forums and a wide range of other marketing strategies that find a commingling of interdependency.

In online business you are as dependent on others as they may be on you. Unlike the word ‘dependent’, the term interdependent indicates a mutual dependency. In other words you are depending on others to help provide links back to your site while they are equally dependent on you (or others) for the success of their business.

Have you really taken a proactive approach to networking? It’s possible you are reading this today and you’ve never considered asking someone else to place a link to your site on his or her online business site.

It can feel awkward depending on others to achieve online success especially if you’ve been lead to believe reliance on others is also a sign of imposing on their otherwise brilliant generosity.

I suppose it could be a deep-seated sense of pride that makes it hard to consider the need to ask others for help. However, the truth is depending on others is really what has made the Internet possible. The growth of this online world is comprised of a link of computers, networks and servers that are connected in a way that provides the maximum benefit for all.

Building an online business can feel a bit like trying to build a house of cards. Without the ability to rely on the other ‘cards’ around you it is virtually impossible to build.

Interdependence. This is the essence of online business.

- highpowersites.com -

How To Make Money From Web Traffic

2008-11-04T22:35:00.002+07:00

There are things you need to consider in order for you to make money from your website. You should know the importance of web traffic. What is web traffic?

It is important to have web traffic, as it makes your website exist and survive. It has big contribution to internet traffic. It is the sent and received data of a visitor. With traffic on your website, you are sure to earn more money and extend the length of your website existence.

You will gain more money if you attract more visitors, as it determines the amount of visitors that uses your site. Visitors are like customers in the department store, the more visitors you attract the more money you are going to get. So earning web traffic is really of great importance. Many web browsers are incidental shoppers, they see a thing they like and they buy it. But how could they buy from you if they don't even know you exist?

To get more traffic, there are things you need to know. In order to gain what you need to receive, it is important to increase the amount of visitors of your website. What are the things you need to know to attract website more visitors?

The first thing you need to learn is how to convert your visitors to paying customers. People that logs in and out of your website are called visitors. You need to persuade your visitors to use your site repeatedly. If you have many visitors in your website, you will sure to earn more money.

Visitors love to read articles. Make sure that the articles are worth reading. To make this, you need to find a good writer with good reputation, as they can produce content of good quality. By this, your visitors are given reasons to visit your site.

The website should only contain a particular subject. If your website is for buy and sell, it should only contain descriptions and specifications of the product you are going to sell. Never put other contents as it can ruin the subject of your site.

Make a community forum where your visitors are free to exchange ideas and messages. With this, you are able to know the matters that concern your visitors. Know all their concerns and make topics out of it. Interesting topics are usually derived from forum itself. Your visitors are given reasons to visit your website.

Give your visitors a special day to chat with some famous personalities. You can invite a personality to join the forum so your visitors will have the chance to chat with him/her. This should be people which has made a name for themselves in internet marketing. They can share their expertise and knowledge.

You can also make contests, promotions and give away free gifts, as it can attract more visitors. Make your price interesting, it will catch the attention of the visitors and make them use your websites frequently. You can also make attention grabber ads about your promotions so more people will be aware that your website exists.

You can write for other websites that accepts freelance writers. Writing an article for them, can give you a chance to place your name and website URL at the end of your article or small resource box. This can link the readers to your website.

Some visitors are very particular on the reputation of a website. Make sure that your website is of good reputation by placing quality articles and contents of your website. Avoid making comments about other websites, as this will bring a negative image to your website.

These are some effective ways to drive more visitors to your website. With more visitors, you will gain much web traffic as well. With more traffic the more money you are going to earn. Earn more web traffic by doing the methods mentioned in this article, you are sure to earn as much as what you expect.

Mats Lonnstrom is the author of Web Traffic In A Box. Download this Brand New Free report by visiting http://promoteoptions.com/webtrafficinabox/articles

More Traffic Please!

2008-11-04T22:30:00.002+07:00

If it weren't for the business of affiliate marketing, did you ever think that you would be looking for more traffic? In the context of automobiles, nowadays every household seems to have at least 2 or 3 cars on the road and it sure looks like they're all on the road at the same time! Literal traffic is just plain out of control, but on the other hand as far as affiliate marketing goes that's just what we want.

