3 Key Advantages of Buying iPod Products at a Discount Shopping Mall

Finding the iPod of your dreams is much easier now thanks to online discount shopping malls. Online malls offer many choices of brands, colors, styles, sizes and features that you may not find at a local retailer. Whether you're buying an iPod Nano with an LCD screen, and iPod video or other related electronics, you can almost always find what you need at an online mall, and often at a great price! Here are three advantages of buying an iPod at a discount shopping mall on the Web.

1. iPod Features and Benefits

When searching through an online discount shopping mall for an iPod, you can take your time and shop from your own home computer. You have time to read all the features and benefits, compare iPod brands carefully and even look at various styles and colors to find exactly what you need. Features of IPods might include an LCD monitor, song memory capabilities, menu selections, compatibility with iPod accessories, and control features for play, rewind, fast-forward, pause, etc.

Benefits can vary from one brand to the next. Some iPods are very small, even pencil-thin, so you can carry them around anywhere. Some iPods have fabulous sound quality. Others may offer lots of memory for storing up to 1,000 songs!

2. Discount Electronics

Another benefit of searching for your iPod at a discount shopping mall is you can hunt for online bargains. You might be surprised at how affordable on-sale electronics can be when you're shopping online. It's like having your own discount electronic store at your fingertips. There are amazing online bargains on items such as iPods, iPod videos, iPods with LCD monitors, iPod Nanos, digital cameras, MP3 players and other great electronic products.

Some discount shopping malls will include items such as headphones, cables, adaptors and helpful software with your iPod. You may have to dig deep to find the online bargains, but they're well worth the effort!

3. Shop for iPod Accessories

You can also shop for additional iPod accessories such as an iPod sleeve or other related products while at a discount shopping mall. If you can buy all your electronics products or accessories at one website, you'll save on shipping charges as well. Most discount shopping malls offer combined shipping rates for multiple orders. While shopping for an iPod, look around for other items you might need before clicking the "Checkout" button.

Keep these advantages in mind as you search for iPods or related electronics products. You can save time and money by taking advantage of a discount shopping mall on the Web!

Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.comKellen Blog35281
Kay Blog32105

What Howard Stern Can Teach You About Successful Internet Marketing!

His characteristics are NOT usually associated with success in society. But why is he rich and why is he so popular? Read the rest of this article to see why you need to implement his characteristics for your internet marketing.

Now when I say this, I dont mean going out on the internet and blatantly pissing everyone off about their religion, race, sexuality, physical deformity, etc. and attacking every other opinion that doesnt complement your own.

What the title means is that you if you truly feel passionate about your product or service dont be afraid to let your customers know! Some people may be offended by your message and what you stand for, but dont let that slow you down.

Just remember that just being you right now, at this very moment, is offending some people. They may be offended by you being Chinese, your British accent, the pink shirts you like to wear, get over it!

You cannot accommodate the few intolerant people in this world to determine your being. Have the same attitude for your internet marketing.

If you are overly passive and nice in your sales and marketing messages because you think it will please everyone, some people will think you have no confidence in your ability to deliver and your products quality is probably crappy.

It doesnt create any controversy or attention and your image will be weak.

If you are strong and opinionated you get a stronger response in your customers mind. Take a look at Dennis Rodman, some people think hes a total freak and some people think hes awesome. Either way, he gets publicity.

If you listen to Howard Sterns show, youve probably noticed that he is cocky, controversial, and opinionated about every subject imaginable. You either hate him or love him.

People have done studies showing that people who love him listen to him on an average of one hour just to see, What hes going to say next.

Heres the interesting part, the people who hate him listen to Howard on average of three hours just to see, What hes going to say next.

And Howards show is very popular in the United States! Since hes getting paid by how long and how many listeners are tuned into his show, in a way, his haters on average are giving him more money!

Let me repeat, be yourself and be bold about your opinions. Dont be a saint if you are in marketing. Ive heard it said that being nice is great if your goal is to become a successful monk, but itll ruin you if you want to be a successful internet marketer.

For example, if you think organic foods are good, think of how good old Howard would say it:

Eat organic food if you dont want to die! Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are killing you with toxic pesticide poison!

Dont say:

umm.yeah I think organic foods are better. Conventionally grown food is not as good, it has chemicals and stuff

Which one sounds more honest to you? If you have a targeted niche market for organic food, the first one will most likely fire up support from your customers. Sure you are going to offend the other side, but who cares?

They are going to be offended either way you say it. Having healthy respect for your opinion and the desire to share it with others isnt wrong. Think about it this way, if you dont respect your opinion, who will?

If 10,000 people read your article and you offend half of them and the other half loved you, you still have 5,000 people on your side and think you are a genius.

Its impossible to please everyone so make it easy on yourself and stand up for what you believe. From now on save yourself the headache and concentrate on the 5,000 people that like you!

Remember, its okay if you offend some people in the internet because thats truly how you feel. Im not saying that you should go out on the internet and attack every opposing view, but from now on just be strong in your opinions when doing your marketing.

It shows that you are genuinely passionate and true to your niche market, just like Howard!

Alan Quan is a certified Internet Coaching Empire coach and specializes in helping people build their own successful internet marketing business. Visit his website at http://e-bizcoachalan.com/success.htm and find out how he can help you to quickly accomplish your goals and boost your internet profits.Karna Blog96614
Kaylyn Blog96989

Custom Development Software - Genie In A Package

Technology is making the world approach newer developments everyday and today, high competition compels us to find the best programming packages that fulfill the exact needs of our businesses in minimum possible time and at most appropriate budget. This demand brings the idea of custom development software. These are exclusive programs created with the demands of a specific business in mind and differ from the off-the-shelf programs, which may not meet individual business specifications. Also, a readily- available package, at times, is difficult to operate unlike the custom development software solutions. However, the requirement for great expertise and knowledge is paramount for developing custom software as much as the powerful backing of proven processes.

The field of custom development has opened opportunities for every one: employees, partners and clients. The professionalism that one expects from software developers and a development company are thus reflected from the timely delivery of projects, stating of major project goal accomplished, and timely assistance: be it in any difficulty or general help, a reliable custom development software company shall see that all these services are taken care of.

The Benefits of custom development software

* Less expensive as compared to generic applications.
* Lack undesirable features that are of no use to a certain business unlike readily available ones.
* Saves time.
* Easier to operate.
* Flexible for future modifications.

The Process

Custom developing starts with identifying the goals and the needs of a business. That way, one gets the exact features that are needed, saving time for both the business and its employees.

With discussing the requirements and performing a detailed analysis of your business, the process for building custom software starts off. Software professional and developers then get started with the development and designing.

The effectiveness of custom development software depends upon many factors. These are:

* Supporting processes.
* A team of professionals and their expertise in the domain.
* Company Infrastructure.
* Customer support.
* Software Quality.
* Maintenance and support

Finding the right service provider

It is of utmost importance for the team to understand the type of business to develop the software. A well-planned and structured approach is thus important to bring about an effective functionality. However, before outsourcing the orders for custom development software, one must go for a prior research to find out the best software development company that holds a sound experience, employs robust software development processes and lays great emphasis on testing and quality assurance. An offshore development center and a dedicated team adds extra benefits to the service buyer in terms of observation of the entire project.

Jay Moncliff owns and operates http://www.onlynux.com/custom-development-software Custom development softwareKittie Blog61121
Kimberlyn Blog9248

The Ultimate Email Marketing Guide: 15 tips to fast email marketing success!

A practical "how-to" list for email marketing success, from small to large business.

Email marketing is easy (--ponder--) if you know how to do it. Wow, you have heard that one before, I'm sure. Is that not always the case - with almost anything? So, why even say it?

Because - in this case it is really true.

However, so many small businesses make it more complex than it is; they don't fully understand or grasp the impact of list building, what tools, services and techniques are available, and don't recognize what a successful campaign and its results can and will mean for their businesses.

We believe that a) simplicity of application, b) knowledge - and c) immediate action are the first steps to success. And, everything done in an ethical way - you got permission based marketing. Full speed ahead!

1. Get the legalities out of the way.

Did you know that recent changes in the search engine algorithms now recognize a privacy policy page as an important metric in the total number of items that helps your ranking and visibility? In fact, Google has over 100 variables that make up the secret sauce of their algorithmic search engines. Only two engineers at Google know it. (Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google chose not to learn it himself).

So, you should write and always provide a link to your privacy page. Starter text can be obtained from links below - and always make sure to review with your legal counsel for a final review. You will then include a link to it from your outgoing email campaigns.

Here are some places to start:
a) http://www.truste.org/pdf/WriteAGreatPrivacyPolicy.pdf
b) http://www.marketingpower.com/content4740.php
c) http://www.microsaw.com/privacy_policy.htm

2. Your site must capture user via first name (last name) & email address.

Burn this into your head - make it your site requirement - day one. There are too many online businesses that forget this simple rule. It's a must. If you are reading this article, then you probably already realize the importance of mailing lists.
Your audience is looking for good (relevant!) materials to solve problems in their life and business. Capture these visitors, and continue to provide this information and free information, you can grow your business by 1000% or more almost overnight, in some cases in any future mailing. It's super-important to have - and build a quality mailing list.

