Time Magazine gave a strong mainstream media endorsement to the proliferation and influence of consumer-generated media when they named ‘You’ as Person of the Year for 2006. The annual Trust Barometer conducted globally by Edelman also shows that media and ‘old-school’ authorities have lost ground. We now look to “someone just like me” for Internet marketing strategy information.

How does this affect the practice of PR? Since a large part of PR is about reaching people through the media and opinion leaders, and influencing how they perceive and act, this shift in media consumption and influence is the biggest thing to occur in the last 100 years. It changes where the audience is and how to reach them effectively. It is no longer a push, one- way delivery of controlled information. The conversation predicted by the ClueTrain Manifesto in 1999 is now in full cry. Consumers have found the power of voice. Anyone can publish their opinions and they’re in control of the content. They read what they want, when they want it and how they want it.

If you do nothing else in 2007 become aware of these online conversations. Find out who is talking about your company, your product and your industry. Listen to what they’re saying. Social media online is just like social interaction in the real world. If you walked into a gathering and a group of people was talking to one another, you wouldn’t barge in and start talking about what you do and how great you are. It pays to listen first and then offer some contribution that interests people and adds value to the conversation. And these rules apply even more so online. You no longer have the stage and a captive audience.

How do you listen to online conversations? Learn to use Really Simple Syndication feeds. (RSS) With RSS you can do a search on Google Blogsearch or Technorati.com and subscribe to this search query. Each time a new blog post or comment is added it will be delivered securely to your RSS reader. If you prefer to have the RSS reader on your desktop, download a free reader from PRESSfeed. If you want it online so you can access it from any computer, use one like Bloglines.

Once you realize just how convenient (and addictive) receiving news and information in RSS feeds can be, you’ll know why the second thing you have to do in 2007 is RSS enable your own web content. According to Forrester Research RSS enabling your news content is the place to start. While RSS may be very new in South Africa it has shown exponential growth in other countries - 30% of US corporations are RSS enabling their content due to customer demand. As broadband becomes more affordable and widespread, RSS will become part of the new media landscape here too.

Once your news content is in an RSS feed it will be syndicated online and it will attract more traffic and better search visibility, which has been shown to affect brand perception and value.

Once you’re tapped into the conversations and aware of what people talk about online, identify the top influencers in your space. Read their blogs and listen to their podcasts. Then formulate a content strategy. Do some keyword research. Find out what people are actually searching for online. Develop a content strategy based on all the data you have gathered. Once this plan is in place you can start to deliver content and join the conversation.

If this is all Greek to you, the most important thing you can do in 2007 is find a new media consultant who has a successful track record with an Internet marketing strategy. These can be treacherous waters. Witness the fake Wal-Mart blogs and the Dell Hell debacle that negatively affected their brand value. You don’t want to be the next corporation that gets egg on its face in the Web PR space.

Sally Falkow is President of Expansion Plus, Inc., and author of Website Marketing Strategy Ebook. She is an authority on Internet Marketing and search engine optimization strategies. For more information, visit http://www.expansionplus.com

Your dogs will let you know what dog beds that they like better. My husband bought our dog Blue our Heeler a Round Dog Bed because whenever she was outside taking a nap she would curl into a little ball. He thought that this would be the best kind because of the way she was sleeping outside. I think that Blue sleeps like this because she feels more protected with our other two dogs outside running around which are a lot bigger than her. While Blue would be curled up in a little ball the two other dogs would leave her sleep and not bother her.

Blue sleeps in the house at night on her round dog bed she just stretches out as far as she can. During the winter months the dog bed is right in front of the fireplace so she stays very warm and cozy on this Orthopedic Dog Bed. A lot of times when I watch her sleeping her head will be off the dog bed and her body up on the top of it just stretched out. Now Blue feels like she is more relaxed in the house and feels like she can stretch out as she wants to and does not have to worry about being bothered.

In my opinion we will soon be buying a new dog bed for Blue and it will be a Square Dog bed which will be a lot better for the way that she sleeps in the house. It will still be an Orthopedic Dog bed because these beds are made very well and she is getting older and sometimes complains of sore joints. Orthopedic Dog beds help for joints pain and stiffness. Blue is a small dog but because of the way that she sleeps I will get her a Large Dog Bed so she can stretch out the way she like to in the house. No matter what bed blue sleeps on she will have her blanket that she has had since being a puppy, she can not sleep without it.

Now I know from watching our dog at different times and places what dog bed will be the perfect bed for her; we will be buying a Large Square Orthopedic Dog Bed and I hope you will watch your dogs to learn what kind of bed to buy for them.

