17 Tips for Bringing Your Event to Life

17 Tips for Bringing Your Event to Life

by: Susan Friedmann

Your job as an event planner doesn’t stop with the meeting in the company boardroom. You may be called upon to organize an employee appreciate event, an awards dinner, a product launch, the celebration of a company milestone, a gala recognizing a longtime employeeกs retirement, an incentive event for companyกs sales force, a fundraising event, a holiday celebration…the list goes on and on.
One key to a successful special event is to seek out entertainment or decorations that are unique and fun to spark conversation among guests. As you begin envisioning your event, picture the mood you want the environment to create. For example, determine whether you want to create a jubilant, celebratory atmosphere or one that is more serious. The ambiance you aim for depends a great deal upon the type of event you’re having. If itกs a product launch where you want to create an aura of enthusiasm and excitement, youกll likely lean toward an exhilarating atmosphere. If you’re organizing an event for your employees and their spouses, perhaps you want the mood to be somewhat romantic.
Whatever you decide, the following seventeen tips will help you shape and enhance the atmosphere with the entertainment, decorations, and food you choose.
1. Think outside the box when planning the atmosphere at your event. Novelty is the key to your success. Give your guests something to tell their friends about!
2. Create a fun, interesting, and exciting ambiance using special stage settings, lighting, special scenery, music, ice carvings, flowers, centerpieces, candles, balloons, colored linens, printed menus, a photographer and gift items. Budget determines much of your wish list turns into reality.
3. Consider all sorts of amusements – strolling musicians, chefsก demonstrations, palm readers…anything out of the ordinary.
4. Keep in mind that your entertainment doesn’t have to come in the form of people. An elaborate coffee bar or startlingly beautiful champagne fountain will have your guests raving.
5. Vary your decorations depending on the type of event you’re throwing and the venue you choose. Find out whether the facility has house decorations that itกs willing to provide at no additional charge.
6. Check all decorating plans with the venue in advance since many have restrictions on what they allow you to do in their establishment.
7. Create a theme especially for a large event to help make it more memorable. In addition, it helps make it easier to organize programming, food, décor, and other accessories. Carry out your theme before, during and after the event for true ambiance and memorability.
8. Cut down on decorating costs by choosing a themed venue and then building your event around the décor rather than molding a venue to the theme youกve chosen. For example, find an elaborately decorated ethnic restaurant, and then provide the musicians and entertainers from the appropriate area of the world.
9. Select a theme that fits your group and complements the tone and content of your event. But don’t have a theme unless you’re prepared to follow through with it.
10. Ask for theme ideas. If you’re at a loss, consider having a competition soliciting ideas from your target audience. Your best ideas often come from others. But, remember to offer a fun incentive.
11. Consider choosing a theme from the most popular categories, namely: Fashion (e.g. The Roaring Twenties), History (e.g. A Renaissance Fair), Politics (e.g. 4 th of July Celebrations), Popular culture (e.g. An Evening with Dr. Seuss) or The arts (e.g. A Night at the Oscars). Avoid the brainwork and check out http://www.party411.com/themes.html for the easy way out.
12. Choose appropriate entertainment for your group. Participants look forward to the entertainment segment of a program. They want to have fun, enjoy themselves, and let their hair down, particularly after stressful and demanding sessions. Options include: Music (e.g. live, disc jockey or even karaoke), Spectacle (e.g. magician, juggler, comedian or mine), Theater (e.g. dinner theatre, murdermystery experience or corporate theater), Games (e.g. treasure hunt, or a game show), Video or slide show.
13. Make certain to view a demo video before hiring talent. Watch for the entertainersก performance quality and the audience reaction. Check out their references and ask specific questions such as: Would they hire them again? How flexible, reliable and easy to work with are they? Make sure that their act is a good fit for your audience.
14. Find out whether the entertainers need extra staging, lighting, or décor to create the right ambiance. Special requirements add to your bottom line – watch out, this could get expensive. Be sure that the venue approves any special requests. For musical entertainment discuss various options, such as lowvolume background music, light entertainment during the meal, and lively dance music. Discuss how the entertainers involve the audience in their act. People enjoy both passive and active involvement.
15. Sitdown affairs work best when you include some form of entertainment. However, if you want something a bit different, look at alternative areas in the hotel, such as an indoor patio or pool area. Naturally, a plan revolving around an outdoor pool is contingent on the weather. Itกs best to have a backup plan just in case the heavens decide to open. Buffets and barbecues also work well, but watch the price tag. These kinds of food functions often require extra labor, which automatically means additional dollars.
16. Don’t serve anything messy for any event where food is served while guests are standing and mingling. Limit your cuisine to bitesize morsels that guests can easily eat with their fingers or a fork. Save money by opting for a few choice hors dกoeuvres in larger quantities rather than a large selection in smaller quantities. But remember to include some interesting vegetarian selections in your menu for guests who don’t eat meat.
17. Make sure you have enough bartenders and liquor when serving alcohol at your event. You don’t want to run out of beverages in the middle of the party or have long lines of grumbling, thirsty guests. Consider whether you want to limit your guests to certain selections, eliminating expensive liquors and specialty drinks.