On your 'landing page' (sometimes called a sales page, gateway page, squeeze page, splash page) you should try to include this capture form on the "top of the fold" of your webpage. (Think of this as single sheet of paper, folded in half. The visitors will read the top portion first, from left to right - almost in an F-shaped order).

Therefore, make sure you:
Place this input form in a strategic location, "above the fold"
Make this coding your first priority for implementation - don't make it the last - or never (which many companies do)

3. Example Signup forms.

Search the internet for example sign up forms. A great technique is to look for companies that have this in their URL. Try this in Google (type into search box): allinurl: "free newsletter" (it will search any site that has this contained in the TITLE of the page).

Some examples of successful forms:
http://www.microsaw.com/myform.htm
http://www.marketingtips.com/newsletters
http://www.redhotcopy.com/workshop.htm - using interesting "slanted" pop-under and image (a black/white banana)

Note that you should always apply "up selling" techniques: links to other complimentary tools, software, articles & e-books.

In other words, give something away for free.

This is the Stephen Covey "emotional bank-account" working at its best. Web surfers are getting smarter and not just links to privacy policies and terms of use are recognized, but easy to read pages that are brief and to the point, score high. (Ed note: An example can be seen on the right side at http://www.microsaw.com/myform.htm - the "free 5-day SEO email course").

4. Popups, popunders, popup blockers & search engines.

Traditional popups (yes, the annoying ones) are banned from search engines like Google.

Therefore, smart marketers have come up with other means. They are called "popunders".
They use specialized JavaScript to display a pop-up box, but it's not tracked or recognized by popup-blockers or the search engines (Ed. Note: this could change, as the search engines change their smarts all the time).

As of writing, you should use a pop-up box, and capture first name, last name & email. Don't make it an intrusive one though (it needs to follow your style sheet guidelines, in other words).
Another way to go is to use what's called 'house-banners' -- ads that display compelling graphics, text - and uses your own local advertising system (example: double-click).

Here's what to do to capture interested visitors:
Apply a page that "slides" onto your page, and have it appear after 5 seconds.
Display this email form capture on all pages.
Only show it once, and only repeat 2-3 days later (assuming they come back). Many of the email marketing systems include this feature for you.
Annoying, but it works. I went from 5% signups a day a 75% increase overnight - only a few weeks back.

Tip: Make a note that the popup is from your site- not a partner site. (sometimes popups are thought to be from sponsors, make a note to your visitor that it's from you).

5. Do you have a newsletter you are trying to promote? Up-sell is the answer!

If you are promoting a newsletter, outside of just getting visitors to sign up, there are 3rd parties vendors that can help you publish and sell your newsletter. Throughout all campaigns, you must make sure to provide useful, relevant and unique content.

Some options for you:
Coregcomplete.com - get signups on thank you pages of other subscription forms this is a great way to promote your wares
Getsubscribers.com
Partner with companies you find, and call them up. Search for 'newsletter publishers' in Google.
When you write articles (yes, you should) - make sure to make a note in the "About Author" that you publish or have newsletters available.

TIP/Warning: Beware of commercial co-regs -- they typically have poor quality names and offers.

6. Get the best and highest performing email service.

Don't skimp here. A few extra dollars a month can really save you a lot of headaches. We worked with one company that went from about 1,000 emails on their list, down to about 100 in 24 hours, (when they switched providers). They quickly realized that they had made a bad choice.

Here's what to consider initially:
ASP hosted solutions are now connected with ISPs to ensure uptime/deliverability
Desktop applications can work well for you, for example, Gamma Dyne Mailer: http://www.soft32.com/download_4469.html
Autoresponse Plus, GetResponse, Aweber are a good place to start reviewing options.

You can also add monitoring services to make sure that emails get delivered, and keep the highest integrity of your emails via tracking.

Here are a few companies that work with monitoring:
1. pipersoftware
2. returnpath.biz
3. edeliverability.com
4. deliverymonitor.com

Other email marketing services to review are:
Sparklist
Constantcontact
Topica
Global intellisystems
Got campaigner
Vertical response
1stshoppingcart (shopping cart, affiliate programs and autoresponder)
Proautoresponders

You also need to understand and read the updated laws about email marketing and spam. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2004 is FTC governed, and the they will pursue any SPAM artist to the fullest extent of the law.

Make sure you have:
Working unsubscribe
Be careful where you get the lists
Avoid fraudulent subject lines
Include postal address, phone, privacy policy
Porn must be identified in subject line (SEXUALLY EXPLICIT)
Opt-out lists, including 'double-opt-in' (user must click to approve the email)

Tip: It's important to have a strict and trusted email service. Reputable email marketing companies will upload a few emails from your list and test your list to verify. Then, they'll approve or deny you.

7. Test, test & track, track.

No MBA student, no computer scientist, web braniac or 30 year veteran of marketing, both online and off - can predict what visitors will click on, and why. We can all make really great educated guesses, but they are only that. So, you really need to test your campaigns. Online marketing compared to traditional marketing (print, media) is vastly different.

Here's how to do it:
Test the campaigns with A/B Split test tactics - specifically on subject line and ad copy, it can help improve newsletter and pages immensely. (A/B refers to capability of serving up different content or ads, or headlines, sections on your page and campaign - that can be tracked)
Tracking conversions from email blasts (cookies and JavaScript and beacons on landing pages, thank you pages, etc)
Got campaigner and topica are high-end products, aweber is doing split-testing now (we use this - with great success)
Good reporting and database segmentation to section off to demographics, recency, frequency, sales totals
Use relevant and powerful headlines. Use wordtracker.com and keyworddiscovery.com to get keywords to back up your headline in content. (Ed Note: The site http://los-angeles.microsaw.com is dedicated to copywriting for the Internet)

8. Formatting and send options.

Formatting is an important element of any newsletter or mailing. Unfortunately, a love of companies go wild on graphics, sound, multi-media to present "their" branding or look/feel. It's important to have a clean mailer.

What are the options? See a few below:
text only
html
combination of the above & multi-part MIME

Key facts to consider:

Text more easily can penetrate spam filters, gets thru company firewalls, but only preferred by 15% to 25%.

HTML has more advantages, will double or triple the click-thru on text, nicer, pretty graphics, tracking better. It can also track opens, click-thrus and conversions. If the email marketing system supports it (most do) - send both.

Tip 1: Send Multi-part MIME, not just straight HTML
Tip 2: Place a URL reference in email to actual content on your website
Tip 3: Microsoft Outlook "Preview" mode: make sure it looks ok. Many will have this "on" by default - and it may reflect your email poorly (try it!). MarketingSherpa.com has a great article on this and how it can affect "opens". Graphics are often blocked too, so your intended "pretty" newsletter may not look the way you planned under these circumstances.
Tip 4: Make sure font is large enough for "older" folks and the smaller monitors

9. How often to send? How about text size?

In company marketing strategy meetings, where all the 'masters' will create their online strategies -- do not seem to agree. We'll outline a few scenarios below.

Daily.
Daily if you have a good "alert" system (ex: Google alerts) - this will not make sense for most companies. CNN news alerts are ok though.

Once a week.
Weekly ok if you have a strong listener base, and compelling content.

Once a month.
Monthly probably best for most small businesses. Overall - you want to retain "mindshare" - so they don't forget you, but still not too much "in their face".

How long should the text be?
Short, with longer description on website. People "scan", not read
Keep it tight, focused on brief -- "read here for more" (link to full page)

Tip 1: Archive URL's on your site, and allow it to be searched later. It's "spider-food", and you get recognized as an expert as well.
Tip 2: Also, a link to "send to friend" ('found this article, thought you'd be interested')
Tip 3: Use personalization (Dear Bob, Hello Cathy, etc.) - increases opening and reading by 50-60%. Work on the relationship -- build trust and credibility. Note: Don't overuse in the newsletter! Better to be a little conservative, than too friendly.

10. Campaigns and newsletters take time. How-to get it done in your workweek.

Unless you have a dedicated staff, you must do this yourself. Add this task to your calendar (with a recurring reminder), and consider this your "must-do" work.

Tips that work well:
Allocate some time your calendar, book it - and execute, don't delay
Use it as a marketing expense, track it in the books
Hire a writer (guru.com, elance.com) - and use search for 'copywriters' (in your niche)
Test with innovative audio and video options, outsource if necessary
Make sure to include testimonials

11. Auto-responders.

Auto responders are a fantastic and simple way to turn your business on automated 24x7 attendance. Use them, learn them and build your list and responsiveness from this feature alone. Your list will grow, which you will use for future mailings and offers. Auto-responders are software systems that allow for total automation of messaging.

Here are another few tips for you to help build your list and credibility:

Follow up for an e-Book (example: 3 days after first mailing, send "did you get the email?" In that mailing, provide a link to a free download e-book, offers, etc)
Follow up to the subscription - 'thank you'
Training series ("5-day SEO email course") -- see example on www.microsaw.com seo email course
Create free email courses, courses send every 1-2 days for a short period (less than a week).

