VoIP Phone System - Do You Want These 5 Advantages For Your Business?

New technologies such as IP Telephony don't just replace previous ones but allow much greater functionality, increased productivity, enhanced customer service and lower costs than prior technologies. Here are just a few ideas for you to ponder.

Your IP Telephone System provides the following advantages:

* Seamless extension dialing between all your locations on your private network, or even over the public Internet, is relatively easy and much less costly than traditional means. All your offices can be "tied together" to act as one large office no matter where in the world they are located. This also provides the advantage of eliminating long distance charges between your locations.

* IP Telephony creates lower cost and greater functionality advantages from carrier services. With IP Telephony you can connect all your offices together on your own private network. Or you can use the "quasi-private" network of a carrier.

This means you use one service provider to provide the voice trunks at each office. Your voice traffic between offices stays on the private network of the carrier. Your voice traffic never has to travel through the public internet.

If done correctly you have the advantage of carrying your voice traffic over the same network that carries your data traffic between offices but through the service provider you have Quality of Service to give voice priority over data. This will also give you a lower cost than the traditional means of a totally private network connecting your offices.

* Easily and economically connecting home based workers. Your home based worker can be easily connected to your office phone system with a high speed connection such as DSL or cable Internet. Your worker takes a phone from your office and connects it to that Internet connection. Or your worker uses a "soft phone" which is software on their computer at home that functions like a telephone.

That physical phone or soft phone, located anywhere in the world, is now a phone on your office phone system with all the individual settings that worker has on their phone at the office. Someone calls your office and the call automatically rings the phone at your worker's home. The caller doesn't know where the person they're calling is located. This arrangement can even work for a small one, two, or three person branch office.

* Easily and economically connecting traveling workers. Imagine you're traveling and staying at a hotel with a high speed Internet connection. You have a "soft phone" on your laptop computer. You can use a headset on your laptop or a handset that plugs into a USB port on your computer. The handset acts just like the handset on your phone at the office. You can now receive and make calls through your soft phone just like you're at your office. Callers will ring through to your soft phone.

You can be located anywhere in the world and the person you call or calls you won't know where you are. If you're going to be away for an extended period of time, you may even want to take a regular office phone and set it up on your Internet connection. This arrangement makes use of IP Telephony for your office combined with VOIP using the Internet. IP Telephony makes all this easily possible at a lower cost than traditional systems.

Home based and traveling workers can also go into your office, in fact any of your office locations, and simply "log in" to your phone system just like they log in to your computer system. Once logged in all their phone settings are automatically provided to the phone in which they log in. This just wasn't easy or feasible to do economically prior to IP Telephony.

* Software upgrades are much easier and can be performed by you instead of paying the telephone equipment vendor to do them.

There are many more benefits to IP Telephony. This brief overview should be enough to peak your interest to continue your investigation. You don't need to make a total swap out of your current phone system. It is possible to gradually introduce an IP Telephone System into your organization and interface it to legacy systems.

Don't just improve the way you currently do business! Explore the strategic business applications and implications of IP Telephony. New technologies such as IP Telephony don't just replace previous ones but allow much greater functionality, increased productivity, enhanced customer service and lower costs than prior technologies.

Expand the possibilities of conducting your business in ways you never thought possible. All major phone system manufacturers are investing their research and development dollars into development of their IP Phone Systems. Thousands of companies have already converted to it. There must be a reason or two or twenty.

Specifically, we consult on IP Telephone System Decisions, Service Provider Decisions for Voice and Data Services, and Services Audits to Inventory All Services and Discover Unused Services. We do all this within a framework of Vendor-Neutral Consulting.

Copyright 2007 Mass Strategic Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you do not edit the article in any way. You must leave all of the links active and include the full author name credit with company profile.

Ed Mass, President, Mass Strategic Communications, Inc., a telecommunications consulting firm since 1993. Visit http://www.voip-telephone-system.com and http://www.masscom.com. The firm specializes in Transforming Telecommunications from a Tactical Tool To a Strategic Business Resource.Andre Blog33413
Angelica Blog43992

The 4Cs of Affiliate Marketing

If you currently run or are thinking about running your own affiliate program, then this article is for you.

There are 4 major things that each and every affiliate program needs to have if it is to be a success. Luckily for me they all begin with C so it is easy to remember.

Commission, Creative, Consistency, and Communication

Let's take a look at each one in turn. To the affiliate this is the correct order of importance when joining a program. However, as the affiliate program manager this needs to be slightly altered but we will get to that later!

Commission

The biggest differentiator to the affiliate is money. How much will they get paid for selling your product or service? How you structure this is really dependent on the type of product or service you are offering but really you have 3 options. Pay Per Sale, Pay per Lead or Pay Per Click. There are other options but to be honest these are the main ones.

When deciding on what commissions to pay, be realistic. If you don't really know how much you can afford to pay out then air on the side of caution. You want to pay out what you can afford to. Running a program for 2 months and then realise you have to reduce your commission payments to affiliates can be a program killer.

Creative

How many times have you joined an affiliate program only to find there are no creative to promote the program? How are they going to promote your product or service if you do not help them. You must provide the affiliates with everything they need to sell your product. If you had a real sales force, you would give them marketing materials in order to sell the customer, so the affiliate program is no different.

Banners, buttons, text links, HTML email, text email, classified ads copy, content, articles, and product reviews are all things that you can us to give the affiliate the creative they need to sell or pre-sell your product or service.

Consistency

Whenever you commit to running an affiliate program, be consistent, if you are sending out updates or updating creative on a regular basis make sure you remain consistent. If you want make it a certain day of the month. Affiliates will then get used to expecting things from you at a given time of the month. They can then almost factor that into their workloads. Remember affiliates can have two jobs, two hundred websites to manage so try to accommodate that in your thinking.

If you lose consistency, it will show the affiliate that you don't care about there efforts. They will switch off you like a shot. Remember there will always be someone else out there running an affiliate program in a similar space to you. An affiliate will show loyalty if you treat them right.

Communication

Perhaps last but no means least is Communication. You need to communicate to affiliates for two main reasons. Firstly, to update them on any new product changes, new creative, new commission structures. So in effect , to keep them informed with what's going on with you and your business that will help them drive more sales.

Secondly, you need to keep in touch will affiliates to make them feel important and to help train them. If you stay in touch on a regular basis and provide them with tools and training materials, they will learn more about driving traffic and sales to your products. They will be much more switched on to you for helping them.

Now I know some of you will be thinking that they will take your knowledge and help and use it elsewhere. Yes they will. But there will be lots of affiliates out there that will be joining an affiliate program for the first time or do not know who to do certain things and will feel loyal to you.

This is the most important C for Affiliate Program managers, building relationships and loyalty with affiliates through Communication. Think of it as an insurance policy so when a competitor comes along with the same product and offers the same commission or even in some instances a higher commission you will find you will keep your affiliates.

Running an affiliate program is a hugely rewarding project, get it right and you make a large sum of money for not just you but your affiliates too. Always remember the 4 C's when constructing a program or revisiting a program which isn't working that well.

Good Luck!

Jason Hulott is an Author, Affiliate Program Manager, and creator of Affiliate Communicator, a new tool which allows the user to create Affiliate Marketing newsletters at the push of a button. Auto loaded with articles, products tips and useful Resources, Affiliate Communicator is THE tool affiliate marketing managers cant live without! Visit http://www.affiliatecommunicator.com.Allistair Blog85316
Aiilyan Blog39936

WCAG 2.0: The New W3C Web Accessibility Guidelines Evaluated

The second version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is in final working draft and will soon be officially released. Version 1 of the guidelines ( http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/full-checklist.html ) came under much criticism for being vague, full of jargon and extremely difficult to use. The W3C has been working on version 2.0 of the guidelines ( http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/appendixB.html ) for over 5 years now, but has it been worth the wait?

What's good about WCAG 2.0?

There have certainly been a number of improvements made to the new guidelines. This is of course to be expected - after 5 years you would expect some improvement! Some of these improvements include:

1. Outdated guidelines removed

A number of guidelines from WCAG 1.0 are well out-of-date. Unfortunately, web developers still implement these out-dated guidelines because they don't know otherwise. Rather than go on an accessibility training course and learn 'real-world' accessibility, many web developers and manager tick boxes against guidelines.

Some of the out-of-date WCAG 1.0 guidelines, which have been removed from WCAG 2.0 include:

* 1.5 - Provide equivilent text links for links within client-side image maps
* 5.6 - Provide abbreviations for table header labels, if you use these
* 9.5 - Use accesskeys (keyboard shortcuts) for important links
* 10.3 - Don't use tables with more than one column for layout
* 10.4 - Make sure form fields aren't empty by default
* 10.5 - Ensure different links have non-link text between them

(Please note, the above isn't the exact wording of the guidelines - each of the original guidelines has been translated from the official W3C guideline into more easy-to-understand language.)

