A Search Engine Optimizer’s New Year’s Resolutions

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Mar 262023
 

With the ringing in of the New Year, I resolve to become a better search engine optimizer (SEO). Below is a list of resolutions that I have made in order to make my clients’ web sites the absolute best on the web.


    I will not use flash as text.

      Even though many search engines can now read some of the text embedded in flash, flash sites do not perform as well in search engine results as non-flash sites. Flash should primarily be used to enhance sites; in the same way one would use pictures to make the site look better.

    I will not use images as text.

      Although I personally believe that text in images will be read by search engines by the end of 2006, we are not there just yet. As it now stands, image text is invisible to search engines and therefore should not be used in that capacity.

    I will use good usability techniques.

    I will not use cloaking.

      Cloaking is frowned upon by search engines. Once they catch you, you will get penalized (or in some instances, banned).

    I will not use frames unless I have a REALLY good reason to.

      Frames complicate things for the search engine. There are very few good reasons to use frames and thus they should be avoided whenever possible.

    I will use a catchy title with the keyphrase in it.

      Marketing is what we are all about. A catchy title will bring in the customers. A title containing the target keyphrase will raise the result in the search engines. Put the two together and you have a professional marketing title that works hard to bring in traffic.

    I will track the return on investment (ROI).

      By tracking the ROI, I will clearly see if the site is making or losing money. To track ROI one needs to co-relate the marketing dollars spent with the revenue earned. This statistic is usually hindered by the site’s owner, who cannot (or does not) provide the financial information, nor the conversional statistics I need to track ROI.

    I will write an alt tag that clearly depicts what the image is, for every image.

      This will help people without images on their screen know what the image is about. Using the keyphrase in the alt tag is a bonus because it will help the rankings slightly in the search engine results, but it is most important to describe the image as clearly as possible.

    I will use good informative content.

      Ah yes, “Content is King”. All the above resolutions are meaningless if I don’t have good content. This is what will bring in the search engines. This is what will bring in the clients. And this is what will bring in the dough.

    I will not stuff the pages with keyphrases.

      Stuffing the page with keyphrases goes against the golden rule of good content. If you stuff the pages with keyphrases, they will no longer read well, and readers won’t like to read them. Consequently, people won’t enjoy your site, and because the search engines are designed to figure out what people like and then display it to them, the search engines will eventually begin to disregard your site. Therefore, ALWAYS use keyphrases wisely.

    I will not use “spammy” techniques.

    I will use pay-per-click (PPC), even if it is for a very small amount.

      I have found that using even a minuscule PPC campaign will bring in more traffic. It also propagates links to your site throughout the Internet, and thus makes your site more prominent. If you are worried about losing money, then use the free conversion tracking tool available at both Overture and Google AdWords. USE IT. Only then will you know how effective your PPC campaign really is.

    I will track unique hits to the site.

      By keeping track of whether the site’s traffic goes up or down, I get a big picture of the health of the web site. If traffic goes up, then the rankings probably went up. If traffic goes down, then rankings probably went down. Of course there are also seasonal variations (and marketing pushes), but you should be familiar enough with the market to know when to expect such cyclical fluctuations.

    I will get a good copywriter to write the content.

      “Content is King”, so get a professional to write it. You may think you are good, but are you really? Would you bet your Internet presence on it? Use someone who knows how to write specifically for the Internet. Use someone who knows how to balance writing for people, writing for sales, and writing for search engines.

    I will not send out “spammy” emails asking for reciprocal links.

      Reciprocal links don’t bring in clients, and they tend to only slightly boost your PageRank. An SEO’s time is better served getting the site listed in directories and on sites where people would be looking for it (such as associations, suppliers, clients, and more…). Personalized emails to these sites requesting a link to yours are fine. Templates or mass emails requesting reciprocal links are definitely not.

    I will work hard getting valuable links to my site.

      “Linking is Queen”, thus getting links is essential. Find directories that relate to your market and take your time to submit to them (in the best category). Contact your suppliers and/or resellers and see if they will link to you. Figure out where your potential clients hang out on the Internet, and get those sites to link to you. Do your homework to choose where you want your links to appear, then roll up your sleeves, get out the elbow grease and get those links to show up!