12. Isn't use of email as a business tool dead?

Answer: No it is not. It's part of our lives, and email is still very effective. It's accepted, and with filters and advanced software solutions, it is managed.

Here are some tips and tools:

Many programs use filtering (ISP)
Bounces can be recorded: soft, hard (to edit/maintenance your list)
SpamAssassin
Cloudmark Desktop (report spam) - helps the community at large
SpamArrest

Amazon does a lot of things with email. They have applied a cool system with personalization. They have supposedly as high as a 14% conversion rate!

Tip: Do you need to check your email for SPAM? Try sending your campaign or email to: sales-spamcheck@sitesell.net?subject=TEST -- you'll get an email response back with a rating of 0 thru 5.

13. Wave of the future - "white-listing".

Email marketing is not going away, as some have alluded to. The key is to stay within the form and function of the email marketing community. Newer options exist for creating "white lists" (universally accepted lists) - a few of these new services are listed here:

Sender Certification is an important change which has been used for a while already.

Here are a few companies:
Habeas
Sender Score Certified

Habeas is expensive at $15,000 a year, and only recommended for serious, large email marketing companies. Goodmailsystems (used by AOL and Yahoo) is also another high-end product. Search on Google for 'email sender certification'.

Tip: Definitely a "future" thing, and growing in use today. You get a (good) reputation for being an email sender, and can build a strong business around this as well.

14. What other technical issues should I review?

Check spelling, graphics, relative links, use the free software XENU to get amazingly detailed reports. The Webmaster reports at the bottom of one of their reports provide a lot of good detail, perfect for executive overview.

Other tips:
Make sure to use http://, not just www... in your LINK references. Your link may not work without it.
Research shows that Tue, Wed, Thu works well for B2B (but, make sure to test!)
Some B2C lists are better on the weekends (personal feeling about this)

15. Landing pages.

We've talked about this topic in several places in the article. It's so important, we dedicate a special section here.

A landing page is a strategically developed (content and visuals) page that you bring your potential customers to. It's a call-to-action page. Many just bring their prospective customers to a home page where other non-related items may appear, including no specific instructions. You only have a few seconds to get him or her to react.

If you are not great at writing, you can hire a copywriter, check elance.com and guru.com, sometimes as low as 30-40 bucks for a pretty good writer.

Test, test, test and location, location, location.

You must test and track (metrics) your pages and run A/B splits (change a few things like color, title, subhead, etc - and not too much at the same time). You can use a free service Google analytics to get started.

More expensive ones are clicktracks, omniture, hitbox, hitlens - and the ultimate wholly grail testing, tuning and tracking system is the taguchi models (multi-variant optimizers).

The human eye scans from top left to right in a downstream manner.

The call-to-action items (like "sign up for my newsletter") would get optimal viewing if placed here, in this F-shaped Golden Triangle. Also, as we mentioned - above the fold!

Make sure you have some free downloads and give-aways, surfers love quizzes and mini-tests, including email courses, using autoresponders for immediate follow-up and tracking.

Your email campaigns should take them to a landing page for more / better conversion.

Tip: Add a "Special Message" block on your page and in your email text and allow users to discuss on your forum or in your blog link.

Jon Rognerud is a recognized authority on the subject of SEO and Online Marketing, and has spent over 10 years developing websites and marketing solutions for companies like Overture, Yahoo and Expedia. Kiley Blog8234
Kandy Blog36544

Orange SPV M3100: An ideal business or leisure phone

The Orange SPV M3100 is a quad phone that is well designed and packed full of features. This Smartphone gives you access to word documents, create and edit presentations, you can share files through Bluetooth, connect to the internet and you can work as efficiently out of the office. The Orange SPV M3100 offers connectivity with multiple wireless bearer networks like networks including 3G, Wi-Fi and EGDE.

Other features include 2.3 mega pixel camera, loud speaker, USB port, 128MB RAM, etc. The sophisticated design of Orange SPV M3100 includes full sliding qwerty keyboard, The Orange M3100 is the World's first 3G Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone having a slim and compact design.

With the 3-way jog wheel, it is easy to control the M3100 with one hand. This offers you simple internet browsing and document reading. The phone comes with the ability to read Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents. You can transfer these documents to and from the phone using either the integrated Bluetooth or via USB. 3G Video Calling is one of the M3100s many features along with multimedia player, Micro SD card, Internet Explorer and Email, MP3, MSN messenger, etc. The 128 MB internal memory provides ample storage for your essential and important documents, calendar and contact entries.

The Orange SPV M3100 has the latest Windows Mobile 5.0 software, voice calling, voice dialing, hands free function and blue tooth. It has a good battery life with 5 hours talk time and up to 10 days standby time. There are 2 cameras; a 2 mega pixel camera as well as the video camera for the video calling. The onboard memory has 64Mb with a microSD expansion slot giving the opportunity for extra storage.

In the end, we can say that the Orange SPV M3100 is more than a 3G phone and really an indispensable pocket computer.

Ben Bradley is webmaster of Orange mobile phones. For more information about Orange SPV M3100, please visit http://www.orangemobileshop.co.uk.Katina Blog82513
Kandace Blog66610

Google Webmaster Tool For SEO Experts

I just finished watching a video that shared some updates on what's happening at the major search engines lately. Since webmasters are always interested in learning more about search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, I thought it would be good to share a neat trick using Google's webmaster tools.

The first time I heard about Google webmaster tools, it was known as Google sitemaps. That was very little that we can do with it, except upload a sitemap so that a new site can be included in Google's index quicker. After toying with it for a couple of days, I find it a hassle to generate those sitemaps. If a website is destined to grow, that would mean taking up more time submitting those sitemaps. Strapped for time as it is, I figured it would be better to just concentrate on building more content for my websites.

It's still hard for me to refer to Google's new toys with a new name but I guess it's a much more suitable name, now that so many new tools have been added. To begin using the tool, login to the control panel using a valid Google username. If you do not possess one, just sign up at the site google.com/webmasters. After logging in, enter the URL that you would like to obtain more information about. You'll be required to verify that you own the site. To do so, you can either add a META tag or upload a HTML file. Verification is instant and you'll see your verification status as Verified if it's successful.

Upon verification, all kinds of interesting tidbits about your site will be available. The one that interests me most is the page analysis (Statistics > Page Analysis). This allows any webmaster to view information about external links. In other words, Google learns about a website's general theme from external text links. You'll be able to see all the keywords that other people have used in the text links that link to your site.

Many webmasters have already discovered the "secret" that anchor texts should be used in text links. Anchor texts look something like Anchor texts. There are many ways to obtain keyword targetted external links. One popular way is to submit to web directories.

In many instances, web directories allow webmasters to submit their sites for free. Some web directories become more established and may charge a small fee for a site submission. However, fees are usually one-time payment and are better deals compared to text links that require monthly subscription.

So, take a look around the webmaster community and spot SEO friendly web directories and start submitting some links. Your competitor may be doing exactly the same thing and I don't know about you but I hate to lose. See you at the number 1 spot!

Darren Chow owns a network of quality sites. He also owns a couple of unique web directories. http://www.awardtrophy.net and http://www.suggestlinks.orgKippy Blog60756
Kathie Blog64138

Marketing Without Selling

I remember back in the mid 90s when I was "in between" jobs, in debt and broke. My "in between" job status at that time for a period of about one year was a car salesman. Now, I know what your thinking. Why? My answer.....hmmmmmmmm. Anyhow, it happened and as it turned out, it became quite a learning experience. What I experienced as a car salesman in my very brief career by choice, was rather disturbing. This is by no means an article on selling cars. This is what salesmanship is and is not.

So I was in the car business, and was virtually taught the wrong way to be a salesman or salesperson. When it comes to shopping for a car, overall it becomes somewhat a rather unpleasant experience for all parties involved. Here is a typical day in the car business: You wake up in the morning to put on the shirt and tie for the day in the middle of July in Florida. Its about one hundred degrees with humidity. You get in the car and drive to work asking yourself, why......why..... because you know there is going to be an unpleasant experience waiting somewhere around the corner.You arrive at work and find yourself getting ready for the morning "meeting abuse" which always ends up that we are terrible salesman and we need to sell cars! Really? We need to sell cars? Ok. So, after the meeting we all leave the room with bruises and bumps and we are ready to practice the art of being a salesman.

For those of you who do not know, when a person arrives on the lot to car shop, he is referred to as an "up" in the car business. Usually, all of the salespeople are lined up outside like vultures waiting for an "up" so we can swoop in and turn on the really lame salesman charm. Now, at this point, you meet the customer. "Hi, my name is Dave" (smile). Then, the customer replies, "Were just looking". Of course they are just looking. Not by the time I get through with you. By the time we get through with you, you might be running out the door and never look back.

So, Im following the "We are just looking" people around the lot because if I don't, I will get yelled at by the powers that be. The potential customers that I am with do not want me near them at all at this point.And with good reason. Car shopping and or buying is the equivalent of going to the dentist. It can be a painful experience.

