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What’s Up With Social Sites?

September 8, 2008 – 10:11 am

I am probably about to be blasted with all kinds of negative feedback, but I have been thinking quite a lot about social web sites.  FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Delicious, and the list goes on and on…

What are they for?  Yeah, I know getting your name out there or your business or letting everyone know you even exist.

But wait, what are they really all about?  I mean that.  Why are they?  Who runs them?  What is their purpose?

I don’t mean for  your benefit.  What is in it for them?  The actual people who are behind the scenes.  I am hearing some interesting takes on their agenda.  I for one, am not real confident that they are  in place for our benefit.  I saw an interesting video about FaceBook.  Who ran it and the background of it.  I wanted to put it on this blog, so you could see first hand.  I went back and searched and searched at Stumbled Upon , which is where I saw the video.  It is nowhere.

Of course, not everyone who has a social site is up to no good.    Not everyone has an agenda, other than just making a living.  This is not what I am saying or implying, so don’t get bent out of shape.  I am just expressing my opinion, and  have an idea that there is a undercurrent going on.  Certainly not everyone is included.

This is strictly my opinion, and I am quite positive I am not the only one who is wary of social sites.

We all know how they can get people in trouble, by having inappropriate pictures or information of a most personal nature.  I mean really, why would you?  It will come back to bite you, big time!!

Especially when you get serious about building a business or when you meet your ’soul mate’ and the site  comes back to haunt you, and believe me, it will.  Just be careful what you put on there.

Even celebrities have had issues with social sites.  Either theirs or someone else posting negative press or compromising pictures.  People in the social media should be used to this by now, but it is still shocking to them and to us when negative personal information gets published.

That could be another blog in of itself.  What I wanted to talk about is, why are the social sites there in the first place?  I mean, really, what is the purpose? Does everyone think it’s just for our use?  Do you really think all they are is a way to get our names and faces out there?  Am I the only one in the  universe that thinks there is something else going on with the social media sites, behind the web face?

Suppose you are an agency that collects data and information.  Think about it.  What better way could you do it than having it right there in plain sight, with easy access and no one could be the wiser.

Of course,  you can get lots of info on people from their driver’s license, their social security number, their gender, their age, career, demographic area, income.  There are a lot of ways.

What makes me uncomfortable about social sites, is it can target anyone and everyone.  People under the age of consent.  Others who are really just there to ‘meet up’.  Anyone who wants to find new friends, possibly a business opportunity or finding someone that have lost contact with.  This is strictly my opinion, but don’t you think you can get a lot more information, personal and otherwise, on a lot more people , a lot faster?  Don’t you think you can get a more indepth report on someone on these sites?

What happens with all of that information?  WIth 9/11, I know that anyone,(government or otherwise),  who wants to keep tabs on someone will go to any means possible and social site data collecting is a jackpot of resources.

I know how the world works.  I also am aware that agencies are becoming freer to  use those resources and information to their advantage.  It seems that the world is growing smaller, by the advent of the web and social media.  Not all bad, by the way.  People can become corrupt, though,  and use it for the wrong reasons and it can be used against us instead of for the greater good.

Having said all of this, it is strictly my opinion.   I prefer to really limit what I put on a social sites and am very careful about the content.

If you have any opinions or actual facts that would be great.  I would love to hear what you think.  Clearly the social media can be a good thing, but clearly, as I see it, it could have a major negative impact on our personal lives.  It really surprises me when someone says something really personal, or posts pictures that should only be private.  Well, I suppose that is a free society.  What does it say about us?  Where are we headed if we think the only possible way to get attention is to turn ourselves inside out for the all the world.

Just know this, it can and will at some point and time be used against your freedoms.  It  will  be always in the back of your mind.  Is it going to show up?  When?  It will happen when you least expect it!

Why am I talking to you about this?  I didn’t have anything happen to me, but I sure can see the potential of where all this could lead.  I am fearful that if I am thinking it ,  it is already in place,  implemented and gathering  some potentially dangerous intimate, day to day, data for further use.

I don’t think it will be for our benefit, either.  So, to end this conversation, what’s up with social sites?  Let me know what you think.

Talk Soon,

Judy

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Google Quick-Tip - Finding Related Keywords / Topics

August 9, 2008 – 1:01 pm

You probably already know you can use Google’s Keyword Suggestion Tool to generate a list of keywords in your niche - but did you know Google has also has another tool (Google Sets) in their Labs that will help you find other keywords/topics related to your main keywords? This tool lets you enter a couple of your top preferred keywords and then generates a list that predicts what other items might be included in the set. Simply click any of the words on to list to show web pages relevant to that item. If you generate a short “Less than 15 items” list, you can expand the list by clicking the “Grow List” button. You can try Google Sets out at http://labs.google.com/sets

hth ~megan

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Going Green With Internet Marketing

August 7, 2008 – 6:35 pm

Well, if we’re serious about going green, shouldn’t the internet follow suit? So here is my rendition.

