Monday, January 31, 2011

http://raisemeup.socialmedialistbuilding.org/

http://raisemeup.socialmedialistbuilding.org/

New to the Internet Articles - Social Networking Websites: How to Find Them - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

New to the Internet Articles - Social Networking Websites: How to Find Them - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Each day, in the United States, millions of Americans communicate with each other online. In addition to communicating with other Americans, many are communicating with those on the other side of the world. This communication is due, largely in part, to online social networking websites. If you are interested in joining the growing number of internet users who use social networking websites, you will have to find a network to join.

When it comes to finding social networking websites, you have a number of different options. Perhaps, the easiest way to find a social networking website is by performing a standard internet search. You may want to search with the words social networking or social networking websites. Whichever search phrase you choose, there is a good chance that you will be presented with a long list of websites.

You can also find and familiarize yourself with social networking websites by talking to those that you know. The internet, as well as social networks, has rapidly increased in popularity. That popularity means that there is a good chance that one of your relatives, friends, coworkers, or neighbors has used a specific social networking website in the past. In fact, many may have even used more than one. If you know someone who has, you will want to ask them their recommendations. You will find that most social networking websites come highly rated, but there are some out there that may not even be worth your time.

In addition to speaking to those that you actually know, you can also seek recommendations from those that you do not personally know. You can do this online. Online, you should be able to find a number of websites that discuss social networking sites. Many of these websites have reviewed a collection of social networking sites. In addition to reviews and other articles, you should also be able to speak with other internet users on online message boards. Like speaking to one of your friends, many internet users would be more than willing to let you know what social networking websites are worth the time and which ones are not.

Although it is nice to receive recommendations from those that you know or other internet users, you are advised to make your own decision. Whether or not a social networking website comes highly recommended, you are still encouraged to check it out first. A large number of social networking websites are free to use; therefore, there are no risks associated with giving the site a try. Despite the fact that most online social networking sites are free to use, there are some that you must pay for. A large number of these websites offer free trials. Even if the trial period is only for a few days, you should easily be able to get a feel of the site’s environment and determine whether or not it is right for you.

In your search for a social networking website, whether you perform your own internet search or rely on recommendations from others, you should be able to find a number of popular websites. Those websites may include, but should not be limited to, Yahoo! 360, MySpace, Classmates, and Orkut. The good news about this is that if you are not satisfied with the social networking website you joined, you don’t have to worry; there are many more available for you to choose from.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out his blog at: "Dennis Hampton's blog - Any Business Made Easy"

Sunday, January 30, 2011

42 New Social Media Resources You May Have Missed

42 New Social Media Resources You May Have Missed
t’s been another busy week at Mashable. We’ve hired a San Francisco Bureau Chief and sent our own Pete Cashmore to Davos. Still, the team was able to turn out another lineup of tools and resources from the past week or so for your reading pleasure.

Scroll down for infographics on the size of the web and an illustrated history of social media. We’ve also got some hands on demos and a look at some nifty LinkedIn features to help your company.

Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.


Social Media


For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.


Tech & Mobile


For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.


Business


For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Image courtesy of Webtreats

Self Improvement Articles - The Development of the Social Self - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Self Improvement Articles - The Development of the Social Self - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
The Development of the Social Self

There is no doubt that men and women long for a greater social self with rewarding ways. This can only be accomplished if both parties are willing to give and exert their every effort. The social self-development is not an easy process, but it can become a lot easier if men and women first learn to know themselves.

Know Yourself It isn’t surprising to hear of people getting irritated when told they need to know themselves before investing in a relationship. This is very important. Knowing yourself is very shallow. Nowhere has it ever been mentioned that to know yourself you need guidance or the help of a minister. Down the road of any relationship if you don’t take the time out of your schedule to know yourself you may find a psychiatrist giving you advice. In every social environment it is important to realize the value of a relationship. The social environment is very impersonal and crowded. This often leads many to ask whatever happened to love? It is very unrealistic to know oneself. This is a process that is ongoing. Your friends only know you to a certain degree. In order to have a caring relationship with others, it is necessary to have a caring relationship with yourself first. One must be willing to share in order for others to return in sharing. Not being able to disclose ones self as being imperfect may leave a sense of insecurity in a relationship. Men and women need to be realistic about them in order to have self-growth or acceptance of others. No matter how much you may feel you care for someone else, the first primary goal is to be responsible to one self. Only then can you give to another. If you feel out of place or victimized, then you have no power to give another security or visibility in a relationship. Often others see you in a different perspective than you see yourself. Have you ever thought of asking yourself, “If you were living with yourself would you stick around?” Most men and women have never stopped to think of an answer to this. Maybe before entering a relationship this should be answered. In relationships it not always the big problems that makes the relationship fail. It generally is the small things over a period of time that causes the breakdown. Irreconcilable differences can be things as simple as ones behavior, cruel acts, or maybe a comment you made without thinking. Feelings are not to be played with in a relationship. Simple gestures such as interrupting when the other is talking, never picking up behind yourself, simply being set in your own ways can cause relationship breakdown. The above gestures may mean nothing to you. If you are involved in a relationship and these remarks were to continue, they could and would destroy a relationship. Many relationships fail due to the lack of wanting to change. This could be true on either side. Why is so important to have everything your way? If a relationship is worth having, it is worth changing some of your everyday ways for. There is nothing a better than to see a couple walks into a room and everyone automatically turns their focus to them. The joy and love between them lightens up the entire room. Happiness and a sense of surprise can bring on much anticipation. Many find it very hard to deal with the predictable and settle for the familiar. This has become a major trap in relationships. What happened to just letting things happen?

