Friday, April 4, 2008

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Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Question: Learn HTML, Or Use A WYSIWYG Editor

In 1997, in order to design a web, it was necessary to learn the HTML markup language. At that particular time, there were some what you see is what you get editors, but almost everyone that design web pages used raw HTML and understood how it worked. Now, ten to eleven years later, we find that the market is flooded with editors such as Dreamweaver that allow anybody to design web pages as easily as they can create a Microsoft Word document.

Whenever I take someone under my wing, and start teaching them about Internet marketing, and designing web pages, the first thing that I tell them is that they should learn the basics of HTML. While I recommend that they use Dreamweaver for most of their web page designs, it's always helpful to be able to go into the code view and understand what they are looking at. It also helps whenever viewing the source code of other people's web pages, to see how they did one thing or another with their code. This would be nearly impossible if you did not understand at least the basics of HTML.

Another benefit of knowing HTML is that you can go in and clean up your code. After you design a page in a program like Dreamweaver. A lot of times, there is weird formatting that goes on behind the scenes in it what you see is what you get editor. It makes it difficult, sometimes even for those of us that know HTML to go into the document, and know where we are at inside the code. However, if you understand HTML, it's easier to go in, make your code neater and more manageable, and then save it in that format so that it's easier to go in and edit in the code view in the future.

While there's no doubt that using programs such as Dreamweaver can make beautiful web pages that function fully without even going into messing with the HTML at all, I still think that it's a good practice to understand the basics of the HTML markup language and to make sure that you use it on a regular basis so that you keep this skill. Not only does it help you when you're in a code pinch, but he keeps you from being what I like to call a lazy web designer.

Fast and Easy Way To Learn HTML

Hyper Text Markup Language, or HTML for short, is a coding language used to create web pages in the world wide web, and every Web developer should have a basic understanding of it yet many do not know the differences between versions or the importance of adhering to proper coding guidelines.

Learning HTML besides two basic programs Ms Word and Ms Excel is highly beneficial when you endeavor to start your Internet business and also not so tough journey especially if you know where to look for services that can substitute your lack of skill. There are several resources from where you can easily garner knowledge and master HTML. Let us explore the various resources form where you can extract meat out of it and can apply the same to achieve success in your business.

The quest to master yourself in HTML will at first provoke you to shop for a good book. There are many books and the selection become overwhelming. But novice should keep in mind that the search may not bring exhaustion that will further reduce your interest in starting your business. All you need is the very basic skills and for that the bet way is to go for e-learning where you will find many online courses for free. Unlike books it takes few hours that is much better over books.

You can also gather knowledge by surfing the various websites online. Clicking on the option View > Source in the menu bar of any websites you can learn HTML. You can learn how certain effects are applied. It is recommended to learn the basic course prior to HTML so that you can learn HTML easily. Since HTML languages are not in paragraphs, it might be challenging for you to locate the HTML for the effect that you want but there is no need to worry because HTML editor a time saving and a convenient tool is there for you that will guide you to create HTML pages just the same way you normally do in Ms Word. There are plenty of HTML editors, which you can download from the web but among them the most commonly used are Ms FrontPage and Dreamweaver that design your web page even when you are offline. You can also go for a good web host that provides you with a built-in site HTML editor and pre-designed templates but it is recommended to check the features before you sign up for any web hosting packages.

A technically unskilled businessman will find easy to start his project just after acquiring the basic knowledge on HTML from several online or offline resources.

Keep your visitors in the website

One of the primary implications of a well-organized / good website, is to keep your visitors in the website. A website is definitely created for a purpose, unless intended for personal use, which is the minority. For example, a portfolio website would want to be visited and it’s content viewed. For companies and internet businesses, your website certainly aims to provide product information, to make sales, or somewhat similar. However, most individuals undoubtly prefer visually captivating designs, so on and so forth. It is undeniable that this causes no harm, but one must put himself/herself in other people’s shoes, as to understand how a visitor to the website might think, do and react.

1 ) Navigation

As I said, a web designer has to learn how to think the way your visitors think.

Situation A : Website with good navigation ( 2-3 hyperlinks to target page ), well planned in terms of placement, and design.

Situation B : Website with poor navigation ( takes forever for the visitor to reach his/her target page ), hard-to-read navigation fonts and poor placement of the navigation buttons/bar.

In Situation A, a visitor will always want to be able to access his/her target page. For example, the individual comes across your website, and is interested in the product sold, but wants to find more information. He/she finds the navigation with no trouble, and enters the particular product information page.

As for Situation B, a visitor stumbles into the website, and would also like to find out more information about the product. Unfortunately, due to bad placement and fanciful font-types, the visitor takes forever, or even fails to find the navigation bar. Even when he/she does so, links to the product information are nowhere to be found, (example : home > about > products > product image > etc…[a few more clicks] > product information ).

Analysis : In both situations, wouldn’t a website with characteristics similar to the Situation A be more rewarding ergo better?

Free Web Marketing Tips

Not all web marketing needs to cost money. Aside from website submissions, there are a number of things that web marketers can do that are free, though they may be rather time-consuming. Other marketing tactics are relatively inexpensive, and are often well worth the investment.

Follow these basic steps to market your website and business.

1. Sign It

Include your website URL as part of your "signature" in any online forum and newsgroup posts. It is not uncommon for someone who appreciates the comments to click through to the websites found in the signatures of forum posts. This will not only increase link popularity, but will help establish your industry knowledge. It goes without saying that URLs should also be included in email signatures.

2. Utilize Social Bookmarking

There are a number of social bookmarking websites, where the collective users select the materials that they determine to be popular. If you have created resources that are worthy, be sure to bookmark them in the social bookmarking networks.

3. Niche Networking

Network with key players in niche markets. Schmoozing with authorities in niche markets can often pay big dividends. Learn the "Who's Who" in any given niche market.

4. Donations

Goodwill goes a long way. Donate a percentage of sales to a non-profit organization or charity. If revenue is an issue, consider donating products or services to fund-raising auctions or other fund-raising efforts. Donations will often reach an audience outside the parameters of your normal market, and will show that you care... and aside from all that, your donations will actually benefit the organization or charity.

5. Answers / Askville

Use Yahoo Answers and Amazon's Askville to answer questions. The more answers that are endorsed, the more your advice will be valued. Provide genuine, honest answers and build your reputation. It appears that many "top" answers appear high in Yahoo search results, and Yahoo Answers captures a lot of long-tail traffic.

Yahoo Answers - http://answers.yahoo.com
Amazon Askville - http://www.askville.com/

6. SEO

Spend the time it takes to properly optimize your website for the search engines. This is not an area to cut corners or skimp on. Proper search engine optimization, while an ongoing process and very time-consuming, can pay big dividends and will often result in long-term search engine traffic.

7. Classifieds

There are a number of free classified listing services. Add your products or services to any free classified listings that might be relevant.

8. Recommend It

Add a "Recommend To A Friend" script to the product pages on your website. Nothing beats a referral from a friend. Leverage viral marketing by providing your website visitors with the tools to easily spread the word for you.

9. Blog / RSS / Podcasting

Generate your own publicity using a blog, RSS feed, podcast, or video cast. Use these alternate communication channels to expand your audience.

10. Related Content Site

Develop a content website that contains related information and materials. Content sites are often defined as "authority" websites. Authority websites are often quick to garner search engine favor and top ranking for relevant search terms.

11. Wiki

Update wiki listings with useful and helpful content. Good wiki editing will reinforce your reputation and help educate your audience.

12. Forum Participation

Actively participating in related forums will generate goodwill and increase your brand reputation. And be sure to add a company tagline and website link to the signature of your forum posts.

Marketing efforts need not break the bank for a fledgling company or struggling small business. Use the tools available, and build your business through smart marketing.

Paid Website Hosting versus Free Website Hosting

When it comes to hosting for your business web site, you want to be sure the host is dependable, affordable, and offers all the features you'll need for future growth. Many business people just starting out sign on for free website hosting expecting to enjoy tremendous savings. Unfortunately, they soon realize there are many pitfalls in free website hosting. Let's explore some of the main differences between paid and free website hosting to see which will work best for you.

