Important Message!
Posted in Methods at 9:01 pm by webmaster
Hi there, Carol here and I hope to walk you through the information bog while you strive to market your small business on the Internet. If you take a look at the various page titles on this blog, I will be adding information to each page to help you on your quest.
After much trial and error, if you were to type the name Carol Bremner into a Google search, you would actually find either one of my sites or an article written by me and posted on someone else’s site. Lest I get too proud, there are also references to one Carol Bremner who was a murder involved in a cult - that is definitely not me and I don’t know how she managed to get top ranking on Google.
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05.30.08
Posted in Business Tips at 7:35 pm by webmaster
I recently purchased Dragon Naturally Speaking version 9. This speech recognition software turns talk into text and is faster and more accurate than typing. E-mail, instant messaging and surfing the web can all by done by voice.
So far, I like the program very much. I found that I had to teach it how I speak, which took me about three half hour sessions. After that, it worked surprisingly well.
There are two versions, standard and preferred. The main differences are that the preferred version also transcribes recordings from handheld digital recorders, has wireless microphone support, and turns text into speech. The preferred version also plays back your dictation so that you can correct it, inserts your signature or logo with a simple voice command, and allows you to import and export user files for any PC.
I find that it for what I need a standard version is fine. I can create e-mail, instant messages and documents simply by speaking. There’s a microphone headset included as well. So far I am quite amazed at the speed and accuracy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking software.
Technorati Tags: Dragon Naturally Speaking, voice recognition software, dictation
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05.27.08
Posted in Methods, Business Tips, Blogging at 7:19 pm by webmaster
One of the best ways for websites and blogs to get traffic to their sites is by writing articles. These articles can either be placed on your own site or they can be submitted to article directories such as ezinearticles to be used on other peoples’ sites. The best way is to write an article for your site, wait a few days for the search engines to find it, then submit it to the article directory as well. Article writing can attract a lot of traffic, and it also adds extra content to your site. More content equals more traffic from the search engines.
If you aren’t a good writer or you just don’t have the time to write, it is quite possible to hire a ghostwriter. Unfortunately, some writers are from other countries and their English may not be very good. They are often willing to write a 400 word article for as little as two or three dollars. If you’re willing to spend the time and effort to correct the grammar and spelling, you might be able to use their services. However, my advice is to find a ghostwriter who is a native English speaker and has perfect spelling and grammar. Although you will probably pay a fair bit more, in the long run it will be worth it in time and headaches saved.
Technorati Tags: traffic, writing articles, ghostwriting
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05.25.08
Posted in Methods, Business Tips at 7:19 pm by webmaster
A couple of weeks ago I appeared as part of a three woman tech panel on our local Rogers television station. I was there to answer questions about blogging and my blog address was displayed every time the camera was on me. It resulted in extra traffic to my site for a number of days after the show.
The local tv station in your area is usually on the lookout for interesting guests and features, so why not contact them and offer to share your expertise with their viewers? The fact that you are a member of the community will also work in your favour. Although you won’t make any money by appearing on one of their shows, the publicity that results will bring people to your website. If your business is new, you will also become known as a resident expert.
Technorati Tags: Rogers TV, television appearance, publicity, traffic
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03.30.08
Posted in Methods at 12:05 am by webmaster
Search Engines have a little program they send out to websites to “crawl” or “spider” each site picking up information to index in their Search Results. You optimize your website pages with keywords that, through your research, you feel will bring in traffic. Next, you put the keywords throughout your text on the page without making your content difficult for a person to read. Your main goal, after all, is still good, solid content for your readers
Your chosen keywords or keyword phrases should be mentioned in the title of your page, and in the first paragraph, then sprinkled throughout the rest of the page.
The search engines will pick out your keywords using their robots, bring them back to their computers, index you and give you a rank based on a number of factors.
Technorati Tags: search engines, keywords
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03.10.08
Posted in Business Tips at 5:55 pm by webmaster
Google is one of the best places online to do research. Try typing “+forum+(topic) and you will find out what consumers are saying about various topics.
Note: replace the brackets and the word “topic” with the name of the topic you would like to find information about.
Technorati Tags: Google, search, research, forum
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03.08.08
Posted in Business Tips, Social Media at 5:37 pm by webmaster
Why would a business person want to use youtube? Isn’t it full of videos by teenagers.
Yes, but a number of business owners have realized the power of video. For instance, an enterprising artist who was having trouble selling her paintings. So she started taking videos showing her creating it and discussing how she got her ideas.
Then every week, on the same day and time, she posts the video on youtube with a link under it to the eBay sales page where she is selling the painting. Every week she gets more viewers and her paintings sell for more.
How’s that for thinking out of the box!
Technorati Tags: youtube, videos, selling, eBay
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01.14.08
Posted in Business Tips at 9:21 pm by webmaster
There is a coach in England who has found a way to work with clients from all over the world and in many different time zones.
She creates tailored podcast tutorials for her clients to download as MP3’s and listen to whenever they want to.
Are there any other ways you could utilize this idea for your business?
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11.27.07
Posted in Business Tips at 12:41 am by webmaster
I recently found a site that allows you to start your own networking group online. Whether you are involved with a group, such as a charity, or you want to establish yourself as an expert in your field, ning.com is a great tool.
Easy and quick to set-up, you can display pictures and videos, blog, create special interest groups and generate discussion with those in your network. Networks can be public or private and the service is free.
There is a business option and for a small fee, you can use your own domain name and remove any of ning’s advertising and replace it with your own.
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10.31.07
Posted in Business Tips at 3:51 pm by webmaster
I attend workshops in my area whenever I can and try to gather as many tips as possible. One tip I heard recently was to create an acronym based on your business. Then when you tell people what you do, use the acronym.
I thought about my Internet Training business and came up with the following:
I - Intimidating
N - Necessary
T - Timewasting
E - Everything
R - Research
N - Numbing
E - Eventful
T- Totally Cool
Try this exercise and see what you come up with and let me know.
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