Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pretty neat Windows 7 features
Watch these videos to learn more about Windows 7 which comes out in October. It uses less resources than Vista and User Account Control (those annoying popups) can be easily controlled or eliminated altogether.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Windows 7 Pricing
"Information Week has posted prices for Windows 7. From the article: 'The full version of Windows 7 Home Premium is priced at $199, with an upgrade from Vista or XP costing $119. The full version of Windows 7 Professional is $299, with upgrades going for $199. Windows 7 Ultimate is priced at $319, with the upgrade version at $219.' In a nod to the global economic downturn, it is interesting to note that prices are 10% lower than Vista."
Google adds method to retrieve password with SMS
Google just added an SMS option to its account recovery system, letting anyone who forgets their passwords, or finds it suspiciously locked, set up a mobile phone number to have a recovery password sent to. U.S.-only for now, but Google says it's working to expand the option. Want to add your phone number to an existing account? Sign into account management, then head to Change Password Recovery Options. [via Google Operating System]
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Nine Nasty Online Scams You Need to Be Aware of
from Fox News:
Internet scams have been around for years, but the Federal Trade Commission’s recent crackdown on robocallers pushing car warrantees has put a spotlight on the thousands of tactics used by scammers to bilk Americans out of millions.
So why are they so successful?
One of the keys to scammers' success is a constant flow of unsuspecting victims. Another, experts say, is that scammers are targeting specific demographics, whether it's by age, race or sex.
“The problem now is that so much information is available on the Internet,” FBI spokesman Richard Kolko told FOXNews.com. “Before [scammers] might have known your name. Now they [can access] your name, address, place of employment and parents’ names, because it is all readily available.”
And as fast as investigators try put a stop to the schemes, scammers are reinventing their tricks and staying one step ahead of authorities and the public.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has received 1 million complaints related to scams in the past three years, and the Federal Trade Commission received over 350,000 complaints about identity theft and Internet services.
“Everyone is a target,” said Kolko. “Whether you’ve been affected directly by the scams or not, everyone in this country is affected,” he said, pointing out that it drives up retail prices across the board.
Here's a list of nine of the nastiest scams in the business — some you've heard of, some you haven't — but none that you can afford to be in the dark about.
1. Asian Invasion: The "Asian Extortion Scam" targets business owners, mostly of Asian decent, with death threats and other violence. Scammers pluck personal information about their targets from online searches and use the sensitive data to make victims feel vulnerable. The extortionists, who appear to be calling from outside the U.S., generally demand between $10,000 and $30,000 — though the FBI says there have been no reports of actual violence stemming from the schemes.
2. Mystery Shopping Scam: Some companies pay "mystery shoppers" to act as sample customers and test out the service at stores, banks and restaurants. But scammers are now targeting stay-at-home moms with "opportunities" to be defrauded of thousands of dollars. Victims receive a letter in the mail from a company offering about $400 for shopping at a few stores, along with a check for thousands of dollars to fund the purchases. The victim deposits the check into their back account, stops by a few stores and is then asked to wire about $2,000 back to the company. But when the original check bounces, victims are out the $2,000 they wired back — plus all the money they spent to go shopping.
3. Hit Man Scam: In the Hit Man e-mail scheme, scammers send letters claiming that the boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse of the recipient has arranged for their death. "It would say something like, 'Your boyfriend paid $30,000 to have you killed, but if you pay me $15,000 it won’t happen,'" Kolko told FOXNews.com. Another version says a loved one will be kidnapped unless an advance ransom is paid out immediately, naming specific relatives (information found courtesy of — you guessed it — more online searches). Kolko said some recipients feel anxious when the sender names their loved ones, which can make them more apt to believe the threat is authentic.
4. Million Dollar Scam: If you're offered a shot on the "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show," you're not going to be the lucky winner of $1 million — you're the target of a new scam. In order to participate, recipients of the scam e-mail must first send their contact information and are required to buy airfare and a ticket to the show in advance. Victims are later asked to fill out questionnaires seeking detailed personal information, which can put them at risk for identity theft. Other scammers have been mailing counterfeit checks with a letter that claims recipients they have won the "Oprah Show Summer Sweepstakes" — a contest that ended in 2006.
