Archive for May, 2008
We’ve all had it happen to us at one point or another. For me, it’s an everyday thing- although it is not that bad. I’m talking about spam. I’ve been making a somewhat weak attempt NOT to check my email as much over the weekend as part of this great plan to try to keep work separate from my personal life. However, I can be sure that by the time Monday rolls around, I will have at least 20 messages in my inbox, 80% of which will be spam.
Now, I realize that I don’t have it nearly as bad as some other people; but nonetheless, spam is a real concern for a lot of people. It certainly matters in Canada. A recent article published in thestar.com talks about how spam has become such a problem in Canada that the Canadian government has tried, unsuccessfully, to address the issue by passing an anti-spam bill through legislation. There is no doubt that a great majority of email that is transmitted is spam. This can lead to all sorts of problems including but not limited to things such as bandwidth overloads, slower servers, hacking, viruses and identity theft.
What to Do
Some suggestions for dealing with spam include:
- Create a separate “spam” folder in your email account.
- Switch to a more secure email account.
- Keep your email address private.
- Filter your email by using the spam features to identify spam.
- Do not click on an email if you aren’t sure who sent it.
For more information on Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 30 2008 | Internet Marketing and Internet Related | No Comments »
With the growing popularity of social media and web 2.0, if you’re thinking of creating a web site and want to know what kind of audience to target, you should start thinking about women. When it comes to conducting business online and using the Internet, many people naturally assume that it’s a man’s world due to the whole “technology” thing. However, this is not always the case. A recent study conducted by Rapleaf showed that men tend to be more transactional and less relationship building when it comes to their friends on social networks. On average, women tend to have more friends than men and do a better job at keeping relationships going. Now, who would’ve thought that would happen?
The Study
The study looked at over 30 million people by examining social networking information that had been put on a graph for some of the following social networking sites: Bebo, Facebook, Friendster, Hi5, LiveJournal, Myspace, Flickr and more. Of the 30 million people sampled, the only qualifier was that they have at least one friend. Based on this, Rapleaf found that of the people who had at least one friend, 53.57% were female while 46.43% were male.
The study concluded that women spend more time on social networks and are more likely to be social networkers and connectors versus men, who are more likely than women to be super connectors and uber connectors. For the full results of the study, click here. So, what do you think? In your opinion, do women use social networking more than men?
For more information about Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 28 2008 | Internet Marketing and Social Media | No Comments »
A study conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and put together by John B. Horrigan, looked at whether or not the Internet had any influence on how and what people buy. The Pew Internet & American Life Project based their findings on telephone interviews that were conducted between August and September of 2007 among a sample of 2,400 adults who were at least 18 years of age or older.
What They Found
The study looked at the purchasing decisions made by consumers with regards to three separate categories: music, cell phones and real estate. Here’s a brief breakdown of what they found for each category:
Music:
- 56% used the Internet to research the product.
- 7% claimed that online information had a major impact on their decision.
- 22% made their purchase online.
- 5% posted a rating or comments online after their purchase.
- 83% found out about music from the radio, TV, or in a movie.
- 64% found out about music from family, friends or co-workers.
With regards to purchasing music online, online resources are valuable in the fact that they provide valuable research information for the consumer. However, it does not influence them with regards to purchasing music online.
Cell Phones:
- 39% used the Internet to research the product.
- 10% claimed that online information had a major impact on their decision.
- 12% purchased their cell phone online.
- 3% posted a rating or comments online after their purchase.
- 59% asked an expert or salesperson for advice.
- 46% go to one or more cell phone stores.
With regards to cell phones, online information is extremely helpful in helping the consumers to compare prices. However, the vast majority of people still prefer to go into an actual store and purchase their cell phones by speaking to a representative about their options.
Real Estate:
- 49% used the Internet to research houses.
- 11% claimed that online information had a major impact on their decision.
- 4% posted a rating or comments online after their purchase.
- 49% look at ads in the newspaper.
- 47% ask a real estate agent for advice.
With regards to looking for a new house, the Internet provides a cheap and easy way to look up houses- especially if the consumer is looking to move to another area. However, the Internet is still not a substitute for hiring a real estate agent.
Overall
Horrigan cited the Internet as being a valuable research tool for online shoppers and at times provides information that is critically important in purchase decisions. However, this is not indicative as to whether or not a consumer will end up using the Internet to purchase items.
