Web 2.0, Build On It

 

Web 2.0, Build On It

Word Count:
688

Summary:
Web 2.0 is just getting started.  There is a focus on making the Internet a platform for end users.  Paying bills online is no longer a novelty.  Shopping for clothes and books online is commonplace.  Mobile music playing components are built around the compatibility of downloading music off the Internet and not store bought units.

Keywords:
google, bubble, 2.0, web, internet, marketing, search, engine, interactive, ads, advertising, ppc, pay, per, click, dot, com

Article Body:
In 1999, ICMediaDirect.com opened up shop as an online advertising agency, and we viewed our chosen milieu, the Internet, as a limitless possibility – there was no talk of bubbles, no clouds on the horizon.  In fact, conversations in the business tended to include terms like venture capital or IPO and it didn't matter who was talking.  We knew who scored what and when.  Like weekend golfers talking about the Masters, we dreamed of being the next eBay.  Guys like me with, well, ordinary websites talked turkey, big turkey.  And why wouldn't we?  Those were halcyon times then. 

And they're back – except, ahem, this time it's different.  I hope.  Nah, I'm sure of it.

Y2K was distinctly a time of fortuitous updraft; we were swept up in a tide of optimism.  This Internet thing seemed like it was going to last forever.  The early 90's brought us a proliferation of interconnected tech advances that gave rise to a new medium of business. 

Personal computing had become universally available and affordable.  Rapid advancements in the digital media field, improvements in size and scope of network infrastructures, and the rise of giant Internet companies for connection and service created an Internet we still recognize today.  Deals went down, geeks got rich (or richer), and about the magic in this Internet – we believed. 

There was a problem, though – promise and wonder alone cannot fill out a bottom line.  Economic reality called in its chips and publicly traded stocks, the most successful of the start-ups who'd already actually "made it", with their valuations 100, 200, 300 times earnings came tumbling down.   So, that money, which had raced too far ahead of ideas and their implementations, retreated.  And when the markets soured, so too did sentiment.

Money, as it's wont to do, overtook dreams; it had run right past the sensible bounds of ideas.  Soaring stock prices and gaudy deals in unproven fields had created a nasty bubble.  It was the Web 1.0 bubble, but at the time I thought it was a buying opportunity. 

It was March 2000 when the tech market started tanking.  Actual technology however, never retreated, even though the casual observer might have thought engineers went to find new careers.  Okay, some did, but still, science did not retreat.  So, as the money dried up, Internet capability continued to grow. 

And it grew rather quietly until the shape of a Web 2.0 was recognized.  Like the Internet itself, Web 2.0 did not start with the flip of a switch, but instead it materialized with the gradual confluence of profitable web ventures, added Internet usability, and mass availability to high-speed connection.    
 
I am not uncomfortable crowning Google king, or at least the most emblematic of Web 2.0 examples.  In fact, while the dot-com bust was at its most bleak, the boom times of Google were just getting started. 

More importantly, Google and their successful IPO mark a new age of profitability for Internet advertising.  Sure, people may talk bubble, but they'd be talking about GOOG being overpriced, and not a leaky boat in a storm.  Google is profitable.  Yahoo is profitable.  Microsoft's AdCenter is coming.  Ask.com might be on the rise.  These are big companies vying for share in a profitable Internet arena. 

Compare this with the original Internet boom, there was certainly competition, sizable big money competition – but over unproven business models that were ultimately unprofitable.  It's different now.

Web 2.0 is just getting started.  There is a focus on making the Internet a platform for end users.  Paying bills online is no longer a novelty.  Shopping for clothes and books online is commonplace.  Mobile music playing components are built around the compatibility of downloading music off the Internet and not store bought units.  MySpace is an interactive pen-pal phenomenon far beyond anything we'd have predicted only two years ago.  Even Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phoning is saving phone customers money. 

These are the old dreams that went up in smoke five and six years ago.  We're just getting started.

400000 Articles PLR Private Label Rights + Ebooks Master Resale Rights + Video Marketing Online Master Resale Rights

http://www.SuperMegaPack.Net

 

The Elements and Principles of Graphic Design

 

The Elements and Principles of Graphic Design

Word Count:
469

Summary:
Graphic design is actually the art and process of combining text and graphics to communicate an effective language in the design of logos, brochures, newsletters, posters and in fact, any type of visual communication. This is achieved by using the elements and principles of graphic design.

Keywords:

 

Article Body:
Graphic design is actually the art and process of combining text and graphics to communicate an effective language in the design of logos, brochures, newsletters, posters and in fact, any type of visual communication. This is achieved by using the elements and principles of graphic design.