5. Grandparents Scam: "Hi grandma, it's your favorite grandson," says a scammer on the line. "Tommy, is that you?" "Yes, grandma, it's Tommy. Listen, my wallet was just stolen and I've lost all of my money. Do you think you could send me some to make it through the end of the month?" Unsuspecting victims, momentarily confused or suffering from hearing loss, go along with the story and wire money out — up to $15,000 in the case of one giving grandmother who thought she was sending $15,000 to help cover an auto accident, according to the Better Business Bureau.
6. Military Wheels: People posing as U.S. troops have been posting to classifieds Web sites offering cars on the cheap that they have to sell quickly before being deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. The scams typically claim there is a third-party protection program to ensure a safe transaction, but when payments are sent to the "secure" service, victims either don't receive the car, or get stolen vehicles or ones with a salvaged title.
7. Jury Scam: Victims of the Jury Scam get an e-mail containing a fake subpoena ordering recipients to testify before a grand jury, complete with seemingly genuine details like your name, a case number and court seal. But the e-mails contain malware that can ruin a computer. Another version of the scam involves a phone call in which the caller claims to be a jury coordinator and intimidates victims into revealing personal information. Once the caller gets a victim's Social Security Number and birth date, it's all over.
8. Border Bust: Spam claiming to be from a former assistant commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol says a foreign diplomat has been stopped with a consignment of thousands or even millions of dollars, which was found to be an inheritance for the recipient. Victims who get drawn in receive more e-mails claiming it is a crime to carry the consignment into the U.S., and demands personal information and a $250 fee to prove the recipient was not involved in a terrorist act. If they fail to do so, the spammers tell their victims they are proving they intended to smuggle the money into the U.S., which is a federal offense. Victims never receive a dime but will continue to get e-mails demanding more money for fees in connection with getting their "inheritance."
9. FBI Scams: The FBI says there have been "tons of complaints" about e-mails from people claiming to be FBI agents. Some appear to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center and say the recipient has extorted money and must refund the money or face prosecution. Others, from the non-existent Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division, inform recipients that they are the beneficiary of millions in inheritance. To claim the money, recipients must supply their full name, address and bank account number. Scammers even incorporate the names of top FBI executives into their e-mails by reading authentic FBI press releases, lending an air of credibility.
Internet scams have been around for years, but the Federal Trade Commission’s recent crackdown on robocallers pushing car warrantees has put a spotlight on the thousands of tactics used by scammers to bilk Americans out of millions.
So why are they so successful?
One of the keys to scammers' success is a constant flow of unsuspecting victims. Another, experts say, is that scammers are targeting specific demographics, whether it's by age, race or sex.
“The problem now is that so much information is available on the Internet,” FBI spokesman Richard Kolko told FOXNews.com. “Before [scammers] might have known your name. Now they [can access] your name, address, place of employment and parents’ names, because it is all readily available.”
And as fast as investigators try put a stop to the schemes, scammers are reinventing their tricks and staying one step ahead of authorities and the public.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has received 1 million complaints related to scams in the past three years, and the Federal Trade Commission received over 350,000 complaints about identity theft and Internet services.
“Everyone is a target,” said Kolko. “Whether you’ve been affected directly by the scams or not, everyone in this country is affected,” he said, pointing out that it drives up retail prices across the board.
Here's a list of nine of the nastiest scams in the business — some you've heard of, some you haven't — but none that you can afford to be in the dark about.
1. Asian Invasion: The "Asian Extortion Scam" targets business owners, mostly of Asian decent, with death threats and other violence. Scammers pluck personal information about their targets from online searches and use the sensitive data to make victims feel vulnerable. The extortionists, who appear to be calling from outside the U.S., generally demand between $10,000 and $30,000 — though the FBI says there have been no reports of actual violence stemming from the schemes.
2. Mystery Shopping Scam: Some companies pay "mystery shoppers" to act as sample customers and test out the service at stores, banks and restaurants. But scammers are now targeting stay-at-home moms with "opportunities" to be defrauded of thousands of dollars. Victims receive a letter in the mail from a company offering about $400 for shopping at a few stores, along with a check for thousands of dollars to fund the purchases. The victim deposits the check into their back account, stops by a few stores and is then asked to wire about $2,000 back to the company. But when the original check bounces, victims are out the $2,000 they wired back — plus all the money they spent to go shopping.
