Written on Thursday, June 12, 2008 by Jacob Sikais
Blogging is, in itself, a pretty fun way to get your information online, regularly and efficiently. It is also convenient in the sense that even beginners can jump into the fray without much training. You only have to look at the popularity of dozens of social networking sites such as MySpace and Friendster to realize that just about any Tom, Dick, and Jane can blog.
Good blogging services and good blogging tools facilitate this ease of use. If there were no content management tool for bloggers to use then blogging would be all but dead. The strength of blogging lies in the fact that it is easy to set up and use. Plus, it organizes itself and is easy to customize. If there were no blogging tools to facilitate this, then blogging would truly be a chore.
Thankfully, there are literally hundreds of blogging software packages and tools –both proprietary and open source. These tools all work on different levels and address different needs. While there isn’t much space to write about all the available tools for blogging, here is a listing of some of the handier blogging tools around.
1. Autoblogger Pro. If you are trying to saturate your site with rich keywords from some of your favorite blog sites and incorporate these feeds into your blog, then Autoblogger Pro is your tool. Autoblogger Pro uses blog text culled from RSS/Atom feed sites you so specify. This content is then made readily available on your site or on your web log.
This is a great tool to uses if you are trying to get your blog’s search engine ranking higher. It also helps provide your blog with more information.
2. B2evolution. B2evolution is a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) compatible software package that helps you host your own blog server. It supports multi-lingual and multi-blog environments that are easy to install, yet are rich and fully featured to boot. The great thing about this software is that it is free and feature rich. It is also easy to modify and extend to increase functionality to the hilt. It also installs easily and can be good to go in a few minutes.
3. BlogAmp. BlogAmp allows blog masters to set up a blog audio player in just about any environment. All the client needs to have is a web browser. They do not need to have pre-installed media players to have the audio play. The player is also easy no place within a blog page and can be positioned in a pop-up window instead. All that you will need afterwards is a secure media server to host the audio files you need broadcast.
4. BlogChat. This handy tool made with PHP and MySQL allows your blog site to host a chat box you can position within the page. The central server for this chat box will be with the originators of the utility. They offer this service for free anyway. However, there are paid services that offer greater functionality and more features. The free version will need manual maintenance but is a good choice anyway.
5. Chronicle Lite. Chronicle Lite is the perfect companion to every Blogger user. This utility serves as an interface or a file and blog manager that lies between your blog and your personal computer. With Chronicle Lite, you can publish documents on your personal computer, and easily manage your posts and your files in regards to your blog.
6. Movable Type. This is the engine that has made Typepad famous. Movable Type is a package that can be installed on most blog servers. It allows for a powerful and intuitive word processing interface especially for blogs. This strips away the technicality from the production of blogs and helps your focus instead on the design of your blogs.
7. Particle Blogger. Another blogging script that installs on pretty much any PHP, MySQL server. It gives you a blog server and the related interface that allows you to host your own blog site painlessly and effectively. It is fully featured and easy to install.
8. The Posting Station. The Posting Station is another blog server script that allows for text, and rich multimedia blogging. It is easy to install and has an excellent interface that makes it a favorite among many bloggers.
Posted in
blog advantages,
blogging,
blogging software,
blogging tools,
online traffic
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Written on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by Jacob Sikais
Becoming a leader is a privilege that not every person can be given. A person that is awarded this distinction should make sure that he is maximizing his abilities to achieve the expectations of his peers, whether it be in school, community or work. However, there is no such thing as a perfect leader and no guide to become one. A leader makes mistakes but works towards minimizing its impact to those below him. A good leader makes sure that mistakes are minimized and results are prioritized.
It is almost impossible for a leader to make the right decisions but being consistent in making the favorable choice is better. Let’s be realistic, leaders aren't fortunetellers and they can't always predict the results of their actions. Leaders should accept the results of their decisions and be liable. Once requested to come up with a decision, a leader should be confident and sure about his actions for him to garner the respect of his subordinates, who should have confidence in the moves of their superior.
Having a strong mind is key for those that want to develop their leadership skills. Leaders are commonly tasked to come up with crucial decisions, which always has a significant effect on the future of a group or company. Being strong means not being afraid to make mistakes but also being smart in making the pros more prominent that the consequences.
However, groups should be wary if their leader has a weak personality. This trait is considered a major hindrance to a group or company’s progress. The leaders that have a weak personality will scheme to influence their superiors to make decisions that will serve their interests. A group with weak leadership will struggle to achieve its goals, as its members won't be united and always pursue what is best for them and not for all.