The above guidelines have all been removed from WCAG 2.0, so shouldn't be adhered to.

2. Good real world techniques provided

The document, Techniques for WCAG 2.0 ( http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-WCAG20-TECHS-20060427/Overview.html )replaces the previous techniques document, and is actually much better. It provides a list of common failures, which the previous version didn't, and actually offers some excellent examples of common errors.

The other major improvement in this techniques document is that the examples provided are far more real-world. The WCAG 1.0 techniques document used text such as PortMaster 3 with ComOS 3.7.1 in their examples, but who has any idea what this means? The new document is far better in this respect, using examples such as phone numbers and calendars, for example.

The techniques document also provides some clever recommendations, which accessibility guideline box-ticking developers wouldn't perhaps have thought have. For example:

* How to open a link in a new window using unobtrusive JavaScript
* Displaying decorative images through CSS
* Combining text and its adjacent image image in the same link
* Providing a heading at the beginning of each section on the page

..And many more! Do have a good look at the WCAG 2.0 techniques document as there's lots of useful guidance here using quite easy-to-understand examples.

3. New guidelines included

A number of new guidelines have been brought into WCAG 2.0. Some of these guidelines are totally new whereas others were hinted at, but not specifically stated, in WCAG 1.0. Some examples include:

* Providing text-based error messages for forms
* Ensure all pages have a descriptive title
* Background noise can be turned off

For a full list of brand new guidelines that don't map to any version 1 guidelines, have a look at the W3C's Comparison of WCAG 1.0 checkpoints to WCAG 2.0 ( http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/appendixD.html#newl1 ).

What's not good about WCAG 2.0?

So there certainly have been some improvements made to the W3C accessibility guidelines. But is it all good news? Have the problems associated with WCAG 1.0 been eliminated for this version 2 of the guidelines? Well not quite, as there are still a number of problems...

1. Verbose and jargon-filled language

One of the main criticisms aimed at WCAG 1.0 was the complexity of the language used. Have things improved? Hardly! Pretty much every paragraph is littered with jargon that the average web developer or web manager would be left with no clue as to the meaning.

Clearly aware of the level of jargon, the W3C have made complex terms green underlined links, linking to definitions. This is all well and good in theory, but when most sentences are broken up with one or two links it makes reading these sentences quite difficult.

Even worse though, is that the definitions are just as jargon-filled and difficult to understand as the term being defined! For example:

* Authored unit - Set of material created as a single body by an author
* Programmatically determined - Determined by software from data provided in a user-agent-supported manner such that the user agents can extract and present this information to users in different modalities
* Specific sensory experience - A sensory experience that is not purely decorative and does not primarily convey important information or perform a function
* Web unit - A collection of information, consisting of one or more resources, intended to be rendered together, and identified by a single Uniform Resource Identifier (such as URLs)

Ironically, there's even a definition provided for the word 'jargon'!

Furthermore, it seems that some jargon used in WCAG 1.0, which webmasters have gotten used to, has been replaced with equally incomprehensible words. For example, we no longer have Priority 1, 2 and 3 to aim for - instead we now have success criteria level 1, 2 and 3.

2. Awful usability

Another major criticism of the WCAG 1.0 guidelines was how difficult it is to find specific guidance and answers. It doesn't take too long to discover that the WCAG 2.0 guidelines quite clearly offer the same low level of usability.

Reasons for this poor usability include:

* The level of jargon and complexity of language is truly phenomenal (as outlined above)
* The text is littered with links making it very difficult to read
* The two main documents, Understanding WCAG 2.0 ( http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/ ) and Techniques for WCAG 2.0 ( http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-WCAG20-TECHS-20060427/Overview.html ) are 164 and 363 pages long in total (when doing a print preview)

If only the W3C carried out basic usability testing of how people actually use (or are unable to use) these guidelines! What they'd undoubtedly find is that users won't understand most guidelines and will end up blindly clicking links to find out how to meet these guidelines.

As with WCAG 1.0, clicking on most links from the WCAG 2.0 guidelines simply takes users into the middle of massive pages full of difficult-to-understand text. The text, of course, is densely littered with links. Users will probably click on a link again in the desperate hope that they'll somehow find some text that clearly and succinctly explains what they need to do. They'll usually be disappointed.

Organising the massive amount of content available is certainly not an easy task - but why not, as a start, split up these massive documents into more manageable and less intimidating sets of smaller documents? Then, carry out some usability testing, refine, and test again.

3. Useful guidelines gone

Although there are a number of useful, new guidelines in WCAG 2.0, a number of important guidelines from WCAG 1.0 have been removed or are only vaguely referred to. These include, but aren't limited to:

* 3.1 - Avoid embedding text within images.
* 3.2 - Create documents that validate.
* 3.3 - Use CSS and not tables for layout.
* 3.4 - Ensure text is resizable.
* 12.3 - Divide large blocks of information into more manageable groups where natural and appropriate.
* 13.8 - Place distinguishing information at the beginning of headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.
* 14.1 - Use clear and simple language.

(Please note, the above isn't the exact wording of the guidelines - each of the original guidelines has been translated from the official W3C guideline into more easy-to-understand language.)

Particularly worrying is the removal of the final three guidelines, all of which relate to the accessibility of content. A major part of any website's accessibility, and one that's often overlooked, is the site's usability and how the content is written and structured.

Accessible content is crucial for all special needs users, particularly those with learning difficulties and dyslexia. Perhaps the reason these guidelines have been removed is because content guidelines are fluffier and harder to measure than technical accessibility guidelines. Whatever the reason, this is not a good step for accessibility.

4. Technology neutral and the concept of the baseline

WCAG 1.0 states quite clearly that alternatives to JavaScript, PDFs and Flash must all be provided, as assistive technologies such as screen readers can't access these. Although this was generally true in 1999, it's not the case now, and nowadays JavaScript, PDFs and Flash can all be made accessible to most assistive technologies. (Remember, 'can be' is not the same as 'are'.)

Version 1 of the accessibility guidelines became quite outdated rather quickly. To prevent this from happening to version 2 of the accessibility guidelines, the W3C have attempted to make WCAG 2.0 technology-neutral. Sounds sensible as now the guidelines won't become outdated so quickly, right?

In practice, what this means is that the WCAG 2.0 guidelines are extremely vague. So vague, in fact, that they're almost unusable as they talk in such generic terms.

Additionally, the concept of the baseline has now been introduced, where by webmasters can claim which technologies they assume are supported by site visitors' browsers. So, if you build a website entirely in Flash and say that Flash is part of your baseline, your website can conform with all the guidelines despite the fact that some people won't be able to access your site at all!

Discussion

So, was the wait worth it? We've waited over 5 years for WCAG 2.0 and certainly a number of improvements have been made. Worryingly though, the guidelines continue to be very difficult to actually use, further discouraging webmasters from reading them. The extra vagueness of these new guidelines certainly doesn't help either.

The W3C just doesn't seem to get it: People don't generally want to read through hundreds of pages of text to find out how to implement accessible solutions - they just want answers and specific guidance. For most people, accessibility is just one small part of their job and they don't have time for all this.

Webmasters are also now being asked to choose a baseline for their website but how do they even begin to go about doing this!? How would you as a web developer explain the concept of a baseline to senior management? How do you decide what you should do so as to comply with any legal requirements? Unfortunately there's no correct answer to either of these questions.

Solution?

A solution could be that the W3C simply provides specific guidelines for what web developers and managers actually have to do. Much of this information is already there on their website, but it's hidden away in the enormous and intimidating Techniques for WCAG 2.0 document. This document could be broken down into manageable chunks, added to and refined, and focus on providing specific, real world guidelines.

Guidelines should be relevant and specific to today's technology, but would be updated on an on-going basis so as to make sure they don't become too dated. Why did we have to wait over five years for version 2.0? Why couldn't we have received versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and so on during this time? This would surely have prevented WCAG 1.0 becoming out-dated as quickly as it did?

Most importantly though, the whole WCAG 2.0 section on the W3C website needs to have usability testing carried out on it. The benefits of usability testing are pretty well known by now, and it's quite clear that the W3C has very little idea how real users are interacting with the website. By carrying out ongoing usability testing, the W3C can learn about its users and ultimately aim for an easy-to-understand and intuitive website.

This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy ( Webcredible - http://www.webcredible.co.uk ) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone.Alicja Blog23154
Ambrose Blog85682

A Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise

Introduction

Many people dream of being an entrepreneur. By purchasing a franchise, you often can sell goods and services that have instant name recognition and can obtain training and ongoing support to help you succeed. But be cautious. Like any investment, purchasing a franchise is not a guarantee of success.

The Benefits and Responsibilities of Franchise Ownership

Understand your obligations as a franchise owner, how to shop for franchise opportunities, and how to ask the right questions before you invest.

