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5 Rules of Effective Blogging
There are a lot of reasons why you should blog. Topping the list is the ability to earn income out of it through product reviews, text link advertising, and Google AdSense. Depending on your knowledge on the subject, you can be tapped as one of the resource persons. A lot of bloggers become motivational speakers and even authors of high-selling books.
These people who find success in blogging are one of a kind, since most will just vanish into oblivion. The former are those who have followed the basic yet effective rules of blogging, which are the following:
- Focus on content
Some readers will not really mind the layout of your blog, provided that you can provide them with content. Now, it is important that you know what this content means. It means substantial, accurate, and fresh information. Do not steal other people’s work. If you cannot avoid quoting them, make sure that you can add some references. Research newer data. You want them to keep coming back to your blog because they always learn something that is totally unheard of or seldom discussed.If you do not know where to look for them or you want to be more inspired, you can read blogs and websites from mentors or experts in the field. You can also read magazines, books, and journals. You can just let your imagination and inquisitiveness come up with a new topic to talk about.
- Avoid “read more”
As much as possible, you should avoid letting them read more of the blog post by clicking on “read more.” You have to remember that your readers do not really like to follow a lot of commands when they visit your blog. It is like getting invited into someone else’s home. You do not like to be instructed on what you should do, do you? You want to create a more succinct blog post for your audience. - Put them in the right categories
Classify all your entries, even the most personal ones. Not all readers will be interested in knowing about your travels but may want to read what your take is on search engine optimization. It does not matter if a single post will belong to several categories. The most important thing is you can add some sense of organization into your blog. - Diversify your blog
Even the most famous bloggers in the world are fond of adding pictures, videos, and podcasts into their blog. They let a web designer (or sometimes themselves) spend time developing the most effective and niche-related layout. They produce buttons and icons that readers can use and attach to their own blogs and websites. They provide great downloadable resources such as e-books, reports, and software. They also share links from websites whose information, they think, will be truly helpful to their readers. - Stick to the rules
Besides keeping in mind the above-mentioned tips, you also need to remember the rules that have been set by search engines such as Google. Your efforts will be in vain if your blog is penalized or worse, banned from these websites. This means that you should avoid keyword spamming. Avoid linking in websites that are actually link farms. Stay away from black hat techniques.
Who Says SEO Is Dead?
When it comes to search engine optimization, or SEO, you may have heard the criticism that any Web site could be number one if you pick a keyword that is obscure enough. There are also a lot of criticisms that say that SEO is not effective in putting your Web site in a higher search engine ranking and in bringing in sales and customers to your site; that everything is just based on pure luck.
What adds to the confusion are companies and services that claim to be able to put your site on the first page or top spot of any search engine for any keyword you specify and then they use black hat techniques composed of deceitful and underhanded tactics to put you on top only as long as you keep paying them. Once you have stopped paying, your rankings fall, sometimes it becomes worse off than when you started. What is more, these black hat techniques can prove to be a bane to your ranking because search engines are very dynamic and are constantly updated and be able to detect these sooner or later. There is always the possibility that your site would be banned for using these techniques.
Over the years, people have come out with pronouncements that SEO is dead. They claim that you cannot influence how your sites would be ranked by search engines with its algorithms being constantly updated. Additionally, they say that SEO companies are just guessing at how search engines rank sites because these algorithms are closely guarded secrets in the first place.
The truth of the matter is that SEO works. It is not dead. It is not an art, but a science. SEO companies and experts have made educated guesses and made changes to Web sites that have seen better rankings than when left alone. The process is very much like how scientists and academics have their own theories and they do experiments to test it out. SEO experts and scientists strive to prove causality between one process and its results.
Done right, SEO can help your site get good rankings on keywords that are used by your customers and potential buyers. What this entails is that, like other marketing initiatives, you should know who your customers are in order to find the keywords that would give you the most benefits. More than this, you should also know the various techniques of SEO and how to execute them. This includes learning how to implement white hat techniques like on page optimization, off-page SEO, link building, creating better content that is both SEO-friendly and natural sounding. Over and again, companies that implement these techniques have reaped rewards after rewards.
Critics could easily dismiss it as fluff and nothing but putting in a good word for a dying man. A look at how real world companies approach their SEO, however, proves another point. In June 2009, Forbes Magazine released its study of Ad Effectiveness. The Magazine found that:
- SEO, along with e-mail and newsletter marketing remains to be the most popular form of e-marketing among senior marketing executives.