Another key trait that makes a good leader is not being afraid in expressing opinions. A good leader always has something to say on important matters. He works diligently to pool the ideas of others to come up with a solution that is beneficial for all. Having an opinion means that you are thinking about what steps should be taken in order to achieve progress. Different people have different ideas and the leader should be patient in understanding the desires of his subordinates and make sure that his decision is right. In addition, a true leader is sensitive and will always work for what’s best and uphold the rights of his people.
Posted in
leader,
leadership,
network marketing,
online prophets,
teamwork
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Written on Monday, June 09, 2008 by Jacob Sikais
Are you a self-proclaimed master of bad habits? Haven’t you been able to control them? Are you searching for effective ways to stop these habits, but desperately fall short? Well, if this sounds like you remember that the only thing you are fighting against is yourself.
Learn how to control your urges. To get rid of the bad habits all you have to do is convince yourself that you are ready to do so. You see bad habits aren’t just mere imaginations. No one wants to bite their cheeks and nails, pick their nose, smoke, pull their hair or swear.
I guess now you are wondering how you will be able to convince yourself that you are ready to let go of those nasty habits you’ve been running from for so long. First, look at yourself in the mirror. Ask yourself why you are fond of biting your nails or your cheeks. Maybe you started these bad habits out of depression.
After analyzing your situation try to give yourself some distractions. If you are having trouble with nail biting one way of escaping it is through learning how to play a musical instrument, especially the guitar. If you are bothered by the way you pull your hair you can instead try to braid your hair. Doing so will somehow decrease your urges since your hands are busy.
Some people control these vicious habits through impairment. Impairment here means doing something, painless, in order to stop the habit. In nail biting an impairment method is the popular application of nail polish. This may also be useful in nose picking. The odor and texture of the nail polish will definitely stop you from biting your nails and picking your nose.
However, in smoking the effective method is replacement. The replacement method goes this way, instead of your addiction you will use alternatives to satisfy yourself and stop yourself from committing the bad habits you have. In smoking a good replacement is drinking tea or eating candies. Whenever you feel like lighting up; stop for a while, breathe deeply, and buy some candies instead.
The trick to achieving your goals to quit your old habits is determination. You can’t convince yourself to stop those annoying habits if you aren’t trying. Efforts will only be wasted and you’ll live as the annoying person everybody will have to put up with for the rest of their lives.
Posted in
annoying habits,
bad habits,
effective habits,
effective people,
habits
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Written on Sunday, June 08, 2008 by Jacob Sikais
Perhaps you have heard of it, or perhaps you are already an avid follower. Podcasting is one of newest buzzwords that has been catching the attention of hoards of people all over the world. But not everyone exactly know what it is. At a first glance, or at a first hearing, term podcast could evoke of images of the now legendary iPod, which has taken the world of audiophiles by storm. Now add the image of that great gadget to broadcasting and you would see a whole new world of possibilities that offers a new medium of distributing information. For those who have little idea of what podcasting is, here is a short overview as to what it is, and why it is good to engage in it.
What is Podcasting
As hinted earlier, the term podcasting is a fusion of the iPod and broadcasting. Well this is actually a misnomer because one does not really need an iPod to do podcasting, and the process does not really involve announcing on air. Nevertheless, the term is still quite the popular one used to refer to the process of disseminating multimedia files, may it be a music video or an audio program, via the internet through either an Atom syndication or an RSS format, to be played on personal computers or portable media-playing devices. Like on TV or radio, podcasts usually features shows that have episodes that people release either regularly or intermittently.
How did Podcasting come about?
The idea of podcasting first emerged in the year 2000, and a year after, the technical requirements for podcasting were already available. However, it was only by the year 2003 that the method caught on the popular websites. It was also around this time when Adam Curry, a media entrepreneur who was once an MTV VJ, popularized the term. By 2004, podcasting experienced an exponential growth, extending to the general public and encompassing a wider-than-ever area of interests. Now, podcast is seen to be the new media of reaching people and distributing information to them.
How does Podcasting work?
The method of podcasting is actually very simple. First, a podcaster (i.e. a podcast publisher) would create an audio content, usually in mp3 or mp4 format, and then have it uploaded to a server. The podcast is then published as a news feed in either RSS, XML or Atom format. The audience may then subscribe to a particular podcast they like using a news-feed aggregator, which in turn updates them whenever new episodes are released. The subscribers may then listen to or watch the podcast at their own convenience.
What’s good about it and why should it be used?
A lot of people see great potential in podcasting. First of all, it is fun to do. Many find podcasting as a new way of being creative. Being a new medium, that uses different types of media, people can now use various ways of disseminating information. No longer are people limited to typed text, they can now use their voice, their face, animation, or just about anything to tell people something. Now, instead of just writing about facts, you can now tell people things they want to know in ways that would keep them engrossed. It is a great means of self expression.
