FOCUS on Your Business Program

FOCUS on Your Business Program

by: Raymond Johnsen

Power of Focus !

If you are anything like me, you probably find yourself often thinking of new projects to start, new things to achieve.I did that in my beginning on Internet. That in itself is very beneficial and indeed a required ingredient for success. The trick is to know where to draw a line.

The trap I kept falling into was hoping and looking for new and better programs all the time,easy to find new once,but i forgot about them the next day,instead of working on the programs you already joined and going for the results there.

I would often actually get dragged into gathering more and more information on new opportunities. I would spend time on developing them right then and there. I would be stealing the precious time away from the current project I was supposed to be working on. Obviously, it was a trap.Be aware of this trap! The current project would suffer, because there is only so much time in a day.No one gets results form Surfing the Internet for กGet Rich Tomorrow กand thinking,there must be an easier way!There is not,only hard work will give you success.Focus and work on your Business !

Then I would get discouraged with my current project and drop it because I didn’t see any results. Think long term!One of my future projects would become my current project for the time being, until Iกd drop it in favour of the next project.Its a trap,yes.

This is how most of New to Internet do it!!Dont do the same! Can you see the trap? And it gets even worse: If you keep on doing this for long enough, you will actually program your subconscious mind NOT to complete a project EVER. You will forever keep on failing. Eventually it may even filter through to other areas of your life.I did the same in the beginning,so much waste of time and money!

There is to many Traps out there.Itกs easy to see how working on your online business can become such a trap quickly. Internet is overloaded with information. I won’t even mention the plethora of rubbish that exists online. But there is so much valuable information out there, go and find them,that developing your online business to a profitable stage can take forever, UNLESS you start employing the tremendous power of focus.Its the only way to do it,when you understand this you will get results!

Here is only one way,focus.To be a success in your online venture, you must not be working on more than two projects at a time, EVER. And preferably work on just one project, particularly if you only do your online venture on parttime basis.

And by that I mean, don’t get distracted. Don’t dilute your precious time. Work on your project, whatever it may be, until completion.Learn the program,take the training section over and over again,until you really know how it works!

Many programs can be difficult to understand,but take your time to understand it!

Learn how to!By all means, plan you future. If you want to work on the future ideas, set an hour per week aside for doing just that. And then each week spend that hour thinking about your new projects, write them down. When the time is up, go back to your current project.

I will guarantee you one thing: If you develop and use the power of focus, your success will get better and better with each project. Thats how i got from not getting any results to see great results every week.Focus.

On the other hand, if you keep falling into the trap of working on too many projects at the same time, the chances are you will get nowhere.

http://businessopportunityonline.info

About The Author

Raymond Johnsen is the author of กFOCUS on Your Business Program.ก He has helped a lot of individuals succeed online. Visit his site to find out how you can get Free info about Business Opportunities on Internet and info about how to succeed online..

http://businessopportunityonline.info

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This article was posted on April 20

by Raymond Johnsen

Getting Prospects – Keeping Customers

Getting Prospects – Keeping Customers

by: Julie Martin

Does it seem like your customer base is drying up into a trickle? It can be very difficult to attract new customers and keep them. We will explore several ways to go after new clientele and keep them coming back for more.

Purchasing Leads

This is an option that can strike fear into the heart of even the most seasoned Internet businessperson. You need to find new customers, but it is worth the risk of getting a list that is possibly outdated, or worse, full of customers who consider you a ruthless spammer? If you decide to purchase leads, make sure that the company who is providing them is a reputable, solid company that utilizes double optin features for its lists.

Mailing lists are similar traps for Internet businesses. It is not worth the money spent on acquiring new leads if all the potential customers do is hit their delete button.

The climate for email advertising is not conducive to effective sales right now. You would be best served, again, by purchasing a list that is compiled through double optin and targeted to a specific customer base.

Pay Per Click Advertising

This is a method of advertising for text and graphic ads that ensures you will only have to pay for the customers who actually click to go to your site. This is a great method of cost effective prospect gathering, but you will need to research the companies carefully before starting your ad campaign. There are several shady companies out there who will overcharge and under distribute your ad.

