ARTICLE ARCHIVE

OLD SCHOOL MEETS NEW SCHOOL — INTERESTING ART FOR THE COMPUTER AGE

July 17th, 2011

The field of computer graphics is an interesting and, in many ways, amazing addition to how art is created. The combination of powerful personal computers and powerful graphics software packages such as Adobe Photoshop has resulted in all sorts of compelling, sophisticated images being created to appear on websites. There is one downside to this, however. Graphics have lost their charm.

High tech, low cost digital audio components, combined with powerful digital audio software, has resulted in techno and dance music that many people love. But many people miss the simple, imperfect, human component of "old school" music. The same is certainly true with graphics that appear on the monitor of a computer. Fortunately, for those of us who still appreciate a little humanity in artwork, all is not lost. There are artistic people around who are computer literate, but still want to create visual art that retains a human quality. One source for such art work is Out Of Hand Doodle at www.outofhanddoodle.com.

The artist behind the Out Of Hand Doodle site (who simply goes by the name of Mem) produces quirky, "doodle-like" line art that's very interesting and very captivating. The source of many (but not all) of the images is nature. Fall foliage, a mountain view, a rolling river — these are the sources of inspiration for several of the graphics that are available at this website.

While the graphics are interesting and enjoyable to view, there's also a practical side to them. You can download a graphic that's formatted to be printed as a greeting card (print it out, then write your own message on the card and fold it up and mail it). There's a graphic that can serve as the background for a calling card (business card). There's also a graphic that can be used as a post card. Graphics can be printed and used for just about any purpose, including custom wrapping paper for a small gift or even framed for a nice little picture suitable for display.

While the look of the graphics is intentionally not high tech, there are plenty of offerings at the site that can be used in a technical setting. The site owner has formatted some of the graphics as screen savers and slideshows.

All of the graphics at the Out Of Hand Doodle site are very inexpensive - or free! Obviously this artist considers his work a labor of love. If you're looking for line drawing graphics that are a little out of the ordinary, and you don't think "quirky" is a negative word, you'll find it well worth a little time visiting www.outofhanddoodle.com.

SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES: WHO IS READING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

June 19th, 2011

It is estimated that each day, a fairly large number of individuals make the decision to join a social networking website. Social websites are websites that allow internet users to easily connect with other internet users, often from all around the world. While social websites are a great way to make online friends or start an online relationship, there are many internet users who are misinformed when it comes to social networking websites. That misinformation is largely centered on who can see their personal information.

Since a social website is often compared to a community, you would assume that only other community members would be able to read your personal information, right? In the real world, an unknown individual cannot just decide that they want to move into your neighborhood and live in your front yard, spying on your every move, so why should it happen online? If that is your way of thinking, you are wrong, in most cases. Unfortunately, many internet users are largely unaware of the fact that just about anyone can view their social networking profiles, including non-community members.

As previously mentioned, there are a large number of social networking websites that allow anyone one with internet access to view the profiles or profile pages of their members. In fact, the number is higher than you may have ever imagined. At the current time, just a few popular of the social networking websites that allow any internet user to view your profile include Yahoo! 360, FriendFinder, FriendWise, and MySpace. With a simple click of the mouse, information that you thought was private is no longer. That is why it is important that you examine what is actually posted in your profile or on your personal profile page before publishing it.

Although being cautious may take away from the fun of joining a social networking program, you are advised to be cautious. This cautiousness may help keep you safe. When building your social networking profile or profile page, especially on a website that anyone can view, you are advised to carefully select the pictures that you post. If you post a personal picture of your self, you are advised against posting your full name and, especially, your address. With a picture, your full name, and your address, an internet user with devious thoughts could spell trouble.

If you are one of the many social network users who wants to display your information, you are encouraged to learn more about private profile settings. Private profile settings will limit the number of individuals who can view your website. Although your profile's private setting may prevent other network members from seeing your profile, it will also prevent anyone else from seeing it. The only catch with doing this is that since other community members cannot see your profile, you will have to be the one to contact with any new friends that you would like to invite to your network.

