This in How to Figure the Loan Value on a Vehicle by Leigh Egan in ehow.com
Whether you are a potential car buyer looking for a good deal on a vehicle or are thinking of selling your car, you first need to figure out the vehicle's loan value in order to negotiate a satisfactory transaction or ask a fair price. A car's value is determined by several important factors such as the vehicle's make, model, exterior and interior condition, mechanical shape and added features such as anti-lock brakes and airbags. Although a used vehicle's worth is not set in stone, there are ways in which you can get the average loan value.
Instructions :
Step 1
Evaluate your car's condition. Look for cosmetic flaws as well as any mechanical problems. Have a trusted mechanic appraise your car's condition if you are unsure.
Step 2
Visit the official site for The Kelley Blue Book (see References). Click on either the "New Car" tab or the "Used Car" tab, depending upon the car you are trying to find the loan value on, and click go.
Step 3
Select the year, make and model of your vehicle in the provided boxes on the next page. Click the "Go" button to proceed to the next page. Choose the "Suggested Retail Value" button on the next page. Enter any extra features your vehicle has such as power locks or dual air bags, then press continue to proceed.
Step 4
Follow the guideline, read each selection thoroughly and choose your vehicle's condition on the next page. Click submit to get the approximate loan value on your car.
Step 5
Peruse consumer websites, magazines and other car-related resources, such as Consumer Reports and Auto Trader. to get a general idea of how much your vehicle loan value is worth. Be certain to look for vehicles that match your car's description, including wear and tear, cosmetics, mileage and any extra features.
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
How to Speed Up Performance on a Slow Windows Computer - Optimise Your Computer Fast
Does your computer keep freezing on you when you are using it? Does it take what seems forever for windows to start up? This is more common than you might think and you do not have to call a technician to fix it.
This is what you need to do to overcome a slow computer.
#1 The very first thing you need to do is to free up more memory and more space on your hard drive. The easiest way to do this is by removing any unwanted programs, unused programs, deleting pictures, documents and files you no longer need or use.
#2 The next thing you need to do is to remove all your temporary files. Do not confuse this with temporary internet files. These can take up a large amount of disk space. You do this by running the windows disk cleanup program which can be found from the start menu->programs->accessories->system tools->disk cleanup.
The next step is the most important step to optimising your computer and making it fast again.
#3 Run a free registry scan with good registry cleaner. This will detect any entries that are not needed, invalid start up files, and entries for programs that have already been removed that are making the registry too big and slowing down your computer. Running a good registry cleaner will detect these quickly and show you how to remove them with one click.
Doing these steps in this order will speed up your computer, making it run faster and start faster and prevent registry errors causing it to crash, or worse, failing to start at all.
David S Marshall |ezinearticles
This is what you need to do to overcome a slow computer.
#1 The very first thing you need to do is to free up more memory and more space on your hard drive. The easiest way to do this is by removing any unwanted programs, unused programs, deleting pictures, documents and files you no longer need or use.
#2 The next thing you need to do is to remove all your temporary files. Do not confuse this with temporary internet files. These can take up a large amount of disk space. You do this by running the windows disk cleanup program which can be found from the start menu->programs->accessories->system tools->disk cleanup.
The next step is the most important step to optimising your computer and making it fast again.
#3 Run a free registry scan with good registry cleaner. This will detect any entries that are not needed, invalid start up files, and entries for programs that have already been removed that are making the registry too big and slowing down your computer. Running a good registry cleaner will detect these quickly and show you how to remove them with one click.
Doing these steps in this order will speed up your computer, making it run faster and start faster and prevent registry errors causing it to crash, or worse, failing to start at all.
David S Marshall |ezinearticles
Thursday, August 6, 2009
How to Have a Successful Job Interview
Getting the interview is the first big step, but now that you are in the room with the interviewer--what do you do? Do you just sit there and answer questions like you're in an interrogation? Or do you brag about your accomplishments? The most important thing to keep in mind is--it's also their time to impress you. Here’s how to rule your interview.Instructions
Step 1
Make eye contact, but don’t stare. This is a simple rule of thumb. But not coming off as a creepy stalker is a fine line. Making eye contact tells the person you are confident about who you are and are not afraid to let people see that.
Step 2
Try to match the posture and position of the interviewer. If your interviewer is sitting upright with their hands folded, you should try to sit the same way without acting as a mirror. The interviewer is looking for people that will fit into the company. Showing the same mannerisms conveys that message. On the other side, if the interviewer is laid back and relaxed, take that as a sign that you can lean back in your chair and get comfortable.
Step 3
Do not be too serious. Many people give you insight into their personality within minutes of meeting them. You should know in short order if cracking a one-line joke is appropriate. Don’t put on an entire comedy routine, but show the person that you know when to take yourself lightly. They already know you have the experience from your resume. Now is the time to show your personality.
