If you've been using MySQL database to store your important data, it is imperative that you make a backup of your data to prevent any loss of data. This article shows you how to backup and restore data in your MySQL database. This process can also be used if you have to move your data to a new server.
Backing up your database
The quickest and easiest way to backup and restore your database would be to use MySQLDump. If you've got shell or telnet access to your server, you can backup MySQL data by issuing the mysqldump command. The syntax for the command is as follows.
mysqldump -u [uname] -p [pass] [dbname] > [backupfile.sql] [uname] - this is your database username [pass]- this is the password for your database [dbname] - the name of your database [backupfile.sql] - the filename for your database backup
To backup your database 'Customers' with the username 'sadmin' and password 'pass21' to a file custback.sql, you would issue the command
mysqldump -u sadmin -p pass21 Customers > custback.sql
Issuing this command will backup the database to custback.sql. This file can be copied to a safe location or a backup media and stored. For more information on MySQLDump, you can check out : http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/mysqldump.html
Restoring your database
If you have to re-build your database from scratch, you can easily restore the mysqldump file by issuing the following command. This method will not work if the tables already exist in your database.
mysql - u sadmin -p pass21 Customers < custback.sql
If you need to restore existing databases, you'll need to use MySQLImport. The syntax for mysqlimport is
mysqlimport [options] database textfile1
To restore your previously created custback.sql dump back to your Customers Database, you'd issue
mysqlimport -u sadmin -p pass21 Customers custback.sql
For more information on MySQLImport, you can check out : http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/mysqlimport.html
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Web Blogs, Defined, Explained and Understood
What are Blogs?
Having heard the term previously but not having paid much attention most are just to afraid to show their ignorance and ask the question, what is a blog? Lets face it; the term blog does not conjure pleasant images.
Blogs are web logs that are updated regularly, usually on a daily basis. They contain information related to a specific topic. In some cases blogs are used as daily diaries about people's personal lives, political views, or even as social commentaries. The truth of the matter is that blogs can be shaped into whatever you, the author, want them to be.
Where Did Blogs Come From?
The roots of blogging can be traced back to the mid 1990's. Who the very first blogger actually was is unclear, as the art of blogging did not really take hold until 1999. The original "weblogs" were link-driven sites with personal commentaries. The very first blogs were human guided Internet web tours. While initially thought of as diaries or online journals, blogs have evolved into the latest fresh web content.
The Future of Blogs
A buzz word in techie circles, "blogging" is the wave of the future. Whether its a fad, or proves to be a new way to communicate with existing and potential customers it deserves at the very least a cursory look.
Why is Blogging Helpful to Businesses or Individuals?
Just as animated .gifs were once cool, blogging is the trendy thing to do. That does not mean that it is not beneficial to businesses. Webmasters struggling to keep fresh, attractive content on their websites to lure visitors back, have found blogs the answer. Content is a necessity for online businesses, both for purposes of being found by search engines but also because it gives visitors a reason to come back.
Now that we have established that blogs are not only trendy but also beneficial to businesses, its important to understand how they can be used to your advantage. We currently manage and update two blogs on a daily basis. The first is our new business blog at:
http://www.notepage.net/blog.htm
This professional business blog allows us the opportunity to tell potential, or existing customers industry news, updates, or generally how mobile or paging software can be used in specific situations to alleviate problems. The bottom line is we control the content. Its updated daily, which increases the chances that search engines will spider on a regular basis and it helps with page rank because it's been submitted to all the blogging directories. Initially started on a whim we've found it beneficial to report tips, tricks or make visitors aware of new regulations related to the mobile or paging industry.
The second blog we manage is at:
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/blog.html
This blog is less formal and contains marketing tips, or promotional advice for software developers or online marketers. We found that we had overflow from our monthly newsletter. Generating a daily blog would require very little effort and would assist us in creating fresh content which our readers told us was of significant interest.
Blogs & Your Business
The bottom line is you need to determine how a blog will benefit your business, determine a schedule and adhere to it. Let your readers know what to expect and when to expect it. Blogs provide great supplemental content and direct attention to areas of your business that you want to showcase; you direct the content but let your readers guide you.
Creating a Blog
There are numerous online tools that can be used to create a blog. We found that because of security concerns, it would just be best to use a standard html program. In our case we used Dreamweaver and create daily posts. Its really not much more complicated than typing an email. The content is then sent via FTP to a web server. If you want to test the waters there are online web-based tool that helps you publish to the web instantly. The most popular web based tool is likely Blogger http://www.blogger.com.
Other Advantages to Blogs
While you may initially create a blog for your existing customers, you may find that you can attract new customers by illustrating your expertise in a specific field. There are numerous websites that act as "blog search engines", be sure to submit your sites to these websites to increase your exposure. This will also help with your page rank and possibly increase the likelihood you will receive decent ranking with Google. You can also create an RSS feed in order to syndicat
Having heard the term previously but not having paid much attention most are just to afraid to show their ignorance and ask the question, what is a blog? Lets face it; the term blog does not conjure pleasant images.
Blogs are web logs that are updated regularly, usually on a daily basis. They contain information related to a specific topic. In some cases blogs are used as daily diaries about people's personal lives, political views, or even as social commentaries. The truth of the matter is that blogs can be shaped into whatever you, the author, want them to be.
Where Did Blogs Come From?
The roots of blogging can be traced back to the mid 1990's. Who the very first blogger actually was is unclear, as the art of blogging did not really take hold until 1999. The original "weblogs" were link-driven sites with personal commentaries. The very first blogs were human guided Internet web tours. While initially thought of as diaries or online journals, blogs have evolved into the latest fresh web content.
The Future of Blogs
A buzz word in techie circles, "blogging" is the wave of the future. Whether its a fad, or proves to be a new way to communicate with existing and potential customers it deserves at the very least a cursory look.
Why is Blogging Helpful to Businesses or Individuals?
Just as animated .gifs were once cool, blogging is the trendy thing to do. That does not mean that it is not beneficial to businesses. Webmasters struggling to keep fresh, attractive content on their websites to lure visitors back, have found blogs the answer. Content is a necessity for online businesses, both for purposes of being found by search engines but also because it gives visitors a reason to come back.
Now that we have established that blogs are not only trendy but also beneficial to businesses, its important to understand how they can be used to your advantage. We currently manage and update two blogs on a daily basis. The first is our new business blog at:
http://www.notepage.net/blog.htm
This professional business blog allows us the opportunity to tell potential, or existing customers industry news, updates, or generally how mobile or paging software can be used in specific situations to alleviate problems. The bottom line is we control the content. Its updated daily, which increases the chances that search engines will spider on a regular basis and it helps with page rank because it's been submitted to all the blogging directories. Initially started on a whim we've found it beneficial to report tips, tricks or make visitors aware of new regulations related to the mobile or paging industry.
The second blog we manage is at:
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/blog.html
This blog is less formal and contains marketing tips, or promotional advice for software developers or online marketers. We found that we had overflow from our monthly newsletter. Generating a daily blog would require very little effort and would assist us in creating fresh content which our readers told us was of significant interest.
Blogs & Your Business
The bottom line is you need to determine how a blog will benefit your business, determine a schedule and adhere to it. Let your readers know what to expect and when to expect it. Blogs provide great supplemental content and direct attention to areas of your business that you want to showcase; you direct the content but let your readers guide you.
Creating a Blog
There are numerous online tools that can be used to create a blog. We found that because of security concerns, it would just be best to use a standard html program. In our case we used Dreamweaver and create daily posts. Its really not much more complicated than typing an email. The content is then sent via FTP to a web server. If you want to test the waters there are online web-based tool that helps you publish to the web instantly. The most popular web based tool is likely Blogger http://www.blogger.com.
Other Advantages to Blogs
While you may initially create a blog for your existing customers, you may find that you can attract new customers by illustrating your expertise in a specific field. There are numerous websites that act as "blog search engines", be sure to submit your sites to these websites to increase your exposure. This will also help with your page rank and possibly increase the likelihood you will receive decent ranking with Google. You can also create an RSS feed in order to syndicat
Sunday, January 28, 2007
RSS - The Making of a Feed
Everyday more and more websites, news services and blogs are adding RSS content. RSS is a method of syndicating content.The concept of aggregating content in one central location or repository is very appealing. Consumers have become tired of push technology, RSS allows users the flexibility to regain control of their content. RSS feed creators provide content without forcing it on consumers. In fact with RSS consumers are able to choose the content they wish to view.
How to Make an RSS Feed
RSS feeds contain what are referred to as "items". The items are usually connected in some way and contain a common theme or other similarity.
The following feed http://www.notepage.net/feed.xml contains eight items. The items are all SMS and paging related news articles that would likely benefit someone interested in the wireless market.
Each item contains:
title
description
link
The title and description should be written to describe the content and the link should reference the webpage that contains that actual content.
Like html, the xml file uses open and close tags to designate the title, description and link. Tags are enclosed in brackets , like standard html and the close tag contains a forward slash /.
The following is what an item in a xml file looks like:
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
As I mentioned earlier, an RSS feeds contains items and like the tags above, an open and close tag is used to distinguish between items.
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
Another Title Goes Here
Another description goes here
http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com
Now an RSS Feed is a series of items, these items are chained together to create what is called a "Channel".
The Channel appears at the top of the file and tells people how the items relate to each other. Like items channels use title, description and link tags to describe its content. The open channel tag occurs before the first item and the close tag occurs after the last item.
The Channel Title Goes Here
The explanation of how the items are related goes here
http://www.directoryoflinksgohere
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
Another Title Goes Here
Another description goes here
http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com
Finally you will need to designate the file by indicating it is an XML file by inserting xml and rss defining tags at the beginning and at the very end.
The Channel Title Goes Here
The explanation of how the items are related goes here
http://www.directoryoflinksgohere
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
Another Title Goes Here
Another description goes here
http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com
When you save the file be sure to save it as an xml file.
Warning
If you create the file using Dreamweaver or a similar tool becareful that it does not strip out tags it feels are redundant. In order to be be an RSS feed your file needs at bare minimum that tags that were discussed above, and the file will not be valid if tags are stripped out.
I found a cool little free program that helped in xml file creation called First Object Editor http://www.firstobject.com/
Validation
As my math teacher use to say, check your work! Once your file is complete and uploaded einter it into the feed validator at http://feedvalidator.org
Syndication / Submission
If you've made it this far you are in good shape it is time to "syndicate" your content! Submit your RSS feed (the xml file you created) to sites just like you would submit a web page. Some of the more popular sites that accept RSS files can be found under "Post RSS Feed"
How to Make an RSS Feed
RSS feeds contain what are referred to as "items". The items are usually connected in some way and contain a common theme or other similarity.
The following feed http://www.notepage.net/feed.xml contains eight items. The items are all SMS and paging related news articles that would likely benefit someone interested in the wireless market.
Each item contains:
title
description
link
The title and description should be written to describe the content and the link should reference the webpage that contains that actual content.
Like html, the xml file uses open and close tags to designate the title, description and link. Tags are enclosed in brackets , like standard html and the close tag contains a forward slash /.
The following is what an item in a xml file looks like:
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
As I mentioned earlier, an RSS feeds contains items and like the tags above, an open and close tag is used to distinguish between items.
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
Another Title Goes Here
Another description goes here
http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com
Now an RSS Feed is a series of items, these items are chained together to create what is called a "Channel".
The Channel appears at the top of the file and tells people how the items relate to each other. Like items channels use title, description and link tags to describe its content. The open channel tag occurs before the first item and the close tag occurs after the last item.
The Channel Title Goes Here
The explanation of how the items are related goes here
http://www.directoryoflinksgohere
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
Another Title Goes Here
Another description goes here
http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com
Finally you will need to designate the file by indicating it is an XML file by inserting xml and rss defining tags at the beginning and at the very end.
The Channel Title Goes Here
The explanation of how the items are related goes here
http://www.directoryoflinksgohere
The Title Goes Here
The description goes here
http://www.linkgoeshere.com
Another Title Goes Here
Another description goes here
http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com
When you save the file be sure to save it as an xml file.
Warning
If you create the file using Dreamweaver or a similar tool becareful that it does not strip out tags it feels are redundant. In order to be be an RSS feed your file needs at bare minimum that tags that were discussed above, and the file will not be valid if tags are stripped out.
I found a cool little free program that helped in xml file creation called First Object Editor http://www.firstobject.com/
Validation
As my math teacher use to say, check your work! Once your file is complete and uploaded einter it into the feed validator at http://feedvalidator.org
Syndication / Submission
If you've made it this far you are in good shape it is time to "syndicate" your content! Submit your RSS feed (the xml file you created) to sites just like you would submit a web page. Some of the more popular sites that accept RSS files can be found under "Post RSS Feed"
Friday, January 26, 2007
Stop Whining About Google!
