May 18, 2012
Marketing Matters
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by Joan Mullally and Evelyn Trimborn
If you are eager to get a continuous flood of traffic to your website every day without having to spend a lot of time, effort and money on advertising, social media, marketing and promotion, then the success secret you are looking for is SEO. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques are an invaluable toolkit of tried-and-tested methods you can learn to get search engines such as Google™ to drive visitors to your website every day for FREE while you work on other key aspects of your business.
If people can’t find your website on the search engine results pages, they will NEVER be able to see all of the fantastic products and services you have to offer. If you want continuous streams of automatic income, an Internet-based business can deliver this for you if you set up your website correctly using SEO to lure visitors to your site.
Most businesses have heard of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, but as the name suggests, you need to PAY for traffic. Here is a little-known secret about SEO: Any natural, organic link on the search engine results page will get 300 percent MORE traffic than even the top PPC ads!
So how you get one of the top natural, organic links to your website? The secret is SEO. If you already have a website, applying the SEO techniques in this guide could be the difference between a trickle and a flood of visitors all eagerly looking for what you have to offer. Top marketers and SEO experts Joan Mullally and Evelyn Trimborn gives you the latest information on the most important SEO techniques for 2011-2012, taking into account all of the latest important changes at Google™, and what they could mean for your business.
Even if you think you know a lot about SEO, this guide is packed full of hands-on success secrets on how to work WITH the search engines, not against them. You will also get an insider view on why traffic is only HALF the story when it comes to a successful website, and how to create highly-converting landing pages for all the products and services you are selling.
Even if you are a total beginner and have never launched a website before, the information in this guide will help your new site rank highly on the search engines much more quickly than just leaving things to chance. Simply put, high page rank means traffic, and lots of it. Traffic means paying customers, and growing your business.
In this guide, you will learn:
+ How to set up your pages correctly to drive targeted traffic from the search engines
+ How to structure your website to make it easy for the search engines to index you
+ The on-page, off-page, and hidden elements that all contribute to your Google page rank and listings
+ How Google algorithms have changed in recent months and where we think it is going in the future.
Discover how to:
+ Structure your promotions to get traffic to land straight on the pages on which you want them to land
+ Create powerful calls to action to get visitors to do what you want once they get there
+ Turn your entire website into a magnet for search engine traffic
+ Boost your page rank with Google through the power of SEO
+ What the other top search engines are looking for at your website.
SEO is one of the most powerful tools you can use to drive traffic in order to grow a real online business that can sustain itself with a steady stream of automatic income day and night as long as you have highly converting landing pages.
If you want to get started driving your website to the top of the search engine results pages, then these SEO Success Secrets can help. Take action today and apply what you learn to all aspects of your online marketing.
Word Count=24,500
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: WHAT SEO IS AND IS NOT
CHAPTER 2: WHY GOOGLE IS THE TOP SEARCH ENGINE TO AIM FOR
CHAPTER 3: THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A HIGH-RANKING OPTIMIZED PAGE
CHAPTER 4: THE BEST BACKLINKING STRATEGIES
CHAPTER 5: PAGE CONVERSION SUCCESS SECRETS
CONCLUSION
2 APPENDICES
ACTION STEPS
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Joan Mullally and Evelyn Trimborn are the co-founders of Accent Marketing Group, Inc. and the authors of over three dozen guides on marketing, finance, business and self-help.
Buy Now: SEO Success Secrets: How to Master Search Engine Optimization Techniques for Continuous Free Traffic to Your Website (Marketing Matters)
May 17, 2012
Non-Fiction
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Every year parents spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on toys and activities for their kids. While many of things are great for keeping young minds and bodies active, many of them are unnecessary. Sure kids need structured play, but they also need “free” plan and this is easy to do when the world’s largest playground is right outside your back door. Why not let them play outside?
Every toy, book, and TV show that comes out has been designed and redesigned several times in order to make it educational and entertaining for children. The great thing about nature is that, while being entertaining and stimulating to the imagination, it’s also educational. Nature can teach children the basics of science, economics, and creativity.
