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March 23, 2006
Google search tips
Phrase your question in the form of an answer. So instead of typing, "What is the average rainfall in the Amazon basin?", you might get better results by typing "The average rainfall in the Amazon basin is."
This is an old one, but very important: Put quotes around phrases that must be searched together. If you put quotes around "electric curtains," Google won't waste your time finding one set of Web pages containing the word "electric" and another set containing the word "curtains."
Similarly, put a hyphen right before any word you want screened out. If you're looking up dolphins, for example, you'll have to wade through a million Miami Dolphins pages unless you search for "dolphins - Miami."
Google is a global White Pages and Yellow Pages. Search for "phonebook: home depot norwalk , ct," Google instantly produces the address and phone number of the Norwalk Home Depot. This works with names ("phonebook:robert jones las vegas, NV") as well as businesses.
Don't put any space after "phonebook." And in all of the following examples, don't type the quotes I'm showing you here.
Google is a package tracker. Type a FedEx or UPS package number (just the digits); when you click Search, Google offers a link to its tracking information.
Google is a calculator. Type in an equation ("32+2345*3-234=") or just 32+2345*3-234=
Google is a units-of-measurement converter. Type "teaspoons in a gallon," for example, or "centimeters in a foot."
Google is a stock ticker. Type in AAPL or MSFT, for example, to see a link to the current Apple or Microsoft stock price, graphs, financial news and so on.
Google is an atlas. Type in an area code, like 212, to see a Mapquest map of the area.
Google is Wal-Mart's computer. Type in a UPC bar code number, such as "036000250015," to see the description of the product you've just "scanned in." (Thanks to the Google Blog,
Google is an aviation buff. Type in a flight number like "United 22" for a link to a map of that flight's progress in the air. Or type in the tail number you see on an airplane for the full registration form for that plane.
Google is the Department of Motor Vehicles. Type in a VIN (vehicle identification number, which is etched onto a plate, usually on the door frame, of every car), like "JH4NA1157MT001832," to find out the car's year, make and model.
For hours of rainy-day entertainment, visit http://labs.google.com. Here, you'll find links to new, half-finished Google experiments-like Google Voice, in which you call (650) 623-6706, speak the words you want to search for and then open your browser to view the results. Disclaimer: It wasn't working when I tried it. (Ditto a lot of these experiments.)
Posted by manish at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)
« February 2006 | Main | April 2006 »March 21, 2006
How the Home Business Industry Is Changing
Back in the early 1990's, not too many people used the Internet for a home business. There was an explosion of companies showing up everywhere by late 1998. Ever since 1998, home businesses have been even more popular than ever.
Many of the Internet companies of the 1990's did not need to do all too much to get people to join their programs or buy their products. Life was very easy going. People did very little work and saw quite a reasonable paycheck.
Many people were being bombarded by different Internet opportunities left and right. The people selling these opportunities were playing a numbers game by flooding everyone possible with a chance to cash in on the Internet Marketing Revolution.
These people enjoyed a very comfortable period of time up until about 2003 even when Internet Business was going bad. We saw more and more businesses pop up with the hope of making money out of nothing just over night...
Well just like the fall of the dot.com's there has been a fall in Internet marketing businesses. If you are going to stay in the race, you have to regroup and follow what people want today...
Internet business marketers of 1998 to 2003 had an easy life. They put up their site, paid for marketing and had people join. They didn't need to pay all too much attention to details because if you had a "website" people would buy from that website. Cashing in on the Internet Gold Rush was a dream come true.
Many Internet marketers saw instant results and thought that is how life is going to be...The American population as a whole got into this mindset as well, much like the dot.com boom.
The time is now 2005 and many of these people have dropped out. In order to stay, you need to be unique to survive. Most importantly, you need to follow some of the same techniques that worked for people before the Internet. Just as those pre-internet people have followed the same marketing techniques used in the mail order business.
Internet Marketing Techniques for the year 2005 and beyond have changed.
If you haven't already figured it out, there is a bit more work involved to get customers. People already have the "what is in it for me mindset" before even going to your web site...
So you must provide them specifically with that type of information...
Here are a few guidelines to follow:
Providing original helpful free content is key.
Provide your visitors something of value.
Make sure you stay up Internet technology.
Provide your readers with something that keeps them coming back.
Provide your readers with good, timely customer service.
Most important, teach them what you have been taught.
