By John Jantsch (c) 2006
Much has been written lately about the subject of podcasting. Podcasting is a very powerful small business tool but, some are kept away because it all sounds so technical.
In this article I will attempt to simplify the subject.
Let's start with the Podcast definition from the growing resource Wikipedia: What is a podcast - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast.
The definition provided by Wikipedia is a good place for you to start, but let me just add my take. A podcast is little more than an audio file (usually an mp3) placed on a website and combined with an RSS file that allows people to subscribe and automatically download any new content recordings
From a technical standpoint, there's nothing really too complicated about podcasting so don't think this is some geeky tech stuff. From a marketing standpoint, I didn't get too excited about the concept until Apple decided to make a podcast directory a primary component of iTunes. When that happened the market for podcasting on any subject imaginable was born.
Podcast Basics
Podcasts are typically published with a blogging tool like Blogger, TypePad, or MovableType. If you already use one of these blog services, creating your podcast is as simple as linking to your audio files and using a service like FeedBurner to automatically convert it into a podcast friendly feed. (More on that in a minute)
Create Content
Most podcasts are formatted much like radio shows. Hosts will interview guests or simply decide to talk about a subject that they feel is of interest to someone. From a business standpoint it can be a very powerful way to produce content that will make your website more interactive.
The plumber that records simple how to fix it podcasts will own the world! (Videocasts are just around the corner too.) There are a couple other very good reasons to host a podcast that may not directly have to do with content per se. Think about interviewing your clients on the benefits of using your service and posting those interviews as a podcast. Think that might make your best client even more loyal?
What about referral partners? What if you identified business owners that also serve your target market and invited them to be guests on your podcast. My guess is that you could instantly build a network of leading businesses with you as the hub. When you publish a podcast, whether you have a local or national audience, you become a member of the media. The tables are suddenly turned when you approach prospects and influential individuals. When you are the publisher of a podcast you have the opportunïty to gain access to the decision makers inside your biggest prospects – by simply requesting an interview. Do you see the potential in that?
Record
As I wrote earlier, a podcast is a digital recording so one of the steps you must complete for each session is to record your podcast. There are many ways to accomplish this task. You can use a portable mp3 recorder, use a service to record a telephone interview, record an interview using any number of VoIP services or create a recording set-up for your computer. (Obviously, you can go into a professional recording studio too.)
This article is not meant to explain in great detail every element of working with digital audio files but there are many ways to accomplish this step when you determine what your podcast needs are.
A great set-up for recording you own voice is to use a professional mic and a frëe software program called Audacity (Audacity has some very useful editing functions as well)
For telephone interviews you can use a service such as Conference Calls Unlimïted. CCU offers a telephone bridge line, recording, editing and hostíng of your mp3 file.
VoIP is a PC to PC or PC to telephone service led by a service called Skype. This is a particularly good option for International calls. A host of add-ons are cropping up to build even greater functionality into Skype.
Evoca
Gabcast
Skype VoIP calling
Conference Calls Unlimïted
Audacity free audio recorder and editor
Skype recording that interfaces with Outlook
Edit
You may find that after you conduct an interview you want to add some music or cut out segments. Again, look no further than Audacity (It's frëe and works very well).
File Host
Once you record your podcast you must upload the file to a server. There are services that offer recording and hosting options but, all you really need is enough space with your current web host to upload your mp3 files. Either way, you will simply link to the mp3 file from a blog post or web page. Below are some other options.
Podblaze
OurMedia
Audioblog
Liberated Syndication
RSS Feed
One of things that makes a podcast something more than an mp3 file is the addition of a podcast format RSS feed. This is simply a file that is updated every time you add an mp3 file so that subscribers through iTunes or some other Podcast service can automatically download your new content.
Podcasts do require a specific kind of RSS feed but, the only thing you need to do is go to a frëe service called FeedBurner and allow them to convert your blog feed or other RSS feed to work for podcasting. They can also set your feed up the way that iTunes and Yahoo Podcast want it set-up.
FeedBurner - Enhance a blog feed
Feed for all - Create a feed
Submit
Just like websites and blogs, podcasting has its own set of directories. You need to make a point of submitting your podcast or podcast feed (the one you formatted with FeedBurner) to the major podcast directories and engines.
ODEO
iTunes
Podcast.net
Singing Fish
Podcast Alley
Podcast News
Yahoo Podcast
Digital Podcast
Apple's Podcasting FAQs
Apple's Podcast technical specifications
Music and Intros
Maybe you want a cool music beat to kick off your show or a big radio voice type intro.
Royalty free music
Professional intros and outros
Listening and Searching
You should subscribe to and listen to podcasts to get a good idea of some of the ways people are using this tool for business. You will need what is sometimes referred to as a podcatcher to subscribe. If you have iTunes you already have one. (Most of the time you can visit a podcast site and simply listen to the mp3 file if you have an mp3 player like Windows Media Player or RealPlayer installed on your computer.)
iTunes
Juice
Doppler
Misc. Podcast Gear
Search audio files
Podcast Tutorials and Forums
Podstrigs
About.com
Podcast Alley
Podcasting News
FeedBurner's Podcast Guide
My Set-Up
Just in case you are curious, here's how I podcast. I use Conference Calls Unlimïted to provide my recording and editing. I hook up with a guest by telephone, conduct the interview and about 24 hours later receive a link to the edited mp3 file to link to from my podcast blog.
My intro was produced my AudioBag.com.
My RSS feed was created and enhanced by FeedBurner.
There are lots of things that you can do to make your podcast even more professional. In this article I've attempted to demystify the major points and get you interested in producing your own podcast.
About The AuthorJohn Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide published by Thomas Nelson - due out in the fall of 2006. He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system. You can find more information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Thursday, March 16, 2006
"Discover how ANYONE can start a profitable
Internet business in less than 30 days...
... Even if you're a computer dummy!"
Product Review:
"Warp Speed Wealth" SYSTEM
By Derek Gehl and the Internet Marketing Center
I've just finished working my way through Derek Gehl's brand-new "Warp Speed Wealth" system, and I've got to tell you, it's probably the BEST step-by-step system for starting your FIRST Internet business that I've ever come across!
In fact, if you've always wanted the freedom and extra cash that an Internet business can bring, but you've had NO idea where to start, then "Warp Speed Wealth" is definitely the perfect system for you.
In it, you'll get a concise look at many of the same strategies that Derek himself used "behind the scenes" to make over $54,700,000.00 in online sales...
... but boiled down into a step-by-step system for beginners that anyone can use!
You'll discover how to...
- Identify and find the HOTTEST products you can sell on the Internet
- Profit from what you already know -- hobbies, offline busineses, industry expertise, and more!
- Avoid the #1 mistake made by 90% of Internet start-ups, so you can maxmize the success of ANY online business you start
- Find FREE tools that you can use to create a web site -- in just a few hours
- Start a web site for less than $100!
- Find people who are begging for your products, capture their e-mail addresses, and generate HUGE repeat sales from them -- all within 48 hours
- Attract as many as 10,000 to 15,000 visitors to your web site -- all eager to buy your products -- with this little-known technique.
... And MUCH more!
And once you've got your successful new business up and running, Derek shows you how to completely automate it, so that it continues to earn money for you around the clock -- without having to lift a finger!
But what I REALLY like about Derek's new system is the guarantee. See, you literally can't lose...
... If you try "Warp Speed Wealth" and DON'T make at least $10,000 after 12 months, not only will you get your money back, Derek will actually pay you $500 out of his own pocket!
I give the "Warp Speed Wealth" system a perfect score!
It contains four hours
of exclusive training on DVD, plus 4
guidebooks containing an additional 160+ pages of instructions.
"Warp Speed Wealth" gives you everything
you need to start your very own
succeesful Internet business within the
next 30 days -- then put it on "autopilot,"
so you can continue to profit around the clock.
I recommend you check out this new system as soon as possible. Click here for details.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Bill Myers Tip of the Week 25/2/06
Bill Myers Tip of the Week - February 25, 2006
===============================================================
Your cordless phone could be killing your wireless computer
network!
We recently moved our cordless phone base unit into the same room
where we house our wireless network router.
Almost immediately, we started having wireless network problems.
Computers couldn't connect, and when they were able to connect,
the connections were painfully slow.
After spending hours trying to resolve the problem, we finally
discovered the cause and the solution.