Suzanne Bean: Home based business owner of BeansDogBeds opened in 06 selling quality Dog beds.
http://www.beansdogbeds.com

http://www.beansdogbeds.com/new_dog_beds_are_here.html

selling dog beds, orthopedic dog beds, indoor & outdoor dog beds
I live on a farm with 60+ animals; our company will keep cost down on the dog beds we know the expense of raising pets. I have been living on a farm for 17 years and when I was younger, my friend and I showed Dobermans at different dog shows. My husband has had animals all his life, he does farming, horseback riding, horse shoeing, training dogs to hunt rabbits and for pets. We both have three children each two boys and one girl, six kids combined & eight grandchildren.

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Finding the courage to dream is like deciding to go to an exotic destination. Now that you know where you are going, it’s time to choose the path. It is overwhelming to stand at the junction of life, when you know where you want to be, but still not sure which one of the endless options to choose. It’s scary, but exciting.

For some people, the dream has created the path by itself and the journey has already begun. For these people, dreaming alone has already energized them. They are more focused and empowered to go forward towards the future. They’ve entered the magic zone, where things just happen “by themselves”.

At our house, about a year ago, Gal worked very hard on setting a goal regarding the activities with the kids. It was very hard to set a goal that involved others. After 4 days, he eventually wrote “It is 4pm on Wednesday. We are in the kitchen with the kids, preparing afternoon tea together”. That same day, he went to pick up the girls from school and kindy. Eden, our 15 year-old daughter, stood at the entrance to the dining area and declared “Today, I’m in the mood for making muffins”. Not long after, we saw a beautiful sight - Eden and Noff, our 3 year-old daughter, giggling and dipping their fingers in muffin mixture. Gal hadn’t talk to either of them about it and I’d had no chance to say anything before they came in. This was the first in a series of “spookables” and we now live happily in the magic zone.

Indeed, it starts looking like the universe conspires for the success of those who dream.

For others, making the wish list has been frustrating. The scary unknown was stronger than the vision of the dream. Yes, it was very nice playing fairy tales and magic, but how do I get there?

This always brings me to one of my favorite books, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. We climb high mountains and cross deserts in search of things that are in our back yard all the time.

The first step to getting your goal is to start moving. “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”, said Will Rogers. You see, in the fast-paced world of expanding knowledge and amazing technology, if you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward. The world does not wait for us in sympathy, to just stop feeling sorry for ourselves, or sort out our excuses. Every day we procrastinate increases the gap, and tomorrow we’ll have to run faster in order to catch up.

How many times in your life have you thought “How on Earth am I going to do this”? The answer is in the question. You need to do something.

I remember thinking this many times, when I felt small and overwhelmed. I’m only 1.5m tall, so it’s very easy for me to feel small… So I look at the situation and say to myself “OK, this is what I have, and this is what I’ll win with”. During my final Math exams, when I spent too much time looking at a problem, not knowing exactly how to tackle it, my teacher always said “Copy the question onto the answer sheet. If you still don’t get the answer, at least you’ll get some credit for restating the facts”. Most of the times, copying the question made the difference for me, and when it didn’t, I got some credit for writing it down. Life is just the same - when we can’t find the solution, acknowledging the facts gets us part of the way to our goal.

Sometimes, when I play Solitaire, I look at all the cards on the table, and I can’t find a way to win the game. I check once, twice and even three times, but get stuck in my mind. So then I move one card, just one card, and everything starts to happen.

Many people have asked us over the years “How do you manage the logistic operation of moving countries, with your children and all your stuff?” Well, we followed 4 rules:

1. Know where you’re going
2. Believe you can get there “one step at a time”
3. Acknowledge the facts - recognize what you have to work with
4. Roll up your sleeves and get moving - do the one things that can be done right now

With these rules engraved in our philosophy of life, it is much easier to start moving to another country, continent or even into a better place inside ourselves.

Please pass this article to anyone you would like to offer the honor of sharing the road with you and Until next time have a safe and joyful journey.

Be happy in life!
Ronit

To view the original article and/or subscribe to the Be Happy in LIFE newsletter, visit http://www.behappyinlife.com/inspiration.

Ronit Baras is an educator, a journalist and a life coach, specializing in relationships and emotional intelligence. She has 21 years of education experience, working with children, teenagers and parents. She’s the author of the book “Be Special, Be Yourself for Teenagers”. Ronit has lived and worked in America, Asia and Australia and now lives in Brisbane.

Ronit’s purpose in life is to spread love and acceptance all over the world through article writing, book publishing, public speaking, education and coaching.

If you’d like to write a compelling sales letter how would you go about getting started? One good way is to search internet marketing categories. For example if you are interested in affiliate marketing go to ClickBank and look up information on that subject.

Pick out some affiliate topics and in blue script you will see “view pitch page” for any subject. This will bring up the affiliate merchants sales page. The pages with the highest gravity will probably have the best sales letters.

