Archive for August, 2008
August 30, 2008 at 2:53 am · Filed under Uncategorized
I guess this is my chance to start something similar to a blog to keep some kind of a personal record of my professional journey. During my school days in the National University of Singapore, I never thought I would be making a living creating websites for others.
I started picking up HTML about 5 years ago. Surprisingly, despite coming from a non-programming background, I picked up the language almost effortlessly. I started putting up small websites on those free hosting sites. There were a lot of those companies back then.
Before long, I was working on several projects for a few companies. It didn’t take long for me to stumble upon Macromedia Flash. Once again, I was curious about how it worked and kept working on it. Those first few Flash files were real cheesy but in after just one year of hands-on experience with HTML and Flash, I managed to win a local web design competition. I got first out of slightly over thirty entries and won lots of software and several pieces of hardware.
My friends kept telling me to start something on my own. Well, I did but it didn’t quite work out as I lacked the marketing and business skills to run a proper Company. Before long, flocks of freelancers entered the market and the prices hit rock bottom.
Anyway, I was running a personal website. It was doing well until I got a full-time job and due to neglect, it disappeared with the many websites at about the same time when the dotcom bubble burst.
And when I said doing well, I meant getting just 5 visitors a day. Hence, the title of this article. I put up some simple articles on my website and also offered a free email service but without the marketing know-how, the traffic was trickling.
It wasn’t until 5 years later that I started getting between 20-50 unique visitors per day on each of my website. I’m now running close to 10 websites on my own and several others for my customers.
I’d be the first to admit that I’m far from being successful but the results are encouraging. At least the websites are now paying for themselves and on some weeks, there is even some profit 
At this point, I bet you want to know how I did that? Well, there really isn’t any secret and if you look a bit harder, I’m sure you can find the information you need on one of those Internet Marketing websites.
But I’ll save you the trouble and give it to you here. There are two things you need to know to run a website that will eventually pay you back.
The first is that your website MUST be search engine optimized. That means tweaking your website to make sure the website is friendly for the search engines. If you have a bit of time for experiment, here are some tips.
Make sure that your keywords appear in your page title, and in your URL if possible. Get as many inbound links as possible but with anchor texts in your links. That means enclosing your keywords within your inbound links.
Beware of websites that sell you a half-baked story about how they can guarantee you top rankings. I tried and tested all those information I found on the Internet and it took me MONTHS to see any kind of results.
If you are in a hurry to get started, take a look at Instant Website. Instant Website is an in-house product developed by myself and I use it to host my corporate website. It took me months to build and I’m now hosting my customers’ site on it.
The second thing you need to know is that you MUST know how to build lists. This is critical to the success of your website. Search engine traffic brings in the visitors and you must have the tools to retain them!
I’m talking about having some tools to reach out to those same visitors. One example is an email box. Instant Website has a simple one incorporated in it but if you need something more powerful, here are a couple of good ones. http://www.aweber.com and http://www.constantcontact.com
That’s it. Make sure your website is search engine optimized and keep building that list and you’ll never have to worry about your website averaging just 5 visitors a day. What you want to do with all that traffic is completely up to you.
On sites like this one, I place Google ads on them. Maybe I’ll write more about that in another article but if you click on it, I earn some money. But only do so if you’re really interested in what you see in the ad.
So there you go, the story about the website that had 5 visitors a day but I’m sure after reading this article, you’re on your way to running successful websites! So start one today!
August 29, 2008 at 10:46 am · Filed under Uncategorized
The mind tends to wonder when you’re running on a treadmill, and it’s not unusual for the issue of climate change, and ways to lower a carbon footprint, to pop into the head during these strange times. Of course, according to ‘Kick the Habit – Toward a Low Carbon Economy’, a report produced by the UN this year to coincide with their World Environment Day on the Fifth of June this year, we should actually be running around the park rather than on the treadmill; for the sake of the environment. For those who want to stick to the modest environment of the gym rather than the public theatre of the city park, but who also want to trim their carbon footprint along with their belly, a new gym in Portland, USA, might just set a trend that suits ethically and athletically. The gym, which opens this Monday, does not let all that energy exerted from sprinting and lifting and pushing and pulling go to waste, like it normally is, but actually redirects that energy back into the building’s appliances. The gym’s founder, Adam Boesel, is also offering his services as a consultant for ‘universities, real estate developers and gyms’ who want to follow in his footsteps. The gym, which takes, according to its website ‘a significant portion of its own electricity’ through sustainable energy created within its own four walls, also offers all the amenities that one would expect from a modern gym – from the vital equipment to the sweeteners- the treadmills and weights to the flat screen TVs and wireless internet. The Green Microgym is not the first building in the world to utilise the human energy that is expended during its designed purpose to power the building and reduce its carbon footprint. Club Suyra on Pentonville Road, London, bills itself as the first environmentally friendly nightclub. Here, revellers dance whilst warmed by the glow of solar powered plasma TVs and then cool down to beers that have also been chilled by solar power. All the appliances, the club proudly boast, are run on sustainable energy – and the music system is powered by a wind turbine. Just as the microgym lowers its carbon footprint by turning appliances that do not normally supply renewable energy into energy making machines, so too does Club Suyra use a hi-tech dance floor that turns the twirls and twists of the dancers into energy that is used to power the club. Through a system of crystals and ceramics this club in the heart of London produces enough sustainable energy to provide some to the surrounding residential area. There has never been a better reason to get a groove on, I suppose.