Now I am asking the nice folks on the lot all types of questions, trying to create trust and learning something about them that will help me sell to them. This is an ok method for the car business, because this is the way it has been taught. Now the problem from the "get go", is that most customers back then were the old school. To them, car buying was rolling up your sleeves and get ready to do battle. That's really not the way I want to make a living, but that's what it was.

So, what do you really have from this? You have uninformed people at all angles. First of all, customers come onto the lot thinking their "trade-in" is worth a fortune. And to there surprise, it's not. They did not do their own research on their "trade-in". Second, they don't know what they want. They want to spend no money on a car they can not afford to begin with. Again, they did not do their research.

Now, another problem. As a salesman, if you are going to make it in the business of selling anything, you have to rise above everyone else and figure out a strategy that is going to attract people to you automatically without being annoying and pushy from the start. I noticed that most of the salesman on the lot were not doing anything but waiting for something to happen, and unfortunately I was one of them. Because I didn't know either.

Now, when I could not close someone, here comes the sales manager thinking he's the be all to end all and that the "hammer them" into the car technique is going to work. You see the philosophy behind most selling in the car business, as an example ,is if they leave here without buying from us, they will never buy from us.Well, maybe your right. But let's not forget. In the world of sales, let the salespeople do their job by giving there potential customers all of the information they need to make a well informed decision. And if they don't buy today, let them remember you and your salesmanship and whatever great strategy you came up with for them to make the buying process easier. Believe me, after they have been everywhere else, they will remember you.The "in your face" approach does not work anymore.

David Weeks writes articles on marketing, personal finance, and network marketing. He also has a free course on network marketing "The 5 Phases Of Network Marketing" located at http://www.the5phasesofnetworkmarketing.com.Kitty Blog81270
Kendre Blog61235

New Travel Technology

One of the new ways to market your travel business is by the use of email. Fast delivery is the key to a successful campaign. The first thing you need to do is to get permission to send these emails by having an opt-in describing the future content of your mails and the other is to have an opt-out in the actual emails that you send to prospective clients. You should follow guidelines set out by mailbox providers to ensure that your emails get past their spam blockers.

Have you ever heard the term SEO (search engine optimization)? If you havent, you should sit up and take notice, especially if you have your own web site. SEO is a broad term which encompasses various methods of optimization including conducting sometimes exhaustive keyword research and the improving hyperlinks that link back to your own web site. For a travel web site, the best back links would be from other travel related web sites.

If you have your own travel web site you should spend some time spreading your links across the internet by submitting your URL (universal resource locator) to as many travel and holiday web directories as possible. You can also link to other related travel sites and reciprocate this by linking back to them, though it is always better to have a one way link that points to your site.

One of the most important features a travel company needs on their web site is the capability for users to search for holidays, flights; cruises etc and be able to book them online. Any travel web site worth its salt now has these features and their number of sales reflects this. More that 80% of travelers who plan their holidays make their bookings online. See http://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk for an example. These back-end programs though are not for the novice web programmer to construct and unless you are used to producing server code I suggest you outsource for this complexity of programming.

Blogs are the latest thing to hit the internet. These can be a very potent marketing tool that can reach out to new customers. People love to be told travel stories and blogs allow you and others to post new content and update it quickly.

Podcasts are yet another way to reach your customers. Podcasts can contain video and audio so you could shorten or use sections of your promotional holiday video and make it available for download by the millions of people who own an iPod.

In brief, if you are in the travel industry, if you dont embrace all the technology that is at your disposal, you may be left behind.

David Kirkwood - I am reasonably new to the travel industry though find the subject very interesting. I am sure that I can bring something new to the table from the other industries I have worked in. See an example of the type of site I am working on now at: http://www.barheadtravel.co.uk.Karen Blog68963
Korella Blog66060

The Age Of Blogging. What Is This Thing Anyways?

Everyone is taking about it, you hear it everywhere, in the forums, in articles its everywhere. What is Blogging. The definition of blogging is something that is very much in a state of constant movement, as the new technologies that appear every day they redefine what a blog is, what a blog can be, and what a blog should do. For many years, blogs were defined as text-based websites that kept records of days, similar to a captain's log on a sailing ship. However, this started to change as the group of people who kept blogs became more diverse. The more bloggers began to explore the limits of the medium and of the technology that made it possible, the more the boundaries of what could be called a "blog" expanded.

Today, there are an abundance of photo blogs, and there are even video blogs as well. Mobile blogging devices may well change the definition of blogging entirely by making it possible for bloggers to create new kinds of posts. Another element of the blogosphere that is starting to redefine blogging is the corporate blog. As more companies hire writers to keep blogs with the sole purpose of creating positive buzz about their brand, bloggers across the globe are arguing about whether these manufactured blogs are really worthy of the name. Between all of these different forces that are constantly expanding and reshaping the blogosphere, it is difficult to imagine that the definition of what is and is not a blog will ever remain fixed for very long.

To understand blogs, you need to know the terms blog, platform, domain, and web host. Once you have mastered these key elements of blogging, you can enter any conversation about blogging with confidence. After you know what exactly a blog is, you will be on your way.

Blog is short for weblog, which simply means a series of online posts presented in reverse chronological order. That's all! Most blogs are text, but there are also photo blogs and video blogs. If you are setting up a blog, you will need a platform, a web host, and a domain. A blogging platform is a computer software program that allows you to write posts and to update your blog. Your platform is also what you use to design the look of your blog, from color scheme to font size. The web host is sort of like the virtual file cabinet where your blog is stored. Your computer communicates with the host when you upload or edit a post. The domain is the online address of your blog, and usually ends in dot com'. Now that you know what a blog is, what a platform is, and what domains and hosts are, congratulate yourself!

Begin Blogging Good Luck .

Get more information and tips by visiting my blog: http://www.a-new-start-today.blogspot.com

TJ Klock is an Internet Marketer in Internet Home Based Businesses As well As an Authority on Developing Home Based Internet Businesses Part Time. To find the best home based business, and work at home ideas and opportunities Visit: http://A-New-Start-Today.comKorie Blog45520
Larina Blog69415

How to Pick the Best Free Blogging Site to Join or Not to Join

Joining an established blogging site like live journal or blogger has plenty of advantages, especially for the blog novice. Sites that host a lot of different blogs often have very useful tutorials about building and updating your blog, and you are likely to encounter a very user-friendly software interface at an established blogging site. In addition, these sites provide a kind of instant community of fellow bloggers who can provide advice, insight, and feedback. These established sites often keep directories of their members, which can be great news for your traffic logs because it means that other bloggers on the site will find out about your pages.

However, there are also some downsides to linking up with a large blogging site. By posting within the established templates of a site like blogger, you run therisk of having your blog look and feel like everybody else's. The blogging movement is very much about the creation of distinctive sites and the development of individual voices, so it makes plenty of sense that many bloggers would shy away from the cookie-cutter look and feel that these blogging sites often promote. Many bloggers feel that the content of a blog is what makes it distinctive, not the look of the blog, but many members of the blogging community feel that the visual impact of a blog should match the originality of the writing.

Choosing a free blogging site can feel overwhelming because there are so many options. There are several large free blog-hosting sites that dominate the blogosphere, but there are also smaller sites. Whether you decide to join up with an established site like blogger or whether you choose to sign on with a relatively new venture depends on what your priorities are.

Reliability is perhaps the best reason to opt for a large and well known free blogging site. When you choose to have an established brand host your blog, you can feel secure that your blog will not crash often and will not disappear in the middle of the night. A company that has been around for a while is likely to have the resources to make sure that its clients aren't unpleasantly surprised by any technical glitches. However, many bloggers decide that this isn't enough of a selling point. The bloggers who choose to go with smaller, newer blog hosting sites do so for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the number one advantage is a fairly abstract one. Bloggers tend to relish the fact that the internet is a place where the underdog has a strong chance of success, and by choosing to have a small company as a blog host, a blogger is casting his or her vote for David against Goliath.

Kanicen Nichathavan is the owner of Kanicen's Blog, Kanicen's Blog welcomes everyone who intends to share knowledge, interesting products, ideas and those who want to start Internet Online Business. You will find all kind of Internet Marketing Tools and resources. For Newbie and Internet Marketers this blog will be the best option for lowest prices of all kind of Internet Marketing Tools at http://www.kanicen.com.Kacie Blog51829
Kaycee Blog89811

How Memory Foam Mattresses Can Add Comfort To My Life

The key to a good night's sleep often lies in the type of mattress you are sleeping on. Having a good and comfortable mattress will ensure a good night's sleep and gives you the energy you need for the rest of the day. Through several researches, it has been proved that profound sleep greatly helps a person to overcome his day-to-day problems more effectively and successfully. In the modern era when a person often passes through a hectic life style the value of a profound and comfortable sleep cannot be underestimated. Actually, sleep requires relaxation, and that means a good deep and comfortable sleep. Those who do not enjoy profound sleep and go on tossing and turning in the night; memory foam mattress can be the answer to their problem. Memory foam mattress is also called visco memory mattress. Memory foam mattress can react to weight and body heat to give superior support while you sleep. The main feature of memory foam mattress is that it automatically gets adjusted to your body shape while you slumber over it. With the body weight evenly distributed, circulation is improved throughout the body compared to sleeping on a traditional mattress. As a result, no pressure point is created in your body. This helps you to enjoy peaceful and profound sleep. . No pressure points, no stress, no stress, means having a profound and comfortable sleep which everyone is in of today.