With a little dedication and a lot of work, I will get my clients into the top search engine results. If you want to do well with your web site, stick to these resolutions and before you know it the traffic (and the sales) will roll in smoothly, just like the New Year.

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Home Exercise Equipment – Choosing the Proper Equipment For Your Workout Routine

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Mar 252023
 

The fitness industry has become big business as more and more people work out
to get in shape. Many companies have gotten onboard the bandwagon, and the
number of different types and brands of home exercise equipment available is
amazing. While it is great to have options, trying to figure out which piece of
home fitness equipment is right for you can be an overwhelming process. One way
to help manage all this information is to identify what type of exercise or
training you plan to do. Add in other factors such as your personal fitness
level, budget, and space available and pick the equipment that best fits your
criteria.

What Is Your Goal?

Before purchasing an exercise bike, treadmill or other type of home fitness
equipment, it is important to decide what it is you hope to accomplish. Are you
trying to lose weight? Perhaps you want to get in shape, tone your muscles?
Maybe you want a good cardio workout? Or you may have several of these results
in mind. Exercise equipment varies in its effectiveness in certain areas and by
knowing what you want from your workout, you will be able to focus on those that
do what you want.

Assess your Fitness Level

Also do an assessment of your comfort level with different types of exercise
or movement. Do you have weak knees or a bad back? Would you rather sit than
stand? How is your balance? Each type of home fitness equipment requires you
to use different posture and movements and you don’t want to pick something that
will cause injury or irritate an existing condition. You also don’t want
equipment that is uncomfortable to use because it will be difficult to stick to
your routine.

Space Considerations

The fact is, if you live in a small apartment or have limited space in your
home, you may not have room for a large piece of equipment like a home gym or
weight sets. Many pieces of equipment fold up for storage, but if you have to
move the coffee table or love seat every time you want to fold out the
treadmill, you are less likely to exercise on a regular basis.

What’s In Your Wallet?

Some exercise equipment can be quite expensive, especially for a quality
product. On the other hand, you can purchase some equipment off TV ads or
special promotions for a very reasonable price, but does the stuff really work?
And will it last for more than a few weeks? Most experts recommend that you
wait to purchase home fitness equipment until you can afford to purchase
something that has good customer satisfaction ratings and is made by a respected
fitness equipment manufacturer. Also be aware that some types of equipment cost
more than others and may not fit your needs or your budget no matter how long
you save.

Consider Your Choices

Once you have assessed your needs and situation, you can evaluate the
different types of equipment against your criteria.

Exercise bikes have been around for decades and have improved in
design and function over the years. They have been proven to provide weight
loss and health benefits if used consistently and correctly. They offer a good
cardio workout as well, while limiting impact and injury to knees and other leg
joints. They typically do not fold up and can tend to take up space. Exercise
bikes fall in the economy or moderate range for price in comparison to other
types of home fitness equipment, although some can be quite expensive,
especially if they are computerized.

Recumbent exercise bikes, which put users in a slightly reclined
position, place less stress on the back and knees but tend to cost more. Some
people find the position and motion uncomfortable if they are used to
traditional bike riding.

Treadmills are another type of fitness equipment that has been around
for some time. They also provide a good cardio workout if properly used, and
many come with built in features such as an adjustable platform and computerized
workout to help enhance the effects of your exercise routine. There is some
jarring and joint stress involved with running, on a treadmill or other surface,
so this equipment may not be a good choice for those with knee and hip concerns.

Some treadmills fold up for storage, making them a good choice for those with
limited space. Treadmills run the gamut in price range, and can usually fit in
any budget, but in most cases you get what you pay for and a very inexpensive
model may not be safe or effective.

Elliptical trainers are the latest craze in home fitness equipment.
They provide the exercise benefits of walking or running while eliminating the
impact on hips, knees, or ankles. This can be good for those with injuries or
weakness in those areas. But others who are concerned about building or
maintaining bone density may prefer a different type of equipment.