August 29, 2008 at 7:19 am · Filed under Uncategorized
This change has shifted the interface of web design services to a different level and the focus is now on redesigns.
Website redesigning is involves a slight distinction and considerations between mounting and developing new sites. Say for instance, those that have existing sites have more or less enough knowledge on what sites and site formulas work. They have already a grasp about what they consider as assets in their site’s form and function. Recognizing these assets can pretty well contribute to a more prosperous redesigned site.
Other businesses may take a few months to decide in favor of a redesign but mind you, planning a redesign can be as easy as 123! It’s unbelievable but it’s true. Here are the three basic redesign planning tips:
1. Problem Identification. As i have stated a while ago, more or less you have already formed an idea why your site is not doing that good in the World Wide Web. This is because of certain factors. These factors must be avoided in coming up with a redesign. Remember the maxim – learn form your mistakes. Well, this is basically the main idea behind problem identification. This is done to preclude similar mistakes that have transpired in the past. In recognizing these mistakes, the site will intentionally be improved. Aside from mistakes, we should also consider the good points of your existing web design. They can be re-applied or made stronger and better.
Thus, before you plan the details of a re-design, analyze first. Identify the problem areas as well as the good areas. You may ask some of these questions in order to get the desired web site:
a. Is your site functional? If it gives the needed information of the viewers or the target market and they get it quickly and clearly then, the site is said to be functional. It pays to have organization, this is because it will refrain the viewers from transferring from one site to another.
b. Does your site clearly point the ‘call for action’. If you are into selling products, your site must have triggered the viewer’s decision to buy the product. At a glance, they must be convinced and the cobwebs at the back of their heads must be rebutted or deleted.
c. Is your site an epitome of a professionally-made site? Are the appearance, layout, images and content appealing? If not, better have it redesigned in a way to make it catchy, informative and serviceable.
2. Layout the redesign plan. The next thing to do is to establish a workable layout for the redesign. Establish plans how to solve the mistakes in web design. Each issue must be identified to serve as guidelines. Also, problems and mistakes must be given due solutions.
3. Define your Goals. Aside from giving solutions to the mistakes and problems you have encountered in your existing web site, be sure to establish and define your goals to guide you with what to do in the redesign.
The aim or the overall purpose must be made clear and flagrant otherwise your redesign will just turn out to be a waste of time and money. Good luck!
Please visit Web Development Services Pros site at www.webdevelopmentpros.com for comments and inquiries regarding this article.
August 24, 2008 at 5:22 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
After living with complicated migraines with auras for all of my adult life, I’ve learned there are at least 5.2 dangerous migraine myths that can cost you dearly. Learning the truth behind these myths could save your life.
1. Everyone Knows that Migraines Are One Sided Headaches
This myth can delay your diagnosis by, oh, 20 or 30 years! Migraines can also include pain on both sides of the head, speech disturbances, blurred vision, pins and needles feelings or other odd sensation especially in the hands and lips; mood swings, crying jags, irritability, or sudden, overwhelming depression; stomach, neck or shoulder pain (instead of head pain); even yawning spells or weird smells (for me it was pencil shavings). In fact, a “migraine headache” might not include much if any head pain at all. It depends on what area of the brain has the blood flow disturbance.
2. Migraines Only Last a Couple of Hours
We wish! While a migraine itself may last only a few hours, the pain might last three days, and when you factor in the weird prodromal warning symptoms, the migraine auras, and the flat, post migraine recovery phase, a particularly nasty migraine can last as long as a typical hurricane.