Nearly anyone and everyone involved with search engine optimization and Internet marketing is aware of the famous "Florida" update by Google that caused many commercial sites to lose their Google ranking and position.
Industry experts speculated as to why Google made such radical changes to their algorithm. Those sites that no longer ranked well for popular search terms had to take drastic steps in order to salvage the holiday purchasing season. Many noted the timing and thought perhaps Google was attempting to capitalize on the Google Adwords Pay-Per-Click advertising program. Others simply whined that though their site contained commercial material, it also contains valuable content and was unfairly penalized.
What many failed to acknowledge is that Google has every right to make algorithm changes and if they choose to drop sites that lack relevance, it is their business. Listings in Google's main search directory are free. Many have profited from Google's ability to send traffic for years. Google doesn't owe anyone, anything, least of all an explanation of their algorithm changes. Businesses that rely on Google's free listings as their sole source of web traffic lack good sense. Google, being an independent company, reserves the right to run their business as their management sees fit. If you are unhappy with Google stop using them for searches.
If the results that Google serve lack relevant listings, then find another engine to use! It has happened before and it will happen again. It is the law of supply and demand. If Google is unable to provide relevant content that searchers demand, Google will become irrelevant. Look at the how the search engine landscape has changed over the past few years: AltaVista is no longer the leader, Infoseek no longer exists and others are barely resemble what they once were.
As for the commercial sites who have been battered by the Florida update here are some suggestions:
* make your site relevant!
* submit to other search engines (MSN, Inktomi, Lycos etc..)
* pay for traffic (pay-per-click and pay-for-inclusion)
* develop traffic from alternative sites
* rely on traditional methods of advertising
* promote your website in your signature line in newsgroups
* promote your website on your business cards or on mailings
* participate in industry specific directories
* participate in vertical market pay-per-click the return on investment tends to be *much* higher though the traffic is significantly less
The bottom line is become proactive rather than reactive, stop whining about Google and find alternate sources of web traffic.
Industry experts speculated as to why Google made such radical changes to their algorithm. Those sites that no longer ranked well for popular search terms had to take drastic steps in order to salvage the holiday purchasing season. Many noted the timing and thought perhaps Google was attempting to capitalize on the Google Adwords Pay-Per-Click advertising program. Others simply whined that though their site contained commercial material, it also contains valuable content and was unfairly penalized.
What many failed to acknowledge is that Google has every right to make algorithm changes and if they choose to drop sites that lack relevance, it is their business. Listings in Google's main search directory are free. Many have profited from Google's ability to send traffic for years. Google doesn't owe anyone, anything, least of all an explanation of their algorithm changes. Businesses that rely on Google's free listings as their sole source of web traffic lack good sense. Google, being an independent company, reserves the right to run their business as their management sees fit. If you are unhappy with Google stop using them for searches.
If the results that Google serve lack relevant listings, then find another engine to use! It has happened before and it will happen again. It is the law of supply and demand. If Google is unable to provide relevant content that searchers demand, Google will become irrelevant. Look at the how the search engine landscape has changed over the past few years: AltaVista is no longer the leader, Infoseek no longer exists and others are barely resemble what they once were.
As for the commercial sites who have been battered by the Florida update here are some suggestions:
* make your site relevant!
* submit to other search engines (MSN, Inktomi, Lycos etc..)
* pay for traffic (pay-per-click and pay-for-inclusion)
* develop traffic from alternative sites
* rely on traditional methods of advertising
* promote your website in your signature line in newsgroups
* promote your website on your business cards or on mailings
* participate in industry specific directories
* participate in vertical market pay-per-click the return on investment tends to be *much* higher though the traffic is significantly less
The bottom line is become proactive rather than reactive, stop whining about Google and find alternate sources of web traffic.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Guide To Safe Online Shopping
Online shopping can be a little frightening to people who are new to the internet,but as long as you follow a few easy rules you should have no problem shopping online.
What are the rules ?
First before buying from an online store find out what that online stores return policy is. If you wait till after the purchase of a product you make find out returning it is almost impossible.
Second ,now days it's good to know what the privacy policy of any website you fill out forms on is.If you don't want your information spread all over the internet.
Third,Now for the purchase itself,When filling out a form to order something make sure all your information is correct,email adress must be right it's important,your postal address must be right and your credit card info must be correct.If any of the above is wrong your order may not go through.
Fourth,Most online stores will send you an order confirmation email to confirm your order was received,this is very important file it away if you ever have a problem with an order you will need the information contained in the email to get it corrected
Finally, Most stores will let you know when your order has been shipped
What if I have a problem with something I ordered at an online store ?
If you have a problem there are a few easy steps to having it corrected if you followed the rules above.
If you want to return something,if you checked what the online stores return policy is ,refer to that and follow thier instructions
If you have a question about your order look for a link to either the online stores customer service section where in most cases you can find a form to fill out or an email address
If you find a form fill it out completely,the more completely you fill it out the better your problem with your order can be solved
If you find an email address send an email explaining your problem with a copy of your order confirmation either attached or the information from it added to your email
Remember to be polite in your email,it doesn't help to be rude it only will make the person who recieved it mad and less likely to care about your problem.
What are the rules ?
First before buying from an online store find out what that online stores return policy is. If you wait till after the purchase of a product you make find out returning it is almost impossible.
Second ,now days it's good to know what the privacy policy of any website you fill out forms on is.If you don't want your information spread all over the internet.
Third,Now for the purchase itself,When filling out a form to order something make sure all your information is correct,email adress must be right it's important,your postal address must be right and your credit card info must be correct.If any of the above is wrong your order may not go through.
Fourth,Most online stores will send you an order confirmation email to confirm your order was received,this is very important file it away if you ever have a problem with an order you will need the information contained in the email to get it corrected
Finally, Most stores will let you know when your order has been shipped
What if I have a problem with something I ordered at an online store ?
If you have a problem there are a few easy steps to having it corrected if you followed the rules above.
If you want to return something,if you checked what the online stores return policy is ,refer to that and follow thier instructions
If you have a question about your order look for a link to either the online stores customer service section where in most cases you can find a form to fill out or an email address
If you find a form fill it out completely,the more completely you fill it out the better your problem with your order can be solved
If you find an email address send an email explaining your problem with a copy of your order confirmation either attached or the information from it added to your email
Remember to be polite in your email,it doesn't help to be rude it only will make the person who recieved it mad and less likely to care about your problem.
Monday, January 22, 2007
I Too Was An Internet Marketing Junkie!
I too was an Internet marketing junkie!
I spent every waking hour at my computer, looking for the ‘Golden Fleece’ of marketing. I spent hours, and days, and more hours in hopes of finding the one Marketing plan that would allow me to achieve my dreams, and goals.
I spent thousands of dollars that could have been more wisely spent paying my bills, and necessities of life; on one marketing program, or E-book after another. Joining one affiliate program after another until like so many others, I no longer knew which program I was attempting to promote: and giving none the attention that was necessary to really make it a success.
Then a fortunate (?) thing happened: my computer DIED! It didn’t just crash, It laid down and died. As in un-repairable completely dead!
There I sat, day after day in front of a blank screen with literally thousands of dollars worth of programs locked up inside of a dead computer going thru withdrawal. I had spent three years chasing the ‘GOLDEN FLEECE’, and had nothing but a dead computer to show for it.
My wife (Bless her) seeing my misery, decided to give me a new computer for Christmas. I was overjoyed; my addiction reared its ugly head to be heard again. But good fortune had smiled on me while I sat without a computer.
I had had a reprieve from my addiction. I knew what had been my downfall before, and vowed not to make the same mistakes again. I had finally learned; that the shotgun approach to business, while accelerating (the hunt for the ‘GOLDEN FLEECE’ was exciting,) it by no means was the avenue to success.
I spent 2 more months deciding what it was I wanted in a business. I decided I wanted a business that had a HUGE MARKET, a CAPTIVE MARKET…
And I would only promote one major product with 2 minor products that tied into it.
I had learned that in order to achieve the financial success that had always been just (in the next program) out of reach; I needed to finally settle in, and promote the one best program I had,
Just one, and give it my full attention…
The 2 minor products not only support the major product, I couldn’t do without them; they were opt-in list builders. The Major product I finally decided on is one that every person that surfs the web must have. Not wants, but must have!
I’ve overcome my addiction; I’m a happy man. I’ve found my Niche!
I spent every waking hour at my computer, looking for the ‘Golden Fleece’ of marketing. I spent hours, and days, and more hours in hopes of finding the one Marketing plan that would allow me to achieve my dreams, and goals.
I spent thousands of dollars that could have been more wisely spent paying my bills, and necessities of life; on one marketing program, or E-book after another. Joining one affiliate program after another until like so many others, I no longer knew which program I was attempting to promote: and giving none the attention that was necessary to really make it a success.
Then a fortunate (?) thing happened: my computer DIED! It didn’t just crash, It laid down and died. As in un-repairable completely dead!
There I sat, day after day in front of a blank screen with literally thousands of dollars worth of programs locked up inside of a dead computer going thru withdrawal. I had spent three years chasing the ‘GOLDEN FLEECE’, and had nothing but a dead computer to show for it.
My wife (Bless her) seeing my misery, decided to give me a new computer for Christmas. I was overjoyed; my addiction reared its ugly head to be heard again. But good fortune had smiled on me while I sat without a computer.
I had had a reprieve from my addiction. I knew what had been my downfall before, and vowed not to make the same mistakes again. I had finally learned; that the shotgun approach to business, while accelerating (the hunt for the ‘GOLDEN FLEECE’ was exciting,) it by no means was the avenue to success.
I spent 2 more months deciding what it was I wanted in a business. I decided I wanted a business that had a HUGE MARKET, a CAPTIVE MARKET…
And I would only promote one major product with 2 minor products that tied into it.
I had learned that in order to achieve the financial success that had always been just (in the next program) out of reach; I needed to finally settle in, and promote the one best program I had,
Just one, and give it my full attention…
The 2 minor products not only support the major product, I couldn’t do without them; they were opt-in list builders. The Major product I finally decided on is one that every person that surfs the web must have. Not wants, but must have!
I’ve overcome my addiction; I’m a happy man. I’ve found my Niche!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Chat Rooms Are A Great Place To Discuss Ideas And Beliefs, But Is Our Next Generation Missing The Point Of The Technology?
In my short life, after years of talking too much, I’ve come to realize that if one is always speaking, one never listens. If you never listen to others, well, you’re limiting your access to a lot of knowledge and information. Recently, after much deliberation I thought I’d check out what the world of Chat Rooms is like. People talk to each other by text, voice, and web cam. This is a really big phenomenon; I wanted to see what all the fuss is about.
I expect there are many chat rooms where people with similar interests get to know each other, and share their perspectives on various aspects of life. These are great, much cheaper than telephones, and multiple, random people can chat to one another simultaneously.
But I speak the truth, and my preconceived ideas about mindless gossip from jaded humans were sadly affirmed as I arbitrarily checked chat rooms that supposedly discussed important subjects. It seems some people are just very bored, and want to be cool and swear on-line, insulting others, and giving this area of information technology a bad name. I think a lot of people are using the rooms solely for personal conversation that contextually no one else can understand.
I went to a chat room about religion, and then to one about tattoos and it seemed like the same people were talking. Most of the conversation didn’t even touch the supposed subject matter. It was definitely a disenchanting experience but hopefully with more research I hope to come across some serious rooms where the true intent of the creators has come to fruition.
I guess it’s good that bored people in our technological society have others to talk to. It means depressed adolescents may feel more connected to others and not so alone in the world, maybe even having a positive effect on a possibly suicidal youth. But, I do feel this nonsensical chitchat is a sign of our next generation’s apathetic view of present reality in our postmodern culture. When reading the text from a supposedly religious discussion, and hearing graphic use of derogatory terminology, I really have to wonder about the present spiritual beliefs of my culture.
I’m a true believer of the concept that technology is here to further the consciousness of humanity. Computers and the Internet can help bring all of us in the world together, thus evolving our society to the next level. After looking at chat rooms, I feel there is a need to integrate more wisdom and compassion into our ‘new world’ generation. Having the technology is great, but it is only one half of the equation. To make the Internet work properly, I think we need to instill the same faith we have in science, into a faith that encompasses the actual creators of the information and communication tools-humanity itself. We seem to realize that we can invent many great things, but it looks like we’re missing out on the great truth: that we ourselves are part of, and made of something great in itself: Life. (Existence!)
I expect there are many chat rooms where people with similar interests get to know each other, and share their perspectives on various aspects of life. These are great, much cheaper than telephones, and multiple, random people can chat to one another simultaneously.