Our office cordless phone system uses the same 2.4ghz frequency
as our wireless network. The phone system's wireless signals
were confusing the wireless network signals.
When we unplugged our cordless phone base unit, the network
instantly recovered.
Moral: If your wireless network is having problems, make sure
your cordless phone system isn't the cause.
If in doubt, power down the cordless phone base unit, and see if
the wireless network problems go away.
Bill Myers
===============================================================
Recent articles posted at Bill Myers Online:
================================================================
Guide to getting major manufacturers to promote your 'how to'
products
Here's how to get big companies to promote your 'how to' products
on their web sites at no cost to you. You'll be amazed at how
easy it can be. Includes real life example.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/;
================================================================
Creating audio products from your written articles - a lot easier
than you would imagine
With the right tools, you can convert almost any text into a
professional audio production that could rival the quality of top
voice pros. In this article, I show you how to convert your text
articles (and ebooks) into great sounding audio products - in
less than 5 minutes. Plus I'll provide examples of my own
articles converted into audio.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/;
================================================================
Learning to say No
One of the most important skills a product developer can learn is
to say 'no'.
Say 'no' to projects that can't
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/;
================================================================
Four low cost accessories every video producer should have
Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference in
video production. Here are some of those 'little things' that can
make a big difference in the quality of video you shoot.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/;
===============================================================
That's it for this week!
Bill Myers
http://bmyers.check-free.info/
===============================================================
Sunday, February 05, 2006
VIDEO REVIEW:
The BIGGEST name in Internet marketing sits down with you and shows you how he's made over $40 million from his online business.
Review: Corey Rudl's Ultimate Seminar Videos
I remember -- back when I was first starting my online business -- thinking how great it would be if I could spend just a couple of hours with someone who's already made big money online and ask them how it's done.
Unfortunately, the only way to get "face time" with one of the better known Internet marketing "gurus" is to shell out thousands of dollars and attend one of those big conferences or seminars that they put on from time to time.
(And I don't know about you, but *I* certainly didn't have that kind of cash lying around when I was just getting started!)
Anyway, I just finished watching over 3 hours of Corey Rudl's new "Ultimate Seminar" videos, and I have to say that this is EXACTLY what anyone who is seriously considering starting an online business needs. Not only do you get to see Corey live on stage explaining the methods that he has personally used to generate over $30 million online, you ALSO get to spend time with him "one-on-one" as he sits down and actually SHOWS you how to do everything.
For example, instead of just telling you that you should be sending follow-up e-mail to your customers and subscribers, he actually walks you through the process and shows you how to write a compelling e-mail promotion, what software you can use to personalize these messages, and how to ensure that your e-mail gets delivered!
Of course, Corey goes through a TON of other information as well. In fact, he talks about literally everything you need to know to get your own online business up and running in no time flat, including:
Review: Corey Rudl's Ultimate Seminar Videos
I remember -- back when I was first starting my online business -- thinking how great it would be if I could spend just a couple of hours with someone who's already made big money online and ask them how it's done.
Unfortunately, the only way to get "face time" with one of the better known Internet marketing "gurus" is to shell out thousands of dollars and attend one of those big conferences or seminars that they put on from time to time.
(And I don't know about you, but *I* certainly didn't have that kind of cash lying around when I was just getting started!)
Anyway, I just finished watching over 3 hours of Corey Rudl's new "Ultimate Seminar" videos, and I have to say that this is EXACTLY what anyone who is seriously considering starting an online business needs. Not only do you get to see Corey live on stage explaining the methods that he has personally used to generate over $30 million online, you ALSO get to spend time with him "one-on-one" as he sits down and actually SHOWS you how to do everything.
For example, instead of just telling you that you should be sending follow-up e-mail to your customers and subscribers, he actually walks you through the process and shows you how to write a compelling e-mail promotion, what software you can use to personalize these messages, and how to ensure that your e-mail gets delivered!
Of course, Corey goes through a TON of other information as well. In fact, he talks about literally everything you need to know to get your own online business up and running in no time flat, including:
How even a complete beginner can now build a web site in less than 48 hours... for LESS than $100.
Where to track down 1,000s of FREE and dirt-cheap sources of traffic for your site.
How to find a targetable niche market that you can sell to almost effortlessly.
Why selling just ONE key product is the secret to most successful online businesses.
How to leverage the sales from that one key product into a lifetime of repeat sales and referrals.
... and much more!
Here's the bottom line: If you are in the early stages of your Internet business, this is going to be an invaluable resource for you! How else could you sit down with the single most well-known online marketing expert -- in the comfort of your own home -- and have him show how to duplicate his success?
I give these videos a solid 10 out of 10 rating. They cover absolutely everything you need to know to get your own profitable online business up and running!
Click here to read more and find out where you can get these exciting
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Bill Myers Tip of the Week 28/1/06
Bill Myers Tip of the Week - January 28, 2006
===============================================================
This week we purchased a tent for our office.
Not the kind of tent you camp in, but a 'light' tent, to use when
shooting photographs.
A light tent (also referred to as a 'cloud dome') is a enclosure
made of translucent material used to spread a cloud of diffused
light on items placed within the tent.
You set the light tent on a table top, place the item to be
photographed inside, and shoot pictures.
The results are simply amazing. Often breathtaking.
And this can be important, since an impressive photo can greatly
increase the perceived value of, and desire to have, the product
in the photo.
If you use product photos on your web or eBay pages, you might
discover having your own light tent will pay for itself many
times over. (The light tent we purchased cost just $40.)
To see a photo of our light tent as well as photos of items we've
taken in it, check out the light tent article on our site.
Bill Myers
===============================================================
Recent articles posted at Bill Myers Online:
================================================================
Using a light tent / cloud dome to create spectacular photos
Check out the photos I shot in our new light tent, and you'll
understand why having a cloud dome or light tent is one of the
best investments a product developer can make. Wow!
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
New approach to web video - example of easy to shoot video, plus
a few cool toys
It took me less than 10 minutes to set up for, shoot, edit and
produce this web video. On the video you'll see how to combine
live video, screen capture, and audio into a fast loading, good
looking video - suitable for delivery over the web, on CD or DVD.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
Finding great domain names - yes, they are still available
There are plenty of great domain names still available, if you
know where and how to look. In this article which includes a
short video, I'll show my secret to quickly finding the right
domain name for almost any project.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
The easy guide to streaming live video to your web pages - part
II
In part one, we showed you how to quickly set up a live video
feed to your web site using free software and free web hosting.
In part two, we show you how another easy way to stream live
video - and how to control who can view that video once it is up
on the web.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
===============================================================
That's it for this week!
Bill Myers
http://bmyers.check-free.info/
===============================================================
===============================================================
This week we purchased a tent for our office.
Not the kind of tent you camp in, but a 'light' tent, to use when
shooting photographs.
A light tent (also referred to as a 'cloud dome') is a enclosure
made of translucent material used to spread a cloud of diffused
light on items placed within the tent.
You set the light tent on a table top, place the item to be
photographed inside, and shoot pictures.
The results are simply amazing. Often breathtaking.
And this can be important, since an impressive photo can greatly
increase the perceived value of, and desire to have, the product
in the photo.
If you use product photos on your web or eBay pages, you might
discover having your own light tent will pay for itself many
times over. (The light tent we purchased cost just $40.)
To see a photo of our light tent as well as photos of items we've
taken in it, check out the light tent article on our site.
Bill Myers
===============================================================
Recent articles posted at Bill Myers Online:
================================================================
Using a light tent / cloud dome to create spectacular photos
Check out the photos I shot in our new light tent, and you'll
understand why having a cloud dome or light tent is one of the
best investments a product developer can make. Wow!
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
New approach to web video - example of easy to shoot video, plus
a few cool toys
It took me less than 10 minutes to set up for, shoot, edit and
produce this web video. On the video you'll see how to combine
live video, screen capture, and audio into a fast loading, good
looking video - suitable for delivery over the web, on CD or DVD.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
Finding great domain names - yes, they are still available
There are plenty of great domain names still available, if you
know where and how to look. In this article which includes a
short video, I'll show my secret to quickly finding the right
domain name for almost any project.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
The easy guide to streaming live video to your web pages - part
II
In part one, we showed you how to quickly set up a live video
feed to your web site using free software and free web hosting.