It's seems that regardless of the amount of clicks we get to our sites, it's never too much. The more traffic the better! Easier said than done you say? Are you fighting to get more traffic on a steady basis? There are many methods available. We'll just mention a few to get you started.
METHODS FOR GENERATING TRAFFIC

Free traffic sites are a great source of advertising for your business. Especially if you're just starting out. Most of these sites require that you click on posted advertisements in order to earn credits towards your ad exposure. Many of these sites have large memberships which means that your business is being exposed regularly to a sizable amount of visitors on a daily basis. All for FREE!

Search Engine Optimization
is yet another method that can have a tremendous impact on the growth and profitability of your business. By using keywords that you have directed the search engine to look under, you can drive tons of free traffic to your site and increase your page ranking so that your business is seen faster.

Article Marketing is quite an effective way to drive targeted visitors to your site, by providing content that one can use to either evaluate an opportunity or service' as well as assist in the profitable development of your business.

The key to using these various methods is to strategically combine your efforts so as to maximize your time and effectiveness in obtaining more free traffic for your business. However, not to be overlooked is the value of keyword research. In order for your efforts to pay off, the keywords or keyword phrases you select can determine whether you have massive traffic or no traffic at all.

Keyword research may seem time consuming and somewhat tedious; however if you carefully invest the time into meticulously selecting the best keywords for your ad campaigns, the dividends will far outweigh the time invested. It is for this reason that I mention pay-per-click advertising last. Because of the cost associated with this high powered traffic generation method, it is vital to understand the value of keyword research. If you're going to pay for the click, then you want to get the most bang for your buck. Here are a couple of recommended keyword sites that can help you get the most profit from your hard work:

Wordtracker Free Keyword Suggestion Tool

http://www.wordtracker.com

Google Adwords Keyword Tool

http://www.GoogleAdwords.com

For additional information about getting more traffic

Visit: http://www.HomeBiz-Internet.com

Your Success Is Waiting,

Fernando Morales

Get FREE training to make money online at:
http://www.PluginProfitSite.com

- Amit B -

Feature Overload--Why are Consumer Electronics So Complicated?

2008-11-02T11:38:00.002+07:00

It seems like everything is so complicated these days, especially anything electronic which is more and more products everyday.

Why are they so complex? "Hey, our cell phone takes pictures, sharpens knives, mows the lawn, pays your bills, steers your car, and cooks dinner, all by voice command!" Give us a break!

Unfortunately, the reason so many electronic products are stuffed with features is that it is relatively cheap to add features to them! Do we consumers really want or need those functions? That is an entirely different question. Often, the answer is no. But the manufacturers add them, in many cases, simply so they can advertise that they have more features.

It costs a lot more to carefully determine what features are most wanted and to design products so that they are feature-rich, yet easy and intuitive for people to use. That is why this vital step is often shortcut.

Ever had trouble figuring out how to program your VCR? Did you ever think that perhaps it's not really your fault? It's the fault of the engineers who designed a lousy user interface to the product. And you think they are bad? Try using a combination VCR-DVD player!

There is second reason why manufacturers keep cramming more questionable features into products. In the case of products like cell phones, sales have slowed down because most people who wanted one have one. So, the phone manufacturers keep adding features in order to try to find ones that motivate people to buy new phones. They keep looking for that latest cool feature that people will be willing to buy a new phone to get.

Similarly, digital camera manufacturers keep coming out with cameras with more and more megapixels. Two megapixels, then 3.2, then 4.0, then 5, now 6, 7, even 8. Do consumers need 7 or 8 megapixel cameras? Not in the least. For shooting snapshots or sharing pictures online, a 3.2 megapixel camera is more than adequate. Really.

Why then, do manufacturers keep extending the capability? It is as we said above: 1) so they can advertise they have it, and 2) to try to get people to stick their old camera in a drawer and buy a new one.

Our advise: It pays to look carefully at the features being offered in the products you are interested in. Don't assume that a product with more features (or higher numbers) is the better choice. Often it is not, it is just more complicated to use! And, there is more to go wrong.
Bloatware
There is a similar phenomenon in software. It is called "bloatware." Programs that are overloaded with features, especially those not essential to the basic purpose for the software, carry this moniker.

When I was in the software industry and we were working on the next versions of software products, the programmers would sometimes come and say, "Hey I can add such-and-such feature with only 100 lines of code," or some such number. That�s not much, since a software program can have hundreds of thousands of lines of code. But often it was a feature the users of that software had no need for. Playing consumer advocate, I'd ask why such a feature would be needed. If the answer was questionable, I'd tell them to leave it out. Too often, though, those features make it into software products, and they become bloated with unnecessary features. Bloatware.