For more information on Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 26 2008 | Marketing | No Comments »
If you work in an environment where you spend a great deal of time on the computer where you’re typing incessantly or staring at a computer screen or both, you could be causing damage to your muscles. Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are not uncommon to find among those who work in this type of environment. RSIs occur due to repeated physical movements (i.e. typing at a computer) which causes damage to tendons, nerves, muscles and other tissues. People who typically suffer from RSI are those in the computer/Internet industry, meatpackers and musicians.
A Rising Epidemic
Just the other day, I was finishing up something for work. I had been typing for the better part of four hours straight. Later on, when I went to make myself something to eat for dinner, I realized that my hands were actually tired (if you can believe it). Not only were they tired, but when I went to check my email (as I often do several times a day), I found that it caused me a great deal of pain to even type. Now, who would’ve thought that I would be experiencing this sort of problem. Immediately, I thought of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). With the type of career that I’m in, being diagnosed with CTS would be devastating for me. My solution to the problem? I took a break for about two days from typing all together, and by the time Monday rolled around, I was good as new.
However, other people aren’t so fortunate. A lot of people conduct business online and still, even more people use the computer as their main source of business and/or work. Not to scare you, but CTS is pretty small on the scale of other problems that you can develop by doing repetitive movements such as typing. Some of the other injuries associated with RSIs include:
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Trigger Finger/Thumb
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
Prevention is Better Than Cure
If you can learn to recognize some of the preemptive symptoms associated with RSIs, then you can save yourself the trouble of doctor’s visits, time lost at work and overall misery. Some of the symptoms include:
- tightness, stiffness, soreness or burning in your hands, wrists, fingers, forearms or elbows
- tingling, coldness or numbness in your hands
- loss of hand coordination
- back, shoulder or neck pain
So, knowing these things, how do you prevent it? One of the key things to always be conscious of while you type is your posture. Additionally, you want to make sure that your computer, keyboard and other equipment such as the desk and chair are all set up in a way that is conducive to preventing any sort of strain. For example:
- While you are typing, your wrists should not be resting on anything.
- When you take a break from typing, rest your hands anywhere else except the keyboard.
- Increase the font size on the screen while you are typing to prevent eye strain.
- Type lightly; do not strike the keys hard.
- Take frequent breaks to stretch and relax.
- Keep your hands and arms warm because colder muscles are at greater risk for injury. This is especially important, seeing as how most office environments use way too much air conditioning.
- Do not talk on the phone while you type unless you put the person on speaker or are using a hands-free headset.
For more information about Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 23 2008 | Marketing | 3 Comments »
Despite what you may have heard about the recent economic crisis facing the United States, there are still jobs to be had. So, what’s the best way to go about looking for a new career? The Internet, duh! According to an article published in Fortune, there are at least 30 sites on the Internet alone where anxious job hunters can go exploring for opportunities.
It’s a Popularity Contest
If you’ve been on the hunt before, then it shouldn’t come as a surprise that among the most popular web sites to look for and apply for jobs include at least one of the following:
However, there are also jobs that can be categorized according other, more specific categories. For example, if you’re looking for a career in the blogging world, you might find it helpful to check out some of the following sites:
You shouldn’t limit yourself when it comes to searching for a job. Keep in mind that the “cool” economy is only affecting certain kinds of job areas. If you are in the Internet marketing business, for example- there is no better market to get into and find jobs. It seems that people are falling all over themselves with things such as advertising, social media, linking and, of course, blogging. It is a great chance to showcase your creativity and get noticed by the millions of other people who surf, click and browse through the Internet all day. There are so many tools for searching that it’s mind boggling and a bit overwhelming at times. So, get out there and start cracking with your job search!
If you have a story about how you got the job you’re currently working at, we’d love to hear it. Do you have any useful advice or tips that you might be able to pass on to others who are struggling in their job search? Tell us about it!
For more information about Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 21 2008 | Internet Marketing | 1 Comment »
In the off chance that you’ve sat down to watch television (seeing as we are so incredibly busy these days with the Internet), have you ever noticed how some television advertisements are all of a sudden significantly louder than the original program you were watching? I know I’ve had it happen to me. You don’t even realize half the time that there is a difference in the volume until you find yourself suddenly searching for the remote control to turn the volume down. Well, according to an article published in the BBC News, you aren’t just imagining things.