In part two, we show you how another easy way to stream live
video - and how to control who can view that video once it is up
on the web.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
===============================================================
That's it for this week!
Bill Myers
http://bmyers.check-free.info/
===============================================================
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Bill Myers Tip of the Week 20/1/06
Bill Myers Tip of the Week - January 21, 2006
===============================================================
If you are running Microsoft Windows, you might need this.
To help relieve customer support problems, Microsoft developed a
secret little tool that scans a customer's computer, and removes
the most prevalent computer viruses.
Microsoft found that when their support staff uses this tool,
they are able to resolve a large percentage of customer support
problems quickly.
Just run the secret software, and the Windows related problem
often goes away.
You can find this secret program, the 'Malicious Software Removal
Tool', and run it online at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
It is free and updated every two weeks.
Even if you don't need this virus removal tool today, you might
want to bookmark it for later.
Bill Myers
===============================================================
Recent articles posted at Bill Myers Online:
================================================================
Finding great domain names - yes, they are still available
There are plenty of great domain names still available, if you
know where and how to look. In this article which includes a
short video, I'll show my secret to quickly finding the right
domain name for almost any project.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
The easy guide to streaming live video to your web pages - part II
In part one, we showed you how to quickly set up a live video
feed to your web site using free software and free web hosting.
In part two, we show you how another easy way to stream live
video - and how to control who can view that video once it is up
on the web.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
Reality TV - your own channel
This week I decided to create my own reality TV show and place it
on the web.
Using a $50 web cam and free software, it took me about 10
minutes to create a live video broadcast
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
Live Video: The easy way to quickly add live video -- with audio -
- to your web pages
In this article, I'll show you the easy, no hassle way to add
your live video feed (with audio) to your web pages. It'll take
less than ten minutes, no special software required, no hosting
charges, no bandwidth fees. You can have a 24/7 live video feed
from any video source, including your web cam, workshop, seminars,
even from on the road.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
===============================================================
That's it for this week!
Bill Myers
http://bmyers.check-free.info/
=============================================================
===============================================================
If you are running Microsoft Windows, you might need this.
To help relieve customer support problems, Microsoft developed a
secret little tool that scans a customer's computer, and removes
the most prevalent computer viruses.
Microsoft found that when their support staff uses this tool,
they are able to resolve a large percentage of customer support
problems quickly.
Just run the secret software, and the Windows related problem
often goes away.
You can find this secret program, the 'Malicious Software Removal
Tool', and run it online at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
It is free and updated every two weeks.
Even if you don't need this virus removal tool today, you might
want to bookmark it for later.
Bill Myers
===============================================================
Recent articles posted at Bill Myers Online:
================================================================
Finding great domain names - yes, they are still available
There are plenty of great domain names still available, if you
know where and how to look. In this article which includes a
short video, I'll show my secret to quickly finding the right
domain name for almost any project.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
The easy guide to streaming live video to your web pages - part II
In part one, we showed you how to quickly set up a live video
feed to your web site using free software and free web hosting.
In part two, we show you how another easy way to stream live
video - and how to control who can view that video once it is up
on the web.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
Reality TV - your own channel
This week I decided to create my own reality TV show and place it
on the web.
Using a $50 web cam and free software, it took me about 10
minutes to create a live video broadcast
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
================================================================
Live Video: The easy way to quickly add live video -- with audio -
- to your web pages
In this article, I'll show you the easy, no hassle way to add
your live video feed (with audio) to your web pages. It'll take
less than ten minutes, no special software required, no hosting
charges, no bandwidth fees. You can have a 24/7 live video feed
from any video source, including your web cam, workshop, seminars,
even from on the road.
Read the full article at:
< http://bmyers.check-free.info/ >
===============================================================
That's it for this week!
Bill Myers
http://bmyers.check-free.info/
=============================================================
Friday, January 13, 2006
"Discover how to easily claim a HUGE portion of the $86,000,000 spent on eBay every day!"
Review: "The Insider Secrets Of An eBay Millionaire" by Derek Gehl and Brandon Dupsky
I've just finished devouring the brand-new "Insider Secrets Of An eBay Millionaire" by Brandon Dupsky and Derek Gehl, and I've got to tell you, it is by FAR the best system for making a life-changing income on eBay that I've come across!
Don't be embarrassed if you've never heard of self-made eBay millionaire Brandon Dupsky before. After all, he likes to fly "below the radar" (which gives him more time to focus on his booming eBay business!)
But what you should know about him is that he's just a regular guy who got his start on eBay by selling a few odd-and-ends he found in his basement...
... and since then, he's refined his techniques to the point where he made $8 MILLION this past year alone!
And what's really great is that Brandon has agreed to team up with Derek Gehl, the well-known Internet marketing expert who is responsible for over $40,000,000 in online sales!
... together, they can show you everything you need to know about profiting on eBay!
I'm talking about information like...
Where to find in-demand products that you can buy for cheap and resell for massive profits!
How to attract TONS of bids and make HUGE profits on every single auction you list!
How to CREATE stunning listings that grab the eyeballs of eager bidders!
How to easily rake in even MORE cash by establishing a glowing feedback rating!
How to eliminate 90% of all eBay headaches by setting up foolproof payment And shipping systems!
Techniques for driving 1,000s of qualified bidders to YOUR auction listings!
And much more!
And if you have an existing Internet business, they can show YOU how you can use your current business to tap into the 2,000,000 visitors who come to eBay every day!
I give this eBay profit system the highest rating possible!
PLUS over 4 solid hours of audio 
instruction on 4 CDs...
... and contains every tip, strategy, and
secret there is for getting started on
eBay today, earning your first profit by
tomorrow -- and making a life changing
income of potentially $100,000 or MORE
in your first year!
I strongly urge you to check out Brandon's eBay profit-generating system as soon as possible! Click here for a FREE preview.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
A $1 million Web idea, one pixel at a time
British man dreams up unique way to finance university
Some of the advertisers first bought spots on the page as a lark, only to discover they were receiving significant Web hits.
To get your bit of the action with Pixel Marketing. Pixmeup has setup a website that you can buy pixels for as little as $25 show others how to adverting on your page and get paid see how CLICK HERE
This is pixel mania and it is taking the world by storm
LONDON - If you have an envious streak, you probably shouldn't read this.
Because chances are,
Alex Tew, a 21-year-old student from a small town in England, is cleverer than you. And he is proving it by earning a cool million dollars in four months on the Internet.
Selling porn? Dealing prescription drugs? Nope. All he sells are pixels, the tiny dots on the screen that appear when you call up his home page.
He had the brainstorm for his million dollar home page, called, logically enough, http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/, while lying in bed thinking out how he would pay for university
The idea: turn his home page into a billboard made up of a million dots, and sell them for a dollar a dot to anyone who wants to put up their logo. A 10 by 10 dot square, roughly the size of a letter of type, costs $100.
He sold a few to his brothers and some friends, and when he had made $1,000, he issued a press release.
That was picked up by the news media, spread around the Internet, and soon advertisers for everything from dating sites to casinos to real estate agents to The Times of London were putting up real cash for pixels, with links to their own sites.
So far they have bought up 911,800 pixels. Tew's home page now looks like an online Times Square, festooned with a multi-coloured confetti of ads.
"All the money's kind of sitting in a bank account," Tew told Reuters from his home in Wiltshire, southwest England. "I've treated myself to a car. I've only just passed my driving test so I've bought myself a little black mini."
The site features testimonials from advertisers, some of whom bought spots as a lark, only to discover that they were receiving actual valuable Web hits for a fraction of the cost of traditional Internet advertising.
Meanwhile Tew has had to juggle running the site with his first term at university, where he is studying business.
It's been quite a difficulty trying to balance going to lectures and doing the site," he said.
But he may not have to study for long. Job offers have been coming in from Internet companies impressed by a young man who managed to figure out an original way to make money online.
"I didn't expect it to happen like that," Tew said. "To have the job offers and approaches from investors — the whole thing is kind of surreal. I'm still in a state of disbelief."
(c) Reuters 2005. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
To get your own bit of the action CLICK HERE
Some of the advertisers first bought spots on the page as a lark, only to discover they were receiving significant Web hits.