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out The Best D**N Training In The Industry and Learn How To Create Your Own Leads And Generate Instant Cash In Any Company. "Magnetic Sponsoring Online"

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Online Shopping Articles - Coupons for Online Shopping - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Online Shopping Articles - Coupons for Online Shopping - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Smart online shoppers know there are a variety of ways to save money when shopping online. Comparison shopping and seeking out sales are certainly excellent ways for saving money when shopping online but they are not the only ways an online shopper can save money. Using coupons and promotional codes can also result in a significant cost savings for online shoppers. This article will discuss methods of finding coupons for online shopping and the importance of understanding the restrictions placed on the use of these coupons.

Finding Coupons for Online Shopping

There are many different coupons and promotional codes available for online shopping. The most common types of coupons and promotional codes available are those which offer a discount on the total purchase price of an order and promotional codes which offer free shipping on an order. Both of these offers can be financially beneficial to the shopper if he is able to find these valuable offers. There are a number of different ways in which a shopper may acquire coupons and promotional codes for online shopping.

Many online shoppers receive promotional codes for online retailers in catalogs they receive in the mail. These catalogs may include special offers in an attempt to entice the recipient of the catalog to make a purchase online. The shopper may receive these catalogs because they have made purchased from the online retailer in the past or because the online retailer is advertising to new clients.

Similarly shoppers may receive promotional codes offering discounts via email. This is common for shoppers who belong to buyer’s club organized by the online retailer. These types of clubs typically offer these promotional codes to regular customers to reward them for their consumer loyalty and encourage the shopper to continue to patronize the online retailer.

Still another way for shoppers to find promotional codes for online shopping is via the Internet. There are websites where members frequently post the codes they acquire via catalogs and emails for the benefit of others who may be seeking a discount on a purchase from a particular online retailer. Shoppers can use these promotional codes as long as there are no restrictions on sharing these codes.

Restrictions on Coupons for Online Shopping

Shoppers who utilize coupons and promotional codes while they are online shopping should be aware there may be restrictions on the use of these coupons or promotional codes. Common examples of these restrictions include dates of expiration and required minimum purchase to use the discount. Similar to coupons which are valid at traditional stores, online coupons or promotional codes usually have an expiration date and the discount is no longer valid after this date. Another common restriction associated to offers of free shipping is a minimum required purchase. In these cases the consumer must purchase more than a specific dollar amount from the online retailer in order to be eligible for free shipping. Another example of a common restriction on online coupons or promotional codes is a required minimum purchase necessary to receive a discount. In some cases the online retailer may even offer a greater discount to shoppers who are willing to spend more money on products or services. For example the retailer may offer a 10% discount on purchases of more than $50, a 15% discount on purchases of more than $75 and a 20% discount on purchases of more than $100. With all of these different types of restrictions on online discounts it is important for the consumer to fully understand these restrictions before attempting to use one of these offers.

How would you like an absolutely FREE Service that will eliminate all the hassles out of finding the lowest pricing for the product you are looking for Online and within seconds put the top 6 Businesses with the lowest prices available at your finger tips. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY FREE SERVICE. "Shopping Online With My Magic Genie"

The 3 Biggest Stories in Social Media This Morning

The 3 Biggest Stories in Social Media This Morning

Social Media NewsWelcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Facebook Halts Phone & Address Sharing (For Now)

Following widespread displeasure over its recent decision to allow application developers to request access to a user’s address and mobile phone number, Facebook (Facebook) has decided to temporarily disable this feature until it implements changes that will help users make better informed decisions about their privacy.

Facebook Generated $1.86B in Ad Revenue in 2010

According to recently released figures from eMarketer, Facebook‘s revenue for advertising alone — which excludes revenue for virtual currencies and other sources — came to an impressive $1.86 billion in 2010.

Cheezburger Network Scores $30 Million in Funding

The Cheezburger Network, an Internet (Internet) publisher known for popular memes like LOLcats and FAILS, has just scored a $30 million Series A led by Foundry Group, with participation from Madrona Venture Group, Avalon Ventures and SoftBank Capital.