The format in which podcasts are delivered also helps people increase their audience, and at the same time serve them. News feeds are becoming increasingly popular every day, and many people are now being able to get information about the things they are interested in. Likewise, podcasters can now reach the particular type of audience that they are targeting. This creates a more continual relationship between publishers and their audiences, helping each other flourish in their craft.
Podcasting also empowers the podcaster. Usually, someone who has to say something would need to find something or somebody else to help distribute the information. But now, with podcasting, you become your own media. If you want to inform people, you just say what you have to say, and bring your news directly to them.
Podcasting also has great potential in making money through media. If you have something interesting to say that people are willing to pay just to hear about it, then you could sell the content of your podcasts. If you have services or products to sell, you can use podcasts to show people why they would want to avail of your services or buy your products. You can also use podcasts as a means of selling “space” for advertisers to pitch in their commercials. With this new type of media, there are numerous possibilities for gaining profits.
Podcasting may still be in its infancy, but who knows for sure how big it may grow. Right now what people can say is that it is indeed growing faster than they have imagined. Podcasting could be the medium of the future, and taking advantage of its development could be one of the best decisions you would make.
Posted in
making money online,
online income,
online prophets,
podcast,
podcasting
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Written on Saturday, June 07, 2008 by Jacob Sikais
Why work for someone else and commute to an office daily when you can establish you very own business right in the comforts of your home? This would mean flexible hours for working, lesser expense on traveling to and from work and no boss to nag you everyday.
Imagine person “A” working as a sales employee of Company XYZ. Person “A” works up to the wee hours of the morning just so he can sell advertisement space worth at least a million for the smallest size. When the sale goes through, he gets $20 worth of commission. Person “A” here enriches Company XYZ through his efforts but he only gets his base pay plus the $20 commission---all that for the millions of pesos he brings in to Company XYZ’s coffers.
If Person “A” devises a way to establish a home based business similar to what he is doing now for Company XYZ, getting his old clients and building up their list, then perhaps he will have more to take home each month than if he remains working for Company XYZ.
If you are still unsure about your business prospects but are raring to start a home based business, you can do it on a part time basis. This means you will start your home based venture but still hold your eight to five job for financial security until such time you are confident enough about your venture.
While a home based business will not necessarily make you a millionaire, although there is nothing wrong if it happens, it has numerous benefits like flexible work hours, no boss to nag you every day, savings on fuel and time wasted going to and from the office and most of all, you get an income that will depend on your creativity, ingenuity and industriousness.
The trend now is a home based business using the internet. There are people who become successful in their internet home business but there other home based business depending on your hobbies, skills, interests and experience.
It is easy to say that you will be starting a home based business but deciding on the kind of home based business you will have is the difficult part. First, you have to be realistic and take stock of what you have available in terms of skills, interests and experiences. If you are already into a hobby that can be turned into a business venture then the better since it will mean lesser capital and effort since you already have the expertise. Go into a home based business that you enjoy doing.
There are lots of hobbies that can be turned into a home based business like baking, gardening, cross stitching, events organizing and catering. If you are a licensed professional then you can offer your services as a lawyer, doctor or designer. If you are not into retailing or selling, perhaps you can try training. There are other areas of interest which you can turn into a home based business.
Posted in
home based business,
home business,
internet marketing,
making money online
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Written on Thursday, June 05, 2008 by Jacob Sikais
Regardless of what you're trying to sell, you really can't sell it without "talking" with your prospective buyer. An in attempting to sell anything on the Internet, the sales letter you send out is when and how you talk to your prospect.
All winning sales letters "talk" to the prospect by creating an image in the mind of the reader. They set "the scene" by appealing to a desire or need; and then they flow smoothly into the "visionary" part of the sales pitch by describing in detail how "wonderful" life will be and, how "good" the prospect is going to feel after he's purchased your product. This is the "body or guts" of a sales letter.
Overall, a winning sales letter follows a time-tested and proven formula:
1) Get your attention
2) Get you interested
3) Make you desire the benefits of the product so badly your mouth begins to water
4) Demand action from you - tell you to click the right button or send for whatever it is you're selling without delay - any procrastination on your part might cause you to lose out.
This is called the "AIDA" formula (Attention, Interest, Desire and Action) - it works.
On your website, your sales page should be the length of what it would be if were doing a mailing, or longer if you're using bullets to emphasize benefits to build the desire. Of course on the Internet you don't have to worry about letterhead stationery or the cost of postage, which is a considerable savings. If, however, you want to also do a mailing campaign then the following would apply.
The sales letters in mailings that pull in the most sales are almost always two pages with 1 1/2 spaces between lines. For really big ticket items, they'll run at least four pages. - on an 11 by 17 sheet of paper folded in half. If your sales letter is only two pages in length, there's nothing wrong with running it on the front and back of one sheet of 8 1/2 by 11 paper. However, your sales letter should always be on letterhead paper - your letterhead printed, and including your logo and business motto if you have one.