Some elliptical machines fold up to save space when not in use. They
generally fall in the mid to higher price range compared to other types of
fitness equipment, and again, price often reflects quality.

A stair stepper provides another choice for those who want to burn
calories and get a good cardio workout with reduced impact to knees and hips.
Stepping height can be adjusted to accommodate different body sizes and fitness
levels, however, it can be easy to put too much stress on ankles and back when
using a stair stepper. Both size and price are in the moderate range.

Some people prefer the variety and intensity provided by a home gym or
weight training station. People are more likely to exercise if they have
several different options to choose from, and a selection of different or
adjustable equipment provides the opportunity to target all areas of the body.
However, home gyms tend to take up more space than other equipment and will
almost always cost more for quality equipment. It may also be important to have
instructions before using some features of the gym to avoid injury.

There are many other types of home fitness equipment, including free weights,
ski machines, ab machines, and hybrids like exercise riders. Be sure to
research a piece of equipment before buying and avoid those that make claims
that sound too good to be true – they probably are.

Many fitness experts and trainers recommend that you try out a piece of
equipment before purchasing to be sure it feels comfortable. If buying online,
try to find a gym or exercise store that has the equipment and give it a test
ride. Most companies charge shipping and handling to return online orders if
you return an item for reasons other than manufacturer defects or damage.

With all the choices for home fitness equipment available, you are sure to
find a machine that fits your needs and budget. It just takes a bit of
realistic planning.

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Successful Advertising

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Mar 242023
 

Successful Advertising


by jerry durham





Most folks starting out on the Internet have tried free


classified ads sites and they usually get hit by people


trying to sell you stuff. Or, they get into the top twenty


results in the Search Engines, and a week later drop to


number 164.





The Internet, the largest market in human history, has


millions of folks in its audience. How do you reach those


folks?





EZINE ADVERTIZING The best way of reaching your target


audience.





Email newsletters, or ‘ezines’, are sent out regularly to


subscribers, or ‘opt-in’ lists. Folks who have ‘chosen’ to


receive a newsletter, like the one you’re reading right now.


You get results when people read the ezines, read your ad,


and, if you have matched the ezine with the product you’re


selling, you have reached your target audience.





Ad swap services offer you access to many other folks who


would be interested in swapping ads with you. All you do is


sign up with them and they send you emails with names and


ads. You then contact these folks, negotiate your best


offer, and VIOLA ! Your ad is seen in their ezine.





http://www.partenon.com


http://www.MyWizardAds.com


http://www.Noozles.com


http://www.adsmarket.biz


http://www.Links-For-You.com





“THE” most important rule in ezine advertising “Track Your


Ads!”. If You place your ad in 5 different ezines and get a


hundred responses, how are you going to know which ezines


brought you which responce? Or how many they brought you?


And, most importantly, which ones were not performing?





But how do you track your ads?





The simplest way to track your ads, is to place a key or a


code at the end of your email address. If your ad was in an


ezine with the name ‘FREEZINE’, you might use the following


email address with the ad:





mailto:yourname@yourdomain.com?subject=FREEZINE





Then, when you get a reply with ‘FREEZINE’ in the subject


field, you’d know which ezine it came from.





For a URL, same principle:





http://www.yourdomain.com?FREEZINE





However, if you’re going to code your URLs, you’ll need a


sophisticated webstats program to track the coded URLs.


Check out this page for some free webstat programs –





http://www.thefreecountry.com/scripthosting/webstatistics.shtml





Another way to code your URLs, for every ezine ad, create a


duplicate of your homepage and name the page after the ezine


that your ad will appear in. If the ad is appearing in EzineA,


the URL you’d place in that ad would be:





http://www.yourdomain.com/EzineA





Again, you’ll need to use a good web stats program to track


the hits to your coded URLs.





Look at the ads in the ezines you read. Why are they there?


Do they get results? How can you find out?





Subscribe to a number of ezines that target your audience.


