So you have a website, and you want to increase your traffic to sell your product. There are thousands of the websites just like yours, so how will you be seen? There are basically 3 options. You can pay some company thousands of dollars to market your site for you; you can hire someone full time to do the marketing for you; or you can do the marketing yourself. This guide will give you the basic knowledge you need to market your website successfully at your own pace.

First, you need to have realistic expectations. Web sites do not get in the top 10 in search engines over night. There is a lot of hard work that needs to be put into a site for it to rank high. I would grab a pen and paper and write down your main competitors. Then I would use the Google Toolbar to check their pagerank and incoming links to see how they rank. The higher the pagerank and more links pointing to your site, the higher your site will be in the search engines. Once you see how many links are pointing to their site and how good their pagerank is, you have an idea how much work is needed to get your site listed.

Link trading is the process in which you will get these links pointing to your site. You need to contact other similar, good ranked pages and tell them how trading links will benefit both sites, and then link to them, and in exchange they will link to you. The more pages linking to you the better, but remember quality, relevant high pagerank sites is what your looking for, you want your link to be on a pagerank 2 site as least, preferably 3+. Managing your link exchange program takes time, some software on the market can do this for you, some of the software is good, some bad. I would recommend adding the links to your site manually to start, until you get a better understanding of the SEO world.

Articles are another good method to establish links to your site. Unlike a regular link exchange which is just a sentence with a link, publishing an article you wrote will give other websites quality content about your business / products and also link back to your site. Most article sites do not require a link back to them, so when your link is published search engines count that link better then a standard link exchange because you are not linking back.

One-way links is just that, a link to your site, but in return you do not link back. Articles are great one-way links, but so are directories! There are numerous directories on the internet ranging from shopping to home improvement. You can go to these sites, and either for free, or a small fee you can submit your site to them. Having your site listed in the major directories benefits your site in 2 ways. First, you get a link back to your site, increasing your link popularity, and second, people searching the directories for your product may see your site and buy from you.

As you can see, getting your site listed in the major search engines will take some time to do, you need to manage a link exchange program, submit your article to publishers and directories, and maintain your current website, but remember if you take your time, and establish your presence steadily over time, then your website will begin climbing in the search engines, and you will begin to enjoy the benefits of increased traffic.

Brandon L. Wilcox is a Web Developer for multiple web sites, and has been in the computer field for over 6 years. Some of his sites include http://www.houseplansconnection.com/ and http://www.designconnection.com/ Both of these websites accept link trades.

Tax is the way the government pays for things. This could be any number of things including their salaries. But, it is important for every citizen to know what taxes they pay and where the money goes. It is also important to be aware of tax increases and to vote based on your wishes as well. The government is there to serve us, but unless we actively participate, there is no way that we can complain that something is not fair. The tax laws are something that no individual likes to pay but in reality we like and need the services that taxes pay for. So, unless another solution is devised, you’ll be paying taxes your entire life.

A tax is an amount of money that is charged to an individual in order to pay for expenses. Let’s explain it like this. City tax is a tax that many cities require. This tax can be used to pay for the salaries of city workers such as government officials. But, it also pays for the salaries of firemen and police officers as well. It also pays for the salt that is put down on streets in the winter and the plow truck drivers as well. In some cities, it pays for waste collection and park maintenance as well. Do you want nice paved roads to drive on? Guess what pays for that to happen.

We also pay property tax. This is a tax that is put on owning a piece of land. For those who do not own anything, they do not pay for anything. This tax also pays for many of the same things as city tax. It also helps to pay for schools and other city institutions.

Then there is everyone’s favorite tax which is sales tax. This tax is put on the purchase of all sorts of goods. In some areas, food is not tax while in others it is. Sales tax is often a partial split between federal, state and county divisions. For the same reasons we listed, this tax goes to work for us as well.

The federal government gets a lot of their funds from income taxes. Sure, all areas of government dive into this field, but it is the federal government that gets the largest chunk out of your paycheck. But, you know, this pays for quite a bit of important aspects too. The entire government is funded this way, as is the military we have. Want to feel protected? Do we need agencies to regulate our lives as well? What about maintaining our boarders and upholding the law?

All of these aspects are important areas that we simply do not think about that we pay tax to. But, without them, where would we be?

Tim Jackson
Tax Directory

The IRS has never been known as a creative beaurocracy. To promote donations to Katrina victims, however, it is being very creative.