- 48% of these executives said that SEO was most effective in generating sales and conversions.
- 92% of marketing executives will keep their existing SEO budgets or increase it within the succeeding six months.
What these marketers are saying is that SEO is effecting at not only putting your site where your customers are, but it works so well that they are willing to bet their money and keep on spending for it.
How to Safely Build Your Own Outdoor Fireplace
People have long been fascinated with fire since time immemorial. In colder times, we gravitate to it for warmth; hence we have over 55 million U.S. households that have at least one fireplace. It would not be surprising then for people to invest time, money, and energy on having outdoor fireplaces as well. You can hire someone to make it for you, buy patio fireplace kits, or just build one of your own.
Here are some things to consider so you can safely build your own outdoor fireplace:
- Make sure that you are aware of your city ordinances and acquire the necessary permits or licenses that you need in order to have one.
- Check with your homeowner’s insurance company because it might affect your policy.
- Ask your utilities company about the pipes and cables that are underground.
- Your outdoor fireplace should have a safe distance from your house, and any other buildings.
- It should be a level ground that is free of trees and overhanging branches or vines.
- If you are going to construct it on an existing deck, make sure it can support the weight of the fireplace. If you have a wood deck, it could be a potential fire hazard, therefore it is important to surround the area with heatproof masonry.
- Consider the use of your outdoor fireplace. If it is mainly for ambiance, do keep in mind your home’s architecture style.
- There should be at least a three-foot distance between your seating area and the fire, regardless of the design you choose.
There are two kinds of outdoor fireplaces—and they are very much like a campfire. Choose the diameter and then have a stake driven into the center of the ground where you want the pit to be. This will mark how big you want your fireplace. The diameter of your outdoor fireplace should be about four feet and the walls should be approximately 12 inches thick.
Mix your pre-mix concrete with water until it is soft and has spreadable consistency. Place it where the base of your wall should be. Then spread the concrete and tamp it down until it is about an inch or so. Put the rebar and tap them in until they are covered with concrete and allow it to set completely. The mortar should be spread on the outer portion of the concrete base before setting the stones. Put the face stones first then top it with the capstones for an even look.
If you have never tried masonry work before, you may need to go over a guide on setting bricks first.
Enjoy and have fun with your patio fireplace!
How James Cameron created the world of Avatar?
Watch this 23-minute behind the scenes video to see how the number 1 movie of all time was conceptualized and created by James Cameron.
According to Box Office Mojo, as of January 26, 2010, Avatar earned approximately US $1,878,025,999 worldwide (that’s almost 1.9 billion US dollars). In the United States alone, the movie’s ticket sales for 40 days is a staggering $558,179,737. That domestic gross accounted for almost 30 percent of the revenue worldwide. Next to the US is China (with $103,113,774), Russia ($96,259,863), and South Korea ($79,691,558). The Philippines ranked in the bottom ten with only $5,197,803 ticket sales since the movie debuted on December 17, 2009. Maybe this figure was caused by the MMFF with almost all Philippine cinemas showing only local films from December 25 to January 6?
I predict that Avatar’s total box office sales will increase to 2 billion dollars in the middle of February 2010. And when this happens, the Pandora 3D movie will be the first film to reach the 2-billion-dollar mark.
FYI: The Titanic reached the 1.8 billion dollar profit in 70 days. Avatar did it only for 38 days. I myself watched the movie 4 times. How many times did you watched it?
The Basics of Protecting Your Brand Online
Your brand can be a strong factor in whether you succeed online or not. One search at your company name or brand and a potential customer can make a decision whether to push through with buying from you or look at some other company.
Your brand is your identity. Your brand tells your customers why they should buy from you. It is what your brand connotes that makes you successful. Take a look at the world’s most successful brands and you will get an idea of why branding and protecting your brand is very important.
Brands are not just about the company logo, it is the emotional connection between your products and your customers. It is what your products are associated with. For example, Coke has been working hard to associate its beverages with fun and refreshment, while others like Louis Vuitton likes to make you think of luxury when thinking of their brands. McDonald’s, on the other hand, goes for inexpensive yet pleasant experience, while Nintendo goes for family friendly and can be suitable for the home.
The best brands are associated with great value and durability, value for money and reliability, great customer service along with a superior product.