A franchise typically enables you, the investor or "franchisee," to operate a business. By paying a franchise fee, which may cost several thousand dollars, you are given a format or system developed by the company ("franchisor"), the right to use the franchisor's name for a limited time, and assistance. For example, the franchisor may help you find a location for your outlet; provide initial training and an operating manual; and advise you on management, marketing, or personnel. Some franchisors offer ongoing support such as monthly newsletters, a toll free 800 telephone number for technical assistance, and periodic workshops or seminars.

While buying a franchise may reduce your investment risk by enabling you to associate with an established company, it can be costly. You also may be required to relinquish significant control over your business, while taking on contractual obligations with the franchisor.

Below is an outline of several components of a typical franchise system. Consider each carefully.

The Cost

In exchange for obtaining the right to use the franchisor's name and its assistance, you may pay some or all of the following fees.

* initial franchise fee and other expenses.Your initial franchise fee, which may be non-refundable, may cost several thousand to several hundred thousand dollars. You may also incur significant costs to rent, build, and equip an outlet and to purchase initial inventory. Other costs include operating licenses and insurance. You also may be required to pay a "grand opening" fee to the franchisor to promote your new outlet.

* continuing royalty payments. You may have to pay the franchisor royalties based on a percentage of your weekly or monthly gross income. You often must pay royalties even if your outlet has not earned significant income during that time. In addition, royalties usually are paid for the right to use the franchisor's name. So even if the franchisor fails to provide promised support services, you still may have to pay royalties for the duration of your franchise agreement.

* advertising fees. You may have to pay into an advertising fund. Some portion of the advertising fees may go for national advertising or to attract new franchise owners, but not to target your particular outlet.

Controls

To ensure uniformity, franchisors typically control how franchisees conduct business. These controls may significantly restrict your ability to exercise your own business judgment. The following are typical examples of such controls.

* site approval. Many franchisors pre-approve sites for outlets. This may increase the likelihood that your outlet will attract customers. The franchisor, however, may not approve the site you want.
* design or appearance standards. Franchisors may impose design or appearance standards to ensure customers receive the same quality of goods and services in each outlet. Some franchisors require periodic renovations or seasonal design changes. Complying with these standards may increase your costs.
* restrictions on goods and services offered for sale. Franchisors may restrict the goods and services offered for sale. For example, as a restaurant franchise owner, you may not be able to add to your menu popular items or delete items that are unpopular. Similarly, as an automobile transmission repair franchise owner, you might not be able to perform other types of automotive work, such as brake or electrical system repairs.
* restrictions on method of operation. Franchisors may require you to operate in a particular manner. The franchisor might require you to operate during certain hours, use only pre-approved signs, employee uniforms, and advertisements, or abide by certain accounting or bookkeeping procedures. These restrictions may impede you from operating your outlet as you deem best. The franchisor also may require you to purchase supplies only from an approved supplier, even if you can buy similar goods elsewhere at a lower cost.
* restrictions of sales area. Franchisors may limit your business to a specific territory. While these territorial restrictions may ensure that other franchisees will not compete with you for the same customers, they could impede your ability to open additional outlets or move to a more profitable location.

Terminations and Renewal

You can lose the right to your franchise if you breach the franchise contract. In addition, the franchise contract is for a limited time; there is no guarantee that you will be able to renew it.

* franchise terminations. A franchisor can end your franchise agreement if, for example, you fail to pay royalties or abide by performance standards and sales restrictions. If your franchise is terminated, you may lose your investment.
* renewals. Franchise agreements typically run for 15 to 20 years. After that time, the franchisor may decline to renew your contract. Also be aware that renewals need not provide the original terms and conditions. The franchisor may raise the royalty payments, or impose new design standards and sales restrictions. Your previous territory may be reduced, possibly resulting in more competition from company-owned outlets or other franchisees.

Before Selecting a Franchise System

Before investing in a particular franchise system, carefully consider how much money you have to invest, your abilities, and your goals. The following checklist may help you make your decision.

Your Investment

* How much money do you have to invest?
* How much money can you afford to lose?
* Will you purchase the franchise by yourself or with partners?
* Will you need financing and, if so, where can you obtain it?
* Do you have a favorable credit rating?
* Do you have savings or additional income to live on while starting your franchise?

Your Abilities

* Does the franchise require technical experience or relevant education, such as auto repair, home and office decorating, or tax preparation?
* What skills do you have? Do you have computer, bookkeeping, or other technical skills?
* What specialized knowledge or talents can you bring to a business?
* Have you ever owned or managed a business?

Your Goals

* What are your goals?
* Do you require a specific level of annual income?
* Are you interested in pursuing a particular field?
* Are you interested in retail sales or performing a service?
* How many hours are you willing to work?
* Do you want to operate the business yourself or hire a manager?
* Will franchise ownership be your primary source of income or will it supplement your current income?
* Would you be happy operating the business for the next 20 years?
* Would you like to own several outlets or only one?

Selecting a Franchise

Like any other investment, purchasing a franchise is a risk. When selecting a franchise, carefully consider a number of factors, such as the demand for the products or services, likely competition, the franchisor's background, and the level of support you will receive.

Demand

* Is there a demand for the franchisor's products or services in your community? Is the demand seasonal? For example, lawn and garden care or swimming pool maintenance may be profitable only in the spring or summer. Is there likely to be a continuing demand for the products or services in the future? Is the demand likely to be temporary, such as selling a fad food item? Does the product or service generate repeat business?

Competition

* What is the level of competition, nationally and in your community? How many franchised and company-owned outlets does the franchisor have in your area? How many competing companies sell the same or similar products or services? Are these competing companies well established, with wide name recognition in your community? Do they offer the same goods and services at the same or lower price?

Your Ability to Operate the Business

* Sometimes, franchise systems fail. Will you be able to operate your outlet even if the franchisor goes out of business? Will you need the franchisor's ongoing training, advertising, or other assistance to succeed? Will you have access to the same or other suppliers? Could you conduct the business alone if you must lay off personnel to cut costs?

Name Recognition

* A primary reason for purchasing a franchise is the right to associate with the company's name. The more widely recognized the name, the more likely it will draw customers who know its products or services. Therefore, before purchasing a franchise, consider:

* The company's name and how widely recognized it is. -- If it has a registered trademark.
* How long the franchisor has been in operation.
* If the company has a reputation for quality products or services.
* If consumers have filed complaints against the franchise with the Better Business Bureau or a local consumer protection agency.

Training and Support Services

* Another reason for purchasing a franchise is to obtain support from the franchisor. What training and ongoing support does the franchisor provide? How does their training compare with the training for typical workers in the industry? Could you compete with others who have more formal training? What backgrounds do the current franchise owners have? Do they have prior technical backgrounds or special training that helps them succeed? Do you have a similar background?

Franchisor's Experience

* Many franchisors operate well-established companies with years of experience both in selling goods or services and in managing a franchise system. Some franchisors started by operating their own business. There is no guarantee, however, that a successful entrepreneur can successfully manage a franchise system.

* Carefully consider how long the franchisor has managed a franchise system. Do you feel comfortable with the franchisor's expertise? If franchisors have little experience in managing a chain of franchises, their promises of guidance, training, and other support may be unreliable.

Growth

* A growing franchise system increases the franchisor's name recognition and may enable you to attract customers. Growth alone does not ensure successful franchisees; a company that grows too quickly may not be able to support its franchisees with all the promised support services. Make sure the franchisor has sufficient financial assets and staff to support the franchisees.

Shopping at a Franchise Exposition

* Attending a franchise exposition allows you to view and compare a variety of franchise possibilities. Keep in mind that exhibitors at the exposition primarily want to sell their franchise systems. Be cautious of salespersons who are interested in selling a franchise that you are not interested in.

* Before you attend, research what type of franchise best suits your investment limitations, experience, and goals. When you attend, comparison shop for the opportunity that best suits your needs and ask questions.

Know How Much You Can Invest

* An exhibitor may tell you how much you can afford to invest or that you can't afford to pass up this opportunity. Before beginning to explore investment options, consider the amount you feel comfortable investing and the maximum amount you can afford.

Know What Type of Business is Right for You

* An exhibitor may attempt to convince you that an opportunity is perfect for you. Only you can make that determination. Consider the industry that interests you before selecting a specific franchise system. Ask yourself the following questions:

* Have you considered working in that industry before?
* Can you see yourself engaged in that line of work for the next twenty years?

Do you have the necessary background or skills?

* If the industry does not appeal to you or you are not suited to work in that industry, do not allow an exhibitor to convince you otherwise. Spend your time focusing on those industries that offer a more realistic opportunity.

Comparison Shop

* Visit several franchise exhibitors engaged in the type of industry that appeals to you. Listen to the exhibitors' presentations and discussions with other interested consumers. Get answers to the following questions:

* How long has the franchisor been in business?
* How many franchised outlets currently exist? Where are they located?
* How much is the initial franchise fee and any additional start-up costs? Are there any continuing royalty payments? How much?
* What management, technical, and ongoing assistance does the franchisor offer?
* What controls does the franchisor impose?