Another quality of memory foam mattress is that when you get up in the morning, memory foam mattress does not give a sag look due to the foam structure that they are made of. While on the other hand traditional mattresses give sag look as they remain suppressed even after you leave them. There are many radical differences to be found between memory foam mattresses and other conventional mattresses. One major difference is regarding total body support on an ordinary mattress, your body must adjust to the mattresss shape and as a result, you can often listen people complaining about back pain, when they wake up in the morning. But with memory foam mattresses, the opposite happens. Memory foam mattresses are available in the market in different types. 4lb density is the most popular and it is considered as a very high quality. While 3-3.5 lb density mattresses are also found in the market and they are cheaper than the 4lb ones. If you can afford to pay more than 5.3 lb density is also available in the market. This density mattress is heavier and more temperature sensitive. Memory foam mattress can be helpful to those who suffer from gout because memory foam mattress helps in lessening aches and pains. In the field of medicine, too memory foam mattresses are being used to treat the patients suffering from back pain. Memory foam mattress conforms to the body reducing all that tension on the pressure points. No pressure points, no stress, no stress, means having a profound and comfortable sleep which everyone is in of today.

Anupam Agnihotri is a high profile technical writer and business consultant provide you latest information about various Memory foam mattresses products available in the market.Kellia Blog97451
Kynthia Blog43355

8 Reasons Why You'll Want to Keep Your FSBO Marketing Program a Secret

8 Reasons Why You'll Want to Keep Your FSBO Marketing Program a Secret

If you're anything like me, you probably love to brag and tell people including your co-workers, how well you're doing. It's only human nature. But if you're currently marketing to For Sale by Owners (FSBOs) or about to start your program, here are some good reasons for keeping your efforts under wraps and cloaked in secrecy:

1. For Sale by Owner marketing is a niche with very little competition. What has always amazed me is...why almost all loan officers, originators, and mortgage brokers avoid this part of the market like the plague. Goodness...it's like going fishing and knowing full well that the pond is just over flowing with lots of keepers...and, you're the only fisherman for miles around.

2. For Sale by Owner marketing is less intimidating if you're new to the mortgage business. As a "newbie" would you feel more comfortable calling on Realtors/Agents or FSBOs? I'll let you answer that question.

3. For Sale by Owner marketing allows you to become an expert in a niche marketing area very quickly. You can easily become known as the FSBO person in your area and the expert that people seek out for advice and information.

4. For Sale by Owner marketing is an absolute great way to generate a never ending supply of inexpensive purchase mortgage leads.

5. For Sale by Owner marketing is extremely low cost. I like to refer to it as..."a low budget method of marketing."

6. For Sale by Owner marketing provides you with purchase money mortgage leads without Realtor and Agent involvement and all of the schmoozing that's normally required to get their business.

7. For Sale by Owner marketing drastically shortens the normal mortgage sales cycle resulting in a filled pipeline and most importantly, quicker commission dollars in your pocket!

8. For Sale by Owner marketing builds quality relationships with Realtor/Agents on your terms and conditions and most importantly, when you want them. You are in total control...not the Realtor/Agent.

As a Corporate Mortgage Trainer, I always introduced my students to For Sale by Owner marketing in this way:

"Put into motion your FSBO marketing program immediately...concentrate on it...learn the program from A to Z...improve on it...add your personality to it...make it your area of expertise...brand yourself as a knowledgeable FSBO expert...and, you'll have more mortgage business than you can ever handle. As a result, you'll find yourself among a very elite group of loan originators...and, you can laugh about it all the way to the bank."

Just as a reminder, keep your For Sale by Owner marketing program a secret. Here's to your continued mortgage marketing success.

Tom Domin is the author of "Tom's Mortgage Tips" a twice monthly Mortgage Newsletter that is geared for Mortgage Professionals. You can sign-up by visiting http://www.mortgagemarketingtoolkit.com/.Katleen Blog7686
Lacy Blog52729

Security on Campus

It may surprise you to know that college and university campuses are scenes to more than just socializing and learning. All too often, they can also be the scenes of a crime. Awareness of this problem has grown dramatically over the last twenty years, and many institutions are taking appropriate measures to protect their students from malice. Wise parents do not close their eyes to these issues, but discuss them openly with their students. When choosing schools for their sons or daughters, they consider the security programs and features utilized by the schools. You must do all you can to ensure that your student doesnt get an education they didnt plan for.

Drugs and Alcohol

Nine out of ten student felonies involve alcohol or drugs. Annually, 1,700 college students die from alcohol-related causes. On their own for the first time, students often feel a surge of independence that can lead to poor decision-making, such as binge drinking. There are many resources available to help parents discuss substance use with their young adult children. Meanwhile, when choosing a school favor institutions with strict policies regarding alcohol and drug abuse, and effective parent-notification. In this way, colleges and universities keep better control of this problem.

Sexual Offenses

Unfortunately, 25% of undergraduate women nationally will be victims of an attempted or completed sexual assault. Many schools have embraced innovative technological solutions in an effort to protect their students. Residence halls that use electronic key-card systems are superior to the ones still using old-fashioned metal locks, and most commons areas of dormitories are now outfitted with video surveillance. At the very least, residence halls should be monitored, and nighttime access should be limited to residents only. Room doors should be equipped with peep holes and dead bolts. Bathrooms are safer when restricted to floor residents. For peace of mind, you may see if single-sex and substance-free dormitories are available. Crime is lower in these halls.

Another important deterrent against sexual predators is awareness. Your student should study the campus and neighborhood with respect to routes between his or her residence and classes/activities schedule. Parking lots should be adequately secured, lit and patrolled. Many campuses offer emergency phones, escort services, and shuttle systems so that students should never have to compromise their safety by walking across campus alone after dark. These are free services that have dramatically decreased crime.

Theft

College students are often the target of fraudulent identity-theft and credit card schemes. Make sure your student is savvy about personal information. They should never leave bill payments, credit card offers, health insurance statements, or any personal mail lying around. Instruct them never to give personal information over the phone to any company unless they initiated the call, and they know the company is reputable. Caution students not to give out their social security numbers to obtain credit cards or memberships, and to keep a personal record of all such cards, with expiration dates and company phone numbers in a locked drawer or cabinet. PIN numbers should not be kept in wallets, and should never incorporate birthdates, social security numbers, telephone numbers or addresses.

The Jeanne Clery Act is a federal law that was signed into effect in 1990, requiring colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime and security policies. It is your privilege and right to know these statistics. This law was passed at a great cost. In 1987 Jeanne Clery was raped and murdered in her dorm room by a student with whom she was unacquainted, who had passed through three propped open doors in order to rob dormitory rooms. Knowing they could never bring their daughter back, Mr. and Mrs. Clery demanded safer campuses for future students. More advice regarding security on campus can be found on their outreach site at www.campussafety.org.

Copyright 2006 Rob Daniels

Rob Daniels develops educational material for http://www.security-port.com and http://www.security-protection.net a top resource for locating security related RSS feeds.Kaitlynn Blog7000
Kimberly Blog25744

Learn Piano Online

Many adults give up the idea of finding a program, course, or lessons to learn how to play piano online. They might be worried about not finding one that meets their needs, or they feel that there is no way they will be able to learn quickly or effectively over the computer.

In this day and age of the World Wide Web, where billions upon billions of pages can be surfed by anybody 24/7, one could find nearly a million references to learning about the keyboard, piano, and classical artists such as Beethoven online. This could also be another reason so many people give up their piano-playing dreams. They simply become overwhelmed with the millions of search-engine results and cannot find exactly what they are looking for.

The first aspect that someone seeking an Internet-based piano course should look for is quality. This might be time consuming and sometimes frustrating if you arent able to look at or review the products before you buy. In this case, one of the best avenues to take is to look at a site that reviews products to learn how to play piano online. Little do many Web shoppers know that these sites review and compare products in an unbiased manner. These sites do all the comparing, analyzing, and reviewing before you buy.

The next step when searching through the multitude of online piano material is to create a list of what you are looking for and ways you enjoy learning. After you have seen what products, lessons, and courses are available online, whether they are online piano e-books, software, games, virtual teachers, videos, audio, or other methods, youll be able to evaluate the selection with your own personal criteria. If you dont want to read an e-book, then you might look at sites that offer video lessons of how to learn piano online.

The third step is to ask yourself: does this program or package offer all that I want, at a price I can pay? Be skeptical if a website claims youll learn how to play the piano overnight. Evaluate different websites that offer a variety of materials and meet your overall budget. Again, consulting a website that reviews all the important factors will save you a lot of time, hassle, and money.

Finally, once you have found the perfect online piano program and carefully analyzed what it offers, you will be ready to make your final purchase in confidence. After you have made your purchase, give yourself time to get used to the new software, e-book, or video. If the product suggest that you practice 15 to 30 minutes each night, then be sure to stick to that program to gain all the benefits and rewards that come through learning piano online.