Yet, with the advent of the Internet, your brand’s image can easily be tarnished. It could be a customer warning other people not to buy your products, or some wrong move by your company. Mattel’s Barbie has long been known to be a safe toy for children, and its image was severely tarnished when it was found that its Chinese partner used toxic chemicals, causing it to issue a toy recall involving more than 9.5 million dolls. More than this, parents all over the world avoided buying Barbie dolls until the issue died down and only after Mattel assured the public of more stringent processes to avoid the same incident in the future.
What ways can you take to make sure that you protect your brand online?
- Use Twitter or Facebook and other social networking sites to connect to your public.
One of the best examples of a Twitter-savvy company is JetBlue that monitors Twitter for any mention of the company. They then inform anybody via e-mail that they do indeed have a Twitter account and that you could forward any complaints, questions or suggestions to them via Twitter. But that does not stop there. JetBlue quickly responds to any such requests or inquiries, making their customers feel well-attended to. - Do not create a Wikipedia listing.
If you have a sterling record or a good image, a Wikipedia entry might bring you some good hits and conversions. However, remember that a Wikipedia entry is easily modified by other people, and people can add a section where other people can post criticisms about your company. - Think twice before threatening a lawsuit.
If there are some negative comments on the blogosphere about your products, then think twice and wait until you are calm enough before you reply. If you do decide to reply, make sure that you do so with tact. Remember that your replies can either damage your reputation further with the wrong words or pacify the complainant so that you could do some damage control. Using harsh words or threatening to file a lawsuit will only inflame the people further, causing more harm than good.
The 10 Most Common Addictions
David Duchovny of X-Files – Hollywood’s Most Famous Sex Addict
The term "addiction" may vary in context. It may refer to an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence. In medical terminology, “addiction is defined as a chronic neurobiological disorder with psychosocial, environmental and genetic dimensions”.
In no particular order, the most common types of addiction that people deal with are the following:
1. Alcohol Addiction
Considered a legal substance for adults and readily available, alcohol intake can be excessive or prolonged and lead to an addiction. More often than not, people may get addicted to alcohol as they consider intake of it as a way a way to self-medicate. Approximately 50% of accidents and crimes may be attributed to excessive alcohol drinking. Alcohol addiction is also a major factor to getting health problems such as liver or heart diseases, brain damage and cancer.
2. Smoking
Technically speaking, the act of smoking is not making people addicted to it, but it is the nicotine contained in cigarettes that smokers struggle to fight against. Nicotine is a substance that is naturally highly-addictive, which makes it difficult for most to quit smoking. To aid in the quest to end this addiction, modern society has become less tolerant of smokers by designating non-smoking areas. There are prescribed and over-the-counter drugs that help smokers control nicotine addiction. Also, several support groups have also been formed to help smokers quit.
3. Drug Addiction
Drug addiction does not pertain only to craving and abuse of illegal narcotics but also legal drugs. Contrary to the widely accepted perception, spotting a drug addict may not be easy due to different physical or behavioral drug symptoms. A good example is cocaine abuse which may be evident in persistent nasal problems, but may not affect others in the same way. Addiction to the marijuana substance may cause addicts chronic cough or memory loss, while others suffer no apparent ill effects.
Technology Trends in 2010
eReaders and eBook Players
The year 2009 was witness to the rise and fall of technology and gadget trends. It was characterized by intensified video gaming blow outs, a new approach to mobile phone use and computer portability, and an endless quest to create better and more advanced gizmos.
As the New Year unfolds, video game expert and technology analyst Scott Steinberg unveils at Digitaltrends.com a sneak peek on the "what’s what" in technology for 2010.
1. The year 2010 may be the time for eReaders and eBook Players — digital tablets designed to simulate the customary reading-on-paper experience — to come into their own. Expected innovations in 2010 include selections powered by Android OS, more affordable models and full-color eReaders with touch screen and wireless 3G support.
2. Smartphones will continue to shine in 2010, but with added surprises. Android-run and Windows Mobile-powered smartphones will create an established market. Cell phones will likely be run by applications that offer more power and flexibility, allowing these devices to evolve and potentially replace laptops. Adapting to lifestyles, Smartphones will be must-haves in 2010, and Google’s Nexus One Smartphone is to watch out for.
3D TV
3. The household names in television manufacturing are keen at beginning a new era of TV viewership. Shops filled with a display of cutting-edge three-dimensional TVs, as well as Blu-ray players that power 3D flicks, will be anything but extraordinary in 2010.