To get your bit of the action with Pixel Marketing. Pixmeup has setup a website that you can buy pixels for as little as $25 show others how to adverting on your page and get paid see how CLICK HERE
This is pixel mania and it is taking the world by storm
LONDON - If you have an envious streak, you probably shouldn't read this.
Because chances are,
Alex Tew, a 21-year-old student from a small town in England, is cleverer than you. And he is proving it by earning a cool million dollars in four months on the Internet.
Selling porn? Dealing prescription drugs? Nope. All he sells are pixels, the tiny dots on the screen that appear when you call up his home page.
He had the brainstorm for his million dollar home page, called, logically enough, http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/, while lying in bed thinking out how he would pay for university
The idea: turn his home page into a billboard made up of a million dots, and sell them for a dollar a dot to anyone who wants to put up their logo. A 10 by 10 dot square, roughly the size of a letter of type, costs $100.
He sold a few to his brothers and some friends, and when he had made $1,000, he issued a press release.
That was picked up by the news media, spread around the Internet, and soon advertisers for everything from dating sites to casinos to real estate agents to The Times of London were putting up real cash for pixels, with links to their own sites.
So far they have bought up 911,800 pixels. Tew's home page now looks like an online Times Square, festooned with a multi-coloured confetti of ads.
"All the money's kind of sitting in a bank account," Tew told Reuters from his home in Wiltshire, southwest England. "I've treated myself to a car. I've only just passed my driving test so I've bought myself a little black mini."
The site features testimonials from advertisers, some of whom bought spots as a lark, only to discover that they were receiving actual valuable Web hits for a fraction of the cost of traditional Internet advertising.
Meanwhile Tew has had to juggle running the site with his first term at university, where he is studying business.
It's been quite a difficulty trying to balance going to lectures and doing the site," he said.
But he may not have to study for long. Job offers have been coming in from Internet companies impressed by a young man who managed to figure out an original way to make money online.
"I didn't expect it to happen like that," Tew said. "To have the job offers and approaches from investors — the whole thing is kind of surreal. I'm still in a state of disbelief."
(c) Reuters 2005. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
To get your own bit of the action CLICK HERE
Thursday, January 05, 2006
News Bytes From The Web
- by Jim Edwards
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com/
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
* Sony Offers "VoIP" *
Electronics giant, Sony, jumped on the VoIP (Voice over IP)
bandwagon recently to offer long distance calls through the
Internet.
They join a long list of providers competing for your
Internet phone call business, including: Skype, Google, and
AOL.
Sony claims their service includes a video component that
rates superior to all other offerings.
Their IVE (Internet Video Everywhere) can also make video
calls to video enabled mobile phones, telephones and other
devices intended for video conferencing.
In fact, the IVE "Meeting Room" enables you to hold video
conference calls with up to six users just as you would a
regular telephone conference call.
Users also receive a unique "video phone number" which other
users can call and, if you don't answer, leave you a video
message.
The basic plan comes free of charge and goes as high as $20
a month for the group calling and video "meeting" room
features.
* Camtasia Alternative *
Camtasia software rates as the 800-lb. gorilla of the
screen-capture software market.
It enables you to capture your screen, narrate the action,
and publish your videos in multiple formats (including
publishing to FLASH for streaming on the Web).
Unfortunately, Camtasia comes with a stiff $300 price tag
which often inhibits the casual user from getting the
software.
A less expensive alternative can be found at
www.AimOneSoft.com which publishes the Aim One Screen
Recorder.
This software captures either the full screen, window, or a
fixed region of your screen as an AVI or WMV video file.
This type of software can make the creation of software
tutorials and other computer training a breeze.
The one drawback to the software is that it does not convert
to flash, so that limits your video delivery over the Web to
the WMV file format (which will exclude MAC users).
* Urban Legends Reference Page *
Log on to www.Snopes.com and find a wealth of just the type
of information that nobody should pass along to anyone else.
Bill Gates giving away a million dollars if you forward this
email to 12 people?
AOL offering free housing to all Web designers?
Yahoo and Google founders set for a mud-wrestling match next
Saturday with a live simulcast on both sites?
Do you need to drink 8 glasses of water per day to avoid
dehydration?
The Web makes it almost too easy to create and pass along
rumors, legends and outright falsehood (along with
destructive "info-viruses" that cause people to delete
important files from their computers and encourage unwitting
friends to do the same).
The next time you hear something that sounds odd (such as
Microsoft is preparing to market the "iLoo", and Internet
capable toilet), you should log on to Snopes.com and check
it out before taking it as "truth."
A few keywords in the search box will let you track down any
errant stories and check your facts before passing along the
message to your friends.
The site also offers a free update by email service so you
can stay current on all the latest gossip and nonsense
floating around online.
--
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the
creator of an amazing course that will teach you step-by-
step and click-by-click how to finally create your own
money-making mini-sites...
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up
Your OWN Moneymaking 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a
Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying
Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!"
Click Here => http://minisite.check-free.info/
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com/
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
* Sony Offers "VoIP" *
Electronics giant, Sony, jumped on the VoIP (Voice over IP)
bandwagon recently to offer long distance calls through the
Internet.
They join a long list of providers competing for your
Internet phone call business, including: Skype, Google, and
AOL.
Sony claims their service includes a video component that
rates superior to all other offerings.
Their IVE (Internet Video Everywhere) can also make video
calls to video enabled mobile phones, telephones and other
devices intended for video conferencing.
In fact, the IVE "Meeting Room" enables you to hold video
conference calls with up to six users just as you would a
regular telephone conference call.
Users also receive a unique "video phone number" which other
users can call and, if you don't answer, leave you a video
message.
The basic plan comes free of charge and goes as high as $20
a month for the group calling and video "meeting" room
features.
* Camtasia Alternative *
Camtasia software rates as the 800-lb. gorilla of the
screen-capture software market.
It enables you to capture your screen, narrate the action,
and publish your videos in multiple formats (including
publishing to FLASH for streaming on the Web).
Unfortunately, Camtasia comes with a stiff $300 price tag
which often inhibits the casual user from getting the
software.
A less expensive alternative can be found at
www.AimOneSoft.com which publishes the Aim One Screen
Recorder.
This software captures either the full screen, window, or a
fixed region of your screen as an AVI or WMV video file.
This type of software can make the creation of software
tutorials and other computer training a breeze.
The one drawback to the software is that it does not convert
to flash, so that limits your video delivery over the Web to
the WMV file format (which will exclude MAC users).
* Urban Legends Reference Page *
Log on to www.Snopes.com and find a wealth of just the type
of information that nobody should pass along to anyone else.
Bill Gates giving away a million dollars if you forward this
email to 12 people?
AOL offering free housing to all Web designers?
Yahoo and Google founders set for a mud-wrestling match next
Saturday with a live simulcast on both sites?
Do you need to drink 8 glasses of water per day to avoid
dehydration?
The Web makes it almost too easy to create and pass along
rumors, legends and outright falsehood (along with
destructive "info-viruses" that cause people to delete
important files from their computers and encourage unwitting
friends to do the same).
The next time you hear something that sounds odd (such as
Microsoft is preparing to market the "iLoo", and Internet
capable toilet), you should log on to Snopes.com and check
it out before taking it as "truth."
A few keywords in the search box will let you track down any
errant stories and check your facts before passing along the
message to your friends.
The site also offers a free update by email service so you
can stay current on all the latest gossip and nonsense
floating around online.
--
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the
creator of an amazing course that will teach you step-by-
step and click-by-click how to finally create your own
money-making mini-sites...
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up
Your OWN Moneymaking 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a
Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying
Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!"
Click Here => http://minisite.check-free.info/
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Generating Self-Sustaining Website Traffic
By Willie Crawford (c) 2005
Upon returning from a recent seminar, I had two messages from newspaper reporters on my answering machine. They were both seeking interviews. I also had emails showing that I'd earned several thousand dollars while I was out of town speaking. The orders had all been processed automatically, and the emails were just for my information. It was at that point that I realized my Internet business had truly reached critical mass.
Critical mass is a term that I first heard my friend Jack Humphrey, author of Power Linking, use in reference to generating website traffïc and growing a business. Jack used it to define that point at which you could stop actively promoting your online business (for a while) and it would continue to grow and prosper.
I'm sharing this with you because I want you to see the tools that enabled me to reach that point. This article will show you to see why those tools are so powerful
Let me begin by telling you that it took me eight years to grow my online business to the point where it is largely self-sustaining! I don't want to mislead you there. A big part of success is unwavering persistence.
