Jody Goodman: 5月 2014

2014年5月31日星期六

Download A Free Movie For Your Iphone

Ever since it became apparent that it was possible, many owners of Apple's new Iphone have been doing all they can to download free movies for their Iphone. The general consensus is that using Itunes and other download sites is becoming too expensive, with many owners preferring to get their downloads for free. If you like the sound of free downloads, read on to find out more.

A simple Google search regarding Iphone movie downloads will soon give you an idea of just how many sites claim to offer free downloads. At first this seems great, the only problem being that a good percentage of them are not as they seem, so you need to be very careful. Follow these guidelines to help you spot which sites are trustworthy and which have ulterior motives.

Firstly, you'll need to be prepared to pay. Obviously, the fact that you may have to pay can make it seem like you aren't going to be getting any

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Does Blogging Get You More Sales

"Everyone is too scared to use the Internet to buy things".

Remember when they said that? It's not that long ago.

Look at us now. People can and do buy anything and everything

from the web. The fear, really a fear of change has gone.

They said TV would destroy the cinema. That didn't

happen. The movies are a completely different form to TV but we

didn't realise at the time. TV and cinema both survived and now

both feed off each other.

In hindsight we all see what was perfectly obvious.

Now they're saying that Blogs, or weblogs are taking over the

Internet.

A blog is effectively an online journal where you, or a group,

can record their innermost thoughts and make comments about a

topic. Anyone has access to read your journal entry (known as a

post) and can comment on it.

For much more detailed information about blogging look at the

entry in wikipedia for "Blogging."

You get over 474 million search results if you enter "blog" into Google.

Part of the reason for the blogs attraction is its ease of use. It takes only a few minutes to begin "blogging".

First you sign up with a blog server, like Google's Blogger, SixApart's TypePadblog or use Wordpress.

You choose a page template you like. There are a number of very good ones available completely free. Then post your first

entry.

The final step is to let a blog directory know each time you

create a new post (this is called pinging). Services such as

Pingoat and Pingomatic are sites that can ping a number

of other directories on your behalf.

People search these directories using blog search engines

and browse the blogs in a similar way to web sites.

Do Companies Really Use Blogs?

Company executives use blogs. For example Bob Lutz, Vice

President of General Motors has his own blog. Other people from

GM contribute to it as well. IBM Vice President Bob Sutor and

Vice President of Marketing for Boeing Randy Baseler write their

own blogs too.

Employees from corporates like Microsoft, Google and Hewlett

Packard blog.

When blogging is used in a positive way it shows your customers

and prospects your corporate personality and helps build rapport.

What Are The Blog Downsides?

The company CEO shouldn't blog. That's because there may be

pressure to flag future events. Or worse, if they drop a clanger

it can be spread world-wide very quickly.

A further potential blogging downside is that you've no influence over

what others put in their own blogs about what you've written.

You only need to look at some of the comments that General Motors got on Bob Lutz's blog when they started a discussion on seatbelts to see how heated things can get.

Companies may be concerned that employees will spend too much

time blogging or reading blogs. That means a blogging policy

should be in place to prevent such abuse.

What Is The Advantage Of A Blog?

A blog can position someone, or a company, as an expert. But people can easily pass other people's work off as their own. So it really is a case of "buyer beware" when reading blogs.

So are blogs going to be a knock-out for attracting and retaining customers?

The short answer is it depends, and the reasons are:

1) It's just another marketing communication channel - it can be used well or not. Rather like PR is used.

2) For some companies it's just too public

3) It's completely without editoral control

4) It requires commitment to update regularly and to check and respond to comments

It's been said that consultancies and other organisations that

deal in knowledge and intellectual property benefit most from

blogging. That's because they can demonstrate their ability and

expertise to their market in a different way from other marketing

tactics.

But really why should it stop there? General Motor's blog is

useful for communicating new model launches and answering

customer feedback.

In fact there really is no practical limit to the who can use

blogging to communicate with customers and prospects.

But in the end is blogging a dead-end?

The business blog is definitely an important communication tool

that every company should seriously consider as part of their

marketing arsenal. But it must be looked at as another business

tool whose ultimate measurement is: "does it get more sales or

reduce company costs?"

If it can't deliver at least one of those measures business

blogging deserves to fail.

I've been blogging for over a year now and I've found that I've had thousands of hits. Intentionally I don't get any sales from it. But that's because I'm writing mini articles and will eventually use them as a basis for my next book.

So in the final analysis blogs are another communication channel so companies have the ability to take theirs and make it do the PR, word of mouth, viral and Internet marketing for them.

Internet advertising has grown into big business. Expect blogging to do the same.

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How To Make Money Blogging - 10 Step Solution

Firstly, we all want to know How to Make Money Online, and one of the best ways I have found is by creating blogs. In this article I intend to show you how you too can learn How to Make Money Blogging by telling you how combining the techniques I have gathered from across the web helps to make me $$$ every day. Secondly, I am not trying to sell you my latest "Get Rich Quick" scheme because I don't have one. Each eBook you read will have a wealth of information within them which will, without a doubt help you to discover the secrets of How to Make Money Online. I am only going to tell you which ones out of the 100's available you SHOULD read if you too want to make lots of money.

I use a 10 step guide to setting up and starting all of my blogs.

I will give you a list of the top 10 resources later that I use and recommend to everyone who is serious about making lots of money online. One of the vital aspects people seem to miss out when they first get into blogging is the fact that their blog must contain information that people want to read.

Many bloggers are looking through closed eyes in this regard and if you browse through 50 blogs you will notice that most will tell you they know How to Make Money with Blogs when really all they tell you is where they went on their vacation or how many cars they have.

Are you ready to learn How to Make Money Blogging?

If the answer is YES then read on and start to make money with your blog. I am not here to tell you how to write your blog, that's up to you, but what I am about to tell you is the 10 things I use to make money on the internet. You can choose to use these techniques or not, that's your prerogative.

Step 1 - Finding a Topic

Turn off your computer, grab a pen and some paper and sit somewhere you can relax but also stay focused (if you are just starting out this step can be a pain because we all want to know How to Make Money Online and we want to know how to make it NOW). Think of a topic you are interested in and write it down (this helps because you will be more committed to trying instead of giving up in a day or two) and also make sure it is something other people are interested in too. A couple of ways I use to think of a topic is by using MetaSpy to find out what people are searching for, Ask IQ to find what's popular and VRE Toolbar to find out how many people search for the topic (this is also useful later on to get traffic). Write down your top five keywords, you will want to use them later in your blog.

Step 2 - Create Your Blog

Find and create your blog online. I like to use Blogger but other popular Blog platforms are Wordpress and Movable Type. You can find all the help in the program you use to get information when setting up the blog. Create your content, make it original, and make it informative. This is one of the main keys to learn How to Make Money with Blogs. You need to include the keywords you wrote down in Step 1 in the content of your blog. Try not to overuse these as it sends out bad signals to the search engines, and this is 100% not what you want.