But I speak the truth, and my preconceived ideas about mindless gossip from jaded humans were sadly affirmed as I arbitrarily checked chat rooms that supposedly discussed important subjects. It seems some people are just very bored, and want to be cool and swear on-line, insulting others, and giving this area of information technology a bad name. I think a lot of people are using the rooms solely for personal conversation that contextually no one else can understand.
I went to a chat room about religion, and then to one about tattoos and it seemed like the same people were talking. Most of the conversation didn’t even touch the supposed subject matter. It was definitely a disenchanting experience but hopefully with more research I hope to come across some serious rooms where the true intent of the creators has come to fruition.
I guess it’s good that bored people in our technological society have others to talk to. It means depressed adolescents may feel more connected to others and not so alone in the world, maybe even having a positive effect on a possibly suicidal youth. But, I do feel this nonsensical chitchat is a sign of our next generation’s apathetic view of present reality in our postmodern culture. When reading the text from a supposedly religious discussion, and hearing graphic use of derogatory terminology, I really have to wonder about the present spiritual beliefs of my culture.
I’m a true believer of the concept that technology is here to further the consciousness of humanity. Computers and the Internet can help bring all of us in the world together, thus evolving our society to the next level. After looking at chat rooms, I feel there is a need to integrate more wisdom and compassion into our ‘new world’ generation. Having the technology is great, but it is only one half of the equation. To make the Internet work properly, I think we need to instill the same faith we have in science, into a faith that encompasses the actual creators of the information and communication tools-humanity itself. We seem to realize that we can invent many great things, but it looks like we’re missing out on the great truth: that we ourselves are part of, and made of something great in itself: Life. (Existence!)
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Which Spam Filter Is Best For You?
With the number of spam filtering solutions increasing each week it's getting tougher for consumers to make informed choices in their purchases.
There are 3 basic types of spam filters:
1. Integrated
2. Standalone
3. Online
We'll look at each type of spam filter and at the end you should be able to decide what spam filter is right for you.
Integrated spam filters
This type of spam filtering software is the most common. Once installed it sits "on top" of your existing email software and installs a new set of buttons into your email software. In future when you collect email you'll see options for marking email as Spam, marking the email as Not Spam, Bounce the email back to sender, etc. The description and position of these buttons varies from one product to the next but their purpose remains the same.
Most integrated spam filters automatically place suspected junk email into a separate folder on your PC for you to review or delete later on.
The newer integrated spam filters are also "intelligent". They can basically learn the difference between what is spam and what is not and delete the junk email you don't want.
The most popular integrated spam filters are:
* iHate Spam
* Spambully
* Spam Inspector
Integrated spam filters are most popular amongst people who want a one click solution to collecting their personal email and filtering junk email at the same time.
Advantages:
One click solution.
Disadvantages:
Software specific. Some work with Outlook and Outlook Express only.
Standalone spam filters
These are less common than their integarted counterparts but that doesn't make them any less useful. A standalone spam filter is basically a separate piece of software installed on your PC that you use to check your email for spam.
Standalone filters have the big advantage of being able to preview your email on the mail server before it's downloaded to your PC. This one single feature has the huge benefit of allowing you to just download the email that you want as opposed to downloading all of your email, including the spam, and then sorting through it.
Using a standalone spam filter is a little more work simply because it's a separate piece of software that you have to run before you open up your email software. Most standalone filters do allow you to configure them so that your standard email application is opened once you've chosen what spam to filter. This suits some people and not others.
The most popular standalone spam filter is:
Mailwasher Pro
Advantages:
Doesn't rely on specific email applications to work properly.
Disadvantages:
Two step process. Load standalone filter and then your email application.
Online spam filters
There are really two types of online spam filters. One is for business use and one is for home use. A typical example of a business type product is iHate Spam server edition where the software deletes junk email directly from the mail server before the end user even sees it. Large companies employ this type of technology.
Home users will be using Spam Arrest or similar. Spam Arrest offers an inventive solution to spam whereby any email sent to the users account has a challenge request sent back to it which the sender must authenticate. The automatic junk email software used by spammers can't currently deal with this type of response. Any failure to authenticate the challenge email results in the junk email being left to die in cyberspace. A user is authenticated with Spam Arrest only once for security just to make sure the software doesn't become a nuisance.
The most popular online spam filter is:
Spam Arrest
Advantages:
Users are guaranteed to only receive the email that they want or requested.
Disadvantages:
Any techncial problems with the Spam Arrest server and you have no defense against spam.
Now you've seen what spam filtering options are available to you just ask yourself which one suits you most. If you're still not sure drop by http://www.spam-site.com and check out our product reviews - we have something for everyone.
There are 3 basic types of spam filters:
1. Integrated
2. Standalone
3. Online
We'll look at each type of spam filter and at the end you should be able to decide what spam filter is right for you.
Integrated spam filters
This type of spam filtering software is the most common. Once installed it sits "on top" of your existing email software and installs a new set of buttons into your email software. In future when you collect email you'll see options for marking email as Spam, marking the email as Not Spam, Bounce the email back to sender, etc. The description and position of these buttons varies from one product to the next but their purpose remains the same.
Most integrated spam filters automatically place suspected junk email into a separate folder on your PC for you to review or delete later on.
The newer integrated spam filters are also "intelligent". They can basically learn the difference between what is spam and what is not and delete the junk email you don't want.
The most popular integrated spam filters are:
* iHate Spam
* Spambully
* Spam Inspector
Integrated spam filters are most popular amongst people who want a one click solution to collecting their personal email and filtering junk email at the same time.
Advantages:
One click solution.
Disadvantages:
Software specific. Some work with Outlook and Outlook Express only.
Standalone spam filters
These are less common than their integarted counterparts but that doesn't make them any less useful. A standalone spam filter is basically a separate piece of software installed on your PC that you use to check your email for spam.
Standalone filters have the big advantage of being able to preview your email on the mail server before it's downloaded to your PC. This one single feature has the huge benefit of allowing you to just download the email that you want as opposed to downloading all of your email, including the spam, and then sorting through it.
Using a standalone spam filter is a little more work simply because it's a separate piece of software that you have to run before you open up your email software. Most standalone filters do allow you to configure them so that your standard email application is opened once you've chosen what spam to filter. This suits some people and not others.
The most popular standalone spam filter is:
Mailwasher Pro
Advantages:
Doesn't rely on specific email applications to work properly.
Disadvantages:
Two step process. Load standalone filter and then your email application.
Online spam filters
There are really two types of online spam filters. One is for business use and one is for home use. A typical example of a business type product is iHate Spam server edition where the software deletes junk email directly from the mail server before the end user even sees it. Large companies employ this type of technology.
Home users will be using Spam Arrest or similar. Spam Arrest offers an inventive solution to spam whereby any email sent to the users account has a challenge request sent back to it which the sender must authenticate. The automatic junk email software used by spammers can't currently deal with this type of response. Any failure to authenticate the challenge email results in the junk email being left to die in cyberspace. A user is authenticated with Spam Arrest only once for security just to make sure the software doesn't become a nuisance.
The most popular online spam filter is:
Spam Arrest
Advantages:
Users are guaranteed to only receive the email that they want or requested.
Disadvantages:
Any techncial problems with the Spam Arrest server and you have no defense against spam.
Now you've seen what spam filtering options are available to you just ask yourself which one suits you most. If you're still not sure drop by http://www.spam-site.com and check out our product reviews - we have something for everyone.
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Future of WebSite Ranking
The recent shakeup in Google's search results, which set the SEO (search engine optimization) community buzzing and saw tens of thousands of webmasters watch their site ranking plummet, was in many ways inevitable. Almost all SEO companies and most savvy webmasters had a fairly good handle on what Google considered important. And since SEO, by definition, is the art of manipulating website ranking (not always with the best interests of searchers in mind), it was only a matter of time until Google decided to make some changes.
If you've been asleep at the SEO switch, here are a few links to articles and forums that have focused on the recent changes at Google:
Articles:
* http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2003/dec/1prt.html
* http://www.searchengineguide.com/lloyd/2003/1125_bl1.html
* http://www.searchenginejournal.com/index.php?cat=1
* http://www.accordmarketing.com/tid/archive/google-update-florida.html
Forums:
* http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/
* http://www.jimworld.com/apps/webmaster.forums/action::topiclist/forum::google/
* http://www.searchguild.com/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=3d5d777a7a9c7dda31622896015f733a
To date, most of the commentary has been predictable, ranging from the critical and analytical to the speculative.
Here's a typical example from one of our SiteProNews readers:
"I'm not sure what has happened to Google's vaunted algorithm, but searches are now returning unrelated junk results as early as the second page and even first page listings are a random collection of internal pages (not index pages) from minor players in my industry (mostly re-sellers) vaguely related to my highly-focused keyword search queries."
So, what is Google trying to accomplish? As one author put it, Google has a "democratic" vision of the Web. Unfortunately for Google and the other major search engines, those with a grasp of SEO techniques were beginning to tarnish that vision by stacking the search result deck in favor of their websites.
Search Engine Optimization or Ranking Manipulation?
Author and search engine expert, Barry Lloyd commented as follows: "Google has seen their search engine results manipulated by SEOs to a significant extent over the past few years. Their reliance on PageRank™ to grade the authority of pages has led to the wholesale trading and buying of links with the primary purpose of influencing rankings on Google rather than for natural linking reasons."
Given Google's dominance of search and how important ranking well in Google is to millions of websites, attempts at rank manipulation shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. For many, achieving a high site ranking is more important than the hard work it takes to legitmately earn a good ranking.
The Problem with Current Site Ranking Methods
There will always be those who are more interested in the end result than on how they get there and site ranking that is based on site content (links, keywords, etc.) and interpreted by ranking algorithms will always be subject to manipulation. Why? Because, for now, crawlers and algorithms lack the intelligence to make informed judgements on site quality.
A short while ago, author, Mike Banks Valentine published an article entitled "SEO Mercilessly Murdered by Copywriters!" (http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2003/nov/21.html). The article rightly pointed out SEO's focus on making text and page structure "crawler friendly". Other SEO authors have written at great length about the need for "text, text, text" in page body content as well as in Meta, Heading, ALT, and Link tags. They are all correct and yet they are all missing (or ignoring) the point which is that the "tail is wagging the dog". Search engines are determining what is relevant, not the people using those engines. Searchers are relegated to the role of engine critics and webmasters to being students of SEO.
SEO manipulation will continue and thrive as long as search engines base their algorithms on page and link analysis. The rules may change, but the game will remain the same.
Therein lies the problem with all current search engine ranking algorithms. SEO's will always attempt to position their sites at the top of search engine results whether their sites deserve to be there or not, and search engines will continue to tweak their algorithms in an attempt to eliminate SEO loopholes. If there is a solution to this ongoing battle of vested interests, it won't come from improving page content analysis.
Incorporating User Popularity into Ranking Algorithms
The future of quality search results lies in harnessing the opinions of the Internet masses - in other words, by tying search results and site ranking to User Popularity. Google's "democratic" vision of the Web will never be achieved by manipulating algorithm criteria based on content. It will only be achieved by factoring in what is important to people, and people will always remain the best judge of what that is. The true challenge for search engines in the future is how to incorporate web searcher input and preferences into their ranking algorithms.
Website ranking based on user popularity - the measurement of searcher visits to a site, pages viewed, time viewed, etc. - will be far less subject to manipulation and will ensure a more satisfying search experience. Why? Because web sites that receive the kiss of approval from 10,000, 100,000 or a million plus surfers a month are unlikely to disappoint new visitors. Although some websites might achieve temporary spikes in popularity through link exchanges, inflated or false claims, email marketing, pyramid schemes, etc., these spikes would be almost impossible to sustain over the long-term. As Lincoln said "You can fool some of the people all the time. You can fool all the people some of the time. But you can't fool all the people all the time." Any effective ranking system based on surfer input will inevitably be superior to current systems.
To date, none of the major search engines have shown a serious interest in incorporating user popularity into their ranking algorithms. As of this writing, ExactSeek (http://www.exactseek.com) is the only search engine that has implemented a site ranking algorithm based on user popularity.
Resistance to change, however, is not the only reason user data hasn't made its way into ranking algorithms. ExactSeek's new ranking algorithm was made possible only as a result of its partner arrangement with Alexa Internet, one of the oldest and largest aggregator's of user data on the Web. Alexa has been collecting user data through its toolbar (downloaded over 10 million times) since 1997 and is currently the only web entity with a large enough user base to measure site popularity and evaluate user preferences in a meaningful way.
The Challenges Facing User Popularity Based Ranking
1. The Collection Of User Data:
In order for web user data to play a significant role in search results and site ranking, it would need to be gathered in sufficient volume and detail to accurately reflect web user interests and choices. The surfing preferences of a few million toolbar users would be meaningless when applied to a search engine database of billions of web pages. Even Alexa, with its huge store of user data, is only able to rank 3 to 4 million websites with any degree of accuracy.