In addition to joining a social website that allows you to set your profile as private, you can join a network that automatically has profiles set as private. These social networking websites include, but are not limited to, Orkut and Facebook. With Orkut and Facebook, your profile will only be seen by other members. In fact, Facebook also limits the members that can see your profile. This is done to help ensure your safety online. However, as with all other social networking websites, it is fairly easy for you to make online connections and friends, but, in away, these private profile networking sites are a safer way to make those connections.

Now that you know exactly how social networking websites work and who can gain access to your personal information, you should know what you should and should not put in your profile or on your profile page. Although you are not required to change your information, you should at least think about it. As the old saying goes, you never know who is watching you.

MAKING MONEY ONLINE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

June 5th, 2011

The down economy has affected everyone — business and consumer alike. If you're out of work, or your hours or pay have been cut, you've probably been on the lookout for a way to bring in some extra money. One of the best ways to do that is to start your own online business.

The problem with starting up a new business is that it typically requires a sizeable start up cost. Not so for an online business. Especially an online business that's centered on selling downloadable files. Unlike other businesses, one that sells digital content doesn't require any investment in inventory — what you're selling are electronic files.

The trick to starting your file-selling online business is to find a web host that specializes in sites that sell downloadable files, and is inexpensive. MadBeeTech at www.MadBeeTech.com is exactly such a web hosting service. With MadBeeTech, getting a complete online business — one that includes hosting your own dot com, a site builder for "point-and-click" site creation, a shopping cart, and fully automated handling of selling digital downloads — costs just $4 per month.

And just what files to sell online? The possibilities are near endless. If you're good at writing, then you could put together a nice little manual or eBook on a topic you know well: cooking, photography, sewing, drawing, woodworking, exercising, etc. If you're a musician you could upload some of your mp3 files. If sewing or embroidary is your hobby, you could sell your own patterns in the form of graphic files. When trying to figure out just what kind of digital content you can sell from your new site, simply focus on your hobbies, passions, or career. You're bound to come up with an idea that at least some of the millions of Internet users will be interested in paying a few dollars for!

HOW TO GET GOOGLE TO TAKE NOTICE OF YOUR WEBSITE

May 28th, 2011

There's no denying that by far the most common way people reach a website is by finding it listed in a search engine. If a person does a Google search, and your site isn't positioned near the top of the search results, that person will not be visiting your site. It's really that simple.

To increase your site's visibility in search listings, you need Google, Bing, and Yahoo to notice your site. To achieve this goal requires SEO, or Search Engine Optimization.

When a person visits Google's site and enters a search phrase, what makes Google determine the order in which to list matching sites? What makes Google choose one site over another? The main factor in giving one site priority over another site is the number of quality backlinks a site has. A backlink is simply a link on a site other than your own, with that link directing back to your site. Your site is considered to have one backlink when a different site includes a link to your site.

Google views favorably a site that has many backlinks. This is because Google assumes that a site needs a reason to provide a link to another site. That reason is usually because the site holding the backlink likes the site it's linking back to.

Google doesn't view all backlinks as equal. If two sites both include a link back to your site, Google favors the site that it views as more important. So not only do you want to get backlinks in general, specifically you want to get backlinks on sites that Google views as "worthy." Getting quality backlinks is the key to SEO. To inexpensively move your site up in search engine results, you'll want to visit MadBeeTech SEO at seo.madbeetech.com. MadBeeTech SEO has several SEO packages, all reasonably priced, to help you achieve that goal.

HOW TO HIRE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

May 22nd, 2011

Any company that cares for its personnel and recognizes their value as the moving force behind its business' success, especially during hard times, will definitely invite a motivational speaker to boost their pride and knowledge.

By planning a seminar for your employees, you are surely working towards improving your company's productivity, sales, and image. In past years, a company's worth was thought to be on the equipment it possessed. Today, people are a company's insurance for success so, instead of upgrading equipment, the leadership team should be working on upgrading its staff's performance and quality of life.