If you see an ad that keeps repeating issue after issue, you


can be pretty sure that its getting results and you’ve found a


good ezine to advertise in. (A lot of ezines offer archive


issues. Check there for repeat ads.)





How many ads are in the ezine? Are you going to be lost in


an ezine farm at the bottom of the newsletter? The big


ezines, with 1000’s of subscribers, tend to have more ads


than their smaller counterparts. Those with 15 or 20 ads per


issue, may not give you as much responce as those with fewer


ads. Sometimes readers get hardened to the ads and learn to


skip them. Smaller ezines, with only a few hundred


subscribers, may have a much more targeted audience.





Does the ezine publisher run ads for two similar products in


the same issue? Why not go straight to the horse’s mouth and


find out? A simple email asking that question, if not stated


in the ezine, should tell you what you want to know. If your


ad is the only one of its kind in that particular issue,


it’s a pretty good bet it will be much more effective.





Research shows, an ad has to be seen on the Internet about 9


times, before someone acts on it.





“Repeat Your Ads!”





If your budget allows, and believe me, I understand about


budgets, but that’s a later story, repeat your ad at least


three times in a particular ezine. Some ezines offer


discount packages for bulk advertising. Ezine advertising is


cost effective. A 5-line ad to 3,000 people will cost you


between $5 and $20 per issue. and you’ll always get back at


least the cost of the ad, and usually much more. So, there’s


very little risk.





Next, “Target Your Audience”. Some advertisers don’t pay


attention to this. As obvious as it may seem. A marketing


course dosen’t belong in an ezine that deals with gardening.


I’ll bet you a dime to a doughnut, they won’t be interested.





Use the ‘subject categories’ in the ezine directory you’re


thinking of advertizing in, that relates to the product


you’re selling. You can find a list of ezine directories in


‘The Free Directory of Ezines’ at:





http://www.netmastersolutions.com





The jury is still out on the next item. “Email address vs.


URL”. Email address’s allow you to send a sales letter to the


receipient. And, as we explained above, they’re much easier


to track. URL’S on the other hand, allow the receipient to


wander through your web site, if that’s your URL, and look


at other items that may interest them.





If you offer “FREE” in your ad copy, it just might change your


readers mind. Free is always a good persuader.





Short ads are more likely to be read even if you’re not


using the number of words you’re allowed. Sentences will


pack much more power if you keep them short too. And


remember to tell your reader what your product can do for


“them”.





Currently there are around 90,000 ezines published each


month. Whatever you’re selling, there’s an ezine that will


reach your target audience.





Learn from experience. It’s a process of trial and error.


Keep placing your ads in those ezines that you know are


bringing you a high response rate and you’ll have a


guaranteed stream of customers.





—————————————————————





All the Best…





jerry durham lonestar enterprises – opportunity to succeed


http://www.freewebs.com/opportunity_to_succeed/


5705 marvin loving dr suite 202


garland, tx 75043





—————————————————————





“OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED NEWSLETTER”


Ideas you need to start, manage & grow your online business! Strategies,


downloads, & articles written by professionals.


mail to: InfoEzineOptnRequest@sendfree.com


http://www.freewebs.com/opportunity_to_succeed/

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Everyday Tips for Losing 10 Pounds

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Mar 232023
 

There was a time in this world when the need to lose weight was completely unheard of. People ate well, but the worked well too. They woke up early in the morning and then engaged in a whole day’s work. This work was mostly physical labor. People worked on fields digging, sowing, harvesting. They tilled they soil, rode horses, worked on farms and ranches. The result was that they could afford to eat almost anything they wanted in whatever quantities they wanted.





But that was ages ago. The world has changed so much since those days. Life styles have changed so much and the comforts and facilities have increased so much. But every rose has its thorn. As a result of all these comforts and amenities the state of physical well being has really changed. Most of us have sedentary jobs that demand little or no exercise at all. To put it simply, things have become so damn easy. And just as can be expected, weight gain has become a major concern for almost every city dweller.





During the period of thoughtless youth it is not such a major concern. The young practically eat nothing and so weight problems do not bother them so much. But as soon as you turn twenty, you start showing signs of weight gain and that too in all the wrong places.