Step 4
Do not be afraid to ask questions. This is not a one-way interview. Ask as many questions about the company as you can without letting it seem as if you do not know anything about them. You should always research the company you are interviewing with before you go. Asking a question shows you have interest in the company, not just interested in a paycheck. Plus it gives you more information to help you decide whether or not you even want to work for the organization in the first place.
Step 5
Be confident, but not cocky. There is nothing wrong with talking about your accomplishments; that is the reason they called you in for an interview. But be aware of your attitude while relaying the information. Don’t just talk about the results; add in what you did to make it happen. Keep in mind that there is another person waiting to get this job. Do not give an impression that your attitude could be a potential problem.
Kristen Fischer | ehow
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Home theater speaker buying tips
First thing, determine your system's priorities. Will you watch movies or listen to music? Most folks do one or the other.
Since more home theater speaker buyers watch movies than listen to music, I'll start there.
It's hardly an overstatement to claim movie-oriented home theater systems succeed or fail based on their center channel's performance and sound quality. The center speaker delivers virtually all the dialog and it can, depending on the mix, convey upward of 80 percent of a movie's soundtrack. The center speaker has a big job.
So invest 30 percent of your 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 system budget on the center speaker, the Center Centric HT approach. As always, when it comes to sound quality, size matters. Bigger centers tend to sound better than small ones.
The subwoofer is the next most important player in a home theater sound system. Invest the next 30 percent of your dollars on the sub. The sub is largely responsible for home theater impact and power.
That leaves 40 percent of the budget for the front and surround left and right speakers. Of that, I'd put more bucks into the front speakers than the surrounds.
What I'm describing here is a little unconventional, but it's predicated on the belief that the best possible sounding center and sub are crucial for home theater performance. I'm also assuming all the speakers and probably the sub are from the same manufacturer.
For more music oriented home theaters the priorities are reversed. Fifty percent or more of the budget goes for the front left and right speakers, which should be large enough to produce bass without the aid of a subwoofer. The remaining budget is spent on the center and surround speakers (more on the center than surrounds). It's the "Stereo Plus Three HT" approach.
After all, music is mostly stereo, so it makes sense to put the lion's share of your dollars where they'll do the most good: The left and right front speakers.
Lastly, the 50/50 movies and music system. Evenly distribute your budget and buy the more typical "matched" system. Thing is, it won't sound as good as either the movie or music systems described above, when doing what they were designed to do.
I make my living writing about audio and reviewing tons of gear every year. My opinions about speaker sound quality are covered in the reviews. Asking advice from me or anybody else about speaker sound quality is like asking what's better, chocolate or strawberry? There's no definitive answer, it's a matter of taste.
With speakers and subs you really have to listen for yourself. That, or buy the ones I like the most.
Steve Guttenberg
[via news.cnet]
Saturday, May 16, 2009
7 Great Tips to Get The Best Discount Ceiling Fan That Can Effortlessly Save You Money Every Year.
Summers on its way again and its time to pull up a couch get a chilled glass of water and turn that Ceiling fan on, to feel that refreshing cool breeze cover the whole room. As with all we can buy today, you can always find those companies that excel in the manufacture of their given product and ceiling fans are no different. Hunter and hampton bay ceiling fans are just two of the leading companies amongst others. Lets take a look back in history to read a little about how they came into being, and their evolution to date.
Generations before us found that waving a palm leaf vigorously, produced the pleasurable feeling of a fresh refreshingly cool breeze. This was also used by the affluent amongst the early Assyria and Egypt. It is known that they employed servants to wave huge leaves to make them feel cool on hot days, while relaxed and ate grapes and drank cool beverages.
As the slave dynasty dwindled, people needed a replacement method to keep themselves cool in very hot conditions. Thats where hand fans came about; the Japanese folding fan and the Chinese dancing fan, are some typical examples.
Eventually, the world’s most talented inventors started to tackle the problem of designing mechanically powered, personal wind-generating machines for ease and greater output. In 1882, a proud fanatic named Diehl introduced the first electric ceiling fan. His invention was a bubble-blade adaptation of the well known belt driven fan with self-contained electric motor; but from then on the writing was on the wall, change was in the air!
Over the next decade, improvements both in and out gave rise to ceiling fans that were truly up-to-the-minute. Gone were the days of manual labour, the Ceiling Fan finally came of age. Choosing the right ceiling fan for the space you have is important. Obviously, you would want a stylish fan that gives you the best output at the least cost.
Here are 7 Great Tips to Get You Started.
- Check the size and shape of your room. The amount of floor space you have as well as height of your ceiling will have to be taken into account when picking out a ceiling fan.
- Go to a website offering a large number of models and brand names, so you have plenty to select from. Ceiling fans are available in many varieties; some even come with light fixtures or have kits available for adding lights.
- Know your budget. They can range in price from less than fifty dollars to several hundred dollars.
- Your ceiling fan you should blend with the design of the room it is going to be fitted in.
- Depending on the size of your room, fans with smaller blades can help you avoid overfilling the room and make it look even smaller than it is.