Study the various sales letters and you will begin to see a common thread among them. They usually all start out with an attention grabbing headline. Some may seem to be insulting you at first. You may see something like: Why Would I Want a BOOB to Buy My Product? (usually in bright red script) Your first reaction might be, hey is this guy suggesting I’m a boob?

As you read further it might be saying, this product is so good, it can only be appreciated by sophisticated readers like you, not for some boob. But you see he piqued your interest and got you to read further.

Next will be a litany of how he was struggling in a job he hated and then got laid off for being late too many times. Just as his house and car were about to be foreclosed and repossessed and the bank was putting a lien on his next born, he came up with this brilliant internet marketing system.

Now, he owns a 14 room mansion in a very exclusive area. He’s got a four car garage with a Rolls Royce, Hummer, SUV and Lamborghini. His wife has a fur coat for each day of the week and all his kids go to private schools.

The following information might be a bulleted list of all the benefits his product offers. All those things a smart person such as yourself can not pass up.

Next might be a bunch of free bonuses, but only if you sign up now as he only has 14, 13, 12 all crossed out, 11 left. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Then you’ll probably get The 100%, 60 day money back guarantee. No questions asked. “Now what have you got to lose?”

This will be followed by the price. “Others have said this is easily worth at least $2000.00. For a limited time we’re offering it for, no not $1000.00, $500.00, or even $250.00. We’re offering it at the low low price of $37.00, but there’s no guarantee. That price could go up to $100.00 by tomorrow.”

The last thing will be to go to the order page.

Yes, I did have some fun with this, writing it in satirical form and treating it with some irreverence. However, these type of sales letters are very potent and many of the marketers who wrote them are indeed millionaires. From what I’ve read, they have put numerous hours into their creations and you will see they all follow a similar pattern.

You can learn a great deal by studying these sales letters and trying to create your own. Yours may not be that good at first but the more you work at it the better they’ll become.

To learn more about internet marketing and many other skills necessary for a profitable internet business, click here: http://www.theaffableaffiliate.com/ You’ll receive an ebook, “15 Steps to Internet Success,” and a series of lessons about topics much like this one. Trust me, you will learn a lot, no matter how long you have been marketing. Just do it!

Formerly employed with Arnold Palmer Enterprises as Advertising Manager and Copywriter (Putting Course and Driving Range Division)
http://www.theaffableaffiliate.com/

As one seeking spiritual enlightenment, you will try many ways to find or align your awareness to your true self. There is a way, a small experiment that you can do now to sense the awareness of what you are seeking.

Often writers and teachers will tell you that what you are, is already within you. They will call it spirit, soul, God, true self and many other things. The truth is, these things are not in you because it would create a duality-there would be you and it.

Your true self cannot be within in you no more than it can be outside of you. There is only the silent observer, the one who watches and listens, judges, nor reacts to anything. It is just there and it knows what you are thinking-what you are feeling. It is always there because it is all there is. There is no separation between you and what you are thinking. You are the awareness, that knowing-thinking out loud in the chasms of your mind and body. You are the silence, listening and feeling the rhythm of life in what you assume is your body.

To get a sense of this other thing that is part of your body try this:

Close your eyes for a couple of minutes. Begin to notice your mind thinking, but don’t concentrate on the thoughts. Now listen to the noises around you and don’t pay any attention to them. Do you smell anything, can you taste your own saliva. Are you comfortable and do you have any physical sensations-notice them!

Now, as you continue listening to your thoughts which are loud and crystal clear in your head-try to notice who is listening to your thoughts. Who is it in your head doing the listening? There is a presence there that is hearing everything. There is an awareness that knows what you are feeling or sensing. Who or what is this presence. You cannot ignore it, it is there. You are completely aware of everything going on in your body, but who are you-the one thinking or the one listening? This awareness is who you truly are. It is what you may call spirit, soul, or true self. It is what you have been looking for. It is why you meditate and pray. It is always there and you didn’t have to find it. It is the silent observer-the witness to your physical life. It is always in the background-it is not your ego or personality-it’s your true self-it is what you are looking for.

In the act of being spiritual, you lead yourself away from this awareness, this knowingness. It is the natural rhythm of life to move away from itself so that it may know itself. As you become acquainted with the silent observer or awareness which is you-you will find yourself watching and listening to what your mind and body are doing. You will notice what the body is doing, but you will not be a part of it.

From time to time you will talk out loud to it and you may even think you are losing your mind. It is the self that you have been looking for for years. All the things you have done have taken you away from it. Your body is a hollow chamber filled with this consciousness-it is creation itself-it is the holy one. You are the silent one seeking to speak. You are the emotionless one seeking to experience emotion. You are the nothingness seeking to experience something. There is nothing you have to do, be, say or go to, to experience your true self.

If you want to experience the silent observer, close your eyes and be aware, be conscious of the one who is listening to your thoughts.