It’s not about the hour glass figure or the perfectly sculpted and toned body. It is more about staying fit and remaining healthy to ensure a long, disease free life. Every body knows that those extra pounds spell illness. All over the world people are switching to a healthier life style and the catch line is indeed weight loss.





1) Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of water so give in to water. Water is not just way to flush out toxin but if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and fitter. This it self will discourage any tendency to gorge. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all.





2) Start your day with a glass of water. As soon as you wake up, gulp down a glass of cool water. It’s a wonderful way to start you day and you only need a lesser quantity of your breakfast drink after that. A glass of water lets out all your digestive juices and sort of lubricates the insides of your body. You may have your morning cup of tea but have it after a glass of water. It is good for you.





3) Drink a glass of water before you start the meal. Water naturally needs some space so that you feel fuller without actually having to stuff yourself.





4) Have another glass of water while you are having the meal. Again this is another way of making yourself full so that you can actually rise from the table eating less but feeling full just the same. Instead of drinking it one gulp, take sips after each morsel. It will help the food to settle faster so that you get that feeling that you are full faster.





SIDENOTE: Water is such a remarkable thing, but seldom do we give it the credit that it deserves. Did you know that over 66% of your body weight is nothing but water? It’s amazing!





Water also plays a vital role in weight control, which is why I donated so much space to it, above.


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Free Weights vs. Exercise Machines

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Mar 222023
 

Anyone who has ever been in a gym before is familiar with the gleaming banks of shiny exercise machines. Coming in all shapes and sizes, they are usually cause for the newcomer to the gym to pause and ask, “What IS all of that stuff?”





Well, according to the price that the gym paid for any one piece of that equipment, I certainly hope that it not only stimulates your muscles, but also cooks your breakfast, washes your car, and brings the kids home from soccer practice! Now the question becomes whether or not those machines were worth the price, or if you’d be better off doing a home aerobics video with a can of soup in each hand….





Personally, I would advise you to get the low-sodium version of the soup, serve it up alongside a tomato sandwich, and then go buy yourself some free weights. Yes, that is just my opinion, but it does come with some scientific reasoning behind it.





Natural movement vs. Controlled movement





One of the things that you need to remember is that when you are exercising, you are training for LIFE. You may spend an hour a day at the gym, but that still leaves 23 other hours for your muscles to function without the aid of that fancy equipment.





Whenever you do any given exercise, the movement of your body during that exercise is called the Range of Motion. The greater and more difficult the Range of Motion, the more effective the exercise is, because your body has to work harder to perform that movement.





Let’s take a classic dumbbell bicep curl for our case study. If you aren’t familiar with the movement, it is basically performed by standing up straight with your palms facing forward, and a pair of dumbbells held down at your sides. You concentrically contract your biceps (also known as flexing your elbow) to bring the dumbbells up to approximately shoulder level, and then repeat the movement for a prescribed number of repetitions.





Let’s take that same muscle movement and do it using a bicep curl machine. You sit down, brace your upper arms on a pad, grasp 2 handles that are in front of you, and do that same fancy elbow flexing movement to move the handles in an upward motion. Pretty easy stuff so far, right?





Now let’s examine the muscles that are used in this motion. Wait – I thought we were concentrically contracting the biceps? That is correct, and if you are using the bicep curl machine, that is pretty much ALL you are doing. For one, you are sitting down. You know, like you did all day at work, and then in your car on the way to the gym. Then, your upper arms are braced on a nice soft pad to keep your upper body stable while you pull the handles upwards. The machine has effectively limited the muscles used in this exercise to the biceps, as well as the muscles in your forearms and fingers as you grip the handles.





Let us now sidestep over to the weight room where the dumbbells are kept, and once again get in the start position for a standing bicep curl with the dumbbells. Notice the term “standing”. You know, like you DIDN’T do all day at work, and hopefully also did not do in your car on the way to the gym. So before we even start the exercise, we are using more muscles than we did on the machine – namely the leg muscles.