Step 3 - Go Google

Sign up for Google Adsense and insert the code in the margin of your blog. You can customize your ads in many ways, such as including text links or image links. I prefer the text links only, as they are easier to blend in with your blog and don't take the focus away from the information. Google Adsense will probably not make you a millionaire but it is an instant way of generating a small amount of money.

If you want to track where your visitors are coming from with regards to direct hits or from search engine results then I would suggest you use Google Analytics and again you can get all the help you need setting that up from within the program.

You will also want to add your URL to Google's index.

Step 4 - Find Something to Sell

If you don't want to sell anything and are happy with the income Google Adsense is bringing in then you can skip this step. If you want to maximize your income and truly learn How to Make Money with Blogs you will want to find an affiliate program to join. A couple of affiliate programs I would suggest are ClickBank and Commission Junction. You can sell anything from office furniture, pet supplies, movies and clothing to PC games, Dieting tips and Audio software.

Whatever program you join will give you help inserting the code you will need to insert into your blog, but be sure you do this correctly or you WILL NOT earn money from your visitors. If you do not know how to edit HTML, W3Schools HTML tutorial is a great place to start.

Step 5 - Social Bookmarking

There is no better advertising than word of mouth, but the next best thing is social bookmarking. You will want to make things easier for people to do this. Social bookmarking sites I use and recommend are OnlyWire and SocialMarker and they are used for people to share their bookmarks or websites that they have liked with other people in their online community.

I would not suggest you add your own links to these services, but provide visitors to your website the ability to do so.

Step 6 - Write an Article

Whether your blog is about a specific product, for example a certain MP3 Player you are promoting, or just about giving people information, I would suggest you to write an article or a review of it. Most article directories require articles of 500 words and over so I would use this as a rule when writing to ensure your article is published.

Submit your article to any of the 100's which are out there. I personally use a few of the Top Article directories such as EzineArticles, Article Dashboard, Amazines.com, isnare and SearchWarp. I also use a nifty piece of software called Article Submitter which will submit your articles to over 600 article directories, which saves you lots of time and leaves you to focus on writing your blogs.

Step 7 - Ping The Hell Out Of It

Every time you add new information to your blog, you want to let the blog directories know about it, this is known as pinging. Some Blog providers automatically send out pings when you update, but to be on the safe side you will want to do this manually too. ONLY PING WHEN YOU UPDATE.

There are a couple of Ping sites I use which will send a ping to multiple blog directories at the same time. PingMyBlog would be my first port of call and then if for some reason that site is down I would use Ping-o-matic. Remember, to only ping when you update or you could get blacklisted, and that is bad.

Step 8 - Yahoo! Answers and Forums

One of the easiest ways to get targeted visitors to your blog is to make use of the people you want to target. I would suggest you sign up to at LEAST one forum in the topic you are writing about, and don't just go straight in there and start posting comments for people to look at your blog, they won't.

The secret is to add the link to your blog in your signature and actively become a member of the forum, posting relevant topics and starting debates within them. The more you post, the more your link will show, and if you provide someone with good info the chances are higher they will click your link.

Yahoo! Answers is along the same lines as forums but the beauty of this is it's viewed by thousands of visitors each day. If you don't already have a Yahoo! account get one and then login and search for questions relating to the topic of your blog and answer them well. You can then insert the link to your blog and as with the forums, if you answer well you may have not only earned yourself a point or two on Yahoo!, but also earned a visitor to your blog.

Step 9 - Update Your Blog

This can be by several means, one is to add new reviews or content to your blog, and if you are going to do this I suggest updating every couple of days. This helps to keep the search engines happy as they love to see new and original content.

Another way of updating your blog and keeping the content fresh is to add RSS feeds to it. Make sure the feeds are relevant to your blog and provide visitors with helpful information. Visitors to a World of Warcraft blog don't want to read feeds about knitting, or do they?

Step 10 - More, More, More

Repeat steps 1 - 10, this is the only way How to Make Money Blogging.

Step 11 - A Bonus Step

If you have your own product or newsletter, give your visitors an easy way to sign up to receive updates or information. This helps you to contact the visitor again with more great info or products you wish to sell.

How to Make Money Online is easy if you follow the above steps.

Some important things to remember so you don't get disheartened with your blog is the fact that you will not become a millionaire overnight, it takes hard work and a lot of effort. If you are really serious about learning How to Make Money with Blogs then stick with it and eventually you will have an Ah-Ha moment. This is when things start to work and you think to yourself Ah-Ha, that's how they do it. Your moment could be sooner than you think.

My Top 10 resources I use and recommend are:

1. Rob Benwell's Blogging to The Bank 2.0

2. Wordpress Goldmine

3. Rob Atherton's Building A Blog Empire For Profit

4. The Blog Challenge

5. Hinge Marketing Magic

6. Blogging For Riches - Complete Video Tutorial

7. Social Bookmarking Demon

8. Adsense Inbox

9. Wordpress SEO Sniper

10. RSS, Blogs and Syndication...

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2014年5月30日星期五

Adsense-is-for-Everyone

Adsense is for Everyone

When Google's AdSense appeared, there were a lot of people who doubted Google's idea would be marketable and actually generate any profits. Yet as we stand here today it's probably the most well known pay per click venture in the world.

Yes, all those nay sayers ended up eating their own words in the end. And that is because the folks at Google never go and do something without assessing whether or not it will be profitable, or exactly how profitable it is.

But of course, as you might very well know, AdSense isn't just profitable for Google. It's also profitable for the people who advertise via AdWords and very profitable for publishers who use it to make earnings which are sometimes just enormous.

So one must ask himself why this is such a good deal for everybody. And the question in itself is very justified because you hardly ever come across something that's profitable for everyone in the chain. So why would AdSense be any different.

Well, AdSense is where it stands today, giving benefits for everybody in the game because it exploits a gap in the Internet's advertising model.

You see, the Internet is a very interactive environment, and its interactions come from the people who are browsing. They choose whether or not to follow a certain link and the term "navigating" is probably the most precise one at describing this situation.

So AdSense is great because it links together buyers and sellers. Yes, you have to hand it out to Google for a brilliant idea. They know there are people out there that want to buy stuff and people who want to sell them what they're interested in. And Google AdSense helps members of the two categories find each other.

It works for the visitors, because the model is very transparent. You don't see a huge graphic banner which tries to lure you into buying something. You just see a few words. And if you like what you see you can just click it. It works because visitors don't have that feeling of someone trying to lure them into spending money. Ironically, however, they're wrong.

It works for the AdWords advertisers because their ads go everywhere. Not only will they find themselves listed in Google's search which gets gazillions of hits per day, up front without working as much for SEO and waiting so much.