3. Hit Man Scam: In the Hit Man e-mail scheme, scammers send letters claiming that the boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse of the recipient has arranged for their death. "It would say something like, 'Your boyfriend paid $30,000 to have you killed, but if you pay me $15,000 it won’t happen,'" Kolko told FOXNews.com. Another version says a loved one will be kidnapped unless an advance ransom is paid out immediately, naming specific relatives (information found courtesy of — you guessed it — more online searches). Kolko said some recipients feel anxious when the sender names their loved ones, which can make them more apt to believe the threat is authentic.
4. Million Dollar Scam: If you're offered a shot on the "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show," you're not going to be the lucky winner of $1 million — you're the target of a new scam. In order to participate, recipients of the scam e-mail must first send their contact information and are required to buy airfare and a ticket to the show in advance. Victims are later asked to fill out questionnaires seeking detailed personal information, which can put them at risk for identity theft. Other scammers have been mailing counterfeit checks with a letter that claims recipients they have won the "Oprah Show Summer Sweepstakes" — a contest that ended in 2006.
5. Grandparents Scam: "Hi grandma, it's your favorite grandson," says a scammer on the line. "Tommy, is that you?" "Yes, grandma, it's Tommy. Listen, my wallet was just stolen and I've lost all of my money. Do you think you could send me some to make it through the end of the month?" Unsuspecting victims, momentarily confused or suffering from hearing loss, go along with the story and wire money out — up to $15,000 in the case of one giving grandmother who thought she was sending $15,000 to help cover an auto accident, according to the Better Business Bureau.
6. Military Wheels: People posing as U.S. troops have been posting to classifieds Web sites offering cars on the cheap that they have to sell quickly before being deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. The scams typically claim there is a third-party protection program to ensure a safe transaction, but when payments are sent to the "secure" service, victims either don't receive the car, or get stolen vehicles or ones with a salvaged title.
7. Jury Scam: Victims of the Jury Scam get an e-mail containing a fake subpoena ordering recipients to testify before a grand jury, complete with seemingly genuine details like your name, a case number and court seal. But the e-mails contain malware that can ruin a computer. Another version of the scam involves a phone call in which the caller claims to be a jury coordinator and intimidates victims into revealing personal information. Once the caller gets a victim's Social Security Number and birth date, it's all over.
8. Border Bust: Spam claiming to be from a former assistant commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol says a foreign diplomat has been stopped with a consignment of thousands or even millions of dollars, which was found to be an inheritance for the recipient. Victims who get drawn in receive more e-mails claiming it is a crime to carry the consignment into the U.S., and demands personal information and a $250 fee to prove the recipient was not involved in a terrorist act. If they fail to do so, the spammers tell their victims they are proving they intended to smuggle the money into the U.S., which is a federal offense. Victims never receive a dime but will continue to get e-mails demanding more money for fees in connection with getting their "inheritance."
9. FBI Scams: The FBI says there have been "tons of complaints" about e-mails from people claiming to be FBI agents. Some appear to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center and say the recipient has extorted money and must refund the money or face prosecution. Others, from the non-existent Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division, inform recipients that they are the beneficiary of millions in inheritance. To claim the money, recipients must supply their full name, address and bank account number. Scammers even incorporate the names of top FBI executives into their e-mails by reading authentic FBI press releases, lending an air of credibility.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Intel figures out how to recharge wirelessly - pretty cool
from Slashdot:
"Last Thursday researchers from Intel demonstrated a way to recharge electronics from about meter away using a 'resonant' magnetic field. At an event held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, the researchers showed off a pair of iPod speakers connected to a 30-centimeter-wide copper coil that received power from a similar, but larger, copper coil about a meter away. The recharging technique relies on a phenomenon called resonant coupling, in which objects can exchange energy when tuned to resonate at the same frequency. A similar approach was developed by researchers at MIT in 2007, and spun off into a company called WiTricity. This company has already developed a few products that use resonant coupling to recharge, including a car battery."
"Last Thursday researchers from Intel demonstrated a way to recharge electronics from about meter away using a 'resonant' magnetic field. At an event held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, the researchers showed off a pair of iPod speakers connected to a 30-centimeter-wide copper coil that received power from a similar, but larger, copper coil about a meter away. The recharging technique relies on a phenomenon called resonant coupling, in which objects can exchange energy when tuned to resonate at the same frequency. A similar approach was developed by researchers at MIT in 2007, and spun off into a company called WiTricity. This company has already developed a few products that use resonant coupling to recharge, including a car battery."
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Add a drop cap to your document in Publisher 2007
Do you want to add a classy touch to the publication that you are working on in Publisher 2007?