- Look at the number of blades. Generally, more blades means more air movement at lower speeds, which reduces noise.
- You have to hire a professional to fit your ceiling fan, the last you want to do is blow the circuits in your brand new fan and have to order another.
With attentive consideration and intelligent investigation, you will find a discount ceiling fan that will match your room decor and be cost-effective enough to save you some money on your electricity bills.
source : Kalwant rana - phblogger.net
Generations before us found that waving a palm leaf vigorously, produced the pleasurable feeling of a fresh refreshingly cool breeze. This was also used by the affluent amongst the early Assyria and Egypt. It is known that they employed servants to wave huge leaves to make them feel cool on hot days, while relaxed and ate grapes and drank cool beverages.
As the slave dynasty dwindled, people needed a replacement method to keep themselves cool in very hot conditions. Thats where hand fans came about; the Japanese folding fan and the Chinese dancing fan, are some typical examples.
Eventually, the world’s most talented inventors started to tackle the problem of designing mechanically powered, personal wind-generating machines for ease and greater output. In 1882, a proud fanatic named Diehl introduced the first electric ceiling fan. His invention was a bubble-blade adaptation of the well known belt driven fan with self-contained electric motor; but from then on the writing was on the wall, change was in the air!
Over the next decade, improvements both in and out gave rise to ceiling fans that were truly up-to-the-minute. Gone were the days of manual labour, the Ceiling Fan finally came of age. Choosing the right ceiling fan for the space you have is important. Obviously, you would want a stylish fan that gives you the best output at the least cost.
Here are 7 Great Tips to Get You Started.
- Check the size and shape of your room. The amount of floor space you have as well as height of your ceiling will have to be taken into account when picking out a ceiling fan.
- Go to a website offering a large number of models and brand names, so you have plenty to select from. Ceiling fans are available in many varieties; some even come with light fixtures or have kits available for adding lights.
- Know your budget. They can range in price from less than fifty dollars to several hundred dollars.
- Your ceiling fan you should blend with the design of the room it is going to be fitted in.
- Depending on the size of your room, fans with smaller blades can help you avoid overfilling the room and make it look even smaller than it is.
- Look at the number of blades. Generally, more blades means more air movement at lower speeds, which reduces noise.
- You have to hire a professional to fit your ceiling fan, the last you want to do is blow the circuits in your brand new fan and have to order another.
With attentive consideration and intelligent investigation, you will find a discount ceiling fan that will match your room decor and be cost-effective enough to save you some money on your electricity bills.
source : Kalwant rana - phblogger.net
Measuring the Value of Search Optimized PR
Measuring the effect of online marketing and PR efforts is essential for both understanding the return on investment but also for feedback that will improve subsequent efforts.
Measuring the effect of SEO for Public Relations benefits should start with well defined outcomes. To get a good handle on SEO effectiveness, it’s important to match the purpose for the effort with specific metrics. For example, if improving brand visibility is a goal, then documenting brand mentions in connection with news & PR content at regular intervals can demonstrate the effect of content promotion and link building.
Online PR metrics and tools often include:
* News wire service metrics (see screen capture below)
* Web analytics for landing pages and web site
* Google and Yahoo alerts
* Monitor blog search engines (via RSS)
* Press release landing page conversion tracking
* Social media monitoring
* Inbound links
* Pickups on blogs
* Pickups on other web sites & online publications
* News and Standard Search Engine Rankings
* Conversions: Less likely sales, more likely white paper downloads, webinar signups, newsletter subscriptions, demos, etc
prweb stats
As I’ve mentioned, the specific metrics and tools to use should match the news content being optimized and it’s purpose. For example, a press release that is keyword optimized and announcing a promotional offer of some kind, should have tracking codes added to the links embedded in the release. Those links should point to landing pages designed to convert visitors from the press release to the desired outcome. Ranking is not a worthwhile metric in this case but conversions are.
Capturing various measures and key performance indicators isn’t enough to gain support for optimizing news content in many organizations. These efforts belong within the Public Relations effort and should emphasize goals consistent with PR objectives. Sometimes it takes a little creative packaging of analytics to help other departments or upstream executives “get” the value of optimizing PR content for search.
Here are a few tactics to use in order to sell the value of SEO within a PR effort:
* Show competitor social search visibility vs client/company
* Show competitor’s optimized news content ranking in various types of search engines where the company/client is not (and probably should be)
* Research a keyword glossary and run a ranking report on those phrases. Show the lack of search visibility for what search audiences are actually looking for, relevant to the business
* Run a test of a few news items, whether they be blog posts, press releases or a digital asset like video. Take a benchmark measurement first and then show progress.
* Set keyword ranking goals for news content and estimate the cost to achieve the same goals with PPC advertising over time. Demonstrate the cost of organic search traffic vs PPC traffic.
If you can’t get budget approval for an overall search campaign as part of specific PR efforts, then using a competitive example or a small scale test might be enough to demonstrate the value of incorporating SEO with Public Relations.
