Thursday, April 30, 2009

Top 5 Signs That Your Website Sucks

Small business owners may not have the resources to invest heavily in their web presence and finding solutions to problems can be like finding a needle in a haystack. You know something's wrong but don't have the faintest idea how to fix it. Is it a technical issue? Are your ads not performing well?

Don't know what kind of traffic you're getting? Website problems can fall into a myriad of categories. So if you think your website sucks, a) it probably does, and b) you should read
on.

1. You Aren't Getting Traffic

You're excited about the big, expensive job the design team just finished on your site. It looks like a million bucks! Well it's a shame it isn't making you a darn cent. Just because it
exists doesn't mean people know about it. Announce it to the world by submittĂ­ng it to reputable directories and sharing your useful content with others on social bookmarking sites (you do
have useful content, don't you? If not, I'll cover this later). You can even do some link exchanges -- provided the sites you exchange with are reputable -- just to get your site crawled early on. Further optimize it for search engines by following good SEO practices, building quality content and generating inbound links from other sites. Once you do that, you'll need to monitor progress with web analytics software. Google Analytics is free and it has a slick interface. And we
know you like pretty things seeing as how you broke the bank on your web site design.

If you're looking for high ROI, invest your time in learning search engine marketing. Better yet hire a qualified SEO firm if you have the budget for it. Don't settle for quick-fix promotional ideas. Build long-term exposure and a solid reputation by attaining high rankings, keeping
email/newsletter lists, targeted ad placement and social media participation.

2. You Have Worthless Content
What defines worthless content? Without knowing what topic your web site covers it's tough to say, but if you have nothing that sets you apart from your top competitors then I'd say you
aren't in good shape. If you don't know what kind of content people are looking for on the Internet today, take a peek at what's popular on social bookmarking sites. Observe some of the
story titles on the front page of Digg.com:

"Guinness Stout Beef Stew Recipe for St. Patrick's Day"

"In Move to Digital TV, Confusion Is in the Air"

"Kim Jong-Il Interprets Sunrise As Act Of War"

"Automatic bacon dispenser?"

"The 5 Best Obama Photomosaics on Flickr"

Words I would use to describe these topics, in order, are: seasonal, informative, satirical, comical, and trendy. This information is popular because it's appealing in its uniqueness and is relevant to today's market. To set yourself apart from your competition, you need to get creative. If you're the kind of person who had trouble painting by numbers, then hire someone creative. Professional copy writers can be well worth the investment. Create free tools your customers will want to use; write funny or interesting commentary in a blog about your industry; put a new spin on a traditional product or service or provide seasonal discounts. Create a comprehensive
F.A.Q. on your site that covers topics your competitors don't.

Take the time to beef up your content. Be innovative - don't be afraid to think outside the box. Use the top competitor in your field as a measuring stick.

3. You Have No Call-to-Action

Poor promotional language can have a sabotaging effect if visitors aren't drawn to your conversion pages. A conversion page is any page that acts as the final step in a visitor
submitting a form, making direct contact or purchasing a product online. Obscuring those pages or confusing the visitor on where to go next can make them leave your site. Internet users have a short attention span - give them a clear direction when navigating your web site.

Use your web analytics software again to find out what pages visitors are landing on first. If your home page gets the most traffic, make sure there are clear links to your sub-topics. If
inner pages are your most popular landing pages, find out if the traffic is targeted. Once you know the type of visitor and the specific page they land on, then you can start marketing your
content more accurately.

The bottom line is to always make clear why, and how, visitors can buy your product. Don't get too cute with multiple steps, options or convoluted language.

4. You're Getting Traffic But No Sales

Are you sure the traffic is relevant? If you're running a pay-per-click campaign, ensure your ads are geo-targeted properly and your ad text or landing pages appeal to your
customers. For organic search engine placement, have you done keyword research and analysis before optimizing your content? Look at your web stats and see where your visitors are coming
from. What keywords were they searching for when they landed on your site? Are the referring sites relevant to your industry or topic? How much time does the visitor spend on each page? Sales won't come if your visitors aren't interested in what you're selling. This is why preliminary keyword analysis is so important to search engine marketing.