* Exhibitors may offer you prizes, free samples, or free dinners if you attend a promotional meeting later that day or over the next week to discuss the franchise in greater detail. Do not feel compelled to attend. Rather, consider these meetings as one way to acquire more information and to ask additional questions. Be prepared to walk away from any promotion if the franchise does not suit your needs.

Get Substantiation for Any Earnings Representations

* Some franchisors may tell you how much you can earn if you invest in their franchise system or how current franchisees in their system are performing. Be careful. The FTC requires that franchisors who make such claims provide you with written substantiation. This is explained in more detail in the section "Investigating Franchise Offers." Make sure you ask for and obtain written substantiation for any income projections, or income or profit claims. If the franchisor does not have the required substantiation, or refuses to provide it to you, consider its claims to be suspect.

Take Notes

* It may be difficult to remember each franchise exhibit. Bring a pad and pen to take notes. Get promotional literature that you can review. Take the exhibitors' business cards so you can contact them later with any additional questions.

Avoid High Pressure Sales Tactics

* You may be told that the franchisor's offering is limited, that there is only one territory left, or that this is a one-time reduced franchise sales price. Do not feel pressured to make any commitment. Legitimate franchisors expect you to comparison shop and to investigate their offering. A good deal today should be available tomorrow.

Study the Franchisor's Offering

* Do not sign any contract or make any payment until you have the opportunity to investigate the franchisor's offering thoroughly. As will be explained further in the next section, the FTC's Franchise Rule requires the franchisor to provide you with a disclosure document containing important information about the franchise system. Study the disclosure document. Take time to speak with current and former franchisees about their experiences. Because investing in a franchise can entail a significant investment, you should have an attorney review the disclosure document and franchise contract and have an accountant review the company's financial disclosures.

Investigating Franchise Offerings

Before investing in any franchise system, be sure to get a copy of the franchisor's disclosure document. Sometimes this document is called a Franchise Offering Circular. Under the FTC's Franchise Rule, you must receive the document at least 10 business days before you are asked to sign any contract or pay any money to the franchisor. You should read the entire disclosure document. Make sure you understand all of the provisions. The following outline will help you to understand key provisions of typical disclosure documents. It also will help you ask questions about the disclosures. Get a clarification or answer to your concerns before you invest.

Business Background

* The disclosure document identifies the executives of the franchise system and describes their prior experience. Consider not only their general business background, but their experience in managing a franchise system. Also consider how long they have been with the company. Investing with an inexperienced franchisor may be riskier than investing with an experienced one.

Litigation History

* The disclosure document helps you assess the background of the franchisor and its executives by requiring the disclosure of prior litigation. The disclosure document tells you if the franchisor, or any of its executive officers, has been convicted of felonies involving, for example, fraud, any violation of franchise law or unfair or deceptive practices law, or are subject to any state or federal injunctions involving similar misconduct. It also will tell you if the franchisor, or any of its executives, has been held liable or settled a civil action involving the franchise relationship. A number of claims against the franchisor may indicate that it has not performed according to its agreements, or, at the very least, that franchisees have been dissatisfied with the franchisor's performance. Be aware that some franchisors may try to conceal an executive's litigation history by removing the individual's name from their disclosure documents.

Bankruptcy

* The disclosure document tells you if the franchisor or any of its executives have recently been involved in a bankruptcy. This will help you to assess the franchisor's financial stability and general business acumen and predict if the company is financially capable of delivering promised support services.

Costs

* The disclosure document tells you the costs involved to start one of the company's franchises. It will describe any initial deposit or franchise fee, which may be non-refundable, and costs for initial inventory, signs, equipment, leases, or rentals. Be aware that there may be other undisclosed costs. The following checklist will help you ask about potential costs to you as a franchisee.

* Continuing royalty payments.
* Advertising payments, both to local and national advertising funds.
* Grand opening or other initial business promotions.
* Business or operating licenses.
* Product or service supply costs.
* Real estate and leasehold improvements.
* Discretionary equipment such as a computer system or business alarm system.
* Training.
* Legal fees.
* Financial and accounting advice.
* Insurance.
* Compliance with local ordinances, such as zoning, waste removal, and fire and other safety codes.
* Health insurance.
* Employee salaries and benefits.

* It may take several months or longer to get your business started. Consider in your total cost estimate operating expenses for the first year and personal living expenses for up to two years. Compare your estimates with what other franchisees have paid and with competing franchise systems. Perhaps you can get a better deal with another franchisor. An accountant can help you to evaluate this information.

Restrictions

* Your franchisor may restrict how you operate your outlet. The disclosure document tells you if the franchisor limits:

* The supplier of goods from whom you may purchase.
* The goods or services you may offer for sale.
* The customers to whom you can offer goods or services.
* The territory in which you can sell goods or services.

* Understand that restrictions such as these may significantly limit your ability to exercise your own business judgment in operating your outlet.

Terminations

* The disclosure document tells you the conditions under which the franchisor may terminate your franchise and your obligations to the franchisor after termination. It also tells you the conditions under which you can renew, sell, or assign your franchise to other parties.

Training and Other Assistance

* The disclosure document will explain the franchisor's training and assistance program. Make sure you understand the level of training offered. The following checklist will help you ask the right questions.

* How many employees are eligible for training?
* Can new employees receive training and, if so, is there any additional cost?
* How long are the training sessions?
* How much time is spent on technical training, business management training, and marketing?
* Who teaches the training courses and what are their qualifications?
* What type of ongoing training does the company offer and at what cost?
* Whom can you speak to if problems arise?
* How many support personnel are assigned to your area?
* How many franchisees will the support personnel service?
* Will someone be available to come to your franchised outlet to provide more individual assistance?

* The level of training you need depends on your own business experience and knowledge of the franchisor's goods and services. Keep in mind that a primary reason for investing in the franchise, as opposed to starting your own business, is training and assistance. If you have doubts that the training might be insufficient to handle day-to-day business operations, consider another franchise opportunity more suited to your background.

Advertising

* You often must contribute a percentage of your income to an advertising fund even if you disagree with how these funds are used. The disclosure document provides information on advertising costs. The following checklist will help you assess whether the franchisor's advertising will benefit you.

* How much of the advertising fund is spent on administrative costs?
* Are there other expenses paid from the advertising fund?
* Do franchisees have any control over how the advertising dollars are spent?
* What advertising promotions has the company already engaged in?
* What advertising developments are expected in the near future?
* How much of the fund is spent on national advertising?
* How much of the fund is spent on advertising in your area?
* How much of the fund is spent on selling more franchises?
* Do all franchisees contribute equally to the advertising fund?
* Do you need the franchisor's consent to conduct your own advertising?
* Are there rebates or advertising contribution discounts if you conduct your own advertising?
* Does the franchisor receive any commissions or rebates when it places advertisements? Do franchisees benefit from such commissions or rebates, or does the franchisor profit from them?

Current and Former Franchisees

* The disclosure document provides important information about current and former franchisees. Determine how many franchises are currently operating. A large number of franchisees in your area may mean increased competition. Pay attention to the number of terminated franchisees. A large number of terminated, cancelled, or non-renewed franchises may indicate problems. Be aware that some companies may try to conceal the number of failed franchisees by repurchasing failed outlets and then listing them as company-owned outlets.

* If you buy an existing outlet, ask the franchisor how many owners operated that outlet and over what period of time. A number of different owners over a short period of time may indicate that the location is not a profitable one, or that the franchisor has not supported that outlet with promised services.

* The disclosure document gives you the names and addresses of current franchisees and franchisees who have left the system within the last year. Speaking with current and former franchisees is probably the most reliable way to verify the franchisor's claims. Visit or phone as many of the current and former franchisees as possible. Ask them about their experiences. See for yourself the volume and type of business being done.

* The following checklist will help you ask current and former franchisees such questions as:

* How long has the franchisee operated the franchise?
* Where is the franchise located?
* What was their total investment?
* Were there any hidden or unexpected costs?
* How long did it take them to cover operating costs and earn a reasonable income?
* Are they satisfied with the cost, delivery, and quality of the goods or services sold?
* What were their backgrounds prior to becoming a franchisee?
* Was the franchisor's training adequate?
* What ongoing assistance does the franchisor provide?
* Are they satisfied with the franchisor's advertising program?
* Does the franchisor fullfill its contractual obligations?
* Would the franchisee invest in another outlet?
* Would the franchisee recommend the investment to someone with your goals, income requirements, and background?

* Be aware that some franchisors may give you a separate reference list of selected franchisees to contact. Be careful. Those on the list may be individuals who are paid by the franchisor to give a good opinion of the company.

Earnings Potential

* You may want to know how much money you can make if you invest in a particular franchise system. Be careful. Earnings projections can be misleading. Insist upon written substantiation for any earnings projections or suggestions about your potential income or sales.