A drop cap is a great way to do that. For those that don’t know what a Drop Cap is… it is one of those big letters you see at the start of a paragraph.
In Publisher 2007 it is easy to add a drop cap.
1) Click on the paragraph of text you want to add the drop cap to
2) Click on the “Format” menu
3) Click on “Drop Cap”
4) Select the drop cap style you want to use. If you want to make something really special, click on “Custom Drop Cap” and select the letter position, size, font and colour
5) Click “OK”
A drop cap is a great way to do that. For those that don’t know what a Drop Cap is… it is one of those big letters you see at the start of a paragraph.
In Publisher 2007 it is easy to add a drop cap.
1) Click on the paragraph of text you want to add the drop cap to
2) Click on the “Format” menu
3) Click on “Drop Cap”
4) Select the drop cap style you want to use. If you want to make something really special, click on “Custom Drop Cap” and select the letter position, size, font and colour
5) Click “OK”
Five Ways to Boost Your Performance - Outside the Office
from Dumb Little Man by Ali
Unless you’re just counting down the days till you can quit, chances are, you want to do well in your job. Perhaps you’re making an effort to manage your time well in the office, to network with colleagues, and to bring energy and enthusiasm to your projects. If you’re self-employed, you might be working long hours, pushing yourself to get the boring tasks done and figuring out where your next motivation will come from.
You’re doing all the right things during the workday. But, are there actions you could be taking outside work in order to boost your performance? No, I’m not talking about checking your Blackberry every few minutes and responding to emails within seconds, I am talking about taking some time to improve you.
Here are five things you might like to consider. Admittedly, you will have to find some time in your schedule to work on these, but many times, the payoff for accomplishing just a few of these is greater than the payoff you'll receive for having a tidy desk or being an email guru.
1. Take a Public Speaking Course
It’s not exactly a secret that most people hate public speaking. Whether it’s delivering a presentation to a roomful of clients, or simply speaking up in a meeting, being confident and competent at public speaking really will get you noticed at work.
People often think that public speaking is either something you’ve “got” or you haven’t – but it’s just a skill, like any other. You can be taught public speaking skills and you’ll also find it becomes much easier as you practice.
Look for an evening class or course in your area that relates to public speaking, or find a local Toastmasters group (these can take you from absolute beginner to expert paid public speaker).
2. Attend Meetings of a Professional Organization
# Whatever your field, there’s a good chance that there’s some sort of organization related to it that meets regularly. Look for opportunities in your area. In many cases, you will need to pay a membership or attendance fee.
The advantages to getting together with other professionals include increased knowledge and building up contacts. If you’re self-employed, this can be particularly valuable, as you may feel that you miss out on the “buzz” that comes from being around like-minded colleagues.
It’s worth asking your line manager whether you can claim back any meeting costs on expenses.
3. Spend Time Improving Your Skills
Most of us find that there are one or two areas of our job where we don’t feel very confident. Perhaps you’ve never really got to grips with a particular software package. Maybe you’re perfectly happy writing emails and reports, but the thought of writing a press release is enough to make you want to hide under your desk.
Whatever your particular weak area, it’s worth considering how you might be able to spend some time improving it outside the office. The typical workday, whether as an employee or a freelancer, doesn’t allow much room for reading, training or learning.
There are books available on any topic you can imagine (and you can often get DVDs on subjects which are best shown visually). Check out what’s around, find something that comes with good recommendations or reviews, and give it a go.
4. Get Enough Sleep - And Watch the Caffeine
How often have you struggled through the day at work, feeling like a zombie, because you’ve not had enough sleep? If you’re working a typical 8-4 or 9-5 job, you can’t stay up till 2am partying or playing computer games like you did in college and not suffer for it.
Getting into a good sleep schedule can make a big difference to your motivation and productivity levels at work. Turning up tired and cranky isn’t doing you or your colleagues any favors. Try forsaking your weekend lie-in, and get up at a similar time as you normally do for work. This ensures that you’re not struggling to reset your body clock on Monday.
Don’t use coffee as a replacement for sleep, either! You might get a brief jolt, but it’s likely to be followed by a deep slump in productivity. Try cutting down on the amount of coffee you drink, and see if you feel a more sustained energy at work.
5. Take a Look at Your Appearance
5. Have a look in the mirror. If you were a client or manager, would you be impressed with what you see? What messages does your appearance send?