Now, let's look at the tools I used to reach and maintain critical mass.
1) Search engine marketing. All of my important sites ARE manually submïtted to the search engines. I submït and re-submit them "semi-automatically" though. I use a site called SelfPromotion.com. This site allows you to store all relevant data about a site into their database. The software then submïts your site to selected search engines and directories.
The beauty of self-promotion.com is that you can then set it so that the software periodically resubmits your sites. It's truly "set it and forget it" website promotion
SelfPromotion.com is frëe, but if you make a contribution, to help pay for the upkeep of the site, you get access to more nifty tools. You can get a frëe account with them at: http://selfpromotion.com/?CF=Willie%20Crawford. That URL lets Robert know that I sent you. I've used this tool for over 5 years now - and love it!
2) Article marketing. I've written and distributed over 300 articles. Articles establish you as an expert in the marketplace, build inbound links to your sites, pre-sell your products, and help you rank higher in the search engines for your targeted keywords.
The power of article marketing is that once the articles are in circulation, and on hundreds... or even thousands of websites, they can work for you forever. I still get traffïc to some of my websites from articles I wrote in 1998!
Many online marketers now use articles to market their websites, but they don't do it very effectively. Articles have to be written, and deployed, in a way that they both gain you advantages in the search engines and that they convert readers into customers, subscribers, clients, and fans. That means your articles need SOLID content.
In writing articles (or having them ghost written) you must always remember that people surf the Internet looking for information and solutions to their problems. Your articles must actually provide this information or help them to actually solve their problems. Distribute articles that accomplish this, and you'll develop an endless stream of raving fans, all storming your website for more of YOU
Writing articles is relatively easy. If you don't know how to write articles though, I recommend that you take advantage of the training available at a site called Content Propulsion Lab. Content Propulsion Lab teaches you not only how to use articles to grow your business, but also how to use multi-media content (such as MP3's and online video). You're shown how to deploy multi-media content in a way that causes the search engines to gobble it up.
I mentioned the multi-media content because, while articles work beautifully, website audio and video is growing at an amazing pace. You need to offer your audience information in the formats that they prefer consuming it in. More and more, this format is becoming audio and video. These formats allow your audience to connect with you on a much deeper level since they see or hear a live person. Connecting with your audience on a deeper level means MORE salës. now use Content Propulsion Lab's resources to push my content out to an amazing array of places. I also TEACH others how to do this through tele-classes and webinars featured at Content Propulsion Lab. You can chëck out all of the mind-boggling capabilities Content Propulsion Lab offers at: CashThroughContent.com.
3) Viral tools. A viral tool is merely something that, once set in motion, continues to grow, and spread, and benefit you, without any additional input being required from you.
Two of my favorite viral tools are online discussion forums and blogs. Online discussion forums allow people interested in a given topic to congregate and and discuss that topic. Over time, your discussion forum will develop a core following who will help to spread the word, and help to maintain the community. Seek volunteer moderators to help police the forum and maintain standards. Many people will volunteer for a link back to their site, or just for the exposure.
The number of blogs is growing exponentially. Blogs are proven traffïc magnets. A blog allows you to share information, opinions, etc. with your audience. If your blog engages your audience they will help to spread the word. At the same time, blogs are visited frequently by the search engines. Search engines notice which ones are updated often and become "trained" to spider those blogs often.
Because blogs are spidered so often, it's one of the quickest ways that I know of to get a new site noticed by the search engines. Just post a link to one of your new sites on a blog that's frequently crawled, and the search engine spiders will follow that link and index your new site. This is VERY powerful to be such a simple technique.
Blogging is very simple, but there are lots of tricks and techniques that offer you an amazingly competitive advantage. My favorite blogging platform is WordPress, which I learned all about from my friend Sherman Hu. Sherman has a series of short online videos that explain practically everything you could ever want to know about blogging with WordPress.
You can watch 22 (yes - 22) of Sherman's videos on WordPress blogging absolutely frëe at: ShermanHuOnWordPressBlogging.com.
Other viral tools include ebooks, PDF special reports, MP3 audio files, and Camtasia videos. We can't cover all of these hëre, but any of them could be created, and then offered to the marketplace. If they deliver tremendous value, or even entertainment, they will be passed along. If you create these viral tools properly, they will lead highly qualified traffïc right back to your site.
4) Link Building. People find, and then visit, your sites by following trails. Those trails can be mentions of your url in online or offline media, articles, press releases, and links on other sites pointing to you. The more links you have pointing to you, the greater the chance of someone finding one of those links and visiting your site. So, you should set out on an aggressive effort to build quality links pointing to your site.
Since I value quality links over sheer quantity, I have over the years simply emailed webmasters of sites I wanted to exchange links with suggesting the exchange. Now, I hire others to coordinate link exchanges for me. This is a better use of my resources in the long-run than doing it myself, since there are services that do this fairly inexpensively. To locate one of these services, simply type in an appropriate term at the search engines.
You can also set up an affïliate program as a way to reward others for linking to you. Affïliate program management software, such as the one I use at http://profitautomation.com/ allows you the option of paying people (on a per-click basis) just for sending traffïc to you. I do this on a few sites, but on most sites where I have affïliate programs, I pay on a per sale basis. This still generates a lot of one-way links but only costs you when those links make you salës.
There are many, many more techniques that you can use to build a steadily increasing flood of traffïc to your sites. I use literally Dozens of different methods. If you're looking for an "encyclopedia" of traffïc generation methods, I highly recommend a course by my friend John Reese, called Traffïc Secrets. You'll find John Reese's Traffïc Secrets Course at: TrafficSecretsByJohnReese.com.
The most important part of building your websites' traffïc up to critical mass is just getting started. Pick ONE of the methods outlined above and get started. As you verify that a particular method works great for you, and your marketplace, keep using that one and then add others. If a particular method doesn't produce for you, stop wasting your time with it!
One final thought... even when you build your website traffïc to critical mass, you still should continue to promote.
Yes, you'll continue making salës, but if you completely stop promoting, salës will eventually begin to drop off. Major international corporations such as Coke(tm) have proven this over and over again. That's why you see these major corporations with MAJOR market domination continue to promote their products and services.
Now that you understand the intricacies of generating self-sustaining website traffïc, what are you waitïng for:-)
About The AuthorWillie Crawford has taught PROVEN Internet marketing techniques to thousands of successful Internet entrepreneurs since late-1996. Subscribe to his frëe weekly ezine, which helps you cut through the clutter and time-wasting hype. Subscribe now by visiting: http://williecrawford.com/.
Upon returning from a recent seminar, I had two messages from newspaper reporters on my answering machine. They were both seeking interviews. I also had emails showing that I'd earned several thousand dollars while I was out of town speaking. The orders had all been processed automatically, and the emails were just for my information. It was at that point that I realized my Internet business had truly reached critical mass.
Critical mass is a term that I first heard my friend Jack Humphrey, author of Power Linking, use in reference to generating website traffïc and growing a business. Jack used it to define that point at which you could stop actively promoting your online business (for a while) and it would continue to grow and prosper.
I'm sharing this with you because I want you to see the tools that enabled me to reach that point. This article will show you to see why those tools are so powerful
Let me begin by telling you that it took me eight years to grow my online business to the point where it is largely self-sustaining! I don't want to mislead you there. A big part of success is unwavering persistence.
Now, let's look at the tools I used to reach and maintain critical mass.
1) Search engine marketing. All of my important sites ARE manually submïtted to the search engines. I submït and re-submit them "semi-automatically" though. I use a site called SelfPromotion.com. This site allows you to store all relevant data about a site into their database. The software then submïts your site to selected search engines and directories.
The beauty of self-promotion.com is that you can then set it so that the software periodically resubmits your sites. It's truly "set it and forget it" website promotion
SelfPromotion.com is frëe, but if you make a contribution, to help pay for the upkeep of the site, you get access to more nifty tools. You can get a frëe account with them at: http://selfpromotion.com/?CF=Willie%20Crawford. That URL lets Robert know that I sent you. I've used this tool for over 5 years now - and love it!
2) Article marketing. I've written and distributed over 300 articles. Articles establish you as an expert in the marketplace, build inbound links to your sites, pre-sell your products, and help you rank higher in the search engines for your targeted keywords.