Free Web Hosting Explained

Nothing's really free, is it? That's an old saying that goes a long way... even online. For any free hosting provider you find, there are always trade-offs for receiving free webhosting. For starters, you give up having your own domain name in most cases. Instead of having your own domain name, you'll likely receive limited space at the host's domain name. Your website name will appear after the "/" of their full domain name. This can hinder your business in the long run because you are not able to establish your own Web presence.

Other trade-offs include very limited web space, advertisements on your web page that can draw away your visitors, limited features, and limited programming capabilities. You will not be able to considerably expand your site with such limited space. Also, you will have to conform to the host's programming requirements, which may be limited to only one style of programming. Your features and capabilities for web design will likely be very limited.

Paid Web Hosting Explained

A paid web hosting provider offers web space and hosting services for a certain dollar amount, which may be paid monthly, quarterly, yearly, or even several years in advance. The hosting fee varies with different providers and is usually determined by how much web space and the types of hosting services you'll need for your business web site. For example, if you use certain programs such as Front Page to design your website, you might be required to pay a little more for hosting, depending on the host.

Hosting services that are popular with businesses include self-managed dedicated hosting, managed hosting, co-location hosting, PHP hosting, MySQL hosting, SSL encryption, and so forth. Which services you choose will depend on the functionality and purpose of your website and may affect your hosting costs.

Domain name registration is sometimes included with hosting packages, but if not, you'll be required to register your own domain name and pay a yearly fee or a discounted multi-year fee.

The benefits of paid hosting are obvious. You can secure as much space as you want. You can choose your own domain name You can develop your own content pages in the design that suits your needs along with shopping carts, user login sections, photos, articles, and other functions. You're more likely to have more "up time" with a paid server. Free servers are notorious for shutting down frequently. Some paid hosting services guarantee a certain amount of up time, such as "guaranteed 99% server up time."

In summary, free web hosting providers have their place for personal websites or even as limited ad sites for small local businesses. But for a full-time, operational Web business, a paid hosting provider is the way to go.

New Futures to Website Design - Development - Hosting - SEO

Now a day’s website development is going easier. Looking on the new futures like xhtml and css layouts website design is most popular ongoing factors. Now people know the value of a website and how its support their business marketing and promotion.

In 1990’s search engine are not much popular after 2000 search engine like Google and Yahoo plays major part the website promotion. So now making a website is not important but how to promote your website and get good ranking in search engine is most important. Here I like to explain some major factors like web site design, web site development, web hosting, search engine optimization (online and offline), internet promotion and marketing etc.

Website Design - To develop a website in html design layout is now a common but search engines are more supporting to xhtml design and Cascading Style Sheets layout (css design). One of the biggest advantages to using xhtml css layout design is time consumers in website development. Styles sheets define how to display html elements in your website. All major browsers Netscape and Internet explorer support cascading style sheets and solve common problems in html/htm. You ca use lot of extra methods in a single html pages like external style, internal style sheet, inline styles, multiple style sheets.

Website Development - AJAX Asynchronous JavaScript has the power to make your site more compelling and more dynamic Ajax used for creating interactive web development applications. Most advantages of Ajax is real-time form data validation, auto completion, load on demand, sophisticated user interface controls and effects, refreshing data and server push, partial submit, obtain data using a server-side proxy, create single-page marshalled applications, low bandwidth usage and also support search engine.

Image optimization - Image search engine optimization is also now most popular most of the search engines provide vertical image search option. Now a day’s photo sharing sites and social image sharing sites are most popular. Image optimization is web designer need best knowledge and take care of entire image shapes, image sizes, and tag text knowledge levels. For optimization src attribute specified width and height declaration, alt attribute and title attribute is must for an image.

Content optimization - Your website should start with your business content. Now website content is important for all the major search engines. Using duplicate content the search engines punish your website very badly. So your must take care about your web content seriously. In Search Engine Optimization the content is also most important, content spam lost your website ranking.

Meta content optimization - Meta tags are a great way for webmasters to provide search engines with information about their sites. Meta tags can be used to provide information to all sorts of clients, and each system processes only the Meta tags they understand and ignores the rest. Meta tags are added to the section of your HTML page.

Differentiate the descriptions for different pages. Using identical or similar descriptions on every page of a site isn't very helpful when individual pages appear in the web results.

Include clearly tagged facts in the description. The Meta description doesn't just have to be in sentence format; it's also a great place to include structured data about the page.

Programmatically generate descriptions. For some sites, like news media sources, generating an accurate and unique description for each page is easy: since each article is hand-written, it takes minimal effort to also add a one-sentence description.

Use quality descriptions. Finally, make sure your descriptions are truly descriptive.

Major points remind to Design and optimization content:

Make a site with a clear hierarchy and text links. Every page should be reachable from at least one static text link.

Offer a site map to your users with links that point to the important parts of your site. If the site map is larger than 100 or so links, you may want to break the site map into separate pages.

Create a useful, information-rich site, and write pages that clearly and accurately describe your content.

Think about the words users would type to find your pages, and make sure that your site actually includes those words within it.

Try to use text instead of images to display important names, content, or links. The Google crawler doesn't recognize text contained in images.

Make sure that your TITLE tags and ALT attributes are descriptive and accurate.

Check for broken links and correct HTML.

If you decide to use dynamic pages (i.e., the URL contains a "?" character), be aware that not every search engine spider crawls dynamic pages as well as static pages. It helps to keep the parameters short and the number of them few.

Keep the links on a given page to a reasonable number (fewer than 100).

Web hosting – Shared hosting is very popular and the most common type of hosting, having a unique domain, IP not a dedicated web hosting will prevent you from being accused as a internet spammer. SERPs ranking in favour of dedicated C Class IP. Using dedicated IP address with a best hosting provider for your website going to be more beneficial in the long run for getting good rankings in search engines.

Web design tips

When it comes to your website, extra attention should be paid to every minute detail to make sure it performs optimally to serve its purpose. Here are several important rules of thumb to observe to make sure your website performs well.

1) Do not use splash pages

Splash pages are the first pages you see when you arrive at a website. They normally have a very beautiful image with words like "welcome" or "click here to enter". In fact, they are just that -- pretty vases with no real purpose. Do not let your visitors have a reason to click on the "back" button! Give them the value of your site up front without the splash page.

2) Do not use excessive banner advertisements

Even the least net savvy people have trained themselves to ignore banner advertisements so you will be wasting valuable website real estate. Instead, provide more valueable content and weave relevant affiliate links into your content, and let your visitors feel that they want to buy instead of being pushed to buy.

3) Have a simple and clear navigation

You have to provide a simple and very straightforward navigation menu so that even a young child will know how to use it. Stay away from complicated Flash based menus or multi-tiered dropdown menus. If your visitors don't know how to navigate, they will leave your site.

4) Have a clear indication of where the user is

When visitors are deeply engrossed in browsing your site, you will want to make sure they know which part of the site they are in at that moment. That way, they will be able to browse relevant information or navigate to any section of the site easily. Don't confuse your visitors because confusion means "abandon ship"!

5) Avoid using audio on your site

If your visitor is going to stay a long time at your site, reading your content, you will want to make sure they're not annoyed by some audio looping on and on on your website. If you insist on adding audio, make sure they have some control over it -- volume or muting controls would work fine.

Redesign your website now

If you run a website, chances are you often wonder whether it is the right time to do a total redesign of the layout of your website. Here are some points to consider:

Are you thinking of a redesign just for the sake of it? If you answered yes to that question, it is not yet the right time to do a redesign. Remember, a design serves a specific purpose. If you are not sure whether to do an overhaul of your site, keep in mind that your current design might have a specific purpose that you might not know about. You will lose that function if you do a redesign.