Think about your clothes – depending on your industry, it might be appropriate to wear a smart suit, or you might find that a suit says “stuffy” and “too formal” for your particular field. Aim for a “smart” look rather than “sexy”: no-one wants to have colleagues who seem to have dressed for a night out on the town. (This goes for both men and women.) If you’re self-employed, you may need to dress up a bit when meeting clients.
If you’re seriously overweight, you might want to take action too. I’d urge this purely for your health’s sake, but there’s also the unfortunate fact that overweight individuals are often discriminated against in the work place:
Workers who are heavier are paid an average of $1.25 less per hour, and overweight women make about 24 percent less than their thinner counterparts. - (Fat chance: Obesity in the workplace, Colorado Springs Business Journal)
Other aspects of your appearance to consider are personal hygiene: this is one where asking a close and honest friend might help!
What kind of things have you done outside your 9-5 job that has impacted how you perform on the job? Have you used those experiences to your advantage? Are they on your resume?
Unless you’re just counting down the days till you can quit, chances are, you want to do well in your job. Perhaps you’re making an effort to manage your time well in the office, to network with colleagues, and to bring energy and enthusiasm to your projects. If you’re self-employed, you might be working long hours, pushing yourself to get the boring tasks done and figuring out where your next motivation will come from.
You’re doing all the right things during the workday. But, are there actions you could be taking outside work in order to boost your performance? No, I’m not talking about checking your Blackberry every few minutes and responding to emails within seconds, I am talking about taking some time to improve you.
Here are five things you might like to consider. Admittedly, you will have to find some time in your schedule to work on these, but many times, the payoff for accomplishing just a few of these is greater than the payoff you'll receive for having a tidy desk or being an email guru.
1. Take a Public Speaking Course
It’s not exactly a secret that most people hate public speaking. Whether it’s delivering a presentation to a roomful of clients, or simply speaking up in a meeting, being confident and competent at public speaking really will get you noticed at work.
People often think that public speaking is either something you’ve “got” or you haven’t – but it’s just a skill, like any other. You can be taught public speaking skills and you’ll also find it becomes much easier as you practice.
Look for an evening class or course in your area that relates to public speaking, or find a local Toastmasters group (these can take you from absolute beginner to expert paid public speaker).
2. Attend Meetings of a Professional Organization
# Whatever your field, there’s a good chance that there’s some sort of organization related to it that meets regularly. Look for opportunities in your area. In many cases, you will need to pay a membership or attendance fee.
The advantages to getting together with other professionals include increased knowledge and building up contacts. If you’re self-employed, this can be particularly valuable, as you may feel that you miss out on the “buzz” that comes from being around like-minded colleagues.
It’s worth asking your line manager whether you can claim back any meeting costs on expenses.
3. Spend Time Improving Your Skills
Most of us find that there are one or two areas of our job where we don’t feel very confident. Perhaps you’ve never really got to grips with a particular software package. Maybe you’re perfectly happy writing emails and reports, but the thought of writing a press release is enough to make you want to hide under your desk.
Whatever your particular weak area, it’s worth considering how you might be able to spend some time improving it outside the office. The typical workday, whether as an employee or a freelancer, doesn’t allow much room for reading, training or learning.
There are books available on any topic you can imagine (and you can often get DVDs on subjects which are best shown visually). Check out what’s around, find something that comes with good recommendations or reviews, and give it a go.
4. Get Enough Sleep - And Watch the Caffeine
How often have you struggled through the day at work, feeling like a zombie, because you’ve not had enough sleep? If you’re working a typical 8-4 or 9-5 job, you can’t stay up till 2am partying or playing computer games like you did in college and not suffer for it.
Getting into a good sleep schedule can make a big difference to your motivation and productivity levels at work. Turning up tired and cranky isn’t doing you or your colleagues any favors. Try forsaking your weekend lie-in, and get up at a similar time as you normally do for work. This ensures that you’re not struggling to reset your body clock on Monday.
Don’t use coffee as a replacement for sleep, either! You might get a brief jolt, but it’s likely to be followed by a deep slump in productivity. Try cutting down on the amount of coffee you drink, and see if you feel a more sustained energy at work.
5. Take a Look at Your Appearance
5. Have a look in the mirror. If you were a client or manager, would you be impressed with what you see? What messages does your appearance send?