Ezine and Mailing List Prospects

An easy way to find new customers is to join one of the millions of electronic magazines that cover almost as many subjects. You can find one that is suited to your products and join. Take part in the discussion and quietly advertise your products through informative articles, or tasteful subject lines. Remember, nothing turns off potential customers more quickly than a hard sell or a see through ad campaign. Most ezines will not tolerate this, so check with the list manager or guidelines before you start advertising this way.

Keeping Customers

Now that you’ve collected a completely new batch of customers, how do plan to keep them? This can be the tricky part in running a successful business. A large percentage of your revenue can come from satisfied customers who not only keep coming back to you, but tell their friends about your store as well. Word of mouth advertising is priceless and it is important to make sure that it is positive word of mouth!

Maintaining customer relationships is one of the keys to repeat business. A casual followup email or an informative ezine that contains information on new products are great ways to stay in touch with your customers. You can also offer special discounts for returning clients and price breaks after they purchase a certain, set amount from you.

Providing what your clients need is another way to guarantee that they will come to you in the future. Try putting up a brief survey on your website to collect information on products they would like to see in your store, or areas that could use improvement.

A happy customer is one that will return. As they go through the process of purchasing an item from you, make sure that it is simple, and enjoyable for them. If you have to wade through ten pages to buy one simple item, chances are, you will go somewhere else in the future where the process is more streamlined.

Excellent customer service is the best way to keep customers happy. Try to answer all emails and inquiries promptly. Remember their names and what they like so that they feel that you actively care about them as a client. If there is a problem with an order, try to go above and beyond to make it right. The results will most likely be a customer who forgot all about the trouble they were caused and focused instead on your exemplary service and commitment.

About The Author

Julie Martin is the publisher of ขThe Iscaweb eZineข a weekly eZine dedicated to increasing your online profits, no matter what you are selling. Julie also uses the ขPlugInProfitข system to GREAT effect!

To subscribe to the eZine, or to learn more about the PlugInProfit system visit: http://www.iscaweb.com

This article was posted on August 16

by Julie Martin

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

by: Tina Rideout

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Google, Yahoo, and Msn

Does everyone have their dancing shoes on??

Shake:

Google started shaking things up earlier this summer when they went Public.

This is of little importance to the average webmaster, unless of course you are an investor.

Google took it’s time updating and ranking new and old sites during this time period, which had the webmasters whispering and scratching their heads.

Google did finally start dancing again, but with no apparent new dance steps being noticed.

Rattle:

Yahoo joined the dance floor with its new Partner Overture.

The result has been sites which had good status on the Yahoo Search Engine have danced off into Cyberspace. Noticeably being replaced by sites with less significant value, as far as content and longevity.

Again whispers of a new algorithms. The masters are feverishly trying to out boogie the inventors.

Roll:

Msn, sat on the sidelines, watching the dancers and analyzing their moves. Like a slow easy Fox Trot.

Move over Google and Yahoo, we got the rhythm and we will give you the Blues.

Sites that will help you keep up with the latest Search Engine war.

Search Engine Watch:

http://www.searchenginewatch.com

ResearchBuzz:

http://www.researchbuzz.com

Search Engine News

http://www.searchenginelowdown.com

SEO Consultants Directory:

http://www.seoconsultants.com

The question at hand is how does the little guy get an invitation to the dance?

Learn the dance.

About The Author

Written by Tina Rideout

For more information regarding Reciprocal Linking, Writing Articles, and Webite and Marketing Tools, please visit at:

http://freeinternethomebasedbusiness.com/homebusinessblog.html

or

http://freeinternethomebasedbusiness.com

This article was posted on November 15, 2004

by Tina Rideout

Review: Corel Paint IX

Review: Corel Paint IX

by: Maricon Williams

It has been said that Corel Painter IX is the world’s most powerful NaturalMedia painting and illustration software. Corel allows commercial designers, photographers and professional artists to hone their talents and techniques in creating their masterpiece. Corel Painter IX is an extremely stylish painting and illustration application which is designed to seize the complex distinction of traditional art tools while manipulating the implausible power of digital media. It is an essential tool for film making, illustration, photography, fine arts, commercial design and game development.