You must truly want to help others achieve success.
Lastly keep it simple. Don't reinvent the wheel or do something new. You can get what you want if you help others get what they want as well. You want to look for a system that has leadership, customized recruiting tools and the directional leadership to get you off running smoothly.
Posted by manish at 10:16 AM | Comments (0)
« February 2006 | Main | April 2006 »March 20, 2006
Three steps to home business success
If you own a home business, there are 3 things you absolutely, positively must have, if you want to be successful:
1. You must have a guru or mentor:
If you aren't proficient in Internet marketing, website design and copywiting--and most people aren't, do the smart thing and seek out an Internet marketing expert to help you.
This can be a huge financial advantage for you, because 90 percent of those individuals coming online don't have a clue what their doing. And instead of doing the smart thing and seeking out an expert for help, they'll just struggle along trying this and that and losing money, until they're finally forced out of business.
2. You must have a back-up plan:
Not having a back-up plan for your home business is like being stuck out in the desert with a flat tire and no spare. You just aren't going anywhere. Sometimes, try as hard as we might, our ideas just don't work and we have to scrap them.
That's why you should always have a back-up plan. Give your home business every chance to succeed, but if you sense it's not going to happen, don't be afraid to pull the plug on it and move on to plan "B."
3. You must have relentless desire and determination:
This is the number one reason why most people don't succeeed. They don't have relentless desire and determination. I want you to commit the following words to memory:
"Any success you achieve will be in direct proportion to your desire and determination. The more desire and determination you have, the greater will be your success!"
Here's another example to illustrate my point:
Most people think it's Kobe Bryant's amazing talent that sets him apart from the other players in the NBA. And make no mistake, his talent does play a significant role in his success. But what really makes Kobe Bryant special is his "relentless desire and determination." He just wants to win more than everybody else.
That's the mindset you have to have. You have to want to succeed with your home business more than anything else in the world--anything!
And remember these words:
"Any success you achieve will be in direct proportion to your desire and determination. The more desire and determination you have, the greater will be your success!"
Posted by manish at 04:01 PM | Comments (0)
« February 2006 | Main | April 2006 »March 05, 2006
Identity theft and online data protection
How many times have we heard of a financial institution's website getting hacked and confidential and sensitive customer data getting into the hands of cyber criminals.
Recently Payment processing arm of an Auto Surf site was hacked and all confidential information including photo ids of millions of members was available to hackers. They are now selling this information online for $1-$5 per document.
Yes its scary but true. To think that this will never happen to me is just avoiding the problem. Although you can never prevent identity theft taking place there are some steps you can take to minimize the damage.
Always keep a credit limit credit card or better a zero balance debit card for online payments. Low limit or zero balance will mean, even if the card number got hacked, chances of misuse are limited.
Keep a seperate bank account to link to payment processors like PayPal etc. Keep only the minimum balance in such accounts. Whenever you receive/send payments via your bank account, move the surplus to another bank account preferrably not in the same bank.
Never click on links from emails that appear to come from financial institutions like your bank or payment processor websites like PayPal or 2checkout. They will never send you any email asking to update confidential information. If in doubt, its best to call up the customer support number.
These are some of the steps that you can take to prevent financial fraud from affecting you however they are not full proof. They also do not save you in case the website of the payment processor gets hacked.
Posted by manish at 06:00 PM | Comments (2)
« February 2006 | Main | April 2006 »March 01, 2006
Starting a commercial blog
Blogs have been in news for quiet some time now. We saw a phase when blog domains were selling like hot cake. Well they do sell hot even today! So what are these blogs on the internet that people talk about all the time. Whats so profitable in them that everyone wants to start one of his own.
Blogs are essentially nothing but a website where the author talks about a particular topic. Usually we see blogs targetted to a particular market. Say a tech blog or beauty tips/products blog. Ok so I understand what blogs are all about but where is the money?
Well the money is right there. In terms of ads, affiliate promotions and links.
Usually a commercial blog talks about a particular theme or topic and then displays ads, products or links particular to these topics. Chances of sale or commission usually depends on the content, traffic and the type of product listed for sale.
I have myself started a commercial blogging site at www.blogizen.com
It deals with various topics like affiliate management, online auctions, audio streaming, yoga to name a few. For more details do checkout Blogizen
Posted by manish at 05:09 PM | Comments (0)