The power of article marketing is that once the articles are in circulation, and on hundreds... or even thousands of websites, they can work for you forever. I still get traffïc to some of my websites from articles I wrote in 1998!
Many online marketers now use articles to market their websites, but they don't do it very effectively. Articles have to be written, and deployed, in a way that they both gain you advantages in the search engines and that they convert readers into customers, subscribers, clients, and fans. That means your articles need SOLID content.
In writing articles (or having them ghost written) you must always remember that people surf the Internet looking for information and solutions to their problems. Your articles must actually provide this information or help them to actually solve their problems. Distribute articles that accomplish this, and you'll develop an endless stream of raving fans, all storming your website for more of YOU
Writing articles is relatively easy. If you don't know how to write articles though, I recommend that you take advantage of the training available at a site called Content Propulsion Lab. Content Propulsion Lab teaches you not only how to use articles to grow your business, but also how to use multi-media content (such as MP3's and online video). You're shown how to deploy multi-media content in a way that causes the search engines to gobble it up.
I mentioned the multi-media content because, while articles work beautifully, website audio and video is growing at an amazing pace. You need to offer your audience information in the formats that they prefer consuming it in. More and more, this format is becoming audio and video. These formats allow your audience to connect with you on a much deeper level since they see or hear a live person. Connecting with your audience on a deeper level means MORE salës. now use Content Propulsion Lab's resources to push my content out to an amazing array of places. I also TEACH others how to do this through tele-classes and webinars featured at Content Propulsion Lab. You can chëck out all of the mind-boggling capabilities Content Propulsion Lab offers at: CashThroughContent.com.
3) Viral tools. A viral tool is merely something that, once set in motion, continues to grow, and spread, and benefit you, without any additional input being required from you.
Two of my favorite viral tools are online discussion forums and blogs. Online discussion forums allow people interested in a given topic to congregate and and discuss that topic. Over time, your discussion forum will develop a core following who will help to spread the word, and help to maintain the community. Seek volunteer moderators to help police the forum and maintain standards. Many people will volunteer for a link back to their site, or just for the exposure.
The number of blogs is growing exponentially. Blogs are proven traffïc magnets. A blog allows you to share information, opinions, etc. with your audience. If your blog engages your audience they will help to spread the word. At the same time, blogs are visited frequently by the search engines. Search engines notice which ones are updated often and become "trained" to spider those blogs often.
Because blogs are spidered so often, it's one of the quickest ways that I know of to get a new site noticed by the search engines. Just post a link to one of your new sites on a blog that's frequently crawled, and the search engine spiders will follow that link and index your new site. This is VERY powerful to be such a simple technique.
Blogging is very simple, but there are lots of tricks and techniques that offer you an amazingly competitive advantage. My favorite blogging platform is WordPress, which I learned all about from my friend Sherman Hu. Sherman has a series of short online videos that explain practically everything you could ever want to know about blogging with WordPress.
You can watch 22 (yes - 22) of Sherman's videos on WordPress blogging absolutely frëe at: ShermanHuOnWordPressBlogging.com.
Other viral tools include ebooks, PDF special reports, MP3 audio files, and Camtasia videos. We can't cover all of these hëre, but any of them could be created, and then offered to the marketplace. If they deliver tremendous value, or even entertainment, they will be passed along. If you create these viral tools properly, they will lead highly qualified traffïc right back to your site.
4) Link Building. People find, and then visit, your sites by following trails. Those trails can be mentions of your url in online or offline media, articles, press releases, and links on other sites pointing to you. The more links you have pointing to you, the greater the chance of someone finding one of those links and visiting your site. So, you should set out on an aggressive effort to build quality links pointing to your site.
Since I value quality links over sheer quantity, I have over the years simply emailed webmasters of sites I wanted to exchange links with suggesting the exchange. Now, I hire others to coordinate link exchanges for me. This is a better use of my resources in the long-run than doing it myself, since there are services that do this fairly inexpensively. To locate one of these services, simply type in an appropriate term at the search engines.
You can also set up an affïliate program as a way to reward others for linking to you. Affïliate program management software, such as the one I use at http://profitautomation.com/ allows you the option of paying people (on a per-click basis) just for sending traffïc to you. I do this on a few sites, but on most sites where I have affïliate programs, I pay on a per sale basis. This still generates a lot of one-way links but only costs you when those links make you salës.
There are many, many more techniques that you can use to build a steadily increasing flood of traffïc to your sites. I use literally Dozens of different methods. If you're looking for an "encyclopedia" of traffïc generation methods, I highly recommend a course by my friend John Reese, called Traffïc Secrets. You'll find John Reese's Traffïc Secrets Course at: TrafficSecretsByJohnReese.com.
The most important part of building your websites' traffïc up to critical mass is just getting started. Pick ONE of the methods outlined above and get started. As you verify that a particular method works great for you, and your marketplace, keep using that one and then add others. If a particular method doesn't produce for you, stop wasting your time with it!
One final thought... even when you build your website traffïc to critical mass, you still should continue to promote.
Yes, you'll continue making salës, but if you completely stop promoting, salës will eventually begin to drop off. Major international corporations such as Coke(tm) have proven this over and over again. That's why you see these major corporations with MAJOR market domination continue to promote their products and services.
Now that you understand the intricacies of generating self-sustaining website traffïc, what are you waitïng for:-)
About The AuthorWillie Crawford has taught PROVEN Internet marketing techniques to thousands of successful Internet entrepreneurs since late-1996. Subscribe to his frëe weekly ezine, which helps you cut through the clutter and time-wasting hype. Subscribe now by visiting: http://williecrawford.com/.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Foil the Keyloggers
How comfortable would you be if you knew that someone out there could read every single word that you typed, up to and including email messages, passwords, and IM conversations? Probably not very, but it can and does happen via a bit of code known as a keylogger. Once these programs are installed on your PC the person who installed it literally has access to every keystroke you type - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
They've been around for a very long time, but keyloggers are only just starting to receive the attention they deserve. This is primarily because many spyware pests include keylogging elements, potentially enabling everything you type to be forwarded to some faceless entity on the Internet. However, keyloggers are sometimes installed quite purposefully and legitimately, with tracking the PC activities of employees and children in mind.
Love the idea or hate it (it really depends on whether you're the logger or the 'loggee'), keyloggers represent a serious threat to your computer's security and personal privacy. This month we explain what keyloggers are all about, and outline ways to keep your computer out of their grips.
What they are Keylogging programs are all about gathering information - specifically, anything you type on your keyboard. While usually packaged as software that silently records every key you depress, hardware versions also exist - typically in the form of a small add-on component that attaches between your keyboard's cord and its port on your PC. Regardless of their form, keyloggers are designed to track what you type on your computer for later viewing by another party.
While often associated with the powers of evil, keyloggers do have legitimate uses. Some organizations install them on computers belonging to employees suspected of theft or other unethical activities. Similarly, many parents use these programs to track their children's online activities with an eye towards ensuring that they're not visiting inappropriate Web sites or engaging in other dangerous dealings. Of course, the ethical line associated with this type of spying is blurry. In some jurisdictions, employers have the absolute right to track an employee's computer usage. The same goes for parents whose intentions may be admirable, like trying to keep their children safe online.
Where do keyloggers come from?
Today, commercial keylogging programs are flogged as tools for spying on others, ensuring one's partner is being faithful, and tracking how others use your PC. Keylogging software vendors taking the high road position their products as legitimate anti-theft and child safety tools. Examples of such programs include Blazing Tools Perfect Keylogger and eBlaster.
Legitimate keyloggers only make up a tiny percentage of the keyloggers floating around on people's computers. Hundreds of different spyware threats include keylogging elements. Designed to steal usernames, passwords, and even your identity, these programs are typically installed without your knowledge, often in conjunction with another legitimate program. Some particularly unscrupulous folks have even taken to packaging keyloggers with anti-spyware programs and then hawking them as spyware-removal solutions. Anything goes on the Internet, and sometimes you end up with more than you might expect from a free program. You should always check the source of programs you install to ensure that you're receiving a legitimate version.
For details on ways to detect keylogging programs and devices, see the step-by-step guide.