Roy E. Klienwachter is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. A published author, a student of NLP, New Age Light Worker, Teacher and Phenomenologist. Roy’s books and articles are thought provoking, and designed to empower your imagination, and take you to places you would never have thought of.

Claim your copy of Roy’s new book at: http://www.klienwachter.com/BookInfo/Struggle/SalesPage.htm

Visit Roy at: http://www.klienwachter.com

Search Engine Optimization Philosophy

This is arguably the most critical factor when deciding which company to work with to improve your online business or brand identity. Employing a search engine marketing or placement company that only utilizes ethical search engine optimization techniques or “white hat” methods will ensure that you minimize the potential risk of being dropped, removed, penalized, deleted, or banished from the search engines. Nobody enjoys waking up glassy eyed to the unfortunate reality of being “Google sacked” for breaking or bending the search engines’ implicit rules or explicit terms of service.

Search Engine Optimization Methodology / Specific Expertise

Can your expert SEO Company only optimize static websites constructed in basic HTML? An upstanding SEO company will have experience working with websites in all the common programming languages and technologies, PHP, ASP, ASPX, HTML, Cold Fusion, Flash etc.

Does your SEO Company have experience optimizing both static and dynamic websites? Can your SEO Company optimize using various e-commerce packages and interfaces such as Monster Commerce, Yahoo Stores, OS Commerce, Storefront.net, Volusion?

Depth Of Optimization / Piecemeal Services

The most basic search engine optimization companies around don’t actually perform search engine optimization at all- they are merely submission services which either manually or automatically submit your site to various search engines or directories. Submission companies are typically very inexpensive since no actual coding, linking, or content development takes place on your actual website. Typical pricing runs around $19.95 to $399 per month for these submission type services.

A mid level optimization company gets their hands more firmly on the marketing handle by editing code, analyzing keywords, building links, and adjusting / writing fresh content for your site. They also may do a pinch of off-site optimization, such as press releases, article submissions, and blog writing. Typically, firms of this middle level range charge between $399 and $850 per month.

The highest level search engine placement firm performs the duties described for mid level optimization companies, but also is responsible for conversion tracking and analysis. The emphasis on off-site optimization is also much greater and time consuming. This means that high level optimization firms are essentially responsible for discovering what is working and what is not working throughout the entire customer experience - from initial search through conversion. More man hours per month also means a higher fee that search engine firms must charge to cover their costs. The usual pricing range for these firms’ are $850.00 all the way up to $10,000 per month, but on average, you’ll be looking at fees above the $1,000 a month range.

A piecemeal marketing company is one that treats various parts of an optimization campaign as separate entities. For example, an optimization company may charge distinct fees only for “linking” or “content construction.” This piecemeal approach can be detrimental. Successful optimization is the synergy of multiple efforts on multiple fronts, sometimes simultaneous, and sometimes in succession. Piecing together different aspects of an optimization campaign typically reaps poorer results than a comprehensive strategy.

System Of Evaluation / Reporting

The majority of search engine optimization companies cringe at the thought of empowering their clients to evaluate their work. An ethical search engine optimization company does the opposite. There are four tools we recommend using in tandem to evaluate a search engine optimization company’s work / performance.

1.-Real Time Statistics / Conversion Analysis Software

Being able to see traffic gains and conversions in real time can be a useful window in evaluating how your SEO Firm is performing. Having the ability to see who is coming to your site, from what search engines they are coming from, and the exact keyword phrase used within the search query is an essential tool.

2.-Positioning or Visibility Reports

Being emailed bi-weekly positioning reports on the specific keywords that you are interested in ranking highly for can be incredibly useful. A visibility percentage, which is the percentage of people that are finding you for keywords that are important for your business - on the Major Search Engines - Google, Yahoo, AOL, and MSN is also important. Make sure your firm doesn’t overdue the automated search engine queries however, the search engines may consider this spamming their databases.

3.-Alexa Rating:

You can download the Alexa Toolbar right now from alexa.com. This gives you a solid summary of the general traffic trend over the last three months for your website when compared to other existing sites. If you have a brand new website, odds are you will not even have an alexa rating or visible data at all. The alexa rating also shows you, in general terms, how your website stacks up- traffic wise- in comparison to your competitors or industry affiliates. The lower your alexa rating the more traffic your site is generating when compared to other sites in the alexa universe. Please note, if your site has an alexa rating of “1″ this doesn’t mean you are the most visited site on the internet- it most likely means you are operating a Yahoo Store- in such a case, it is identifying Yahoo’s overall traffic, and not your individual site. A general tool like this can give you a quick overall impression of traffic growth and trends. Be careful though, the numbers are generalities (similar to the television Nielsen Ratings) and not absolute figures.