* Franchisors are not required to make earnings claims, but if they do, the FTC's Franchise Rule requires franchisors to have a reasonable basis for these claims and to provide you with a document that substantiates them. This substantiation includes the bases and assumptions upon which these claims are made. Make sure you get and review the earnings claims document. Consider the following in reviewing any earnings claims.

* Sample Size. A franchisor may claim that franchisees in its system earned, for example, $50,000 last year. This claim may be deceptive, however, if only a few franchisees earned that income and it does not represent the typical earnings of franchisees. Ask how many franchisees were included in the number.
* Average Incomes. A franchisor may claim that the franchisees in its system earn an average income of, for example, $75,000 a year. Average figures like this tell you very little about how each individual franchisee performs. Remember, a few, very successful franchisees can inflate the average. An average figure may make the overall franchise system look more successful than it actually is.
* Gross Sales. Some franchisors provide figures for the gross sales revenues of their franchisees. These figures, however, do not tell you anything about the franchisees' actual costs or profits. An outlet with a high gross sales revenue on paper actually may be losing money because of high overhead, rent, and other expenses.
* Net Profits. Franchisors often do not have data on net profits of their franchisees. If you do receive net profit statements, ask whether they provide information about company-owned outlets. Company-owned outlets might have lower costs because they can buy equipment, inventory, and other items in larger quantities, or may own, rather than lease their property.
* Geographic Relevance. Earnings may vary in different parts of the country. An ice cream store franchise in a southern state, such as Florida, may expect to earn more income than a similar franchise in a northern state, such as Minnesota. If you hear that a franchisee earned a particular income, ask where that franchisee is located.
* Franchisee's Background. Keep in mind that franchisees have varying levels of skills and educational backgrounds. Franchisees with advanced technical or business backgrounds can succeed in instances where more typical franchisees cannot. The success of some franchisees is no guarantee that you will be equally successful.

Financial History

* The disclosure document provides you with important information about the company's financial status, including audited financial statements. Be aware that investing in a financially unstable franchisor is a significant risk; the company may go out of business or into bankruptcy after you have invested your money.

* Hire a lawyer or an accountant to review the franchisor's financial statements. Do not attempt to extract this important information from the disclosure document unless you have considerable background in these matters. Your lawyer or accountant can help you understand the following.

* Does the franchisor have steady growth?
* Does the franchisor have a growth plan?
* Does the franchisor make most of its income from the sale of franchises or from continuing royalties?
* Does the franchisor devote sufficient funds to support its franchise system?

Additional Sources of Information

* Before you invest in a franchise system, investigate the franchisor thoroughly. In addition to reading the company's disclosure document and speaking with current and former franchisees, you should speak with the following:

Lawyer and Accountant

* Investing in a franchise is costly. An accountant can help you understand the company's financial statements, develop a business plan, and assess any earnings projections and the assumptions upon which they are based. An accountant can help you pick a franchise system that is best suited to your investment resources and your goals.

* Franchise contracts are usually long and complex. A contract problem that arises after you have signed the contract may be impossible or very expensive to fix. A lawyer will help you to understand your obligations under the contract, so you will not be surprised later. Choose a lawyer who is experienced in franchise matters. It is best to rely upon your own lawyer or accountant, rather than those of the franchisor.

Banks and Other Financial Institutions

* These organizations may provide an unbiased view of the franchise opportunity you are considering. Your banker should be able to get a Dun and Bradstreet report or similar reports on the franchisor.

Better Business Bureau

* Check with the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the cities where the franchisor has its headquarters. Ask if any consumers have complained about the company's products, services, or personnel.

Government Departments

* Several states regulate the sale of franchises. Check with your state Division of Securities or Office of Attorney General for more information about your rights as a franchise owner in your state.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

* The FTC publishes other information that may be of interest to you, including business guides like Getting Business Credit and Buying by Phone.

Andrew Adams writes for http://www.magfranchise.org where you can find out more about franchising and other topics.Aloysius Blog19023
Ambuj Blog37175

How to Start Your Affiliate Business

Does this sound familiar:

Getting started is easy!
-- Complete the online application below.
-- Read the Affiliate Agreement and the additional terms included with it!
-- We notify you of your acceptance.
-- Place the links on your site and Start earning cash!

Just like that, you think you are on your way to earning 100s of dollars in income right away. You hear the success stories. You see the potential for earning an income on the internet. You jump right in and join a bunch of affiliate programs, purchase the services and software that you are told that you need. Now you have spent all this money and have still not made anything to show for your efforts.

What you need to do is start by planning out your business. Make sure that you have an overall business plan. Put this down on paper. When planning your business, you need to determine which affiliate programs to join. You want to avoid just putting up a list of affiliate links. This will never encourage people to buy from you. Do your research about products and services. There is so much out there on the internet about everything this should not be a hard task. Look to see what people are out there buying. Keep in mind that most people on the internet are looking for information. Make sure that you are able to provide then with the information that is helpful to them. Choose something that you can be passionate about and work hard at showing people how your product or service will help them. This will encourage visitors to click on that banner and purchase the goods or services that you are promoting.

Once you have figured out what your business is then it is time to establish a presentation of your business - Your WEB SITE. This does not have to be a grand 20 page web site. It is more of a one to two page site that allows you to pitch your business. Remember, if you are not building a business, you are not going to earn any money on affiliate sites. You want to keep your site very easy to understand and browse through. You want to make sure that you show your passion about the products or services that you are selling. Show people what the product or service can do for them. Make them think that it is something that they cannot live without. Use testimonials and personalize your web page for the product or service. You want people to see that you are just the average Joe who has found this wonderful product and show what it is going to do for them. It does not have to be anything elaborate. In fact, simplicity is the key to keeping people on your site. The more Bling that you have going on, the less likely that people will stay on your site.

Remember, starting any business is difficult. Dont expect to make big money right away. It takes time to establish trust with customers. But, by planning your business and building a quality site, you will avoid the mistakes that many affiliates make. You will be way ahead of the pack and on your way to building a viable web BUSINESS.

Markus Corkern is a writer and affiliate director for http://www.megaffiliates.com. He is active in new research and development in the internet affiliate marketing field.Angeles Blog90984
Amalia Blog9411

Strength Training and Weight Loss

So you've started out on your weight loss journey. Congratulations on making the first steps. By now, you will have looked at your nutritional needs and added some sort of cardio such as walking, swimming or a fitness class to become more active. It's time now to make that daunting step into weight (or resistance) training.

There is a common fear among some people, especially women, that if they were to start weight training they will start to look like the next Arnold Schwarzenegger. Truth of the matter is, those kind of results only happen when you specifically train for them.

5 good reasons to add a weight training program to your exercise program:

* It strengthens weakened joints, making them more stable and less injury-prone

* It not only works the muscles - it also strengthens bones

* Results are fast - regardless of age & sex. Your strength can increase by up to 72% in the first 4 weeks

* It not only improves the overall tone of your body, it will also improve your posture - which will help in making you look slimmer

* It helps to burn kJ faster. Lean muscle tissue is 17-25 times more active than fat. This means you will burn more kJ even at rest! By adding 1-2kg of muscle to your body - you'll burn an extra 290-418kJ a day

When you first start a weight program, don't be disheartened if you gain a couple of kilos. It is often said that Lean Muscle Tissue weighs more than fat. Do not listen to this hype. 1kg of fat weighs the same as 1kg of muscle – muscle tissue is more toned and compact than fat so you will start to look much slimmer.

If the scales are not moving, don't despair. Weighing yourself is not your only means of tracking you progress. Several other ways exist to help keep track of your progress and find out if your gain is muscle or fat.

* Measure yourself. Get out a tape measure and measure various parts of your body - common areas to include are hips, waist, thighs [mid and top], bust/chest, arms, calves & stomach. You won't need to measure yourself every week - once every 4 weeks is usually best, as you won't see much of a difference on a week-to-week basis.

* Use an article of clothing to help measure your progress. That pair of jeans or skirt that is a little tight is perfect.

If you know absolutely nothing about weights and their proper use it is best to visit your local gym and see the staff there. They will show you exactly what to do and even draw up a program for you if you wish. If you are at school, visit your PE department and ask one of your teachers to help you out. Most high schools have their own weights area for student use. They can show you what you need to do, how to do it and help you keep track of your progress.

If seeing someone or exercising with someone is intimidating for you (or you don't have the money for the gym) you could try an 'at home' video or DVD. You will need to buy some free weights (dumbbells or barbells) check out the program before you buy any equipment. A couple of things to remember if you go this option:

* Watch the video before you actually start participating. This way you can see what you will be doing and the equipment needed to participate.

* Make sure the instructors give a "beginners option". This means there should be someone in the group using no weights - follow them until you are comfortable and confident with the program to add weights. In addition, there should be a section at the beginning of the video (or DVD menu) the focus on showing you the proper form and technique of the lifts required.