About The Author

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, author: ขMeeting & Event Planning for Dummies,ข working with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. Go to http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com to sign up for a free copy of ExhibitSmart Tips of the Week.

[email protected]

This article was posted on May 26, 2004

by Susan Friedmann

Scrap Booking Online: Word Perfect or Corel Graphi

Scrap Booking Online: Word Perfect or Corel Graphics Suite?

by: Grannyกs Mettle

Scrapbooks are very popular these days. I think that almost everyone wanted to capture family histories and stories in any which way they can. And with the onset of digital technology, scrap booking has even extended to newsletters and journals with photos and illustrations online and in the email. Theyกve become so popular that itกs not surprising to receive an entire scrapbook from your relatives and friends and loved ones even across the globe.

With the advanced technology, people have been using graphic design and desktop publishing software to help them create wonderful and creative scrapbooks. Two of this wellknown software is CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12 and WordPerfect Office Suite 12.

Each of the software has their own endearing qualities. Both applications are used to create newsletters as far as I know. But what software to choose? It all depends on what you want to create.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12

For graphicallyrich family history newsletter or time capsule, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12 would be the ideal software as it is the easiest graphics suite available in the market today.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a vector editing program. This software is definitely for illustration, page layout, and vector drawing. It has the Corel PhotoPaint for bitmap editing of photos and images for that professional digital imaging look. It has hundreds of clip art photos and images to choose from, which you can overlay your own family photos on top. It also has Corel R.A.V.E. 3 for motiongraphics creation.

With the softwareกs features and vast collection of photos, clipart and fonts, you can create and design a professionallooking newsletter or a family history time capsule, and even a memorable album where you and your family will find the highlights of your life in wonderful and elegant designs made by you.

Corelกs WordPerfect Office 12

And if you’re the simple type, and you don’t want too much clutter, you can use Corelกs WordPerfect Office 12 to create a novisual and textbased newsletter. The software has an array of newsletter templates you can use to help you start right away with your newsletter. This so far, is the best alternative to Microsoft Office.

Better yet, why not use both software to help you create your scrap book? One freelance newsletter designer who specializes in genealogy utilizes both software because the combination makes him complete his design tasks twice as fast. กI can create graphics in CorelDRAW 12 and quickly pop them into all my textbased WordPerfect 12 office documents because switching between files is very easy,ก he relates. This is made possible by the tools in both the software that reduce the number of steps required to finish his jobs.

He adds that what makes it more worthwhile is that aside from saving time, finger movements on the mouth is also reduced, thereby reducing cramps and strains from the fingers to the wrist.

About The Author

Grannyกs Mettle is a 30something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.

Her thoughts on writing: กWriting gives me pleasure… pleasure and excitement that you have created something to share with others. And with the wide world of the Internet, it gives me great satisfaction that my articles reach more people in the quickest time you could imagine.ก

On her spare time, she loves to stay at home, reading books on just about any topic she fancies, cooking a great meal, and taking care of her husband and kids.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.losangelesprintingservice.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 11

by Grannyกs Mettle

Promote Your Web Business With Every Email You Sen

Promote Your Web Business With Every Email You Send!

by: Dan Karwoski

Website owners are always on the lookout for new ways to promote their business. What if I told you could advertise your business every time you send an email and it wouldn’t cost you a dime?

When you meet someone you might give him or her one of your business cards. Now the recipient has all your contact information, learns a little about your business and this allows you to expose your brand. With an eBusinessCard you can still give them one of your cards, electronically, using Microsoft Outlook! All you have to do is create your card in HTML to resemble your printed card. Then save it to your Outlook signature folder so you can send an electronic version. The big advantage to an electronic card is it has live links that can take the viewer to the exact page on your website with the information they need. See the sample here http://www.junglia.com/emailstationary/horiz.asp.

Open your favorite HTML editor and design and build your card. Or if you currently use a printed card just copy it. If you lack design and/or HTML skills you can use the handy form below to painlessly create your own card. If you create your own card remember to use absolute paths (full http path) for all your links and images. In order for this to work with all email clients you will need to place any images you use on a server and create an absolute link to the image. If the email recipients don’t have HTML enabled in their mail client Outlook automatically creates and sends a text version, which can be read with any program.

Detailed instructions for uploading and using your card are listed here http://www.junglia.com/emailstationary/horiz.asp in step 7.

This is a simple and inexpensive way to promote your business. Everyone you correspond with will know that you are a professional.

About The Author

Dan Karwoski has been teaching website design to college students since 1997 and has created quality work for MSNBC, Microsoft, Amazon, Atom Films and many others. Interested students can learn the basics of web design by registering at http://www.learn2design.net. Please email questions to [email protected].