Yes, motivational talks not only improve performance, skills, and motivation, but they also improve the way in which the individual perceives his life and the world around him. Through these talks, you are demonstrating that you care about the person behind the job title. Employees feel valued, and in turn, it makes them value your company much more. This is why it is important not only that you hire a motivational speaker but that you hire the right one.

But, how exactly do you hire the right speaker to benefit you as much as your staff? Here is how:

1.Research locally

Due to budget, and even more so if you are making this a regular practice, you should research local motivational speakers, because they mean savings in travel, lodging, and professional fees. However, NEVER sacrifice quality to practicality.

2.Look for referrals

Good motivational speakers are widely known in certain industries. Make sure you ask your colleagues and acquaintances for referrals, and go into several motivational speakers' websites to read the testimonials. The best way to find the best is by listening what others have to say about him.

3.Do not judge by the website

Remember that websites are a source of information that reach many people, thus, they tend to be 'general'. Most motivational speakers tailor their presentations to fit a company's specific needs and are open to new ideas and proposals, so it is imperative that you talk to them personally in order to know exactly what they can do for you, your staff, and your company.

4.Ask what other things they offer

Some motivational speakers who also happen to be authors may offer their books at a special price or as part of the deal. They may also add one or two free coaching sessions after the event.

5.Ask if they can provide a breakout session for a lower cost

Since the speaker is already on site, sometimes you can talk him into delivering a short breakout session for a different group in the company after the main event, for a much lower cost. The speaker's main goal is to satisfy his clients and give added value, thus, flexibility is the norm.

6.Ask for permission to record the event

In this way you can make it available for new employees and use it, when pertinent, in future events or for specific training sessions. You can even invite some clients over and show them the material so that they can experience your staff training vision and mission, reinforcing your image and professionalism.

7.Maybe you can pay the speaker with your product or service

You may not be able to negotiate the whole fee, but perhaps part of it. If you work or own a hotel, restaurant, or spa, the speaker may want to exchange some of your services for his.

Thinking about your staff's wellbeing and professional growth is a priority if you want to succeed in today's business world. No more are business and life two separate things. Nowadays, one complements the other and are intrinsic to mutual success. Consider this the next time you are thinking about ways to boost your people's inspiration, and let the motivational speaker do his job.

ACE-AXIA HELPS AXIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FIND THE HOMEWORK HELP THEY NEED

April 19th, 2011

Most people think that in order to advance in life, a college degree is necessary. Young adults right out of high school can find a way to transition to college. Unfortunately, many people who are older than that are just too busy to attend a typical university. For people who are working, or raising a family, an online university may be the route to success.

By far the most popular online college is Axia University. Axia is the online branch of the Phoenix University system (Phoenix University has many traditional “brick and mortar” university campuses throughout the country). Some students who are taking online courses find that between their busy personal life and a lack of being able to meet face-to-face with professors or other students, finishing course assignments can become very challenging. For those students, Ace-Axia comes to the rescue.

Ace-Axia is an online resource that has over one thousand course papers for, and only for, Axia courses. If you’re a student stuck on an assignment, and time is running out, you can visit Ace-Axia and download an Axia course paper or tutorial for the very assignment you’re working on. You won’t want to submit this paper as your own, but instead you’ll use it as a learning aid to see how to structure your own paper. That makes it a great tool to “jump start” your own paper if you’re stuck.

Ace-Axia sells individual assignments for just $2 each. Best of all, they offer course bundles for just $10. A course bundle consists of all of the papers for one Axia course. That’s typically a dozen, and sometimes many more, papers grouped together in a single download for just ten bucks.

ONLINE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT: ENDING NEGATIVE SEARCH RESULTS ABOUT YOU OR YOUR BUSINESS

March 19th, 2011

Google and other search engines have made finding information about anything an extremely simple task. However, as the saying goes, the knife cuts both ways. Google can provide you with just about any helpful information, but it can also provide others with harmful information about you. Or about a business you own or work for.