* When you first start using the weights, if at anytime, the weights become too heavy for you, STOP. Change to a smaller weight or revert to the beginners' option. The old saying "No pain, no gain" is completely outdated - you can do more damage then good. Listen to your body, it'll tell you if it isn't coping.

* Another point to keep in mind - the video/DVD should have a cardio/warm-up section at the start - this is important because you shouldn't start a weights session with cold muscles. A warm-up should last between 5-15mins and include gentle aerobic activity. Some programs alternate between cardio and weights workouts but it is important that the starting warm-up gets the heart beating. If you don't feel that it is good enough or you want to make sure you warming up properly - go for a walk [15mins minimum] before you start the session.

* On that same note, make sure that the video/DVD has a "cool down" at the end of the session. This can include a number of things, most usually include mini Pilates/Yoga like sessions at the end to stretch out the muscle groups.

* Aim for good technique when every time. Don't try to keep up with the instructors. If you need to take a break or slow a section down then do it. You want to get healthy not injured!

Weights not your thing? Going on holiday?

Try using resistance bands. These bands are usually used by people in rehab or older people who can't lift weights. They give the same kind of workout as actual weights but they tend to be a little easier on you.

The added bonus with resistance bands is that if you go away for a holiday or for the weekend to visit family, etc they are easy to pack into your bag so you don't have to miss out on your workouts. They also weigh less and don't take up much space in the suitcase. Add in a daily walk or swim and you've got your cardio covered as well, so there's no need to 'slack off' while abroad.

Chyna Dolores is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. You can veiw her personal work at http://www.chynadolores.com.Abraham Blog45623
Amr Blog29013

RSS Feeds For Church Websites

Maybe you have heard browsing the internet about RSS feeds. Maybe one of your friend told you that they receive information through such kind of chanels. You may wonder: what is a RSS feed and what advantage it brings to me?Well, RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication". RSS is a news system in XML format. In order to read RSS feeds you need some kind of RSS readers.

There are a lot of good RSS readers that are published free on the internet. You could try RSS Bandit or you could buy Feed Demon, or you could use the one that Mozilla Thunderbird has.

No matter what reader you use, the protocol is the same.

What is the advantage? Well, there are planty of advantages: you subscribe to those chanels that you want and you stay in touch with all the latest information available.

You will find some orange rectangles on sites providing RSS, rectangles marked with XML or RSS. Those sites provide RSS feeds.

But the most important thing you could do if you have a church website for example, is not only to stay in touch with information by the use of the RSS feeds but to...provide RSS feeds to your church users!

Yes. Publish your own news, make people subscribe to your news and then feed them RSS news. Give them information , make them stay connected. The main advantage is that you could send information about church meetings, church announcements, etc. You will not need to call everybody or send emails, you just write a feed and all your subscribers will find out about it almost right away.

If you sell things, church gifts, candels, etc, you could put among tehse news promotional announcements regarding this. Imagine sending a promotional offer that will never be treated like spam, you just publish it in RSS format and your subscribers will read it!

Start using RSS feeds, subcribe and publish, find out more about it soon in a new article about it!

It started to be one of the most important ways to feed news to people all over the internet and you should get align with everybody else right now!

John Smith is the editor of www.magictemplate.com , source of free Christian templates,church templates,religious news and forumAndre Robert Blog77937
Andrea Pennington Blog86108

What To Look For In Anti-Spyware Solutions

Given how serious a threat spyware is, all antispyware solutions should ideally do a complete PC clean. The antispyware software must have the tools that make it easy to detect and remove spyware and adware. It must also be able to prevent spyware from getting into your computer.

With spyware such a serious threat, there are certain specific characteristics that must be expected from spyware or adware detection and removal software. Ideally, all antispyware solutions must do a complete PC clean.

Any software that picks up information from your computer without your awareness can be called Spyware. Some spyware just tracks your Internet connection and information related to your operating system. Other types of spyware pick up personal data like your browsing behavior and spies on your private files collecting data it can relay to outside parties.

Obviously most people wouldn't allow spyware into their computers. Most people do not mind some tracking of data, provided personal information is not included. But they don't appreciate their computer being spied upon without their approval. When there is no antispyware installed, spyware does worm its way into the computer and gathers information.

To avoid the spyware problem, what should we look for in an antispyware solution? Read on.

Basic Features To Look For

The antispyware software must have the tools that make it easy to detect and remove spyware and adware. Detailed descriptions must be provided after you scan your system so that you have the choice of deciding whether you want to delete or retain the entry. The antispyware must be able to auto update itself with the latest definitions of spyware. It must have the facility of auto scheduling so that you don't have to manually do it each time. If you happen to accidentally erase something, you should be able to reverse the action.

Effective And Ease Of Operation

Your antispyware must not only detect and remove spyware and adware but also be able to prevent spyware from getting into your computer. It must be able to remove the maximum kinds of spyware and adware. Above all, you must find the antispyware easy to use. The language used must not be so complicated that you spend your time just figuring out what they mean. The antispyware scan must be quick and run in the background. Customization should be easy. You should be able to scan specific parts of your computer. You should also be able to choose which items to exclude from scanning. While setting up and installing the antispyware software should be easy and quick to download and install.

The antispyware software should have a help file that is easy to consult. If your queries go beyond that, you should be able to get in touch with product customer support that responds satisfactorily. The right kind of antispyware can keep your pc spyware and adware free and protect your own privacy.

Arvind Singh is admin and technical expert associated with development of computer security and performance enhancing software like Registry Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam Filter etc. More information can be found at http://www.pcmantra.comAlgernon Blog74137
Alighiero Blog87103

What's New At Google Labs?

The world's most popular search engine just keeps chugging along - the little train that could (and did) make billions of dollars and dominate the Internet landscape.

Like a giant tree with a root system extending deep into the earth, Google seeks to expand and diversify far beyond mere online search.

In their quest, the little elves at Google never seem to sleep and toil endlessly to bring us new gadgets and gizmos intended to make our lives better, both online and offline.

These four latest free offerings from Google's Labs http://Labs.Google.com - will help you do everything from organize your thoughts to find the local pizza restaurant's phone number through your cell phone.

** Google Code Search ** http://www.google.com/codesearch

This one should have the geeks salivating like Pavlov's dog sniffing out a rump roast!

This new search tool at Google allows you to search for public source code, the lines and lines of code that make your nifty software programs actually function.

Instead of writing all the code themselves, programmers can find and grab huge chunks of code free for the taking.

This makes a great staring point not only for programmers who want a leg up on finishing projects, but also neat for would-be software entrepreneurs who want to surf for ideas.

** Google Voice Local Search ** http://labs.google.com/goog411/

Ok, I'll admit to some skepticism when I saw that Google would help me find the number for the local barbershop just by talking into my phone.

But Google actually surprised me when I dialed 1-800-GOOG-411.

The phone asked me to say the city and state I wanted to search, and then asked me if I wanted to search by business name or business category.

Once I found the business I wanted, Google went ahead and dialed the number for me.

I found the service no worse than the automated search from the phone company, and Google offers this service FREE.

Well worth a call if you find yourself paying some hefty 411 fees to the phone company or your wireless provider.

** Google Reader ** http://reader.google.com/

The jury is still debating whether my dear sweet mother will ever subscribe to an RSS feed (the syndication feeds from blogs, news services, and more), so I'm not sure how universal RSS will ever get.

However, Google doess offer a free RSS reader online that enables you to easily subscribe to blogs, news feeds, and any other RSS feeds you like.

The readers lets you organize your feeds, update, and view them all in one place.

Not as powerful as some readers you pay for, but very functional and hey, you can't beat free!

** Google Notebook ** http://www.google.com/notebook/

Google Noetbook is the most recent graduate of the Google Labs.

This handy program allows you to organize your notes and clippings as you travel the web.

Instead of just bookmarking a site in your favorites and trying to remember why you liked it, with Google Notebook, you can highlight what you want and click the "clip" button.

You can then organize your notes however you want and then search through your note text at any time.

You can even share your notes with others.

Google Notebook is available through your web browser after you download and install special extensions to help you clip items you find on the Web.

Copyright (c) 2007 Jim Edwards

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the creator of http://www.TheNetReporter.com - a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred website that will teach you step-by-step and click-by-click how to really cash-in online...Discover what really works RIGHT NOW... plus the new twists on tried and true Internet Marketing techniques that create a profitable real business you can be proud of...Anders Blog51983
Angelis Daniela Blog92886

Microsofts Xbox 360 vs. The Sonys Playstation 3

Microsoft has tried to catch up with some of the titans of the gaming world, such as Sony with the release of the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 offers many new features that players will love:

Free limited subscription to online gaming - This allows players who have not been participating in online gaming a chance to see what is available at no charge. All Xbox 360s come with Live-aware - This means you can get a friend invite or see who is online and what they are playing from your Xbox 360. The button in the middle of the controller makes all this very easy.