Further News

Monday, January 17, 2011

Online Shopping Articles - Correcting Mistakes When Online Shopping - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Online Shopping Articles - Correcting Mistakes When Online Shopping - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
As with any type of shopping it is possible to make mistakes during the process of online shopping. These mistakes may include ordering the wrong item, ordering the correct item in the wrong size or color, providing the wrong shipping address, providing inaccurate billing information, purchasing the wrong quantity of an item and even dealing with mistakes made by the online retailer. This article will discuss some effective strategies for dealing with mistakes made when online shopping and will also provide some tips for avoiding mistakes when online shopping in the first place.

Contacting Customer Service Immediately

Mistakes made when online shopping are typically realized either immediately after the purchase is made or else they are not realized until the order arrives. However, regardless of when the mistake is realized the first step for correcting the problem is the same. As soon as an online shopper realizes a mistake was made with his order, he should contact customer service immediately. In situations in which the mistake is realized immediately after the order is placed, correcting the mistake may be fairly simple as long as the online shopper contacts customer service to describe the problem immediately. If the order has not yet been processed, the customer service representative may be able to make the corrections before the order proceeds. However, many online retailers have their online shopping process completely automated which can make it difficult to make changes to the order even when it is recognized immediately. This may occur because the order has already been transferred to the shipper and the online retailer no longer has the ability to the files.

Even when a consumer does not realize a mistake has been made until the item arrives, he should still contact customer service immediately to report the problem. This is useful because this first call to customer service will start a record of the problem which will be useful in getting the problem resolved. The customer service representative can provide valuable information the consumer can use to rectify the problem as quickly as possible.

Making Returns when Necessary

When mistakes are made with an online purchase, it is often necessary to return the items to the online retailer. Online retailers who also have traditional stores may allow the online shopper to return the items purchased online to a traditional store. The other option for making returns is to ship the item back to the online retailer directly.

Depending on the cause of the mistake there may be different options available for returning the item to the online retailer. If the online retailer is at fault they may assume the responsibility for the cost of the shipping and may even make arrangements to have the shipper pick up the item from the shopper’s home. This is both cost effective and convenient for the shopper. However, when the shopper is returning the item because he made a mistake or simply did not like the item the consumer will likely be responsible for the cost of shipping the item back to the online retailer.

Tips for Avoiding Mistakes when Online Shopping

Although correcting mistakes made during online shopping is not always difficult it is far better to try to avoid these mistakes in the first place. The best way to avoid mistakes when placing an order online is to carefully review the purchase before submitting the order. Most online retailers provide shoppers with the opportunity to verify information such as the items being purchased, shipping address and billing information before the purchase is submitted to the online retailer. Online shoppers should carefully review all of the information provided on this verification screen to help avoid making mistakes which can be costly in terms of time or money.

Mistakes when online shopping can also be avoided by placing the order through a customer service representative as opposed to through the online retailer’s website. This method can help to limit the potential for mistakes because the consumer has the opportunity to converse directly with a representative who can answer any questions the consumer has about the product. Therefore, mistakes which often result from the consumer misreading the product description can be avoided.

How would you like an absolutely FREE Service that will eliminate all the hassles out of finding the lowest pricing for the product you are looking for Online and within seconds put the top 6 Businesses with the lowest prices available at your finger tips. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY FREE SERVICE. "Shopping Online With My Magic Genie"


The Top 3 Stories in Tech, Mobile & Business This Morning

The Top 3 Stories in Tech, Mobile & Business This Morning

Social Media NewsWelcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Steve Jobs Goes on Medical Leave of Absence

Apple announced this morning that CEO Steve Jobs will be going on an indefinite medical leave of absence. Tim Cook will take responsibility for Apple’s day-to-day operations during his absence.

The Social Network Wins Big at Golden Globes

The Social Network was one of the big winners at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, taking home four trophies, including those for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

BlackBerry Storm 3 Spy Pics and Specs Revealed

The BlackBerry Storm 3 has been whispered about and wondered about for months, but now there’s a murky trio of spy pics of RIM’s elusive smartphone on the web.

Further News

  • The next generation of the iPhone and iPad will sport a new version of Apple’s A4 chip with a dual-core graphics processing unit that should enable even higher resolutions on these devices, as well as support for HD (1080p) video playback, anonymous sources have told AppleInsider.
  • Image courtesy of iStockphoto, DNY59

Saturday, January 15, 2011

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Thursday, January 13, 2011

FREE App For Shopping Online

Like to shop online? Check out this FREE App making price shopping online simple and easy.  http://shopping.dennishampton.com

What's Hot in Social Media This Week

What's Hot in Social Media This Week

What's Hot in Social MediaWelcome to this week’s edition of “What’s Hot in Social Media,” a series in which we revisit the week’s most popular stories concerning social networks.

We’re keeping our eye on five interesting developments this Thursday.

MySpace Confirms Sale Likely in Near Future

MySpace (MySpace) has confirmed that parent company News Corp. is looking for a way to unload its flailing social web property after unloading nearly half of its staff this week.

Participation in Real-Time Social Media Increased 20% in 2010

According to a recent repot from Trendstream, users are increasingly engaging in real-time social media conversations via platforms like Facebook (Facebook) and Twitter (Twitter), over static conversational tools like blogs and forums.