Nick Krueger is a review specialist at http://Reviewica.com. For more information on learning piano online and online piano product reviews, please visit: http://Learn-to-Play-Piano.Reviewica.com.Karylin Blog1857
Lanny Blog14787

International Baccalurette Programs Heat Up Charlotte

Davidson IB Middle Wins Schools of Distinction Award

The science program at Davidson IB Middle, one of the schools in the Charlotte Mecklenburg area, has been recognized as a School of Distinction by Intel and Scholastic. Intel, the world renowned computer chip maker, and Scholastic, a leader in textbooks and educational materials, chose Davidson for honors in the field of science achievement, bringing both pride and bragging rights to Charlotte schools. As the principal of Davidson states, This award is a testament to the dedication of my students, teachers, parents and the community. My entire staff works together to make sure our students get an excellent education.

How Davidson was Chosen

Intel and Scholastic seem to agree. They awarded Davidson the Schools of Distinction Award after evaluating the school on a number of criteria. Among other things, Davidson showed its strengths in strategies for incorporating critical thinking skills; hands on investigative experiences, and project based learning. Davidson, like other Charlotte schools, is challenging the next generation of scientists and engineers with its comprehensive science program. The Intel and Scholastic award will help the school to further its science education goals and set a positive example for other Charlotte schools in the areas of science education.

The winning schools were chosen in each of the following eight categories: academic achievement, literacy achievement, mathematics achievement, science achievement, technology excellence, leadership excellence, professional development, and collaboration and teamwork. Davidson, as an exceptional Charlotte school, looks forward to using this award to help continue to build a competitive science program and lead the nation in science education innovation.

What Does Winning Mean for Davidson and Charlotte Schools?

As recipients of this prestigious award, Davidson IB Middle will receive a $10,000 grant from the Intel Foundation and several other prizes ranging from curriculum materials and professional development resources to computer hardware and software. All of these things will help Davidson stay on the cutting edge of science education and fulfill the goal of constant improvement and innovation in educating future scientists. In addition to these monetary prizes, the school also puts Charlotte schools in the map as a place of science and math strength among national secondary schools.

Whats Special About Davidson

Davidson is one of many Charlotte schools that is taking the forefront in science education and it shows. While Davidson has won national recognition for its programs, the real work is the daily learning that takes places at Davidson and other Charlotte schools. As part of the International Baccalareute Program, Davidson focuses on providing real world connections between textbook learning and applications. Some of the projects done at Davidson serve as a model for other Charlotte schools. These projects included using a special backyard stream to learn about biology as well as real world chemistry applications, such as water quality tests.

Davidson is lucky to have many local community partners to help in its quest for high level science education. As a Charlotte school, Davidson works alongside Davidson College on environmental studies projects with university professors and resources. Because of its unique position, Davidson has won both state and national competitions, leading to its rank of 15 overall in the United States.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/North-Carolina/Charlotte/index.htmlLanny Blog93547
Kassi Blog83757

Entering The Twilight Zone

"If you are not pissing someone off, you are probably not doing your job."
- Bryce's Law

INTRODUCTION

This essay represents my 100th in a series of weekly bulletins I have written over the last two years. During this time I have written on a variety of management related issues as well as technical topics pertaining to Information Technology, e.g., systems design, data base design, software engineering, etc. My intent was to show the vast scope of Information Resource Management (IRM) and try to get people to expand their horizons and think beyond their immediate scope of responsibilities. I have received a lot of feedback from these essays, some negative, but most have been very positive and supportive. I have always tried to be honest and forthright in my editorials, a "straight shooter" some say. Nonetheless. my comments are either welcomed with enthusiasm or disdain, there is little middle ground. Thank God I am not in the business of running a popularity contest. Regardless of what you think of my comments and observations, you know where I stand on an issue. It's not important whether you agree with me or not, but if I can get you to stop and think about something, then I have accomplished my goal.

I like to believe I have seen a lot over the last 30 years; customers trying to conquer massive system problems, luminaries who have impacted the I.T. industry by introducing new ideas, and charlatans selling the latest snake oil. But I have also found the discourse with the people in both the trenches and the boardroom to be the most stimulating. From their comments and experiences I have witnessed not only changes in technology but in management as well, some for better, some for worse. I have listened to both their frustrations as well as their accomplishments; their successes and their failures. The passing parade over the years has introduced a multitude of changes, from large to small. So much so, the corporate landscape is nothing like when I began in the mid-1970's. Interestingly, I am now at that awkward age where I am considered a radical by my elders and "out of touch" by my youngers (I like to call this the "Twilight Zone" period of my life).

SOME OBSERVATIONS

Between my consulting practice and the feedback resulting from these bulletins, I have observed some interesting changes in the corporate workplace. Below are some of the more pronounced observations, some will be rather obvious, some not so. Nonetheless, here they are, warts and all:

1. We now live in a Disposable Society.

Information Technology departments feel they are under incredible pressure to produce more with less. This is caused by executive managers who do not have a true appreciation of the mechanics of development. Executives falsely equate computer hardware with development and, as such, spend an inordinate amount of money on hardware and software, and little on the management infrastructure needed to create industrial strength systems (a kind of "penny-wise, pound-foolish" behavior). They may understand the value of computer hardware, but they do not have a clue as to the value of information as it applies to their companies. Nonetheless, because of the amount of money invested in tools, executives expect miracles from the I.T. staff. Since executives expect short turnarounds, the I.T. department is only able to produce a fraction of what is needed to adequately support the company. Programs are written with little, if any, thought of interfacing with other programs or to share and reuse data. Consequently, redundant data and software resources run rampant in most corporate shops. It has gotten so pervasive that I.T. shops have resigned themselves to writing disposable software whereby they openly recognize it will become obsolete in a short amount of time.

Let me give you an example, a couple of years ago I met the product manager of one of the more popular PC office suites. We got around to talking about his company's approach to development. He confided in me that they get requests for so many changes that they literally rewrite their product, from scratch, year after year. I was astonished by this admission as I had always had the utmost respect for this firm and thought they were smarter than this.

This disposable mentality has become so pervasive that I.T. departments are no longer interested in doing what is right, but what is expeditious instead. This is why such things as "Agile" development is in vogue today. We no longer care about building things to last; instead, we do just enough to pacify the moment. In other words, the days of true enterprise-wide systems are a thing of the past. I.T. departments simply do not have the time or inclination to build such systems. Even if they had the desire to do so, I no longer believe they have the knowledge or wherewithal to build major systems anymore.

2. Our sense of professionalism has changed.

With the passing of each decade I have noticed changes in our sense of professionalism, some subtle, some not so subtle. How the "Greatest Generation" perceived professionalism is different than the "Baby Boomers" and Generations X, Y, and Z. Remarkably, all consider themselves to be talented professionals, probably more so than the other generations. I am not here to pass judgment, only to observe the changes:

Scope - the scope of project assignments addressed by each generation has changed over the years, from larger to smaller. Whereas companies in the 1960's and 1970's tackled major systems, today they tend to shy away from such undertakings because they have failed more than they have been succeeded and because of our "disposable" mentality just mentioned. This has led to a "bottom-up" approach to systems development today.

Discipline - there has been a gradual erosion in discipline over the years. To conquer the major systems projects of the past, people realized it was necessary to cooperate and work in a concerted manner. This meant people had to perform in a more uniform and predictable manner in order to attain the desired results. But as the scope of development projects diminished, individual initiative was rewarded over teamwork. Today, discipline has been sacrificed for results. In other words, because of the "disposable" mentality, there is less emphasis today on uniformity, integration and reusability. Interestingly, developers in all of the generations possess a pride in workmanship, but it is a difference in scale. Whereas, developers of yesteryear sweated over the details of an entire system, today's developers sweat over the details of a single program or perhaps just a module within it.

Organization - Again, because of the scope of projects years ago, there was a greater appreciation for the need for organization in order to conquer problems on a team basis. But with the trend towards smaller projects and cheaper computers, developers were given more tools, and fewer rules, to get the job done. This led to the deterioration of teamwork and gave rise to rugged individualism. Now, instead of conforming to organization, developers are permitted to operate as they see fit. To me, the unbridled cockiness of today's developers is both good and bad; good in that they are not afraid of a challenge, but bad in that they are marching to their own drummer.

Accountability - Whereas years ago people had no problem being held accountable for their actions, today they tend to avoid responsibility and prefer to be told what to do. I find this to be a strange paradox, particularly in lieu of my earlier comments regarding the unbridled cockiness of today's workers. Regardless of their enthusiasm, they are reluctant to seek and accept responsibility. Instead, they prefer to take orders thereby deflecting responsibility to someone else (who takes the blame in the event of a problem). I find it remarkable that the younger workers today prefer to be told what to do.

Management Style - since the 1960's we have seen a transition from a Theory Y form of management (bottom-up worker empowerment), to some Theory Z (consensus), to Theory X (top-down dictatorial). Today, "micromanagement" is the norm as opposed to the exception.