The IRS has come up with Hurricane Katrina Leave Donation Program to help out those in need through special tax treatment rules. In a ground breaking program, employees can donate their vacation and sick leave donations by asking their employer to make a cash donation equivalent to the amount that would otherwise be paid.

Employees

Employees benefit from this new program in two ways. First, they can make donations without taking money out of their current cash savings. Second, the employee will not be responsible for paying takes on the donated time, which would obviously be a huge deterrent.

Employers

Employers also benefit in two ways with this unique program. Initially, they can work hand in hand with employees to help the relief effort. Second, the employer can deduct the cash payments as either a charitable contribution or normal business deduction. Importantly, employers are NOT required to pay employment taxes on any donations. This fact alone makes participating in the Hurricane Katrina Leave Donation Program a worthwhile venture.

The IRS has really stepped to the plate to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Often reviled, the Agency should get a standing ovation for taking these steps.

Richard A. Chapo is with http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Stop overpaying small business taxes. Visit http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com/articles to read more business tax articles about tax relief and tax help.

If you remember black and white TV, you are dating yourself. Perhaps even carbon-dating yourself. But I remember sitting in rapt attention when color TV came to town. Your audiences will do the same if you add some color to your presentations.

Color - in terms of presentations - is mostly about the voice. Humans have a remarkable sound system, but most people don’t use 10 percent of their vocal ability. Vocal color is a guaranteed method of gaining - and holding - the attention of your audience.

There are four elements of voice you can control: breath, projection, vocal variety and diction. Let’s look more closely at diction.

No matter where you were born, you can improve your diction without losing your regional charm. Think Dr. Ruth. Not accent-free diction, but she is understandable and memorable.

Here’s an exercise that I learned early in my broadcast career that helped improve my diction, or the clarity of my speech. We were taught to spit out certain sounds, to create an explosion of sound. Practice emphasizing these letters the next time you prepare for a presentation:

B as in boy. C as in lurch. D as in need. G as in dig. J as in judge. K as in sack. P as in lap. And T as in boot. If you allow these sounds to erupt forth with a little extra force, you’ll be sharpening your diction and adding color at the same time.

So, practice your diction and start moving from black and white to color.

Ty Boyd, CEO of Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, is in the Broadcast Hall of Fame and the Speakers Hall of Fame. He has taught presentation skills to Fortune 1000 executives in more than 40 countries. His Excellence In Speaking Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2005.

It has been six months since I left the corporate world - and there are some things I will always miss. Like saying good morning to colleagues on my way to the office where I worked every day. Or getting caught in the excitement as we prepared for another big meeting or presentation.

I now realize what a huge transition this was, moving from a corporate headquarters with hundreds of employees to a small home office of one. Though I would never trade in my current life, with its freedom and independence, I lived in that other world for 31 years…

… And I still feel the pangs of letting go.

At different points in our lives we all experience the difficulty of letting go - not only physically but with our hearts and minds. We may need to do this with our relationships, careers or sometimes the place we call home.

Even destructive relationships can be hard to walk away from. Author Casey Clair, in Still Single, speaks of the emptiness of her five-year affair with a married man and “the hours of self-doubt and unhappiness” that plagued her. She writes: “It all coalesced into a wound that even I couldn’t ignore.” It was the pain that finally forced her to leave him.

We may also have to face the loss of our health or abilities through illness or an accident. When change is thrust upon us, it is often more taxing than when it’s our decision. Either way letting go is never quick or easy.

No matter whom or what YOU need to let go of in your life, here are ways to get through the process.

Allow Yourself to Grieve

Ironically it is your own resistance that causes you the most pain. The more you resist giving in to emotion, the harder it becomes to get through this transition. Stoicism does not lend you strength. It is more helpful to re-live the good moments of the relationship or situation you must leave behind and acknowledge what it has given you. Then let the tears come.

Share Your Experience

You may need to talk about the changes in your life. This is the time to turn to supportive friends or family members. Or even to strangers who understand what you’re going through.

Faye, a violinist and writer who suffered the loss of her parents followed by that of her beloved cat, says, “The one thing that’s made any letting go easier is finding people who have gone through exactly the same experience.”

It may also be reassuring to read about others who have been at the same crossroads - where the past is still so close you can touch it, and the future too dim and vague to offer much comfort.