  1. G stands for Get
  2. R stands for READY
  3. E stands for EXCITED
  4. E stands for ENJOY
  5. N stands for NO REGRETS

Get means just that. You need to get the right information and become educated if you want to succeed online. We have a lot of resources right here for you. Some are free and some are worth their weight in gold. Michael Cheney is worth his weight in gold and little wonder why he is so popular. He delivers. I know because I am in one of his programs right now.

I don’t know about you, but if I have read a good book, have seen a good movie, found a great vacation spot, found a great pair of jeans, lost weight on an exercise or diet plan, eaten at a great restaurant, well, anything that has been a rewarding experience for me personally, I am going to spread the word. Don’t you do the same thing?

Ready, willing and able to do whatever it takes by moving forward, implementing, taking action on what you have learned. The best coaches and the most intense training, the premiere products won’t do you any good if you don’t get ready and get that ball rolling.

You need to be excited about the process and don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t go according to plan. If you dread the thought of going on line and blogging or talking about what matters to you and have no inspiration by doing it, then I would think about trying something different or step back and find out what it is that you are having problems with.

Maybe you need to get a partner who enjoys doing what you don’t. For me, writing gets my juices flowing. Megan likes the technical side of things. She likes to share new products and services and ways to use the internet. She can find a needle in a haystack when it comes to something new and exciting.

If you don’t Enjoy what you do, regardless of whether or not it’s internet marketing, then find out why, simply put. It doesn’t mean you don’t have fear. There are lots of fears out there, but being successful is one of the biggest. A good rule of thumb is to just get your feet wet. Even a big toe is better than staying in the desert. It’s not good to be thirsty. It’s not fun drowning, either.

Something as simple as thinking of a name for your blog or web site. Check out Go Daddy. It’s free to type until you find one and dirt cheap to actually buy a domain name. Just build your house of cards, one card at a time, so you don’t go belly up.

Having No regrets is easier said than done. The simple facts of life are there will always be regrets about something. But don’t stack the deck by not trying. Just do one thing everyday. I don’t mean getting on line and reading your email for two hours, either. That is what is referred to as avoidance behavior. You know where I am going with this.

Learn something, go to a forum and research what you want to market. Go to the enemy camp and see what they are up to. I suggest, and I am speaking from experiences here, not to look around too much, checking to see if the grass is greener on the other side. Just stick with you program you choose, and cultivate it, grow from it and you will reap the rewards.

Of course, we can help by offering you Michael Cheney’s programs, techniques, and strategies, along with our experience with them to get you off to a great and productive start. I love Michaels’ way of making you feel like you are his student and friend. He has a great style, humor, and lets you know that he isn’t perfect and he does make mistakes, just like the rest of us. He knows what works and what doesn’t, and he makes no bones about it.

Like him or hate him, the simple fact of the matter is Michael Cheney is very successful at what he does. He is willing, very experienced and gives of himself.

By the way, you do know that by going green with internet marketing and using the green formula, you will also be making some green, as in dollars. Of course, you already knew that. Stay on the island of sanity, don’t be a glutton for punishment by doing everything at once.

Hitting a bump in the road is easy to go around. Falling into a bottomless pit, taking on too much at once, is like jumping into an ocean with a school of sharks. You will be eaten alive. Instead, take a small step and watch as your friends turn green with envy as you build your empire.

So, my next question is, what does green mean to you? I think it would be fun to see what everyone else thinks of. Have fun with it, and oh, by the way, have a great week.

Judy

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Ultimate Google Cheat Sheet

August 4, 2008 – 11:08 am

A while back I found what must be the Ultimate Google Cheat Sheet . This free two page PDF lists all Google services and tools as well as background information. The Cheat Sheet also offers a great quick reference to help grasp basics to advanced Google search concepts and ideas.

Here’s a brief overview of what the Google Cheat Sheet covers:

  • A list of all Google domains
  • Company information
    • Founded Date
    • Key People
    • Revenue
    • Employees
    • Contact Address
    • Contact Phone & Fax
  • PageRank
    • Googlebot 2.1 Addresses
    • List of sites with PageRank 10
    • PageRank formula
  • Google Form Elements
  • Google Services
  • Query structure to access directory listings of:-
    • Music files
    • Movie files
  • List of basic Google Calculator operators
  • List of advanced Google Search operators
  • List of Google Investments
  • List of fun Google services and tools
  • List of 15 official Google Blogs
  • Google Calculator examples
  • Search by number examples

And much more!

You can get it here!

