Types Of Websites And Recognisable Designs

By Owen A Barron

Who among computer users hasn't heard of websites? They're the portal to cyberspace where information is shared more freely, where communication can take place without hindrance, and where we see evidence of advancements in IT.

Because we rely so heavily on the internet the number of websites has shot up to over 500 million today. That's a massive figure and gives you an idea of just how useful these virtual pools of information have become.

Now, more than ever, businesses, governments, organisations and individuals alike are turning to the Web to display core information, objectives, ads and much more. Since so many types of users exist, websites too have had to cater to these various categories. Here's a look at the types of websites today and the designs they typically feature.

Entertainment websites: Dedicated to the entertainment world, these sites host information on celebrities, the arts as well as game portals and similar interactive programs designed to stimulate and entertain. They're one of the most popular types of websites not because they contain such important information but because we as a species are attracted to entertainment and drama.

Informational websites: These are the more 'serious' sites where information consists of particular topics useful for ordinary and professional researchers. Where entertainment sites are among the most popular, informational sites are the most common. They're also extremely useful and epitomise the original idea of public websites where information sharing was the objective.

Transactional websites: Transactional sites possess features to facilitate transactions. eCommerce sites are an example where products and services can be purchased online. Today, such sites have gained a strong foothold in the virtual world as businesses realise the importance of taking their offerings to cyberspace in a bid to connect to a larger customer base.

Community websites: Community websites centre on particular topics or figures and aim to bring likeminded individuals together. The topics could be any number of things and don't necessarily have to be subjects of extreme importance or even relevance. The point is to connect people with similar tastes and give them a platform to discuss ideas and express opinions.

Tried and trusted designs for different websites

Since different sites cater to different needs, appearance varies and is carefully chosen to reflect what a site stands for. So, entertainment sites will typically feature bright colours, large images, playful fonts or large headlines and similar elements designed to attract attention and make content seem more interesting.

Informational sites, meanwhile, have a cleaner look which is nevertheless far from boring. Colours are rich without being glaring, content is presented in an easy-to-read manner and offers, if any, are featured in such a way as to appear more subtle compared to the same offered by an entertainment site. Transactional websites, on the other hand, feature large images laid in a left to right, top to bottom manner along with text regarding price, size etc. A shopping basket figures prominently on the top right side of the page.

As for community websites, they can feature virtually any design but typically follow a theme. For example, a hobby site centering around collecting model cars will sport elements regarding cars as well as patterns mimicking popular liveries. The same principle applies to any chosen topic.

If you want to improve your business drastically, there is no reason for not having your own website and a creative web designer who can do it for you. Contact a designer for your website here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Owen_A_Barron

Too Bashful to Boast? How to Gain Media Attention for Your B2B Business

By Jeremy Durant

In today's media, the name of the game is "content." Releasing regular, relevant content about your industry will spread awareness among the clients on your current mailing list as well as garner local or national attention. Many B2B companies mistakenly think that their business isn't doing anything press-worthy, so they assume that they're locked out of the media game.

However, with the right mindset and a clear plan of action, your business can start to generate interesting, noteworthy content to release to relevant media outlets that can help your business increase brand awareness.

Here's how to do it.

Quit Hiding

Get the word out about your business! In today's marketplace, content marketing (communicating with your customers by providing relevant, useful content without a hard sell) gives readers a reason to pass along the info to their circles and establishes a word-of-mouth bond that can be great for your business. If you're not blogging regularly, you're already behind.

Take a Stand

Businesses can't afford to be wishy-washy with their brands. Write your own content or work with a reputable PR or marketing agency to generate content that informs your readers but also posits a clear business position. Unless your company is in the encyclopedia business, there is no need to remain completely impartial. Stay away from incendiary topics like politics or religion but establish a clear position or recommendation when creating content for your blog or press releases.

Alert the Press

Press releases also play an important role in generating "earned media," which is attention you receive through publicity efforts that aren't paid advertising. In 2013, Nielsen determined that earned media and word-of-mouth recommendations are some of the strongest ways to connect with clients, so doing something press-worthy is worth it to your business.

Blog and Reblog

Traditional news outlets aren't the only available resource to spread your message. Industry forums, blogs, and newsletters are already targeted to the clientele with whom you most want to share your message. Besides a content marketing plan that generates original content for your business website and newsletter, reach out to other industry bloggers to exchange content with them. It will generate fresh content for your site and also get your message out to groups to whom you might not otherwise have access.

Rework your content

You can re-purpose each of your business blog posts into a press release, provided that your PR angle is interesting and worthy of publication. Many B2B publications are starving for great content and getting your messages to as many outlets as possible ensures that you're not only getting eyeballs on your content, but also fusing your message with reputable online publications.