Always keep the design and layout of the graphic design as simple and clean as possible, as the more cluttered it is, the more difficult it is for the customer to find the important stuff! When using colors in your graphic design, it is better to use colors from your set of corporate colors. This is because you should present consistency in all your advertisement media, so that people will know how consistent you actually are! Never use all the colors of the rainbow in one design as this only confuses the customer. Perhaps 2 or 3 colors form your corporate color should be enough for your design!

There are tons of free fonts found in the Internet to incorporate in your graphic design. However, it is not always that you can use all of them. Use a single font for the content of your design, and if required, you could use a different, like a bolder and louder font, for the headings and titles of your graphic design. Using too many fonts only makes the graphic design look messy, and proves to confuse the audience. It is always beneficial to use images in the design of your brochures, company profiles, menus, etc. This way, you can entice your customers by illustrating your points through the images.

In graphic designing, it is important to use contrast colors for the background and the font. If the font is a dark color, then a lighter colored background is preferred. Usually a black and white combination is preferred! While creating your graphic design, it is vital to stand back every once in a while to squint at your creation. Then notice the line of text and images in the graphic design. They should actually direct your customer's attention from the top of the page to the bottom, all in a seamless movement. If the line seems to be out of place, rearrange the matter to get a straight line.

When planning your graphic design, the traditional form of 'Z' movement is better where your eye starts at the top left to go to the top right, then making a diagonal to the bottom left to finally end up in the bottom right. This is great for advertisements using lots of graphics or images. Always keep white or empty space in the layout to give some rest to the eyes, and some clarity to the existing information.

These can all be considered to be the elements of graphic designing. Follow them ,to produce a graphic design worth remembering!

400000 Articles Private Label Rights PLR + 300 Ebooks Master Resale Rights + Software = 10 $

http://www.SuperMegaPack.Net 
 

Cheaper is Not Always Better

 

Cheaper is Not Always Better

Word Count:
509

Summary:
I work for a large insurance firm in the northwest, in an office with over 500 other employees.  Management recently decided to replace our existing phone system as the old system was no longer meeting our needs.  I and my co-workers were under the impression that they were going to update the system, as in "make an improvement", and that we would have late model phones with technological advancements galore.  Boy, were we in for a surprise.

Keywords:
Telephone, telephones, phone, phones, telephone systems, telephone system

Article Body:
I work for a large insurance firm in the northwest, in an office with over 500 other employees.  Management recently decided to replace our existing phone system as the old system was no longer meeting our needs.  I and my co-workers were under the impression that they were going to update the system, as in "make an improvement", and that we would have late model phones with technological advancements galore.  Boy, were we in for a surprise. 

One day a few weeks ago, we all came in to find new phones on our desks.  These were not the state-of-the-art communication devices we had in mind.  Instead of the sleek, sophisticated, caller IDing, multi-line handling, LCD displaying wonders of the modern age we all dreamed of, there was a simple phone with a keypad on the receiver...not unlike what you might have had at home 15 years ago.  In addition to the new phone, there was a sheet which explained in graphically painful detail exactly which series of buttons one would have to push in order to make this thing function properly.  We had to now enter a digit to put someone on hold, enter a three digit code to transfer someone (one digit, dial tone, two digits) and enter a ridiculously long series of numbers to access our voicemail. 

Needless to say, we were in shock.  I knew it wouldn't take long before the roars of complaining would drown out the usual office din.  Sure enough, by lunchtime our office manager came in to tell everyone that we were simply going to "try it out for a while" and that the company had saved thousands by choosing this option.  I and the other employees were fairly certain that we had already lost thousands in reduced productivity that morning alone.  Oh, well...it's their company, we just bring in the money for them.

For the next few days, we tried to get used to saying "hold, please, while I transfer you", removing the receiver from our faces and trying not to curse as we made a lame-duck attempt at pressing keys, listening and pressing more keys.  It was a nightmare.  We were getting pretty fed up with it, but just assumed that this was what we would have to deal with.  Then, out of the blue, we came in one day to find real phones with real features at our desks.  No more looking at the receiver while we frantically tried to key in numbers fast enough not to drop the call.  No more ten digit voicemail "pins".  No more of having no idea who was calling or where the call came from.  Ahhhh, relief at last. 

Later the same day, we heard a rumor circulating around the office that the VP of operations had returned from a two week trip to New York.  His words, upon seeing one of the phones management had originally purchased on his desk were, "get rid of them".  All it took were those four words from a higher-up to set things right. Unbelievable.