Their ads can reach any website that deals with anything similar to what they're trying to sell. Now you must realize they could never pull of such great advertising by themselves. And that brings us to the thing that makes Google's AdSense a publisher's best friend.

It comes from the fact that the ads are contextual, that they somehow related to the keywords you deal with on your page. Because people or on your site, which deals with a certain topic, you already know they're interested in that topic.

But, hey, wait a minute, Google knows some companies which want to sell your visitors something related to their topic. Google wants your visitors, you want Google's advertisers and the visitors just want to buy stuff. And that is the essence of what makes AdSense a great deal for everybody.

This is by far the most profitable hook-up deal you're ever going to see anywhere on the Internet.

So you have to appreciate Google for realizing a killer deal. You have to appreciate how well thought out, yet simple this scheme really is. Sure, in practice it has a few quirks but those are minor and, up to this point everyone seems to be enjoying Google's AdSense.

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The GMC Collectible Motor Home

In the 1970's, General Motors entered the RV market. Drawing on the exuberance of the times, the company set out to create the ultimate American Motor home.

Their aim was to produce a top-of the-line vehicle with cutting-edge design and construction, not just another competitor in the already crowded vacation vehicle market.

The common design in this era was a boxy, ungainly and top-heavy unit on a truck chassis. The GMC vehicle was intended to be a completely new design in every way.

Design work began in 1970, with the market introduction planned for 1973. "Doesn't look like a box or ride like a truck" was the GMC ad slogan.

The new vehicle would be unusual for this era in several ways. First of all, it was to have a front wheel drive, a rare concept in cars of that day and unheard-of in mobile homes.

The drive train and suspension were taken from the design of the Oldsmobile Toronado. The 265 horsepower 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine was attached to a Turbohydramatic 425 transmission with torsion bar suspension.

The rear suspension was a product of GM's bus design, using dual swing arms, one leading and one trailing, with a single air spring on each side.

Instead of a auto body steel, the body was to be made of lightweight aluminum and molded fiberglass-reinforced plastic such as was used in the Chevrolet Corvette.

The front wheel drive and independent swing arm rear suspension brought great improvement to the standard motor home design.

The lack of drive shafts and axles underneath the coach allowed a very low floor height, leading in turn to a low overall vehicle height and lower center of gravity.

Aside from easier entry and exit, this reduced rollover risk and wind resistance and made the vehicle much safer and easier to operate for buyers accustomed only to car driving.

A six-wheel braking system, with disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on all four rear wheels, further enhanced drivability. Previous motor home design focused mainly on the use of the vehicle as a temporary home once it had reached its destination, an extended stay in a mobile home park or a camping spot.

Ease of getting to the destination was of secondary concern, and cumbersome handling on the road was taken for granted. GMC made a special point of targeting this feature for improvement by adding visibility from the driver's seat with a panoramic expanse of glass.

The motor home was featured in 23 foot and 26 foot lengths, fairly small even for this era.

Nowadays, much larger models are common. The motor home's interior design was compact, with no permanent sleeping areas in the original design. All beds were converted from seating areas when required.

Hot water was provided by water heaters using engine coolant loops, which produced water so hot it could actually present a scalding hazard since coolant temperatures usually exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The refrigerator was powered by a standard automotive battery, adequate only for overnight use before recharging.

The prototype was first displayed in May 1972 at the Transpro '72 trade show in Washington, D.C. Production started in 1973 with two models, Model 230 and Model 260, 23 and 26 feet long respectively.

They were sold with a finished interior for the public as well as unfinished to other RV manufacturers such as Avion and Coachman, who then provided their own interiors before reselling to consumers.

30 different floor plans were available, and models were priced from $35,000 to $40,000.

The GMC vehicle changed slightly over time, the most notable alteration coming in 1977 when the 455 cubic inch engine was replaced by a 403 cubic inch model in response to the energy crisis.

This decade caused hardship for all RV manufacturers as the increased price of fuel pushed large gas guzzling vehicles out of the market.

The GMC motor home had never sold at high volumes, and the company decided that the RV production facilities could be more profitably used to make light trucks. After the manufacture of 12,921 vehicles, production of motor homes was discontinued after the 1978 model year.

Almost immediately after production ceased, GMC motor homes became collectors' items, with owners' associations being established to provide parts and service for these vehicles.

Small manufacturers and garages developed a cottage industry servicing them. In 1992, as General Motors prepared to scrap all remaining tools and parts, Cinnabar Engineering purchased all the motor home manufacturing supplies and negotiated a deal to continue to provide parts for the discontinued vehicles.

In 1992, a monthly magazine called GMC Motor home Marketplace was introduced, and in 1994 Cinnabar started publishing a quarterly newsletter called GMC Motor home News.

The vehicle's futuristic design has even found a place in pop culture: Mattel Toys created die-cast versions of the GMC motor home for its Hot Wheels line.

More than 50 different GMC Hot Wheels are available, and in 1977, Mattel released three toy GMC versions in a Barbie Doll Star Traveler promotion.

In an amazing example of customer loyalty and product durability, more than 8,000 units are still registered by owners.

An internet search of "GMC Motor home" produces 771,000 results, as sites advertise motor home parts, engines and upgrades as well as classic car rallies for owners.

Used GMC motor homes sell for $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle.

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T Shirt Designers Say Black Icons Are Cool

Whats hip in t-shirt design, you ask? T-shirt designers say nothings cooler than Black Icons. Yes, they mean African American Pop Iconsvisionaries, entertainers, athletes, and activists. And why are t-shirts with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Richard Pryor, George Clinton, and Martin Luther King Junior all the rage? Because these brothers are cool.real cool. Is it the color of their skin? Is it their fame? Is it their struggle? Is it what theyve accomplished? Its all of that, but most of all its because theyre all leaders in their own right. And people, regardless of race, respect and admire people who take charge. And if youre a brother in charge, well then more power to ya.

Some fashion critics say its also the Hip Hop movement thats bringing famous brothers and sisters to the fashion forefront. Recent polls show that Hip Hop gear is the most popular attire for American kids in their early teens to mid-twenties. Thanks to Hip Hop pioneers like Russell Simmons, chairman & CEO of Rush Communications, which founded Def Jam Recordings and Phat Farm Clothing and Sean P-Diddy Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment and Sean John Clothing, the Hip Hop lifestyle has gone mainstream. Kids and young adults from all over the world are embracing the music, clothing, and swaggerous way of living that is Hip Hop.

So whos wearing black icon tees? Everyonefrom the girl next door to the biggest names in entertainment and sportsRappers, Singers, Actors, Athletes, street kids, and even silver spooners are repping their favorite black icon.

P. Diddy has been sporting t-shirts embellished with images of his friend and rap prodigy the late Notorious BIG, since shortly after his death. Diddy has also been known to wear other late greats such as Marvin Gaye and Jam Master Jay. Rappers The Game and Snoop Dogg have been photographed wearing their West Coast mentor and friend Tupac Shakur. Producer, songwriter Wyclef Jean has been spotted wearing Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Junior, and Dr. Malcolm X Shabazz.