A couple of times in her life, though, Faye experienced losses that the people around her could not relate to. “At the bottom level,” she says, “we face letting go alone, in the night. It’s really about hope.”

Learn to Accept

Children grow up and leave home; relationships evolve and people move on. This is life. As put by actor William B. Davis: “It struck me while I was sitting here; everything changes but the sea.”

There is a season to everything, and the timing of change is usually not within our control.

Looking back, you will likely realize that you also had no say when that particular relationship or situation began. C.A. Dowler is a career and business mentor. In talking about her process of letting go, she points out: “As I had no control over when and how that wonderful thing came into my life, I have no right to now hold on to it when it’s ready to go.”

There IS a gap in your life. What you feel is the absence of what you had before. Yet it is only through acceptance that you can let in the new, whether it’s another person or set of circumstances.

Embrace the New

When a toddler reaches for something different, she can easily drop the thing she was holding. Releasing is something we are able to do naturally, but as we grow older we learn to hang on tight. Part of the reason is our longing for the familiar and our fear of the unknown. We don’t know what lies around the next corner, or if we can ever again find the happiness we see ourselves losing.

It takes courage to really let go. You have to trust that what is now coming into your life is what you most need. Then take a deep breath, and let yourself turn another page.

Copyright © 2003 by Thelma Mariano

About The Author

Thelma Mariano, life coach and author, is dedicated to bringing clarity and direction to people’s lives. See her on-line coaching programs, articles and column at http://www.u-unlimited.ca.

thelma@u-unlimited.ca

Should you yourself analyse closely at 118.com one may find just how very well www.118.com have done & what they have reached and in such a short space of time. 118 118 is not the single directory enquiry company which one can use, the recent competition is immense. During 2002 the Great Britain directory enquiries service markets opened up to competitors by phasing away from the number 192 and renewing it with a range of new six digit number which are 118118. A a wide range of brand new directory enquiries service start ups have grasped the chance to acquire a slice of a potentially rewarding sector, paying lots of GBP on an advertising slot which is going to come no where close to being as rewarding as the business of 118118.

The 118 118 company number is the greatest directories assistance business in the UK. Each and every week employees put lots of their customers through to people, places and corporations 118.com are looking for, due to the result of this www.118118.com is currently the most frequently used number in the UK

Findings presently indicate that the UK’s directories Enquiries industry is the most busy in Europe. www.118.com offer a wide range of functions incl. the must have that is the telephone directories service and then other added offerings such as film schedules and locations, train time tables and train and tube locations. Cinema times at locations throughout the UK, train and tube times, and dont forget directory enquiries from 118118.

The 118118 number stays as the first UK 118 operator to offer a complete free phone directories company targeted at their customers from across all the major non mobile networks. From the 18th March 2008, 118118.com company are excited to declare its company changes. at present 0800118FREE this service is not charged by BT and major fixed networks. Prices by mobile phone networks may vary. 118811 is these days 40 pence per minute and 118118 company is 69 pence per call, 25 p per minute, that is a big improvement considering that it used to be expensive than one pound.

Aggression is a texas hold’em poker strategy that is probably the most fundamental skill that a player must have. Knowing how and why to act aggressively, and how to combat aggression is essential to playing texas hold’em poker.

There are a number of uses for aggression, and a number of ways to counter an aggressive play. Making the right play in any given situation concerning aggressive hold’em poker play will be the difference between taking down a big pot or going out of a tournament early.

First lets examine what an aggressive play can accomplish. One thing an aggressive play will do is to get lesser strength hands to fold. Also by making an aggressive play with particular cards on the board a player can make a better assessment of the opponents hand. For example if the flop comes out 4h-4d-7c and you make a large bet if the opponent calls or raises you can make a pretty good guess as to what he has. Of course this is an obvious example, but even in this example you have to understand all the possibilities. Lets say using the example flop above your hole cards where kh-4c. You have trip 4’s and with a good kicker(the king). You may think in this situation the only thing you have to worry about is if your opponent has the last 4 and has an ace kicker. What if your opponent has a pocket pair of 7’s and now has made a full house on the flop? It is important to look at all possibilities.

Another thing aggression in texas hold’em poker can accomplish is establishing a table image. Making overly aggressive plays at early stages in tournament play or even when playing table games can help to set up your opponents for later hands. By demonstrating overly aggressive play your opponents will be more likely to call your aggressive bets thinking you are just continuing the same behavior you had demonstrated earlier. This type of play must be limited in order to be effective. As soon as players realize your folding bad hands and playing good hands aggressively they will only call if they think they are ahead in the hand.