Corel Painter IX features an improved performance and productivity. It is the fastest version of Corel ever made. It performs ten times faster and brushes work twice as fast. It also features a new welcome screen, enhanced brush control palettes and new frames per second control. By this addition, animators can now test frame rates directly in Corel Painter. Another addition is the new customizable shortcut keys which offer unprecedented level of control over the workflow by enabling complete customization of shortcut keys.

With Corel Painter IX, a milestone in the evolution of digital art has taken place. New artist’s oil painting system can be blended, mixed and made ‘organic’ thus, it blow away preceding misconceptions of a possible digital realm. The new snaptopathpainting is a timesaver feature where users can paint or draw perfect curve or shape. With it, brush strokes along a vector path or shape is no longer impossible. In Corel Painter IX Digital Watercolor has been significantly improved. It becomes more realistically than ever before. For photographers, the new quick clone enables them to easily transform a photo into painting.

Preordering of Corel Painter IX is available through Corel and selected partners. A free trial version is also available for download. The suggested retail pricing of Corel Painter IX is $429 (US) for full, $229 (US) for upgrade and $99 (US) for the education edition. You can visit www.corel.com/comingsoon for more information.

Giving opportunity to beautify photos and painting regardless of the medium is its specialty. Painters are now throwing away the digital curse because they can now sensitively emulate paint, stroke, brush, texture and atmosphere. Some of the satisfied users say that they simply could not have produced a great artwork, reminiscent of the original movie for a production without Corel Painter IX.

There is really no substitute for Corel Painter. It has remarkable power and striking versatility. It sets a standard for performance to redefine the digital art and mastery. No doubt about it – Corel Painter IX has taken digital art to the next level!

About The Author

Maricon Williams

Book reading has always been her greatest passion mysteries, horrors, psychothrillers, historical documentaries and classics. She got hooked into it way back when she was but a shy kid.

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

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 03

by Maricon Williams

What Do You Wish For.

What Do You Wish For.

by: Cheryl White

What do you really wish for ? My wish is to retire from work at the age of thirty and work at home on the internet.

Two years to go, and I believe it is a possible and hopefully will come true. Tired and weary I come home from work, get the chores done and settle down to work on the PC.

From a complete newbie six months ago I am learning fast and my first site is on page 25 of google. OK! I know you need to be in the first three pages of the search to do any good, but I am getting there slowly.

Linking is the biggest chore, but every one knows that to be successful, links are one of the magic words.

Keywords are another and they do require some research, Its no use adding any old words. Is your site a business website or perhaps health, or cookery etc.? Do your home work and search for those elusive keywords that will help your site, make sure your meta keywords only contain the keywords that you have placed on your website.

(New content) Your website is never complete, don’t let it stagnate with just four or five pages and then expect it to get to no1. This won’t happen unless you are a very lucky person.

Ad new content and pages, build your website over time, ad items of interest. No they won’t make you any money but they will keep your visitors on your site for longer, and who knows they might spy that program or ad and decide to go for it making all your work worthwhile.

Although you have a business website do not fill it with loads and loads of job opportunities or ads, give your callers something different, they will find your site more interesting and call back at intervals to see whats new.

Be prepared to read and visit forums for information, if you are not sure about something there are loads of tutorial sites on the web. You can learn about anything and every thing it is a mine of information as you probably know already.

About The Author

Cheryl White, Owner of http://www.money4work.com/ and http://www.worknearn.com/.

©

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 29

by Cheryl White

5 SureFire Tips for Buying a New Computer

5 SureFire Tips for Buying a New Computer

by: John Lenaghan

So you’re thinking of buying a new computer…

Where do you start? There are so many brands and models of computers available, and it can all be a little overwhelming when you start to look around.

How do you decide what type of computer you need? And perhaps more importantly, how do you decide what the best value is?

I have sold computers professionally for almost 20 years, and there are certain ‘tricks of the tradeก that most computer stores and salespeople use. Knowing these secrets can make your decision easier and will help you buy the right computer for your needs.

1. Buy What You Need, Maybe a Little More

One of the most important things you can do when buying a new computer is make a list of the things that you will be using it for. There are so many different models with different capabilities that you can easily buy more, or less, than you really need if you don’t.