Kids all over America are wearing black iconsblack inner city youth and white suburbanites alike. The fad which started in the streets probably made it to the burbs by way of television through music videos and other forms of entertainment.

In a predominantly white middle school in New Jersey one student has came up with an interesting class project for black history month. He has proposed that on the first Friday in February everyone in his history class wear a t-shirt embellished with a black icon. They will get partial credit for participating in the project, but will be graded on how well they deliver a biographical speech about the icon they are wearing.

Whos popular? O.K., so now youre wondering if it is cool to wear any old black icon on your chest. Well, the answer is yes, but in case you dont want to chance it, here is a list of some of the more popular black icon tees.

Music: Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Aaliyah, Jimi Hendrix, Rick James, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Miles Davis, Tupac. Sports: Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Don King, Dr. J., 1968 Olympic Protest, Jim Brown. Activists: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks. T.V. & Movie Personalities: Richard Pryor, Red Foxx as Fred Sanford, Jimmy Walker as JJ, Fred Berry as Rerun, Fat Albert.

How much do the cost and where are they sold? These shirts usually cost between $12 on the very low end to $30 on the high end. But the average price for a quality tee shirt is about 20 bucks. Youll find these shirts just about anywhere you look. Huge department stores like Target and Wal*Mart carry them, but the cooler, more original shirts can be found in the small boutique type apparel stores in most major cities or on the Internet.

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2014年5月29日星期四

Stealing Passwords And Other Juicy Googlebits

Disclaimer: Before we even start, I'd like to let my readers know that I am a full-time information security professional. I do not condone the theft of anyone's personal information including passwords, social security numbers, credit card numbers, etc. Moreover, I condemn such acts as morally and ethically wrong. The purpose and goal of this article is not to assist people with criminal or nefarious intentions, but rather to educate about the type of information that can be easily found with a web browser and a search engine, and by extension, the type of information that should and should not be submitted to web sites.

By now we all know of Google's dominance in the search industry. Although Yahoo and Microsoft remain competitors, neither one of their search engines are as mature as Google's. And beyond the "big three", you're hard pressed to find any search engine worth using anymore. GYM (Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft) have all but eliminated the smaller players in search--including former giants like Altavista, Lycos, and Excite. But even amongst the big three, Google is far ahead of the pack. In fact, Google's indexing prowess and relevancy ratings have become so good that many information security professionals now use Google as a key part to their vulnerability assessment and penetration testing services. Security professionals know that the first step in performing a successful assessment is to gather intelligence about the target. This is known as the "footprinting" or "profiling" phase of the security engagement. And what better way to profile your target than to leverag e the power of the world's greatest search engine? By simply using search queries (aka Just Google It, one can quickly locate sensitive and quasi-sensitive company information including domain names, subdomains, network address ranges, mail servers, FTP servers, whois contact information, even e-mail addresses. And the kicker is that all of the above can potentially be found about a target without sending even a single packet to the target's network. In an effort to better automate the footprinting phase using Google, some in the security industry have even written software that will go out and perform various search queries on the target inan effort to obtain an accurate profile. Of particular interest is Foundstone's SiteDigger and BiDiBLAH by Sensepost. SiteDigger will look for vulnerabilities, configuration problems, and other "interesting security nuggets" by searching Google's cache. Like SiteDigger, BiDiBLAH also uses a Google API license key to query the search engine for various keywords in an effort to determine a target's subdomains. Incidentally, BiDiBLAH is an all-around excellent free tool for professional penetration testers.

Now finding company web sites, domain names, and even e-mail addresses is one thing. But stealing people's eBay passwords? Credit card numbers? All by doing a few Google searches? Yes. And unfortunately not only is this possible, it's often simple to carry out. "But how can you search for someone's password if you don't know what it is"? Good question! The answer, of course, is you do not. Since the unique element is unknown, you need to search on a known, common element. Allow me to further explain.

By its very nature, software contains fingerprints--bits of information that uniquely identify and differentiate that software. For example, when you connect to a Microsoft IIS server, that web server will reply with its server string ("Microsoft-IIS/6.0", for example). Even tiny components of a software application will leave fingerprints. For example, McAfee VirusScan 8.0.0 has a small component called Access Protection which acts as a very simple firewall. But the log file for this component can be easily spotted because of a common, known element that is shared across all instances of that log. Now because this log file does not contain highly sensitive information such as passwords (it actually does contain disk path information though), the risk is not substantial if someone's log file found its away into the wrong hands. But what about other application log files that have common, known elements? How about configuration files? Spreadsheets? Accounting soft ware? I think you get the point. Searching Google for these known application fingerprints will inevitably bring up "interesting" results. By the way, there are entire web sites devoted to sole purpose of sharing Google queries that will result in juicy googlebits such as passwords, social security numbersand yes, credit card numbers. And although I won't list any of those sites here, they are not hard to find (hint: use Google!).

Incidentally, one of the things that makes these queries possible is Google's support of advanced operators. Google supports a growing number of these operators which help narrow down the output and generally provide a more specific result set. Using Google's advanced operators, you can even limit a searches to a specific domain or even filetype. For example, the following query searches registry files looking specifically for a text string beginning with "Username" and the word "putty" (PuTTY is a free implementation of telnet and SSH for the Windows and Unix platforms):

ext:reg "username=*" putty

If successful, the query would result in a list of username to machine mappings for folks who use puTTY. Armed with this useful information, an attacker could then possibly launch a brute-force password guessing attack against the target (assuming the. target's firewall allowed for inbound SSH connectivity). As you can see, coming up with searches that reveal Googlebits is mostly an excercise of the imagination.

As stated on their corporate website, Google's mission is to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful". So far, I'd say Google is doing an excellent job in fulfilling their mission statement. Are you upset that Google's database contains sensitive personal information such as credit card numbers? Me too. And though I won't give Google a complete pass, the primary parties at fault here are web site operators and web users (you and me). If you operate a Web site, please don't leave config files, log files, and other files that contain sensitive information sitting on your web server! And if you enjoy the many services the web has to offer, please understand that any information you send to a web site has the potential to show up in a Google search. I can't tell you how many forum posts I've stumbled on during a Google search that contained things like cell phone numbers, driver's license numbers, and even social security numbers .

You have been warned.

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50 Surefire Business Card Tips

Business cards are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools you can use. Here are 50 surefire tips to make the most out of your business cards:

Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information. Make sure that your card includes a tag line that explains what you or your company do.

Order them in large numbers. By ordering 1000 your cost per card will be significantly lower than if you ordered 500.

Even if you can produce your business cards at home using an inkjet printer, have your business cards professionally made by a printing company. Your business card will be the first impression your prospects receive of your business, so let them convey the best possible one.