2009′s Top 10 Moneymakers (USA Edition)
Google Founders: Larry Page and Sergey Brin
The year 2009 underscored an enormous economic meltdown that brought many United States businesses to their knees. But for some of America’s most famous moneymakers, the year brought enormous luck and vast gains. America’s top 25 stock gainers — composed of large stakeholders in publicly traded companies — made a combined $81.5 billion in 2009, Forbes.com reports.
Check out Forbes’ esteemed list of the ten biggest gainers in 2009:
- The founder of Google, Inc., Larry Page raked in a whooping $8.4 billion between January and mid-December 2009. At 36, Mr. Page is ranked as the 26th billionaire in the world and the 11th wealthiest person in the United States. Technology stocks are enjoying broad boost with the economic rebooting, according to Forbes. As such, Google made a rise of 90% since January 2009.
- Sergey Brin, the Russian-born American co-founder of Google, Inc. gained $8.2 billion in 2009. The 36-year old Internet titan gets a rebound after losing $11.7 billion in 2008 amid the collapse of Internet companies’ shares.
- Oracle Corporation and NetSuite gave 65-year-old founder Larry Ellison a $7.9 billion gain in 2009. He made it to fourth spot of Forbes’ list of richest persons as of September 30, 2009.
- Microsoft magnate Bill Gates generated $7.6 billion in 2009. The computer software company he founded with Paul Allen consistently places him on the list of the world’s richest. Over half of Mr. Gates’ fortune, however, is held outside of Microsoft. At 54, Mr. Gates grabbed the top spot overall as the wealthiest person in 2009.
- At barely 46 years old, Jeffrey Bezos has made Amazon a household name. The online retail company gained $7.3 billion in 2009 amid a 175% surge during the past 12 months. Amazon’s shares hit an all-time high in early December 2009.
Microsoft’s CEO – Steve Ballmer
- In 2009, Steven Ballmer had $4.4 billion in gains based on stock options as Microsoft shares rose 55%. The 54-year-old billionaire derived his fortune as CEO of Microsoft, of which he was neither a founder nor a relative of a founder. In 2008, Mr. Ballmer was 43rd richest person in the world, with an estimated wealth of $11 billion.
- With shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. climbing 1000% since March 2009, CEO Sheldon Adelson raked in $3.9 billion. Mr. Adelson’s stake plunged $24 billion in 2008 amid the recession that battered gaming industry, which made him the biggest loser in 2008. Las Vegas Sands is parent company to Venetian Macao Limited, which operates The Sands Expo and Convention Center and The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.
- Enterprise Products Partners and Enterprise GP Holdings co-founder, chairman and majority shareholder Dan Duncan gained $3.9 billion in 2009. At 76, the energy mogul became the wealthiest person in Houston and the 3rd richest person in Texas as of 2007.
- Another Google, Inc. titan, Eric Schmidt, made $2.7 billion, with his shares soaring 90% since January 2009. Like Microsoft’s Ballmer, 54-year-old Schmidt’s wealth is generated from stock options he received as chairman and CEO of Google, and not as its founder or its founder’s relative. In 2006, Mr. Schmidt was ranked 129th in Forbes’ "World’s Richest People" list, with an estimated fortune valued at $6.2 billion.
- Sixty three-year-old Harold Hamm gained $2.7 billion in 2009, thanks to Continental Resources’ 100% surge amid a recovery in energy prices. The energy company’s earnings, however, are still at a 50% low, compared to its overall income in July 2008.
How to Take Care of Your Fountains
Ceramic Frog Outdoor and Indoor Fountain
Waterfall fountains are a great addition to your living space. Not only do they beautify your garden or living room, they also add to the sense of peace and tranquility. But did you know that caring for indoor fountains and outdoor garden fountains are not quite the same?
Properly constructed and well designed indoor fountains are worth the time and money you spend in selecting them. In fact, indoor waterfall fountains are virtually maintenance free due to the fact that they are well protected and designed to circulate the water well. These indoor fountains have cutting-edge water circulation system that helps you avoid valve clogs and similar problems.
Just make sure that your fountain has an anti-microbial coat to avoid the growth of molds and algae. It is also wise to use distilled water instead of tap water to make sure that there are no added minerals that could clog the valves.
Caring for Outdoor Fountains
Outdoor fountains, on the other hand, may be a nightmare to maintain and clean. Because a lot of things like dust, leaves and mud, can fall into outdoor fountains, you can easily have clogged or dirty outdoor fountains in no time. Your first line of defense would be to use skimmers and filters that would help you keep the small debris and residue out of the water or the reservoirs.