Think about your clothes – depending on your industry, it might be appropriate to wear a smart suit, or you might find that a suit says “stuffy” and “too formal” for your particular field. Aim for a “smart” look rather than “sexy”: no-one wants to have colleagues who seem to have dressed for a night out on the town. (This goes for both men and women.) If you’re self-employed, you may need to dress up a bit when meeting clients.
If you’re seriously overweight, you might want to take action too. I’d urge this purely for your health’s sake, but there’s also the unfortunate fact that overweight individuals are often discriminated against in the work place:
Workers who are heavier are paid an average of $1.25 less per hour, and overweight women make about 24 percent less than their thinner counterparts. - (Fat chance: Obesity in the workplace, Colorado Springs Business Journal)
Other aspects of your appearance to consider are personal hygiene: this is one where asking a close and honest friend might help!
What kind of things have you done outside your 9-5 job that has impacted how you perform on the job? Have you used those experiences to your advantage? Are they on your resume?
5 Components Needed on Your Business Website
from an article by by Susan Baroncini-Moe:
1. Opt-in box
If you’re not capturing your visitor’s details with an opt-in box, you’re missing one of the greatest marketing tools available online today. An opt-in box is a place where people enter their name and e-mail address (or just their e-mail address, but I’ve found it’s useful to have more information), and then they subscribe to your e-mail newsletter or e-zine (pronounced “EE-zeen”). You can start building a relationship with your subscribers with regular, useful contact (defining “regular, useful contact” is a separate article in and of itself).
2. Who You Are
Generally speaking, if you’re selling either a product or a service, you’ll want your customers or clients to trust you. Part of building trust is sharing a bit about you and how your company got started.
3. What You Do
Obviously, if you want to sell your products or services, you’ll need to talk about them. This is where good marketing copywriting comes in handy. If you’re not good at writing marketing copy that converts visitors into buyers, hire someone who knows how to do it well. Investing in good copywriting can make all the difference.
4. Sticky content
Sticky content refers to any content on your web site that attracts people and keeps them there, kind of like flypaper. Consider your blog, articles, audio and videos, and other resources, to be the flypaper that keeps visitors “stuck” to your site. The longer they stay at your site, the more likely they are to convert into buyers. There is, however, a point where your content will hit critical mass and can be too sticky. If you give too much away, your potential buyers won’t need to buy. They’ll settle for the freebies and never convert into sales.
5. Contact information
Potential clients and customers will want to know how to contact you for several reasons. If they can contact you, they can buy from you with the assurance that if they experience any troubles with the product, they’ll be able to ask questions or process returns easily. Also, they can ask you questions before they buy. There’s a long list of other reasons customers and clients may want to contact you, and they’ll feel safer buying if they can contact you easily. So provide at least phone and e-mail, and if you can, provide a physical address as well. If you work from home, don’t post your home address. Instead, get a P.O. box or a box at the UPS Store and post that instead.
If you’re selling products or services online, in addition to these five components, you’ll do well to invest in a shopping cart system and a payment processing system. Forcing potential buyers to contact you to get purchasing information ensures that those buyers will go elsewhere most of the time. We live in a high-demand, instant gratification world. If someone is shopping in the middle of the night or on a Sunday and they want what you have to offer but they can’t get it when they want it, they’ll buy it from someone else who can deliver instantaneously. Don’t give your potential buyers a reason not to buy from you.
So how do you implement all this stuff? How do you get a web site with these components, plus good design, good usability, and strong SEO? Next week, I’ll talk about how to hire a web firm to design your site. I’ll tell you how to educate yourself so you know enough to ask the right questions and know when you’re getting the right answers, how to balance value and price, and what red flags to watch out for.
Take a look at our new website at www.itauthority.us.
1. Opt-in box
If you’re not capturing your visitor’s details with an opt-in box, you’re missing one of the greatest marketing tools available online today. An opt-in box is a place where people enter their name and e-mail address (or just their e-mail address, but I’ve found it’s useful to have more information), and then they subscribe to your e-mail newsletter or e-zine (pronounced “EE-zeen”). You can start building a relationship with your subscribers with regular, useful contact (defining “regular, useful contact” is a separate article in and of itself).
2. Who You Are
Generally speaking, if you’re selling either a product or a service, you’ll want your customers or clients to trust you. Part of building trust is sharing a bit about you and how your company got started.
3. What You Do
Obviously, if you want to sell your products or services, you’ll need to talk about them. This is where good marketing copywriting comes in handy. If you’re not good at writing marketing copy that converts visitors into buyers, hire someone who knows how to do it well. Investing in good copywriting can make all the difference.