Avoid using standard clip art as your business logo. A logo brings credibility and brand awareness, so before you invest in business cards have a logo professionally made for your business. Nowadays, there are online companies that can produce a professional logo for as little as $25, so there is no excuse for not having one made.

Put up a website and use the URL in your business cards. If you don't have a website, people will notice the absence of a web address in your business card and, depending on the business you are in, it may make you lose credibility.

Keep all the information in your business card current. If you changed address or phone number, don't scratch the old number and write down the new one by hand; get new business cards.

Keep your business card simple. Don't use too many fonts or try to cram too much information in it. Try to use a pleasant layout and make sure that your main message (your tagline or your unique selling proposition) doesn't get lost.

If you live in the US, limit your business card size to 3.5" x 2". Anything bigger will not fit in standard card holders and your card may end up in the trash. Business cards in Europe tend to be larger, but so are the wallets and card holders.

Make sure that your business card reflects your image. If you are an artist or a graphic designer, it is OK to use trendy colors and fonts. If you are an investment banker, a sober layout and colors such as blue or gray work better.

Your business card is an integral part of your brand or corporate identity strategy. It should follow the same graphics standards as the rest of your communications material (stationary, brochures, letterheads, etc.).

Find a way to make your business cards stand out. I've seen business cards with one of its corners cut in an angle, or with an interesting texture, all of which makes your business card stand out of the crowd. The best one I've seen is from an interior designer, who used a hologram to show a room before and after a redesign.

Make your business card easy to read: use high contrast between the background and the type. Light background with dark type works better.

After your logo, your name should be the largest piece of information on your card.

Make sure that all the information on your card is printed in a large enough typeface to be easily readable.

Run your business card copy through a spell checker and double-check your contact information.

Keep your business cards with you at all times. Keep a stack in your car, in your house, in your office, and in your wallet.

Leave your business cards in billboards at supermarkets, schools, stores, libraries, etc.

When giving away your card, give two or three at a time, so that your contacts can in turn distribute them to other people. This will not only help you distribute them faster, but will generate a beneficial "endorsing effect".

Include a business card with all your correspondence. People may throw away the letter, but will usually keep the business card.

Make your business card go the extra mile: use the back of the card to print more information: special offers, checklists, schedules, etc.

Throw in a business card in every product you ship.

Send a business card with any gift you send, instead of just a card with your name.

Scan your card and use it as an attachment to emails.

Use your business cards as name tags. Get a transparent plastic cover with a pin, and attach it to your lapel. Wearing it on your right side tends to make it more noticeable.

Use your business card as a name tag on your briefcase. Make sure that your company logo and tagline are visible. This way, your business card will turn into a "conversation piece" during plane rides, which may help you meet interesting people and good business contacts.

Use your business card as an ad: many publications offer "business card size" classified ads. If you design your business card properly, it can double up as an ad in those publications.

Don't give your business card too quickly. It may be perceived as pushy. Try to establish a conversation with your prospect first. For example, ask them what do they do. That will usually prompt them to give you their card. That is the perfect moment to give them yours.

Don't try to give your card in situations where many people are giving them to your prospect. Wait for a moment when you can capture your prospect's attention span.

Another tactic you can try when your prospect is overwhelmed and can't pay you enough attention is to send your card by mail. Pretend you ran out of business cards and ask for theirs. Then, mail them your card and take the opportunity to drop a follow up note.

If you have a mobile phone number or a direct phone number that is not listed in your business card, write it at the back of your card before handing it out, and tell your prospect that you are giving them your direct number. This will make your card more important, and less likely to be lost or thrown out.

Another way of increasing the chances that your prospect will keep your card is by printing valuable information on the back, for example important phone numbers (local police, hospitals, etc), a calendar, or a football schedule.

Offer to hand out cards of complementary (non-competitive) business people in exchange for them distributing yours. An example of non-competitive businesses is real estate brokers and mortgage brokers.

If somebody gives you their business card, you should give them yours in return.

Always give your business card face up.

Take a cue from Far East business people, who hand out business cards with both hands. It helps give the impression that your business card is something very important.

If you conduct business internationally, use the back of your card to print a translated version of your business card in your customers' language. Even if they have no problem reading English, it will be a classy touch and they will appreciate it.

If you sell different product brands and want to put their logos on your business card, print them in only one color. Using each logo's brand colors could make your business card look chaotic and busy.

Create a business card in magnet form. Magnets are widely used, to hold important papers on the refrigerator door at home and on file cabinets at work. They are always visible and always get read.

When receiving somebody else's business card, don't put it away immediately. Instead, keep it in your hand for a while you talk to your prospect, or place it neatly over the table, and try to develop a conversation based on the information on the card.

Use the back of the cards you receive to write down important facts about the persons who handed them to you. It will help you enormously when you follow up with them.

If you are in a profession where relationship selling is important, it may be a good idea to include your picture in your business card (i.e. real estate brokers).

Even if your business is a sole proprietorship, you can still use "account manager" as your title instead of "owner" or "president". If you do sales (and we all do) "account manager" is a perfectly appropriate title, and it will give the impression that you work for a larger company.

Use logos of organizations that you or your business belong to in your business cards. They are an easy way to provide instant credibility to your business. For example, if you operate a repair shop you can display the logo of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or the Triple A (AAA). (Check with them first about the terms of use).

If you participate in affiliate programs online, you can still use business cards to promote your affiliate links. Use the name of the affiliate company as the company name, use 'partner' or 'associate' as your title, and the URL of the directory or web page where you have placed your affiliate links as your web address. Just because affiliate programs are online doesn't mean that you can't use off-line marketing methods to promote them.

If you need to give cards to different kinds of prospects (for example if you are a student looking for work), make business cards with just your name and contact information, and attach custom made self-adhesive labels at the back with information of interest to each specific prospect.

Include an information email address (for example: ) that is set in autoresponder mode, that automatically triggers an email message with full information about your product, service or company. This will increase the effectiveness of your business card since you will give your prospect much more information that you can fit in a card.

Take good care of your business cards. Keep them clean and crisp in a cardholder. Don't give away cards that are bent or damaged.

Try to get a cardholder with two pockets. That way, you can use one for your business cards and the other one for the business cards you receive.

Keep all the business cards you receive neatly organized in a rolodex. It will save you time and will provide you with a database of contacts with whom to build positive business relationships.

Collect all the business cards you can find, even if you don't need them. Together, they will act as an "idea file" that will provide you with valuable tips that you can use to design your business cards.

For more business card tips, visit Free Business Cards:

/businesscards/

Mario Sanchez publishes The Internet Digest ( ) an online collection of tips and resources on Internet Marketing and Web Design. You can also visit his Business Card Tips page at: /businesscards/ .

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Explode Your Google Adsense and Affiliate Commissions Through Niche Blog Content Sites

Content as we know it is the Life-Blood or FUEL, if you will, of the Internet.