2. Privacy:
The collection of user data obviously has privacy implications. Privacy concerns have become more of an issue in recent years and could hinder any attempt to collect user data on a large scale. The surfing public would need to cooperate in such an endeavor and be persuaded of the benefits.
3. Interest:
Web search continues to grow in popularity with more than 80% of Internet users relying on search engines to find what they need. However, with the exception of site owners who have a vested interest in site ranking, most web searchers have not expressed any serious dissatisfaction with the overall quality of search results delivered by the major engines. Harnessing the cooperation and active participation of this latter and much larger group would be difficult, if not impossible.
The future of web search and website ranking belongs in the hands of all Internet users, but whether it ends up there depends on how willing they are to participate in that future.
If you've been asleep at the SEO switch, here are a few links to articles and forums that have focused on the recent changes at Google:
Articles:
* http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2003/dec/1prt.html
* http://www.searchengineguide.com/lloyd/2003/1125_bl1.html
* http://www.searchenginejournal.com/index.php?cat=1
* http://www.accordmarketing.com/tid/archive/google-update-florida.html
Forums:
* http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/
* http://www.jimworld.com/apps/webmaster.forums/action::topiclist/forum::google/
* http://www.searchguild.com/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=3d5d777a7a9c7dda31622896015f733a
To date, most of the commentary has been predictable, ranging from the critical and analytical to the speculative.
Here's a typical example from one of our SiteProNews readers:
"I'm not sure what has happened to Google's vaunted algorithm, but searches are now returning unrelated junk results as early as the second page and even first page listings are a random collection of internal pages (not index pages) from minor players in my industry (mostly re-sellers) vaguely related to my highly-focused keyword search queries."
So, what is Google trying to accomplish? As one author put it, Google has a "democratic" vision of the Web. Unfortunately for Google and the other major search engines, those with a grasp of SEO techniques were beginning to tarnish that vision by stacking the search result deck in favor of their websites.
Search Engine Optimization or Ranking Manipulation?
Author and search engine expert, Barry Lloyd commented as follows: "Google has seen their search engine results manipulated by SEOs to a significant extent over the past few years. Their reliance on PageRank™ to grade the authority of pages has led to the wholesale trading and buying of links with the primary purpose of influencing rankings on Google rather than for natural linking reasons."
Given Google's dominance of search and how important ranking well in Google is to millions of websites, attempts at rank manipulation shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. For many, achieving a high site ranking is more important than the hard work it takes to legitmately earn a good ranking.
The Problem with Current Site Ranking Methods
There will always be those who are more interested in the end result than on how they get there and site ranking that is based on site content (links, keywords, etc.) and interpreted by ranking algorithms will always be subject to manipulation. Why? Because, for now, crawlers and algorithms lack the intelligence to make informed judgements on site quality.
A short while ago, author, Mike Banks Valentine published an article entitled "SEO Mercilessly Murdered by Copywriters!" (http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2003/nov/21.html). The article rightly pointed out SEO's focus on making text and page structure "crawler friendly". Other SEO authors have written at great length about the need for "text, text, text" in page body content as well as in Meta, Heading, ALT, and Link tags. They are all correct and yet they are all missing (or ignoring) the point which is that the "tail is wagging the dog". Search engines are determining what is relevant, not the people using those engines. Searchers are relegated to the role of engine critics and webmasters to being students of SEO.
SEO manipulation will continue and thrive as long as search engines base their algorithms on page and link analysis. The rules may change, but the game will remain the same.
Therein lies the problem with all current search engine ranking algorithms. SEO's will always attempt to position their sites at the top of search engine results whether their sites deserve to be there or not, and search engines will continue to tweak their algorithms in an attempt to eliminate SEO loopholes. If there is a solution to this ongoing battle of vested interests, it won't come from improving page content analysis.
Incorporating User Popularity into Ranking Algorithms
The future of quality search results lies in harnessing the opinions of the Internet masses - in other words, by tying search results and site ranking to User Popularity. Google's "democratic" vision of the Web will never be achieved by manipulating algorithm criteria based on content. It will only be achieved by factoring in what is important to people, and people will always remain the best judge of what that is. The true challenge for search engines in the future is how to incorporate web searcher input and preferences into their ranking algorithms.
Website ranking based on user popularity - the measurement of searcher visits to a site, pages viewed, time viewed, etc. - will be far less subject to manipulation and will ensure a more satisfying search experience. Why? Because web sites that receive the kiss of approval from 10,000, 100,000 or a million plus surfers a month are unlikely to disappoint new visitors. Although some websites might achieve temporary spikes in popularity through link exchanges, inflated or false claims, email marketing, pyramid schemes, etc., these spikes would be almost impossible to sustain over the long-term. As Lincoln said "You can fool some of the people all the time. You can fool all the people some of the time. But you can't fool all the people all the time." Any effective ranking system based on surfer input will inevitably be superior to current systems.
To date, none of the major search engines have shown a serious interest in incorporating user popularity into their ranking algorithms. As of this writing, ExactSeek (http://www.exactseek.com) is the only search engine that has implemented a site ranking algorithm based on user popularity.
Resistance to change, however, is not the only reason user data hasn't made its way into ranking algorithms. ExactSeek's new ranking algorithm was made possible only as a result of its partner arrangement with Alexa Internet, one of the oldest and largest aggregator's of user data on the Web. Alexa has been collecting user data through its toolbar (downloaded over 10 million times) since 1997 and is currently the only web entity with a large enough user base to measure site popularity and evaluate user preferences in a meaningful way.
The Challenges Facing User Popularity Based Ranking
1. The Collection Of User Data:
In order for web user data to play a significant role in search results and site ranking, it would need to be gathered in sufficient volume and detail to accurately reflect web user interests and choices. The surfing preferences of a few million toolbar users would be meaningless when applied to a search engine database of billions of web pages. Even Alexa, with its huge store of user data, is only able to rank 3 to 4 million websites with any degree of accuracy.
2. Privacy:
The collection of user data obviously has privacy implications. Privacy concerns have become more of an issue in recent years and could hinder any attempt to collect user data on a large scale. The surfing public would need to cooperate in such an endeavor and be persuaded of the benefits.
3. Interest:
Web search continues to grow in popularity with more than 80% of Internet users relying on search engines to find what they need. However, with the exception of site owners who have a vested interest in site ranking, most web searchers have not expressed any serious dissatisfaction with the overall quality of search results delivered by the major engines. Harnessing the cooperation and active participation of this latter and much larger group would be difficult, if not impossible.
The future of web search and website ranking belongs in the hands of all Internet users, but whether it ends up there depends on how willing they are to participate in that future.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
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By now, virtually every webmaster has heard or read that the major search engines are responsible for 80% or more of the traffic received by most web sites and that most searchers never look beyond the first 20 - 50 search results. Not surprisingly, an entire industry devoted to search engine ranking and search engine optimization (SEO) has sprung up to capitalize on these well known facts.
Tens of thousands of web sites compete to achieve top ranking for their chosen keywords and keyword phrases. We've published numerous articles by various SEO experts on linking strategies, optimizing meta tags and page content, and relevant page content. And, undoubtedly, we'll publish many more. Achieving a top ranking for a particular keyword or phrase is a major accomplishment, but the sad fact is that most web sites will never come close to reaching a top 10, a top 30, or even a top 100, listing in any major search engine.
Is it possible to be listed in the top 10 - 30 search results of a major search engine? Yes, possible, just not very likely for the average web site. It's a lot like playing the lottery and with the same appeal. Get your site in the top 10 search results and the payoffs are big - you just need to knock out a few million competitors.
THE RISE OF PAY-PER-CLICK
The difficulty in achieving a top ranking for a free site listing has in recent years given rise to the pay-per-click search engine phenomena. Overture's singular success with this model has resulted in hundreds of search engines jumping on the pay-per-click bandwagon. Pay-per-click is a great idea and taps right into the frustrated webmaster/site owner market. Many site owners simply do not want to be bothered with checking keyword density, tweaking their page content, fiddling with their meta tags and undertaking linking campaigns.
With pay-per-click, you get the site ranking you can afford. A simple, understandable concept. If money isn't a problem, the PPC system is hard to beat.
Most experts would probably recommend combining search engine optimization with PPC for maximizing traffic. And, there you have it - the two dominant methods for driving targeted visitors to your web site. Dominant, but probably irrelevant to the vast majority of site owners and webmasters who don't have the time to learn the ever-changing art of SEO or the budget for PPC's and SEO firms.
What should be relevant is how to get traffic to your site without breaking the bank or having to earn a degree in SEO techniques. Where it comes from should be secondary. Don't limit your traffic building efforts to just a few of the majors like Google, Yahoo, Inktomi and Overture. The top 8 or 10 search engines may be popular but that doesn't mean that your site will reap the benefits.
Here are several reasons why:
1. Sometimes the numbers work against you. Another billion pages added to Google or AlltheWeb are NOT going to help the average site owner - they are just going to bury the needle - your website - deeper in the haystack. And search traffic is only important, if your website can be found.
2. The major search engines cater primarily to searchers not webmasters. Why? Because more search traffic means more revenue and there are far more searchers than webmasters.
3. Even PPC engines deliver more than top 50 search results. That means unless you're a high bidder, your website may still not be seen by many.
From a webmaster's perspective what you should be looking for in a search engine is the right balance of search traffic and understandable site listing/ranking options. Engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, and Ask Jeeves have massive traffic, but you need to evaluate your chances for having your web site added and then ranked well. You also need to determine if a search engine is more focused on revenue generation through ads, paid inclusion and Sponsored listings than they are in catering to your concerns about where your web site appears.
More specifically, when evaluating any engine regardless of size or traffic, you should consider the following factors:
1. Free Site Listings
A few years ago, you could submit your site to almost any search engine, small or large, for free. But times have changed. Today, even many second tier engines have PPC or paid inclusion programs, and free submissions, where offered, are often given little attention. This ties right into the second feature you should be looking for in a search engine.
2. Indexing Speed
The usual pitch is that free listings can take a month or more to be added (with some SE's, never is more likely), but a paid listing will be added within 48 hours to a week. Does this make sense? Most search engines don't manually review site submissions so whether a submission is free or paid shouldn't affect indexing speed. Slow indexing for free site submissions is most often nothing more than a deliberate ploy to get your money.
3. Ranking Options
Look for a search engine that offers some clues on how to improve your site ranking, short of emptying your wallet. Few engines reveal all the factors they use in ranking sites but knowing where the emphasis is (content, link popularity, meta tags, etc.) can be enough to point you in the right direction. There are also a handful of engines and directories that offer innovative listing options that give your website a much better chance of being seen.
4. Quality Searches
Important to site owners and searchers alike. When quality sites are buried in a sea of second rate listings, no one benefits.
5. Traffic
If you want your website seen, the traffic a search engine attracts is important, but don't be too quick to write off smaller, up and coming engines. Not too long ago both Google and Overture were considered long shots in the search engine wars. Also, keep in mind that top ranking in an engine that receives a few million searches per month may be more important to you than no ranking in an engine that receives millions of searches per day.
6. Paid Listing Options:
Look for paid listing options that offer more than fast inclusion in a database. With PPC, you get what you pay for, but with paid inclusion, you should receive more than you would with a free listing.
If you're not familiar with any search engines other than the big players, check out FreeWebSubmission.com (http://www.freewebsubmission.com) where you can find a list of the 50 top search engines that still offer free site listings. Engines are ranked by their Alexa rating which indicates their user popularity. Here's a list of the top 10 from FWS with current Alexa rankings:
1. Google - 5
2. Lycos - 44
3. AltaVista - 64
4. About - 86
5. Open Directory - 157
6. AlltheWeb - 215
7. ExactSeek - 1,999
8. ScrubTheWeb - 2,483
9. What U Seek - 2,868
10. SearchHippo - 2,905
Some other engines and directories worth considering in your promotion efforts are Gimpsy (http://www.gimpsy.com/), RoList (http://www.rolist.com), SitesOnDisplay
Tens of thousands of web sites compete to achieve top ranking for their chosen keywords and keyword phrases. We've published numerous articles by various SEO experts on linking strategies, optimizing meta tags and page content, and relevant page content. And, undoubtedly, we'll publish many more. Achieving a top ranking for a particular keyword or phrase is a major accomplishment, but the sad fact is that most web sites will never come close to reaching a top 10, a top 30, or even a top 100, listing in any major search engine.
Is it possible to be listed in the top 10 - 30 search results of a major search engine? Yes, possible, just not very likely for the average web site. It's a lot like playing the lottery and with the same appeal. Get your site in the top 10 search results and the payoffs are big - you just need to knock out a few million competitors.