3. No BiggieEverybody Gets Migraines Sometimes
I heard an interview once with Hollywood actors and Nashville singers bragging about how they had performed for so many thousands of people while suffering a “nasty” migraine. Excuse me? Let’s more accurately define “nasty” as it applies to real migraines: sounds hurt so much it feel like a pickaxe through the side of your skull; lights burn your eyes like dripping molten iron, and your head or neck feels like it’s being crushed in a vice by trolls. Now, you tell me if you believe someone with a nasty migraine could get up under those hot stage lights and perform live for 20,000 screaming fans? Almost everyone gets headaches, not everyone gets migraines!
4. With Today’s Drugs, No One Ever Needs to Have a Migraine
Pure fantasy! Sure there are natural preventives like coenzyme Q10, feverfew and magnesium that might help reduce migraines. There are also over the counter pain killers and prescription narcotics that may help. Fortunately, there are anti-emetics, triptans, ergots and serotonin receptor agonist drugs that can help stop a migraine. Recently, drug companies have introduced or rediscovered preventive drugs like beta blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants that can reduce the frequency or the chance-of-getting a migraine. Depending on the person, any of these treatments MIGHT work, but these treatments don’t always work, and for some people, they don’t work at all.
5. No One Ever Died From a Migraine Headache
Maybe not, but real people with real families have really killed themselves to stop their pain. Most doctors mean well, but sadly, because physician education about migraines is so shoddy, it can take years, or a lifetime, to get an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. Way too many people have been turned away from emergency rooms and doctor’s offices as attention seekers, drug seekers, drunks, malingerers or just plain crazy people when the real problem was a migraine. Lives ruined and lives lost are predictable costs of poor migraine diagnosis and care. The dollar cost of migraines in the United States has been estimated at $1-billion per year for medical costs, plus $15-billion in lost productivity. All in all, migraine is a costly business.
5.1 Migraines are Hard to Diagnose
Yeah, they are, but they don’t need to be. A proper understanding of the range of migraine symptoms will speed diagnosis; and a proper diagnosis is by far the most important step toward proper treatment. When you finally and accurately understand the problem, you are automatically on your way toward the correct solution! Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. If necessary, gently insist that he refer you to a neurologist or specialized headache clinic. A knowledgeable professional will understand there is more to migraine than a one sided headache.
5.2 Complicated Migraines are Impossible to Treat
While it is true that the tendency toward migraines is a chronic condition, it is also true that with proper a diagnosis and the right combination of treatments and lifestyle changes, there is an excellent chance most migraine sufferers can learn to tame the beast!
About the Author
Rodney Robbins suffers from migraines, probably associated with his Periodic Paralysis. Both disorders can be caused by malfunctions in the ion channels of the cell membranes. Robbins is also the author and cartoonist for “Rodney’s 52 Ways to Impress Your BossWITHOUT Sucking Up!” and the witchy young adult novel, “My Romantic Spell.” Here is Rodney’s best tip for preventing migraines: “Wear sunglasses and learn your triggers!” To learn more go to http://www.lulu.com/rodneyrobbins and check out his products and blog.
August 24, 2008 at 1:21 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
The TyTN has been a a real boost for HTC as it has been surprisingly popular with customers. HTC have done a good job on the styling of this handset. As a entry level mobile phone the TyTN is reasonably well featured compared to some other handsets within this price band.
Polyphonic (40 channels), MP3 ring-tones are enabled on the HTC TyTN plus a vibrating alert . If colour is something you are interested in you may like to know that the TyTN can be bought in, Silver and Black. We found the TyTN average. The TyTN weighs 176 g, which is reasonable for a mobile phone of its type. The HTC TyTN supports 2G GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and 3G HSDPA 850 / 1900 – US version . The TyTN is fitted with a 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video, flash; secondary QCIF video call camera. For those that need access to the Internet on the move a WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE), browser is included.To allow mobile Internet access a WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE), browser is included. A TFT touchscreen, 65K colors display is fitted to this mobile phone. A Standard battery, Li-Ion 1350 mAh, battery is that is fitted to the HTC TyTN. The battery cell life the TyTN is 5:00 talk time and 200 hrs reserve time. The HTC TyTN comes equipped with bluetooth, making compatibility with the majority of modern mobile accessories very simple. This handset is also equipped with:
Pocket Office(Word, Excel, Outlook)
Java MIDP 2.0
Voice memo
Built-in handsfree
Video call
Video/audio album
MP3/AAC player
This is now quite an old handset, but still does a great job. If you are offered one, going cheap in an end of line deal you can get yourself a great deal.
Because of the web it has never been easier or more cost effective to shop for a mobile phone. Buying online can save you a significant amount of money, believe it or not, it is possible to get a HTC TyTN with 12 months free line rental , which, if you read the terms and conditions will not cost you a penny.