If you're running ads, it's always good practice to experiment with different ad campaigns. If you put all your eggs in one basket you run the risk of losing out on potential revenue. Elements of your ads that you can change are:

• ad text

• landing page

• specific network your ads are shown across

• topics on which you focus the campaign

• geo-locations targeted

Remember, it doesn't pay to skimp on initial product/market research and analysis.

5. You're Getting Relevant Traffic But No Sales

This problem could signal a technical error or navigation problem with your site. Make sure you thoroughly test all functionalities on various web browsers and systems. Submit test
forms. Do a link check to spot possible broken links. Is your web hosting service reliable?

If you've ruled out technical issues as the cause then turn your attention to the content and customer base. Has your market taken a downturn? Can the lack of sales be attributed to the
poor economy? Have you fallen behind your competition in product quality, selection or pricing? Does your web site's navigation system confuse users? Your web site is the first line of contact
between the business and potential customer, but it's not the only step you need to worry about. Telephone operators or online payment systems can present their own issues.

This is moving away from web site problems but if any part of the sales process takes place away from the site, investigate those areas of your business as well.

If you're pulling out your hair over a problem with your site and these tips still haven't helped, feel free to post a comment and I'll personally have a peek at your site.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

How To Make Money Online In A Easy And Effective Way?

Everyone in the world is working to make money. Some people spend less energy and earn more. Others have to exert themselves to get paid. There is nothing wrong in exerting yourself if you are paid for your efforts. In most of the cases, people are generally underpaid. When you work in an office under the command of a boss, you will obviously know that your company is making a huge sum of money and paying you less. Several people become unable to go for jobs because of severe accident injuries. Retired people also want to earn money to continue the same comfortable lifestyle. Unemployed people also need money. If you are searching for how to make money, your answer is online money making strategies.

Lots Of Opportunities For Everyone
In the present internet world, everyone is capable of earning money using internet. Several international companies are looking for work from home people who can help the companies sitting in their home. In the real world, you have to invest a large sum of money and create your own product to become an entrepreneur. You can open your online business easily with minimal investment. Several of these online businesses generated huge income for experts. You can simply duplicate these systems and earn money in your own way. You can do whatever you like and earn money online as every type of service and product is required online.

No Need To Work Full Time
Many people search for how to make money to supplement their income. These people like their regular jobs, but they want to spend their leisure hours to make money. Using online opportunities, you don’t have to work for the whole day. You can limit to one or two hours daily and generate supplementary income to pay all your bills. It is possible to run your online business even when you work somewhere else.

Passionate People Are Successful
You have to be passionate about your home job if you want to be successful. It is important to realize that you cannot successfully work from home if you are not interested in the concept. You have to do the job you would love to do. The sole purpose of choosing to work from home is to live happily without being dictated by others. With a passionate job, you can find new creative ways to increase your income.

You Should Be Aware Of Scams
Due to the increasing popularity of the quest for how to make money online, several scams are present in the market. Though many online business systems are profitable, you cannot easily trust anything that you see. You must not engage yourself in any job or business without analyzing the opportunity completely. You have to read reviews and guides that help you choose an opportunity suitable for you. The scams will never help you achieve your goal and these scams end up ripping money off your pockets. Whenever you have an opportunity, you have to read the page thoroughly and if it seems too good to be true, then probably it is.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

General info of Swine Flu (from US CDC)

Receive this from my friend at US. Hope it is helpful to those looking for more info about this virus.

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type. A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United
States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and
local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this
situation.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with
people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your
body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough
    or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home
    from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from
    infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or
sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most
supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza
testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.


If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
1. Fast breathing or trouble breathing
2. Bluish skin color
3. Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interacting
4.Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
5.Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
6.Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
1.Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
2.Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
3.Sudden dizziness
4.Confusion
5.Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Things to do with digital photos

For most digital cameras are digital replacement of the old film cameras. There are, however, that new applications are possible with digital media, which just impossible with the old movie. Here are some ideas for what you can do with digital photos.