It’s cheap. Depending on where you live, exploring nature is usually pretty inexpensive, if not free. It may mean going out in your backyard, local park, or perhaps going to the local nature center or state park (which usually have low cost fees or memberships). This way, you don’t have to pay for expensive toys, jungle gyms, or memberships to expensive entertainment centers, but you still get the benefit of stimulating and educational play.
It makes them think. Lately there’s been a trend in education towards inquiry based learning. Researchers have found that if students explore and experiment to figure out answers on their own, they’re going to learn better, and retain more information. It also helps them develop skills to be able to learn things on their own later. What better environment to learn things than out in nature. There are lessons for kids of all ages to discover about the world around them.
It may help the world. Everyone these days is trying to be more green and more environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to get your children interested in their own planet than right now when they’re young and impressionable? What might be a fun time for them now, might be a future hobby, career, or world saving invention.
It’s fun. While it’s easy to forget, childhood isn’t just for learning about how to be an adult, it’s also about having fun. Nature gives kids a chance to use their imagination and be free to just be kids.
While unstructured play outside is great for kids, you can also find a lot of places offering structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, or museum. There’s a good chance they have classes you can sign up for, and since many of these places are not for profit, they’re usually affordable as well as informative.
Across the world, there are millions of dollars being spent to help promote sending your kids outside to learn from nature. That’s because spending time in the outside world is so important for developing minds. It can also be a great escape for you as well.
Further Reading:
FURTHER READING
Frugal Family Activities
Outdoor Fitness Fun for the Whole Family
May 16, 2012
Non-Fiction
No Comments
Warren Buffett is perpetually one of the richest people in the world and almost universally considered to be the greatest stock picker the world has ever known.
While you might not ever be worth $50 billion, you can certainly learn a thing or two from “The Oracle” and greatly increase your wealth over the long-term.
Though Mr. Buffet has never officially written down his process for evaluating and choosing stocks, there is a lot that can be learned from his letters to his shareholders.
These rules are in line with those shareholder letters:
1. Rule #1: Don’t lose money. Warren’s basic philosophy is to purchase a stock for less than it’s worth and then let the rest of the world finally figure it out, too. This is commonly referred to as value investing and has been the corner stone of his philosophy from the very beginning.
* In fact, the rest of the rules are really rules to find these companies.
2. The company must have strong profitability. Buffet prefers companies that are already profitable as opposed to companies that are likely to someday become profitable. There are several measures he utilizes to determine this. Some of these include Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), and the profit margins.
* ROE – While no one knows for sure, the general consensus is that he wants to see an ROE of 15% or more.
* Profit Margins – In this case, we’re talking about dividing net income by net sales. Obviously, the higher the better.
3. The company must have low debt. Too much debt is bad for everyone, including companies. In case you thought we skipped ROIC above, we’re getting back to it now. Sometimes a company will appear to have a high ROE, but the number is actually artificially inflated. This can happen when the company is using debt to pay its bills. This is where ROIC comes into play.
* ROIC removes debt from the calculation by adding it back to the shareholder equity prior to completing the ROE calculation. You can simply divide the company’s total liabilities by the shareholder equity. The higher the ratio is, the more a company is using debt to grow the company. Be careful.
* Companies with a lot of debt can be harmed when either interest rates rise or credit becomes harder to acquire.
4. The company must have competent management. Buffett has always placed a lot of emphasis on a company’s management team. He favors intelligent, humble management that doesn’t simply follow the crowd. He has stated that his company simply allocates capital; it does not provide management.
* He has traditionally stayed out of influencing a company’s management, but he insists that good management be present. Ensure the companies you invest in are being run by a competent management team.
5. Comprehension. Buffet refuses to invest in a business that he doesn’t understand. You will find that the businesses in which he invests are relatively simple. He largely avoids the technology companies, because as he has stated, he doesn’t really understand that type of business. Only invest in what you are capable of understanding.