Its interesting, we all claim to want to do the right thing, yet we have different interpretations as to what exactly is right. I attribute this to the different perspectives and values of the different generations; they are most definitely not the same and can be attributed to changing socioeconomic conditions. Not surprising, what is perceived as "professional" by the "Greatest Generation" is not the same as what is perceived by Generation Z. As I have discussed in the past, there is a serious generation gap. Which generation possesses the correct interpretation of "professionalism"? That depends on who you talk to. As I said, I am not here to pass judgment but, rather, to observe the phenomenon. Ultimately, our sense of professionalism is based on our sense of quality, resourcefulness, our determination to see a job through to completion, our ethics, and how we deport ourselves in executing a job.

3. There is no sense of history.

One thing that distinguishes the younger generations from its predecessors is its sense of history, or the lack thereof. Very few have an appreciation for developments in the I.T. industry. Consequently, there is a tendency to reinvent the wheel every few years in terms of systems and software theory. Many of today's younger I.T. developers genuinely believe the problems they are experiencing today are unique. For example, they believe:

- There is no consistent approach for specifying requirements.
- Users do not know what they want.
- Systems lack integration and proper documentation.
- Data redundancy is a problem between systems.
- Systems are difficult to maintain and modify.
- Projects never come in on time or within budget.

In reality, these problems are as old as systems development. To illustrate, not long ago I got into an argument with some younger developers over how we program today versus how I learned it back in the 1970's. They contended it had changed radically. I contended, the tools and techniques may have changed, but the underlying philosophy of programming has not.

Today, "programming" is considered pass since it is being outsourced overseas. Instead, developers want to call themselves "Solution Providers," "Business Analysts" or "Enterprise Architects," anything to differentiate themselves from programmers. Regardless, unless they are truly doing something different, they're still thinking and acting like programmers.

Bottom-line: there is nothing new in development; and our problems are still the same.

4. Workers are becoming socially dysfunctional.

While the use of technology in our personal and professional lives proliferate, people's interpersonal relations/communications skills are deteriorating at a rapid rate. Simple things like writing a business letter, conducting a meeting, or greeting and networking with others is becoming difficult. I am finding more and more people who prefer to tune into technology and tune out mankind. Consequently, common courtesy, etiquette, and effective communications is being sacrificed, all of which is having an adverse effect on the corporate culture and how we conduct business. This concerns me greatly.

5. Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

This has been a favorite expression of mine for a number of years and is indicative of the problems people have in establishing priorities. Technology, not management, is leading the country today. To me, this is the tail wagging the dog. Technology will always have a place in business, but we should not be driven by it. Because of our faith in technology there is now a tendency to leap into costly projects before we look. As such, I believe we need more people who truly understand the business and its market as opposed to more technologists. Always remember, an elegant solution to the wrong problem solves nothing.

CONCLUSION

I am often asked by younger people as to the direction of the I.T. industry and what they should be thinking about. I tell them three things; first, this is an illogical industry devoid of commonsense. What was logical in my day will not be the same in theirs. Second, I tell them if they are going to stay in the I.T. industry, they should find a solid niche and immerse themselves in it. And third, be prepared to change and evolve.

My father-in-law always had an interesting expression that I believe is still true; he said, "We have 30 years to learn, 30 years to earn, and 30 years to burn (the money)." The most interesting and creative years in our professional lives are in our 20's when we are still learning and have great enthusiasm. In our 30's we establish our niche and concentrate on it. In our 40's we bustle with confidence and establish our stride. Then in our 50's, as I mentioned early on, we begin to go through that awkward stage where we are being questioned by our elders and pushed out by our youngers. After this Twilight Zone period, I'll let you know how the 60's go.

This will be the last of my essays for awhile as I begin working on other opportunities. I'll still be producing my weekly "Management Visions" broadcast, but I have to ease up on my writing assignments to focus my energies elsewhere. Not to worry, I will be back from time to time to comment on other management and I.T. related developments. Until then...

Keep the faith.

Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida, a management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management (IRM). Mr. Bryce has over 30 years of experience in the field. He is available for lecturing, training and consulting on an international basis. His corporate web page is at: http://www.phmainstreet.com/mba/Kati Blog49302
Kaja Blog4609

New Innovations - A Fun Way To Create Them

How do you dream up new innovations? There are many ways. One of the most fun, though, is the modifying-word list. It all begins with the question, "What if it was...?"

You may have heard of this problem-solving, idea-generating technique before. The basic idea is to start with a particular problem or product and ask "What if it was bigger... smaller... cheaper... more expensive... less complicated... more complicated... more colorful?" and so on. The words are from a list that you work your way through for each problem or invention.

This is an easy way to come up with ideas for new innovations. Suppose you make refrigerators, for example, and need a new product. You ask "What if it was smaller?" A thermos-sized cooler operated by a small battery comes to mind. "What if it was cooler?" makes you think about the fact that the heat removed blows into the room, fighting against the air conditioning in the summer. Perhaps you could design a refrigerator that vents the hot air outside. Each word has the potential to give you a new idea.

What if you don't have a specific problem or project in mind, though? What if you are just looking for a new innovation in any areas to work on, or you just like to invent things as a mental exercise? In that case, there is another way to use a modifying-word list, and it may be even more fun. Just start with the word instead of the thing or idea. Then apply the modifying word to everything you can think of.

For example, if you start with the word "easier," you just look around at things and ask, "What if it was easier?"

Lights. It would be easier to turn them on in the dark if they were voice-activated.

Plants. Sell a line of plants that are almost impossible to kill, for those of us that can't seem to keep house plants alive.

Democracy. Maybe that company that makes the "For Dummies" books should add "Democracy For Dummies" to their line. Perhaps secure online voting would make it easier than going to the polls.

Brainpower. Three deep breaths always wakes up my brain. I bet it would work better if I had a small and easy to use oxygen dispenser.

To get in the habit of using this technique, you can either use the traditional technique - write down a few items and create innovations in your mind using the word list. Or you can try this other version - pick a modifier, like "more common," and apply it to everything you see today, asking, "What if it was more common?" You never know what ideas and innovations will come to mind.

The New Innovations Word List

What if it was... easier... more difficult... larger... smaller... farther away... closer... sooner... later... softer... harder... poorer... richer... higher... lower... longer... shorter... certain... uncertain... newer... older... divided... combined... more common... less common... faster... slower... better... worse... cheaper... more expensive... hotter... colder... added to... subtracted from... unchanged... imaginary?

The list above is a basic one. You can start with that, but there are hundreds of idea-generating words you could add to it. Any adjectives, descriptive phrases, or words that can change your perspective can be potentially useful for stimulating ideas for new innovations.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For more Idea Generating Techniques, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.comKarmen Blog21241
Kippie Blog57723

Why Create Auto Advertising?

Auto advertising and mobile marketing campaigns in general are very beneficial to the companies that choose to employ these opportunities. When the idea first came about in the corporate sphere of things, it was a new and innovative concept. Many people were surprised that auto advertising could be such an effective and efficient means to spread information. Still, it is not corporate establishments that created the concept of auto advertising, despite the fact that they seem to get more credit as compared to the ordinary and every day individual. The truth is, auto advertising is not a new concept. It has been used in order to generate specific and desired results for a very long time. Using auto advertising on a more grand scale may be a new approach, but the creation of auto advertising has been evolving over time and in effect for quite some time now. Some people do not just realize the many ways in which auto advertising has already proved its worth and powerful presence when it comes to capitalism and public appeal.

Reasons that we are prepared for auto advertising to succeed include because it has already done so and because the method is able to influence more people that could have otherwise missed being exposed to the advertisement. How many people have seen signs on vehicles saying that they were for sale? Likely, many of us have been able to see this in progress. The individual is trying to use auto advertising in a very literal manner. Attempts to sell vehicles in this way are successful because of the amount of people that are exposed to the auto advertising method and because of the ability of the individual to see exactly and specifically what they are getting involved with as a result.

Since auto advertising was so successful, and it continues to be, in the private sphere, many people can easily make the connection as to how and why auto advertising is a good idea for many companies. Getting exposed to other motorists and passing cars is a great way for companies to stand out and be noticed. The degree to which a car is redesigned in order to come across with the proper auto advertising appeal that is desired by the company will vary, but no matter what it is very difficult, if not impossible, for one car to ignore another car. This could lead to an accident. As individuals driving need to be constantly aware of the other cars around them, auto advertising is clearly a great choice for a marketing campaign.

SignZoo's award winning vehicle graphics, and national network of certified installers installs your auto wrap at your convenience. Our in-house creative team will create custom vehicle graphics and fleet wraps that gets you noticed.Kara Blog52153
Kellen Blog35281

The Top 10 Ultra-Low Risk Marketing Methods Guaranteed to Squeeze More Profit Out of Your Business

There are many things you can do to cut your costs and lower the risk when you market your business. Your marketing doesn't have to be the bottomless pit of your hard earned money that its so often thought of. Your marketing should give you a return on your investment. Follow these top 10 tips and start increasing your bottom line today.