A very important thing aggression in hold’em poker does as well is steals blinds. Stealing the blinds means making a large preflop bet to get everyone to fold so that there is no flop and you collect the blinds and any antes. Making plays to steal the blinds may seem a little reckless and unnecessary, and I’m not saying to try to steal the blinds every other hand. What I am saying is stealing the blinds is more important play than it may seem to the untrained eye. In texas hold’em poker much of the game you make bets on the future probability of hand strength. You make this determination by examining the hand strength of your hole cards. Everyone knows this, and so if you only make aggressive plays when you have statistically hole cards that are of a high starting hand strength then your plays will become obvious. This means players will get out of hands earlier and you will be able to make less money on the hands you win. By stealing the blinds here and there it keeps your opponents guessing.

It is important to talk about what constitutes an aggressive play in texas hold’em poker. In no-limit hold’em an aggressive play can be measured in proportion to the blinds and in relationship to the pot. This means in no-limit hold’em tournament play if the big blind is $200 and a bet is made of $600 that would probably be considered an aggressive play. Of course this depends on prior table action, but for the most part around 3 times the big blind is where aggressive hold’em poker play starts. In limit hold’em aggression can be a bit more difficult to employ. A good way to make an aggressive play in limit hold’em is to check/raise if possible. Playing aggressively in limit hold’em can be much easier at later stages of tournament play when betting limits are higher. If playing limit hold’em at a table game often times aggression is just continuing to raise the limited amount each time you act.

The final reason we will discuss for aggression in texas hold’em poker is it makes people mad. Emotions in hold’em poker are inevitable. They are part of the game and should be treated as such. You have to always be aware of your own emotions and to make sure your making the correct logical decision in each situation. This doesn’t mean you should try to keep emotion out of the game. Quite the opposite. Making plays in hold’em poker to make an opponent angry is a useful tactic.

The ancient art of war written long ago by sun zu explains tactics and strategies of warfare. A proverb from the book states you should never enter a battle for which you have no chance of winning. Aggression makes your opponent make this choice. Choosing weather or not to play the hand. When an aggressive play is made it means it is likely the player’s hand strength is high who is making the aggressive play. So the natural inclination of others is to not take the risk of playing the hand which will likely be beaten.

There are so many intricacies as to the texas hold’em poker strategy of aggression they are too numerous to cover here. However; many of the fundamental principals have been covered here and from this you should be able to start to utilize aggression in your hold’em poker game.

For a more in depth examination of hold’em strategies, statistics, tips and much more visit the link below.

http://www.onlinepokerplayersguide.com

Decorating can be a big challenge in today’s world. There are all kinds of decorating styles from which to choose. Each room of your home can have a different style including ecclectic, traditional, modern, or formal. But for those casual and impromptu rooms and occasions, a bean bag chair can be just what’s needed. Choosing the right shape, material, size and color are very important.

Shapes - Bean bags come in many shapes. You can get fun bean bags in the shape of animals, flowers, stars, and lips. You can get functional shapes such as arm chairs and ottomans, video rockers, and teardrops. And you can always get the traditional round shape.

Material - Bean bags come in any material to suit your needs. These materials include upper lines in faux suede, velvet, faux leather and fur. They also come in more casual material such as cotton, vinyl, denim, and nylon.

Size - Bean bags can be found in sizes ranging from extra small to extra large and also sofa sized.

Color - Bean bags come in a wide variety of colors to compliment any room.

So whether you want a formal and fancy bean bag chair or a more casual bean bag lounger, you should not have a problem finding the perfect one.

Copyright © 2005 Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet

About Susan and Debbie: Susan and Debbie are internet marketers. You can review more articles and Web sites on bean bag chairs by visiting http://www.thefurnitureclub.com .

Embark on your culinary arts institute’s objectives and acknowledge your passion for food and your deep love for preparing them may have driven you to enroll in the culinary arts. But how high are your achievement goals? Are you thinking of becoming the next restaurant entrepreneur? Or do you just want to gain some new skills to use with your hobby? Like yourself, both cooking and culinary institutes have expectations as well. Although some course structures and training programs vary, they are all basically driven by the same culinary arts objectives.