It offers great media features including listening to music while you play games, the ability to create custom playlists and your own custom soundtracks, the ability to rip songs from original CDs to your Xbox 360 and stream music from your MP3 player to your Xbox 360. You can also create slideshows of photos to share with friends and family. Xbox 360 has a wireless controller. No more tripping over the wires, although it can support two wired controllers through USB ports in the front. The game console is not only great for gamers, but developers as well. It is a powerful machine with an unprecedented amount of RAM - a feature added on the request of developers.

But, Xbox 360 still has some problems that need to be worked out:

Their Japanese third party support is lacking - While some Japanese developers offer software for the Xbox, it is small in number when compared to what the same developers offer for Playstation. While the controller is wireless, it eats batteries rather quickly. Standard alkaline batteries only last about thirty hours, so if you buy Xbox 360, invest in rechargeable batteries to save yourself some money in the end. When they were set up in WalMart stores before days before the launch, many suffered what is known as the Xbox "360 screen of death," an error screen. The Xbox 360 had also had some problems with overheating. Some report the Xbox 360 system as being very noisy when playing an Xbox 360 disc.

Many people are eagerly awaiting the release of Playstation 3, which may occur as soon as November of this year. It has been said that the Playstation 3 has an outward feel (which allows it to stand vertically or horizontally on its own), as opposed to the Xbox 360's inward feel. It is a much larger console than the Playstation 2 and closer to the original size of the Xbox. Game discs slide into the console like CDs slide into a car player.

Here are a few attractive features of the Playstation 3:

It is always on, so you can access your Playstation 3 from anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection. With a Playstation Portable, you can connect to your Playstation 3 and transfer media such as music and movies. The Playstation 3 appears to be much more powerful than that Xbox 360, Ninetindo Revolution, and Playstation 2. Initial reports say it will be twice as fast as the Xbox 360. Developers and publishers of over 230 games have announced titles for Playstation 3 games.

Here are a few reported cons and problems with the Playstation 360:

Comes with only 256 MB, less than the 512 MB the Xbox 360 will come with. Their Playstation Network Platform (the online service) is still in development and may not be ready by the time Playstation 3 is released.

The launch of the Playstation 3 has already been delayed due to disk problems.

Both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are incredible gaming consoles. It seems that although the Xbox 360 came out first, the best bet is still the Playstation 3. The strongest point of the Xbox 360 is its online functionality, but Sony may be working on something similar to Xbox Live right now. However, Microsoft is closing the gap with Xbox 360 and probably will eventually catch up with Sony in gaming consoles. For some users, it may come down to something as simple as which one is more compatible with the games they already own.

Mark Robbins is a gamer providing valuable tips and advice on video game systems, game cheats, and giving new game reviews. http://www.xbox-360-guide.comAmbi Blog91193
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Royalty Free Stock Photos for Web Design

Stock photography websites contain thousands of existing photographs that can be licensed for specific uses. A customer who uses stock photography instead of hiring a photographer can save time, effort and money. Typically publishers can either purchase exclusive rights to a single image or they can purchase a subscription of sorts. The subscriptions allow publishers to download a limited number of photos over a specified period of time.

Stock photo websites allow webmasters, marketers and publishers to locate pictures for their marketing and promotional materials without the hassle of organizing a photo shoot. With copyright laws businesses must be very careful in using unlicensed photos.

There are also risks to using "free" photographs. Many of the free websites contain collaborative works from multiple photographers and artists. While the websites attempt to monitor the images in their collections in violation of copyright laws, there are no guarantees. If you opt to use photographs or images from a free portal, it is important to keep this in mind.

The following are a large number of reputable stock photo websites available:

Photo-Wizard.net - The Photo-Wizard's website contains thousands of fantastic, high-quality photographs, in more than 30 categories. Photos can be used on websites, in promotional materials or educational materials. The Photo-Wizard's stock photo directory is packed with eye-catching photos that will meet the needs of graphic designers and webmasters looking for exceptional quality images at reasonable prices. The site is filled with inexpensive, professional quality royalty free photographs. There is no longer a need to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a single photograph. Single images can be purchased for $.99 each or subscriptions can be purchased for $49.95 - $ 179.95.

Photo Wizard - http://www.photo-wizard.net

Photos.com - Photos.com contains professional royalty-free stock photographs available via a subscription. Pay only a single fee and download up to 250 photos from the Photos.com collection per day. The photos.com collection contains more than 325,000 professional quality stock photographs. Subscriptions can be purchased for $149.95 - $ 699.95 .

Photos.com - http://www.photos.com

ClipArt.com - The ClipArt website is exceptional, known for its large variety. You can filter images based on file formats, (photographs, photo objects or clipart) so only the specified format appears in the search results. Subscription can be purchased for $ 17.99 - $ 269.99.

ClipArt - http://www.clipart.com

Morguefile.com - The term "morgue file" is popular in the newspaper business to describe a file that holds past issues. The purpose of this site is to provide free image reference material for use in all creative pursuits. Photos on Morguefile can be used free of charge, but only for personal use; but are not available for commercial or business use.

MorgueFile - http://www.morguefile.com

PixelPerfectDigital.com - PixelPerfectDigital contains 4,000 images. The website uses a forum format to display the images, many of which are clipart rather than photographs. The images can be used free of charge for personal use.

Pixel Perfect Digital - http://www.pixelperfectdigital.com/free_stock_photos/

StockVault.net - StockVault contains photos and logos that are free for non-commercial use. They have additional image packs available for fixed prices.

StockVault - http://www.stockvault.net

Free-Photographs.net - The Free Photographs Network is an online resource for royalty-free stock photographs for non-commercial use. The collection is very limited and a search function specifically for the site is not available.

Free Photographs - http://www.free-photographs.net

FreeStockPhotos.com - Photographs on Free Stock Photos can be used free of charge for non-commercial use, but the photograph must include credits to FreeStockPhotos.com when used on the Internet, in a web page, in printed publications, or in any product, advertising, or packaging. This credit, however, may be cropped out or digitally removed from the photograph if it is included in readable type near each photograph, group of photographs, in the text, or in the credits. The collection is limited and a search function is not visible.

Free Stock Photos - http://www.freestockphotos.net

FreePhotos.com - FreePhotos is a collaborative website that contains photos. The website contains many different image categories, but not a large variety in each category. In order to download an image users must register.

Free Photos - http://www.freephotos.com

ArtFavor.com - ArtFavor contains a limited selection of small high-quality photographs. The images are not available for commercial use.

ArtFavor - http://www.artfavor.com/types.php?type=12

FreeDigitalPhotos.net - The photos on Free Digital Photos can be used for commercial and non commercial interests. If the images are used for promotional items (greeting cards, mugs, t-shirts, screen savers) there is a $ 20.00 charge for the use of each image. Some images also stipulate that they require a link back to the FreeDigitalPhotos website.

Free Digital Photos - http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

FreePhotosBank.com - Free Photos Bank is a collaborative website with a number of attractive photos. Photos contained on the Free Photos Bank are from a variety of photographers and the reprint permissions may vary.

Free Photos Bank - http://www.freephotosbank.com

DesignPacks.com - Design Packs offers free, high-quality image collections that can be used in both personal and commercial web design projects. Each collection features a group of 15 images that share a common theme.

Design Packs - http://www.designpacks.com

ShutterStock - Shutterstock is a large subscription-based stock photo agency. They have an outstanding collection of premium, royalty-free photographs, illustrations, and vectors. Subscription can be purchased for $ 199.00 - $1,999.00 and allow subscribers to download up to 25 images per day.

ShutterStock - http://www.shutterstock.com/

ComStock - ComStock contains a large collection of royalty-free images. ComStock offers three purchase options images can be purchased individually, CD options are available or publishers can purchase a subscription for $299 - $1999.00 which allows them to download up to 50 images per day.

ComStock - http://www.comstock.com

These are all a number of options available for webmasters and publishers in need of images for marketing campaigns or packaging. Regardless of the website selected, be sure to read the agreement terms carefully to ensure that you are adhering to the guidelines.

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com audio recording and editing software.Allistair Blog98470
Almus Blog27284

Create a Stand-Alone Software Installation CD

You can use MultiSet software to create a universal disk for installing software onto a computer using any media (CD/DVD/Flash/Hard Drive).

Now you can install the programs in any location and as many times as you want - just insert the disk into the CDROM, DVDROM or FlashDrive, and MultiSet will undertake the complete installation procedure for you!!!

Automatic software installation benefits:

1. The disk contains ALL necessary information, such as
- full software distribution packages,
- registration information
- software registration key
2. Automatic installation is much faster than manual installation.
3. Automatic installation does not require anyone to be around, i.e. you can spend this time on your needs
4. You can use this universal disk to automatically install software on any number of computers. Usually, the automatic software installation disk is started right after installing the operating system.
5. It is possible to perform automatic installation both from the disk and via the local area network.
6. Applications are installed in a strictly defined order.
7. Unlike copying a disk image, packages can be installed anywhere and any number of times without losing the current data on the PC.