Ideal for novice, intermediate and advanced Google users!

hth ~Megan

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Build Your Skill Set With Upcoming Classes from HP Learning Center

August 4, 2008 – 7:48 am

Quick little post: I Just received my newsletter from HP Learning Center with their new list of upcoming classes so I thought I would post a few of them in case any of you might be interested

snip>>>

Create marketing materials that align with your goals (quick lesson) NEW!
Explore the 10 best types of printed marketing collateral for small businesses, and learn how to match them with your marketing goals.

Get organized: managing time, space and paper (with podcast)
Learn tips and techniques for sorting your clutter, managing your time and setting up organizing systems that work. Podcast version of this class available.

Marketing writing tips: five mistakes to avoid (quick lesson) NEW!
Take a look at the five most common marketing writing mistakes, and learn how to avoid these errors and write more effective marketing copy.

Meet the HP Smartphone: get connected, get more done (quick lesson)
Curious about which smartphone best meets your needs? See what you can do with the new HP iPAQ 510 Smartphone featuring Windows Mobile® 6.

Run your own direct mail campaign
Translate your business goals into a direct mail campaign that gets results.

Save money, be energy efficient UPDATED!
Learn how your business can implement ways to save energy with energy-efficient technologies in order to save money and conserve resources.

Simple backup strategies with HP Backup and Recovery Manager (quick lesson)
Learn how to back up and restore vital business data, applications and entire systems using HP Backup and Recovery Manager software.

Six steps to computer security (quick lesson)
In this quick lesson, you’ll learn how to protect your notebook and desktop computers from hackers, crackers, viruses, spam and other threats.

Megan | Online Learning, Resources for internet marketing, Skills, Tech Tips | Comments (2)

Lightning Fast WordPress Expert

July 30, 2008 – 1:13 pm

Just wanted to share this brand spanking new video tutorial series for customizing and setting up a blog to dominate your niche. You know what I have been preaching about. I don’t want you to get too stretched out, taking in too much stuff. It’s overload and you need to step back and re-evaluate your goals.

Having said that, I am very picky about what I am going to participate in when it comes to affiliates. This video tutorial is perfect for starting up a blog. It’s all inclusive, which is the most important aspect of starting. You simply must have easy on, easy off types of services and products. I would have paid a king’s ransom for something this cut and dry a year ago. This is easier than sliced bread.

I have been getting to know Alex Sysoef on a more personal level. After speaking with him a few times, it was me who approached him and asked if he had something he wanted help promoting. He gave me a special invitation to help him get this video tutorial series out into the hands of anybody who wants to breathe new life into their internet marketing experiences.

I was very pleased and excited to help out a fellow blogger. He allowed me to take a peek at what the products included and if I must admit in front of you all, I am tech-challenged. If I can do it, anyone can. I know Megan, who is a friend and the Webmaster of this blog, will wholeheartedly agree and I am sure she will be smiling when she reads this, because I had an issue last night with a video.

Anyhow, It’s just so basic, with lots of help included. He is right there if you are having problems. I can guarantee, he will answer and help with any questions or problems. Quite frankly, I don’t think you will have much in the way of headaches. It only takes a few minutes to set up your WordPress Blog to go to the head of Google.

These easy to follow tools, strategies, and video teaching tutorials are exactly what sent, and has kept a very successful blogger on the front pages of Google for almost a full year in his niche. This is why Alex was so excited when he put this together. He knew it would help a lot of people get started.

Alex, is very honest and trustworthy. I can tell you, he really cares about what he does. People need to know that someone cares about them, and not just the money. Are you with me on this one?

It’s basically click and go in a few easy step by step details. It configures your blog and customizes it, too.

So, there you have it. Cheap, fast and easy!

Oh, by the way, did I tell you it’s cheap? Yup! Works for me! Go check it out. You can upgrade, too. See for yourself, if you don’t want to take my word for it.

Talk Soon,

Judy

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The Paradox of Choice

July 29, 2008 – 12:52 pm

I just watched this video about making choices. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt the full force of having too many choices. I have a library filled with internet marketing programs. If any of this rings true for you, don’t let history repeat itself. Watch this, and see if it doesn’t make perfect sense to you, as well.

Speaking of which, this is to honor Randy Pausch, along with Megan. It’s a fact of life that doing what you believe in, is no secret. Remember, it’s only a matter of time. Take a shot at it. What are you waiting for? Well, that’s it in a nutshell.

So, with that in mind, sit back, take a front row seat, press play and if any of this rings true for you, then let us know.

Talk Soon,

Judy

P. S. You thought I forgot the link, didn’t you? I just wanted you to read the whole post.

P.P.S

Worked, didn’t it? :>D Here’s the video.


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Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

July 27, 2008 – 6:54 am

I don’t know if you have heard of Randy Pausch He is a Carnegie Mellon Professor with terminal pancreatic cancer who gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving talk, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.

I am posting this because Randy Pausch passed away this week at the young age of 47 and it seemed fitting to share his video which was so uplifting, so funny, so inspirational that it went viral. So far, 10 million people have downloaded it.:

So the big question to me is, if you had only six months to live, what would you do? How would you live your life?