On the other hand, if your website has had the same website design since 1990, perhaps it is high time to do a redesign. The last thing you would ever want to happen to your site is when visitors leave your site without taking a look at your content just because the design is old fashioned. If this is your case, here are some points to ponder before doing a redesign.

Redesigning your website is like performing plastic surgery on it. Your website loses its current identity (for the better or worse) and your regular visitors might not recognise your new design at first glance. You risk losing them just because they thought they landed on the wrong page. Hence, it is very important that you retain a characteristic feature from your old layout. Perhaps it is the logo of your site; perhaps it is the same text style for the title for your site.

To play it safe, put a poll on your site to let your visitors do the talking. If they think it is necessary for the website to have a fresh look, give it to them!

A lot of online business owners start with no money

A lot of online business owners start with no money. They have to do everything themselves -- the preparation of a product, the development of a marketing strategy, the actual building of a website to cater to their product's marketing needs. As their business expands over time, they will find that their simple "homemade" site might not be enough to cover everything, and they will have to take a day or two away to simply dedicate that to the website expansion.

Sounds familiar? Chances are, you're someone who started everything with no money too, so you're pretty skeptical when it comes to giving away your money in exchange for something that you could have done yourself. However, there is a lot more to hiring a designer than just finishing up a job that you don't want to do.

When you hire a web designer to do your job for you, you are doing more than just handing over the "dirty job" to someone else. In fact, by paying a little money, you can let the designer worry about the little annoyances that always evade the main picture and only come haunting when you're halfway through the job. That way, you will be more focused and have more time to spend on your actual business strategy.

On the other hand, the designers you hire a professionals so they are good at what they do. By outsourcing your web design jobs to them, you won't have to worry when problems surface because you can always get them to fix it for you. Again, they will be able to pin point the problem and fix it faster than you probably will be able to.

Also, the work you pay for will turn out more professional than what you can achieve because the designers have been doing it longer than you have. After all, they do it for a living so they have to be good!

So, remember to not just work your business, but grow your business too!

eBusiness Solutions - Why Your Small Business Needs One

The rapid growth of the internet commerce in recent years presents established small businesses with a serious dilemma. On the one hand they can stick with the business model that has worked for them for the last number of years. On the other hand, they can make the shift to serious eBusiness.

Choosing to stand pat is usually much easier in the short term. But in the longer term this almost certainly means they will be left behind by technology, and lose many of their most important clients to more aggressive competitors.

But shifting to eBusiness may involve committing substantial resources to developing a new game plan. That usually means refining product lines to make them easier to sell online, upgrading computer systems and websites, and training personnel at all levels to be more web savvy. It also means developing or hiring staff to handle the administration of new marketing, sales, and delivery systems, and working with outside consultants and service providers to handle the technical aspects of the new program that cannot be handled by your own people.

Is adopting an eBusiness Solution worth the effort?

Are the short term difficulties involved in making the transition to eBusiness worth the effort?

In virtually all cases, Yes.

It is like any other investment in your business. Some businesses look at the cost of upgrading production equipment or of renovating their office or retail space and decide it is simply not worth the cost. They decide the future is too uncertain to risk moving ahead, so they opt to tread water until either circumstances change, or they simply cannot continue any longer in business.

In this sense, choosing to stay abreast of technological changes is a business necessity. And these days deciding to get involved with eBusiness is the most important technological decision many current businesses will ever make.

Advantages of eBusiness

Here are some of the more important advantages of moving to eBusiness.

You can develop a more cost effective Communication and Marketing Strategy - The most obvious advantage of "upgrading" to eBusiness is that it gives you a vital web presence. In an upgraded "eBusiness environment" your company web site becomes the focal point of your communications and marketing strategy. And in an era when an increasingly large number of people are using the web as their first source of product and service information, "being there" 24/7 is extremely important.

You can reach New Markets World Wide - The internet offers exciting ways of reaching new markets that could only be dreamed of in the past. There are methods of promoting your products online that allow you to precisely target the customers you are after whether they are in your town or on the other side of the world.

You can reach Local Customers and Prospects more effectively - Until recently, companies offering a product or service to local customers could not see the benefits of having an online presence. But as more and more people become comfortable with using the internet instead of traditional advertising sources like classified ads or yellow pages, having an aggressive web presence makes better business sense even for local companies. This may also offer a springboard to developing new markets further afield.

You can cut Advertising and Marketing Costs - Online advertising is not only more efficient, but it is often less expensive than traditional advertising. After sales training expenses can also be reduced by utilizing online seminars, training videos and tutorials.

You can streamline the Ordering Process by taking orders online - Implementing an online ordering system allows you to eliminate manual paper work or telephone order taking. It also offers the possibility of integrating your sales order system with order fullfillment and delivery so customers can be up to speed on the progress of their orders at all times.

You can cut Communications and Telephone Costs - While the costs of voice communications using long distance telephone services have been coming down rapidly over the last few years, switching to an eBusiness model offers the possibility of totally eliminating many of these costs. Of course there is traditional email. But beyond that there are systems like "Live Help" where customers can chat live with support or sales staff. And the most recent development is VoIP (Voice Over Internet) which promises to completely revolutionize telephone service.

Finding the right eBusiness Solution

Every business is unique, so every business will require a unique eBusiness solution. Chances are most small businesses will not have the resources inhouse to make the move. In that case they should find an eBusiness solution provider that takes a comprehensive approach to each situation. Rather than offering a pre-packaged program, they should be able to look carefully at a business and make recommendations based on its specific needs. That includes the ability to provide staff training and ongoing support long after the initial system is put in place.

Keeping your sites presence on the web

It is very important for a certain business enterprise to posses a positive and comprehensive presence on the net. There are so many other means or ways in which you will be able to set up a positive and comprehensive web presence. Though, there are only few among the methods which will allow you establish or set up a positive and comprehensive web presence in which you can completely take control.

When your website is completely working, this what you call blogging gives you a program from which allows you to be able to classify and increase your business web presence. Having a scheduled and disciplined blogging will place you in a good spot for enhancing and broadening your web presence postitively.

Of course it is necessary that you do put in your mind that this blogging thing ought to be one tactic in which you utilized for acquiring expansion of your web presence. There will then a comprehensive way which will turn out being the most effective and reliable methodology to utilized with regards to setting up a comprehensive and positive presence on the net or web.

Blogging will also be use as a device for adding importance of your internet webpage's. Like for instance, you may wish to integrate your blogging works to your business sites venue. If you are going to add blogging on your websites it would actually help in the improvement with regards to the value or importance of the website.

Furthermore, those blogging works can also be use to increase quality traffics for your websites. This traffic then will generate additional income and profits as a result across your business enterprise on the world wide web. If you were able to increase your income and profits then this would also mean that you are also able to increase the importance and significance of your websites on the internet as well as you online business market.

Again, by giving importance and focusing your awareness to those principles and suggestions which has been shown to you, you will then be going through a deep steps in direction to the addition of importance to your internet business. At the end, meaningful value will be given to your websites which are very useful in your net based business. Increasing value would mean increasing in profits, which obviously is the fundamental goal of blogging efforts integrated to your online business enterprise. This in turn, gives you a strong presence on the World Wide Web.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Engagement Gift Ideas

Some of these gifts are for the new groom or the new bride, and some can be given to them as a couple.

Tee shirts imprinted "Just got Engaged". You can get one just for him or for her or get a matched set for them to wear together.

The International Star Registry will pick a star in the heavens and you get to pick a name for it. Add their names together as the new star. The Registry will send them a certificate of a new star in their honor.

Find a four leaf clover that is framed. Add a note that you know they do not need a four leaf clover since they have found each other. They have all the luck they will ever need.

Get a set of key chains with the attachment is a heart split in half. One half of the heart goes on one chain and the other heart on the other chain. The two halves will make up one heart when together.

Find a chrome or gold doorknocker and have their first and soon to be common last name inscribed on the plate.

Find a "countdown clock". The clock can be set for the number of days until their wedding date. Each day the clock will eliminate one day until they will be married.