[email protected]

This article was posted on October 20, 2004

by Dan Karwoski

404 Error PagesWhat are they and how do you creat

404 Error PagesWhat are they and how do you create one?

by: Stephen Hames

We’ve all seen them, you’ve been browsing a website and you click a link and nothing loads apart from the words ‘404 Error’ along with the usual stuff.

So what is a 404 Error page? The 404 Error page, basically informs the user that the server cannot find the file they are looking for. However, instead of using the default 404 Error page you can create your own, this is how you do it.

First, you need your .htaccess file which should be within your web site directory. If you cannot find it you will need to create one. You will have to contact your host asking them how you would go about creating or editing this file. They may want you to use a text editor and then upload it, or they may want you to use a PICO editor and create or edit the file on the server.

How you have access to the .htaccess file lets edit it. Add this line to the .htaccess file:

ErrorDocument 404 http://www.yourdomain.com/404page.html

Make sure this line is kept on online. This is where your 404 Error page is kept.

Now you’ve change the .htaccess file you need to create the page. This is simply a normal HTML document. Once you’ve created the HTML document, save it and call it 404page.html. Now the next step is to upload the .htaccess file and the page to the server.

Now that is done your next step is to turn it on. This is done by setting the CHMOD attribute to 644. You can do this via telnet or some FTP programs. If your going to telnet into your server, use the following command:

chmod 644 .htaccess

Now test to see if it’s worked. Just go to a page that doesn’t exist on your server and you should see your new 404 Error page. If not, then make sure the CHMOD is set correctly, and if that doesn’t help, you may want to ask your hosting company for support.

About The Author

I currently own and run a small Ecommerce template website located at http://www.sjhdesigns.co.uk. You can find several more guides located at http://www.sjhdesigns.co.uk/guides.htm.

This article was posted on October 14, 2004

by Stephen Hames

Profitable Content

Profitable Content

by: Syd Johnson

You can create profitable content in 2 hours or less

Everyone knows that the best way to get a high ranking on the search engines is to create a lot of keyword rich content. You can write the articles on your ownin fact, if you write one article per day, you will have over 300 articles by the end of the year.

That’s enough to get your high google page rank because of the sheer volume of pages, and because it is original and not recycled content. The search engines are attracted by the fresh content, and will send over more unique traffic to your website.

More unique visitors will translate in more online sales.

So what are some quick techniques for generating content?

1. Publish your blog to your website.

If you are a regular blogger, use your ftp program to publish the content directly to a page on your site. It’s a really quick way to add pages of extra content for your next search engine update. In addition to your own postings, there are comments from site visitors which help to boost the average page content to anywhere from a few hundred, to a few thousand new words added per day. As long as you have adequate incoming links, the search engines will find you, reindex the site and update accordingly.

2. Questions and Answers

As you get questions via email, create updated answers and put them on a few Q & A pages. You can also expand the questions and the answers to full length articles that you can post on your site, or post one of online article directories. One article on the right directory can give you hundreds and possibly thousands of new incoming links.

3. Edit Old copy

Take out some of your older articles. If there are any topics that you rushed through, now is the time to expand it. For example, if you created an article with 10 ways to do something, expand each suggestion into its own full length article. You already have knowledge of the topic and so you can easily create 10 new pages for your website.

4. Buy packages with resale rights

But, don’t just turn around and resell the items. Instead, read through the content, and add your own special touch. Rewrite the table of contents, create a new overview, expand on a certain area and add extra pages, add new links and resources, software tools and more. This will make your package dramatically different from all others that bought the package and simply expected to make a sale with no effort.

If you buy a package with resale rights to post it online, use your basic design skills to reformat the content and change a 100% recycled product into a 50% unique product. It gives you a marketing edge and also creates excellent copy for the search engines.

5. Repackage old content into ebooks

Take all of your old ezines and articles from the past two years. Update the information, add new links and turn it into and ebook. Then offer the ebook for sale on your site or on a service like Clickbank. Ebooks are very popular, require no warehousing and are incredibly profitable. You can do the copywriting, design and actual ebook creation all on your own for under $100. Give it a try and you’ll be surprised at the results.

6. Hire a ghost writer

Go to some of the freelance boards and put your projects up for bid. I have heard of articles being sold for as little as $20 for a complete, professionally written article by a freelancer. This is probably the fastest way to create original, profitable content for anyone who is not a writer and doesn’t trust their own writing skills.

These are just a few tips to get you started.

About The Author

This article may be distributed freely as long as there is an active link back to http://www.rapidlingo.com.

Syd Johnson

Editor

This article was posted on February 23

by Syd Johnson

How Podcasting Works

How Podcasting Works

by: Sharon Housley

It has been said that in October of 2004 a Google search returned less than 6,000 results for the term กpodcastingก. Today, a similar search yields more than 857,000 results. Like the blogging phenomenon, podcasting has come out of nowhere and attracted an enthusiastic following.

While some traditional radio talk shows have begun providing podcasts of their regularlyscheduled broadcasts, the bulk of the podcasts that have cropped up tend to be independent broadcasters who have a fascination with technology. As a result, some podcasts are a little rough around the edges. Nonetheless, it is clear that the technology provides a significant opportunity and potential. Even naysayers believe that podcasting is more than a passing fad.