AMBER Alerts Now Available on Facebook

U.S. Facebook users will now be able to receive AMBER Alerts — the notifications issued when a child is abducted — on the social network, the result of a new partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Foursquare Bolsters Local Content With New Partnership

Examiner.com has inked a deal with Foursquare (foursquare) to offer ratings and other extras on the location-based service. Starting Monday, consumers who log on to Foursquare will get access to content from 68,000 “examiners” around the country who contribute to Examiner.com.

Social Gaming Will Generate $1 Billion This Year

Social gaming is poised to become a billion-dollar industry this year, according to new research from eMarketer. Approximately 62 million U.S. Internet (Internet) users — that’s 27% of the total Internet-using population in the U.S. — will play at least one game on a social network on a monthly basis in 2011, a 15% increase from 2010, the research firm claims.

Communication Articles - Should Your Join a Social Networking Website? - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Communication Articles - Should Your Join a Social Networking Website? - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Are you interested in meeting new people online? If so, there is a good chance that you have heard of social networking websites before. Social networking websites are, in a way, like a community. They allow internet users to connect with and communicate with each other. Despite the fact that social networking website have rapidly increased in popularity and their popularity is only expected to keep on rising, there are many internet users who are unsure as to whether or not social networking websites are for them.

If you are interested in determining whether or not you should join an online networking website, you are encouraged to think about why those websites are so popular. Doing so will enable you to determine why other internet users make the decision to join an online social network. After that close examination, you may even find that those are the same reasons why you should or want to join. One of those reasons is the ability to easily meet other internet uses.

Before social networking websites, it was difficult to meet other internet users. If you tried, you would have to rely on chat rooms or instant messaging services. As nice as these popular internet features are, they are not always considered safe. With chat rooms or instant messaging programs you were often given little reassurance that a person was who they claimed to be. Without profiles, there was no way that you could learn more about a particular internet user, even if you wanted to. Social networking websites have changed that.

Not only have social networking websites made it safer to meet people online, it also allows you to meet people that have the same or similar interests as yourself. Most social networking websites allow you to create your own profile; in fact, many even give you your own webpage. These profiles or pages will allow you to share information on yourself, including your likes and dislikes. Since all other network members should have the same pages and profiles, it should be fairly easy for you to meet up with other internet users, especially those who enjoy or believe in the same things that you do.

Another one of the many reasons why you should join a social networking website is because you literally have a wide variety of different choices. As social networking websites increased in popularity, so did the number of websites that could be found online. Although MySpace is often deemed the most popular online social networking website, there are others that are just as easy or as much fun to use. You should easily be able to find those websites by performing a standard internet search.

In your search, for social networking websites, you will come across a number of different networks. Many of those sites will have a particular focus. Unlike MySpace, which accepts just about any internet user, there are online networks that aim to accept internet users that have a particular hobby, view, or belief. Online, it is not uncommon to find social networking websites that focus on politics, religion, pets, sports, and more. If you are unsure about joining an online networking community, specialty networking sites may be your best bet. They are a great way to test the waters and they are nice because they automatically pair you with internet users who have the same interests, views, or beliefs as you do.

Perhaps, the greatest reasons why should join a social networking website is because most are free to use. Popular free networks include Yahoo! 360, Orkut, and MySpace. In addition to free social networks, there are online networks in which you are required to pay to join. Although you may not want to pay for something that you can obtain for free elsewhere, you will find that most paid networks offer you more membership benefits, when compared to free social networking sites.

Due to the fact that most social networking websites are free to use or at least free to try, you are encouraged to give them a shot. If you are unsatisfied with what you see, you can easily cancel your membership, often at anytime.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out his blog at: "Dennis Hampton's blog - Any Business Made Easy"


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

5 Key Tips for a Successful Social Media Content Strategy

5 Key Tips for a Successful Social Media Content Strategy

Frank Marquardt is director of Content Strategy at The Barbarian Group, a digital services and creation company with an almost radical devotion to Internet culture and nice red Swedish Fish™.

Good, smart, fun and relevant content should be at the core of any social media strategy. Great content should reflect your brand and give people a reason to stay engaged.

That’s why it’s critical to build a content strategy into your social media campaign. Without a framework for what you say and a plan for how and when you say it, you risk leaving your audiences, at best, confused. At worst, they’ll ignore you. Who wants that?

These five content strategy techniques will build better relationships and earn your brand better results on the social web.


1. Know Your Voice


Everything you say on the social web should “sound” like your brand. It’s something Skittles does well. Some of its status messages garner more than 1,000 comments, and many exceed 10,000 “Likes” on Facebook ().

Why are these little content snippets so successful? The writing is just like the candy: colorful, playful and imaginative. The pithy, daily, flavor-packed observations are reliably surprising. You can relish today’s post and look forward to tomorrow’s — like candy in word form.


2. Time Your Content


Create a calendar that spells out what you’re going to say and when you’re going to say. Make sure it’s relevant to where people are in their lives and the season. Nobody cares about Santa Claus in January, but a whole lot of people care about sales after Christmas. A quick look at Google Trends will confirm that.