THE RISE OF PAY-PER-CLICK
The difficulty in achieving a top ranking for a free site listing has in recent years given rise to the pay-per-click search engine phenomena. Overture's singular success with this model has resulted in hundreds of search engines jumping on the pay-per-click bandwagon. Pay-per-click is a great idea and taps right into the frustrated webmaster/site owner market. Many site owners simply do not want to be bothered with checking keyword density, tweaking their page content, fiddling with their meta tags and undertaking linking campaigns.
With pay-per-click, you get the site ranking you can afford. A simple, understandable concept. If money isn't a problem, the PPC system is hard to beat.
Most experts would probably recommend combining search engine optimization with PPC for maximizing traffic. And, there you have it - the two dominant methods for driving targeted visitors to your web site. Dominant, but probably irrelevant to the vast majority of site owners and webmasters who don't have the time to learn the ever-changing art of SEO or the budget for PPC's and SEO firms.
What should be relevant is how to get traffic to your site without breaking the bank or having to earn a degree in SEO techniques. Where it comes from should be secondary. Don't limit your traffic building efforts to just a few of the majors like Google, Yahoo, Inktomi and Overture. The top 8 or 10 search engines may be popular but that doesn't mean that your site will reap the benefits.
Here are several reasons why:
1. Sometimes the numbers work against you. Another billion pages added to Google or AlltheWeb are NOT going to help the average site owner - they are just going to bury the needle - your website - deeper in the haystack. And search traffic is only important, if your website can be found.
2. The major search engines cater primarily to searchers not webmasters. Why? Because more search traffic means more revenue and there are far more searchers than webmasters.
3. Even PPC engines deliver more than top 50 search results. That means unless you're a high bidder, your website may still not be seen by many.
From a webmaster's perspective what you should be looking for in a search engine is the right balance of search traffic and understandable site listing/ranking options. Engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, and Ask Jeeves have massive traffic, but you need to evaluate your chances for having your web site added and then ranked well. You also need to determine if a search engine is more focused on revenue generation through ads, paid inclusion and Sponsored listings than they are in catering to your concerns about where your web site appears.
More specifically, when evaluating any engine regardless of size or traffic, you should consider the following factors:
1. Free Site Listings
A few years ago, you could submit your site to almost any search engine, small or large, for free. But times have changed. Today, even many second tier engines have PPC or paid inclusion programs, and free submissions, where offered, are often given little attention. This ties right into the second feature you should be looking for in a search engine.
2. Indexing Speed
The usual pitch is that free listings can take a month or more to be added (with some SE's, never is more likely), but a paid listing will be added within 48 hours to a week. Does this make sense? Most search engines don't manually review site submissions so whether a submission is free or paid shouldn't affect indexing speed. Slow indexing for free site submissions is most often nothing more than a deliberate ploy to get your money.
3. Ranking Options
Look for a search engine that offers some clues on how to improve your site ranking, short of emptying your wallet. Few engines reveal all the factors they use in ranking sites but knowing where the emphasis is (content, link popularity, meta tags, etc.) can be enough to point you in the right direction. There are also a handful of engines and directories that offer innovative listing options that give your website a much better chance of being seen.
4. Quality Searches
Important to site owners and searchers alike. When quality sites are buried in a sea of second rate listings, no one benefits.
5. Traffic
If you want your website seen, the traffic a search engine attracts is important, but don't be too quick to write off smaller, up and coming engines. Not too long ago both Google and Overture were considered long shots in the search engine wars. Also, keep in mind that top ranking in an engine that receives a few million searches per month may be more important to you than no ranking in an engine that receives millions of searches per day.
6. Paid Listing Options:
Look for paid listing options that offer more than fast inclusion in a database. With PPC, you get what you pay for, but with paid inclusion, you should receive more than you would with a free listing.
If you're not familiar with any search engines other than the big players, check out FreeWebSubmission.com (http://www.freewebsubmission.com) where you can find a list of the 50 top search engines that still offer free site listings. Engines are ranked by their Alexa rating which indicates their user popularity. Here's a list of the top 10 from FWS with current Alexa rankings:
1. Google - 5
2. Lycos - 44
3. AltaVista - 64
4. About - 86
5. Open Directory - 157
6. AlltheWeb - 215
7. ExactSeek - 1,999
8. ScrubTheWeb - 2,483
9. What U Seek - 2,868
10. SearchHippo - 2,905
Some other engines and directories worth considering in your promotion efforts are Gimpsy (http://www.gimpsy.com/), RoList (http://www.rolist.com), SitesOnDisplay
Buying the Perfect Computer – The FIRST Time
So you’ve finally decided it’s time for a change. No matter what advice you follow that old work horse of a desktop computer you have has outlived its usefulness with slow loading applications and a continuous rise in operation noise.
Searching for that Perfect Computer can be about as much fun as purchasing a new car and about as frustrating also when sorting through the various brands while trying to decide which “bells and whistles” best fit your needs. Besides all that trying to return something that is so large can be both inconvenient and very difficult to do.
So making the right decision the
FIRST time is the wise path of choice.
For starters you’ll need to decide what you want to do with your computer. Are you into the video game scene or are you someone who likes to just surf the internet and occasionally do some book keeping with simple word processing software?
If you’re into video games you’re going to want a machine that can handle the high level of graphics and superior sound quality.
On the other hand if you’re not into all that high adrenalin stuff can probably get by with a less expensive system. Although, if you want to stay on the safe side I would recommend going with something more “high-end” so you don’t have to spend another large chunk of change to upgrade the system you just bought.
There are two basic routes you can take when purchasing a new computer.
1) Purchase a “Brand Name” Computer
2) Purchase a “Clone” Computer
A “BRAND-NAME” computer is one that is manufactured by a company that is recognizable by name.
Some Advantages/Disadvantages of “Brand-Name” computers include:
Advantages-
Customer Support- If you are experiencing problems with your computer you will have the option to contact a representative of the company that you purchased the PC from to get help in solving your problem.
Customer support is probably the best reason to buy a brand-name computer.
Warranty- Having a warranty is always nice since it acts as a type of security blanket for you.
In case a part on your computer should fail you should be able to get the item fixed at no charge just as long as the warranty has not expired.
Read and understand a company’s warranty policy BEFORE you purchase a computer from them.
This way you’ll have a good understanding of the procedures to follow in case a problem should arise.
Pre-installed Software- Many companies will include software packages that are all set up and ready to go for you on your computer.
Although, a disadvantage of buying a brand-name computer with software pre-installed is that you usually end up with more than fits your needs and usually just results with the wasting of space on your storage device.
Additional Support- Most brand-name computer companies are also able to provide you with web sites that may provide you with current software updates, user manuals, or basic troubleshooting help.
Disadvantages-
The use of Proprietary parts- the term Proprietary refers to products that are unique to an individual company and that company only.
So if a part was to malfunction on your computer after warranty and you needed to replace it you could not just go to your local computer store and purchase any old part even if it was intended for the same function as the item that failed.
You would be forced to buy the exact same item that came out of the computer or else the computer would more than likely cease to function correctly.
Having to buy proprietary parts usually involves the need to place an order which means you’ll have to wait for the part to arrive or you’ll have to send your computer into the company or an authorized dealer of that company for repairs.
People with a home based business would probably not be too happy with that situation at all.
Integrated/On-board parts- In the computer world when you hear the word integrated or on-board it means that a particular part such as the modem or sound port where you plug in your speakers, is built-in or part of the computer main board (Also known as the Motherboard).
This means that if any of these items should fail, you can’t just remove them from the computer and replace them with a new part. They are usually soldered directly to the main board and are stuck there.
Although, some computers do provide a way to disable a malfunctioning device which will allow you to install your own store bought device to take the place of the broken part.
From a computer technicians point of view this is not always easy to do.
It just depends on what brand of computer you currently have. Meaning some are easier to work on than others.
A “CLONE” computer is a clone or a copy of its brand-name counterpart with the exception that instead of company specific or proprietary parts, the items used to make a clone computer are from several different companies instead of only one.
Let’s say that if you were to go to a local company that builds “clone” computers, and you tell them what you need, chances are they don’t use parts that are specific to only that type of computer like the brand-name computer companies do.
This is a good thing because it means that they will probably use components that are interchangeable with many different brands and are easy to come by if needed.
Some Advantages/Disadvantages of “Clone” computers include:
Advantages-
Cost- compared to brand-name computers the clone will generally be easier on your pocket book when purchasing one with similar features as its brand-name counterpart.
This is most likely due to the money that is saved by not offering the high-end customer service. Although, that may not be the only reason for the lower prices.
Easily Accessible Replacement Parts- Since the clone computer was built with parts that are not any one company specific, you can buy parts for the clone computer that can be used even if the brand is different from the one that was in the computer when you originally bought it.
Note: Before you buy any parts, it is necessary to make sure that the replacement parts are compatible with your particular computers system requirements.
Either consult the manual that should have came with your computer or get help from a knowledgeable friend or repair person.
Disadvantages-
Warranties- Unless you purchase a service plan you will typically not have as an attractive warranty as you would with a brand-name computer company.
Whatever you do just make sure you understand how long the warranty is for and as to what kind of repairs the warranty covers before you make the purchase.
Customer Support- With brand-name computer companies you are usually provided with a 24-hour toll free number that you can call if you have questions or concerns with your computer.
Clone computers are more than likely not going to have a 24-hour help service, but rather you will be forced to only be able to call during regular business hours.
Also, it is more than likely that there will not be any one website that you can go to in order to find out information concerning troubleshooting questions you may have.
For service it may be necessary to take the computer back to the store that you bought it at or you may have to do some research on the individual parts that went into the computer and visit the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting tips.
Finally, if all else fails you can certainly take what you have learned from this article and being that you know what you need now, but don’t know where to go and get that “Perfect Computer”, the best resource at your disposal are the very men and woman that work at your local electronics shop.
It is their duty to help you get hold of that “Perfect Computer” that best fits your needs. All you need to do is tell them what you plan on using that computer for and they should be more than happy to help you from there.
Searching for that Perfect Computer can be about as much fun as purchasing a new car and about as frustrating also when sorting through the various brands while trying to decide which “bells and whistles” best fit your needs. Besides all that trying to return something that is so large can be both inconvenient and very difficult to do.
So making the right decision the
FIRST time is the wise path of choice.
For starters you’ll need to decide what you want to do with your computer. Are you into the video game scene or are you someone who likes to just surf the internet and occasionally do some book keeping with simple word processing software?
If you’re into video games you’re going to want a machine that can handle the high level of graphics and superior sound quality.
On the other hand if you’re not into all that high adrenalin stuff can probably get by with a less expensive system. Although, if you want to stay on the safe side I would recommend going with something more “high-end” so you don’t have to spend another large chunk of change to upgrade the system you just bought.
There are two basic routes you can take when purchasing a new computer.
1) Purchase a “Brand Name” Computer
2) Purchase a “Clone” Computer
A “BRAND-NAME” computer is one that is manufactured by a company that is recognizable by name.
Some Advantages/Disadvantages of “Brand-Name” computers include:
Advantages-
Customer Support- If you are experiencing problems with your computer you will have the option to contact a representative of the company that you purchased the PC from to get help in solving your problem.
Customer support is probably the best reason to buy a brand-name computer.
Warranty- Having a warranty is always nice since it acts as a type of security blanket for you.
In case a part on your computer should fail you should be able to get the item fixed at no charge just as long as the warranty has not expired.
Read and understand a company’s warranty policy BEFORE you purchase a computer from them.
This way you’ll have a good understanding of the procedures to follow in case a problem should arise.
Pre-installed Software- Many companies will include software packages that are all set up and ready to go for you on your computer.
Although, a disadvantage of buying a brand-name computer with software pre-installed is that you usually end up with more than fits your needs and usually just results with the wasting of space on your storage device.
Additional Support- Most brand-name computer companies are also able to provide you with web sites that may provide you with current software updates, user manuals, or basic troubleshooting help.
Disadvantages-
The use of Proprietary parts- the term Proprietary refers to products that are unique to an individual company and that company only.
So if a part was to malfunction on your computer after warranty and you needed to replace it you could not just go to your local computer store and purchase any old part even if it was intended for the same function as the item that failed.
You would be forced to buy the exact same item that came out of the computer or else the computer would more than likely cease to function correctly.
Having to buy proprietary parts usually involves the need to place an order which means you’ll have to wait for the part to arrive or you’ll have to send your computer into the company or an authorized dealer of that company for repairs.
People with a home based business would probably not be too happy with that situation at all.
Integrated/On-board parts- In the computer world when you hear the word integrated or on-board it means that a particular part such as the modem or sound port where you plug in your speakers, is built-in or part of the computer main board (Also known as the Motherboard).
This means that if any of these items should fail, you can’t just remove them from the computer and replace them with a new part. They are usually soldered directly to the main board and are stuck there.