Podcasting is RSS that is used to syndicate and distribute audio files. Podcasting contains an audio file in the RSS feedกs enclosure tag. An enclosure tag is used in RSS feeds to include certain types of files. The file contained in an enclosure tag can be: an image, a data file, a video file, or an audio file. Podcasting specifically refers to RSS feeds that contain audio files in their enclosure tag. The RSS version that currently supports enclosure tags is RSS version 2.0. All podcasts are currently created using this specification.

The benefit to podcasting is the fact that users can sync content with their media player and listen at a time and a place of their choosing: radio on demand. And while this technology is not limited to music, it seems to be the area that has received the most attention.

Podcasting is generally inexpensive to implement. Investment in a good quality microphone will ensure that the recording is audible. Depending on knowledge and experience, some podcasters invest in audio conversion, compression and audio editing software applications. Also, web space bandwith and software to create the feed for the podcast is needed. All in all, the initial expense is relatively small.

Publishing Podcasts

In three simple steps, independent broadcasters can have their voice heard:

Publishers create audio content, posting it on a website for listeners.

Create or edit an existing RSS feed including a link to the audio file in the กenclosureก field of an RSS 2.0 feed, uploading it to a website.

Tell the world that a podcast is available.

Listen to Podcasts:

In three simple steps web surfers can listen to podcasts:

Download a news aggregator or RSS reader that supports podcasting or sync a wireless device like an iPod with your computer.

Enter the URL of the podcast feed into the news aggregator or podcast management software.

As new items appear in the aggregator, review the podcastกs description and listen to those that are of interest.

As popularity increases it is likely many voices will be drowned out, but for now, an independent broadcaster with a microphone and unlimited bandwith can make a name, create an image and change the world.

Useful Tools for Podcasting:

Create podcast feed http://www.feedforall.com

News aggregator supporting podcasts http://www.feeddemon.com or http://www.primetimepodcast.com

See also Podcasting Tools http://www.smallbusinesssoftware.net/podcastingtools.htm

Copyright 2005 Sharon Housley

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

This article was posted on April 13

by Sharon Housley

Creative Marketing Tips … ขSimple Things You Can U

Creative Marketing Tips … ขSimple Things You Can Use In Your Business To Attract More Clientsข

by: Troy D White

The single most important activity you can do in your small business is create a unique marketing strategy and plan. When was the last time you saw a company marketing themselves in an outrageous way? In this day and age it looks like everyone has read the same book on marketing – and sorry to say – that book doesn’t work!

What does work – is a little creativity, a little personality and a lot of effort to make yourself so different from your competition – that there is no real competition.

1. What crazy stunts could you do to get free media publicity? What type of outrageous challenge could you post to the public (ie give me 30 days and we will change your life, your business, your appearance etc…) Alternatively, go get a Guinness Book Of Records… find something that is remotely related to your business… and design a new record you are going to create – the media will love you.

2. What’s your stadium pitch? Imagine this…you have been given the chance to do a 60 second presentation to 50,000 people in a stadium. Just as you walk out to start the presentation… they announce that people don’t have to stay if they don’t want. What could you say in 15 seconds to get them to stay? What could you say in 60 seconds to convince them that your company is the only alternative and they’d be crazy not to build a relationship with you?

3. Think about the lifetime value of your clients. When they are first introduced to you they are buying into a relationship with you… they are NOT buying a product. It is up to you to nurture that relationship. Are you? If you treat them right and make them feel like family… your clients will come back… buy more… and buy more often. In today’s cold impersonal business world, be the one that treats them like family.

4. Find a way to build a recurring payment plan around your business. If you have a onetime purchase of your product… what could you offer to your clients to have them come back more often? Could you do a tuneup or clean up or redesign once a year? Rather than waiting for them to come in… offer them a reminder service and a monthly enticement to come back in. Bill them monthly, quarterly or yearly. Up to 50% (sometimes more) of your clients will take this option… what would that add to your bottom line?

5. Create joint ventures with other related businesses… anyone that deals with the same target market that you do. Explain to them that you will send them extra business if they give your clients an incentive to buy (coupons, discounts, bonuses etc). Create a booklet that you will give out to your clients with all these discounts. For every discount coupon they use that supplier is to pay you $xx dollars for the new client you brought them

6. Send out a weekly (even biweekly) email newsletter with some tips, some humor, some specials of the week. On the days when it is going to rain send out an urgent bulletin rainy day special! Offer them a deal to come down, brave the rain and get a deal on lunch

7. Make doing business with you more exclusive. Make it on a referralonly basis. There is a dentist I know of that locks his door. You are not allowed in unless one of his present clients has recommended you… even then you need to pass the approval process. And he has 3 times more profit (and much happier clients) than any other dentist in his city.

8. Test all of your crazy ideas. No matter how crazy they sound try it out. Find out which ones work. Then optimize how effective they are. Test all variations of that idea. Find out which variation works best.