 

Check Out A Vending Machine Sale – Start Your Own Home Based Business

 

Check Out A Vending Machine Sale – Start Your Own Home Based Business

Word Count:
533

Summary:
There are lots of types of vending machines and vending machine products for sale if you look.

Keywords:
vending machine sale, distributors of bulk vending products

Article Body:
A vending machine sale will give you a clear picture of the wide range of vending machines with which you can start your own profitable home based business. There are many distributors of vending machines and bulk vending products that will supply you with all the information you need regarding prices of machines and the bulk products you need to restock them. While candy and food service vending machines are the most common, there are many more types of vending machines you can use to turn a profit. It is only when you attend a vending machine sale that you get the overall picture of how this business works.

You don't have to spend time searching the classifieds to find a vending machine sale near you. A simple online search will net you thousands of results for distributors of bulk vending products and the machines that sell them. The distributors have all kinds of vending machines, both new and used, so you can search for the cheapest machines in the line of products that you want to sell. Getting the machines for a sale price along with the bulk products means that it won't take you very long to get back your initial investment in sales.

The main factor in making money with a vending machine business is to choose a location where there is lots of traffic. Traffic translates into sales when your vending machines are visible. Bus stations, airports, office buildings, hotels – all of these are prime money making locations for vending machines of all types. A vending machine sale will let you see right away the machines you think could work for you. When you get a price list from distributors of bulk vending products, you can easily do the math to see how you can make money.

With a vending machine sale, you have the opportunity to have a business where you do not have to worry about credit card fraud, bounced checks or credit. The vending machine business is a cashless industry in that you do not have to even deal with the customers. You get permission from business owners to place your machines in their location and purchase the products from distributors of bulk vending products. Since you buy in bulk, you will only need to make purchases occasionally. The more bulk products you buy, the more money you can save.

Even with a vending machine sale, you should not expect to become rich over night. Like any other business, the vending machine business requires work. If you start small and learn the ropes, you can easily develop this home based business into your main source of income. You will need to have space in your home to store the bulk products that you buy from distributors of bulk vending products, especially if you have a lot of vending machines. You also need to keep good records of your purchases of bulk products and the results of the money you make from sales in each machine. This is how you can really get a good picture of which machines are the best and what you need to look for at the next vending machine sale.

 

Why You Arent Making The Money You Want To On The Internet And What To Do About It!

 

Why You Arent Making The Money You Want To On The Internet And What To Do About It!

Word Count:
883

Summary:
Many clients come to me with problems… The most common problem I hear from people is they arent making the kind of money they want to make with their Internet business. They dont know what the problem is and they want me to help.

Keywords:
copywriting,advertising,internet marketing,copywriter,small business,marketing, web site conversion, website conversion, traffic conversion, web conversion, web traffic, mentoring, coaching, web seminar

Article Body:
Copyright 2006 Quick Turn Marketing International, Ltd.

Many clients come to me with problems…

The most common problem I hear from people is they arent making the kind of money they want to make with their Internet business. They dont know what the problem is and they want me to help.

Ill tell you what the problem is. Most of these people are what I like to call "opportunity seekers."  These are people that have too many sites and dont spend any time focusing on ONE business. They may have 20 or 30 websites, with each site only breaking even or making a few hundred dollars every month.

Most opportunity seekers are not making the money they want or achieving their financial goals. Why?

They are making a common mistake. They have too many sites, too many interests. This prevents them from focusing their efforts and creating the six figure income they dream of.

Focus Is The Key To Long-Term Success

If you want to succeed on the Internet, you are much better-off staying focused. That means starting off with one site or idea and perfecting it before moving on to the next Internet adventure.  Far too many people have a "get rich quick" mind-set. In fact, Id say almost all opportunity seekers have this mind-set. They jump from one program to another hoping one of them will lead to success.

Opportunity seekers are always the first to jump on the next "big" moneymaking bandwagon. It may be one thing one month, another the next month.  They may try to concentrate on affiliate marketing then switch dramatically to e-book marketing the next. Whatever seems to be working for others they jump into with wild abandon, without considering their true talents, abilities and interests.

These people are looking for some easy way to make money. They think they can make money with Google AdSense or just a web page, or even with a multilevel marketing program. This is NOT how an entrepreneur thinks! However, this is exactly how an opportunist thinks. They always are looking for shortcuts, and then wonder why it isnt working.