Press-worthy is as Press-worthy does

Approach the day-to-day that everything your business does is press-worthy. And if it isn't, find a timely topic it can relate to. Stay up to date with current industry news and release content with topics that are trending now.

Work with a Professional

Quality is the most important part of content marketing, so working with a public relations firm, marketing agency, or other professional copywriting service can be a huge boost to your business. Professional content writers know how to take your blog ideas and write compelling, attention-grabbing headlines and body copy that will appeal to prospective clients. They are also well versed at re-structuring blog posts into press releases and white papers, so your content marketing strategy can be executed without a headache on your part.

Be Regular

Blog posts and press releases take time to generate interest (and returns) but with regular continuity, they will eventually begin to take hold. Frequently releasing information also makes it easier for your business to chart the effectiveness and results of your messaging. Tracking the impact of your PR and content marketing efforts is more difficult if your posts and press releases are sporadic.

Don't be bashful about your business's content marketing plan. Spreading your brand message across a wide range of media outlets will generate awareness and affinity for your business. The hardest part is getting started.

Wondering how content marketing can improve your business? Read our blog post on what makes valuable content.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Durant

The Most Profitable Niche - How to Earn $50 an Hour in 2014 Doing Work You Love

By Alexa Ross

Who else has struggled to pick the perfect niche? Have you found yourself struggling to earn what you are truly worth... while actually working IN a niche, market, industry or vertical that is meaningful to you? The truth is, so many online entrepreneurs waste weeks, months or even YEARS trying to identify the ideal niche... only to find there really isn't one in the abstract sense.

The BIG secret to becoming successful online?

The most profitable niche for just about 98% of online entrepreneurs is one that they love... and turning it into a service that can be sold.

There is an old saying that the HAPPIEST entrepreneurs and professional people are those that have "outward facing" careers.

In other words... anything that allows you to focus on CONTRIBUTION as much as cash, and PROGRESS as much as profit, and SERVICE as much as sales, is guaranteed to make you happier than getting ferociously focused on doing something for financial rewards alone.

If $50 an hour sounds like too much to earn online for someone just getting started, the truth is, it's NOT. As a matter of fact, everyone reading this right now SHOULD be able to earn $400 a day, or 8 hours at or about $50 per hour in income, without too much of a stretch.

Want some supporting stats?

The average full time business coach, according to the ICF, earns about $300 per HOUR.

The average generic life coach earns about $160 an hour per the same study.

There are several other independent studies which have published similar... but slightly lower numbers, and account for tens of thousands of people who are in the coaching or consulting service industries.

Even if you want to be totally pessimistic, and say that these numbers are TRIPLE what they should be (in other words... 300% too high) you still arrive at a figure of $100 an hour for business coaches... and over $50 for generic life coaches.

The point is, do something that you LOVE, and that allows you to help other people dance in the direction of their own dreams... and you'll be paid more money, to have more fun, and to do really meaningful work, than anyone ought to be allowed!

Want a really BIG tip?
If you think about doing business coaching, and turning your love for online entrepreneurial into a fun and profitable business, start LOCALLY. Every community has hundreds, if not thousands of real professional people, right now... who need help building BUZZ for their brands, blogs, businesses and bank accounts. Over 75% of those people are paying for that sort of help right now, and NOT getting the types of BUMP they need, want or deserve.

All YOU need to do is be a little bit better... and bring more energy, enthusiasm, ideas and INNOVATION to the table, and you can literally build a 6 figure business from the comfort and convenience of home, starting right NOW!

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Ross

How To Sail Through Troubled Waters With Smart Keyword Choices

By Kenneth Dockins

In regard to sluggish online sales, drooping page ranks, or dips in visitor activity, the feeling that myriads of site owners get is much like entering into troubled waters.

Usually, it is hard enough to navigate even past the standard amount of difficulties you may encounter when running an online campaign or website business.

Yet, when Internet waters get rough, focus begins to change in a very unique way. That is, without knowing the exact CAUSE of online sales or traffic discrepancy, the site owner often begins to guess about it.

Online solutions applied as a result of guesswork are likely to fail because the true problem may be something that you often NEVER even imagine.

It helps in times like these, to ask SMART questions. For example, the number one question now coming to SEO and online marketing consultants, in one way or another, takes the following form:

"How do I find keywords?"

If this issue was simple, then its answers would also be highly straightforward. However, there is a much BETTER question to ask.

With a smarter approach in mind, you can clarify the above question in the following way:

"How do you find keywords that you actually WANT to promote?"

In other words, even a standard Google keyword planner tool phrase analysis inquiry will produce for you about 600 keywords. Yet, each of these phrases has varying degrees of:

• Actual RELEVANCE to your particular skill set, unique product, or online services offer;
• Direct COMPETITION, along with "search engine optimized" competitors;
• Visitor INTEREST or levels of readership.