Although, some computers do provide a way to disable a malfunctioning device which will allow you to install your own store bought device to take the place of the broken part.
From a computer technicians point of view this is not always easy to do.
It just depends on what brand of computer you currently have. Meaning some are easier to work on than others.
A “CLONE” computer is a clone or a copy of its brand-name counterpart with the exception that instead of company specific or proprietary parts, the items used to make a clone computer are from several different companies instead of only one.
Let’s say that if you were to go to a local company that builds “clone” computers, and you tell them what you need, chances are they don’t use parts that are specific to only that type of computer like the brand-name computer companies do.
This is a good thing because it means that they will probably use components that are interchangeable with many different brands and are easy to come by if needed.
Some Advantages/Disadvantages of “Clone” computers include:
Advantages-
Cost- compared to brand-name computers the clone will generally be easier on your pocket book when purchasing one with similar features as its brand-name counterpart.
This is most likely due to the money that is saved by not offering the high-end customer service. Although, that may not be the only reason for the lower prices.
Easily Accessible Replacement Parts- Since the clone computer was built with parts that are not any one company specific, you can buy parts for the clone computer that can be used even if the brand is different from the one that was in the computer when you originally bought it.
Note: Before you buy any parts, it is necessary to make sure that the replacement parts are compatible with your particular computers system requirements.
Either consult the manual that should have came with your computer or get help from a knowledgeable friend or repair person.
Disadvantages-
Warranties- Unless you purchase a service plan you will typically not have as an attractive warranty as you would with a brand-name computer company.
Whatever you do just make sure you understand how long the warranty is for and as to what kind of repairs the warranty covers before you make the purchase.
Customer Support- With brand-name computer companies you are usually provided with a 24-hour toll free number that you can call if you have questions or concerns with your computer.
Clone computers are more than likely not going to have a 24-hour help service, but rather you will be forced to only be able to call during regular business hours.
Also, it is more than likely that there will not be any one website that you can go to in order to find out information concerning troubleshooting questions you may have.
For service it may be necessary to take the computer back to the store that you bought it at or you may have to do some research on the individual parts that went into the computer and visit the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting tips.
Finally, if all else fails you can certainly take what you have learned from this article and being that you know what you need now, but don’t know where to go and get that “Perfect Computer”, the best resource at your disposal are the very men and woman that work at your local electronics shop.
It is their duty to help you get hold of that “Perfect Computer” that best fits your needs. All you need to do is tell them what you plan on using that computer for and they should be more than happy to help you from there.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Product Review: Affiliate Mistakes Special Report
In his ebook "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck McCullough teaches you how to spot and avoid or correct ten simple, yet costly errors that can seriously damage your efforts to promote affiliate programs successfully. Instead of writing about the broad based generalities of affiliate marketing, Chuck takes you by the hand and teaches you why most affiliates never make a dime in commission. Then using a detailed and systematic approach, he provides you with an effective, easy to implement solution to correct these mistakes.
The ebook prints out to about 151 pages and although some of the information may seem pretty basic to some advanced affiliate marketers, it does cover in detail how to avoid the mistakes that 95% of all affiliate marketers are making. Most of this ebook delivers rock solid information that both beginning and intermediate affiliate marketers can put to use.
Chuck McCullough is the owner of AffiliateMatch.com one of the most visited affiliate program directories on the internet today. Chuck also owns FindSticky.com and publishes the Affiliate Informer Newsletter. Chucks' experience in affiliate marketing along with his unique perspective and boundless enthusiasm, make him very qualified to write a report on affiliate program marketing.
In "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck doesn't just tell you what the most common affiliate mistakes are, he provides you with a very clear and concise solution to each of the mistakes. Chuck has divided up each of the mistakes into a chapter of its own.
Chapter 1 on why you should actually own the products you promote, and Chapter 2 about trying to promote too many programs at once were two dynamite chapters. They were 100% right on the mark. McCullough must not believe in appetizers, because he gives you the meat and potatoes right off the bat in this report!
Chapter 5 which provides a glimpse into Chuck's "unconventional wisdom" which proved to me that Chuck was holding nothing back in this report. There is also an additonal chapter on Advanced Topics and two other bonus chapters. One of the bonus chapters provides you with a nifty "secret". I will be adding this "secret" to my site.
Though Chuck's expertise in affiliate marketing is clearly evident throughout the book, I thought a section in chapter 7 about calculating the worth of a visitor when you are purchasing traffic from pay-per-click search engines was a bit confusing. However, after my 13 year old son explained it to me, it became crystal clear. So, maybe this initial confusion on my part should be attributed more to my mathematical dysfunction and less to Chuck's formula.
In his sales copy, McCullough asserts that anyone can learn the exact methods necessary to have a profitable online business. Now, I am the world's leading skeptic when a person says "anyone". However, after reading this report, I can see how he can actually back up this claim.
Chuck takes the high road in his report and tells you right up front that making money on the internet is hard work. He deserves high marks for his honesty. Making Money on the internet is certainly not as easy as some of the "gurus" would have you believe. What makes this report different in my opinion is that McCullough's approach is not only about affiliate marketing it's also about business building.
If you are interested in promoting affiliate programs and building your online business the correct way, then I give "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report" my highest recommendation and a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.
For more information on Chuck McCullough's ebook, "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," please visit http://www.affiliatemistakes.com/c.pl/coopsd
Hopefully Chuck will produce another ebook that will teach us another important aspect of internet marketing in the same well-written manner.
The ebook prints out to about 151 pages and although some of the information may seem pretty basic to some advanced affiliate marketers, it does cover in detail how to avoid the mistakes that 95% of all affiliate marketers are making. Most of this ebook delivers rock solid information that both beginning and intermediate affiliate marketers can put to use.
Chuck McCullough is the owner of AffiliateMatch.com one of the most visited affiliate program directories on the internet today. Chuck also owns FindSticky.com and publishes the Affiliate Informer Newsletter. Chucks' experience in affiliate marketing along with his unique perspective and boundless enthusiasm, make him very qualified to write a report on affiliate program marketing.
In "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck doesn't just tell you what the most common affiliate mistakes are, he provides you with a very clear and concise solution to each of the mistakes. Chuck has divided up each of the mistakes into a chapter of its own.
Chapter 1 on why you should actually own the products you promote, and Chapter 2 about trying to promote too many programs at once were two dynamite chapters. They were 100% right on the mark. McCullough must not believe in appetizers, because he gives you the meat and potatoes right off the bat in this report!
Chapter 5 which provides a glimpse into Chuck's "unconventional wisdom" which proved to me that Chuck was holding nothing back in this report. There is also an additonal chapter on Advanced Topics and two other bonus chapters. One of the bonus chapters provides you with a nifty "secret". I will be adding this "secret" to my site.
Though Chuck's expertise in affiliate marketing is clearly evident throughout the book, I thought a section in chapter 7 about calculating the worth of a visitor when you are purchasing traffic from pay-per-click search engines was a bit confusing. However, after my 13 year old son explained it to me, it became crystal clear. So, maybe this initial confusion on my part should be attributed more to my mathematical dysfunction and less to Chuck's formula.
In his sales copy, McCullough asserts that anyone can learn the exact methods necessary to have a profitable online business. Now, I am the world's leading skeptic when a person says "anyone". However, after reading this report, I can see how he can actually back up this claim.
Chuck takes the high road in his report and tells you right up front that making money on the internet is hard work. He deserves high marks for his honesty. Making Money on the internet is certainly not as easy as some of the "gurus" would have you believe. What makes this report different in my opinion is that McCullough's approach is not only about affiliate marketing it's also about business building.
If you are interested in promoting affiliate programs and building your online business the correct way, then I give "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report" my highest recommendation and a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.
For more information on Chuck McCullough's ebook, "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," please visit http://www.affiliatemistakes.com/c.pl/coopsd
Hopefully Chuck will produce another ebook that will teach us another important aspect of internet marketing in the same well-written manner.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Health and Medical Advice on the Internet: Use it Wisely to Overcome Illness and Find More Happiness in Your Life
I’ve got a bit of a problem with depression and anxiety. I’ve been tackling these problems for several years without the use of modern medicine. Tai Chi, meditation, martial arts (exercise), and positive interaction with other people seem to keep a lid on my illnesses most of the time. I don’t like the idea of medication’s side effects, and I don’t believe the answers in life are often found in the easy path (E.G. taking a pill), but rather on the hard path of effort and determination. This is not to say that I don’t feel medicine is not effective, not at all, I just feel all the options should be looked at before making big decisions to do with one’s health.
Health of body and mind has always been one of the most important issues in life for us humans. Seeing a doctor is usually the best option when one comes down with an illness or ailment, but people have always tried alternative routes to recovery: E. G. the ‘home doctor’ books of old. Maybe you don’t like sitting in a room waiting with a bunch of other sick people-you might catch something there! You could be housebound, or maybe you feel like hearing several opinions as you’ve found past experiences with some doctors have been tainted by poor judgments. Well, the Internet is here with a multitude of options to help you get better.
Medical advice and data abounds on this household tool in the form of self-help sites, searchable medical encyclopedias, support groups, live chats with doctors, and you can even have professional consultations on-line (for a fee). My advice is to just be wary of the type of language that the site is expressing. Many sites will have extensive lists telling you of all the symptoms in the Universe: everybody on Earth could be construed as being ill in some way! This can cause people with a propensity for hypochondria to start diagnosing themselves with all sorts of diseases. In my case, reading about all the symptoms of depression actually made me feel more depressed as it made me focus on my weaknesses (without too many optimistic perspectives or treatments expressed on some sites).
Look for sites that look at things in a positive light. Maybe search out some alternative therapies as well so you can get all the possible different approaches that can be taken to tackle your illness. Some websites can be very helpful with interactive features like ‘Ask the doctor”, on-line questionnaires, and question and answer archives that give you an idea of what others have asked and the solutions they were presented with. There is heaps of information on both prescription and over-the counter medicines so you can make your choices in an informed manner. You can often find information specific to groups, like children, the elderly, men and women.
Just remember your body is your temple and you must be wary of many variables not often foretold in literature. Beware of medicines from other countries as they may be different or have different names. Keep in mind only you know your personal history, all people are different, and always get several opinions. Watch out for sites with grandiose claims as miracles come from higher powers and not from companies who might just want to get rich quick!
I do acknowledge the fitness and diet sites as being very useful as well. You can devise your own fitness plan derived from lifestyle information, and forums and newsgroups give you many opinions on which road to take. You can have your diet analyzed by on-line trainers, some of which send free newsletters and even send you emails of encouragement to help you towards your goal.
So, there’s a whole new world of on-line health advice and information for humanity to access right from home. Get all your options and remember your attitude is often the first real step to overcoming physical, mental, and spiritual adversity!
Health of body and mind has always been one of the most important issues in life for us humans. Seeing a doctor is usually the best option when one comes down with an illness or ailment, but people have always tried alternative routes to recovery: E. G. the ‘home doctor’ books of old. Maybe you don’t like sitting in a room waiting with a bunch of other sick people-you might catch something there! You could be housebound, or maybe you feel like hearing several opinions as you’ve found past experiences with some doctors have been tainted by poor judgments. Well, the Internet is here with a multitude of options to help you get better.
Medical advice and data abounds on this household tool in the form of self-help sites, searchable medical encyclopedias, support groups, live chats with doctors, and you can even have professional consultations on-line (for a fee). My advice is to just be wary of the type of language that the site is expressing. Many sites will have extensive lists telling you of all the symptoms in the Universe: everybody on Earth could be construed as being ill in some way! This can cause people with a propensity for hypochondria to start diagnosing themselves with all sorts of diseases. In my case, reading about all the symptoms of depression actually made me feel more depressed as it made me focus on my weaknesses (without too many optimistic perspectives or treatments expressed on some sites).
Look for sites that look at things in a positive light. Maybe search out some alternative therapies as well so you can get all the possible different approaches that can be taken to tackle your illness. Some websites can be very helpful with interactive features like ‘Ask the doctor”, on-line questionnaires, and question and answer archives that give you an idea of what others have asked and the solutions they were presented with. There is heaps of information on both prescription and over-the counter medicines so you can make your choices in an informed manner. You can often find information specific to groups, like children, the elderly, men and women.
Just remember your body is your temple and you must be wary of many variables not often foretold in literature. Beware of medicines from other countries as they may be different or have different names. Keep in mind only you know your personal history, all people are different, and always get several opinions. Watch out for sites with grandiose claims as miracles come from higher powers and not from companies who might just want to get rich quick!
I do acknowledge the fitness and diet sites as being very useful as well. You can devise your own fitness plan derived from lifestyle information, and forums and newsgroups give you many opinions on which road to take. You can have your diet analyzed by on-line trainers, some of which send free newsletters and even send you emails of encouragement to help you towards your goal.