Banana Republic’s tweeters got the memo.

Macy’s and Walmart didn’t.


3. Know Your Audience


Why does somebody follow you? Why do they like you? It’s because your brand offers them something. Make sure you deliver. Here’s SKYY Vodka on Twitter () with a message that’s relevant to most of its followers about the ultimate Bloody Mary, with personable responses to those people engaging in the conversation.

Compare that to Grey Goose, which hasn’t tweeted since September 2010.

And Grey Goose’s Facebook wall features a weekly “drink card” with identical copy.

Grey Goose isn’t talking to me, it’s talking at me. Points for posting regularly, but why should we care?


4. Solve Problems


Humans have survived for so long because they’re great at answering questions like “What do I do when my t-shirt’s stitching rips?” We all love it when somebody helps us the way Threadless () does in this Facebook string.

Give your audience the tools to help themselves, and make sure your social media team has the right information to share. By making things easier for others, we build trust. Trust strengthens our relationship.


5. Be True


Good content isn’t fake. It doesn’t make promises that it can’t keep. It’s human and honest. It has a personality and a point of view. It’s intrinsically social. That’s why it engages us. That’s why we follow or like your brand.

Your audiences will sniff it out if you’re pretending. But if you’re fun, honest and relevant, they’re going to recommend you to their friends. Isn’t that what social media’s all about?


More Web Content Resources from Mashable:


- 16 Handy iPhone Apps for Better Blogging
- 10 Free Drupal Themes for Small Business
- 20 Free Social Media Icon Sets For a More Shareable Website
- 4 Winning Strategies for Social Media Optimization
- Why Marketing Threatens the True Promise of Social Media

Image courtesy of iStockphoto (), matspersson0

Self Improvement Articles - The Development of the Social Self The Environmental Contribution - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Self Improvement Articles - The Development of the Social Self The Environmental Contribution - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
The cliché “No man is an island” falls true to all mankind for we cannot seclude ourselves from the presence and influence of others. Successful people, as you may observe, are those individuals who associates with others - the bigger the crowd the better the advantage. However, each of us has different personalities. In this case in point, we would like to take cognizance of persons who are termed as “loners” or “introverts”. Whose social life stagnates and slowly drifts them apart from the busy streets of existence. We have to understand why some people isolate themselves from the community around them. There are so many reasons why we tend to be what we are. Some major factors are: our family circle, our community, and our peers.

First we should see what influence these three factors have on us. Our family – the immediate family post the greatest power over our being. They are the first pillars of our emotional and spiritual strengths, physical well-being and mental dexterity. Our community – this includes our environment or our surroundings, the church, the school, the workplace. They are the people who comprise the biggest number that we have to deal with, as we grow older. Our peers – they are the people we choose to have keen relationship with. They are the persons to whom we unfasten our inner thoughts and feelings and comfortably rest our woes and worries.

Second, upon identifying the influence they have in our lives we should think over and analyze the resultant effects. Have they in some way or the other hindered your growth? Did you encounter daunting occurrences? Or, on the positive, have you experience constructive reinforcements that made you an attractive person?

The “loners” or the “introverts” may in some cases and in some points of their lives, experienced being habitually embarrassed and degraded, left alone by unexpected and tragic events, and other instances where the attack is personality debilitating. Most especially if those happened in the early formative years of life where comprehension and tolerance are not yet solidly formed. You should try to reflect and point-out the grounds that made negative imprints on you.

Third, if the resultant effects have been identified, there should be ways on how to overcome and find remedies on the negative effects that weigh you down. This is not an overnight self-overhaul. You can find initial solace in books where you will chance upon great men who overcame inner hindrances for success. Since peers are not like family who are prearranged, try to be with those who have positive outlooks and those who are socially involved individuals but are not too imposing. Rather, they should be more inspiring to you and bring out slowly your interest to mingle and share life with others.

Each of us should cultivate our social self-environment to achieve better living. Definitely there is something within us that others do not have because each of us is unique. We have to accept and know how to overcome our weaknesses and learn to put forward and exercise our strengths. We should also gain knowledge of how we can blend well and patch differences with other personalities. Remember, there is affluence in social interaction, this is not to speak only of the material gains there is to it but the richness of experience that will deepen your spirituality, mind-set or outlook and the influence you will have on others. Slowly but firmly get out of your shell. Try not to focus on one direction only. Bring life to your way of living and put action to your thoughts. This way you will see the transformation in you and the affirmative consequences of your actions that will be projected in your family, community or workplace. Don’t go unnoticed - socialize!

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out his blog at: "Dennis Hampton's blog - Any Business Made Easy"


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Online Shopping Articles - Contacting Customer Service When Online Shopping - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Online Shopping Articles - Contacting Customer Service When Online Shopping - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Online shoppers often need to deal with customer service representatives from the online retailer they choose to patronize. From making purchases to dealing with problems with the order a customer service representative can be a great deal of assistance to online shoppers. This article will focus on some of the common interactions online shoppers have with a customer service representative. Some of these interactions include making a purchase, asking questions about products and making a complaint about an item purchased. This article will also discuss some of the common methods for contacting customer service including telephone, email and online forms.