Now let’s pick up a 10 lb dumbbell in each hand. We’ve just added 20 lbs to our body weight. What is keeping us from losing our center of balance and falling clean over? The abdominal muscles and the muscles of the lower back and spine. Now we are using our legs, our abs, and our back. Flex those elbows and start to raise the dumbbells. Now our center of gravity has become a fluid state, and our legs, back, and abs all have to constantly compensate to maintain posture. Oh, and the biceps are also in on the action by this point, as are the forearms, the fingers, and the shoulder girdle.





We now have the dumbbells all the way up and it’s time to start lowering them again, via an eccentric contraction of the biceps (also know as extending the elbow). What muscle group controls the extension of the elbow? The triceps on the back of the arm.





Did you lose track yet? It’s okay if you did because you have illustrated the point:





Machine Bicep Curl: Uses the biceps, forearms, and fingers


Cost: Thousands of dollars





Standing Dumbbell Bicep Curl: Uses the biceps, forearms, fingers, legs, abs, back, triceps, and shoulders.


Cost: $40 for a good set of dumbbells that can be used for dozens of other exercises





In a nutshell, free weight exercises simply USE MORE MUSCLES than machines do, which make them more effective. Does that mean that the machines are a complete waste? Absolutely not! In some circumstances it is BETTER to stabilize the muscles being used in any given movement. However, those circumstances are the exception, rather than the rule.





So what do you do? Change up your routine, and incorporate free weights as well as machine exercises. However, keep the machine work to a minimum – say 20% of your total time spent working with weights. Spend the other 80% developing your stabilizer muscles, your sense of balance and coordination, and if nothing else – just standing up!





After all, you can go home and sit down on the couch to enjoy your post-workout snack. The bicep machine already brought the kids home from soccer practice, remember?

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Optimal Website Design

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Mar 212023
 

The idea to good website design is to offer your viewer a logical
flow while making it interesting and easy to understand. Lead your
viewers to the starting point and then direct them through your site
without confusing them.

Here are some excellent tips that can help you develop a user
friendly site and please your visitors senses. Give yourself a chance
before they get away.

1. Use lots of white space.
Don’t feel that because you have a whole screen that you need
to fill it up with stuff. Your page should follow a clean
outline. Include your site name at the very top. Below that
list the subject of your page and below that expand on your
topic. Leave adequate space between each section. Don’t cram a
lot of pictures and ads. If you have an ad keep it off to the
side or subtly intersperse it between your text. The idea is not
to overwhelm your reader.

2. Don’t use animation and flashing objects.
As advertisers we feel the need to get our viewers attention.
This is important but we need to do it gracefully. Flashing
objects and scrolling images distract your visitor and take
away from the content. If your product is better demonstrated
with animation or some other multi-media, allow your viewer to
select the option. Don’t force it on them.

3. Every page of your site should contain an ‘about’ link.
The internet can be a rather cold and quiet environment. If
someone can come to your site and find out about who you are
and what you are about, they can feel a little better about
doing business with you or taking advice from you. Always
include your business address and phone number and email
address as well. This lets viewers know that you are serious
about your business and that you welcome contact.

4. Include a ‘Privacy’ Link
Viewers like the reassurance that you have a policy that
follows privacy guidelines. They want to know that you will
not sell or give away their information. In these days of
rampant spam, your privacy policy needs to be prominently
displayed. Many viewers and business partners won’t do business
with you unless you have it.

5. Always keep your links in blue.
Why does that matter you might say? It’s an expectation that
viewers have along with the links being underlined. There’s
certainly no law that says they need to be as such but people
spend a lot of time on the internet and it’s good practice to
keep your navigation consistent and recognizable. If it’s not
you may lose out on clicks.

6. Keep navigation consistent
Keep your site’s navigation consistent. What you do on your
index page should be done the same way on the rest of your
site’s pages. Keep the colors consistent as well. Don’t force
your viewers to relearn each page of your site. Keep your
navigation bars and links the same for each page.