Regardless of the length of your sales letter, it should do one thing, and that's sell, and sell hard! If you intend to close the sale, you've got to do it with your sales letter. You should never be "wishy-washy" with your sales letter. You do the actual selling and the closing of that sale with your sales letter - any brochure or circular you send along with in your mailing will just reinforce what you say in the sales letter.
There's been a great deal of discussion in the past few years regarding just how long a sales letter should be. A lot of people are asking: Will people really take the time to read a long sales letter? The answer is a simple and time-tested yes indeed! Surveys and tests over the years emphatically prove that "longer sales letters" pull even better than the shorter ones, so don't worry about the length of your sales letter - just make sure that it sells your product for you!
The "inside secret" is to make your sales letter so interesting, and "visionary" with the benefits you're offering to the reader, that he can't resist reading it all the way through. You break up the "work" of reading by using short, punchy sentences, underlining important points you're trying to make, with the use of subheadlines, indentations and even the use of a second color, and leaving lots of white space around it.
On your website, the sales letter should run down the middle of the page so the viewer doesn't have to keep adjusting the screen to see the whole sentence. This is very distracting and more apt to send that client to another website than losing patience reading a long letter.
Relative to the brochures and circulars you may want to include in your mailing with your sales letter - providing the materials you're enclosing are of the best quality, they will generally reinforce the sale for you. But, if they are of poor quality, look cheap and don't compliment your sales letter, then you shouldn't be using them. Another thing, it will definitely classify you as an independent home worker if you hand-stamp your name/address on these brochures or advertising circulars instead of having them printed.
Whenever possible, and so long as you have really good brochures to send out, have your printer run them through his press and print your name/address - even your telephone number and company logo - on them before you send them out. The thing is, you want your prospect to think of you as his supplier - the company - and not as just another independent entrepreneur. Sure, you can get by with less expense but you'll end up with fewer orders and in the end, less profits.
Another thing that's been bandied about and discussed from every direction for years is whether to use a post office box number or your street address. Personally, I don't like Post Office Boxes in a business address - because it transmits an aura of instability or temporary location. If your business is run from home, get a mail box from a post box vendor that has a street address.
When doing it strictly for your website, put your street address, telephone number, and email address at the bottom of the page. More than likely, the customer will contact you by email, but it conveys dependability if that Internet buyer sees that you're willing to give your address. This kind of open display of your honesty will give you credibility and dispel the thought of you being just another "fly-by-night" mail order company in the mind of your prospect.
Above all else, you've got to include some sort of ordering page or coupon if you're mailing. The coupon has to be as simple and as easy for the prospect to fill out and return to you as you can possible make it. The order page on your website should already be filled out, with perhaps just the shipping left to choice. If your product is an eBook or software to be instantly downloaded, then you don't have any options to be chosen. A great many sales are lost because this order coupon is just too complicated for the would-be buyer to follow. Don't get fancy! Keep it simple, and you'll find your prospects responding with glee.
Should you or shouldn't you include in your mailing a self-addressed reply envelope? There are a lot of variables, as well as, pros and cons to this question. Overall, when you send out a "winning" sales letter to a good mailing list, a return reply envelope will increase your response tremendously.
Tests of late seem to indicate that it isn't that big a deal or difference in responses relative to whether you do or don't pre-stamp the return reply envelope. Again, the decision here will rest primarily on the product you're selling and the mailing list you're using. Our recommendation is that you experiment - try it both ways - with subsequent mailings and decide for yourself from there.
Posted in
direct mail,
home based business,
internet marketing,
sales letter,
sales letters
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Written on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 by Jacob Sikais
Writing articles to market a product or service is an excellent way to build business. The articles should be very informative, providing the reader with information that is relevant to a specific topic. The article usually includes a link to a webpage for more information. The webpage, of course, is designed to sell a product or service that relates to the topic of the article.
These articles are commonly submitted to article banks, websites, and ezine publishers. This is one of the most effective ways to market a service or product on the Internet, and it can become even more effective when it is combined with the use of an autoresponder.
Begin by setting each of your articles up in your autoresponder. It is important that each article have its very own autoresponder address, so you will need an autoresponder service that will allow you to do this. Next, make a master list of your articles, with the autoresponder address for each article listed beside the title. You can even add descriptions of the articles on your master list if you want to.
Advertising your articles one at a time can take a great deal of time…but advertising one autoresponder address – the one for the master list – won’t take very much time at all. Simply put it in your newsletter and on your website. You can even allow other ezine publishers to use this is a free resource for their subscribers!
Posted in
article marketing,
autoresponders,
internet income,
internet marketing,
internet traffic
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