Contacting Customer Service Representative to Make a Purchase

One of the most common interactions between online shoppers and online retailers is the process of making a purchase. Although many online retailers offer shoppers the ability to make their purchases directly through a website, most of these retailers also offer the opportunity for the customers to make the purchase by calling a customer service representative. Online shoppers may prefer this method for a number of different reasons. Some online shoppers may have apprehensions about the security of the website while others may simply have a personal preference for placing the order online as opposed to through a website. Regardless of the reason for contacting customer service to make an online purchase, the buyer will likely find this interaction to be quite simple as long as he has all of the necessary information on hand. This included information such as the product number and his billing information.

Contacting Customer Service with Inquiries

Another reason why online shoppers often contact a customer service representative agent from an online retailer is to ask questions about the products offered by the retailer. Consumers may have questions because the website does not provide enough information about the product. Even online retailers who offer very detailed product descriptions may omit details which are important to a particular consumer. In these cases the online shopper can contact customer service to have these questions answered. These questions may pertain to the product or other factors such as the shipping policies or return policies. Regardless of the subject of the question the customer service representative should either be able to answer the question or should be able to find an answer for the consumer.

Contacting Customer Service with a Complaint

Contacting a customer service agent with a complaint about a product purchased online is definitely one of the most difficult and stressful interactions an online shopper can have with a customer service agent. However, there are occasionally situations in which these interactions are necessary. When these situations arise it is important for the consumer to ensure he has all of the necessary information available when contacting customer service. This will include information such as the order number and the billing information. The order number is important because it will allow the customer service agent to verify items such as the item which was purchased and the date of the purchase. With this information the customer service can provide information about the options available to the consumer such as a refund or an exchange.

Methods of Contacting Customer Service

Online shoppers who wish to speak to a customer service agent from an online retailer typically have a few options available to them. The most popular option is the ability to contact an agent via telephone. Most online retailers provide a phone number for reaching customer service on the receipt as well as on the website. However, the telephone is not the only way in which online shoppers can contact customer service. Email is another popular option consumers can use to reach a customer service agent. Most online retailers offer the option of emailing customer service to make inquiries or complaints. Some retailers even provide online forms which make it easy for consumers to reach a customer service agent. These forms typically enable the consumer to provide his own contact information as well as the reason for contacting customer service. A customer service agent will then investigate the inquiry or complaint and respond to the customer either via telephone or email.

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Monday, January 10, 2011

Internet Marketing Articles - Is Internet Marketing Working For You? - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Internet Marketing Articles - Is Internet Marketing Working For You? - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Determining whether or not your Internet marketing campaign is working for you is a very important part of the advertising process. This is so important because while there is a great deal of Internet marketing which can be done without a great deal of expense, other types of Internet marketing do have financial costs associated with them. Also, in both cases there is a time and energy burden to orchestrating the Internet marketing. For all of these reasons it is important for business owners to continuously evaluate their marketing techniques and strategies to determine what is working and what is not. This will help the business owner to focus his efforts on marketing strategies which are providing positive results as opposed to those which are either not providing results or are only providing lackluster results. This article will examine a few different marketing strategies as well as how business owners can evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies.

Affiliate marketing is certainly one of the most cost effective Internet marketing strategies available. This marketing strategy involves having other website owners known as affiliates post an advertisement on their websites to direct Internet traffic to your website. This marketing strategy is cost effective because in most cases the affiliate is only paid when he produces a desired result such as enticing an Internet user to click through the advertisement or to purchase a product or service once they click through the ad. While the business owner is only paying for the advertisement when it produces a desired effect, it is still worthwhile to evaluate the effectiveness of these ads to determine whether or not they are working well.

Fortunately affiliate marketing ads have a natural feedback mechanism which makes it easy to evaluate how well the ad is working. This feedback is provided in the form of code imbedded in the advertisement which specifies which affiliate generated the website visitors. This information is provided for the purposes of issuing payment to the affiliate but it can also provide the business owner with useful information on which affiliate ads are the most effective. This information is especially useful when the affiliates are posting different ads. The business owner may conclude the ads posted by the more successful affiliates are more appealing to potential customers and may opt to use this style of ad for all of their affiliates.

Business owners who use Internet marketing strategies such as posting on message boards to promote their business might want to consider asking customers to complete a short survey when making a purchase. This survey can include useful demographic information which is always helpful for marketing as well as information regarding where the customer learned of the products or services you offer. Including the message board web address as one of the responses will give you a good indication of whether or not the message boards are helping to drive customers to your website. You may also have some unofficial feedback in terms of the response to your postings on the message board. If the general consensus is in support of your posts, you may infer you are generating some interest in your business or website through this tactic.