That was and still is the Internets sole purpose, except only now it's commercialized, giving the online entrepreneur the world at their fingers tips.

And the facts are that usually when people first come online it's not to go purchase something, it's to look for Information that will answer a question they might have about a particular product they're interested in and/or to a problem they are dealing with and are searching for a solution.

Ask yourself this, "Why do I go online?"

Does it resemble anything like what I just stated?

Only you can answer that.

These are simply the facts with out a doubt... Period!

Now that you have an idea of WHY people come online, I'm now going to explain to you how you can...

"Explode Your Google Adsense and Affiliate Commissions Through Niche Blog Content Sites"

Did you notice the last two words within the quotations?

That's right, Content Sites.

What are Content Sites?

I think it's pretty self explanatory but the basic definition of a Content Site is this - it's a site that contains targeted content that targets a particular niche or many niches.(niche examples: cars, fitness, hobbies, etc.)

Not quite up to speed on what a blog is, here's a quick definition of a blog - a blog(A.K.A. Web-Log) is simply a place to go and post your personal thoughts that you can share with your subscribers and/or readership and receive feedback.

Now that you know the basic definitions of a Content Site and a Blog lets continue.

Content Sites can contain Hundreds-to-Thousands of pages of keyword rich content, which by the way is exactly what the Search Engines love and will come back for if New content is added on a frequent basis giving the owner of that site lots of opportunity to benefit from the Free traffic inwhich the content pages, or what I like to call Feeder Pages, generate.

So, now that you have an idea of what a Content Site and a Blog is it's now time to tell you how you can build your own Niche Blog Content Site Empire, no matter what your niche is, using Blogs, Google Adsense and ClickBank affiliate products.

Bare in mind that the steps outlined below are only going to be a summarization of the actual process involved.

So, with that said, here it is.

Step #1. Set up a Blog.

The first step is quite simple. All you have to do is set up a Blog either through...

Blogger.com -

or...

Wordpress.org -

This blog your setting up is going to be the foundation of your Niche Blog Content Site and is where the rest of the pieces of the puzzle are going to be added to once you've set it up.

(Quick Tip: Make sure you use your Target Keywords within your URL of your niche blog and in the Title and Description. VERY Important!)

Once you have your niche blog set up move on to Step #2.

Step #2. Adding your Google Adsense code.

Depending on your experience with scripting and html, it's now time to add your Google Adsense code to your new niche blog in 3 strategic places.

Google allows you to add 3 Google Adsense blocks only to one page, no more than that, so I recommend one at the Top, one in the Right or Left sidebar depending on the template you choose and one at the Bottom of your blog.

By doing this your almost forcing your reader to click on a link within the Google Adsense block, which is of course, is exactly what you want and where your going to make the money.

The other great thing about Google Adsense is the ads are targeted to the content that you post, giving the reader even more reason to click through.

Here's a few resources for you that will show you how to add the Google Adsense code to your blog using the services I mentioned above if your not sure how to yourself.

Blogger.com: /bin/answer.py?answer=964

Wordpress.org: /blog/adsense-deluxe/

Simply follow the instructions and you'll have Google Adsense installed on your niche blog in no time.

Step #3. Find a related ClickBank product.

Now it's time to go shopping at ClickBank.com - - for a related information product that targets your niche.

Once there click on the link Earn Commissions at the bottom.

This will bring to to their directory where you'll find many products to choose from that will target any niche your blog is about.

(Quick Tip: The first 10 listed under each category are the TOP converting programs, meaning... their the ones making the most money.)

If you don't have a ClickBank.com nickname you'll have to sign up for one. It'll only take you a few minutes.

From there, once you've chosen a program to join your going to want to collect all the affiliate materials available, like Articles, Banners, Text Links, etc., because your going to place these on your NEW niche blog site with your affiliate link linked to them so when your reader clicks on them and decides to buy the related information, you get the commission.

Well... there you have it, 3 steps to "Explode Your Google Adsense and Affiliate Commissions Through Niche Blog Content Sites".

Now the only thing left for you to do is to start building an audience by promoting your Blog.

Here's a few resources for you to get started with.

Ping-O-Matic -

RSS Top 55 - /rss/top55

Remember this is just a summarized version and is only going to give you the basic steps, so good luck to you and your Niche Blog Content Site Empire.

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New Goodies At Google

Search giant, Google.com, recently expanded their reach yet again by offering new and expanded services going far beyond simply searching the Internet for relevant information.

Jumping on a growing bandwagon already teaming with millions of active users, Google now offers its own SMS search service to allow mobile phone users access to their database.

Google also released "Desktop 2," a personal information manager that resides on your desktop to organize everything from rss feeds and stock quotes, to photos and the weather.

Make no mistake, though Google seems to possess an uncanny ability to make things useful and "cool," these latest offerings represent Google staking out territory on your desktop against rivals Microsoft and Yahoo!

** Google Expands Desktop **

Originally, the Google Desktop program simply organized your files, emails and web searches into one place.

When you looked from a certain file or topic on your system, the program returned relevant results from files on your hard drive, email correspondence, and past web search history.

The new version of Google Desktop expands significantly over the original version by including a host of new services designed to create your own "personal information manager" right on your computer's desktop.

Probably the most obvious change is the "Sidebar," which makes a significant new addition to the tool.

The Sidebar allows you immediate access not only to information on your hard drive, but to specialized online information based on your preferences and viewing habits.

The Sidebar also incorporates an RSS feed reader, making it extremely simple for even complete novices to subscribe to and read news feeds from the web.

Many would think this one feature of a simple rss reader represents a direct step to grab the general consumer before Microsoft can launch their Longhorn browser (which will contain an rss reader).

Other additions include a news ticker, real time stock quotes, photo viewer, quick-find feature with the ability to launch programs just by typing in a few letters, and a scratch pad.

Google definitely upgraded this previously limited program to create a very handy personal organizer for your computer's desktop. Log on to to download a free copy.

** Google Goes Mobile **

If you fall into the over-30 age range, you probably didn't know that "SMS" stands for "Short Message Service."

Yet SMS comprises one of the fastest growing areas of all communication on the planet.

Millions of people use SMS on their cell phones to communicate as well as gather information.

Log on to /sms/ to discover how Google can now help you get information through your cell phone fast and free.

Get everything from driving directions, local business listings, and movie showtimes to local weather conditions, dictionary definitions and even product pricing.

Imagine walking into a store, spotting an item you want to buy, and before purchasing it know exactly how much you could snag it for online.

Picture yourself in an unfamiliar town and getting driving directions to the local Walmart. Google also operates a new home page just for mobile users at /mobile/.

Watch for this area of online services to expand massively in the near future.

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2014年5月28日星期三

OGGA-Google-AdWords-Keyword-Tool

Google Adwords Keyword Tool

The Internet has brought on a lot of innovative ways to advertise a product or service. Since a lot of businesses nowadays have made the Internet as one of their major marketing channels, (if not the most important, they are always on the search for more effective ways to advertise their merchandise.