- reid N -

Men's Crocs Shoes Have Gone Hi-Tech!

2008-11-02T11:34:00.002+07:00

Mens Crocs shoes have started a new revolution in hi-tech comfort. Men are always looking for hi tech shoes that will give them the comfort they need at a price they can afford. Crocs are shoes for the hi-tech man of today. Crocs are designed to keep the busy man looking great, whether at the office or playing on the beach. Designed from high tech material, Crocs shoes are lightweight and comfortable.

Men today are looking for shoes that go beyond the ordinary. They want an advanced shoe that is lightweight, hi-tech, and of course, comfortable. Crocs mens shoes are becoming more and more popular among men who are into these hi-tech standards. Mens shoes have notoriously been plain and boring, usually with limited colors available and not designed with comfort in mind.

Crocs shoes use a PCCR technology that molds to your foot and fits any man perfectly. This technology is the ultimate in foot comfort. PCCR is a patented closed cell resin that will warm and soften with your bodys temperature. The PCCR is an anti-microbial material that is resistant to bacteria and fungus and will prevent your shoes from smelling of foot odor. Mens shoes of all types are becoming more and more advanced. Crocs shoes are determined to lead the industry in comfort and hi-tech quality for men.

Many men want to bring their shoes straight from the office to the beach. Crocs hi-tech clogs are perfect for walking the floor of the stock exchange or cruising the sand of the beach. Crocs Highland shoes are a closed shoe and absent of all ventilation ports. A pair of black highlands is great for comfort at the office and will go with any business attire.

The beach is not the first place you think of when you are thinking technical or hi-tech. Bring your Crocs to the beach and watch their hi-tech comfort transform. Crocs are the perfect mens shoes for boating, beach volleyball, or any kind of water sports. They are water resistant and will protect your feet from the hot sand without getting hot from the suns rays.

Hi-tech has never been this easy. Men dont have to worry about getting their Crocs dirty because Crocs are easy to clean and even sanitize. If you have been on the beach playing and need to have your Crocs cleaned up for your next day of work, simply dip them in a sink of warm water or hose them off. Even medical professionals can keep their Crocs up to health standards by sanitizing them in one-cup chlorine combined with ten cups of water. No matter how dirty you get your Crocs, they will be shining with just a few seconds of clean up.

Because of their hi-tech design, mens shoes no longer are boring and plain. Now that men have a hi-tech option with Crocs shoes, they can be stylish and comfortable all at the same time! Crocs come in several designs and will keep your feet working hard and playing hard.

- http://www.crocsshoesonline.com/crocs_shoes_resources.html -

Basics of RGB and CMYK for ink jet printing at home

2008-11-02T11:31:00.002+07:00

In the world of home ink jet color printing, there is some confusion concerning CMYK color and RGB color. Many photo enthusiasts don't realize what kind of color space their digital cameras output and are confused when it comes to printing images off of their home ink jet printers. They hit print and wonder why the printed image looks different from what they see on their monitor.

CMYK is the color description representing printed material, short for the colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. Mixing these 4 colors together in different amounts give you the millions of colors that reproduce the colors in printed material. These are actual inks used in printing the images you see in color magazines and books. RGB is the color description for images viewed on your computer monitors, short for Red, Green, and Blue. RGB color is actually light, and mixing different levels of these light colors

creates the millions of colors that come from your computer monitor. All websites and nearly everything you see on your computer monitor is RGB unless the images have been converted to the CMYK color space.

When you print your images on your ink jet printer from your computer, your printer prints the image using CMYK inks. Viewing your image in RGB and then printing it out in CMYK may not yield the results you want. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop will convert your image from RGB to CMYK or vice versa. Some printers require the image to be CMYK before you can print the image correctly. Some printers don't print the image correctly if the image being printed is in RGB space.

A good reason for printing with a CMYK image is to see your image in CMYK color before printing. When an image is converted to CMYK from RGB, there may be some color changes that are noticeable in the image. The reason for this is because many colors in RGB cannot be reproduced using CMYK inks. That is why it is always a good idea to convert your image to a CMYK color space before printing. You could notice significant color changes to your image, especially in the very intense color areas of your image. Some of these intense color areas may appear less intense or very dull once converted. With photo editing software, you can go in and fix these trouble color areas to your liking.