6. Be patient. It seems like Buffett has held some stocks since before the dawn of time. He has held many stocks for 5 years or more before the stock ever rose even 1%. Value investing takes time; you’re going to have to be patient to see the returns. Don’t be in a rush.
While we can’t all be Warren Buffett, we can certainly follow his basic principles and improve our own investing results. Focus on under priced companies with a history of profitability, little debt, and a competent management team. And remember to be patient!
If you can do these things consistently, you’ll be surprised at the amount of wealth you can gain!
More Reading:
Investment and Financing Strategies: Angel Investors (Money Matters)
Is Now the Right Time to Get Back Into the Property Market? (Business Basics)
May 15, 2012
Marketing Matters, Non-Fiction
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May 15, 2012
Non-Fiction
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We tend to make excuses to avoid our workouts at the best of times, but the summer can be a killer, literally, if we don’t watch our workouts in the warm weather.
There are a number of ways to work out safely even during the dog days of summer, if you plan ahead. Here are a few pointers:
1-Exercise during the coolest parts of the day. Try to get up before the sun is up, or work out when it has gone down.
2-Work out inside, with the a/c and a direct fan on.
3-Slather on the sunscreen. Apply at least 30 minutes before and every 30 minutes that you are outside sweating.
4-Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day-you can still get sunburn and heat stroke.
5-Watch it by the water. Sunlight reflecting off the water can double the intensity of its rays.
6-Drink plenty of fluids.
7-Wear sports gear in performance fabrics. They will wick away moisture and prevent chafing. Some of them will also repel the rays of the sun. They are ideal for anyone worried about skin cancer.
8-If you feel dizzy or strange when working out, get into a shady spot and drink water. Watch for any signs of heat stroke.
Exercise should be fun and keep you healthy all year around, even in summer. Hopefully these few tips can help you stay safe.
FURTHER READING
Safety in the Sun for the Whole Family
Outdoor Fitness Fun for the Whole Family
May 14, 2012
Money Matters, Non-Fiction
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Living hand-to-mouth is never enjoyable. But when the economy is struggling, changing jobs isn’t easy, and layoffs seem all too possible. Therefore, living paycheck to paycheck can feel even more frightening. What would happen to you and your family if your next paycheck didn’t come? How long could you manage without it?
If the answer is not long, it is time to take stock of your finances. The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to better your situation and reduce your financial risk so that a missed paycheck does not turn into a financial nightmare. Consider implementing one or more of these strategies in order to make your financial situation more secure:
1. Reduce your expenses.
No one likes to cut back, but reducing your expenses is a really fast way to have more money left over at the end of every month. Once you have leftover cash, you can start putting it away for an emergency fund.
Look at all the things you’re spending money on that you don’t really need. Do you eat out frequently? Do you have cable television? How many cars do you own?
Take some time to think about what cuts you and your family can make today, for a more secure tomorrow. Remember, that Wii, or HBO movie will not help bail you out if your paycheck doesn’t arrive.
Are you renting more home than you need? If your lease is coming to an end soon, consider moving to a smaller house or apartment. Or, think about getting a room mate. Once you have some emergency money set aside to pay down debt and plump up your emergency fund, you might want to move back to a bigger place, especially if you are thinking of starting your own business (see below).
2. Increase your income.
You could do lots of things to earn extra money in order to start bringing more home each month to put into your emergency fund.
Consider asking for a raise. It might seem like a bad time to ask your boss for more money, but good employees are always critical to a company’s success. Don’t underestimate your value. Be specific about what ways you have saved or earned money for the company, rather than make any emotional arguments, and you might get the raise you had hoped for.
* A part-time job is another option and, in some situations, this can be a good plan for saving up for something you want or just building up an emergency fund that you will then be able to fall back on some time in the future. Maybe you can find some work to do at home in the evenings, such as starting your own business.