That wraps up our series of posts on Top Ten SEO Tips for News and PR where you can find an index of all 10 posts as well as the PowerPoint deck that inspired it.
source : Lee Odden - toprankblog.com
Measuring the effect of SEO for Public Relations benefits should start with well defined outcomes. To get a good handle on SEO effectiveness, it’s important to match the purpose for the effort with specific metrics. For example, if improving brand visibility is a goal, then documenting brand mentions in connection with news & PR content at regular intervals can demonstrate the effect of content promotion and link building.
Online PR metrics and tools often include:
* News wire service metrics (see screen capture below)
* Web analytics for landing pages and web site
* Google and Yahoo alerts
* Monitor blog search engines (via RSS)
* Press release landing page conversion tracking
* Social media monitoring
* Inbound links
* Pickups on blogs
* Pickups on other web sites & online publications
* News and Standard Search Engine Rankings
* Conversions: Less likely sales, more likely white paper downloads, webinar signups, newsletter subscriptions, demos, etc
prweb stats
As I’ve mentioned, the specific metrics and tools to use should match the news content being optimized and it’s purpose. For example, a press release that is keyword optimized and announcing a promotional offer of some kind, should have tracking codes added to the links embedded in the release. Those links should point to landing pages designed to convert visitors from the press release to the desired outcome. Ranking is not a worthwhile metric in this case but conversions are.
Capturing various measures and key performance indicators isn’t enough to gain support for optimizing news content in many organizations. These efforts belong within the Public Relations effort and should emphasize goals consistent with PR objectives. Sometimes it takes a little creative packaging of analytics to help other departments or upstream executives “get” the value of optimizing PR content for search.
Here are a few tactics to use in order to sell the value of SEO within a PR effort:
* Show competitor social search visibility vs client/company
* Show competitor’s optimized news content ranking in various types of search engines where the company/client is not (and probably should be)
* Research a keyword glossary and run a ranking report on those phrases. Show the lack of search visibility for what search audiences are actually looking for, relevant to the business
* Run a test of a few news items, whether they be blog posts, press releases or a digital asset like video. Take a benchmark measurement first and then show progress.
* Set keyword ranking goals for news content and estimate the cost to achieve the same goals with PPC advertising over time. Demonstrate the cost of organic search traffic vs PPC traffic.
If you can’t get budget approval for an overall search campaign as part of specific PR efforts, then using a competitive example or a small scale test might be enough to demonstrate the value of incorporating SEO with Public Relations.
That wraps up our series of posts on Top Ten SEO Tips for News and PR where you can find an index of all 10 posts as well as the PowerPoint deck that inspired it.
source : Lee Odden - toprankblog.com
8 Cool Tips & Tricks to Make Most Of Google Chrome
The popularity of any software can be guessed from the number of hacks that trail it after a release. Or the number of add-ons. Google Chrome seems to be not only holding its own but also trotting along. As of April 2009, it is the world’s fourth most popular browser. Not bad for a browser which is few months away from its first birthday.
As user opinions sally back and forth about browser preferences, one thing is not open to question. Firefox is definitely more expandable and customizable than all others out there (Don’t they call it the Swiss Army knife for the web).
But if you like the Chrome’s agility then there are ways to make it more versatile. We at MakeUseOf.com have gone over quite a lot of ground with the Chrome. You can read about some tips and tricks here and here.
Here are some more ways to reach under the hood and exploit some handy Chrome features.
1. Make Chrome’s consume less memory
By default, Chrome is a multi-process browser. Yawn! What’s that? Simply, it means that each tab runs as a separate process asking for separate resources from the computer. The current working tab gets the most priority over the others. This was intentionally designed to make web apps run faster in Chrome. This feature makes the browser zippier and more stable even with multiple open tabs.
But if you aren’t a heavy user and use the browser to surf only a single site at a time then disabling multiple processes can free up some CPU resources. To handle each web process Chrome has three settings –
–process-per-tab
The default mode; each tab gets an independent process of its own. This increases the rendering of webpages and makes the browser stable as each tab is a separate process from the rest. But it also consumes memory.
–process-per-site
One process for each unique website; for instance a user with two tabs open for Gmail and another for MakeUseOf will have the two Google tabs running under the same process.
–single-process
The simplest mode; all tabs run in a single process, much like the other browsers we have now. This setting frees up memory for other applications. This is what we are looking for.
Create a shortcut for Chrome. Open the Properties tab. Edit the Target field as shown in the picture by appending –single-process to the path.
Similarly you can create two more shortcuts for the other two processes to handle your web sessions in three ways.
2. Manage tabs with the Task Manager
This is an offshoot of Google Chrome’s multi-process nature which allows each tab to run separate from the other. This allows us to manage, reload or shut down each tab without affecting the rest of our browsing. All this can be done through the Task Manager. Press Shift and Escape to start the task manager or right click on the blue top bar. An unresponsive tab can be shut down without bringing down the browser by a simple press of the End process button.