4.-Google PageRank

You can download the Google Toolbar right now by going to google.toolbar.com. Click on the options tab and check off the “display PageRank” measure. You will be able to see how Google is rating the importance of your site on a scale of 0-10. As an optimization company proceeds with your campaign you can check periodically to see how the number is increasing. The typical website might see a PageRank increase of one to two points over the course of an optimization campaign. Keep in mind that it is easier to increase your PageRank at the lower ends of the spectrum. As you approach higher PageRanks it becomes more difficult for your rating to balloon.

Due Diligence: Corporate Goals / Industry And Keyword Research

How does the SEO Company you are considering perform its up front legwork regarding your organization, industry and corporate goals? Do they ask questions about:

What your corporate goals (both short and long term) are, your industry, your competition. What keywords are currently working for you? What PPC (Pay Per Click) words are currently effective? What PPC engines (Adwords, Overture, MSN/Live) are currently effective? How your site is designed? Is your site dynamic or static?

What tools does your SEO Firm employ to perform its keyword research?

How about Wordtracker, WebCEO, or Keyword Elite? What about the basic Overture keyword suggestion tool or the generic Google keyword suggestion tool supplied by Adwords. Do they utilize a combination of the basic tools? What about proprietary keyword analysis methodology? Do they have dedicated tools that have been developed in-house, or by a third party?

Client to Account Manager Ratio

Not many SEO companies like to publicize their client to account manager ratio. This is the ratio representing the number of clients that each account manager handles at any given time. The lower the amount of clients each account manager assists, odds are the better the service and the higher the level of personal attention. We recommend that a search engine optimization account manager supports less than thirty clients at any given time.

Man-Hours Per Month

The number of man hours per month your SEO production department actually dedicates to your business is crucial. It is more than smart to ask for a monthly time allotment estimate before beginning an optimization campaign. What you expect to receive and what is actually delivered should be right in line.

Company Structure and Size

Does your SEO Company consist of a laptop computer with your account manager working out of his basement sitting beside a salivating golden retriever? Is your SEO company a bureaucratic nightmare that forces you to fill out trouble tickets when you need help on the spot?

Your ethical search engine optimization company should be somewhere within the sweet spot of not too small and not too large. You want individual attention, but you would also like to know there is more than one mind, calculating your next business moves.

Management

Does your ethical search engine optimization company have a solid management team? Do they have a management team at all? Are the firms you are considering privately held or publicly traded? Is the owner of the optimization company an absentee landlord or an active member of the SEO community? It is not out of the question to ask for the curriculum vitae or resume of the powers that be, in fact, it makes perfect sense if you are entrusting this company with not only your business but your livelihood. After all, SEO practitioners have no board certification that you can rely upon to check their track record.

Reputation / Importance

Has your SEO Company received multiple complaints via the Better Business Bureau? Check the better business bureau reports and see if there are unresolved complaints. From time to time clients may file complaints, but we believe it is the timely handling of these inquiries which are even more important when considering an optimization company to work with.

Past Results / Company SEO Rankings

Every SEO Company should have detailed reports regarding past client successes. The reports should include specifics as to optimization goals and timelines. Reporting on past clients should also focus within and between multiple industries. You should always be aware of a base point - where a particular client started out prior to the optimization company commencing an SEO campaign. Is the SEO firm itself performing poorly in the search engines? A low Google PageRank (below a 5) may be an indication your SEO firm hasn’t been around for as long as one might like.

References / Company Shelf Life

Every SEO company should have solid references across industries and fields in both business to consumer industries as well as business to business arenas. References should stem from not only the past six months, but should originate from years prior to your introduction with the company. If your SEO firm performs quality work, clients should be around for years to sing their praises.

Costs / Pricing Structure / Up front Fees

Costs should be consistent with the service that the company is offering- a la the “Consistent Value Proposition” taught at Yale School of Management. A $49.00 a month campaign run by a credit card company that does not specialize in search engine optimization might not be the optimal choice for an in depth or high level optimization campaign. An SEO company should also only offer costing after they have a clear understanding of your business, goals, and the work involved. Blanketed cost structures can lead to frustration, unrealized expectations, and ultimately failure. Also be concerned if your optimization firm demands a full six month payment up front in order to simply “get started.”

The ideal optimization company charges an up front fee and monthly recurring fee which is commensurate with the services that are actually being performed. A high quality optimization firm that works on your site utilizing 30-60 man-hours per month cannot possibly charge a $49.00 every thirty days to perform its services.

Redundancy

A nasty case of the bird flu hits your unsuspecting account manager right where it counts! Does your optimization company have the ability to smoothly transition the current state of your campaign to another qualified optimization expert? Every SEO company should have a system in place where knowledge about existing accounts can be easily disseminated from one individual to the next. If there does happen to be a catastrophe regarding your account manager, you should feel comfortable that your business continues to prosper regardless of the circumstances.