All couples have arguments. Getting over the argument is the difficult thing. Try this as a gift. According to an ancient Irish tradition, engaged couples were presented with a crystal bell. Whenever an argument brewed, all it took was for one partner to ring the bell and the dispute would be instantly settled.

Find Crystal flutes and have their names etched into the glass with the date of their engagement. Add a bottle of their favorite champagne.

Things get confusing as the bride plans her wedding. To make sure that she has good memories, give her a Bride's memory book for her to record all the wonderful things that happened during this time.

As the Bride starts to plan her wedding, shopping will be a major concern. Shopping for the gown, the bridesmaid gowns, what dinnerware to select, the silver. Send her a magazine subscription to one of the brides magazine so she can do some of this work in the comfort of her own home and will her finance.

Most unions have a little upheaval from time to time. Give your engagement couple a "relationship book" by a reputable author.

You can also check on the Internet and find a site that will give your couple an acre on the moon. They will receive a certificate of their moon acreage.

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. You can find Great Gift Ideas at her site. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for Gift News, her free monthly newsletter.

What Are The Best Vitamins For Skin?

In this article we will look at the best vitamins for skin. Getting older takes a toll on your skin. Many years in the sun and the elements can make you look older than you really are. For women after menopause, the estrogen that is responsible for youthful skin is gone. You start to notice more and more wrinkles staring back at you in the mirror. So what can you do to get that youthful appearance back?

One of the most important vitamins for your skin is vitamin A. It strengthens the protective tissue of the skin. It is also essential for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue. In addition, vitamin A is an antioxidant. It helps fight off free radicals that can damage your body systems.

The complex B vitamins are a group of vitamins that are very effective in maintaining a healthy skin tone. This powerful group of vitamins are like a whole army of soldiers dedicated to fight off the damaging effects that pollution, stress and the environment can do to your skin and to your whole body. They work perfectly in conjuction with each other and with the other major vitamin groups to keep your body at it's peak performance and to keep your skin looking good.

Vitamin C is another vitamin that is getting more and more good reviews every day. It is a powerful antioxidant and can help boost your body's immune system. Vitamin C is a major factor in tissue repair, growth and healing.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that enhances healing and tissue repair. It can prevent cell damage by prohibiting the negative effects that free radicals can have on your body.

Taking good care of your skin is not just about vitamins. Eat a healthy, balanced, diet and get plenty of exercise. Try to devote at least eight hours to sleep a night. Always wear a sunscreen when you are out in the sun. Drink eight to ten glasses of water a day to keep your skin hydrated.

There is one more thing that you can take for younger looking skin. One teaspoon of cod liver oil a day has been called the fountain of youth. Many people say that after taking just one teaspoon per day, in a year's time they look like they have had a face lift! Cod liver oil helps to moisturize the skin and reduce wrinkles. In addition, the vitamin D that it contains helps to build strong bones and reduce your risk for osteoporosis. It also contains fatty acids that aid in the development of brain function and the development of the nervous system.

Your skin is the largest organ on your body. Take good care of it. Protect it from harmful UV rays and nourish it daily with the right vitamins and supplements. You don't have to look your age, now that you know the right vitamin for skin.

Deciding To Start Your Own Business

What a scary thought! Who would want to make that leap of faith and start their own business? Do you really have the self confidence to do it? Take a deep breath and think about it.

If you are contemplating starting your own business, I know these thoughts are running through your head. They certainly raced through my mind when I was thinking about it. This is a decision that needs thorough thought. Don’t jump into it without thinking.

Have you thought about opening a store? The investment for an “on the street” business is great – thousands and thousands of dollars. That excludes most of us. A workable alternative is a “work at home” business. The increasing popularity of the internet has really opened up that field. The instability of so many businesses has created a need for many people to work for themselves.

It is very possible to start an “at home business” with very little investment. This allows the “little guy” (you and me) to be self-employed. If you search the web for online businesses, you will find many that do require a large initial outlay of cash. That wasn’t for me. I wanted an opportunity to start with little or no cash output and then I could determine expenditures on advertising and other things. This would allow me to control my budget. Not having a lot to spend, I was aware that it is possible to find free methods of advertising which would require more time than money.

Some people will quit their “day job” and jump into a business. I do not advise this unless you are very financially secure. I continue my full time job, devoting all the hours I can in the evenings and weekends to my new business. This takes a lot of determination! You really need a lot of self confidence to believe that this business will succeed and you will be able to do it full time in the future. You really have to want to change your lifestyle. The thought of being in control of my destiny fuels me. I am determined to succeed.

Work at home businesses are also perfect for part time work. Those of you who just want to supplement your family’s income for vacation money, Christmas money, money to pay the bills would do well with an online business. You can control how much you earn and how much time you spend.

In this day of corporations constantly downsizing, no job is secure. Wouldn’t you rather be the one in charge? Wouldn’t you rather not have a long commute each day? Make the move! Start working for yourself.

Jan Wilhelm invites you to visit http://www.profitsr4u.com. Not only is this site for the "want to be" internet marketer (lots of work at home and affiliate opportunities), but it is also for those already having a business (ways to improve your business).

3 Effective Tactics Every Business Should Implement

Do you remember your first day as a business owner? You were probably just like the rest of us... pretty darned happy and bit on the proud side. Yeah, back then we thought we could conquer the world. Now we're too busy conquering our own little corner of the world to pay a lot of attention to the rest of the world... unless it's to learn a few tips from successful marketers just like us who have made it big. Tips just like these... that will apply to every market - regardless of the product or service - and are great motivators to try something new. Yeah, you never know when the next idea will be worth a million pounds!

1. Create a Special Offer

A special offer is exactly that... an offer that is special. Normally, customers would not be able to purchase this product or combination of products, and once the products are gone... sorry!

You don't have to go out and order a bunch of new products to put together a special offer. It don't take a whole lot... just use what you've got. Grab a few items that are related, group them together, discount the price, and your customers will be excited to be getting a good deal. Think about it from your standpoint... you've sold three or four items rather than one. Yeah, combination offers are winning deals for everyone!

2. Address the Small Customer Groups

Niche markets are everywhere, right under your nose! Within the customer audience that you serve right now are groups of people who share common traits. Think about it... maybe you have a group who speaks Spanish, a group of teens, and a group of middle class family men and women.

Evaluate these classes of people, and discover the unique needs and desires they share. That will set you up to customize your advertising campaign directly to them. It’s not hard to take your current ads, and make a few changes to adjust to the niches. They’ll be impressed that you understand THEM, and the increase in your profits will be the best thanks you can get.

3. Set Up a Winning Referral Program

Successful marketers develop the ability to turn their customers into advocates. Often, they don't even have to directly ask customers to refer them to others. Their willingness to go the extra wins customer loyalty and support. Naturally, satisfied customers refer their friends and family to the place that will take good care of them.

Quality service and is the first step toward referrals, but you can easily take it one step further. Studies show that every satisfied customer tells three people about you. What would happen with a little incentive added to the picture? Yeah, a lot more. Give customers who refer friends a thank you - whether it's a discount, special gift item, or a simple thank you card - and watch the referrals spiral!

You can get two birds with one stone by implementing customer surveys. A few quick questions about what the customer does and doesn't like about your product, followed by a request for the names and addresses of friends and family who would benefit from the product, and you're all set to go with the contact information of a prospective customer!

Andy Macdonald owns and runs his own uk website design business called Swift Media UK, which incorporates custom logo design

Baby Expense: Are You Ready for Your Baby?

As you probably know, baby expense should be high on your list of things to plan for, before the baby comes. There is no cheap way to have and raise a baby: it takes sweat, work, lots of cash, patience, and more to have a happy, healthy baby. Some studies suggest that you will spend anywhere between $150,000 and $200,000 for your kids by the time they are 18 years old, not including private schools, special lessons, or college.

But if you waited until you had enough money, time and energy to have your baby, you would probably end up without any children. Here you'll find a few ways to ease the finances, so that you can enjoy your new bundle of joy.