Finally, an Internet marketing strategy can be evaluated by studying website traffic results as well as sales receipts. Anytime you implement a new Internet marketing strategy or technique it is worthwhile to study your website traffic reports and sales receipts carefully to determine whether or not there is a spike in either traffic or sales immediately after the marketing effort. For example, if you send out an e-newsletter to those who have requested additional information about your products or services, you may notice there is an increase in traffic or sales soon afterwards. This is a good indication the e-newsletter was well received and effective. However, if there is not a marked increase in traffic or sales subsequent to the e-newsletter it indicates the marketing effort was not effective.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out The Best D**N Training In The Industry and Learn How To Create Your Own Leads And Generate Instant Cash In Any Company. "Magnetic Sponsoring Online"

The 4 Biggest Stories in Tech & Social Media This Morning

The 4 Biggest Stories in Tech & Social Media This Morning

Social Media NewsWelcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on four particular stories of interest today.

Verizon iPhone Available in Late January?

We’re only a day away from the alleged Verizon iPhone introduction, if the Wall Street Journal’s sources are correct. Now those sources say that the smartphone will be available by the end of January.

Klout Snags $8.5 Million in New Funding

Klout, the social media analytics agency, announced Monday it has received $8.5 million in funding from Kleiner Perkings Caufield & Byer sFund, Graycrot Partners and others.

YouTube Rolls Out Drag & Drop Video Uploads

Chrome () and Firefox () users can now drag and drop multiple video uploads on YouTube (), rather than going through their file open dialog.

Despite Rumors, Facebook Is Not Shutting Down March 15

A silly rumor that Facebook () is shutting down March 15 spread like wildfire across the Internet () over the weekend. We have official confirmation from Facebook Director of Corporate Communications Larry Yu that the rumor is, in fact, false.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto (), DNY59

Friday, January 7, 2011

The Top 5 Stories in Tech, Business & Social Media This Morning

The Top 5 Stories in Tech, Business & Social Media This Morning

Social Media NewsWelcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on five particular stories of interest today.

1 Million Apps Downloaded From Mac App Store on Day 1

Users have downloaded more than 1 million free and paid apps from Apple’s freshly launched Mac App Store, the company has revealed. Check out our top 10 picks here.

Mashable Announces 2010 Awards Winners

We announced the winners of the Mashable Awards, our annual contest highlighting the very best of tech and the web, at CES Thursday night. See the full list of winners here.

Polaroid & Lady Gaga Launch New Line at CES

At CES on Thursday, Polaroid execs, with the help of new creative director Lady Gaga, took the wraps off a new line of photo-capturing gadgets that incorporate Polaroid’s Zink (short for “zero ink”) printing technology, including picture-taking sunglasses.

Skype Acquires Qik for $100 Million

Skype () confirmed its acquistion of video streaming service Qik at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Thursday. The price of the deal is rumored at $100 million.

Salesforce.com Acquires DimDim

Salesforce.com has purchased real-time communications firm DimDim for $31 million, the former announced Thursday.

Further News

  • Google () has launched a new feature in Google Docs () that enables users to watch videos they’ve uploaded to their documents directly in the browser.
  • MTV and Foursquare () have teamed up once again to launch a new Jersey Shore-themed badge.
  • Online chatter about tech and gadgets has seen a definitive increase coinciding with the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, according to recent data from Topsy and Trendrr.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto (), DNY59

This Weeks Free E-Book

This weeks FREE down loadable E-Book -  "Raising-children"
http://abusinessmadeeasy.info/raising-children.pdf    
PS.  Please share with your friends.  Plus FREE Social Media training at http://blog.dennishampton.org

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Mac App Store, New Tablets & More: This Morning's 3 Biggest Stories

Mac App Store, New Tablets & More: This Morning's 3 Biggest Stories

Social Media NewsWelcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Apple Launches Mac App Store

Apple has launched its long-awaited Mac App Store with more than 1,000 free and paid applications.

Motorola Debuts Android Honeycomb Tablet

At CES Wednesday, Motorola revealed its first Android-powered tablet, Xoom, which runs on Honeycomb, the fabled, forked version of Android intended for tablets.

Microsoft Wows CES With Windows 7-Powered Tablets

The crowd erupted in cheers as Microsoft exec Mike Angiulo showed off a slew of Windows 7-based tablets with intriguing and varied form factors, such as touchscreens, slide-out keyboards, dual-screen machines, stylus-friendly tablets and more.

Further News

  • Microsoft has now sold more than 8 million Kinect units, according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
  • Among Sony’s many announcements made Wednesday at CES was an interesting new device from Sony Ericsson’s Xperia product line, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc smartphone.
  • AT&T has cut the price of the iPhone 3GS to $49 with a two-year contract.
  • Microsoft showed off a new version of Surface, its tabletop touch computer, during the company’s keynote address at CES on Wednesday night.
  • At CES Wednesday, Samsung unveiled three new TVs with ultra-thin bezels, so thin they look like picture frames rather than HDTVs.