Attention Grabbing
Perhaps as a last ditch effort, some people behind commercial advertisements thought it would be a great idea to somehow increase the volume during their commercials so that they could grab the attention of more people. Oh, they’ve grabbed our attention- but not in a good way. People are annoyed at the hike in volume, especially where it concerns other people who may live in the same house, apartment or if there are kids sleeping in the next room. After receiving hundreds of complaints from annoyed viewers, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) published a new rule on sound levels, stating:
Advertisements must not be excessively noisy or strident. The maximum subjective loudness of advertisements must be consistent and in line with the maximum loudness of programmes and junction material.
In other words: turn it down! And as for those who choose not to comply? According to the Advertising Standards Authority, which will be responsible for administering the new rules to take effect July 7, 2008, claims that any broadcaster caught breaking the rules will first get a warning. If they continue to break the rules, the case will be passed on to Ofcom, which has the power to levy fines or even revoke licenses.
Ouch. And I’m not just talking about my hearing!
For more information about search engine optimization or Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 19 2008 | Marketing | No Comments »
According to a recent articlemebeli, if you want to persuade a woman of something, you’re better off doing it to her face versus a man. Apparently men can be persuaded just as easily via email. The article is based on a study that was conducted by American psychologists who suggested that the traditional idea of women as more relationship-focused and men as more task-focused is more than just a stereotype.
According to the article, which was published in Telegraph.co.uk:
Rosanna Guadagno and Robert Cialdini, who are both social psychologists, asked single-sex pairs of students to discuss the merits of introducing a new exams system both in an online chatroom and face to face. Unknown to the other test subjects, one member of each couple was instructed to talk up the proposals.hotel furnishing in Bulgaria
The results of the study showed that females were more likely to be persuaded when discussing things in person because they had access to things such as facial features, body movement, etc. On the other hand, males showed no real difference in how they were persuaded when comparing online chatting to chatting in person. This led researchers to conclude that females prefer social interaction versus males as a form of communicating.
So, the next time you want to talk to your wife, mother, sister or girlfriend about something serious, you’d better do it in person!
For more information about Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 16 2008 | Blogging | 2 Comments »
If you’re reading this blog, it’s probably because you have some level of interest in Internet marketing because you’re curious about how you can get your business to grow by using resources found on the Internet. Either that, or you’ve accidentally landed here for whatever the reason. However, for many of us who use the Internet on a regular basis, especially those who are most interested in social media, we know how valuable the Internet can be in terms of making connections with other people. James Karl Buck knows how valuable making connections is. You may have heard of him by now; he was the graduate student from the University of California at Berkeley who used the popular social networking site, Twitter, to tell people back in America that he had been arrested in Egypt.
The Value of Social Media
Buck’s story is an extraordinary example of the both powerful and significant role that social media plays in the lives of many people around the world. Do you think that had Buck not had some sort of relationship with the people following him on Twitter.com that he would have been released from jail as quickly as he was? Obviously, whatever work he had been doing to build somewhat meaningful relationships using this social media site was working-enough that it drew cause for concern from total strangers! Sure, social media sites such as Twitter can help you boost traffic to your web site and maybe increase business; but at the heart of it all, it’s about building lasting relationships. If you’ve got a social media-related story, we’d love to hear it; share it here!
For more information about Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 14 2008 | Social Media News | 1 Comment »
How much time do you spend watching television each day? Do you have a favorite show that you absolutely cannot miss? Most of us are so busy with our schedules and other miscellaneous extra-curricular activities, that we’re lucky if we have five minutes to ourselves at the end of the day. Now, how much time would you say you spend on the Internet? Ah- forget the Internet- how much time do you spend on or near a computer? It seems like no matter how hard we try, it is simply too difficult to tear ourselves away from a computer screen versus the television.