1. Get health assistance - if you don't have health insurance, and can't afford it, doctor's bills can ad up really easy. But there are options out there for people just like you. This baby expense will probably be one of your biggest, so don't be afraid to ask for assistance if your family needs it.

2. Breastfeed your baby, if possible. It's free, it's convenient, and it might help against breast cancer. It's recommended as being the best form of nutrition for baby.If you can't breastfeed, don't feel guilty. Try to apply for WIC (Women , Infants, and Children): http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic , a program designed to help middle and low income families with educational resources and food. You can also save money by buying formula in bulk, clipping coupons, and accepting free samples whenever they are offered. This is a baby expense you can't do without.

3. Diapers - Some diapers are better than others, but most are basically the same. Store brand disposable diapers can be just as good as the name brand, for several dollars less than their name brand counterparts. You can save even more, if you use cloth diapers instead of disposable. As with breastfeeding, it's a little more work involved, but well worth it.

4. Diaper Rash Prevention - instead of taking action after your baby got a diaper rash, prevent it with a drop of olive oil applied to their bottom every time you change their diaper: it works wonders (you should check with your doctor first).

5. Baby food - When it comes to baby food, a blender is your best friend: it will help you keep this baby expense at its lowest. Not only is it much cheaper, but it's so much healthier! Save the little baby food jars for quick trips, or special occasions, and give your baby pureed food made by you. You can cook a week's supply on the weekend, put the blended vegetables in the ice cube tray, for a few hours, and then place them in a freezer bag. Depending on your baby's appetite and age, you can microwave one, two or three cubes before meal time. It's quick, healthy and inexpensive.

6. Clothing - There is no need to buy expensive designer clothing for you little one. Do you think anyone will really notice that your baby is wearing Tommy Hilfiger? Babies look cute in anything: don't waste your money! You can get most of your baby clothing at yard sales or second-hand stores.

7. Toys - they are big business, but you don't have to feel pressured to get the latest and most expensive models. My kids were happy with everyday items as their toys: empty shampoo bottles (make sure they are cleaned and rinsed very well before handing them to your baby), plastic bowls, plastic containers from food products (margarine, sour cream , etc.) that they could stack up, etc. Also, buy some toys that will help with your baby's development, are durable, and are age appropriate: a baby expense worth the money.

8. Wills - Get a will or update your old will. Name a guardian for your child and the trustee of your child's inheritance (often but not always the same person). Without a will, the court will name these individuals and also split up your assets in accordance with state law which may not be the way you would wish. Please don't try to avoid this baby expense: your kid's future might depend on it. A simple will that includes a trust for minor children costs between $150 and $250.

Hopefully, this article gave you the information you needed for the arrival of your new baby.

Happy Planning!

Top 5 Cardio Activities

When you want to find the best cardio activity for you, consider your personal preferences as well as your body. If you hate getting hot and sweaty during a workout, then running is probably not for you. If you like trying new workouts that keep you engaged and entertained, consider an instructor-led belly dancing class. People who prefer to exercise alone should probably just avoid the gym during busy hours. If you have bad joints, avoid high impact classes like step aerobics and kick boxing. Everyone is different, not just in personality but in body as well, and that can mean great things in terms of workouts. There is a huge variety of exercises that burn serious calories and you’re sure to find one that appeals to you. To burn fat and reshape your body, you can’t beat cardiovascular exercise. Getting your heart pumping and boosting your metabolism is what cardio does best, and it’s the only surefire way to lose weight and get rid of fat. Some cardiovascular activities burn more calories than others and speed up fat loss while reshaping the body, and that makes them good choices for people who are serious about losing weight and improving aerobic capacity. Looking at the top 5 cardiovascular activities, there is great variety while all maintaining the same purpose of burning major fat and calories.

Swimming and Water Aerobics

Swimming should be the king of all workouts for its user-friendly status and low stress on the body. If you fit in three 45-minute swimming workouts every week, you will see major changes in your body in just two to three weeks. Your body becomes buoyant in the water, meaning that it is supported by the water and does not have to depend on the muscles nearly as much. If you just stand still in the pool, your muscles will have very little to do, but when you start swimming at a brisk pace your muscles become involved with pushing your body through the water – not an easy task. That’s why swimming burns so many calories; the muscles work almost twice as hard as in land workouts and torch up to three times as many calories. Challenge yourself by swimming one lap breaststroke, one lap backstroke, and still another lap butterfly. Freestyle is good but you burn far more calories when you mix it up and challenge the body to respond.

Water aerobics offer the same support as swimming but instead of propelling your body from one end of the pool to another you stand in place in the water and use the water’s resistance to build muscle and burn calories. Water aerobics frequently use accessories for strengthening workouts but if you don’t have any, don’t worry! Just go to your pool and perform the same toning exercises that you would do in the gym. Squats, lunges, leg lifts – when done under water, these movements become more challenging and require muscles to work harder, resulting in a higher calorie. The best part is that the support of the water cuts the stress on joints and can help people with arthritis and other joint disorders to get exercise back in their lives.

Power Walking (at home)

A power walking life up to its name and requires you to put out a lot more power than a stroll around the block. In power walking, you swing your arms back and forth as you walk briskly – this helps to burn calories as well as propel you through your walk faster. Increasing the speed will boost your calorie burn even higher. An excellent variation for a power walking routine is to add arm movements a few days per week. As you walk briskly, raise your arms overhead and bring back down to the pace of your walk. This can seriously raise your heart rate and increase your fat burn.

Power Walking (at the gym)

Power walking at the gym is as easy as hopping on the nearest programmable treadmill and setting off. If you are not sure how to program the treadmill, ask a trainer or knowledgeable friend to show you how. You should choose a walking route that includes inclines and changes to surprise and challenge your muscles. Most treadmills that offer these walking programs talk you through the route so that you are alarmed with the incline increases. Use the same variation from the home power walking and add arm movements to increase heart rate and calorie burn.

Belly Dancing

Belly dancing won’t burn quite as many calories as swimming or power walking, but for sheer fun and novelty this workout can’t be beat. Belly dancing has become wildly popular across the nation in the past few years and nearly all gyms offer at least one class for interested parties. You will work your hips, thighs and waistline in a typical class as well as increase your aerobic capacity. And who knows, your belly dancing skill might come in handy some day!

Ashtanga Yoga

The most physical form of yoga is Ashtanga yoga, which uses the same traditional yoga poses but incorporates powerful aerobic conditioning at the same time. You will move quickly and powerfully in a fast-paced routine that is led by a certified instructor who is experienced in moves that boost your heart rate and burn the calories. Ashtanga yoga is still relatively new in some places and it may be difficult to find a class at first, but more and more gyms are offering classes. You can find Ashtanga videos at stores nationwide, so you may want to consider having your own private session at home.

10-Minute Exercises With Big Results

Many busy professionals feel that working out isn’t worth the time unless they can exercise for forty minutes or longer and it’s true that many healthcare workers and government agencies used to recommend that all adults get thirty consecutive minutes of aerobic exercise per day. But this is the twenty-first century and the fact of the matter is that you don’t have to do all your exercise at once to reap the health benefits. Research has shown that short, intense exercise segments throughout the day are just as effective as longer workouts at burning calories, increasing cardio endurance and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Even as little as five minutes can go a long way towards balancing hormones in the body and making you a happier person – is that great or what? You no longer have to worry about finding a large block of free time to work out; just take a coffee break and in five minutes you can feel totally rejuvenated.

One of the greatest things about shorter workouts is that they have tremendous potential to reshape your body with a minimum time commitment. Incorporating strength training exercises into your daily schedule is a powerful tool for both heart health and muscle strength. Spend five minutes doing lower body exercises and after several weeks you can tell a difference. Spend ten minutes on a power workout and results will show up in three weeks or less. Use the following ten-minute express workouts on a regular basis for a month and you will see remarkable changes in your body’s strength. You can do these workouts in your office with the door closed or, if your office is a cubicle, in the restroom or some other private area. Do whatever is necessary for you to fit in your exercise time at work.