Many ink jet printers on the market today actually print directly from an RGB color image. And converting the image to CMYK may cause it to print incorrectly. You will need to determine what color space your ink jet printer supports. The packaged software usually will give you a hint regarding color spaces. If there is no option to convert the color space from RGB to CMYK, most likely, the printer will print directly from an RGB color source. Usually, the higher end ink jet printers deal with the CMYK color space as consumer level enthusiasts don't even know these color spaces exist. New higher end ink jet printers, however, are now printing directly from the RGB color space as there is a wider spectrum of color that can be reproduced in RGB compared to CMYK color.

If you visit the website, www.instantimagers.com, the 'Framers' and 'DVD Cover & Disc Art' designs are provided in both RGB and CMYK color spaces. Comparing the RGB and CMYK images side by side, you'll notice there are color differences. This is due to some RGB colors not being available as a CMYK converted color. Both versions are provided because not all printers are alike. Some tend to print better with one color space. Many of CMYK printed designs have been manipulated further after conversion to match more closely the colors from the RGB color space as many of the colors in some designs did not covert seamlessly.

If all this seems confusing, not to worry. The key thing to remember is to print using RGB color if your printer and software support it. Let the software and the printer worry about getting the colors right. If you are more experienced with photo color correction and want more control over the color of the image, print in CMYK. You'll actually be manipulating and printing the image in the color space your ink jet printer's inks are using. You will be able to see the limits of the CMYK printing color spectrum right on your monitor. Getting color right with RGB and CMYK is totally different from calibrating your printer to match the colors on your monitor. That is actually the second step in getting the best color out of your prints. Understanding the difference between RGB and CMYK is the first step in getting the best print outs on your home ink jet printer.

FREE TIPS FOR BEGINNING BLOGGERS!

2008-10-31T13:29:00.002+07:00

Many beginning bloggers earn small cash at home, but many are unaware that you can earn major cash from blogging. Bloggers earn $1,000 a month by blogging part-time even without a web site! To earn more money from blogging, you need proven software tools and a few free tips for beginning bloggers from bloggers who already found out what works and what doesn't.

Let's start by busting a few key myths about blogging.
Myth Number One: "Making cash in your spare time is easy."

Busted! Don't even go there. Do you honestly know anybody who has spare time? Get real! True, there are hundreds of thousands of professional bloggers making full-time incomes blogging part-time, but almost all of them carved time out of burdened schedules with a chainsaw when they first started.

Myth Number Two: "Nothing beats blogging from the comfort of your home."

Busted! Most homes are hives of activity. Unfinished projects want attention and compete for your "spare" time. Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning. Even grout wants attention. Temptation lurks all around your home. The remote calls from the sofa. That book you bought begs to be read. An innocent cup of tea can become your worst enemy. And when you are all blogged out, which can and does happen, anything beats blogging from the comfort of your home!

Myth Number Three: "It's easy. You can use the same stuff on six diverse sites."

Busted! Nothing that pays well is easy. Most of us had to crack the books in high school to get a passing grade. bloggers who got straight A's without hard work were few and far between. We talked about them like they were circus freaks. "Geeks" were originally side show freaks who bit the heads off live chickens. And you can't reuse the same stuff over and over because diverse sites have diverse rules and diverse audiences.

Which is not to say don't expect to earn cash, even really good quantities of cash, blogging. Expect to invest time learning the ropes. Expect to prime the pump, but not with money because one of the beautiful things about blogging is it costs almost nothing to get started. So prime the pump first, then expect to earn cash!

Making quantities of cash from blogging is the most overlooked at-home oppportunity on the internet today.The majority of bloggers blog daily just for fun without getting paid. They just pick one site and go for it. So why not get paid? It's not rocket science. If you can talk on the phone without boring your friends, you can earn money by blogging. But don't try to reinvent the wheel. Check this out:

Here are five top sites that pay competitive cash for bloggers to blog:

PayPerPost.com; Blogvertise.com; Blogtoprofit.com; Creamaid.com; and Blogitive.com.

PayPerPost.com is the best place to start. Follow directions and you won't need another blog site to earn serious cash blogging! PayPerPost.com lets you write on anything, and allows you to post information on related software software tools. By getting an affiliate URL from manufacturers (free to sign up) you will earn commissions for every sale that comes from your blog!

Successful blogs, cash making blogs, have proper titles. Improper titles conflict with content which damages your profitability . Choose a title that is catchy but properly defines the content of your blog. Duh, right? But it's an expensive mistake many earn!