If this is your first computer, this can be a little tougher. Until youกve used a computer, itกs hard to know exactly what you might want to do with it beyond the obvious, like connecting to the internet.

Regardless, you should think about some of the things you might want to do. Some possibilities include:

Connect to the internet

Play games

Digital photography

Digital video

Type documents

Accounting

Design websites

Programming

Digital scrapbooking

Geneology

Some of these things need more power than others. For example, connecting to the internet really doesn’t need a lot of power. Even the most basic computer available will probably work just fine.

Digital video and many games need a lot more power. If you don’t get a fast enough computer with enough memory, youกll be disappointed with the performance.

Knowing what you’re going to be using your computer for will help your salesperson, whether they’re on the phone, the internet or standing in front of you, recommend the best system for your needs.

As a general rule you’re always better off buying more power than you need rather than less, but buying too much can be a waste of money.

2. Warranty Considerations

Computer warranties are one of the most confusing and obscure parts of your purchase. Most manufacturers have cut back on their customer service to the point where poor service has become a given.

The three most common options are onsite, carryin or manufacturerกs depot service.

Onsite service can be helpful, but think about whether you want to have to be available for a technician to come and diagnose your computer, and possibly have to come back with parts at another time.

Carry in service is a good option, but find out whether the service center is factory authorized for warranty repairs, as well as whether the technicians are all certified.

Shipping your computer to a factory service center can take a long time sometimes a number of weeks. It also creates risk that your computer will be damaged or even lost in shipping. In some cases, the manufacturer will even replace your computer with another unit and ship it back to you, rather than repairing it. This can result in your losing any information that was on your system and having to reload all your software.

Another aspect of the warranty to find out about is technical support. Find out if the computer manufacturer offers a tollfree phone number and what the quality of service is like.

The better computer salespeople will be honest about this and tell you if a companyกs service leaves something to be desired. You can also do some research on the internet most of the computer magazines like PC Magazine and PC World have annual customer service comparisons that rate the larger computer companies.

Always find out how the warranty is handled before making your decision. Even if it doesn’t influence your choice, knowing what to expect if something does go wrong will save some nasty surprises down the road.

3. Can You Negotiate the Price Down?

A computer is a relatively large investment anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Many computer buyers expect that there is a significant amount of กwiggle roomก on the price.

The reality is that most computer hardware the physical pieces like the computer, monitor and printer is sold at very low profit margins. Often, computer systems are even sold at or below the dealer cost. When you’re buying a computer, it never hurts to ask for a better deal, but don’t be surprised if you only get a few dollars off, if anything.

Over the close to 20 years I sold computers, I watched the profit margins go from over 40% to less than 5%. Itกs almost embarassing to offer a $20 discount on a $2500 computer system, but that could mean the difference between making and losing money on the sale.

What you can do to get the best price is to do some comparison shopping. Most computer stores offer pricematching guarantees, so if you find your computer for less at another store, most dealers will match or beat that price, even if it means they lose money.

4. How Do Computer Stores Make Any Money?

You might be wondering how these computer stores make any money if they’re selling computer for so little profit.

Their money is made on addon items. The highest profit areas in most computer stores are cables and กconsumableก products such as printer ink and paper.

Printer ink is a huge moneymaker for most computer stores (even more so for the printer manufacturers). Why is this? Once youกve bought a printer, you’re going to have to replace your ink at some point, and continue to replace it as it runs out.

Most chain computer stores and office supply stores that carry a large selection of ink cartridges make more from ink than they do from the computers themselves.

Cables also have huge markups. A cable that costs the store $23 will often sell for $2030. Thatกs ten times their cost!

If you’re buying a new computer, you will likely need to buy some cables. Some items printers, for example don’t often include the cables needed to hook them up.

Many printers also come with กstarterก ink cartridges that are only halffull. You might also want to pick up some extra ink cartridges.

This is where you should be able to negotiate a better price. Don’t expect the salesperson to throw them in for nothing, but they should be willing to offer you a better price. After all, if you’re happy with their service, youกll probably continue to buy your ink, paper and other products from that store in the future.