9. Use risk reversal in your offer. Make it so your clients come out so far ahead by dealing with you they would be silly not to. Even if they decide that your product is not for them and they return it they still come out of the deal with the refund and many bonuses that they never had before dealing with you. The stronger the risk reversal and the longer the guarantee… the fewer number of returns and complaints – it’s a fact.

Think differently, be different, make sure people notice you are different and you will be very profitable. To your success!

About The Author

By Troy White of www.SmallBusinessCopywriter.com… ขTurning Words Into Wealthข Helping entrepreneurs jump start their business success and profit growth through uncommon, yet highly profitable, marketing techniques.

http://www.SmallBusinessCopywriter.com… sign up for our *Free* newsletter online …Call 18772594566… or email [email protected]

© Small Business Copywriter.com 2004

This article was posted on February 27, 2004

by Troy D White

The Power Of Thinking Small Online.

The Power Of Thinking Small Online.

by: Patric Chan

I know what you’re thinking.

There must be a typo error, because everyoneกs talking about the power of thinking big online.

Obviously, thinking big is good. But do not under estimate the power of thinking small.

Hereกs what I mean:

If you want to make $100,000.00 in a year online, is it easier to achieve it from one source of income, or 10 online source of incomes that can give you $10,000.00 each a year?

The answer? Both are correct. But Iกd rather take the second choice by thinking กsmallก of creating 10 income streams from the internet to achieve that.

My justification?

Itกs easier for me to create an income stream that can generate $10,000.00 a year online for me than thinking กbigก to create ONE income stream that generates $100,000.00.

If I can create ONE income stream easily, whatกs stopping me from creating another 9 similar income streams from the internet to make $100,000.00 a year?

You might disagree with me because you probably say that staying focused on one income stream is easier. Thatกs fair and I absolutely agree.

But, Iกll still choose to create 10 income streams because my risk of failure is 10 times less.

Assuming I choose the first choice to make $100,000.00 using ONE income stream.

What happens if I fail? Simple. I lose everything in that one year.

But if I create 10 income streams, I can afford to fail as much as 50% of my income streams and yet, Iกll achieve 50% of success. Sounds ironic, yes?

Don’t get it wrong. Iกm not preaching to be negative of preparing to fail, but Iกm preaching reality on how to minimize risk to be successful.

Taking small steps is always easier than taking big steps.

Thatกs why, when I wrote my book for self improvement, กHow To Make More Money Easilyก, itกs about thinking small, not thinking big.

Itกs not for those who want to m.ake millions.

Itกs about how ordinary people are able to make an extra income each month easily. If they can make some extra money from one strategy I teach in my ebook, they can easily create 5 more income streams.

You can see it at:

http://www.makemoremoneylessons.com

After reading this article, please continue to think BIG.

BUT, don’t forget to think small as well when you want to achieve success.

All the best.

To your success,

Patric กHighSpeed Marketingก Chan.

Copyright 2004 Patric Chan

Important note to webmasters or editors:

If you wish to publish this article with your affiliate url for 70% affiliate commission to my latest book, please email me at [email protected] for details.

About The Author

Patric works with world class internet marketing gurus to build successful online businesses. Discover more insider secrets and the exact proven strategies to make money online:

http://www.automateinternetmarketing.com

This article was posted on September 06, 2004

by Patric Chan

Your Web Page Check List

Your Web Page Check List

by: Dan Brown

1. Easy To Read You want to make it easy for your visitors to read your text. You don’t want to use a light colored text like yellow on a white background and you don’t want to use dark blue text on a black back ground.

2. Create A Mood You want to use the color of your text to create a mood for the reader. If you want to create excitement, use some red text. If you want to create greed, use a some green text. Use colors that would put you in a mood to buy your product.

3. Grab Their Attention You can grab your readers attention by using headlines. Make the headline more noticeable by using a different colored headline than your ad copy. This offsets the headline and pulls the reader into the rest of your ad copy.

4. Highlight Keywords You can emphasize phrases and keywords that are important to your readers. For instance, use super, deluxe, fast, low price, free, new, etc. You could use bolding, underlining, italics, color changing, etc.

5. Sizing It Up You don’t want to use text that is too small or to large. You want to use larger text for your headlines and subheadings. You want to use smaller text for your ad copy. If your grandparents can’t read it, itกs too small.

6. Don’t Use All CAPS! You don’t want to use all capital letters in your ad copy. It looks unprofessional and is hard to read. You may want to use all CAPS in your headlines to offset it.

7. Font Properly You want to use a text font that relates to the product or services your selling. You don’t want to use a comic type font when your selling business books.

8. Spacing Out Itกs important to use spaces properly when typing your text. You should indent and bullet key benefits your product or service will give the reader. Your headlines, subheadings, sentences and paragraphs should be consistently spaced throughout your web site.

9. I Need Sunglasses Don’t use all bright text colors and backgrounds on your web site. It will make your text hard to read and actually bother your readersก eyes to the point they just decide to leave your site.