You should make several simple steps to create a universal disk.

Step 1.

Select the 'New Universal Database' item in the main menu. The wizard will appear on the screen. Specify the folder where the universal database will be located. For example, 'C:\Universal MultiSet'. Click the 'Next' button.

Step 2.

Now you should select the packages you want to be included in the universal database. The path to an executable file is specified for each package. MultiSet will copy this file automatically.

A distribution package often consists of several files and folders, for example, MS Office. You have to copy the entire folder with the distribution package in this case. To do it, enable the corresponding option in the list item properties.

Click the 'Next' button.

Step 3.

Click the 'Start' button to create the universal database.

The universal database has been created.

Step 4.

Now you can copy the folder specified in the first step of the wizard to any media (CD, DVD, Flash, Hard Drive).

If you insert such a disk into a CD/DVD drive or connect to the computer in case of a Flash drive or a hard drive, you will see the following dialog box on the screen.

Click 'OK' to automatically install all the applications on your PC.

So, with a help of MultiSet its very easy to create the disk My Golden Software which can be used many times for instant automatic software installation!

MS Word:
http://www.almeza.com/download/Create_a_stand-alone_software_installation_CD.doc

HTML:
http://www.almeza.com/content/view/58/72/

Should you need further information, please feel free to contact me.
AN EVALUATION COPY IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Product page link: http://www.almeza.com
Download link http://www.almeza.com/download/multiset.exe
E-mail: press@almeza.com
Web: http://www.almeza.com

Abramovskiy IvanAllana Blog3801
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Cincinnati Schools Offers Specialty High School Programs

Cincinnati Schools Woodward High Schools Career Programs

Woodward High School, which is part of Cincinnati Schools, established its career technical programs in 2003 and these programs have been growing ever since. All high schools in the Cincinnati Schools follow a college preparatory curriculum but as part of the restructuring of high schools in the Cincinnati Schools, small specialized courses were developed. Woodward Career Technical High School is not only a resurrected small school but a replacement school for the razzed Woodward High School. Students began attending school in the new building in 2005. Theses career technical programs focus on the students needs for knowledge in the career technology fields and hands on experience that will give the students an edge in further education pursuits and the future job market.

The Woodward Career Technical High School is designed to give students a smaller, more centered learning environment that will better prepare students for their future. The success of these programs over the last couple of years has led to Cincinnati Schools developing seven more small, focused high schools housed within the existing high schools. Since 2003 the Woodward Career Technical High School has added one ninth grade class with the goal of being a full ninth to twelfth grade program. The redesigned building provides a corporate look and feel while housing the needed hands on laboratories. Over the next few years, Cincinnati Schools plans to redesign and rebuild all the high schools in the Cincinnati Schools system.

Cincinnati Schools Woodward High Schools Three Technical Programs

Cincinnati Schools has chosen as the three most important career technical programs as based on their potential in the future job market: advanced technologies, building technologies and health technologies. Students can choose which program is the best for them. The advanced technologies program focuses on the growth of automated and computer controlled manufacturing and the engineering principles needed to work in this field. The building technologies program prepares students to be leaders in the construction industry with a focus on computer based architectural design. The health technologies program educates students in health services careers focusing on biotechnology and medical laboratory work. With this in mind, Cincinnati Schools have team up with partners in the business world including Procter

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Andris Blog59096
Aida Blog41264

CSI Continues - The Difficult Seventh Season

Well, it's that time of year again. For the seventh year running, this fall season we'll see a new season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation hit our screens.

Since its debut in the fall season of 2000, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has been a major draw for the CBS Network. It became the most watched program on television in the 2002-2003 season, and has since remained in the top 3 most popular shows ever since. As of the sixth season each episode attracted an average of 30 million viewers, and 90 million people have seen the show in the past year.

The sixth season closed with a spectacular two-parter in which Detective Jim Brass was left fighting for life after a hostage negotiation went wrong. When murderer Willie Cutler took a woman hostage in a Vegas hotel room, Brass volunteered to negotiate. However, when things went awry Cutler fired three shots at Brass - and one of the shots breached his bulletproof vest, a bullet lodging in his heart.

After Brass was rushed to hospital in critical condition, CSI Gil Grissom was informed that Brass had nominated him as his medical proxy, which meant that Grissom had to decide whether to allow doctors to perform risky surgery to remove the bullet or - equally dangerous - leave the bullet where it was and risk a stroke. Grissom, believing that Brass would have wanted it, ordered the surgery.

Meanwhile, Brass' estranged daughter Ellie arrived, more interested in how much she'd get from her father's pension scheme than in his well being. Grissom tried to make Ellie understand how much Brass cares for her, but Ellie seemed unwilling to listen. By the time Brass regained consciousness she had left, but Brass' CSI family were still by his side.

The season closed on a surprising note with Grissom finally getting together with Sara Sidle - a story arc that has been several years in the making.

So what does the next season have in store for CSI fans? Well, while the show will no doubt continue with the format that has seen it become one of the most successful shows on TV the main story in the coming season must revolve around the CSIs relationships. With a new romance blooming between Grissom and Sidle it will be interesting to see how these two loners will adapt to the new situation.

On that count, at least, even the stars of the show don't know how it will turn out. Jorja Fox, the actor who plays Sidle, didn't know that she and Grissom were getting together until just a few days before filming, but she believes that this one is for keeps: "These two people, they have a lot in common. They're both really not great with people in many respects, and they're emotionally detached in many respects. If two people like that can kind of find each other, there's something really beautiful in that."

But it won't just be the relationship between Grissom and Sidle hogging the limelight. As we saw in the penultimate episode of season six Warwick Brown's marriage is on the rocks. After spotting his wife Tina with another man in the Lucky Dragon Casino Warwick confronted her, not realizing that she was planning a surprise party for Warwick's birthday. If Tina walks out on him, will Catherine offer Warwick a shoulder to cry on?

We'll have to wait and see... the story will unfold during the seventh season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on CBS this fall.

James Shenton is a New York-based entertainment writer. For more articles about CSI and other crime drama shows, visit http://www.EliteTvDownloads.com , the Internet's hottest TV show downloads site. Almus Blog27284
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Why Do You Need A Registry Cleaner?

Before we understand the need of registry cleaner, let us understand what registry is and why you need a registry cleaner to enhance PC performance. Just as you would store your documents in a file, the Windows stores all information about your computer in a Registry, such as all the software and hardware settings, and everything about the system configuration. It is the most critical aspect of the operating system, and needs to be cleaned periodically. A Registry Cleaner is a program that looks for and deletes outdated entries.

Using a registry cleaner periodically will make your computer run better. Registry was first introduced by Microsoft in Windows 95. Before this, configuration settings were all stored in INI (Initialization) files scattered all over the hard drive. Due to this, it was quite difficult to keep a track of them. A registry consolidated all information in a central location. It is a central cache of all settings, options, and preferences of the PC, manages the start up options, and keeps a track of the various software installed in the system.

Removing the Build Up

Over time, the registry in a computer builds up and this can make the computer unstable and have a slow start up. As you keep on using your computer, the registry keeps on building up with obsolete and unnecessary information. These need to be cleaned up using a registry cleaner.

This is especially true for Windows 95 and 98. However, Windows NT, XP and 200x also have a lot of entries that are not necessary, and are created when programs are installed or removed. It is always advisable to use a registry cleaner to remove these unwanted entries to make your computer run faster.

The registry cleaner scans the registry to trace the obsolete data, deletes it to enable your computer to run error free and enhance the performance of your PC. Most cleaners have a backup function to help you backup your registry before cleaning it, in case you encounter a system failure, and some files get deleted inadvertently. You can get a free registry cleaner or trial version. But the free or trial versions have their limitations therefore it is better if you select a licensed registry cleaning software for this purpose.

A damaged Windows registry in your computer can corrupt your whole system, rendering it unusable. To keep this vital part of your computer in a good working and an un-bloated condition, a good registry cleaner should have the following features:

Automatic scanning of the registry and its cleanup

Backup and restoration of the full registry

A startup organizer

Removing Trojan, which utilizes startup files

One particular registry cleaner may not be compatible for all types of computer systems. They have their own minimum system requirements, such as :

Some that are compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP may not be suitable for other versions of Windows. Some require a particular class of processor with a certain amount of RAM

You may need a certain amount of empty hard disc space.

Now decide, do you need a registry cleaner or not?

Arvind Singh is admin and technical expert associated with development of computer security and performance enhancing software like Registry Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam Filter etc. More information can be found at http://www.pcmantra.com. Related Information: http://www.pcmantra.com/RegistryCleaner.aspx?id=1Alexia Blog56037
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