Research software software tools aimed at bloggers. They provide a snapshot of what bloggers need. Check out hot keyword software at http;//tinyurl.com/5bc4au. Read the pitch pages at: http://tinyurl.com/5dacq6 and study their smart blogging software software tools for ideas. Find out what the smart affiliate handbook offers professional bloggers @: http;//tinyurl.com/55caog.

Another tip to earn cash with your blog is: provide relevant. accurate information. You can't have misinformation in your blog if you want to earn cash. Readers want accessible data. Misspelling, poor grammar and punctuation is harder to read and harder to find.

Quantity helps earn cash with blogs. Blog often. You must be consistent with your blogging to earn serious cash. Blog at least three times a day, or more. Set goals and set limits!

To earn cash from blogging keep your writing rich in content and to the point. Do not babble. You loose your readers' interest. Quality content is key to making cash from blogging. To generate cash you have to keep them coming back!

5 Reasons To Why Blogging Is The New Internet Marketing Tool

2008-10-31T13:26:00.002+07:00

Are You Sure You Don't Need a CCTV Camera Monitor?

2008-10-31T13:21:00.002+07:00

Surveillance cameras
are one of the best ways to monitor and capture any illegal activity, such as shoplifting in stores or supermarkets, some fighting near schools, or robbery in the warehouse. But what�s the use of spy cameras if you hove no monitors to see the view they transmit.

Monitors are very important when it concerns video capturing from CCTV cameras. Spy camera monitors vary in size and shape. They have different resolutions, may come in color or black-and-white, have audio options or not. So in order to get a good security camera system, not only you should look at the specifications of security cameras, but also at the monitors of spy cameras.

Of course, for basic surveillance needs, you may get away with a TV or a computer screen. However, for more professional (better image quality) surveillance camera view, you should consider a special security camera monitor.

TV Screen for Spy Camera View

Now some people decide to use their own TV for capturing spy camera view. It may be a good idea if you�re not seeking to have a high quality image.

You see, spy cameras use a particular number of horizontal lines to present the image. Usually, black-and-white spy cameras have about 380 horizontal lines. Colored ones have about 330 or so horizontal lines. However, there are higher quality security cameras that use more horizontal lines to reproduce the picture.

Better quality may be achieved by purchasing 580 TV line black-and-white cameras or 460 colored TV lines security cameras. Now if you use a TV screen to represent the picture, you won�t achieve high resolution image. That�s because TV�s have less horizontal lines than the spy camera can produce. So in order to get a quality picture, you need a better quality monitor screen.
Security Camera Monitors

Spy cam monitors offer much better resolution compared to regular TV�s. You can find some monitors that handle 900 or 1000 horizontal TV lines. So you can be sure that the image quality you�ll get will be maximum.

If you don�t need very high resolution for gathering pictures, then you may go for a 330 or 400 TV line monitor. It will be cheaper, but will do the job. However, if the image quality is crucial for your surveillance needs, then think about better quality spy camera monitor that can handle 900 TV lines.

One other thing you should consider is color or B&W monitor. Of course, if your cameras are black-and-white, then there�s no reason to use colored security camera monitor, right. But if you�ll decide to use some colored cameras, then you might regret for choosing B&W monitor. Basically black-and-white cameras produce better image quality when compared to colored ones. However, in some cases, color cameras are irreplaceable.

Some monitors come with audio technology built-in. This means that a person sitting over the monitors not only can see what the camera captures, but also speak with the person near the door. For example, if someone is at the door or gate, you can see the person and say something to him using a built in loudspeaker. If the security camera contains audio too, you both can speak to each other from the distance. This is a great feature for security personnel guarding the territory.

Lastly, you may want a monitor that handles more than one camera at a time. If you�re a homeowner looking for a monitor, then you may get away with one camera only. However, for larger companies, the ability to monitor many cameras at the same time is very important. Some CCTV camera monitors allow you to view 4 or even up to 16 cameras at the time using a split mode. Such monitors also allow you to switch from one camera to another, and even use a picture-in-picture view.
In Conclusion

Security camera monitors are relatively cheap. For a basic B&W model you can pay a little over $150 dollars. Better, LCD monitors may cost from $200 to $400 or little more dollars. It all depends on your needs.

If you want a color surveillance camera monitor that captures great quality view, has a built in audio equipment, allows multiple camera view, then you may perform a search on the internet and find the most suitable security camera monitor for all your needs.

Dan Crane, who specializes in security and surveillance industry, offers free tips and resources to homeowners and company managers about home security systems and advanced security camera systems for better home and office security and protection.