It isnt working because you have no focus. You must have focus. You must think like an entrepreneur. Focus is one of the most vital aspects of your success. My advice to these newbies is shut down 29 of your sites and focus on one site, the one that best represents your interests.

Optimize it. Work on refining it. Refine your sales process and your back end on this single site and make it successful BEFORE you move on to the next site.

Yes, I have many sites. But I am Dan Lok. Youre not there yet. Perfect your one site. THEN you can think about moving on to other moneymaking ventures.

Horizontal Vs. Vertical Business

Many people have what I call a horizontal business. A horizontal business has many sites in many different niches, like hobby niches. People who own horizontal businesses have 20 or more separate business ventures. I recommend having a vertical business instead. A vertical business is a business that has depth and focus.

Having a vertical business means if you have a product in a particular niche, like stock trading, focus on selling products related to that and that only. Put all your eggs in one basket and create a funnel effect. This way youll have one group of customers and you can become a big fish in a small pond. Youll have all your eggs in one place yes… but youll become an expert egg layer and watch all your eggs hatch with great success. Make sense?

What is the problem with a horizontal business? You arent specialized. Its almost impossible to make a six-figure income with this kind of business because you dont spend enough time on any ONE business.

When you have a vertical business, you have fine-tuned your business so well competitors have a hard time keeping up with you. People cant compete. You also build a strong client base with satisfied customers.

Think Like An Entrepreneur

So, the biggest problem people have is they are opportunity seekers. The key is thinking like a true Internet entrepreneur. Dont jump on the trend bandwagon. Dont ask what the shortcuts are. An entrepreneur has a long-term vision. You have to have a one-year, five year and ten year vision. Find out what you want your business to look like in the long-term.

Ask yourself, "What do I want to accomplish ultimately?" Then decide whether your activities fit with your goals. Stop jumping from one program to another. Focus on one program, one site, and one great idea. This is what you have to do if you want to make six figures. It has nothing to do with your knowledge, skill set experience etc. It has to do more with your focus.

Sit down. Think about it. Stop jumping from one program to another and stop getting sucked into false moneymaking schemes. Find out what your goals are, what you want to accomplish. This is a far superior approach. Yes, it takes a lot of energy. But its worth it. In the long-term its much less tiring than diversifying your business.

Once you are an expert in your industry or niche, THEN you can think about diversifying your business.

 

Buying Gold - The Logic

 

Buying Gold - The Logic

Word Count:
341

Summary:
Humans have been fascinated by gold for thousands of years, by the way it never tarnishes and by its unique color.

Sadly, gold is useless in engineering terms, except for plating electrical contacts, to ensure they never tarnish and lose their conductivity. The metal is too soft, with too low a tensile strength to be used for much besides necklaces and rings.

As an investment though, gold is a different story altogether. Why do people buy gold? It has zero intrinsic val...

Keywords:
gold, investing in gold, buying gold, gold dollars, gold maple leaf, gold, sovereigns

Article Body:
Humans have been fascinated by gold for thousands of years, by the way it never tarnishes and by its unique color.

Sadly, gold is useless in engineering terms, except for plating electrical contacts, to ensure they never tarnish and lose their conductivity. The metal is too soft, with too low a tensile strength to be used for much besides necklaces and rings.

As an investment though, gold is a different story altogether. Why do people buy gold? It has zero intrinsic value.

Gold prices fall and rise, according largely to the degree of fear that people have about the future. When war is imminent gold prices soar.

When economic conditions are good, inflation low and employment rate high, gold prices fall. Under these conditions there are investments that are probably going to produce a better return than holding gold bars.

People buy gold because they fear the inflation and catastrophic share price collapse that normally accompanies war and political uncertainty. They buy gold because they think gold will hold its value.

Historically gold holds some value, whereas shares can lose all of their value overnight. However, anyone who buys gold at the high price associated with war will almost certainly lose money, when they sell at a lower price.

Conclusion - buy gold when everyone is saying to invest in the stock market. Sell gold when things are looking grim and there are lots of buyers out there.

If you do buy gold you need to appreciate that this investment has risk. The price of gold may fall. It may be years before you can sell your gold at a profit.

Until recently many countries made it illegal for individuals to hold gold bars or bullion. Individuals could buy gold coins and other items however. The South African Krugerrand was minted to exploit this opportunity and to earn much needed foreign exchange for that country during the years of economic sanctions.

Nowadays you can buy gold, silver and platinum coins in many denominations, including Canadian and US dollars, sterling crowns and sovereigns.