1. Use Only Direct Marketing

Cost: Cost of Direct Marketing Education, Upside Potential: Unlimited

Direct marketing is marketing that is testable and therefore accountable for your money. Put a code on all your ads, coupons etc. so that you know where they come from and can measure the response. Then you can use spreadsheets to calculate exactly what you need to be profitable. Its vital to crunch the numbers to see if a particular marketing idea you have makes business sense.

2. Find a Product That Fits the Market

Cost: Cost of product/service development, Upside Potential: Unlimited

95% of people out there develop the product first then find a market for it. Thats a lot of wasted time and effort. Take the road less traveled and look for different ways to market something thats already hot drastically reducing your risk of failure.

3. Test Everything

Cost: Marginal, Upside Potential: Unlimited

Now that you are using direct marketing, test everything. Test your offers, headlines (of your ads), messages, lists, mediums (newspapers, magazines, internet etc.). Most marketing is a few words away from being profitable and you will never know that unless you test.

4. Use Google Ad-words and the Internet.

Cost: Marginal (with daily budget), Upside Potential: Unlimited

Never before in the history of marketing has there ever been a more low-cost, low-risk and accurate way to test your marketing message. You can test different advertisements, different keywords, different web pages and different locations. You can sit in your office in Iceland and test your advertisement in a four block radius around Trump World Tower in Manhattan.

5. Change the Way you Speak and Write,

Cost: Free, Upside Potential: Unlimited

Words offer the highest leverage possible. One word, cost creates a negative emotion in your prospects mind as they think of their hard earned money leaving their pocket. Change the word to invest and they now think that they can earn more money from the money they give you. Look over the words you use in your business (ads, sales, flyers etc.) to see if they may cause negative emotions in your customers

6. Optimize Your Referral Program

Cost: Marginal, Upside Potential: Unlimited

Referral programs are your highest leverage marketing system out there. Take the time to put in an actual program and not wait until your clients think about it. Of course, that all presupposes that you under promise and over deliver....that always gets them telling their neighbours about you.

7. Upsell and Crossell

Cost: Free, Upside Potential: Upto 50% more sales

Earn 10%-40% more on average with these handy devices. Some people, when they have made the commitment to buy, will buy more when reminded that they can. Dont be pushy about it. Check out godaddy.com, they are relentless with up sells and cross sells. Try to buy a domain and get your way to the end without spending another dime...just try it...

8. Use Bounce Backs

Cost: cost of paper and ink, Upside Potential: Upto 50% more sales

With every purchase or order, include an offering for another product/service. You have already spent the money on the shipment or transaction. This is another form of low-pressure upsells /cross sells but costs you only the cost of the paper and ink you used.

9. Use Sunk Costs More Creatively

Cost: Free, Upside Potential: Limitless

Do you have a voicemail system? Why play music, when you can give educational messages (that are interesting) about your products/services? Do you have invoices? Write some text about referrals or specials of the day. Do you have slow times? Hold a tele-seminar or actual seminar to educate and attract more business.

10. Increase Your Prices

Cost: Free, Upside Potential: Whatever you set your new price to be

Last but not least...The simplest method of them all. Increase your prices! Lots of businesses I talk to are afraid to do this and they wont do it. You dont have to increase them 200% (even though I know a case where a retailer did this and they did actually sell out their entire stock), but just do it 2-5% on select items. No one will notice. And thats all profit for you. You are doing a disservice to your own bottom line by not charging what the market will bear. You would be surprised to learn how much people would value something. And if they dont like the increase, try adding some educational information tool with it...now you are justified.

Paul Speziale is a direct marketing consultant / entrepreneur based out of Toronto, Ontario. He has served all industries from manufacturers to retailers, from entrepreneurs to professionals. Besides helping clients, he is working on his own projects. He also volunteers his time for several worthy causes both local and global. You can reach him at: http://www.AnelloSolutions.com: Growing Your Business Through Low-Risk, Optimized and Results Based Marketing.Kristen Blog7326
Karlotta Blog12491

How Do You Write An Article?

You want to increase the traffic coming to your website? Write an article. Write a dozen articles. Its not as difficult as it may seem. We all know that writing articles is one of the best ways to get traffic to our site, (And it does not cost a penny.)

That is all well and good but if you have never written an article before, how do you go about it? What do you write about? Where do you get the inspiration?

It would be easy to say 'Forget it.' and do something else. If you do, you will be passing up on one of the best ways of advertising your website for free.

Don't let these supposed problems put you off. There is an easy way to get started. Decide what you would like to write about. Next. Go to Google search and type in the word 'Articles'. You will be given a list of sites that hold thousands of articles for use by webmasters who need content for their ezines and web-pages. They are always looking for more. They can never get enough.

The articles will be listed by type. ie. Business, Commerce, Internet. etc. Pick a list that appeals to you and look at the headlines. Read as many of the articles that you have time for. This will not only be an education in its own right, it will also give you an insight as to the way the articles are written. You may make notes of things that interest you but on no account must you copy any of the text. The writer of the article has the copyright of every part of the article including the headline.

You would not be happy if someone blatantly stole parts of your articles. Be careful not to inadvertently steal theirs.

By the time you have read and studied a dozen or so articles you should have a good idea how to write one for yourself. Now is the time to relax, forget all about it. Don't even think about it until tomorrow. That's right, sleep on it. Your sub-conscious will be working hard to put everything into context.

The following day. Go to a different articles website. One who's articles you have not read, and start reading the article headlines. When you come across a headline that strikes a chord, Write it down and start writing a brand new article of your own. Don't worry. The words and phrases will come to you, they are all stored in your sub-conscious mind. The sub-conscious never forgets anything.

When you have finished writing. go back and make a substantial change to the headline . It is not yours. You only borrowed it. (It is someone else's copyright).

Now is the time to read the original article that gave you the inspiration. You will find that it is nothing like your effort. Yours may even be better. (It happens.) and you own the copyright.

You now have your very first article, ready for publication. Or have you? Nobody gets it absolutely right the first time. Why do you think newspapers have editors? Don't start making changes now. Wait a couple of days and read it again. If changes need to be made to clarify some point, or one or two typos need correcting, now is the time to do it. Even the best spell checker can get it wrong sometimes.

Doing it this way you will soon have a dozen or two articles with your 'Author's Profile' at the bottom, complete with hyperlinks to your website. Soon you will have no problem writing a new article every week.

Don't think about it. Do it. You can do anything if you just go about it the right way.

People who say Cant really mean they dont know how. Be careful, Writing articles can become addictive.

Copyright 2006 Homer Farey

Homer Farey sells and gives away software and e-books on line. He is also a member of a number of affiliate programs that he joined when he first came onto the net. He finds them too lucrative to even think of giving them up. If you would like to know where he gets the freebies to give away, Take a look by clicking here.: http://www.runurl.com/xx.php?2ldKristal Blog10645
Kayla Blog84843

What is the difference between Windows and UNIX web hosting?

Windows and UNIX are in fact two different systems and of course we are referring to computer systems. A web host uses computers, (we shall refer to them as servers, just computers, but sometimes larger) to host websites, and all computers need a operating system, so Windows and UNIX are the operating system.

The Windows used is normally Windows NT or 2000 and of course as you know Microsoft charges for it's software, while UNIX is an open source operating system, this means that the original creators of the system have given up the rights and anyone can use it, change, improve or do anything they want with, free of charge.

From this we already have to main differences, Window hosts are more expensive and UNIX is more reliable, because it as been improved by thousands of anonymous people.

Most probably you are reading this in front of your computer which most probably is operates on a Windows XP, have you noticed that it sometimes, it freezes, and the only solution is to restart it? UNIX is much more stable, robust, time-tested, flexible platform for a web server.

But Windows servers have also it's positive sides, they are compatible with Microsoft applications, and fully support Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Access and MS SQL, they also offer advance-programming environments and features such as Active Server Pages (ASP), the ASP.NET framework, Visual Basic Scripts, MS Index Server, Macromedia's and Cold Fusion.

Windows operating system require little or no experience in web development to get advanced features working very quickly because of better graphical user interface (GUI) Software such as Microsoft's FrontPage is specially developed for the webmaster to decrease the website development time and efforts.

Lets go back again to UNIX, they support FrontPage, Flash, Shockwave, Real Audio/Video, Cgi Scripts, Perl, PHP, SSH (Secure Telnet), MySQL, Web-Based Control System, Anonymous FTP, Web Site Graphical Statistics, Web-Based Email System, Miva/XML, Cold Fusion Perl, JAVA, PHP, C, C++, Miva, Shell Access and other wide verity of feature like Telnet and SSH that provides lots of flexibility and freedom in managing file and directories, but some of this require advance knowledge of Unix commands in order for you to customize the scripts to match your website needs.

Because of the nature of UNIX, (open source) and the people who love it, there is on the WWW freely available software and scripts, again bringing the cost down.

Concluding which one is the best, it really depends what you need, if you need high uptime, security and not so expensive then go with UNIX, if you need to run Windows applications like, MS Access or the MS SQL SERVER then Windows is your choice.

Paul SantosKristan Blog82772
Katleen Blog7686