10. Check The Readability Itกs important to check your spelling and grammar before you upload your web page. When writing an ad copy you’re allowed to break some of those grammar rules to get your point across.

About The Author

Dan Brown has been active in internet marketing for the past 4 years. Dan currently is working with the Zabang search engine introducing their new affiliate program which is due out Nov. http://www.zabangaffiliate.com/

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 11

by Dan Brown

Advantages for Using FrontPage… maybe this HTML

Advantages for Using FrontPage… maybe this HTML editor has some hidden advantages

by: Robin Nobles

Ever since Iกve been doing SEO work, Iกve always griped and complained about FrontPage and all the extraneous code it puts in the section of the page, etc.

Then recently, I had the opportunity to visit with a group of advanced search engine optimizers, and I was shocked to find that many of them use FrontPage and love it.

FrontPage??!!

The first thing I learned is that there are ways to keep out the extraneous code! With FrontPage, you can remove the code, but it keeps comes back again and again and again. But, there’s a way to get rid of it forever.

How to Get Rid of Extraneous Code and Headers

Dave Barry, Webmaster of SmartCertify Direct (http://www.smartcertify.com), explains how:

FrontPage 97 or 98 users:

Click on Start, then Find, then Files or Folders. Search your hard drive (generally your C drive) for a file named frontpg.ini. Click on the file.

When it opens, look for a line that says, ขVersion 3.0.ข

Add this line under Version 3.0:

HTMLREFORMAT=0

The next time you use FrontPage, remove the extraneous code and headers, and they won’t come back.

FrontPage 2000, 2002, or XP users:

Look at the menu bar at the top of the Open Web. Click on Tools, then Page Options.

You’ll see an option box. Under HTML Source, at the top of the page under General, you’ll have this choice:

When saving file(s):

Preserve existing HTML or Reformat using the rules below

If you choose Preserve existing HTML, and if you delete any extraneous code and headers, you won’t see the code or headers on your pages again.

(To view an example screen shot showing the above, click here: http://www.academywebspecialists.com/newsletters/fp2.gif)

Dave added:

ขTo disable the HTML changing of FrontPage 2000, a registry entry is also needed. This registry file (http://www.academywebspecialists.com/newsletters/noreformat.zip) will do it automatically. Just open the file with Notepad to verify its authenticity before using it.

ขThe attachment and registry entry must occur on the server.

ขOr, if you want to edit the registry manually, here is the code:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared

Tools\Web Server Extensions\All Ports]

‘reformatHtmlก=ก0ก

AddIn that Generates META Tags

FrontPage also has an Addin that will delete META tags without going into the source view. It’s called META Tag Maker 2002, and it will create and manage META tags through one dialogue box, without having to go into source view.

http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/downloads/addin/searchdetail.asp?aid=80

In fact, the FrontPage site has an amazing number of Addins for FrontPage that are free for the taking. http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/downloads/addin/def ault.asp

Some of the more popular Addins include:

Multimedia/Special FX, Windows Media Addin, that will easily embed audio and visual into your Web pages;

Clear Teal Template, that is a 16page easytouse Web template that lets you easily create a Web site;

Scripting/Database Tools, JBots Plus 2002 Trial. According to the FrontPage site, JBots components make FrontPage Web sites more customized by adding JavaScriptenabled features, but you don’t have to know how to write code or cut and paste. Simply fill in dialog boxes, click Generate, and the JavaScript is created for you.

Other Advantages for Using FrontPage

* Server side includes are easy with FrontPage. Before we go on, let me explain what ขserver side includesข are.

Server side includes (SSI’s) generate parts of Web pages dynamically on the ขserver side.ข They allow you to add customization features to your Web pages, such as an email form. Unlike other forms of dynamic content, or content that’s created on the fly, server side includes have a normal URL that’s easy for users to remember and doesn’t create problems for the engines.

In other words, SSI’s embed special commands into an HTML document that tells the server to perform specific actions when a user requests the page. The server then creates the Web page on the fly by merging files or inserting requested information.

How might you use SSI’s on your Web page? Let’s say you want to add a form to your Web site for your users to complete to sign up for your newsletter. You could create the form using SSI’s.

For more information on creating SSI’s with FrontPage, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/using/default.htm and click on FrontPage Server Extensions.

* Dave Barry, who recently created two major sections of the Dell Web site using FrontPage, manages 40 to 50 Web sites at SmartCertify, and he easily moves back and forth between those sites using FP. With that many sites, there is a lot of duplicity, and he can effortlessly share objects with FP or edit multiple Web sites. With FrontPage, you can cut and paste between the sites, use shared borders, and easily drag and drop files, thus saving a lot of time versus handling each site separately.

If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), FrontPage also makes using them a breeze. You can even create DHTML using FrontPage.

Dave created a video on how to copy and paste, how to use Cascading Style Sheets, and how to use shared borders with Front Page:

http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/frontpage.asp

(Author Note: When viewing these videos, make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft Windows Media Player. To download the latest version (7.1), click here (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;enus;Q299321). Also, I found that I was unable to view the videos if my firewall (Zone Alarm) was running.)