3. Some stats for nerds
There is a simple way to tell which browser is using the most resources on your computer. Chrome’s task manager lets you examine the memory use of the opened browsers on your computer irrespective of make. Open task manager and click on the ‘Stats for nerds’ link at the bottom. A new tab opens with detailed memory info for all running browsers. The second part of the page also describes Chrome’s process usage stats.
source : makeuseof.com
As user opinions sally back and forth about browser preferences, one thing is not open to question. Firefox is definitely more expandable and customizable than all others out there (Don’t they call it the Swiss Army knife for the web).
But if you like the Chrome’s agility then there are ways to make it more versatile. We at MakeUseOf.com have gone over quite a lot of ground with the Chrome. You can read about some tips and tricks here and here.
Here are some more ways to reach under the hood and exploit some handy Chrome features.
1. Make Chrome’s consume less memory
By default, Chrome is a multi-process browser. Yawn! What’s that? Simply, it means that each tab runs as a separate process asking for separate resources from the computer. The current working tab gets the most priority over the others. This was intentionally designed to make web apps run faster in Chrome. This feature makes the browser zippier and more stable even with multiple open tabs.
But if you aren’t a heavy user and use the browser to surf only a single site at a time then disabling multiple processes can free up some CPU resources. To handle each web process Chrome has three settings –
–process-per-tab
The default mode; each tab gets an independent process of its own. This increases the rendering of webpages and makes the browser stable as each tab is a separate process from the rest. But it also consumes memory.
–process-per-site
One process for each unique website; for instance a user with two tabs open for Gmail and another for MakeUseOf will have the two Google tabs running under the same process.
–single-process
The simplest mode; all tabs run in a single process, much like the other browsers we have now. This setting frees up memory for other applications. This is what we are looking for.
Create a shortcut for Chrome. Open the Properties tab. Edit the Target field as shown in the picture by appending –single-process to the path.
Similarly you can create two more shortcuts for the other two processes to handle your web sessions in three ways.
2. Manage tabs with the Task Manager
This is an offshoot of Google Chrome’s multi-process nature which allows each tab to run separate from the other. This allows us to manage, reload or shut down each tab without affecting the rest of our browsing. All this can be done through the Task Manager. Press Shift and Escape to start the task manager or right click on the blue top bar. An unresponsive tab can be shut down without bringing down the browser by a simple press of the End process button.
3. Some stats for nerds
There is a simple way to tell which browser is using the most resources on your computer. Chrome’s task manager lets you examine the memory use of the opened browsers on your computer irrespective of make. Open task manager and click on the ‘Stats for nerds’ link at the bottom. A new tab opens with detailed memory info for all running browsers. The second part of the page also describes Chrome’s process usage stats.
4. Some more stats on the Resources page
More for site administrators than for you and me but the resources page has a ton of info to offer. To track the resources used by a web page - right click inside the page. Select Inspect element – go to the Resources tab and reload the web page. You can view a list of images, scripts and objects from the web page and you can sort them by size or by loading time.
5. Drag to resize any text box
Do you feel that the size of a text box on any website is not worthy of your thoughts…then just place your mouse on the bottom right edge and drag to increase the size. Give MakeUseOf.com’s comment box the first drag.
6. Split Chrome into double-pane view
This bookmarklet from Chromeplugins.org is incredibly useful. The dual view feature is useful when you want to compare two websites or search results side by side. Drag the Chrome Split Browser bookmarklet into your bookmarks toolbar. When you click the bookmarklet, it asks you to choose the two websites you want and displays them in a double pane.
7. Startup with multiple pages
On launch, Chrome opens up with the ‘Most visited’ area. But it also lets us set options for starting the day by opening our most favored sites in several tabs at once. Click on the wrench icon (Customize and control Chrome) on the top right corner. Under Options - Basic tab we can add the pages we want to open on startup.
8. Drag and drop downloads from Chrome
After finishing a download, you can copy it to the desktop or to any other folder by a simple drag and drop directly from Google Chrome.
source : makeuseof.com
Monday, May 11, 2009
How to Increase Google Page Rank Secret?
PageRank is a secret algorithm which Google defines as: "...PageRank continues to provide the basis for all of our web search tools."
Google also states: "Important, high-quality sites receive a higher PageRank, which Google remembers each time it conducts a search. Of course, important pages mean nothing to you if they don't match your query. So, Google combines PageRank with sophisticated text-matching techniques to find pages that are both important and relevant to your search. Google goes far beyond the number of times a term appears on a page and examines all aspects of the page's content (and the content of the pages linking to it) to determine if it's a good match for your query."
The purpose of this article is to document the pervasive myths, correct and clarify the definition by Google, correct the inaccurate PageRank information visible on many Forums, and the unwarranted obsessive nature that many folks have about PageRank. In essence, PageRank does not work the way you might think after reading the Google page.