These objectives are focused on getting the culinary arts students prepared for entry-level food service positions. Everyone who wants a career in the culinary arts, training is needed.

Careers in culinary arts are enjoying enormous interest. Many people are now interested in the culinary arts and are trying to get a formal education in order to advance their careers. There are a number of exams and interviews that culinary institutes will require you to go through, to make sure you can cut it in the field. The goal is to focus on those with the skill and drive to succeed in the culinary arts program.

Students in the programs advantage from internships at some popular restaurants. The school has found that real-world experience is an important part of a student’s training.

Take a guess? Collaboration, Proven, Open, Scalable, etc.? Nope. “Solution” is the most overused word today in marketing technology products. Why? I’ve identified two main reasons which I’ll describe later. However, I’ll be the first to say that I have contributed to the solution epidemic. Additionally, I’ve actively marketed a product with the word “solutions” in its product name (Sabre Business Travel Solutions), and have referred to my company’s products as solutions as well. However, a couple of years ago when I received a press release from a new partner and realized that “solution/s” was mentioned 17 times, I diagnosed this epidemic and I began my research.

The Two Main Reasons for the Solution Epidemic:

1) Lack of Knowledge and Understanding

My first diagnosis is that technical marketing personnel either don’t fully understand the technology or cannot succinctly articulate their products or services. So, instead they refer to their products as solutions. They have not done justice and many times missed the opportunity to explain to their readers (mainly prospects, customers and media) what the product is and does. It is hard enough to get your products in front of your target market, so why blow it when you get there? Tell your readers exactly what you have.

Here’s an example: One of the largest ERP’s in the world recently launched a new product with the word “Solutions” in the name. The reason why I sat down and wrote this article was because I needed to know basic information about this product in terms of what it actually does. I read all the available marketing material (e.g., Web site content, marketing collateral, presentation with notes, etc.) on this new solution. I’m still scratching my head on what it does (and I’m not alone). The word solution is used so many times that I’m thinking they don’t know what the product does either.

Nonetheless, get smart about your products and services. Call it an application, system, tool, or something instead of solution. Ask a lot of questions until you have the knowledge and can incorporate it into your marketing messaging and materials. As with my ERP example, if the product seems to have no direction, then help define one. If it’s comprised of multiple functional pieces then explain that so the reader understands what it includes. Sharpen your knowledge and gain a better understanding of your products versus taking the easy way out and using “solution” to describe your product. Which brings me to the second reason - we are lazy.

2) Laziness

Yes, we are all lazy. Our peers in Biotech marketing need to work a lot harder than us in order to communicate their products. They just can’t continue to say that their biotech solutions will revolutionize the way medical science will evolve. In many cases, they have to define the science and then be able to communicate what their technology does.

If we are on staff or hired consultants/marketing firm, it is our job to help convey who the company is and what their products and services do. And, I’m telling you that by using the word solutions early on in your descriptions and key messages - you’re not working hard enough. Also, don’t type the word solution and then click on your Thesaurus and try and find a similar word. You will have to get smart and work hard to eliminate solutions from your marketing literature.

When should you use the word Solutions?
Ok, by now you may be pulling out your marketing material and circling the number of times the word solution appears. There are times when it is “ok” to use the word solution. When you refer to your competition, use the word solution instead of naming their product. You know the old PR rule; never mention your competition by name in an interview with the media, etc. You don’t want to give them any free publicity.

You need to follow this as well in your writing. If you’ve done an excellent job at explaining your products upfront and created a strong visual with the reader, he or she can identify what you offer. Then you can throw in a casual solution to assist you in summarizing your offerings.

Since I diagnosed what I call the solution epidemic, I’ve shared it with my peers and staff. The goal was to heighten awareness of this epidemic and help out a fellow marketing peer avoid this trap. Bottom line, as technical marketing experts we have a responsibility to communicate what our product is and does - early and often. If we can successfully explain what our product is, how it benefits the customer and answer questions regarding its features - within our array of marketing material, we will differentiate ourselves from the competition and ultimately lead to more sales. Which is the reason why we have marketing positions, right?

Wendy Gibson is the Chief Operating Officer for Skywire Software. As COO, Gibson is responsible for all marketing activities, HR, and strategic planning for Skywire Software and its affiliates. Gibson has also assisted with Skywire Software’s six acquisitions to accelerate the company’s growth.