Just as many companies do background checks on potential employees, now many companies do an Internet search on a potential employee’s name. Should the employer happen to encounter negative information about a person after a job information, that person may very well not get the job. Negative search results can embarrass a person or even result in that person getting harassed by people that see the information. Negative search results on a business name might be a loss of sales for that company.

Once negative information about a person is on the Internet, it’s just about impossible to remove it. Unless you yourself put up the information, or unless you have access to the server the site is on, you can’t remove the information. You can attempt to contact the site owner and request that the information be removed, but it’s unlikely that the site owner will comply – a site owner isn’t going to want to monitor all the content added to a site and get involved in attempting to determine what information is true or false, fair or unfair. To restore your good name, you’ll need to perform some online reputation management.

While you can’t remove negative information, you can do the next best thing – drive that information down in search results. That is, move the information out of the first few positions, or first page or two, of a Google search. Unfortunately that’s not an easy task to accomplish. To move one page down, you need to move other pages up to take its place. This is accomplished through a variety of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques that are best left to the pros – a business that deals in SEO. Fix Your Search Results at www.fixyoursearchresults.com is the inexpensive answer to improving your Google search results on your name or your business name. Some online reputation management businesses charge $1000 or more to perform this task. Fix Your Search Results does it for less than a couple of hundred dollars. If you’re experiencing negative search results, you’ll want to visit www.fixyoursearchresults.com to get started on restoring your online reputation.

THE FUNCTION OF PURCHASING A BUSINESS CONTACT DATABASE

January 11th, 2011

No matter what industry your business may be in, acquiring a business contact database can help your organization in its road towards success. This article will discuss why.

Today's industries would include fashion, information technology, medicine, and finance to name a few. No matter what the industry your organization is currently residing, your main concern should be on how to get more customers in order to boost productivity rating for your firm.

One way to boost overall sales is to affiliate with other companies. This is a wise decision to make but what is not wise is to randomly pick out a business with hopes of gaining a business partnership with them. First of all, you should be able to know which company would be the best one to affiliate with to maximize benefits.

A good way to get to know which company would be the best to affiliate with is to purchase a business contact database. Basically speaking, a business contact database is a list of leads and prospect clients that would most likely partner up with your business. The contact information that are listed would contain the names of the decision makers of the company, their job designation, the name of the company and its address, total number of employees, its annual income, as well as the nature of the business.

Purchasing a business contact database can always keep you ahead of today's competition with other companies. How is this possible? The answer is, by acquiring a contact database would allow lead generation processes to quickly be initiated therefore allowing you to gain the trust of your valued prospects faster as well as easier.

Once you are able to acquire a business contact database, you might also notice that you are saving up on a lot of money on valuable resources. You would no longer have to spend more on utilities to maintain your team of lead generation experts. Extra training costs would also be lessened as you have practically outsourced your services on building this list.

This all sounds very good but don't get too excited. Choosing the right kind of database for your industry is also very important. For example, if your business is the medical industry then the chances of successfully partnering up with a company that is in food service would be very slim. In business, you must always think about who would be the best people that can help your business grow; therefore picking the database with a list of companies that would have the highest chances of having an affiliation with is of the utmost importance.

Another thing to watch out for within your business contact database are those companies that would seem to have a larger brand name than yours. Do not look at them as a major threat but rather welcome them as a major business partner. This would ensure your business' possibility of success to skyrocket.

With business organizations popping up left and right, you can either look at it in two different ways: you can look at it as an opportunity as there are more businesses you can affiliate with or look at it as a threat as there would be more companies to compete with. Either way, acquiring an updated database would help you keep ahead of the game when it comes to being the number one business in your industry.

This database plays a very important role in the growth of any business corporation. There are many benefits that would come along when you procure such a database as well as gain sufficient advertising for your company's products and services.