Express Workout 1 - Hips and Thighs

Hips and thighs can be a frustrating area to shape up especially for women. Thanks to the physiological design of female bodies, fat tends to be stored in the thighs and hips and can be very resistant to toning efforts. Perform this routine three to four times weekly in conjunction with aerobic exercise and your body will begin to reshape in six to ten weeks.

Squats:
Squats are performed by standing with feet about shoulder-width apart and arms by sides. Keep strong posture and slowly lower buttocks as though about to sit down in a chair. Lower several inches and then slowly raise.

Pliès:
Adopted from ballet, pliès are performed by standing with feet just wider than shoulder-width and toes pointed outward. With a hand on a chair or wall for balance, slowly drop body straight down for several inches and then come back up. To increase intensity, on the final pliè, stay in a lowered position and slowly pulse your body up and down about an inch. This fatigues the muscle faster.

Lunges:
Lunges are performed by standing with feet about shoulder-width apart and hands on hips. Stand tall and take a large step forward with one foot, and remain in that position. Turn your back foot up until balanced on the toes and then slowly lower your body until your front knee forms a right angle. Slowly raise your body back up. Repeat on each side.

Leg Stretches:
Stand with feet about shoulder-width apart and one hand holding a chair or wall for balance. Raise one foot behind you and reach back with your hand, grab the foot and gently pull it towards your buttocks. This stretches the quadriceps muscle on the front of the leg. Repeat with each leg.

For stretching the calf muscle, place one foot slightly in front of you and point your toes up, balancing on the heel. Keep your weight on the foot that is not being stretched. Repeat on both sides.

All times are approximate.

0:01 – 1:00 – Begin by walking briskly in place to warm up the muscles. Warming the muscles makes them pliable and will allow you to work longer.
1:01 – 3:00 – Perform as many squats as possible in two minutes.
3:01 – 4:00 – Rest for one minute.
4:01 – 6:00 – Perform as many pliès as possible in two minutes.
6:01 – 7:00 – Rest for one minute.
7:01 – 9:00 – Perform as many lunges (both legs) as possible in two minutes.
9:01 – 10:00 – Recovery and stretching.

Express Workout 2 – Arms and Shoulders

Building strength in your upper body is a vital part of any workout plan and fortunately it can be a fairly easy area to strengthen. Powerful arms are important for both men and women to assist with everyday life – it’s surprising how many typical daily tasks require using the shoulders, back and arms. By building those muscles, you will take some of the daily stress of your body. This 10-minute express workout develops the biceps, triceps, upper back muscles and shoulders.

Bicep Curls:
Curls are done by standing with your feet about shoulder-width apart and weights in both hands. Tuck your elbows firmly against your sides with palms facing forward. Slowly raise the weight almost to your shoulder for a count of 5 and then lower it, again for a count of 5.

Overhead Press:
The overhead press is performed by standing with feet about shoulder-width apart and a straight back, holding a weight in each hand. Bring the hands up to the shoulders and then slowly lift up for a count of 5. Raise the weights until the arm is almost fully extended; then release and lower downward.

Triceps Raise:
Stand tall with feet slightly more than shoulder-width. With weights in hands, lift straight overhead until almost fully extended. Turn palms inward to face each other. Slowly begin to lower the weight down toward your back until the elbow forms a right angle; then raise the weight.

Forward Press:
Standing with feet a few inches past shoulder-width. With weights in hands, bring up to shoulders. Slowly press the weights forward; then pull back. Be sure to keep arms level with shoulders and move forward and back slowly.

Stretches:
Stretch the arms by raising your arms overhead, dropping one hand behind your head and using the other hand to gently press the elbow back to stretch the triceps muscle. Repeat with the other arm. Next, raise both arms overhead, lace fingers together and press arms outward. Lastly, bring one arm across the front of your body and use the other hand to press the arm against the body to stretch the biceps muscle.

0:01 – 0:30 – Warm up
0:31 – 2:30 – Perform as many slow, quality biceps curls as possible within two minutes.
2:31 – 3:00 – Rest for thirty seconds.
3:01 – 5:00 – Begin overhead raises and complete as many quality raises as possible within two minutes.
5:01 – 5:30 – Rest for thirty seconds.
5:31 – 7:30 – Complete as many accurate triceps presses as possible within two minutes.
7:31 – 8:00 – Rest for thirty seconds.
8:01 – 10:00 – Complete as many properly done forward presses as possible within two minutes.

Extra time: Stretch if you have time available.

Express Workout 3 – Abdominal Muscles

Having strong core muscles is crucial to protecting the spine and maintaining good posture. When your body is supported by strong central muscles it’s easier to perform everyday tasks as well as exercise. Abdominal workouts won’t flatten the stomach – that requires aerobic exercise – but they will strengthen and tone the muscles.

Basic Curls:
Perform the basic curl by lying on your back with knees bents. Place your fingertips at your ears and use your stomach muscles to pull yourself about five or six inches. Slowly lower back down. Avoid using momentum to perform the exercises.

Cross-Curls:
Begin in basic curl position. Contract stomach muscles and lift to the right as you bring your right elbow to your left knee. Switch and bring left elbow to right knee.

Bicycle: Begin in basic curl position but prop your upper body up on your elbows. Straighten your legs and then raise both legs several inches off the floor. Pull your right leg in to your body; then extend it as you pull in your left leg. Continue doing so; thus “bicycling.”

Rope Climb:
Begin in basic curl position. Raise your legs straight up into the air while keeping your upper body flat on the floor. Using your abdominals to lift your upper back off the floor, use your hands and arms to pretend you are climbing a rope. Grasp the “rope” with your right hand as you bring your right side off the floor; then switch and use your left hand.

Stretches:
Lie on your stomach with hands at about shoulder-height. Slowly use your hands to lift your upper body off the floor and stretch your abdominals.

0:01 – 2:00 – Perform as many well-done basic curls as possible within two minutes.
2:01 – 2:30 – Rest for thirty seconds.
2:31 – 4:30 – Complete as many accurate cross-curls as possible within two minutes.
4:31 – 5:00 – Rest for thirty seconds.
5:01 – 7:00 – “Bicycle” for two minutes.
7:01 – 7:30 – Rest for thirty seconds.
7:31 – 9:30 – “Climb” the “rope” for two minutes.
9:31 – 10:00 – Stretch the abdominal muscles.

Finding Online Jobs

There are many avenues to home employment on the Internet. If you look for jobs at home or work at home jobs on a search engine, you will find many Jobs at Home Websites with Job Listings. Some offer Free Membership and some charge a Monthly, Annual or Lifetime Registration Fee. Many offer Free Trial Memberships or Trial Memberships. Some jobs at home websites you will see on the Internet are: 2Work-At-Home.com, Bassador.com, HomeJobStop.com, Homeworkers.org, LegitJobs.net, SohoJobs.com, SpeedySecretarial.com, TJobs.com, Work-At-Home-Land.com and WorldWideWorkAtHome.com.

Staffing Services, No Fee Work At Home

However, there are also many more companies online offering home employment directly with no cost to you. Some of them are Outsourcing Services hiring home employees from their own websites. You will also see help wanted advertisements from temporary and permanent employment agencies looking for workers. You might consider employment agencies, staffing services, freelance websites, recruiters, help wanted classifieds or jobs search agents. An online search for virtual staffing services should provide many helpful online virtual staffing services that are looking for employees to work for their clients.

Outsourcing Services No Fees

You will find many more work at home opportunities on the Internet with Outsourcing Services. They already have a large clientele and marketing system and are looking for more employees to help their clients. There are call centers, customer support providers and customer relationship management firms that pay people for customer support work done from home, telesales specialists looking for salespeople, virtual assistant agencies looking for virtual assistants, data processing services looking for data entry typists and many other outsourcing services are advertising for employees to work online. You will also see many online Outsourcing Services that advertise editing services and recruit editors to work for their online services, or writers, typists, accountants, etc. Many temporary agencies and freelance websites also advertise for workers who will work on outsourced projects for them.