7. Understandable buttons and links.
Title your links appropriately. Don’t use cute or misleading
names. For example, if you have a link to sports equipment
don’t label the link ‘Great Outdoors’, call it ‘sports
equipment’. If you have a link to ‘cameras’ don’t label the
link ‘hotshots’, label it ‘cameras’. Your viewers don’t want
to waste time figuring out what things are. Be clear with
your labeling.

8. Focus on the ‘YOU’, not the ‘ME’.
Make it obviously clear to your readers that you are there for
them. What can you do for your reader? What benefits are there
for your viewer? How can you make their life or business
better or more profitable? Request feedback on their success.
Find out what they want to know or how you can offer them what
they need.

9. Make sure your page loads fast.
If viewers have to wait for a page to load they will click
elsewhere. Here’s a site that will help you determine how
well your page loads. If a page doesn’t load in 8 seconds
you lose 1/3 of your visitors. Here’s a great free tool to
help you check your website’s load time:

http://www.1-hit.com/all-in-one/tool.loading-time-checker.htm

10. Use a site map.
A site map will give visitors a “guide” on viewing your site
and also eliminate confusion, especially with larger sites.
It’s a road map for your visitors to follow while they are
on your site. Sitemaps will also increase rankings and
placement within the Search Engines.

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Speakers and Trainers – The Internet is Your Biggest Megaphone

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Mar 202023
 

Speak to an Audience that Reaches across the Globe

As a professional at home on the platform, you ve spent years polishing a compelling message. The presentations you make are honed to perfection. Your delivery style draws raves and repeat bookings. So why don t you deliver a taste of your best stuff to the whole world?

Easily done! Send articles that provide a sample of your message and speaking personality to numerous Internet directories and ezines. The biggest auditorium couldn t contain all the people exposed to a single article widely posted online. While the cost is minimal (mainly your time), the impact from articles can be gigantic! Consider the benefits. http://www.promotewitharticles.com/benefits.html

Internet Exposure is Crucial for Name Recognition

A spokesman at the National Speakers Association ( http://www.nsaspeaker.org ) indicated that, “Nearly all our members have a website, anymore. It s a huge part of their differentiation.” Information that can be posted on the speaker s website is miles ahead of a traditional brochure to highlight their message and qualifications. Websites can be kept up to date, and eliminate the delays of mailing materials to prospects. Not to mention, people can find you through search engine queries related to your specialized topics.

A typical speaker isn t satisfied to appear only on their own site. Many promote their services on other websites, too – expert sites, websites maintained by their agents or publishers, and resource sites related to their forte. The Internet shines when it comes to reaching targeted groups – the very people you want to know about you. Also, you can control the niches or organizations you reach by where you submit your material.

A speaker s well-placed articles accomplishes the same thing. Posting even one multiplies the number of sites where your name appears. Repeated in-depth articles on a theme build momentum. Your unique spin on a topic will draw readers to your website so they can delve deeper.

Adopt a Speedy Delivery Method

Simply listing your topics or programs can t convey the depth of your message. The 600 to 800 word length is longer than a sound-bite, providing a realistic sample of your expertise – like a mini-speech. Your signature (Sig) at the end provides your short ad.

Imagine this. The article you write this morning can be submitted to hundreds of places this afternoon. And within a few days it appears on numerous websites, ezines, and search engines. Before a world-wide readership!

Rebecca Morgan is sold on marketing one s speaking through online articles. “Although it s hard to quantify some of the results, it s a great boost when people keep telling me, I see your name everywhere. Some of my articles have shown up over 100 places.” Her weekly ezine and forum http://www.speakernetnews.com is a storehouse of insider advice to profit from speaking. Subscribe for free.

Articles Attract Speaking Bookings

Frank Candy, American Speakers Bureau, http://www.speakersbureau.com looks at online articles from the agent s perspective. “It [posting articles] absolutely works to position yourself as an expert in the marketplace. The problem with the Internet is, there s too much fluffy stuff out there. Getting your articles widely placed lets people see the depth of your knowledge.”