4. Sticky content
Sticky content refers to any content on your web site that attracts people and keeps them there, kind of like flypaper. Consider your blog, articles, audio and videos, and other resources, to be the flypaper that keeps visitors “stuck” to your site. The longer they stay at your site, the more likely they are to convert into buyers. There is, however, a point where your content will hit critical mass and can be too sticky. If you give too much away, your potential buyers won’t need to buy. They’ll settle for the freebies and never convert into sales.
5. Contact information
Potential clients and customers will want to know how to contact you for several reasons. If they can contact you, they can buy from you with the assurance that if they experience any troubles with the product, they’ll be able to ask questions or process returns easily. Also, they can ask you questions before they buy. There’s a long list of other reasons customers and clients may want to contact you, and they’ll feel safer buying if they can contact you easily. So provide at least phone and e-mail, and if you can, provide a physical address as well. If you work from home, don’t post your home address. Instead, get a P.O. box or a box at the UPS Store and post that instead.
If you’re selling products or services online, in addition to these five components, you’ll do well to invest in a shopping cart system and a payment processing system. Forcing potential buyers to contact you to get purchasing information ensures that those buyers will go elsewhere most of the time. We live in a high-demand, instant gratification world. If someone is shopping in the middle of the night or on a Sunday and they want what you have to offer but they can’t get it when they want it, they’ll buy it from someone else who can deliver instantaneously. Don’t give your potential buyers a reason not to buy from you.
So how do you implement all this stuff? How do you get a web site with these components, plus good design, good usability, and strong SEO? Next week, I’ll talk about how to hire a web firm to design your site. I’ll tell you how to educate yourself so you know enough to ask the right questions and know when you’re getting the right answers, how to balance value and price, and what red flags to watch out for.
Take a look at our new website at www.itauthority.us.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Is Google Wave a Facebook killer?
Well, Facebook is deeply entrenched but Google is the juggernaut. Are you using Facebook? How about for business? For more info about Wave, click here.
IT Authority launches managed security services through partnership with MX Logic
IT Authority launches managed security services through partnership with MX Logic
Managed Email and Web Security Services Provide Customers with First Line of Defense to Prevent Threats from Entering Managed Networks
IT Authority today announced that it has finalized a partnership with MX Logic® a leading managed security services provider. This partnership will allow IT Authority to provide managed email, web security and message archiving services to its customer base.
IT Authority is adding MX Logic Email Defense Service and MX Logic Web Defense Service. These new hosted offerings provide customers with an effective first line of defense at the network perimeter to prevent vulnerabilities and threats such as spam, worms and spyware from entering a managed network. In addition, IT Authority will be offering:
• MX Logic Message Archiving to allow businesses to store, monitor and retrieve all inbound, outbound and internal emails for compliance or general storage/retrieval purposes.
• MX Logic Message Continuity to allow customers to continue using email during planned or unplanned outages through a Web-based email client. The service provides 60 rolling days of storage to protect against prolonged outages.
• MX Logic Fail Safe Service that provides five days of rolling email storage to protect against the loss of emails during planned or unplanned outages.
"MX Logic’s managed security services fit well with our current offerings and our business philosophy – provide solutions that enhance customer productivity and profitability," said Paul Brian, owner. “MX Logic is an ideal business partner for us. Their simple, smart managed security services are highly effective and affordable – a perfect fit for our customer base which ranges from Small-to-Medium Sized Businesses and Enterprises.”
The implementation of MX Logic products will assure a better IT experience for IT Authority customers. By thwarting spammers and spoofers, utilizing web defense to restrict surfing, and generating internet usage reports, MX Logic products keep bandwidth available for data applications.
“By offering managed security services we are helping solution providers break into the managed services market so that they can build recurring revenue streams and identify new product and solutions sales," said Pete Khanna, president and COO of MX Logic. “Working with companies like Interworks to offer smart security solutions, we are ensuring that end user customers can improve employee productivity and limit liability, while decreasing network bandwidth and IT costs.”
About MX Logic
MX Logic is a leading provider of managed email and Web security services that deliver enterprise-grade performance without enterprise-level complexity and cost. Our easy-to-use, award-winning services reduce risk and liability, lower overall IT costs, and increase productivity. MX Logic services are available through our industry-leading partner network. For more information, visit www.mxlogic.com.
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