Help Wanted Classifieds

For recent help wanted classified advertisements look at http://freshjobs.com/ and http://expertnetsurf.com./ Recent classified advertisements with titles like Now Hiring, Help Wanted and Job Openings are posted in newsgroups, job boards, forums and message boards too. JobBoardMagic.com, Job-Search-Engine.com and JobLine.net check many job boards in their job search. You could also post your resume at http://helpwantedsite.com/ and apply for jobs you like with your resume from their website. CareerBuilder.com, a large job and career website, and Jobvertise.com also provide this service free.

Jobs At Home Newsletters

There are also many helpful jobs at home websites that will send you recent job advertisements in a newsletter or ezine. You can join their mailing list or subscribe to their newsletters free at their websites. ExpertNetSurf.com is recommended for recent jobs at home advertisements in their free newsletter. Bassador.com, HomeJobStop.com and Telework-Connection.com also provide free jobs at home information in their newsletters. Email Alerts are also available from many job and career websites including CareerBuilder.com, HelpWantedSite.com and IHireAccounting.com

Internet Newsgroups

Another resource for job search and help wanted advertisements is Internet Newsgroups. Jobs are posted in Newsgroups at http://google.com/ in newsgroups like alt.jobs.offered, misc.jobs.offered, biz.jobs.offered, us.jobs.offered and misc.jobs.offered.entry. You can find many recent help wanted advertisements in newsgroups and messages about them. You can also search for jobs. Many more jobs at home opportunities are listed in Yahoo Groups and MSN Groups.

Jobs At Home Search Engines

You will also find many jobs at home search engines and jobs search engines that you can search for jobs. You can search for home employment with jobs search engines using keywords like at home, home, homebased, job at home, outsource, remote, telecommute, telemarket, telework, virtual, work at home, and work from home. JobLine.net will do a Job Search and/or Resume Distribution for a charge. These websites have jobs at home search engines: -

- http://2work-at-home.com/
- http://genuinejobs.com/
- http://workaholics4hire.com/
- http://work-at-home-land.com/
- http://workathomesearchengine.com/


Employment Agencies

A good place to start would be with Employment Agencies. They have one of the largest selections of employers and jobs and they are professionally trained in job placement.

Some of them are Outsource Staffing Services or Virtual Staffing Services that have employee bases of their own. You can register with them and start working for them, too.

Register with these Employment Agencies, Outsourcing Services, Virtual Staffing Services and Freelance Agencies and they will help you find a job.

You will need a professional resumé and cover letter. You can make your own and upload them to the websites. You will also see many Resumé Services in this book that will design and distribute your resumés.

You should also have several professional references. It would also help you to take some classes or tutorials and add some Certifications to your resumés.

Some of these Services will provide a Customized Web Page for you with your CV (Curriculum Vitae) or Resumé, a Profile, References, Contact Information and Degrees, Diplomas and Certifications. You will be able to send prospective Employers to these Web Pages.


Employment Agencies

- AccounTemps http://accountemps.com/
- Adecco http://adecco.com/
- AlpineAccess http://alpineaccess.com/
- AssistU http://assistu.com/
- CareersFromHome http://careersfromhome.com/
- ConnectCareers http://connectcareers.com/
- ContractedWork http://contractedwork.com/
- CyberSecretaries http://youdictate.com/
- DeskTopStaff http://desktopstaff.com/
- Elance http://www.elance.com/
- Electric Quill http://electric-quill.com/
- Elite Virtual Assistants http://elitevirtualassistants.com/
- Executary http://executary.com/
- FlexibleSchedules http://flexibleschedules.com/
- Global Staffing http://globalstaffing.com/
- HireAbility http://hireability.com/
- HomeBasedSecretaries http://homebasedsecretaries.com/
- HR-Dept http://hr-dept.com/
- Job Line http://jobline.net/
- PhoneMagicInc http://phonemagicinc.com/
- Prime Outsource http://prime-outsource.com/
- Professional Support Services http://professionalsupportservice.com/
- Speedy Secretarial http://speedysecretarial.com/
- Staffing Services http://staffingservices.net/
- Tad Accounting http://tadaccounting.com/
- V Services http://vservices.biz/
- V Staff http://vstaff.com/
- V-Staffing http://v-staffing.com/
- VIPDesk http://vipdesk.com/
- VirtualAssistantJobs http://virtualassistantjobs.com/
- VirtualAssistants http://virtualassistants.com/
- VirtualAssistantsRUs http://virtualassistantsrus.com/
- Virtual Corp http://virtual-corp.net/
- Virtual Medical Staffing http://virtualmedicalstaffing.com/
- VirtualResourceMgmt http://virtualresourcemgmt.com/
- VirtualStaff2CallCenter http://virtualstaff2callcenter.com/
- VirtualStaffing http://virtualstaffing.biz/
- VOStaffing http://vostaffing.com/
- Workaholics4Hire.com http://workaholics4hire.com/


Financial Employment

- AccounTemps http://accountemps.com/
- BalanceYourBooks http://balanceyourbooks.com/
- Bookminders Inc. http://bookminders.com/
- Financial Staff http://finstaff.com/
- JobsInTheMoney http://jobsinthemoney.com/
- TadAccounting http://tadaccounting.com/
- Wall Street Services http://www.wallstreetservices.com/



Telecommuting, Jobs At Home Websites with Job Databases, Training, Resume Help, Job Newsletters and More

- http://2work-at-home.com/
- http://bassador.com/
- http://outsource2000.com/
- http://tjobs.com/
- http://workaholics4hire.com/
- http://work-at-home-land.com/


Medical Nursing Jobs

- http://allaboutstaffing.com/
- http://hospitaljobsonline.com/
- http://intelistaf.com/
- http://integritynursestaffing.com/
- http://readyrefer.com/
- http://staffingremedies.com/
- http://virtualmedicalstaffing.com/


Accounting Bookkeeping

- AccountantsWorld http://accountantsworld.com/
- AccounTemps http://accountemps.com/
- Accounting & Finance Personnel http://afpersonnel.com/
- Ajilon http://ajilonfinance.com/
- BalanceYourBooks http://balanceyourbooks.com/
- BankingBoard http://bankingboard.com/
- Bookminders Inc. http://bookminders.com/
- Call An Accountant http://callanaccountant.com/
- Financial Staff http://finstaff.com/
- I Hire Accounting http://ihireaccounting.com/
- OutSource Your Books http://osyb.com/
- Prime Outsource http://prime-outsource.com/
- TadAccounting http://tadaccounting.com/ http://tadtraining.com/


Debra Mundell - Author of Work From Home Jobs Directory, Lottery 101 How To Predict Lottery Numbers Creator of the Magic Lucky Lottery Numbers Oracle - http://www.jobsathomeshop.com/

Problems Facing Today's Teens

Teen problems are growing. If you think that being a teen today is the same as it was when you were in their shoes, you are probably mistaken. Now, listen to yourself say how strict and how hard life was when you where young. But, you need to realize that teens today face huge, life threatening decisions just about ever day. What they face has a lot to do with where they grow up. Yet do not be fooled into thinking that your child is safe.

In the normal course of your teen's day, he or she may face any of these things; one or more of them.

Drugs
Think that drugs are simple like they used to be? They are not. Kids today are not just smoking the easy stuff. They are into crack or other strong and deadly drugs.

Sex
Not only are they exposed to it on the television, but they are encouraged by others. They may be engaging in sexual acts that you have never heard of. They may be doing it unprotected as well. At school, after school, on the car ride home - there are many opportunities you do not realize. Teens get pregnant and have babies.

Violence
Today's teen problems often revolve around violence. They see friends with guns at school or after school. They witness huge fights. They hear threats. They see anger and deal with it daily.

Depression
With all that they see and do, teens face depression today at an alarming rate as compared to just a decade ago. Depression is not something that just goes away, but can cause them harm and threaten their lives.