5. What Software is Included?

The last secret of buying a new computer has to do with the software that is included. Most new computer systems include quite a few programs and sometimes the value of the software can be quite high.

Something to watch out for when looking at the included software is ‘trial versionsก or กlimited editionsก.

Many programs that are preloaded are either crippled versions that don’t have all the features of the full program, or trial versions that will only run for a certain amount of time before they expire.

Computer are often sold with trial versions of the following types of software:

antivirus

firewall

MS Office or other office suites

Accounting both business and personal

The computer manufacturers generally don’t make it easy to tell whether the software on their systems are trial versions or limited versions. This is a question that you should specifically ask if you can’t find the answer in their promotional information.

If you’re buying a new computer with trial versions of the software, keep in mind that you will need to pay to continue using it after the trial period is over. This is an added cost that you need to consider as part of your overall budget.

These five กsecretsก of buying a new computer are fairly common sense, but they are not always made clear up front. Knowing what to ask will help you in two ways. First, you can be sure you are getting the right computer for your needs.

Second, if the salesperson or company that you’re dealing with explains these things to you without being asked, youกll know you’re dealing with someone who is honest and upfront.

Knowing you can trust the people you’re dealing with is an invaluable feature of your new computer system.

About The Author

John Lenaghan offers easytounderstand advice at the Computer Help Squad website. Sign up for our newsletter and receive your free report ก5 Critical Steps to Protecting Your Computer on the Internetก at http://www.computerhelpsquad.com/5steps.

This article was posted on August 19, 2005

by John Lenaghan

Will The Real Spammer Please Stand Up!

Will The Real Spammer Please Stand Up!

by: Mustafa K.

If you have been using optin email marketing for sometime, Iกm sure you might have got accused of spam at some point, even after doing everything right.

Yes, Iกm talking about people who actually agreed to receive your email, blaming you for sending unsolicited mail.

According to me itกs not their fault, as nowadays itกs very easy to mistake an กemail marketerก for an กemail bomberก.

The web has grown so wide and huge in the last couple of years that it has become hard to differentiate between a spammer and a legal email marketer.

Spammers just didn’t disturb a regular email users life but also wrecked havoc in the Internet marketing community.

Day after day itกs becoming devastatingly difficult for permission based email marketers to use email legally and not get slammed for illegal mailing.

Even after making sure your email looks, sounds, smells and tastes กLegalก, you run a high risk of either getting blocked or being labeled as a spammer.

On the other hand, if luck favors you and your mail does make it to your subscribers’ inbox safe and sound, whatกs the guarantee that itกll get opened and read?

Itกs a nightmare every marketer would love to avoid.

Well, you can stop worrying now and have a sigh of relief. Itกs about time all the hardcore spammers out there had their last laugh.

The Internet marketing world is abuzz with a brand new technology, which could finally send spamming back to the dark ages, big time.

If you still don’t have a clue of what Iกm talking about, itกs called RSS and itกs turning heads all over the web.

RSS, which stands for ‘really Simple Syndicationก is a new technology, which enables anyone to syndicate his or her content online.

A lot has been written on what is RSS and how it works. So I would like to keep it short and sweet, as Iกm sure you too wouldn’t really want to get into the unnecessary technical stuff.

In simple words, RSS is a way to publish and receive content electronically. RSS files are XML based and are popularly known as RSS feeds.

Whatกs revolutionary about RSS is, it can help you distribute your content directly to your subscribers, without any spam filters interfering.

To subscribe and read your RSS feeds, all your subscribers need to have is an RSS reader, also known as an aggregator.

Whatกs more, they don’t even have to worry about giving out any of their personal details to subscribe to your feed.

And with a screaming bunch of RSS readers available on the web right now (most of them being free), it wouldn’t be very hard to convince your subscribers to get there hands on one.

RSS readers are available in both versions, desktop and webbased, of which the latter seems to be the most popular.

Once your subscriber adds your RSS feed to their favorite RSS reader, you go กliveก and instantly establish a direct connection with your subscriber.

Whenever you have something new to publish, all you have to do is update your already published RSS feed with your fresh content.