Why they're dangerous
Keyloggers are dangerous for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they enable another user to spy on your computer usage, which is highly unethical. Furthermore, outside of privacy issues, malicious keyloggers are almost always directly tied to stealing user account details such as usernames and passwords. With your details in hand, the person logging your keystrokes can potentially access your bank account, use your email, and ultimately steal your identity. If you find a keystroke logger installed on your PC and believe that you might be the victim of identity theft, you should see the Help box below.
While keyloggers certainly relate to only a very small portion of all identity theft crimes in the UK, fraud-related identity theft losses are estimated to be in the vicinity of £1.3 billion per year. One can only hope that the possibility of serious financial repercussions will help to bring the criminal potential of spyware into the consciousness of everyday users. Privacy is a serious issue, and yet thousands of computers continue to be monitored - unknown to users - as you read this.
Find, then destroy them
Finding and removing both commercial and spyware keyloggers is usually not terribly difficult, as most anti-spyware programs are up to the task. However, it's possible that you might discover a keylogger and not be able to remove it as a result of lacking appropriate administrative privileges.
Should this happen, sit down and have a conversation with the person who administers your PC. It's quite possible that the program was installed by spyware, but you may find that there's a genuine reason for its installation. If the keylogger was installed on purpose, ask why it's there. Nobody likes the idea of being spied on and if it's happening to you, it's not unreasonable to ask that the action be stopped.
After the logger
If your computer has been infected by a keylogger, removing it with a program such as Microsoft AntiSpyware is only the first step in the cleanup process. Assuming that it was present on your PC for some time, there's a good chance that one or more people now have access to some of your personal information, including sensitive usernames and passwords.
After removing the keylogger, reboot and then complete another scan to be sure it's gone for good. Once it is, start changing all of your passwords - those associated with email accounts, online banking, instant messaging programs, online auction Web sites, and so on. While the person(s) responsible for installing the keylogger may have only been interested in spying on your computer activities, there's an equal chance that user account details were what they were after. With access to enough information, stealing your identity (not to mention your money) is a relatively simple affair.
Now you should consider how the program made its way on to your system in the first place. Did another user of your PC install it? Was it downloaded from the Internet? Do you have updated firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software protecting your computer at all times? If any good comes from a keylogger, it's the security awareness that it raises. Nobody likes to be spied on, so take the necessary steps to ensure that a keylogger doesn't end up on your system again.
Powered by: PC Format
Friday, December 02, 2005
How to use the Power of the World's Easiest and Most Effective Headline Format to Torbo Charge Your Business
=======================================================
by Yanik Silver
www.InstantSalesLetters.com
=======================================================
Did you notice the title for this article?
Of course, it's a headline. That's right and it uses a
shop-worn classic format which still continues to amaze me
with its power. Just 2 simple words...
"How To..." Stick with me on this, I know it sounds too
easy.
The simple, lowly "How to" headline is still tops in my
book for simplicity and effectiveness. You really cannot go
wrong with it. The 'how to' headline is so versatile. You
can follow it with several benefits, a question, an offer,
almost anything - and it works great!
In fact, using the 'how to' formula is one of the best
places to start when writing headlines because it forces
you to think of what your product/service actually does for
the person.
Here are a couple of winning examples to get your juices
flowing:
How to Collect from Social Security at Any Age
How To Get FIVE Money-Making Web Sites In 29 Minutes Or
Less...Without Spending A Fortune!
How to avoid the biggest mistake you can make in building
or buying a home
How to cruise the world for $19 a day
How to get Enthusiastic Applause - Even a Standing Ovation
- Every Time You Speak (Ted Nicholas)
How To Win Friends And Influence People
How to make your car invisible to radar and laser!
How to make your computer as easy to use as your telephone
How to fix cars
Check out the last winning headline on our list - "how to
fix cars". I mean it really can't get any simpler than
that, but it works...and it works big time!
Now here are a few "How To.." headlines you can plug-in
and use right away when brainstorming:
=============== "How to" Formulas ===============
How to get ____________
How to have __________
How to keep__________
How to start __________
How to begin _________
How to become ___________
How to improve your _________
How to develop _____________
How to get the most out of_____________
How to avoid ________________
How to end________________
How to get rid of _____________
How to conquer _____________
How to enjoy _______________
Even just adding the word "how" in front of a headline
gives it an additional appeal. Compare these 2 examples:
A strange accident saved me from baldness
How a strange accident saved me from baldness
Which one is more compelling? I think you'll agree #2 does
the trick. And that one is a winning headline used over and
over.
Okay, but maybe the tried and true "how to" is too boring
for you. No problem! Spice it up by adding a little
something before the 'how to'
Here's HOW TO...
Discover HOW TO...
If you think a 12% annual return on your money is good,
here's HOW TO set your sights on 100% or more
All new course reveals HOW TO use Pop-Ups to double your
opt-in rate, explode your sales, and squeeze up to 300%
more revenue out of each visitor to your Web site!
(Jonathan Mizel)
I'll show you HOW TO hit golf shots as straight as you can
point, or this video golfing lesson is free...and I'll pay
you $25 for wasting your time! (Jeff Paul)
Ohio man discovers the secret of HOW TO escape the American
Rat Race
Or if you still want to change it up a little - just use
"How you..." or "How I..." like these winning examples:
HOW I earn my living in 4 hours a day
HOW YOU Can Make Well Over $300,000.00 Per Year As A Real
Estate Agent Working Less Than 40 Hours A Week.... Have A
Top Income AND A Life..... And NEVER Have To Make A Call
You Dread Or Waste Your Time With Unrealistic Sellers Or
Insincere Buyers, Ever Again (Craig Proctor)
I think you'll agree for getting the most bang for your
buck - "how to" headlines are the way to go.
==========================================================
Yanik Silver is recognized as the leading expert on
creating automatic, moneymaking websites...and he still
doesn't know how to put up a website.
He is the author, co-author or creator of several best-
selling online marketing books and tools,
http://33days.check-free.info/
==========================================================
by Yanik Silver
www.InstantSalesLetters.com
=======================================================
Did you notice the title for this article?
Of course, it's a headline. That's right and it uses a
shop-worn classic format which still continues to amaze me
with its power. Just 2 simple words...
"How To..." Stick with me on this, I know it sounds too
easy.
The simple, lowly "How to" headline is still tops in my
book for simplicity and effectiveness. You really cannot go
wrong with it. The 'how to' headline is so versatile. You
can follow it with several benefits, a question, an offer,
almost anything - and it works great!
In fact, using the 'how to' formula is one of the best
places to start when writing headlines because it forces
you to think of what your product/service actually does for
the person.
Here are a couple of winning examples to get your juices
flowing:
How to Collect from Social Security at Any Age
How To Get FIVE Money-Making Web Sites In 29 Minutes Or
Less...Without Spending A Fortune!
How to avoid the biggest mistake you can make in building
or buying a home
How to cruise the world for $19 a day
How to get Enthusiastic Applause - Even a Standing Ovation
- Every Time You Speak (Ted Nicholas)
How To Win Friends And Influence People
How to make your car invisible to radar and laser!
How to make your computer as easy to use as your telephone
How to fix cars
Check out the last winning headline on our list - "how to
fix cars". I mean it really can't get any simpler than
that, but it works...and it works big time!
Now here are a few "How To.." headlines you can plug-in
and use right away when brainstorming:
=============== "How to" Formulas ===============
How to get ____________
How to have __________
How to keep__________
How to start __________
How to begin _________
How to become ___________
How to improve your _________
How to develop _____________
How to get the most out of_____________
How to avoid ________________
How to end________________
How to get rid of _____________
How to conquer _____________
How to enjoy _______________
Even just adding the word "how" in front of a headline
gives it an additional appeal. Compare these 2 examples:
A strange accident saved me from baldness
How a strange accident saved me from baldness
Which one is more compelling? I think you'll agree #2 does
the trick. And that one is a winning headline used over and
over.
Okay, but maybe the tried and true "how to" is too boring
for you. No problem! Spice it up by adding a little
something before the 'how to'
Here's HOW TO...
Discover HOW TO...
If you think a 12% annual return on your money is good,
here's HOW TO set your sights on 100% or more
All new course reveals HOW TO use Pop-Ups to double your
opt-in rate, explode your sales, and squeeze up to 300%
more revenue out of each visitor to your Web site!