The fact is that you can neither CREATE nor INVENT keywords, and the BEST ones are 99.99% occupied by previous or long-standing web authority sites.

What is the solution to this problem? Two new occurrences are now in place, which SHOULD give you STRONG clues about keyword selection.

First, Google's recent establishment of the "Hummingbird" algorithm speaks toward the demotion of keyword value. Rather, it focuses upon giving readers pages with better content from the most directly related sources.

Secondly, the Google administration much more strongly recruits HUMAN editors to read the actual content of each page before it can reach the top-level search engine results roster.

This gives the adage that "content is king" even more monumental meaning. Put simply, keywords now FOLLOW content, rather than leading the march.

Thus, the most SOLID answer is to spend your time in the RESEARCH process, especially finding authoritative facts that support the reasons why your online offer deserves merit.

Even for new visitors to read further into the gist of your online product or service, it will not be keyword stuffing that wins their intellectual favor. Rather, it is likely to be the sincerity, enlightenment, and new informational twist that you present.

Search engines, as well, now work in a much similar way. Consider, for instance, one of the top online factual sources, Wikipedia.org. On this site, even the content descriptions of historical achievers must contain documented citations, endorsements, and references before they get published for worldwide reading.

The best sites in the world now desire plus "demand" QUALITATIVE facts. Basically anyone can stick a keyword into an article or advertisement, simply because that phrase is a popular one.

However, resulting content can easily miss the mark, both for readers and search engines alike, because excellent WRITING nearly automatically contains the best MATCH of keyword meaning and intention for the searcher.

Thus, the ULTIMATE question to ask today is, "Does your written content live up to the NEWER set of Google high quality standards?"

If so, then your logical keyword choice can also follow, PLUS support you during times of trouble and prosperity.

Click here to obtain superbly supportive writing expertise from Kenneth G. Dockins, platinum level expert author at EzineArticles.com, through the trusted worldwide services of Fiverr.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_Dockins

Legitimate Work From Home Jobs That You Can Get Started With Today

By Tyrael D Alston

If you're currently unemployed or you are simply trying to find a way to earn supplemental income, then one of the ways you can make money is through online work. There are numerous legitimate work from home jobs that are available that will allow you to earn a sustainable income online. The problem is that it's hard to find those companies among the sea of scams that are online. You will need to always do your due diligence and trust your instincts when deciding to get involved with an online opportunity.

One of the most popular ways of earning money online is to become a freelancer. When you do freelance work you are becoming your own boss. You set your own hours and you only accept jobs that you believe you are capable of completing. A freelancer usually handles the following types of jobs.

Web Design/Graphic Design

A web or graphic designer will be expected to be highly skilled and before hiring you for the job your employer will need to review your portfolio. Before you start advertising your services or placing bids on projects you need to ensure that your online portfolio is in place. Even if you've had no prior clients you will need to have projects of your own that you've completed that can be publicly displayed as part of your portfolio.

Content/Article Writing

If you are a competent writer then you can make money providing content for websites. There are many internet marketers who are always looking for high quality content for their websites. Just as with graphic design you will need to provide samples of your prior work. You can write a few articles on varying topics to allow your potential employers to get an idea of your writing style.

Always be sure that you proof read your work for spelling and grammatical errors. Of course it should go without saying that your work will also need to be original content. Do not copy any articles from other sources and claim that they are yours as there are easy ways to detect plagiarism.

Programming Related

This is perhaps the most difficult form of freelancing since it will require a very high skill level. If you have a programming background then this will be a great option for you, but for others who do not have the skill set, the only way you can get started with providing programming services is to actually study online courses. You can decide on the web programming language you'll want to learn such as PHP or.NET and from there develop your own sample scripts.

When you are confident in your abilities then you can start bidding on projects. This is something that will take time to develop, so only venture this route if you have the time needed to study or if you are already an experienced programmer.

Marketing Solutions

Another form of freelancing is becoming a provider of marketing services. This can range from being an SEO expert, PPC consultant or a Social Media provider. You will need to be able to explain to your potential clients how you can grow their business using the specific methods you will be implementing. Of course you will also need to provide proof of successful campaigns you've done in the past.

These are just a few of the legitimate work from home jobs that you can get started with. Each of them are viable but will take time and some effort to get started.

Have you been struggling to find ways to earn money online? Have you started to lose your desire and focus? I'm here to tell you, do not give up! You need to watch this video by clicking here that will get you back on track and better yet you'll be introduced to a sure fire way to start earning money online. Don't just take my word for it, watch the video and see for yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyrael_D_Alston

Software Development Tips for Building Business Apps

By Simmar Kumar

At a time when more and more consumers are walking around spending more time on mobile apps than on personal computers, it will be foolish for organizations not to have a business app fitting their business requirements. A couple of useful tips for developing a smart and efficient business app are as follows.