As soon you load your feed with new content, walla! Your feed automatically gets updated everywhere itกs subscribed.

No mess, no fuss. Just content that works.

Pretty neat huh?

Thatกs the beauty of RSS. No wonder itกs currently being employed by web honchos like Yahoo! and MSN to deliver content to their users.

They even allow their members to add any RSS feeds of their choice to their members’ area, making them perfect examples of webbased aggregators.

Syndicating your content can mean a lot to you and your business. By publishing your own RSS feeds, you could eventually end up with more leads, more subscribers and not to forget, more money in the bank.

Happy syndicating!

About The Author

Mustafa K. is the cofounder of http://www.rapidfeeds.com, a free online service that helps anyone deliver targeted content to their subscribers through RSS. Sign Up for your FREE account on his site to put an end to blocked messages and add more subscribers.

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 05

by Mustafa K.

The Value of Building An Internet Community

The Value of Building An Internet Community

by: Lois M. Jeary

Synopsis: The internet is a constantly changing, evolving entity. Understanding new laws, new regulations and even new technology is vital to your success. Unless you are prepared to embrace these changes, you may be left behind.

We see thousands of people adopting the internet and its offerings every day. Some will just want to browse from site to site to see whatกs there. Many have started using the internet to do their shopping for both home and business. Others are simply looking for a way to keep in touch with friends and family. A select group of these individuals will see the advantages of creating a homebased business using the internet as their platform.

It is rare though that you will find an individual who can กwear all the hatsก required to run a successful business in todayกs world. There is a huge amount of information that requires consideration when starting your business, not the least of which is a sound business plan.

Selfstarters require talents that range anywhere from being an accountant, a web designer to a graphic artist. Then there is a need for copywriting skills, management and delegation ability, technical know how, legal knowledge and perhaps software development. And letกs not forget about marketing. Thatกs a full plate for anyone, particularly if you are just getting started.

With a bricks กn mortar style business, corporations can hire the talent they need when they need it. For the small, homebased business that is just starting out, this can present problems. And this is where building a community or network of responsible people can be a real boost for you and your business.

You and I have had a chance to connect with other ethical and responsible people who also run an online business. Weกve had the chance to learn from our mistakes and adjust to the changes taking place on the internet on a regular basis. Now think of all the newbies who are just starting their internet adventure today.

Experienced marketers have had some trouble understanding the FTC regulations as well as the new CANSPAM law which went into effect on January 1st, 2004. The law came into effect on January 1st, however, the FTC has until September, 2004 to กfine tuneก the regulations.

Now we are facing more new challenges with email. Personally, Iกve been very disillusioned with email delivery for about a year and a half and I know Iกm not alone. Thatกs why you have seen more publishers switching to rss feeds or weblogs. You’re going to see more publishers adopting a weblogtype format. Others will send a note telling you where the latest online edition is located. The big thing lacking here is interaction. Think back to why you started publishing an ezine in the first place. Didn’t you love getting feedback from your subscribers? Thatกs what made it fun and worthwhile.

With all the changes taking place, we are losing that essential contact with our readers. Of course we need to make money, but that isn’t the whole picture. Subscribers, your customers, are also becoming numb to the reasons behind all the changes taking place. How many times have you asked them to resubscribe? How many did you lose each time? Inboxes have become so congested with unsolicted email, it has become next to impossible to find the information they have requested.

We need to provide a safe place for our readers so that we can get back to providing good content as well as share products and services that will benefit their business as well as yours.

A perfect example is the Quikonnex Service created by Jim Gray and Carolyn Peltier (http://quikonnex.com/109). Here publishers and members of the community can work together. They can share resources and help each other build their businesses. Quikonnex also offers the latest in private messaging (QMTP) which virtually eliminates the need for email to stay in touch with fellow publishers and members.

Quikonnex is a mediarich content management system that beats any service currently out there. You can use Quikonnex to publish your ezine even if you don’t currently have a website or tie it in with your site if you do. The Quikonnex Forum contains a wealth of information. Publishers and members can share tools, ideas, suggestions or tips that help them in their day to day business itกs all about people helping people. What a refreshing change.