So, there’s a whole new world of on-line health advice and information for humanity to access right from home. Get all your options and remember your attitude is often the first real step to overcoming physical, mental, and spiritual adversity!
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Computers and Web Cams are Taking Communication to Levels Only Imagined in Sci-Fi Novels
One of the most incredible inventions I’ve ever come across is the web cam and its process of video conferencing. This is just so futuristic I can’t believe they really exist and are readily available to anyone with the Internet, speakers, and the right software. I’m not absolutely sure but doesn’t this spell the end of telephones? Now we can have conversations with people on the other side of the world, and see their face moving as we hear them speaking live.
Picture this: You’re an Antarctic explorer on a solo journey in the middle of the ice and snow on your way to the South Pole. The only living creatures around are the slippery penguins sliding around having fun. You’re in your special tent keeping safe from the intense wind from the blizzard outside. As you boil up water on your portable stove you flip open your laptop (with battery recharger, broadband Internet, and in-built speakers) and connect with your family back in Russia. You can see their smiles as you hear them speak. What a magical connection!
Another great aspect of video conferencing is the fact that you can communicate with whole groups of people at once either through networking a group of computers or by form of broadcast. This is a huge step forward for both companies and for schools. I’ve heard corporations have saved a lot of money and time, and students are enjoying learning this way much more than from a textbook. Informed people can talk to classes and help them learn, where otherwise they wouldn’t be able to because of time and distance restrictions. This is also a bonus for children who have different learning styles. E.G. The more visual types who understand better when they can see what they’re working with.
Feasibly, a surgeon in Japan could watch an operation in Australia and even ask the doctor in progress questions about procedures. It’s obvious that video conferencing will both help humans evolve further through the sharing of knowledge as well as keep loved ones more connected when they are far from home.
A lot of people who are either fascinated or obsessed with sex will also tell you about the benefits of this technology for their voyeuristic purposes, but I’m not going to go there. Science Fiction has once again turned to reality, and I hope we can truly make the most of this invention created by humans who wish to make society a better place.
Picture this: You’re an Antarctic explorer on a solo journey in the middle of the ice and snow on your way to the South Pole. The only living creatures around are the slippery penguins sliding around having fun. You’re in your special tent keeping safe from the intense wind from the blizzard outside. As you boil up water on your portable stove you flip open your laptop (with battery recharger, broadband Internet, and in-built speakers) and connect with your family back in Russia. You can see their smiles as you hear them speak. What a magical connection!
Another great aspect of video conferencing is the fact that you can communicate with whole groups of people at once either through networking a group of computers or by form of broadcast. This is a huge step forward for both companies and for schools. I’ve heard corporations have saved a lot of money and time, and students are enjoying learning this way much more than from a textbook. Informed people can talk to classes and help them learn, where otherwise they wouldn’t be able to because of time and distance restrictions. This is also a bonus for children who have different learning styles. E.G. The more visual types who understand better when they can see what they’re working with.
Feasibly, a surgeon in Japan could watch an operation in Australia and even ask the doctor in progress questions about procedures. It’s obvious that video conferencing will both help humans evolve further through the sharing of knowledge as well as keep loved ones more connected when they are far from home.
A lot of people who are either fascinated or obsessed with sex will also tell you about the benefits of this technology for their voyeuristic purposes, but I’m not going to go there. Science Fiction has once again turned to reality, and I hope we can truly make the most of this invention created by humans who wish to make society a better place.
Friday, January 5, 2007
ExactSeek Explained (Part 1)
This article takes an in-depth look at some of the innovations introduced at ExactSeek.com (http://www.exactseek.com), including, most recently, the implementation of a unique ranking algorithm that factors in Alexa traffic data.
Search engines basically cater to two audiences - webmasters and web searchers. Although there is an obvious overlap between the two groups, the latter dominates in numbers and most search engines bend over backwards to keep web searchers happy by continually tweaking search result algorithms. Webmasters, on the other hand, are more or less left to fend for themselves.
ExactSeek was founded 2 years ago on the premise that webmasters/site owners are the driving force on the Web - not in numbers, but in terms of ideas, development, enthusiasm and innovation. The goal for ExactSeek, then and now, was to build a major engine that catered to this audience and web searchers more or less equally. Part 1 of this article deals with ExactSeek's focus on webmasters.
FREE SITE LISTINGS
ExactSeek's belief in the importance of the webmaster audience to search engine growth and traffic resulted in the rapid introduction of three types of free site listings, each geared to helping webmasters give their websites maximum exposure within the search engine.
Here's a short explanation of each:
Standard listings: As the name implies, this site listing is just a basic website listing in the ExactSeek database, comprised of Site Name (taken from the Title tag), description (taken from the Meta Description tag) and Site Link (the website URL).
These basic listings show up numbered 1 to 10, etc. in ExactSeek's search result pages. Any webmaster can obtain a Standard Listing simply by filling out the form at: http://www.exactseek.com/add.html
Enhanced listings: Not strictly a website listing - really more of an enhancement to the standard website listing. In brief, an enhanced listing consists of a small icon residing next to a website's standard listing which when clicked opens a 150x150 javascript window with additional information about that website. The cool thing about the enhanced listing is that webmasters can add up to 800 characters of text or HTML code to the content of the window, allowing them to:
* Embed audio, video or Flash.
* Include logo, product or service images.
* Include links to secondary site pages.
* Use font enhancements (size, color, style).
* Include more detailed information about their websites.
Simple examples can be seen at: http://www.exactseek.com/enhanced.html
Priority listings: Introduced for those webmasters who wanted something in return for adding an ExactSeek search form to their websites. These listings appear in the first 10 to 100 ExactSeek search results, highlighted against a light blue background. Visit the link below to see an actual example: http://exactseek.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?term=perl
Obtaining a priority listing is a simple 3 step process outlined at: http://www.exactseek.com/add_priority.html
The three types of listings noted above offer any half way knowledgeable webmaster a means to maximize site exposure with minimal effort. Best of all, any site meeting ExactSeek's submission guidelines is added within 24 hours. No pointless weeks or months of waiting. In 24 hours, websites are either indexed or not. If not, the most common reasons are:
1. The site submitted lacked a Title tag. The ExactSeek crawler ignores sites without Title tags.
2. The site submitted was pornographic or contained illegal content.
3. The site submitted was dynamically generated and its URL contained non-standard characters like question marks (?), ampersands (&), equal signs (=) percent symbols (%) and/or plus signs (+).
4. The submitting webmaster failed to respond to the submission verification email message sent out by ExactSeek. Or, as is becoming more and more common, the webmaster failed to receive the message due to sp@m and ISP filtering and, thus, could not confirm submission. Webmasters using AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo email addresses may soon find it impossible to have their websites added to any search engine using a verification system.
THE DO-IT-YOURSELF APPROACH
One of the most irritating things about many search engines is that it can take weeks or even months for free website submissions to be indexed. And once sites have been added, it can take weeks for changes to content and/or tags to be re-indexed and for webmasters to see if those changes had a positive effect on site ranking.
ExactSeek opted to put a measure of control back in webmaster hands by introducing a do-it-yourself approach. Early on, two simple online tools were made available which allowed webmasters to quickly check the positioning of any website in the ExactSeek database for any keyword(s) relevant to that site and then, if necessary, do something about it.
(a.) Site Ranking Tool
Tracks the top 10,000 site rankings for all keywords in the ExactSeek database, allowing a webmaster to find his site ranking for any keyword(s) relevant to his website.
(b.) Web Crawler Tool
Allows webmasters to schedule recrawls of their websites as often as once per week. Self-scheduled recrawls and instant site ranking checks provide webmasters with a quick read on which optimization strategies work and which don't.
Both of the above tools can be found with additional explanation on the following page: http://www.exactseek.com/srank.html
DO-IT-YOURSELF - THE NEXT STEP
More recently, ExactSeek implemented a simple free membership system that takes the do-it-yourself approach one step further. Any webmaster who has successfully submitted a website to ExactSeek is automatically a member and can obtain a Member ID and Password for login purposes by using the appropriate form at the ExactSeek Member Login page. (http://www.exactseek.com/member.html)
After logging in, webmasters can access a Member Account Manager which allows them to edit, enhance, delete and/or recrawl their site listings as often as they like. Revolutionary? Maybe not, but a big step away from total reliance on search engine scheduling.
Part 2 of this article will look at how traffic data from Alexa Internet was incorporated into the new ExactSeek ranking algorithm, the algorithm's impact on delivering quality search results and at how ExactSeek's new paid inclusion program stacks up against other paid inclusion and PPC programs.
Search engines basically cater to two audiences - webmasters and web searchers. Although there is an obvious overlap between the two groups, the latter dominates in numbers and most search engines bend over backwards to keep web searchers happy by continually tweaking search result algorithms. Webmasters, on the other hand, are more or less left to fend for themselves.
ExactSeek was founded 2 years ago on the premise that webmasters/site owners are the driving force on the Web - not in numbers, but in terms of ideas, development, enthusiasm and innovation. The goal for ExactSeek, then and now, was to build a major engine that catered to this audience and web searchers more or less equally. Part 1 of this article deals with ExactSeek's focus on webmasters.
FREE SITE LISTINGS
ExactSeek's belief in the importance of the webmaster audience to search engine growth and traffic resulted in the rapid introduction of three types of free site listings, each geared to helping webmasters give their websites maximum exposure within the search engine.
Here's a short explanation of each:
Standard listings: As the name implies, this site listing is just a basic website listing in the ExactSeek database, comprised of Site Name (taken from the Title tag), description (taken from the Meta Description tag) and Site Link (the website URL).
These basic listings show up numbered 1 to 10, etc. in ExactSeek's search result pages. Any webmaster can obtain a Standard Listing simply by filling out the form at: http://www.exactseek.com/add.html
Enhanced listings: Not strictly a website listing - really more of an enhancement to the standard website listing. In brief, an enhanced listing consists of a small icon residing next to a website's standard listing which when clicked opens a 150x150 javascript window with additional information about that website. The cool thing about the enhanced listing is that webmasters can add up to 800 characters of text or HTML code to the content of the window, allowing them to:
* Embed audio, video or Flash.
* Include logo, product or service images.
* Include links to secondary site pages.
* Use font enhancements (size, color, style).
* Include more detailed information about their websites.
Simple examples can be seen at: http://www.exactseek.com/enhanced.html
Priority listings: Introduced for those webmasters who wanted something in return for adding an ExactSeek search form to their websites. These listings appear in the first 10 to 100 ExactSeek search results, highlighted against a light blue background. Visit the link below to see an actual example: http://exactseek.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?term=perl
Obtaining a priority listing is a simple 3 step process outlined at: http://www.exactseek.com/add_priority.html
The three types of listings noted above offer any half way knowledgeable webmaster a means to maximize site exposure with minimal effort. Best of all, any site meeting ExactSeek's submission guidelines is added within 24 hours. No pointless weeks or months of waiting. In 24 hours, websites are either indexed or not. If not, the most common reasons are:
1. The site submitted lacked a Title tag. The ExactSeek crawler ignores sites without Title tags.
2. The site submitted was pornographic or contained illegal content.
3. The site submitted was dynamically generated and its URL contained non-standard characters like question marks (?), ampersands (&), equal signs (=) percent symbols (%) and/or plus signs (+).
4. The submitting webmaster failed to respond to the submission verification email message sent out by ExactSeek. Or, as is becoming more and more common, the webmaster failed to receive the message due to sp@m and ISP filtering and, thus, could not confirm submission. Webmasters using AOL, Hotmail and Yahoo email addresses may soon find it impossible to have their websites added to any search engine using a verification system.
THE DO-IT-YOURSELF APPROACH
One of the most irritating things about many search engines is that it can take weeks or even months for free website submissions to be indexed. And once sites have been added, it can take weeks for changes to content and/or tags to be re-indexed and for webmasters to see if those changes had a positive effect on site ranking.
ExactSeek opted to put a measure of control back in webmaster hands by introducing a do-it-yourself approach. Early on, two simple online tools were made available which allowed webmasters to quickly check the positioning of any website in the ExactSeek database for any keyword(s) relevant to that site and then, if necessary, do something about it.
(a.) Site Ranking Tool
Tracks the top 10,000 site rankings for all keywords in the ExactSeek database, allowing a webmaster to find his site ranking for any keyword(s) relevant to his website.
(b.) Web Crawler Tool
Allows webmasters to schedule recrawls of their websites as often as once per week. Self-scheduled recrawls and instant site ranking checks provide webmasters with a quick read on which optimization strategies work and which don't.