* Even walking the neighbor’s dogs, babysitting, mowing lawns or shovelling snow for your elderly neighbors could bring in some extra income on a regular basis.
3. Take responsibility.
Although your current situation may very well be someone else’s fault, blaming others isn’t helpful. Even if your predicament isn’t your fault, solving your financial challenges is still your responsibility. After all, who else is going to fix the situation for you? Only you can take action to get yourself out of the current financial situation you are in.
Responsibility isn’t about fixating on the past or blaming yourself. Instead, it means taking back control of yourself and your situation. And while you can’t have power over every little circumstance that pops up, you can always choose to respond effectively with a sensible course of action that will put money in the emergency fund in your bank.
4. Decide that you and your family deserve better.
Circumstances rarely change without a decision being made first. Commit to having to a better financial life, whatever it takes.
Studies show that most people earn what they believe they deserve to earn. Almost undoubtedly, there are many people out there with less intelligence and fewer skills than you who are earning more money than you are. Why is this? Primarily because they believe they deserve to earn more.
You wouldn’t take a job that paid half as much as you’re making now, because you believe you deserve to earn more. What if you thought in your heart that you deserved to earn another $25,000 a year? You can be pretty sure that you’d be out there finding a way to get it and you wouldn’t stop until you did.
Starting your own business is one of the best ways to boost your income. Thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier. For more information on how to set up and run a successful business online, see any of the handy guides by Joan Mullally or Evelyn Trimborn, designed to help ordinary people with no previous experience or high-tech computer skills to be a success at the business and marketing tasks they wish to tackle.
It can be a challenge to stop living paycheck to paycheck, but the solutions are relatively simple. Try implementing the practical tips above to enjoy greater financial security and experience a less stressful, more fulfilling life.
Further Reading
For more great ideas on how to survive and even thrive in this recession, see: Your Recession Survival Guide
For more information on creating wealth to start your own business, see How to Start a Successful Small Business Even If You Don’t Have Much Cash
For more information on how to start an emergency fund, see Emergency Fund 101: How to Save Money for Unexpected Expenses
May 13, 2012
Cooking
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by Mara Michaels and Carolyn Stone
All of us know that vegetables are good for us, but with our busy schedules, who has time to eat properly? We are supposed to eat a rainbow of vegetables on our Food Plate every day, but how is it possible to get all of the servings that the USDA recommends?
We want our children to have the best nutrition, but how can we ever get them to eat their vegetables when fast food is all around them and they go for looks and sweetness rather than what is really healthy for them?
In this guide to healthy vegetable shakes, smoothies and snacks, you can solve all these problems and more with great tasting vegetable-based drinks and meals that are quick and easy to prepare, with something to suit every taste.
Children will love the Squash and Spice Shake, Carrot Custard Casserole, and Vegetable Raisin Dip. For great nutrition on the go, try the Gazpacho Cooler or Summer Garden Salad Smoothie. Just blend, pour into a travel mug, and head out for your busy day with a great shake packed full of vegetable goodness.
From stir-fry to fondue, frittatas to salads and homemade ‘fries’, you will find a range of fast and easy meals that can be made in minutes to fill even the fussiest eater with delicious homemade vegetable goodness.
If you struggle every meal time to try to get your children to eat their vegetables, these 35 recipes for vegetable-based drinks, snacks, and dinners will help end this battle once and for all and have everyone in the family eagerly asking for more.
Word count = 8,600
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SYNOPSIS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: VEGETABLE-BASED DRINKS
CHAPTER 2: VEGETABLE SNACKS
CHAPTER 3: VEGETABLE-BASED DINNERS
CHAPTER 4: ALLIUM VEGETABLE DISHES
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX: CURES FROM THE KITCHEN
CONCLUSION
FURTHER READING
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Carolyn Stone is one of the main editors and contributors for the Healthful-Goddess and Guru-Goddess.com sites, and the author of over four dozen health and self-help titles.