Linking to other sites using PR (PageRank) as the determining factor and or any factor in your decision
This is a false assumption. Don't waste your time using the Google Toolbar. PR has nothing to do with where your site is listed in a given search. Want some proof? Drill down to some of this sites Webmaster Directory pages which opens in a new window, extract a few keywords and search. In some cases this site is in the top 5 listings and my page is PR2. Still not convinced? Fasten your hard disk. Run a search for "free webmaster tools" and you will see that this site is currently listed in the top 6 and the PR for my home page is only 6.
Reciprocal linking and linking guidelines
You should link to another site because it provides quality content complementary to your own, enhances and helps your visitors, propagates your "brand", and has the potential to provide both you and your link partner with targeted traffic. I've been using this criteria for a number of months on this site with absolutely no regard to PR. The net result is my Google traffic is up over 100% and so are my PageViews and unique visitors. Our own Barter/Trade Links Forum has provided thousands of Webmasters with link partners, which enhances both parties targeted traffic.
Their are no shortcuts or tricks to this procedure. You need to examine the other site, reject "Link Farms", "Off-Site Link Services", "TopSites", and any site who has a "links" page which does not branch from the sites home page. What about "bad neighborhood" sites which have a gray PR bar? If you take my advice and spend the time to visit the other site, you will spot some of these "Spam" kings and reject them without the use of the Toolbar. If a few slip through, don't worry. I have no evidence and neither do you that Google will ban your site for linking to an unrelated "Spam" site nor am I concerned because I spend the time to examine the site using the criteria I mentioned.
What is the value of PageRank?
Google uses PR in it's Directory listings. The default listings in a given Category is initially sorted by PR. This Directory uses data from ODP (Open Directory Project) which is also known as DMOZ. You can't determine the actual PR number but you can view the PR bar and ballpark the number. I consider this PR sort of limited value. Given the fact that most surfers don't drill through the Directory to reach your site. On this site, only about 15% of the Google referrals originate from the Directory. Does Google update these sorted PR listing? The evidence is inconclusive.
Want some proof to support the claim that PR may in fact never change in the Directory? My longtime friend, Ryan Adams, of ClickQuick fame used to have a fantastic site but because of time constraints, the site has not been updated or any page changed in over 1.5 years. ClickQuick is still listed as number 3 in the Google Directory with a PR6 and as one of his link partners, I can tell you that traffic from my old link on his home page has experienced a 400% reduction. Perhaps this is an isolated incidence as I have other examples where new sites move up in PR and eventually reach the sorted list as not all sites are sorted by PR. My point is that a higher listing in the Google Directory because of your sites PR is still of little concern/value and you can and should improve your site for Google with new content, rather than obsessing over PR.
Have you ever wondered why the PR number is not available in the Directory (even though the data is fetched) and why you must use the Google "Advanced Features" Toolbar, which tracks your surfing habits to obtain the PR number? I don't read minds but this procedure is a mystery to me. Is this a marketing ploy to collect your surfing habits to enhance the advertising sales of Google? I don't think so, since so few surfers actually use the Advanced Features Toolbar. Frankly, the small percent of folks who use this version of the Toolbar are SEO geeks and very teckie Webmasters. My own surveys of regular surfers indicate 90% of them never use the Advanced Features Toolbar and never use a PR value as a criteria on bookmarking the site and making it one of their favorite stops.
PageRank conclusions
It's important to remember that everything Google does is secret and in constant flux. No Webmaster (including me) or any SEO geek can tell you with 100% certainty exactly the way PR or a SERP (Search Engine Results Page) work. I say this after spending over 100 hours in research to create this article. PageRank is but one of perhaps 100 different factors which Google may use to determine exactly where your listing will appear in a given search. That's all that matters, top 10-20 placement in a search. It's best to view PR as a "very raw" metrix and most importantly, an automatic result of proper site construction, maintenance, and SE optimization.
What I can tell you with absolute certainty is to use common sense from a "user experience" perspective and that sites should be built using three factors in the exact order stated:
1. Appropriate Design including usability and advertising placement
2. Compelling content updated on a regular basis
3. Optimized for Search Engines and Directories
Forget PR, build your sites in this order and Google will reward you with targeted traffic.
source : free-webmaster-tools.com
Google also states: "Important, high-quality sites receive a higher PageRank, which Google remembers each time it conducts a search. Of course, important pages mean nothing to you if they don't match your query. So, Google combines PageRank with sophisticated text-matching techniques to find pages that are both important and relevant to your search. Google goes far beyond the number of times a term appears on a page and examines all aspects of the page's content (and the content of the pages linking to it) to determine if it's a good match for your query."
The purpose of this article is to document the pervasive myths, correct and clarify the definition by Google, correct the inaccurate PageRank information visible on many Forums, and the unwarranted obsessive nature that many folks have about PageRank. In essence, PageRank does not work the way you might think after reading the Google page.