Quality Control

Every SEO company should have someone overseeing your account manager to ensure that every last “i” is dotted and every last “t” is crossed. Your account manager should be responsible for the success of your campaign, but an extra set of eyes can occasionally be needed to add one more factor weighing in on your side of success.

Promises / Results Timeline

We’ve heard SEO companies promise first page listings in Google for competitive phrases within 48-Hours. If your SEO sales representative is overzealous and unrealistic, it should be a sign that this is most likely a company to steer away from. Gaining search engine listings can be a hard fought, time intensive battle that comes from both diligent work and intelligent planning.

Production Staff Quality

Production staff should be divided between account managers and specialized production technicians. Account managers are the hub of an optimization campaign direction and implementation. Account managers should be able to perform all of the actual coding, linking, and content construction for each client. As an optimization campaign progresses and increases in complexity, they should be able to call upon their support staff or production department to complete specialized work orders for each client. The more specialized each member of the production department, the more efficient they will be at completing their work (thank Henry Ford for this).

Location / Proximity

When you call your account manager or SEO company do you listen to a curious two beeps before being connected to an individual working without air conditioning overseas? Not a good sign. It is imperative that you hire a search engine placement firm whose sales force works in tandem with its production department. There should be no disparity between what you were sold and what was actually delivered. The SEO guru working on your account should be able to understand your business, industry, and company goals quickly, without any overseas static jamming up communications.

Brian Ortiz is the CEO of SEOMatrix: Ethical Search Engine Optimization. He has been specializing in search engine marketing and most notably conversion analysis for both national and international clients for over five years. SEOMatrix is a Connecticut search engine optimization company. To receive a free optimization or conversion rate analysis for your website sign up for our matrix report.

Throughout the life of the internet, people have had access to immense amounts of information. Naturally, pornography became available to anyone with a computer and internet access. Software developers quickly designed internet filters, aimed towards people who have a problem with this. Unfortunately, these filters block out a lot of websites that have purely non-pornographic content, or contain mostly useful things or interesting things that someone might want to see. In this article, I will show you how to get by these internet filters, for whatever reason, in three main areas. Then, I will give advice on cleaning up history and not getting caught.

Unfortunately, internet filters are extremely difficult to “hack”, and even with my own knowledge of computers, I have not found any easy ways to disable a filter. Essentially, the filter becomes a part of the operating system, generally speaking, which makes it hard to get rid of or temporarily disable. Even if you were to get rid of it, though, you might find yourself in a bit of trouble when whoever installed the filter finds out it is gone.

OPTION #1 - DIFFERENT OS Thus, the best way to get by is to not use the computer that is “infected” with the filter. This is simpler than it sounds, and there are two ways that work best:

1. Use a LiveCD LiveCDs are usually Linux based, and are basically an entire operating system that boots off of a CD and don’t affect your system at all. You can download a free CD (I recommend Ubuntu, www.ubuntu.com) pop it in your computer, reboot it, and voila! You have an operating system, connected to the internet, without restrictions,

2. Use another computer Obviously, most people can’t do this, but you might consider saving a crappy computer, or building one, and using it to connect to the internet when you need access, while your parents or whoever that is restricting you isn’t around.

OPTION #2 - USING WEB PROXIES The most popular way to get by filters is proxies. Proxies are intended for anonymity, but are commonly used to bypass filters. A lot of them are blocked, however, because they blatantly do exactly what the filter is trying to prevent. Here, I’ll show you how to find your own proxies that are unlikely to be blocked by filters.

1. Google searching “CGIProxy” Most of the proxies you use are from a famous script called CGIProxy, by the wonderful James Marshall. Googling this word will hopefully not be blocked, and if it isn’t you can scroll to the last few pages and find a page that is titled CGIProxy and nothing else. Always go to the fifth page or more to get accurate results. Or, Google “CGIProxy error” in quotes, and you’ll get a bunch of other proxies hosted on random sites. Go to the results with the title CGIProxy error in the title, and hit restart, unchecking all boxes to get where you want.

2. Google searching “PHProxy” This search is similar to CGIProxy, only this time click the webpages with the title “PHProxy” and check/uncheck all desired boxes. Again, go to random pages on the Google search, about page 5 and up.

3. Make your own Another way, if all else fails, is to make your own page with a proxy. Find a hosting service that supports CGI for CGIProxy or PHP for PHProxy. You can find these hosting services free most of the time, and your URL will be something like domain.com/yourproxy or yourproxy.domain.com. Go to:

• http://www.jmarshall.com/ for CGIProxy
• http://www.phproxy.org/ for PHProxy

Deleting history is easier than you think If you are using the above steps, you might want to clear your history. I’ve found it looks a bit suspicious when there is absolutely no history in your web browser, but it is also tedious to delete every website that you shouldn’t be on. The solution is a browser extension called Distrust, it is for Firefox, but that shouldn’t matter because everyone should be using Firefox anyway. See the website, http://www.gness.com/ for more details.