Disclosure: Microsoft is a Mashable sponsor.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, DNY59

Marketing Articles - Internet Marketing with an E Newsletter - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Marketing Articles - Internet Marketing with an E Newsletter - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
One very popular Internet marketing strategy is to publish and distribute an e-newsletter on a regular basis. E-newsletters are essentially emails which may contain content, graphics, links and subtle forms of advertising. In general e-newsletters should be informative in nature and useful to the recipient but should also serve some type of marketing purpose as well. This article will examine e-newsletters and explain how they can be used effectively as a marketing strategy.

The first item to consider when attempting using an e-newsletter as a marketing strategy is the distribution list for the e-newsletter. This is very important because you want to ensure you are distributing your e-newsletter to recipients who will be interested in your products and services and will likely view the e-newsletter as worthwhile instead of viewing it as spam. Using deceptive tactics to harvest email addresses and sending out your e-newsletters blindly to a large audience is not a good marketing strategy. This strategy is not worthwhile for a couple of reasons. Most importantly this type of strategy does not help you to reach your target audience. You may reach some members of your target audience by accident but are not likely to reach a large population of this intended audience.

Additionally, sending your e-newsletter unsolicited to a large audience with no interest in your products and services will likely result in your e-newsletter being viewed as spam. This can have more serious consequences than simply being a wasted effort. Specifically, recipients of your e-newsletter may block your email address or even report you to their Internet service provider as a spammer. This can have damaging consequences such as loss of business or even harsher penalties.

A better way to establish a distribution list for your e-newsletter is to set up a forum for interested potential customers to register to receive additional information from you. This could include registering with your website online and requesting to be added to your email distribution list or providing an email address and requesting additional information in some other manner. Sending your e-newsletter to recipients who have specifically requested more information is a good idea because these Internet users are already interested in your products and are likely to appreciate the e-newsletter instead of viewing it as spam.

The content of your e-newsletter should be considered next. This may include the actual copy contained within the e-newsletter as well as graphics, links and advertisements. Keeping direct advertising to a minimum is ideal but it is acceptable to use soft advertising techniques to promote your products or services. The copy in your e-newsletter should insightful information which will be useful to your readers. You may wish to include objective articles, product reviews or shorter articles containing useful tips. Links to your own website or to other websites which might be of use to your target audience can also be included. These links may come in the form of direct advertisements or the links may be embedded in the copy of the e-newsletter when appropriate.

If you plan to utilize an e-newsletter to promote your products or services, you should consider hiring an experienced writer to create the content for your website. This will help to ensure you are providing your readers with top quality content. Likewise if you intend to include graphics you should have a graphic designer assist you to ensure your e-newsletter looks professionally put together.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out The Best D**N Training In The Industry and Learn How To Create Your Own Leads And Generate Instant Cash In Any Company. "Magnetic Sponsoring Online"


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Here is how things were 100 years ago!

 The Car folks could actually afford
1910 Ford Model  R
 
 
 
 cid:X.MA1.1292786980@aol.com
  
THE YEAR IS  1910
Here  are some statistics for the Year  1910:
 
************ *********  ************
 
The average  life expectancy for men was 47  years.
   Fuel for this  car was sold in drug stores  only.
   Only 14 percent  of the homes had a bathtub.
   Only 8 percent  of the homes had a telephone.
   There were only  8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved  roads.
   The maximum  speed limit in most cities was 10  mph.
   The tallest  structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower  !
   The average US  wage in 1910 was 22 cents per  hour.
   The average US  worker made between $200 and $400 per year  ..
   A competent  accountant could expect to earn $2000 per  year,
   A  dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between  $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and  a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per  year.
   More than 95  percent of all births took place at HOME  .
   Ninety percent  of all Doctors had NO  COLLEGE EDUCATION!
   Instead, they  attended so-called medical schools, many of  which were condemned  in the press AND the government as  'substandard.'
   Sugar cost four  cents a pound.
   Eggs were  fourteen cents a dozen.
   Coffee was  fifteen cents a pound.
   Most women only  washed their hair once a month, and used Borax  or egg yolks for shampoo.
   Canada passed a law that  prohibited poor people from entering into their  country for any reason.
   The Five  leading causes of death  were:
 
1. Pneumonia  and influenza
2.  Tuberculosis
3.  Diarrhea
4.  Heart disease
5.  Stroke
   The American  flag had 45 stars ....
   The population  of Las Vegas , Nevada , was only  30!!!!
   Crossword  puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been  invented yet.
   There was no  Mother's Day or Father's Day.
   Two out of  every 10 adults couldn't read or write  and
 Only 6 percent  of all Americans had graduated from high  school..
   Marijuana,  heroin, and morphine were all available over the  counter at the local corner  drugstores.
  Back then  pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion,  gives buoyancy to the mind,  Regulates the  stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect  guardian of health'
   Eighteen  percent of households had at least one full-time  servant or domestic help ....
   There were  about 230 reported murders  in the ENTIRE   U.S.A. !