Both of the above tools can be found with additional explanation on the following page: http://www.exactseek.com/srank.html
DO-IT-YOURSELF - THE NEXT STEP
More recently, ExactSeek implemented a simple free membership system that takes the do-it-yourself approach one step further. Any webmaster who has successfully submitted a website to ExactSeek is automatically a member and can obtain a Member ID and Password for login purposes by using the appropriate form at the ExactSeek Member Login page. (http://www.exactseek.com/member.html)
After logging in, webmasters can access a Member Account Manager which allows them to edit, enhance, delete and/or recrawl their site listings as often as they like. Revolutionary? Maybe not, but a big step away from total reliance on search engine scheduling.
Part 2 of this article will look at how traffic data from Alexa Internet was incorporated into the new ExactSeek ranking algorithm, the algorithm's impact on delivering quality search results and at how ExactSeek's new paid inclusion program stacks up against other paid inclusion and PPC programs.
The Fearful, Ignorant Guy Has Got A Blog On The Internet. It Must Be Easy!
Of all people in the world I was easily one of the most pessimistic about computers, the Internet and now that I even know they exist-blogs. I think blogs are pretty cool but I never thought I could have one. I thought the processes of getting a site; domain name and the actual building of the blog would just be out of my league. I’m a complete novice when it comes to technology, but I do like writing a journal, and I thought having a journal on-line would be both fun and make life simpler for me. No more writing with pens, other people can read my stuff and comment on it, and I could add pictures to illustrate my points and make things look more interesting.
Well, now I’ve got one! It’s awesome. I won’t lie and say it was easy, but I think if you hook up with a good web hosting company it’s not such a daunting experience as you might expect. I got a few work mates to help me. I went through a couple administrative hitches when filling in my personal information forms for the registration-just because I’m a bit silly in the head. We had a little trouble with the blog program we used, but these challenges were eventually overcome. My boss says he’s going to make a simple program that people can hook up easily.
I chose my domain name: thepowerofeverythingthatis.com. It’s my own name-no one else on Earth can have it. I own it. I picked a nice picture out for the background-it looks really sweet, much better than a blank sheet in a diary. I got it from a site that gives photos out without charging a royalty (the first few): www.istockphoto.com.
I just want you to know the great feeling I got when I first typed in my domain name and my site came up! It was the equivalent to a person who’s afraid of heights being accepted into an astronaut’s mission into outer space. Or maybe it was like a turtle driving a Ferrari 300km per hour. Possibly it was like all the ants in the world getting together for peace talks.
It’s a real blast having this blog. I can write on it any time, anywhere, from my laptop, at an Internet café etc. I can write as much as I want, and I’m hoping one day my writing may inspire others to communicate with me about the subjects that I’m interested in.
Look, if you like writing about anything, and want to have your thoughts and opinions on the Internet, maybe meeting others similar to yourself in the progress; you have to get a blog and get it now. Don’t be afraid any longer, the world is in the palm of your hands; it’s time to get on!
Well, now I’ve got one! It’s awesome. I won’t lie and say it was easy, but I think if you hook up with a good web hosting company it’s not such a daunting experience as you might expect. I got a few work mates to help me. I went through a couple administrative hitches when filling in my personal information forms for the registration-just because I’m a bit silly in the head. We had a little trouble with the blog program we used, but these challenges were eventually overcome. My boss says he’s going to make a simple program that people can hook up easily.
I chose my domain name: thepowerofeverythingthatis.com. It’s my own name-no one else on Earth can have it. I own it. I picked a nice picture out for the background-it looks really sweet, much better than a blank sheet in a diary. I got it from a site that gives photos out without charging a royalty (the first few): www.istockphoto.com.
I just want you to know the great feeling I got when I first typed in my domain name and my site came up! It was the equivalent to a person who’s afraid of heights being accepted into an astronaut’s mission into outer space. Or maybe it was like a turtle driving a Ferrari 300km per hour. Possibly it was like all the ants in the world getting together for peace talks.
It’s a real blast having this blog. I can write on it any time, anywhere, from my laptop, at an Internet café etc. I can write as much as I want, and I’m hoping one day my writing may inspire others to communicate with me about the subjects that I’m interested in.
Look, if you like writing about anything, and want to have your thoughts and opinions on the Internet, maybe meeting others similar to yourself in the progress; you have to get a blog and get it now. Don’t be afraid any longer, the world is in the palm of your hands; it’s time to get on!
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Maria’s New Lifestyle: Short Story About The Benefits Shopping On The Net Has Given To A Dedicated Artist
I’ve got this strange friend; her name is Maria. Maria’s always been a little weird but now things have gotten unworldly altogether. You see, Maria’s an artist; she’s into sculpture in particular, of which she specializes in the manipulation of Perspex with a blowtorch. Lately I haven’t seen too much of her as she’s hooked up the Internet. Actually not many people at all have seen her recently; she says she’s working on a big project.
Now that she’s got the Internet she reckons she can focus a lot more on her work without distractions. She doesn’t ‘waste’ time doing grocery shopping anymore. Now she orders all her food and household items. She says if she’s extremely busy, her weekly list is saved into the computer, and she just clicks on ‘order’ and the usual stuff is delivered to her door every week. No more driving, parking, searching for stuff, standing in line, dealing with bored and under slept cashiers. I’m starting to think it’s not such a bad idea. Maria is pretty proud. She’s now organizing for a local greengrocer to deliver her fruit and vegetables too.
Maria has always had a ‘thing’ for Donald Duck. On the Net she’s found all these rare collectable dealers like Ebay. When she’s not warping Perspex into postmodern configurations representing the need for a more spiritual existence, she’s thriving in the consumerist world of finding and bidding for Donald Duck comic books from the 1950’s. Last I heard a friend said she’s actually starting to look like a duck herself!
All this Internet shopping is pretty new to me, it sounds like it really could help a lot of people out. However for recluse artists it could be the final straw for friends and family who may never see their buddies again! Nah, its cool-I just hope Maria’s new project isn’t a giant Perspex Donald Duck. I don’t think the world needs any more Donald Ducks!
I just got back from Maria’s place. You’re not going to believe what I saw. She was actually having a party, and I wasn’t invited. Maybe she thinks I’m boring compared to her new friends. She says she met them on the Internet, a whole bunch of people into Donald Duck! One guy was actually dressed up like Yosemite Sam-gun belt and all! It seems I’m the odd one out.
Before I left her place she showed me her new sculpture. I underestimated her newfound love. It’s a giant computer; inside it is filled with the heads of all her friends (me included). Of course none of us had human mouths, smiling duck beaks adorned all the heads, a definite sign of the Internet’s powerful influence, and of the collective warping of today’s society!
Now that she’s got the Internet she reckons she can focus a lot more on her work without distractions. She doesn’t ‘waste’ time doing grocery shopping anymore. Now she orders all her food and household items. She says if she’s extremely busy, her weekly list is saved into the computer, and she just clicks on ‘order’ and the usual stuff is delivered to her door every week. No more driving, parking, searching for stuff, standing in line, dealing with bored and under slept cashiers. I’m starting to think it’s not such a bad idea. Maria is pretty proud. She’s now organizing for a local greengrocer to deliver her fruit and vegetables too.
Maria has always had a ‘thing’ for Donald Duck. On the Net she’s found all these rare collectable dealers like Ebay. When she’s not warping Perspex into postmodern configurations representing the need for a more spiritual existence, she’s thriving in the consumerist world of finding and bidding for Donald Duck comic books from the 1950’s. Last I heard a friend said she’s actually starting to look like a duck herself!
All this Internet shopping is pretty new to me, it sounds like it really could help a lot of people out. However for recluse artists it could be the final straw for friends and family who may never see their buddies again! Nah, its cool-I just hope Maria’s new project isn’t a giant Perspex Donald Duck. I don’t think the world needs any more Donald Ducks!
I just got back from Maria’s place. You’re not going to believe what I saw. She was actually having a party, and I wasn’t invited. Maybe she thinks I’m boring compared to her new friends. She says she met them on the Internet, a whole bunch of people into Donald Duck! One guy was actually dressed up like Yosemite Sam-gun belt and all! It seems I’m the odd one out.
Before I left her place she showed me her new sculpture. I underestimated her newfound love. It’s a giant computer; inside it is filled with the heads of all her friends (me included). Of course none of us had human mouths, smiling duck beaks adorned all the heads, a definite sign of the Internet’s powerful influence, and of the collective warping of today’s society!
Monday, January 1, 2007
Who Needs T.V. News, Newspapers and Radio News? “Not I!” Says The Happy Human Living In The New World
T.V. and radio News got you down? On-line current events and News blogs make being informed a much more enjoyable experience. For many the News on television has become a trying time of the day. Focused mainly on negative events, you may have to wait through the whole program just to hear the one story you were waiting for. If you miss the 6:00 p.m. show, waiting until the late night segment can be a real drag, especially if you’ve got a lot to do, or have to wake up early the next morning.
My friends, there is an answer to this problem: News blogs or on-line current events. You can find all of your favorite broadcasters (E.g.: CNN, BBC) on the Internet, getting up-to-date information at any time of the day or night. You can even read personal journal entries written by multiple correspondents out in the field reporting on several different stories down to the current minute. Instead of hearing all News from one voice (often an irritating one), now you can read different human opinions straight from the scene of interest.
Often News on-line has a section called “themes” which allows the reader to only hear about the specific areas that interest them. No more waiting through several wars to get to the positive story about the current medical breakthrough that could mean a cure for disease, or the technological idea that might mean the end to extreme pollution levels. Like a newspaper, you can go straight to the “jobs” theme and search through all the current employment vacancies available. If you are obsessed with the negative, themes such as “Disaster and Tragedy” and “Crime and Punishment are still readily accessible.
As the News is now on the Internet it has also become an interactive experience in numerous ways. First of all now you can send News stories straight to the News companies yourself! If the story is deemed worthwhile and verifiable, you may even be published. This is also the case with photographers who have pictures of important events. It really means anyone can become a part of the action as a freelance consultant. Some News on-line have “witness” sections where you can tell your story if you happen to have been in the right place at the right time. This option means that we can hear many different views on contentious issues giving a wider perspective to the ‘big picture’.
Some News sites also have interactive sites within. For example, on the BBC News Blog there is a learning site (BBCi Learning) that involves interactive activities and over half a million pages of factual information and resources available for children, adolescents, and adults. There are competitions and all sorts of games to help educate people in any and every area of interest imaginable.
Another great aspect of these on-line News sites is the ability to access archival information. You can watch video and listen to audio recordings of famous historical stories right on the computer. If the day is Feb.3, you can read articles from Feb.3’s from fifty years ago. Looking up any date and year recorded is as easy as pushing a few buttons.
Some services have subscriptions where instead of looking up the website, the News you want is sent straight to your email. Being in the know, and being in the now, has never been such an objective, enjoyable, and simplistic experience as in the 21st century. Partaking in a new perspective on life is what on-line current events and News Blogs are all about.
My friends, there is an answer to this problem: News blogs or on-line current events. You can find all of your favorite broadcasters (E.g.: CNN, BBC) on the Internet, getting up-to-date information at any time of the day or night. You can even read personal journal entries written by multiple correspondents out in the field reporting on several different stories down to the current minute. Instead of hearing all News from one voice (often an irritating one), now you can read different human opinions straight from the scene of interest.
Often News on-line has a section called “themes” which allows the reader to only hear about the specific areas that interest them. No more waiting through several wars to get to the positive story about the current medical breakthrough that could mean a cure for disease, or the technological idea that might mean the end to extreme pollution levels. Like a newspaper, you can go straight to the “jobs” theme and search through all the current employment vacancies available. If you are obsessed with the negative, themes such as “Disaster and Tragedy” and “Crime and Punishment are still readily accessible.
As the News is now on the Internet it has also become an interactive experience in numerous ways. First of all now you can send News stories straight to the News companies yourself! If the story is deemed worthwhile and verifiable, you may even be published. This is also the case with photographers who have pictures of important events. It really means anyone can become a part of the action as a freelance consultant. Some News on-line have “witness” sections where you can tell your story if you happen to have been in the right place at the right time. This option means that we can hear many different views on contentious issues giving a wider perspective to the ‘big picture’.
Some News sites also have interactive sites within. For example, on the BBC News Blog there is a learning site (BBCi Learning) that involves interactive activities and over half a million pages of factual information and resources available for children, adolescents, and adults. There are competitions and all sorts of games to help educate people in any and every area of interest imaginable.
Another great aspect of these on-line News sites is the ability to access archival information. You can watch video and listen to audio recordings of famous historical stories right on the computer. If the day is Feb.3, you can read articles from Feb.3’s from fifty years ago. Looking up any date and year recorded is as easy as pushing a few buttons.
Some services have subscriptions where instead of looking up the website, the News you want is sent straight to your email. Being in the know, and being in the now, has never been such an objective, enjoyable, and simplistic experience as in the 21st century. Partaking in a new perspective on life is what on-line current events and News Blogs are all about.
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