OPTION #3 - ATTAIN THE PASSWORD As a final resort, the password can be retrieved if all else fails. This is an extremely risky way to surf happily, but has also proven to be effective, in my case. A keylogger program can record every single keystroke on that computer, and save it in a password protected file for you to open, and find the password that whoever installed the filter used. The password, of course, unlocks the filter, but you need to start the keylogger, make sure the password is typed, stop it, and get rid of it before someone discovers it.

An important note about keyloggers: They are considered Trojan viruses. They can harm your computer if you aren’t careful, and they can be detected by antivirus software. Make sure you test it before anyone else gets on. Recommended for advanced users only.

I realize I only just barely covered enough to give you an idea of what you can do, but this article is more for advanced users who haven’t thought of these ideas yet. If you need help, I’d be glad to help out, just send me an email and I will guide you through any of these steps.

Shopping for a new auto can be a very trying experience at best. It is usually a dreaded experience for most of us do to the time required and trying to sort out fact from fiction in talking to sales people.

Here are eight mistakes most people make according to some surveys taken.

Consumer Reports outline the following eight mistakes most car buyers make
when shopping for a car.

1. Being pressures to act. It’s alright to take your time in selecting a car.
Don’t be pressures into purchasing before you are really ready. When you
place a down payment, use a credit card in place of writing a check. This will
provide you more protection if something fishy occurs.

2. Taking dealers at their word. Are you being offered any “freebies”? Lifetime oil changes, etc. Get it in writing.

3. Financing for more than four years. If you settle for a long term loan, you’re likely going to pay a higher interest rate.

4. Buying unnecessary extras. This is where the dealer really loads in his profit. He’ll
Offer all kinds of extras, such as VIN etching, fabric protection, extended protection insurance, etc. Think very carefully if you really need these items.

5. Opting for dealer financing without shopping around. Do your research before shopping by shopping banks, credit unions, online services, etc. to see what rates are being offered for the amount, length of loan, etc. you are thinking about. Then you will be in a better position to know if the dealer is offering you a good rate.

6. Not negotiating a lease price. You can bargain for a lease price just as you can do in purchasing a car. If you turn your autos over every two or three years, this might be a better option for you.

7. Leasing because you can’t afford to buy. Leasing will normally mean a lower monthly payment, but you could end up with a higher finance rate. Again doing your homework will help you here also.

8. Talking about trade-ins early in the looking process. Even though the salesman will always ask you right up front if you have a trade-in, you don’t have to let him know until you have done some negotiations on the car you have selected. You can always just say, “I don’t know at this time”, or “I might sell the car myself.” This way, you are being true full.

Some other points to consider that can make your auto shopping experience go smoother, is to do a credit check on yourself be fore shopping. It is much easier to correct a mistake on your report before the dealer or bank runs a credit report, than explain the problem after the fact.

Also, do research on what your auto, if you are changing one, is worth before shopping for a new one. It is usually always better to sell the car yourself and deal in cash with the car dealership. With all the information on the internet now, you have wealth of information at your finger tips.

Tim has fifty years of business experience in various fields in the retail industry. Tim has been the President and CEO of several successful large coporations, as well as starting seven successful companies. Three for other corportations and four for himself. He was a keynote speaker in the industry before retiring. Tim started Home Busines Created to help others enjoy the benefits of having their own business as well as other websites to assist people in shopping online.

For additional articles and resources for auto parts, accessories, etc., visit out site at:

http://www.carpartsfyi.com/

I want to share my story in the hope of saving others from going through what my family and I have endured. It is about giving people the knowledge they need to make the right choices in order to heal.

In 1998 when I was 32, I was misdiagnosed with depression. I was going through a very rough time in my life and went to a therapist who I thought could help me work through this difficult time. This therapist told me I had depression, sent me to a psychiatrist, who prescribed the first of nine different antidepressants I would take from 1998 until October 2006, along with three different medications for insomnia. The problem (that too many people and even doctors are not aware of) is these drugs can cause and worsen depression. I went from doctor to doctor for years looking for help and was always told the same thing, “Your depression is getting worse, you need to try or add another drug.” After each antidepressant I tried, I kept feeling worse; I went from struggling through a rough time in my life to my body becoming so mentally and physically out of balance I experienced the following: overcome with a dreadful sense of doom, could not leave the house, unable to concentrate, no motivation, lack of contentment, couldn’t function doing everyday tasks, insomnia, extremely sad (I cried all the time), everything was overwhelming, sick to my stomach (I had no appetite, nausea), digestive problems, very achy muscles, started waking up in the middle of the night and morning in a panic (sweating, my heart would be racing, I felt very scared). I didn’t want to try and get through one more day, the only reason I did not swallow a bunch of pills was because I truly feel God gave us all the gift of life and it is not up to us to take it away. I did go to bed praying I would not wake up the next day; the feelings were unbearable. My life became painful and empty of any pleasure. I did not want to live anymore.