Linking to other sites using PR (PageRank) as the determining factor and or any factor in your decision
This is a false assumption. Don't waste your time using the Google Toolbar. PR has nothing to do with where your site is listed in a given search. Want some proof? Drill down to some of this sites Webmaster Directory pages which opens in a new window, extract a few keywords and search. In some cases this site is in the top 5 listings and my page is PR2. Still not convinced? Fasten your hard disk. Run a search for "free webmaster tools" and you will see that this site is currently listed in the top 6 and the PR for my home page is only 6.
Reciprocal linking and linking guidelines
You should link to another site because it provides quality content complementary to your own, enhances and helps your visitors, propagates your "brand", and has the potential to provide both you and your link partner with targeted traffic. I've been using this criteria for a number of months on this site with absolutely no regard to PR. The net result is my Google traffic is up over 100% and so are my PageViews and unique visitors. Our own Barter/Trade Links Forum has provided thousands of Webmasters with link partners, which enhances both parties targeted traffic.
Their are no shortcuts or tricks to this procedure. You need to examine the other site, reject "Link Farms", "Off-Site Link Services", "TopSites", and any site who has a "links" page which does not branch from the sites home page. What about "bad neighborhood" sites which have a gray PR bar? If you take my advice and spend the time to visit the other site, you will spot some of these "Spam" kings and reject them without the use of the Toolbar. If a few slip through, don't worry. I have no evidence and neither do you that Google will ban your site for linking to an unrelated "Spam" site nor am I concerned because I spend the time to examine the site using the criteria I mentioned.
What is the value of PageRank?
Google uses PR in it's Directory listings. The default listings in a given Category is initially sorted by PR. This Directory uses data from ODP (Open Directory Project) which is also known as DMOZ. You can't determine the actual PR number but you can view the PR bar and ballpark the number. I consider this PR sort of limited value. Given the fact that most surfers don't drill through the Directory to reach your site. On this site, only about 15% of the Google referrals originate from the Directory. Does Google update these sorted PR listing? The evidence is inconclusive.
Want some proof to support the claim that PR may in fact never change in the Directory? My longtime friend, Ryan Adams, of ClickQuick fame used to have a fantastic site but because of time constraints, the site has not been updated or any page changed in over 1.5 years. ClickQuick is still listed as number 3 in the Google Directory with a PR6 and as one of his link partners, I can tell you that traffic from my old link on his home page has experienced a 400% reduction. Perhaps this is an isolated incidence as I have other examples where new sites move up in PR and eventually reach the sorted list as not all sites are sorted by PR. My point is that a higher listing in the Google Directory because of your sites PR is still of little concern/value and you can and should improve your site for Google with new content, rather than obsessing over PR.
Have you ever wondered why the PR number is not available in the Directory (even though the data is fetched) and why you must use the Google "Advanced Features" Toolbar, which tracks your surfing habits to obtain the PR number? I don't read minds but this procedure is a mystery to me. Is this a marketing ploy to collect your surfing habits to enhance the advertising sales of Google? I don't think so, since so few surfers actually use the Advanced Features Toolbar. Frankly, the small percent of folks who use this version of the Toolbar are SEO geeks and very teckie Webmasters. My own surveys of regular surfers indicate 90% of them never use the Advanced Features Toolbar and never use a PR value as a criteria on bookmarking the site and making it one of their favorite stops.
PageRank conclusions
It's important to remember that everything Google does is secret and in constant flux. No Webmaster (including me) or any SEO geek can tell you with 100% certainty exactly the way PR or a SERP (Search Engine Results Page) work. I say this after spending over 100 hours in research to create this article. PageRank is but one of perhaps 100 different factors which Google may use to determine exactly where your listing will appear in a given search. That's all that matters, top 10-20 placement in a search. It's best to view PR as a "very raw" metrix and most importantly, an automatic result of proper site construction, maintenance, and SE optimization.
What I can tell you with absolute certainty is to use common sense from a "user experience" perspective and that sites should be built using three factors in the exact order stated:
1. Appropriate Design including usability and advertising placement
2. Compelling content updated on a regular basis
3. Optimized for Search Engines and Directories
Forget PR, build your sites in this order and Google will reward you with targeted traffic.
source : free-webmaster-tools.com
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Weight Loss Via Hypnosis - You Can Lose Weight Via Hypnosis
If you've been trying to lose weight for as long as I have, you already know the right kind of foods you should be eating, but you probably find it difficult to do so. Weight loss via hypnosis can help you eliminate all those cravings you have for sweets and fatty foods.
Weight control has been a struggle for many men and women for most of their lives. We all gain weight for different reasons. Some gain weight because of giving birth, others because of the stressful, fast-paced lifestyle they live and others just because they eat the wrong food at the wrong time.
If you've been dieting for any length of time you've probably tried pretty much every weight loss system out there. In reality, any system that cuts your calories will definitely cause you to lose weight. The sad thing is, the systems fail to keep the weight off of you.
You're probably skeptical about how weight loss via hypnosis can help you but if you've tried all the fad diets and are still struggling with your weight, you may want to try hypnosis for weight loss.