For those of you who are hesitant about downloading programs, the creators of Quikonnex built their own crossplatform, cross browser reader called QuikView that makes subscribing to a channel a breeze no matter what browser or operating system you currently use. If you don’t mind downloading a reader, they provide a customized version of the Awasu reader. And itกs all backed up with support.

Don’t let the changes taking place on the internet paralyze you into inaction. And don’t be afraid to make a change that will benefit you as well as your readers. We all have tools that we use in our daily business. If that tool becomes less effective, itกs time to replace it. Just because you started publishing using email as your method of delivery doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it that way.

I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t met some of the amazing and resourceful people who have become my mentors and friends. My way of saying ‘thank youก to them, is to help others along the way. Imagine how powerful, how positive our internet experience would be if we all helped each other succeed.

About The Author

Lois Jeary publishes KIT (Keeping In Touch) through her Home4Success channel which features straight forward articles, helpful hints and suggestions, interaction with subscribers and more. Join today: http://home4success.com/go/to.cgi?l=quik Helping you build a successful homebased business one step at a time. View the Home4Success Channel here: http://quikonnex.com/channel/page/home4success/109/4

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 02, 2004

by Lois M. Jeary

Can You Survive In An Online World?

Can You Survive In An Online World?

by: Jim Edwards

Do you have the skills to make it in a computer driven, increasingly online world?

Your immediate, kneejerk reaction may be กYes! Of course I have the skills.

I know how to send and receive email and surf the web.

I can even download and install files.ก

Well, three or four years ago, email, Web surfing and downloading files qualified you as กelectronically literate,ก but not any more! Computer and online survival skills now encompass much more than that.

Surviving in an online world involves maintaining a high degree of กelectronic literacy,ก which means focusing on and developing skills in the following areas:

** Personal Computer skills **

In the old days of 1998, the ability to use a computer, keyboard and mouse rated anyone as computerliterate.

In fact, you were a real pro if you could burn a CD, scan documents and manipulate digital pictures.

Fast forward to today and กpersonal computer skillsก carries a whole new meaning. You must know how to maintain and update not only antivirus, but กantispyware,ก and firewall software too.

You also need to understand how operating with Windows ME, or 2000, or XP will affect your ability to use certain software along with specific security precautions to avoid trouble from hackers.

** Internet Skills **

In the bygone era of 1998, friends considered you an online genius if you possessed basic surfing and navigation skills.

They watched in awe as you used search engines like InfoSeek.com (a longdefunct search engine) to find and download programs, pictures, and information on specific topics.

Now electronic literacy means the ability to set up, upload, and maintain basic web pages and blogs.

It also means understanding terms such as กRSSก and กnews aggregatorก because thatกs the next generation of how information will get disseminated online (and it arrives for the masses this year).

** Email Skills **

Perhaps the most deceptively simple of all the areas of electronic literacy, email actually presents the most challenges for keeping up with the times.

Previously, clicking the กsend and receiveก button meant you were proficient at using email.

Now, because of spam, viruses and กphishing scamsก (identity theft schemes delivered through email), email requires a whole new set of skills, กstreet smartsก and software just to survive.

You must understand how to use an email กpreviewก program such as MailWasher.net to eliminate spam and virus email messages before they ever reach your computer.

You also must learn to protect your identity and avoid กphishing scamsก by learning to recognize and defend against online conartist tactics.

** Buy or Borrow Expertise **

Though you should constantly upgrade your skills through personal education, nobody can do or know it all (except maybe your knowitall bother in law).

The good news is that you can always buy or borrow someone elseกs expertise to solve any online challenge.

A prime example of outsourcing in the consumer market is all the little stores popping up in strip malls to help you sell your stuff on eBay.

Through outsourcing, online survival skills can also mean taking what was previously the exclusive realm of computer geeks and making it as easy as dropping off the dry cleaning.

(c) Jim Edwards All Rights reserved

http://www.TheNetReporter.com

About The Author

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the coauthor of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links…

Simple ‘traffic Machineก brings Thousands of NEW visitors to your website for weeks, even months… without spending a dime on advertising! ==> http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com

This article was posted on August 23

by Jim Edwards