August 21, 2008 at 2:35 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
These days it seems business is becoming more and more complex and globalized. We are doing business with people everywhere in the US and in many instances, people in other countries. Due to the wide use of the Internet, the words “foreign country” doesn’t even seem to apply anymore.
The Internet has brought us all closer together in one aspect, but how does that affect investor relations, sales pitches, meetings, and group sessions? A lot of people now work closer with their computers than they do with co-workers and because of the Internet, many companies have people working for them from different parts of the world who have never even met each other.
Never before has conference calling been a more popular solution to the communication needs of companies and individuals all over the world. Conference calls are becoming increasingly popular as a method of bringing people together for meetings and discussions.
In this article, I will do my best to explain the advantages of conference calling for your business communication needs. Whether you are talking about meetings with investors, conference calls with your employees, making your sales presentation to groups, or simply needing several people in on the same discussion, conference calling is the most useful tool there is.
Chat rooms and message boards just don’t cut it. Message boards are impersonal, not real-time, and tend to get filled with useless information that isn’t directly related to your topic. Chat rooms are just that, chatty. You type in messages in real-time so it is better than a message board, but it again lacks the personal touches and insights conference calling provides.
Voice inflection, as many of you know is a great way to tell how someone feels about what you are saying. Simple typed messages do not give you that same advantage. When we hear our counterparts speak, we can tell how enthusiastic, positive, negative, or apathetic they are about what you say.
Conference calling is relational, while message boards and chat rooms are merely informational. That is the great difference in those options. You don’t make sales through information alone. You make sales by creating relationships.
You don’t encourage or motivate your employees or partners through information alone, you do it by creating relationships. You don’t instill confidence to your investors through providing just information, you do it by letting them hear how enthusiastic and positive you are about your proposal.
Only conference calling can provide the relationship solution when working with people who are too far away to physically attend meetings.
A simple search on your favorite search engine or just following the links in the footer of this article can provide you with many options for your specific conference calling needs.
What are some of the things that separate good conference calling services and bad ones? That is the question I get asked the most when discussing this topic. Here are some of the features you should look for;
High sound quality; The last thing you want to do is try to hold an important meeting through static, interrupted service, and low quality sound. The sound quality of your conference calls is far more important than the price or other features. If they cannot hear you speak clearly and you cannot hear them clearly, what is the use of a conference call at all?
Operators: While an operator assisted call is not necessary, having someone from your conference call service provider greeting each person as they are connected is a valuable service. They can tell the participants what to expect better than your own staff can, since they are familiar with the conference call software and service. In addition to that, the operator can and should monitor the entire call to make sure the sound quality maintains a high level of clarity. They will know what to do to fix it if a problem arises.
Recordings and Copies: If your conference call provider has the ability to record and provide playback of your conference call sessions, then you will want to take advantage of that feature. Some conference call providers can even provide it to you on CD afterwards. This is enormously helpful for you to be able to review your conference call sessions later. It may also serve as a record of agreements made during the conference call session.
Price: Last, but certainly not least, you have to consider price. You may be able to choose a conference call provider that gives you all of the features I mentioned above and more, or you may be on a tight budget and have to settle for less service. Whichever conference call service you use, do not sacrifice sound quality for price. That is the one feature you cannot afford to do without, no matter what the cost.
I hope this article on conference calling has been helpful to you. It was my goal to share with you what features I consider the most helpful to me in my business meetings.
For more information about conference calling and conference calling services visit http://www.ccallinfo.com , a site dedicated to providing the best conference calling information as well as conference call pricing and company information.
August 19, 2008 at 11:35 am · Filed under Uncategorized
People can become unable to manage their own affairs at any stage of life. An accident, or the onset of mental illness, may make the everyday routines of buying and selling a house, paying bills, managing a budget and making financial decisions difficult and stressful, if not impossible. By completing an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) you can ensure that if this should ever happen, the person you choose to be your representative (your Attorney) will look after your affairs. Friends and family do not automatically have the right to take over. The EPA has been created to ensure that while you are of sound mind you can appoint someone you trust to look after your affairs.
What is an Enduring Power of Attorney?
An EPA is a legal document granting to a named person or people the authority to act on your behalf. Subject to certain important conditions and safeguards it continues in force until death, even if you become incapable of looking after yourself.
What happens if I don’t have an EPA?
Without an EPA the Court of Protection will appoint a Receiver to act on your behalf. This process takes time and is expensive. With an EPA in place there would be no Court of Protection charges or solicitor’s fees payable and no annual fees charged by the court. Minimal fees apply to register the EPA.