Weight loss via hypnosis is not a quick fix. However, by making the commitment to use hypnosis to help you drop the unwanted pounds you are carrying, you have a better chance of achieving a permanent fix to your weight problem.
Using hypnosis to lose weight will help you:
- Reframe compulsive eating habits
- Stop emotional eating
- Make sensible food choices
- Achieve lasting results
- Have improved self image and confidence
- Boost your motivation to exercise
- And much more
Weight loss via hypnosis addresses more than just cutting calories. It deals with the cognitive and emotional issues that are related to eating.
You still need to eat less and exercise more but using hypnosis will help you to overcome any emotional ties you have with eating. This will help you to alter any poor eating habits you have and will help you to create a completely new attitude towards healthy living.
All in all, weight loss via hypnosis is a healthy and safe way to finally lose those extra pounds and maintain your weight loss for a lifetime.
By: Maureen Oliver
source : articledashboard
Weight control has been a struggle for many men and women for most of their lives. We all gain weight for different reasons. Some gain weight because of giving birth, others because of the stressful, fast-paced lifestyle they live and others just because they eat the wrong food at the wrong time.
If you've been dieting for any length of time you've probably tried pretty much every weight loss system out there. In reality, any system that cuts your calories will definitely cause you to lose weight. The sad thing is, the systems fail to keep the weight off of you.
You're probably skeptical about how weight loss via hypnosis can help you but if you've tried all the fad diets and are still struggling with your weight, you may want to try hypnosis for weight loss.
Weight loss via hypnosis is not a quick fix. However, by making the commitment to use hypnosis to help you drop the unwanted pounds you are carrying, you have a better chance of achieving a permanent fix to your weight problem.
Using hypnosis to lose weight will help you:
- Reframe compulsive eating habits
- Stop emotional eating
- Make sensible food choices
- Achieve lasting results
- Have improved self image and confidence
- Boost your motivation to exercise
- And much more
Weight loss via hypnosis addresses more than just cutting calories. It deals with the cognitive and emotional issues that are related to eating.
You still need to eat less and exercise more but using hypnosis will help you to overcome any emotional ties you have with eating. This will help you to alter any poor eating habits you have and will help you to create a completely new attitude towards healthy living.
All in all, weight loss via hypnosis is a healthy and safe way to finally lose those extra pounds and maintain your weight loss for a lifetime.
By: Maureen Oliver
source : articledashboard
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Tips on Being Successful at Any New Business
Starting out a new business is very difficult. It often takes about 6-7 years to be comfortable because of repeat business and relatively stable income. Working alone in a home business can lead to many bad habits that slow you down and affect the growth of your business. The tips below are from personal experience:
1. Set reasonable goals for yourself.
If you aren't aiming for anything, you can't hit a mark.
2. Have a positive attitude in life.
Optimists get further than pessimists.
3. Expect to hear the word "No" quite often.
Keep on plugging away. You will eventually get a "Yes."
4. Be as organized as possible.
With time, effort, filing, moving around.
5. Be enthusiastic about anything you do.
Let others know that you are interested in what you are doing and achieving something.
6. If you don't know, ask somebody.
Don't waste your time trying to figure it out yourself. Time is money.
7. Schedule your time efficiently.
Time control will determine how much you get done.
8. Have a place where you can concentrate on work and doing it efficiently and professionally.
Especially for home business owners, set up a professional office! It establishes your mind set and helps keep you on task.
9. Get involved in life around your business.
This helps you find new clients and business opportunities. Attend community events, go to conferences, read related books, join a few networking groups, call company owners for advice.
10. Handle money very carefully and intelligently.
Work frugally until you can afford better. Even then, always save money for a rainy day. Avoid debt. Only real money in hand has real value!
thanks for Otto Schmidt
source : ezinearticles
1. Set reasonable goals for yourself.
If you aren't aiming for anything, you can't hit a mark.
2. Have a positive attitude in life.
Optimists get further than pessimists.
3. Expect to hear the word "No" quite often.
Keep on plugging away. You will eventually get a "Yes."
4. Be as organized as possible.
With time, effort, filing, moving around.
5. Be enthusiastic about anything you do.
Let others know that you are interested in what you are doing and achieving something.
6. If you don't know, ask somebody.
Don't waste your time trying to figure it out yourself. Time is money.
7. Schedule your time efficiently.
Time control will determine how much you get done.
8. Have a place where you can concentrate on work and doing it efficiently and professionally.
Especially for home business owners, set up a professional office! It establishes your mind set and helps keep you on task.
9. Get involved in life around your business.
This helps you find new clients and business opportunities. Attend community events, go to conferences, read related books, join a few networking groups, call company owners for advice.
10. Handle money very carefully and intelligently.
Work frugally until you can afford better. Even then, always save money for a rainy day. Avoid debt. Only real money in hand has real value!
thanks for Otto Schmidt
source : ezinearticles