* Another benefit to using FrontPage is being able to create virtual directories with ease. As you know, when you specify a home directory, all of the subdirectories beneath than home directory automatically become subdirectories of the Web site as well. However, you can also designate a folder located elsewhere on the system as a subdirectory of the site by creating a virtual directory out of it. A virtual directory is a directory or folder on a server that is not in the actual server directory structure.

Again, Dave created a video on how to create virtual directories using Front Page:

http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/iis.asp

* If you want to create a database, it’s no problem with FrontPage. It will virtually create a database for you and import data without any database knowledge at all. The program works with Access, SQL, Oracle, and ODBC, and you can set up an SECcompliant database within 30 seconds and begin working with asp pages with no prior knowledge whatsoever.

Click here for Dave’s video on how to create a database using FrontPage:

http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/dwizard.asp

* To Lee Davies of #1 Internet Marketing (http://www.1internetmarketing.co.nz), the main advantage to FrontPage is that you can so easily manage all your html pages from the folders section.

For example, ขIf you were to rename an image, which is something that needs to be done when optimizing, it will rename the links to the images from every page,ข he explains.

* What I kept hearing again and again as I interviewed users of FrontPage is that FrontPage saves you time in creating Web pages, because it’s so easy to use. Don Hammond with DonOMite (http://www.donomite.com) explains,

ขStraight HTML pages are a breeze with FP. I know a lot of programmers scoff at using it, but it means I can crank out a basic HTML page in seconds rather than minutes. And when I get paid by the job, it means more $/hr to me.ข

* Dawn Rowlett with Web Submission Services (http://www.internetmarketingwebsites.com) explains further:

ขFrom the first day that I was introduced to FrontPage, I was instantly able to catch on to some of the many features because it was so easy to use. I think the most beneficial factor to the program for me was that I was able to go in and design a page, knowing nothing at all about HTML. I could include hyperlinks, tables, images, change colors, backgrounds, insert text, create paragraphs, etc. with absolutely no background in coding. I was able to do all of this on my first day with the program!

ขI remember one time in the beginning when I was involved in a discussion with a designer who was using another HTML editor and was completely stuck on the coding of how to create a simple table. My first thought at the time was, using Front Page, that is such a simple task.ข

* Many professional SEO’s also like to use FrontPage because it’s a program that’s simple enough for their clients to use. So, when the SEO turns the site back over to the client, the client can easily make changes with FrontPage without having to know HTML. As Tom Altman with RSM McGladrey, Inc. (http://www.rsmmcgladrey.com) explains,

ขMost of the folks already have the office suite, so they are used to using Word and the like. FrontPage is not that much different, and it lets them maintain their own site.ข

Make FrontPage Work the way YOU Want it to!

At the Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions Resource Kit, you’ll find links to all of the possible ways to make FrontPage work for you, instead of the default values after installation.

http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/frontpage/wpp/serk/apndx03.htm

Take a Free Course in using FrontPage!

Dave Barry at SmartCertify Direct (http://www.smartcertify.com) created a free course in using FrontPage. Simply register at the following URL, and take the free course:

http://www.smartcertify.com/seo/registerseo.asp

In Conclusion

As you’ve seen, some very experienced Web designers and search engine optimizers use FrontPage as their ขeditor of choice.ข Its ease of use and variety of readymade templates make it a program that’s easy for beginners yet has the functionality that advanced designers need.

It also allows the designer or SEO to get a page designed quickly and easily, and time adds up to money for a busy SEO.

As Nancy Nelson with Search by Design! (http://www.searchbydesign.com) said,

ขIs it a perfect tool? Certainly not, but FrontPage combined with minor HTML knowledge can take you a long way…ข

So FrontPage users, don’t be ashamed to admit that you use FrontPage! Some of the best Web designers in the industry use it, with good reason.

Special Thanks to Dave Barry

Dave Barry with SmartCertify created the videos, screen shots, and free tutorial available in this article. Plus, he gave me the work arounds for getting rid of extraneous code, and he verified the accuracy of the content. Thank you Dave – there’s no way I could have created this article without your help.

Copyright 2002 Robin Nobles and Dave Barry. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Robin Nobles, Director of Training, Academy of Web Specialists, (http://www.academywebspecialists.com) has trained several thousand people in her online search engine marketing courses (http://www.onlinewebtraining.com) and is the content provider for (GRSeo) Search Engine Optimizer software (http://www.seoptimizer.com). She also teaches 4day hands on search engine marketing workshops in locations across the globe with Search Engine Workshops (http://www.searchengineworkshops.com).

Dave Barry is a professional Webmaster, Web designer, programmer, and search engine optimizer, all rolled up into one amazingly talented man who works for SmartCertify Direct. (http://www.smartcertify.com) He has also begun working with Search Engine Workshops to put on ขhands onข training workshops at locations across the globe. (http://www.searchengineworkshops.com).