(Jonathan Mizel)
I'll show you HOW TO hit golf shots as straight as you can
point, or this video golfing lesson is free...and I'll pay
you $25 for wasting your time! (Jeff Paul)
Ohio man discovers the secret of HOW TO escape the American
Rat Race
Or if you still want to change it up a little - just use
"How you..." or "How I..." like these winning examples:
HOW I earn my living in 4 hours a day
HOW YOU Can Make Well Over $300,000.00 Per Year As A Real
Estate Agent Working Less Than 40 Hours A Week.... Have A
Top Income AND A Life..... And NEVER Have To Make A Call
You Dread Or Waste Your Time With Unrealistic Sellers Or
Insincere Buyers, Ever Again (Craig Proctor)
I think you'll agree for getting the most bang for your
buck - "how to" headlines are the way to go.
==========================================================
Yanik Silver is recognized as the leading expert on
creating automatic, moneymaking websites...and he still
doesn't know how to put up a website.
He is the author, co-author or creator of several best-
selling online marketing books and tools,
http://33days.check-free.info/
==========================================================
Navigational Options for Your Website : Choose Wisely
By Merle MCPromotionsPress.com
So you've decided to it's time to revamp your website's navigation, or maybe you're putting together a new site and are trying to decide the best navigational menu to use. Before you choose one type over the other, you'll want to consider the size of your site and your anticipated growth, as the menu structure you select may have to expand.
There are many types of navigation methods to choose from. You must carefully consider the layout of your site so you can choose the system that will work best. You want to make it easy for your visitors to find their way around and not frustrate them in the process. You need to keep it consistent across all pages of your site, with some standards like the placement of your logo (which is generally in the upper left hand corner of your website) linking back to your home page.
1) Left Side Menu: Probably the most common menus you'll find, with text or button links running vertically down the left hand side of the page. This generally works best for small websites with a limited number of pages.
2) Text Links at Bottom of Pages: Not a complete navigation system on its own, but always a good idea to complement your main navigation. If you use Flash, it's always a good idea to give the search engines an easy way to spider your site -- and text menus do just that. Your visitors will also appreciate not having to scroll back up to the top of the pages to make another selection. Keep it small.
3) DHTML or Java-Script Menu: My favorite and the most expandable of menu types. Generally you'll have your main page topics running horizontally across the top of the page. When a user hovers over one of the main topics a drop down will appear with more menu options. The advantage to this type of menu is that it's easy to add new pages. You'll only need to create the page then add the text links to the scrïpt.
Here are some software solutions:
DHTML Menu
Deluxe Menu
Java DropDown Menu
4) Java-Script Pull Down Menu: If you're cramped for space, then drop down menus are sweet as they are so compact and hardly take up any room. You can display a lot of links in a small area. They look like small förm boxes that display a main option, but when you clïck on them a drop down menu appears with all of the various pages of your website.
Create your own, then copy and paste the code:
Pull Down Menu
Drop Down Generator
Javascrïpt Menu Master
5) Tabs Menu: Looks like file folder tabs running across the top of your pages horizontally. A good example of this is at Amazon.com. You'll find an easy way to create them at:
Dynamic Drive
The look of tabs can also be done using Cascading Style Sheets. Chëck out:
WebCredible
GRSites Menu Maker
Apycom Software
6) Search Function: Many people overlook the advantages of adding a simple search box to their sites. Hurried visitors can simply type in what they're looking for and find it quickly without frustration. If your website is rather large you might want to consider adding this option, even if you have a great navigation system.
You can download scripts and install them on your server or use a third party service.
Google Search
FreeFind
PicoSearch
Site Search
Matt's Scrïpt Archive
7) Site Map: If your site is rather large you also may want to include a "site map." Basically, it's a page on your website that lists all of the pages on your site, complete with text links. It gives users an overview of your website's contents.
Make sure you include a link to your site map from your main navigation. Search engines love site maps as they make for excellent "spider food" helping your site to be indexed.
Site Map Creator Service
Likno
SiteMap Pro
eXact Mapper Lite
8) CSS Menus: Cascading Style Sheets have made it possible to add an endless array of navigational options to your website. There's no bloat or lag in downtime, either. They allow you to control the appearance and format of your website separately from the webpage coding itself, which makes them easy to update and alter the look of your site whenever you like.
Vertical Navigation
Cool Rollover Menu
Stylish Menus
CSS Vault
Do yourself a favor and take a long hard look at your website's navigation. Does it need an update? Now that you know all of your options there's no reason you can't create an exciting navigational system that users will just love. Don't underestimate the power of good navigation; if not done correctly visitors will be reaching for the exit button sooner than you think.
About The Author"Must Have Marketing Resources" by Merle is loaded with Valuable online resources you need to know about, when it comes to running your web business. Get your copy now at ... http://mcebook.mcpromotions.com/.
So you've decided to it's time to revamp your website's navigation, or maybe you're putting together a new site and are trying to decide the best navigational menu to use. Before you choose one type over the other, you'll want to consider the size of your site and your anticipated growth, as the menu structure you select may have to expand.
There are many types of navigation methods to choose from. You must carefully consider the layout of your site so you can choose the system that will work best. You want to make it easy for your visitors to find their way around and not frustrate them in the process. You need to keep it consistent across all pages of your site, with some standards like the placement of your logo (which is generally in the upper left hand corner of your website) linking back to your home page.
1) Left Side Menu: Probably the most common menus you'll find, with text or button links running vertically down the left hand side of the page. This generally works best for small websites with a limited number of pages.
2) Text Links at Bottom of Pages: Not a complete navigation system on its own, but always a good idea to complement your main navigation. If you use Flash, it's always a good idea to give the search engines an easy way to spider your site -- and text menus do just that. Your visitors will also appreciate not having to scroll back up to the top of the pages to make another selection. Keep it small.
3) DHTML or Java-Script Menu: My favorite and the most expandable of menu types. Generally you'll have your main page topics running horizontally across the top of the page. When a user hovers over one of the main topics a drop down will appear with more menu options. The advantage to this type of menu is that it's easy to add new pages. You'll only need to create the page then add the text links to the scrïpt.
Here are some software solutions:
DHTML Menu
Deluxe Menu
Java DropDown Menu
4) Java-Script Pull Down Menu: If you're cramped for space, then drop down menus are sweet as they are so compact and hardly take up any room. You can display a lot of links in a small area. They look like small förm boxes that display a main option, but when you clïck on them a drop down menu appears with all of the various pages of your website.
Create your own, then copy and paste the code:
Pull Down Menu
Drop Down Generator
Javascrïpt Menu Master
5) Tabs Menu: Looks like file folder tabs running across the top of your pages horizontally. A good example of this is at Amazon.com. You'll find an easy way to create them at:
Dynamic Drive
The look of tabs can also be done using Cascading Style Sheets. Chëck out:
WebCredible
GRSites Menu Maker
Apycom Software
6) Search Function: Many people overlook the advantages of adding a simple search box to their sites. Hurried visitors can simply type in what they're looking for and find it quickly without frustration. If your website is rather large you might want to consider adding this option, even if you have a great navigation system.
You can download scripts and install them on your server or use a third party service.
Google Search
FreeFind
PicoSearch
Site Search
Matt's Scrïpt Archive
7) Site Map: If your site is rather large you also may want to include a "site map." Basically, it's a page on your website that lists all of the pages on your site, complete with text links. It gives users an overview of your website's contents.
Make sure you include a link to your site map from your main navigation. Search engines love site maps as they make for excellent "spider food" helping your site to be indexed.
Site Map Creator Service
Likno
SiteMap Pro
eXact Mapper Lite
8) CSS Menus: Cascading Style Sheets have made it possible to add an endless array of navigational options to your website. There's no bloat or lag in downtime, either. They allow you to control the appearance and format of your website separately from the webpage coding itself, which makes them easy to update and alter the look of your site whenever you like.
Vertical Navigation
Cool Rollover Menu
Stylish Menus
CSS Vault
Do yourself a favor and take a long hard look at your website's navigation. Does it need an update? Now that you know all of your options there's no reason you can't create an exciting navigational system that users will just love. Don't underestimate the power of good navigation; if not done correctly visitors will be reaching for the exit button sooner than you think.
About The Author"Must Have Marketing Resources" by Merle is loaded with Valuable online resources you need to know about, when it comes to running your web business. Get your copy now at ... http://mcebook.mcpromotions.com/.
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