Google AdWords is a fast and hassle-free way to purchase highly favorable cost-per-click or cost-per-cost per impression kind of advertising, and it caters to all kinds of budgets. Advertisements sponsored by AdWords are shown prominently with search engine results on Google, and also on sites included in the diverse Google network, such as Blogger and Earthlink. Ads that are tied up with Google can reach a wide range of audience because of the huge amount of searches done on the Google network. When one produces an AdWords advertisement, keywords will be chosen in which the ads will be shown, and a maximum amount for clicking the link will be assigned. One also has to specify the Google network sites in which the ad will appear. The operation saves businesses a lot of money since a merchant only pays when the ads are viewed, whether it gets clicked or not. Maximum payment is dispensed per thousand views. The ads made will appear immediately after the merchant submits the billing information required. The online account control center enables one to monitor the performance of the ads.

The ads are strategically placed in order to maximize exposure to online users. They can be located alongside or at the top of search results, or in a page that appears when a user navigates to find a site directory. Ads are also displayed on Gmail, Google's own electronic mail service.

Advertisements that are keyword-targeted are ranked by determining the number of times they were clicked, and also by the quality score. The quality score, on the other hand, is known by its clickthrough rate and other relevant factors, such as the importance of the text of the ad and historical keyword performance. High-ranking ads will be placed at the top of other ads on the search results of Google.

The system determines the placement of the ads by studying the queries of searchers to know exactly what region they are searching for. The Internet Protocol address may also be used as a basis to know where the searcher is from. If AdWords fail to come up with the right targeting for the advertisements, national or global advertisements will be displayed in its place.

There aren't much technical requirements for utilizing AdWords. It is advised to have the latest browser installed that is enabled with Javascript. For Microsoft Internet Explorer, at least the version 5.0 is recommended, and at least the version 6.0 for Netscape users. Editing of browser preferences may be necessary for those using an updated browser to enable Javascript and cookies.

It is possible to for AdWords ads to run on the individual web sites of merchants. There are two ways:

1.Google AdSense for Search

Websites that transacts at least 5 million searches per month can flash AdWords advertisements on their results pages.

2. Google Adsense for Content

Any web publisher can apply online. Premium service eligibility can be attained if a site receives more than 20 million views in a month.

What are the advantages of using Google AdWorks? Contracts and deadlines can be a thing of the past by using Adsense. It does not ask packages and prepayment from users. There are no minimum spending and contract requirements.

When a Google AdWorks account is created, a one-time activation fee is created, and an initial credit limit is established. The credit limit is increased everytime the account reaches is credit limit before 30 days has expired. Highest credit limit is $500.

Several payment options can be chosen from, the post-payment option and the pre-payment option. For the post-paying, payment is only dispensed for the clicks that the ad actually received.

Businesses will never run out of options on how to advertise their products and services. In fact, the channels have become more and more creative and easier for those interested to market their wares. Merchants should choose the most suitable and cost-free means for advertising.

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Google Adsense The Easiest Money To Make Online

Google Adsense - The Easiest Money To Make Online?

For the last couple of months, Google Adsense has dominated forums, discussions and newsletters all over the Internet. Already, there are tales of fabulous riches to be made and millions made by those who are just working from home. It seems that Google Adsense have already dominated the internet marketing business and is now considered the easiest way to making money online.

The key to success with Adsense is the placing of ads on pages that are receiving high traffic for high demand keywords. The higher the cost-per-click to the advertiser, the more you will receive per click from your site. Obviously, it does not pay to target low cost-per-click keywords and place them on pages that do not receive hits.

With all the people getting online and clicking away everyday, it is no wonder why Google Adsense has become an instant hit.

For some who are just new to this market, it would be a blow to their pride knowing that their homepage is buried somewhere in the little ads promoting other people

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Search com The Best Kept Secret On The Internet

A Dean Phillips fan (her words, not mine) wrote me an e-mail asking, if I hate Google, DMOZ and Yahoo! so much, why don't I recommend an alternative search engine? I had to laugh, because I've been receiving a lot of those types of e-mails lately.

However, to set the record straight, I don't hate Google, DMOZ and Yahoo!. I really don't. Hate is such a ridiculous waste of energy. I do have problems with the way they conduct business--but hate them, no. My articles are merely an expression of my right to free speech. The same right we all have. It's just that I'm an extremely passionate person with an aggressive personality, and that comes through loud and clear in my writing.

Anyway, I thought about what my "fan" said in her e-mail, and decided, why not suggest an alternative search engine? Search.com is my choice.

As search engines go, Search.com has to be the best kept secret on the Internet. I discovered them about two years ago, and I've been using them ever since.

Search.com is a metasearch search engine. So, what's a metasearch search engine? Glad you asked. Let me explain. Most search engines simply compile results from a single database of web sites. A metasearch search engine actually compiles search results from a variety of sources. When you enter a query at Search.com, you actually submit your query to the top search engines on the Internet, and then merge the results eliminating any duplicates.

Search.com is owned by CNET Networks, Inc. CNET, is the trusted source of information for millions of technology consumers around the world. Winner of countless awards, CNET provides expert and unbiased advice on technology products, and services to inform users and expedite purchasing.

Integrating an extensive directory of more than 200,000 computer, technology, and consumer electronics products with editorial content, downloads, trends, reviews and price comparisons, CNET gives users the most up-to-date and efficient shopping resources on the Web. CNET is also comprised of News.com, CNET.com, CNET Download.com, CNET Reviews, CNET Shopper.com, GameSpot.com, MP3.com, mySimon.com, Search.com, TechRepublic.com, Webshots.com, ZDNet.com, and International Sites.

Whew! Did I just sound like a commercial for these guys or what? Anyway, let me explain why I like Search.com so much. Being a metasearch search engine, it literally gives you the best of all worlds. It searches Google, Ask Jeeves, Business.com, Kanoodle, LookSmart, MSN, Open Directory, plus dozens of other leading search engines.

However, it's important to point out that they apply their own technology to these results to ensure that you get the absolute best results possible as fast as possible. Search.com also has some useful and fun features.

A feature I particularly like is you can actually preview web sites before you click on them, with their thumbnail option, by selecting "show thumbnails" or "hide thumbnails" on the search results page.

Another fun feature is you can personalize Search.com, by selecting one of five color schemes using the toolbar on the front page.

You can also narrow and fine-tune your search, by clicking on the tabs located above the search box. This will limit your search to Downloads, Shopping, Games, or "More" where you can research by topic.

Search.com also has customizable category searches where you can personally select the sources they search by using their customization feature accessible by clicking "advanced" under the search box or any link on the research by topic page.

Now, all of these things notwithstanding, I have to warn you, there is nothing aesthetically pleasing about Search.com. It's a very basic, plain looking search engine.