Mara Michaels is a frequent contributor to the Healthful-Goddess and Nutrition-Goddess.com sites and the author of over a dozen cooking and holiday-themed guides.
Buy Now: Healthy Vegetable Shakes, Smoothies and Snacks (Food Matters)
May 12, 2012
Beauty, Health Matters, Non-Fiction
No Comments
The skin is the largest organ in our body, and acts as a barrier to keep healthy things in, and harmful substances out. However, if we do not take care of our skin and overall health, it can’t do as good a job of protecting us from harm. If we live an unhealthy lifestyle, such as drinking too much alcohol and smoking, our skin will soon start to show the signs of premature aging.
Fortunately, it does not need to cost a lot to take care of your skin, if you are willing to take the natural approach to skin care, inside and out.
The first thing to consider is your diet. Drink lots of fresh water to flush out impurities, and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for key nutrients, fiber and moisture.
Be sure to use a good sunscreen every day, such as in your moisturizer or make up. Aim for an SPF of at least 30, more if you are very fair-skinned and/or live in a climate with a lot of sunshine.
Also remember to wear hats, sunglasses, light clothing that covers the arms and legs, and perhaps even reflective clothing if you have a history of skin cancer in the family, or have had it yourself already.
Always use a good moisturizer to ensure that you keep your skin moist at all times.
Even working in air conditioned offices can dry out your skin. Travel can be even worse for your skin due to the artificial air in the cabin.
Not smoking can help your skin from becoming yellow, and wrinkled around the eye and mouth area. It will also improve your breath and the appearance of your teeth.
Sleep and exercise are essential for good health overall, and are also an essential part of maintaining healthy skin as well. If you do not get enough sleep, you will see dark circles under your eyes, and perhaps even bags and wrinkles.
Exercise helps keep your circulation moving and gives you a healthy glow. It can help you stay fit and trim and get rid of excess fat and impurities in your body. If you have any cellulite, you will want to focus on exercise for the thighs, buttocks, abs and chest area, in order to firm the muscle and collagen in that area and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Even thin women can get cellulite if they eat poorly and do not exercise.
In addition to sun protection, diet, exercise and sleep, you will also want to establish a good skin care routine. It does not have to be expensive, but it does need to be consistent.
Cleanse your skin on a regular basis (once or twice a day) to ensure that any dead skin cells are removed from the surface of the skin and the pores don’t become blocked. Washing in the morning will help you wash away oil that has accumulated from the night before.
Washing before you go to sleep at night will help your skin get rid of all the impurities it has been exposed to throughout the day. Start with a pure soap like Castile soap and some warm water. Massage in circles, rinse well, and pat dry.
Then use a natural astringent like witch hazel to help wipe away anything the washing might have missed. Next will be your moisturizer and sunscreen for day time wear, or an enriching night cream if you are heading to bed.
At night, don’t forget to use astringent and cream on your neck, and a nourishing cream for your eyelids and under your eyes.
If you have problem skin, such as dry or oily skin, use natural products to help keep it in balance. With acne in particular, do not squeeze or pick your pimples. Also be sure to keep your hair clean and out of your face and wash your hands often to avoid the spread of oils and germs if you happen to touch your face. Avoid touching it if at all possible, and avoid any really oily foods in your diet, and see if this helps the acne settle down.
A good skin care routine will also include exfoliating once a week. You can use finely ground oatmeal with water for a scrub and face mask. Leave it on for 1 to 5 minutes depending on how dry or oily your skin is, to help purify and tone the skin.
You do not need to spend a fortune on expensive skin care products to have great-looking skin. Your skin is a barometer of your health, so a healthy lifestyle will give you a glowing appearance that everyone will envy, helping you maintain your young appearance for years.
FURTHER READING
How to Care for Your Skin and Reduce the Signs of Aging
The Importance of Sleep for Your Health and Weight
Safety in the Sun for the Whole Family
How to Treat Insomnia Naturally
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by Joan Mullally and Evelyn Trimborn