The two obvious things to do with digital photos is to make it on your digital camera or computer screen and print them either at home with a print service or through the free prints promotions. These two options mimic the old fashion way of the development of film negatives into photographs and messages from them in photo albums. Digital photographs, however, that much more.

Digital photos can be used as desktop wallpaper. You can select a digital photo you like most and set it as your desktop wallpaper or you can choose, and a few special wallpaper software to rotate through them sequentially or randomly.

Digital photos can also be used as screen savers. The fact that every time that the computer is not used and the screen appears you basically turn on the computer screen into a digital photo frame display your favorite digital photos. As with wallpaper, you can choose to show only a photo or choose a series of photos and set the screen saver software to rotate through them sequentially or randomly. The software can also use special effects when switching between digital photos, such as fade-in and out of mirrors and much more.

In addition to display digital photos on the computer screen or on paper prints, you can use other special devices, designed and built to digital photos. One such device is known as the digital photo frame. The digital photo frame replaced the old paper printed. Instead of sliding into paper prints you simply download digital photos on the digital frame memory and configure it to them to a certain sequence and speed. Digital Photo Frames are available in many sizes and functions. You can use a small, on your desk in the office or a bigger a party to the wall. Some digital picture frames are tiny in size and can easily fit into a pocket. Also known as a keychain digital picture frame they allow you to the many digital photos on you and replace the photos people used to in their wallets.

Digital photos can also be used in conjunction with mobile phones. Phones are now powerful electronic devices with color screen and much larger memory. You can create a digital photo as wallpaper or your phone connection in a digital photo with a particular phonebook entry to be displayed when a call from this person.

Digital photos can also be used over the Internet. Upload photos to your social network profile or your blog is a common task of many. You can also upload entire photo albums and share them with your friends and family or even open it for everyone surfing the Internet to watch and comment.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

How to handle digital photo prints

Digital photo prints are very similar to old-style film photo paper prints. There are a few things in the print and digital photos in the handling of photo paper. Digital photos are available on many types of paper from high-quality special photo paper at regular cheap white printer paper.

If you are passing some printing digital photos at home on regular paper, as you do not have much to worry about handling the prints. Regular photographic paper prints, if not for the last for a long time and therefore you can use them in any way that you need.

Printing digital photos on special photo paper, however, is different. Photo paper is similar to the paper, on the old movie, where photos can be printed. Print on photo paper with a chemical process by which the photo is printed and then stabilized on the paper. Photo paper also contains some of the best coating layer. The coating is a layer of chemicals, which are printed on the paper in order to protect them.

There are essentially two types of such shiny or matte coating. Photo handling with care was more important in the old film stills era. The reason was that in many cases the photo paper was the only copy of the recording and make it not destroyed during the period meant the loss of this photo. In some cases, the film has been kept negative, and thus new deductions could be made, but film negatives quality deteriorated over time and handling negatives care was needed in order for them to survive for a longer period.

With digital photos can always new prints from the original digital photo files. As long as you have access to the digital photo file their quality will stay exactly the same for eternity. Digital photo quality is not worse. Printing a digital photo in a one thousand years would lead to the same or better quality than printing technology advances such as printing up today. Yet good management of photographic prints can make their life and print new copies of a rare event. The basic thing to remember with photo paper is printed, keep them clean.

Avoid prints with oily or dirty hands. Finger oil stains is one of the most common factors in photo prints aging. The other things to remember is to avoid direct sunlight. Long exposure to sunlight fades the colors and print blurs the picture. Store photo prints in dark dry place like in a drawer as opposed to on a table in the sun.

Avoid pleated photo prints. Photo paper is relatively thick and folds it breaks the consistency of the chemical coatings on them. Folding photographic usually creates a crease line that can not be removed. Wrinkles can also damage the chemical coatings that fold around row, the photo in this field blue and distorted. And finally, is temperature.

Photo paper prints prefer cooler temperatures. Not photographic prints in hot environments, or put them at high temperature for long periods of time.