Speaker and public relations professional, Michele Wierzgac says, “Writing assures that I spend more time refining my message. My two monthly columns expose me to 300,000 readers every month. And that leads to more speaking opportunities.” She credits her articles with broadening her niche much faster than she expected. http://www.micheleandco.com

Speaking to the aviation industry accounts for over 30% of Ralph Hood s speaking dates. An added bonus comes from turning columns into books sold from his website http://www.ralphhood.com When he started speaking full time (1985) he didn t want to waste his career connections. So he stays visible as a columnist for six monthly trade publications.

To quote him, “Being a columnist doesn t eliminate marking, but it s an extremely helpful part of it. And they pay me for each column – besides them showing I m an expert.”

Package your Content for the Web

It s often said, “On the Internet, content is king.” As a speaker, you ve got content – up to your knees in it. You can pass it out all day long (and often do). Your challenge isn t what to write about, but deciding what to do with the articles once they re written.

Develop your Customized List of Places to Post Articles
(besides the well-known article directories):

1. Search Google for your name or company. Any website already mentioning you is probably willing to receive your fresh material

2. Websites/ezines of companies or groups where you ve spoken

3. Anywhere you ve sent promotional material ” your prospects. Use in your own ezine or as a stand-alone, “Thought you d be interested” piece

4. Search Google for your field or targeted niche. In the Search Within Results box type “Submit articles,” for a list of places receptive to submissions

5. Places that publish any article of yours receive future ones

6. Identify a prolific article writer who speaks to your same market. Search on their name, and submit your material to places where their articles appear


As you routinely send articles, they ll begin appearing in places besides where you submitted. And it just keeps building… Discover how to maximize the power of articles at http://www.promotewitharticles.com Or if you want the rewards without the effort, let me write and submit your articles for you http://www.promotewitharticles.com/system.html

No more back burner! Start sending out samples of your message, and let them do your selling for you.
©2005, Lynella Grant

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My Student Credit Card Adventure

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Mar 192023
 

My Student Credit Card Adventure

…And some practical advice too!

My first credit card…

I remember my college days when it seemed there was a credit card advertisement on practically every bulletin board on campus. The banks would travel to the college and set up application booths on registration day. Hundreds of students would apply for a credit card. As an enticement, we were offered freebies like T-shirts, water bottles, and key chains. So I took whatever they were handing out. You can t beat free. The next thing I knew, I had signed on the dotted line. It wasn t long before that little plastic card arrived in the mail. It was time to establish my credit history. I was off to the mall. Life was good!

Stuff happens…

I made my student credit card the solution to all my financial emergencies when I attended college. Needless to say there were plenty of them. There were tuition bills, school supplies, car repairs, and midnight pizzas to pay for. The old saying was true. “When they ve got you, they ve got you”. That little piece of plastic bailed me out of more financial predicaments than I could count. I honestly don t know what I would have done without it. The student credit card “thing” was a pretty cool idea.

My day of reckoning…

The monthly statements arrived one after another. I had been in the habit of making the minimum payment and ignoring the bottom line. Not a good idea. All those credit card purchases left me with a pretty hefty balance. The finance charges were mind-boggling. It was time to take action. I started to allocate more of my monthly income toward my credit card bill and phased out frivolous purchases. My balance actually began to dwindle (Thank God). I developed a better understanding of what credit cards are intended to be. They re certainly not free money! Put simply, they re a convenient loan that has to be repaid.

A word to the wise…

When applying for a credit card, students need to consider the fees involved. Take a hard look at the finance charge, annual fee, and late payment fee. Shy away from cash advances if possible. Consider a low limit credit card. Do a comparison and search for competitive rates. Study your card agreement thoroughly. If you don t understand something, call customer service. Ask questions.

Set up a realistic budget and follow it closely. Avoid impulse shopping on your credit card. Try to use the card only in real emergencies. Try to pay your bill promptly and keep your finance charges to a minimum. This will help you to establish a good credit history.

You may also want to consider using a debit card. The money is deducted right out of your checking account. This way you can t spend more than you have.

Remember to approach credit cards sensibly. When used properly, they can be a real lifesaver!

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