However, if you can get past the cosmetics issue, I think you'll find Search.com delivers some big time results!

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2014年5月27日星期二

Business Is No Guarantee of Riches

Q: I'm thinking about starting a business since that seems to be how most rich people get rich. I don't have any business experience or much money, but I'm a fast learner and have lots of energy. Any free advice?

Peter J.

A: I 'm full of free advice, Pete, and here's your dose of complimentary wisdom: don't quit your day job.

No offense my energetic friend, but to consider starting a business with no experience and no money is a little like playing football with no playbook or pads. Your various body parts will be pounded into the ground by better-equipped players and you will lose the game.

Now let's address your other point concerning rich people who got that way in business. Anyone who thinks that going into business is the key to riches needs to hear the story of the boy who asked the rich old man how he made his money.

The old millionaire fingered his Rolex watch and said, "Well, son, it was 1932: the depth of the Great Depression. I was down to my last nickel. I invested that nickel in an apple. I spent the entire day polishing the apple and, at the end of the day, I sold it for ten cents.

"The next morning, I invested those ten cents in two apples. I spent the entire day polishing them and sold them later for 20 cents. I continued this system for several years and soon I had a thriving apple business."

"And that's how you got rich?" the boy asked. "In your own apple business?"

"Oh, heavens, no!" the old man replied. "I lost my shirt in the apple business, but a few years later my wife's father died and left us ten million dollars..."

Moral of the story, Pete: you'd be better off finding a nice girl with a sickly, rich daddy than to count on starting a business that will make you rich. Of course finding a nice girl with a sickly, rich daddy is easier said than done (trust me on this one), but one can always hope.

That's certainly not to say that you can't get make a great deal of money in your own business or even get so filthy rich that wide-eyed youngsters beg you to tell them stories of how you built your fortunes. But most people who start a business do not get rich. To the contrary, most make so little money that they decide that going into business was not such a great idea after all and then run screaming back to the security of the job they once could not wait to leave.

While it is true that more millionaires got that way from their own business ventures than through any other means, to summarily assume that starting your own business puts you on the road to riches is foolhardy.

Many entrepreneurs build solid businesses that provide a very comfortable living and many others do indeed get rich. Others simply find out that they have traded one job for another and still others discover that business really wasn't for them.

What should you really consider before starting a business? Asking yourself the following questions will help you make a wise decision.

Are you really cut out to be an entrepreneur?

This is the first question you must ask yourself because the grass on the other side of the entrepreneurial fence is not always greener (despite all the entremanure).

Ask yourself: Do you have a burning desire to own your own business? Do you have the initiative to get out of bed in the morning and be your own boss? Do you have the energy to work around the clock? Can you persevere in the face of adversity? Can you turn problems into opportunities? Can you work alone without support? Can you get used to the idea of life without a steady paycheck? Are you passionate about your product or service? Are you prepared to run the company, do the books, sweep the floors, empty the garbage, and do whatever it takes to make the business a success?

If not, you're not cut out to be an entrepreneur. Learn to love your cubicle.

Do you really have a "great idea?"

The key phrase here is "great idea." All businesses - those that make their owners millionaires and those that make their owners paupers - start with an idea. The problems begin when that great idea turns to mush. Share your idea with others and ask for honest feedback. You might find that great idea is not so great, after all.

Is the timing right?

Is this a good time for you to start a business? Maybe you've just retired or left a job and have the time to devote to a business. Or maybe a rich uncle left you a bundle and you are now financially sound enough to venture out on your own. If the timing is not right, don't start a business.

How's your personal life?

Money and timing aside, your personal situation should be the deciding factor on whether or not you start your own business. Is your health good? Is your family supportive? Are you willing to sacrifice current lifestyle for long term success?

How well do you handle failure?

Since the vast majority of businesses fail within the first 5 years this is the most important question you must ask yourself. No venture is foolproof. Even with a rich relative (alive or dead) no business success is guaranteed. If the business does go belly up, can you still land on your feet? If not, RUN!

So Pete, there's your free advice. Good luck finding a rich father-in-law.

Here's to your success!

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5 ways to use your Business Cards more effectively

Contrary to popular belief, the best use of business cards is not making origami or collecting dust. But, in this article you will find 5 of the most effective ways to use your business cards on a daily basis!

When Joe Girard, the world's greatest salesman, was selling cars he would frequently go to Detroit Lions football games.

Even though he could afford more expensive seats, he chose to sit in the upper deck and whenever the Lions scored, he would throw business cards off the top deck onto the expensive seats below that offered a discount on a new car that was only good the following day.

Joe Girard's example leads us to our first point:

1. Be Creative

An instructor at a karate class might hand out business cards at his son's t-ball game that say "First Lesson Free with this card". A pet store owner might give out business cards that have an offer for a free goldfish, or 10% off a purchase over $100.

No matter what your type of business, there is a creative way to get your business cards into the hands of buyers.

If you can think of these creative ways before your competition does, you are one step ahead, and you will see the increase in business.

2. Remember the 1 to 1 ratio

The 1 to 1 ratio is the easiest formula you'll ever need to know. If you talk to someone for more than 1 minute, they should have 1 of your business cards in their hand. That is the 1 to 1 ratio.

Basically that means that you need to find a way to talk about what you do, and get your business card in their hand within the first minute of the conversation.

Think of it as an elevator conversation. This prospect will be getting off of your elevator soon, so you have a short time to get that business card into their hand.

3. Make them keepers

Once you have your business card in the hand of your potential prospects, what is going to make them keep it?

Unless you are selling air and water, potential clients probably don't need what you sell, but hopefully they want what you sell.

Since most of us are not in a need based business we have to get our potential clients a reason to remember us and keep our cards.

Why does someone want your business card? If you cannot answer that easily, maybe it is time to think about a new business card design.

Does your business card have valuable information on it? By valuable I mean a map, discount, calendar, measurements, charts or anything relevant to your industry?

If it doesn't, you may want to think about adding a value feature to your business card.

4. Leave them where you spend your money

Just last night I went to eat at a Mexican restaurant, and sitting on the counter I saw about 30 cards for a car salesman sitting in a plastic business card holder. I asked the girl at the counter why they were there and she said "He said he was going to leave them for customers."

This is just one example of somewhere you could leave your business cards. Other places include barber or beauty shops, medical offices including dentists, family medicine, chiropractors, and hospitals.

These places are prime territory!

Remember to ask if they mind, and tell they how much you appreciate it.

5. Ask for an opinion

"Can I ask you a quick question? What do you think of my new business card design?" Then you hand them a business card.

No matter what they say, now they have your business card. When they try to hand it back, tell them you had thousands printed, and they can have that one.

Thank them for their time and tell them if they ever need what you sell or promote, your contact information is on the card.

If you were able to implement just one of these 5 ideas each day, you would have more business that you could handle!