It’s like an Addiction
Hi, my name is Janelle, and I’m addicted to the Internet. Up until a few years ago, I still had time for television and the movies occasionally, but then AOL Instant messenger came along, followed by a handful of email accounts, online newspapers, quizzes, myspace and facebook, to name a few. How do I spend my time on the Internet nowadays? Well, I would venture to guess that my time spent on the Internet is similar to how other people who are addicted to it spend their time: checking my email account(s), doing work-related research and writing, chatting with friends via facebook and/or AIM and keeping up with the latest news and celebrity gossip. It’s only within the past couple of years that my Internet addiction has gotten out of hand. I quit myspace and thought that it would get better, and for a little while, it did. But now it seems like I’ve fallen off of the wagon. I’m not the only one though. I have dozens of friends who do nothing (it would seem) but sit on their computers all day looking up useless information. Even my boyfriend is addicted. We actually had a discussion about how the Internet is affecting our lives and decided that we would limit our time on the computer when we were around one another. The other night, I was reading for a few hours while he was on the Internet THE ENTIRE TIME. It turned out, that while surfing, he had found this online program that allows you to start a virtual library, so he was feverishly cataloging all of our books. As, you can see, that plan has been working really well.
The Impact as Seen Around the World
It’s no secret that the number of people who use the Internet has gone up significantly around the world. For instance, if you go to this web site, you can see for yourself. It is estimated that there are now over 1 billion people who use the Internet worldwide. Since 2000 up until now, North America has seen a 125.2% increase in the number of people using the Internet. For 2008, the percentage of Internet users by region can be seen as follows:
- Asia: 37.8%
- Europe: 27.6%
- North America: 18.0%
- Latin America/Caribbean: 9.4%
- Africa: 3.3%
- Middle East: 27.6%
- Oceana/Australia: 1.4%
If you’ve got a story about using the Internet, please share it with the rest of us!
For more information on Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 12 2008 | Media Interests | 3 Comments »
Ever wonder why your web site isn’t getting the kind of traffic you think it should be getting? Well, it could be due to several problems, but the one area that most people overlook is the part that has to do with the writing. Writing is an essential part of any web site’s success. If you’re trying to market something on the Internet, sure your web page should look a little flashy- but once a person gets beyond the looks, it’s all about what’s actually written.
Some Helpful Tips
Some of us are fantastic writers. However, you could be the greatest writer in the world and have a ton of interesting ideas; but if you don’t know how to properly convey that to readers, no one will notice how talented you are nor will they care what you have to say. So, here are some helpful tips to assist you into becoming a better writer:
- Have a Headline: Spend some time working on a catchy headline. A really great headline will grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read on to see what your content has to say. For example, many people who read newspapers only tend to read the headlines. The will usually scan the headlines until they find something that grabs their attention. Then, and only then, will they read the article.
- Know Your Audience: If you are writing for a particular web site, or if you have your own web site, it helps to know who your audience is. Who are you trying to market your information to? This will make a difference in how you write as well as what you’re writing about.
- Give Examples: Providing examples when you are writing content can help a reader to better understand what you are trying to say because it adds clarification. However, be careful not to overdo it with too many examples because then all you’re doing is breaking up the text, making it more difficult to absorb what is being said. Take the example of some books and articles that have the footnotes right in the text.
- Avoid Being Verbose: No one likes to read a piece of content that is too wordy. Avoid the wordiness if you can and keep things as succinct as possible while still providing the necessary information that readers will be looking for.
- Don’t Play the Guessing Game: Readers shouldn’t have to guess at what you are trying to say. Rather, it should be fairly obvious.
- Keep it Short: No one likes to read content that goes on and on. Keep your sentences and paragraphs relatively short. Remember that if someone comes across a page of entire text, they are less likely to read it. Create some white space in there by shortening sentences and paragraphs down so that it will look and read better.
- Use Active vs. Passive Voice: Whenever possible, avoid using passive voice. Content that is written in passive voice is a lot weaker than content that is written in active voice. An example of this would be: passive: My shoes have been completely destroyed by rain VERSUS active: The rain completely destroyed my shoes.
- Be Specific: Readers love details and hate generalizations. When you are writing content, always try to be as specific as possible. Being specific also makes you seem a heck of a lot more credible because it shows that you know what you’re talking about.
- Don’t Stop Writing: When you are writing content, just write what you what you feel. After you’ve finished writing, then you can go back and correct your mistakes and/or change it as you please.
- Pretend to Be the Reader: When you are finished writing your first draft of content, take a minute to step outside of the box and into the shoes of a total stranger who would happen to come across your content. Does it seem appealing? Is everything explained well and in a way that can be easily understood by the average reader, or are there still questions that you might have?
For more information about Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!
May 09 2008 | Marketing | 2 Comments »
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