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 01, 2002

by Robin Nobles

Tips to Maintain your Website to Keep Visitors Com

Tips to Maintain your Website to Keep Visitors Coming Back

by: Charles Nixon III

When you design a website you should create it so that your visitors are constantly coming back for more. In order for you to keep your visitors coming back you need to keep up with maintaining your website, and offering things that will keep your visitors busy.
Tip #1
Keep your visitors coming back. Well, how do you do this? You can start by creating a forum. This will allow your visitors to interact with each other and meet new people.
Next you may want to create a page, or a topic on your forum based on new content that you add. This will keep your visitors up to date on what your doing around your website.
Also you may want to create a news letter. A news letter could contain many things. You can write tips and tricks articles, you can use it to tell your visitors whatกs new on your website, you can offer special deals, and much more with a newsletter.
Tip #2
Build a strong network of incoming links. Incoming links are a very important object in the search engine game. If you don’t constantly increase the number of links coming into your website you will start to loose your high ranks on search engines. Or you may not even be able to obtain high ranks if you are just starting out.
When you start getting incoming links you should create some way to keep track of these websites. Document them somehow in a word document, on a webpage, or in a excel document. Check back on these links regularly to make sure they still have your link on their webpage especially if your linking back to their website.
Tip #3
Monitor your website statistics. This should be a thing you do on a weekly basis. Find a company that will either give you a report on whoกs visiting your website, and where. Or use your exhisting hosting companies service (if they offer one).
When monitoring your statistics you want to see where your visitors are going the most. Try and use these statistics to your advantage. If they are going to your article directory more than they are your forum you will want to spend more time increasing your article directory rather than monitoring your forums.

About The Author

Charles Nixon Website Designer. Driven by Creativity. Building websites to increase sales, and web presence. Did you start your business to create a website? Or to run your business? CharlesNixon.com may be the web design firm for you! Competitive prices and your project delivered on time and on budget.

http://www.CharlesNixon.com/

mailto:[email protected]

This article was posted on July 13, 2004

by Charles Nixon III

Using Your Personal Website To Clinch That Job!

Using Your Personal Website To Clinch That Job!

by: Colin Ong Tau Shien

With an increasing number of employment portals emerging, it is apparent that internet tools do help bring the jobseeker and the potential employer together. A sophisticated job search engine enables the jobseeker to have a smaller sample of relevant job openings instead of going through countless newspaper advertisements.

However, for most jobseekers, their resumes are not attractive enough. They can utilise their personal homepage to boost their chances of grabbing that allimportant interview.

Here are some tips:

Allow potential employers to email your referees:

It is important to invite potential employers to email to your referees. Alternatively, you can be systematic and create a simple online feedback form to enable employers to select the information needed and send this request to your referee. Remember to create a brief online profile of your referees to create more credibility.

Your Articles:

It is important to write about 5 articles that demonstrate your interests and allow them to download these articles as pdf files. Your employers maybe impressed with your maturity and willingness to share knowledge to the visitors of your website. For example, if you are seeking employment for a marketing position, you should include an original article about the advantages of internet marketing.

Your Electronic Newsletter:

A natural progression from providing free articles is to invite visitors to be part of your ezine. It will also be advisable to inform subscribers about the contents of your free ezine and to invite article contributions. A certain measure of success is if your ezine membership can swell to about 500 people.

Using the marketing post as an illustration again, if a forwardlooking organisation hires you, they may request that you include their corporate profile and website as a link from your ezine. In the same way, your ezine can also be featured in their corporate website. If you have not embarked on creating an ezine, great places to start are at I Make News.com and Constant Contact.com.

Mini ebook:

Alternatively, you can create a mini ebook. The rule of creating an ebook is that your content should include articles that will be relevant for webmasters. The reason is that you invite people who download it to launch it off their website. Thus your ebook will help you gain awareness through different websites. Some examples of good ebook titles are ‘tips to getting more customersก, กMore traffic means more revenueก and ‘this ebook will make you richก etc.

Your favourite links:

Your potential employer can also understand more of your strengths and interests by viewing your links. Before you start adding links to your website, please ensure that you do not infringe any copyright laws. It will be wise to email the webmaster to seek permission to link to their website. You can also use this opportunity to request for their website logo if they do not provide an affiliate program. To further impress potential employers, you can include a footnote below your website that states กI will like to take this opportunity to thank the webmasters of the following sites for personally granting me permission to use their corporate logos to link back to them. I am honored to be associated with them.ก Providing acknowledgements do have privileges.

The Guest Book:

Use your guest book wisely. Employers may not be convinced about the credibility of noncorporate email postings to your guest book. You may consider encouraging visitors to send greetings using their corporate email. In return, you will allow them to use their signature file to provide a brief profile of their companies below their postings.

About The Author

Colin Ong TS is the Managing Director of MR=MC Consulting (http://www.mrmc.com.sg) and the Founder of the 12n Online Professional Networking Community (http://www.mrmc.com.sg/12n)

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 04, 2004

by Colin Ong Tau Shien