Driving
Teens drive drunk. Teens drive under the influence of drugs. Teens get in cars that others are driving under the influence. Teens may also be responsible drivers, but share the road with those that are not.

Teen problems that are at a lower level can be just as deadly. They face lying, cheating, emotional trauma, learning disabilities and divorce. All of these things a child will face daily in some cases. In those cases, it is no wonder that they have low self esteems, high drop out rates and some of the students will break under the pressure. Teen problems should be addressed and noticed by their parents first.

Are you concerned your teen is or may be getting out of control? If so click here to get some help from someone who has been working with frustrated parents for over 20 years!

Protecting Your PC From Internet Dangers

If you buy items online, surf the internet or use email then here are several tips to keeping your computer and your personal information secure.Many people find it very easy to safeguard themselves by installing antivirus protection. Most antivirus protection software protects your computer from known viruses and Trojan horses.

If a new virus is detected, your virus software will automatically download the new definition so that your computer will be safe.Trojan horses are tiny programs that are downloaded inadvertently from the web. These small programs look for personal information and secretly upload it to a database. Many computer users have lost personal and financial information with the use of Trojan Horses.

One of the most damaging of all malicious software is the back door Trojan virus. Unlike many other types of malicious code, the back door Trojan virus is designed specifically to take advantage of vulnerabilities in the operating system such as Windows. The virus uses a back door into the computer too steal personal information, wipe files, or do other types of damage.
To make matters worse, some of these back door Trojan horses disguise themselves and hide from anti virus software. Some are even intelligent enough to disable and render unusable your anti virus and firewall software.You should also protect your computer from Spyware.

Spyware is a tiny program that is downloaded usually when you download another program for free off the web. Spyware can be very irritating. Spyware keeps records of what your search for online and then sends you advertisements. Spyware can be difficult to erase.It is also vital to protect yourself from Spoof emails. Spoof emails look like real emails from Ebay, Paypal, Banks and big credit card companies, but they are fake. Most spoof emails ask you to provide a website with financial information and then they steal this information. If you receive any emails that ask you for financial details, shut your browser, open up a new browser and contact your company's web site personally to see if there is a message for you.Steps you can take to avoid problems with viruses and Trojans include being vigilant and paying attention to how your computer appears to be running.

If you notice a decrease in performance that cannot be easily explained, or if you see an icon you do not recognize on the taskbar, it is a good idea to scan your computer and look for problems. Paying attention to your own computer, and using your own common sense, is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your computer. New! Ezy-Internet Safety Guide is the perfect blueprint to the truth about Internet safety. Learn everything you need to know about making your computer safer, safety software that works and how to avoid all the nasty spyware, malware, viruses, worms and trojans.

Friday, March 14, 2008

How To Buy Photography Equipments

Photography is a much loved hobby around the world. Many people would want to get their hands on a camera and start shooting away, or get some supplies to be able to build their own darkrooms and develop the films themselves.Photography is a fulfilling hobby, however, there are many equipments out there which can be sources of confusion especially for beginners. The mere number of equipments can stir up one’s head. What better way to guide a photography student than to give tips on how to buy a camera, which is of course, the most basic equipment in photography. This article tries to give some basic tips regarding the things that you have to consider when buying a camera.

1. What Do I Need?

If you want to buy a camera, you must first ask yourself, “What am I going to use it for?” There are many different kinds of cameras out there and they are used for different purposes. What we would recommend, especially for beginners, is to get a good, sturdy point-and-shoot camera. These cameras are very handy and can be used in any occasion. Well, the most intriguing pictures are the ones which capture unique events from unique angles. You may not be able to bring a more intricate piece of equipment when exciting things happen, but a point-and-shoot camera is always carried by photographers. There also are many other features that you might want to look at or avoid in choosing cameras such as stands and shutter features.

2. Research

A photography enthusiast needs to be able to know about what he wants to do when taking pictures. Reading different materials such as photography magazines (example: Apogee Photo or Popular Photography” can give you updated and fresh information about photography in general and photography equipments.

3. Know Your Budget

Getting the best pictures doesn’t mean that you have to buy the latest and the most expensive model on the market. It all depends on who is taking the photograph and the equipment is just a tool. More features mean more expenses. A buyer must be able to assess what features he needs to be able to get comfortable with a camera. It’s really a waste of money if you buy a top-of-the-line camera and don't know how to use half of its features.These are just some basic tips on how you can start assessing what camera to buy. You must look into the details of a certain camera and assess the features and prices.

Digital Photography For Beginners

Planning to get your hands on a digital camera but not sure if you can make the transition from your old camera that uses film to one that utilizes a memory card? If you are afraid of things that are complicated, then don't worry. Although digital cameras may be advanced, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are not user friendly. Here are some tips that can help you in taking pictures with a digital camera.

Enhance The Color Tones Of Your Picture

There are times when you think that your shots have a cold or clammy aura. This is because digital cameras have default settings for white balance at auto. This is ok for most shots but if you want to increase the reds and the yellows of your shots, adjust the auto setting to cloudy. This makes your pictures appear warmer as well as richer.

Macro Mode :

Activating the close up mode on your camera, usually called the macro mode, will make your shots have sharper details. This is very easy to use in digital cameras unlike in the conventional ones. To use your camera's macro mode, look for the icon that depicts the macro mode or "Close up". Normally, the icon is that of a flower. Go as close to the object as your camera will allow. It is important to remember that you have a rather shallow field depth, thus it is important to focus on the subject's part that you consider to be the most significant.

Invest On File Storage :

Having a memory card that is capable of storing a large amount of picture files is important. This gives you the freedom to take more pictures. The higher the resolution of your camera which normally ranges from 2 mega pixels to 6 or more mega pixels, the higher the memory size of your card should be. With an ample sized memory card, you don't have to pass the opportunity to take a shot. No more worries of having a full memory card whenever that perfect shot appears.

Always Use High Resolution :

Your digital camera has many resolution settings. Always take pictures using the highest possible setting. Although higher resolution means more memory used up, it isn't a problem if you have already acquired a good sized memory card. You will never know when the best shot in your whole life may pop up. So why to opt for poor resolution?

These tips will help you with your new digital camera. Never hesitate to take as many pictures as you can ! Remember if you have enough memory, then you need not worry at all !

Learning Photography

Are you interested in taking up photography? If you are relatively new to photography, then here are some tips that will help you learn about photography and its many different qualities. The Camera : While choosing a camera, you should keep in mind that whatever kind of camera you buy, it won't necessairily affect the final image. There are certain factors that will affect your final product regardless of camera brand.
They are :
Quality of the expected final image.
Will the image be magnified before being viewed ?
Will the subject carry the whole focus of the shot ?
The time alloted to take the picture.
It is also important to keep in mind that cameras work at varying speeds. This proves to be crucial depending on the subject that you will be shooting. When taking a picture of your son or daughter while they are playing, you may opt to use an automatic camera to avoid all the fuss of making adjustments with regards to aperture, focus, lighting, etc. But if you are going to take a picture of a mountain view, then you have all the time to use a manual camera.
Lighting Conditions : Taking portraits under the sun may present some problems. Because of the sunlight's hardness, dark shadows will may appear in the shot. To solve this problem, you can move the subject to a position under the shade to be able to use skylight instead of sunlight. Skylight is less concentrated than sunlight.
Another thing that can be done is to take the picture during the last few minutes during sunrise or sunset. Sunlight is much more mellow during these times. If you have the equipment such as diffusers as well as reflectors, they will do a good job to make the shot more vibrant.
The use of artificial lighting or a flash is also ideal if you know the proper way and time to use them. Avoid using the flash during sunrise and sunset since the resulting picture will look rather clammy or cold.
Exposure : There are no such things as correct exposure. It is really up to you and your artistic preferences how your picture will turn out. The environment contains many tones which can't be fully represented using film. Some of the details might get lost depending on the picture as well as the film used.
These are some of the things that you should remember while taking pictures. As you take more and more pictures, your skills will become sharper and you will be able to use more of your creativity.