In August of 2006 I realized that I was misdiagnosed while reading a book by Dr. Peter Breggin “The Antidepressant Fact Book.” This book warned of the dangers of antidepressants. I showed the book to my M.D. and by October 2006 was weaned off the antidepressants. I was also seeing a natural doctor who helped me get my body back into balance which I feel is very important and highly recommend. I thought after weaning off the drugs and seeing my natural doctor I would gradually start to feel better, and I did, somewhat. But I was still crying myself to sleep many nights, still overcome with a feeling of doom, it was hard to function doing everyday tasks, I felt very overwhelmed by everything. I was hopeless, it seemed as though I would never find anyone who could help me. I realized I had a lot of anger inside me, at the doctors and at myself for believing them. I also had years and years of negative conditioning inside me. When you have experienced so much pain for so long, it becomes easier to focus on the negative than to be positive. You forget how to think and feel positive. In my case, that was only strengthened by the words the psychiatrist who misdiagnosed me said, “You just may never be happy.”

My hope came when I found Patrick Wanis. I read one of his pocket books and decided to contact him. From the first time we spoke, Patrick had a profound effect on me. He did more for me in our first phone consultation then all the therapists/counselors I had previously been to combined. He helped me get rid of the anger and taught me how to become more positive by using the power we all have inside us. He not only gave me the tools to heal, he showed me how to use them. I still struggle with the affects of being misdiagnosed but Patrick Wanis gave me hope and showed me how to get my life back. The change in me was so noticeable, a friend of mine who was going through an extremely difficult time decided to have a phone consultation with Patrick. After her first consultation she called me and said, “In six years of therapy nobody has helped me as much as Patrick Wanis.”

Most people are not given other options to heal, they are hastily given antidepressants - drugs that can cause and worsen the symptoms they are seeking help for. I do not want to give the impression everyone who takes antidepressants is wrong, but I would like to know how many of them are aware antidepressants can cause depression, do they know how many people are misdiagnosed and do they know how many people there are like me, whose lives were devastated by these drugs. How many are aware of Patrick Wanis, who can get to the core issues and teach them how to get better by using the power we all have inside us. I want to share my story to give people the knowledge to make the right choice on the best way for them to heal. I did not have choices because I wasn’t given the knowledge and had to live through years of pain and emptiness. I do not want someone else to go through the same thing.

It scares and saddens me that in our society it is becoming more and more common for a doctor/therapist/counselor to tell us we need a pill to feel better. Sometimes life throws situations at us that are overwhelming, hard to deal with and we need help getting through them, that’s ok. But we need to feel the grief, anger, frustration, sadness and work through them in order to truly heal and have the knowledge to make the right choice. If someone wants to hastily prescribe a pill, they can’t help you - find someone who can.

Wishing you a life filled with Peace and Happiness,

Cathy Valone
cvglobal@yahoo.com

Please visit Patrick Wanis’ website at

http://patrickwanis.com/index.asp

Most of us would say that we want more wealth…more abundance…more prosperity. But who among us has not been bogged down with the chores and hassles of everyday living to the point where we have no time or energy to pursue the prosperity we really want?

The problem here is, we can wake up after 20 or 30 years and wish with all our might we had done things differently, if only we had lifted our heads up long enough out of the daily grind to see it. This is the kind of regret that cannot be undone.

Sometimes all it takes to change this pattern and avoid future disappointment is a little reminder; a reminder that what we want is possible. Sometimes all we need is a little inspiration.

Knowing that others have blazed the path of success and abundance can make it easier to take those first few steps. The people who can be role models are not superheroes. We all have 24 hours in a day and no more. Do you use yours wisely?

If we can observe the lives of others who have managed to achieve what we wish for ourselves, we can learn valuable lessons. The most important of these is that what we want is POSSIBLE. We are not alone, and there are others out there who are working through the same issues as you are, no matter what they are. Sometimes hearing about someone who has overcome far greater odds than we are facing can be all the inspiration we need to get off our behinds and begin to create change.

Achievement isn’t just for the lucky few; there’s no such thing. Luck is created…as the infamous saying goes, luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. Your job is to work on the preparedness.

If you need a little inspiration, you may enjoy the articles at href="http://www.dailymotivation.info"> Daily Motivation, or visit the href="http://blog.breathingprosperity.com"> Breathing Prosperity blog for daily posts on increasing the prosperity in your life.

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