What safeguards are there?
When mental capacity is lost the EPA must be registered before the Attorney can legally act. You and your closest relatives will be informed allowing you to intervene with the registration should someone try to use the EPA illegally.
Am I in control of my affairs if I sign an EPA?
Yes. The EPA does not restrict your rights to go on looking after your own affairs for so long as you feel capable. The EPA simply means that there is someone to take over if, and when, you cannot cope.
An Enduring Power of Attorney can help you prepare for the future. Ask your financial planner about it today.
Find out more about EPAs and estate planning from Stephen Hall Associates
Sharon Hurley Hall is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor.To contact Sharon, visit http://www.doublehdesign.com/
August 19, 2008 at 7:53 am · Filed under Uncategorized
While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 9 percent. Different lenders charge different fees. See which lenders are charging fees 4 percent and for how much. Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 11 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.
Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.
See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. Although most mortgage experts say that rates 4 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 9 percentage. In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 9 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 3 percent. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering.
Translated in Dutch: Woon je in Vlagtwedde of Apeldoorn en heb je BKR verleden’ Lenen met een BKR registratie is nog nooit zo gemakkelijk geweest. Haal snel een nieuwe caravan met geldleningen met negatieve bkr vermeliding, 191476 euro is altijd mogelijk om te financieren. Van Renkum tot Stede Broec, financieren met een BKR notering is hier geen enkel probleem.
But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 6 percent offered by competitors will change.
Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.
Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 6 percent. Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others.
August 18, 2008 at 6:33 am · Filed under Uncategorized
As the holidays approach, it is time to start thinking of how you would like to decorate your home. As you will probably have numerous friends and family during the holiday season, the sooner you start to consider you Christmas décor the better. The Christmas décor you choose should not only make your house beautiful, but it should make it warm and inviting as well.
There are many things you can add around the home to make it more festive. For example, some women decide to replace their regular couch pillows with really lovely Christmas pillows. This will really brighten up your home. These pillows can be bought online or at local department stores. If you are handy with a needle and thread, you can also sew your own pillows. A good suggestion would be to buy a large Christmas or needlepoint pattern and finish it in time for the Christmas holidays, and then you can stuff it and use it as a Christmas pillow.
Another thing that can be added to your Christmas décor is to buy Christmas candles and place then around the house. This will look extremely nice! These Christmas candles usually come in a variety of scents such as ‘Apple and Cinnamon’ or ‘Holiday Spice’, and are sometimes accompanied by a wreath that will look lovely on anyone’s dining room table.
If you were interested in decorating for the Christmas holidays, you can also buy or sew Christmas stockings. These are a standard part of anyone’s Christmas decorating. If you have a fireplace, these festive stockings will look lovely hanging from there. They can be filled with little gifts or candy for Christmas day.
If you have a large living room or kitchen, you should also consider buying a Christmas themed throw rug for it. This can be placed under the coffee table or in front of the fireplace. As well, you can add a Christmas throw rug underneath the dining room table as well.
Another suggestion to help with your Christmas décor is to buy Christmas accessories for the bathroom. These can include festive bath, hand, and guest towels. As well there are many decorative soaps that can be bought. Many people also put up a Christmas themed shower curtain as well to get themselves into the holiday spirit.
But whatever of these Christmas decorating ideas you choose to follow, I hope it is a memorable Christmas holiday for you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lashan Clarke has been has been a freelance writer for a number of years. She specializes in copywriting and is currently working on her Master’s degree in her spare time. For more information, she can be reached at pgmd21 at gmail dot com or by visiting http://dcbusinessconsultants.blogspot.com
August 14, 2008 at 2:22 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I have to admit, there’s a certain mix of guilt and pleasure to be had with playing poker at work. I’m not talking about playing on the clock, so put down that phone and stop calling my boss. What I’m talking about is playing poker at a poker company to learn more about the game, the online poker software it’s built on, and maybe even get a little prize money on the side.
The guilt comes in right away; you’re playing a game on your work PC, after all, so that’s going to be unavoidable. But once you start to see all your coworkers sign on and sit down at the virtual table with you, well, that guilt starts to melt away pretty quickly. And then, if you start winning and that heart starts to pound a little in your chest, well, say good-bye to any lingering doubt or guilt.
Taking it step further, I like to update all my social network profiles to brag that I’m literally getting paid to play poker at work. It’s an eye-grabbing taunt that lets you show off a bit to your friends, and it also acts as an icebreaker for starting online discussions. Who could resist smack talking you back after a comment like that, for all to see?
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