This question reminded me of a great quote from the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.

snip>>

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

hth ~Megan

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Take Care of Your Eyes: Read with Your Ears!

July 22, 2008 – 2:05 pm

So far on this blog Judy and I have been talking about all the wonderful resources online that you can use to put the web to work for your business. It is exciting: What with ebooks, blogs, online books, online courses, forums, chat, and social apps like Facebook and Twitter it is easy for us to spend hours at the computer in a Feeding Frenzy and all this reading online (On Screen) can quickly lead to eyestrain.

One thing we can do to help prevent eyestrain is to stay conscious of the time we spend with eyes glued to the computer screen and take frequent vision breaks to relax our eye muscles. But another thing we can do is simply reduce our online reading time by using our ears to consume the text instead. How do we do that? Well, I have found a couple of little programs that Read text to me and this has made all the difference.

My favorite program is called Deskbot. Deskbot is a freeware, multi-featured Clipboard Reader, Text Reader, Time Announcer, Desktop Application for Microsoft Windows featuring Microsoft Agent Animated, Talking Characters. You can download it here.

My second favorite program is Natural Reader. This Text-to-Speech Program has a free version that you can use not only to read web pages, but also convert the text to mp3’s which you can put on your ipod or mp3 player for later listening. (You can “read” saved blog posts while commuting, waiting at the doctor’s office or …) The only thing I don’t care for in the free version of Natural Reader is how mechanical the voices are but for around $50.00 you can puchase the Personal version of the program which comes with 2 more natural voices. Personally, I like the “Kate” and “Paul” voices the best. Find out more about Natural Reader here.

Of course the great thing about Michael Cheney’s Affiliate course is not only does he provide all his fantastic information in downloadable PDF files, he also gives it to you in fun videos and mp3 files that you can listen to on your iPod and consume with your ears :D

hth ~megan

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I Don’t Want To Be Successful

July 19, 2008 – 4:52 pm

How about you? Why is it such a big deal to accomplish anything? I mean, why would you want the good life? Who in their right mind wants to hit the jackpot or find a gold mine? Who cares about having the lion’s share. Nobody wants extra money in the bank, right?

I mean, I can understand, totally, if you like punching a clock, reporting to your supervisor, having a structured, forty hour work week. I accept that you like being told what to do, how to do it. It’s great being screamed at or yes, even fired, if you don’t perform up to someone else’s ideas of what good or acceptable are. There are lots of you out there that fit perfectly into that mold. Why, you can thank your lucky stars! There are plenty of jobs out there just for you.

It’s a great life when you are working for a company that could close down or outsource their product or services, and not let you in on it until Friday afternoon, so you can have a relaxing stress free weekend. I’d enjoy riding that emotional rollercoaster. Count me in.

I bet just keeping your head above water, trying to get all your ducks in a row, only there are never quite enough ducks, is easier said than done. Speaking of animals, are you working like a dog, holding up that 800 pound gorilla on your shoulders? Are you keeping the kids fed, the house out of the mortgage company’s grasp, living on credit cards, paying the car insurance, life insurance, (some life by the way), all for the assurance that when you don’t have enough income or lose your job, it will be taken away, in the blink of an eye?

I bet you even have more leisure time time not answering the phone because you know it’s a bill collector. I am green with envy! That would free you up to find ways to rob Peter to pay Paul. So far, so good?

I mean, who would want to have free reign over their income and life? I guess scraping the bottom of the barrel is way easier than having your cake and eating it too.

Stop pulling the wool over your eyes. Wouldn’t it be better to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Is this ringing true for you? What are you waiting for, Hell to freeze over, or would you like to have paradise here on Earth? Which is it going to be?

I hope this is a wake up call. If what you are doing isn’t working, why do you keep doing it?! Try the road less traveled. Don’t miss the boat on your dreams or your right to live the good life. If you get started, it’s only a matter of time before you become successful. There’s no time like the present.

In a nutshell, you need to get moving, because as luck would have it, Michael Cheney is ready to help you get your shot at creating a residual income online. It’s all here. No more searching. The puzzle is complete. No missing pieces.

If you don’t want to be successful, this is a great read for you because it just makes perfect sense for you to keep on doing the same thing. On the other hand, if you do want to break out of the mold or the rat race, (more animal terminology), then the tools, tips and strategies will help you start your road to exploring the possibilities.

Internet marketing, regardless of what the niche is, allows you to work at your own pace, building upon each step, until you can have the confidence, the income and the comfort of making your success. Stay with one person, like Michael Cheney or a program, learn and then get going!

Talk Soon,

Judy

P.S.

Anybody having issues about getting started? Would you care to share? Let us know what you are having trouble with and why you haven’t begun? What is it that is holding you back?

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