Spot the Appropriate Coding Platform

There are three major stores to sell business apps: iOS App Store, Google Play Store or the Windows Store. Since every platform has its own set of required coding skills it is important to determine in which store the app will be published. Once this is known, the appropriate coding platform can then be used for developing the business app. For example, the business app can be coded in Objective C if it is for iOS, or in Java and XML if it is for Google Play. Getting it right the first-time in terms of the coding space helps to ensure high performance and the latest API support.

Focus on the Target Audience

Before starting with the development of the business app, it is important to identify the target audience. This helps in defining the style and the branding of the app. Business apps should ideally serve a niche and solve a problem. Defining the target audience helps in determining the look-and-feel of the app. Identifying the target audience also helps in determining what content, graphics, buttons, icons and fonts are to be used for the app. The process also helps developers to integrate strategies that would boost customer loyalty and engagement.

Leverage New Tools

App development is known to require development knowledge for different platforms. However, new tools have now emerged in the market that simplify the process of developing an app and eliminate the costs associated while doing so. Developers can now use templates to create audience-specific apps. They can even go for multi-platform business mobile apps by using some really great multi-platform developer tools. Examples of these tools include Appcelerator, PhoneGap and Whoop.

SEO

As more and more business apps are being submitted to the mobile app market, competition to rank higher also gets tougher. It is now imperative to integrate analytics in the business app while it is being developed. That is the only way to track the visitor stats and keep on improving once the app is published and launched. It is a good idea to have as many back links to the app as possible from as many quality sites as possible. Taking a look at the apps which are at the top of the niche and emulating their keywords and descriptions is another way to make the app search-engine friendly. The very fact that Google Play's app ranking system now takes into consideration how many Google+ likes (or +1's) an app has, underlines the importance of SEO for a mobile app.

Location and Push Notifications

These features are the latest in mobile app development technology that can benefit a business app. Mobile app developers are now gradually waking up to these sophisticated features. When push notifications are integrated with a business app, the user is informed through alerts that some update has happened on the app, even when the app is switched off. Incorporating geo-location during the software development phase of the mobile app is highly suggested. Location technology is another extremely valuable mobile app feature for businesses. Geo-location allows a smartphone user to check-in socially (similar to Foursquare check-ins) when visiting the business. This allows organizations to deploy targeted advertising.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simmar_Kumar

5 Tips For Organizing Your Business Online

By Robert Stanek

People love to do business online. From shopping and paying bills to purchasing car insurance and applying for a home loan, everyone seems to have a website and/or mobile app for their business these days. But unlike a traditional brick and mortar company, you can't smile and say hello to prospective clients, read the expressions or body languages of your shoppers, or visually inspect the displays of products being offered. This can make attracting customers, selling products, and keeping things organized quite challenging. Here are five simple tips to help you keep your online business or storefront organized, accessible, and looking fabulous to visitors!

1. Balance

When organizing a website or online business e-commerce page, it is important to balance your offerings and information carefully. Many sites overwhelm people with too much content, busy pages that contain excessive media, or annoying pop-up boxes requesting surveys, chats, etc. While it is important to give a consumer the information about a product or service that they desire, ask yourself if the site is informative, yet balanced.

2. Relevance

One mistake that many online businesses make is offering too much content that is not relevant to the consumer or that doesn't add value to them. While it is OK to include a history of your company somewhere on your site, for example, this is probably not the best content for a main homepage. When deciding how to organize your online business, put yourself in the shoes of the customer and, using this perspective, decide what content is most important and creates the greatest value for a buyer.

3. Navigation

Another organizational mistake that some online businesses make is trying to make their navigation too fancy or different. While setting yourself apart from competitors is generally a good idea, be sure to organize your online business in a way that is familiar to patrons in the area of navigation. When people land on your page or open your app, they expect to see a certain format for browsing. If you stray too far from this, it can confuse, frustrate, and scare away shoppers.

4. Optimization

Search engines send a lot of traffic to online businesses, and so it is important to organize your website so that it is optimized for search engines to find and recommend. One way that this is done is by selecting certain keywords or key phrases and making sure they show up regularly in your content. As search engines browse your page, they see these words or phrases and place your business in results that match these.

5. Trustworthiness

Finally, when organizing your online business, be sure to include all necessary security elements and take sufficient safety precautions so that your consumers trust providing personal or financial information to you online. If you use a particular security feature, consider adding an emblem, sentence, or seal to your page letting buyers know where the protection for the site is coming from. Links or emblems showing Better Business Bureau membership, feedback from past customers, or independent reviews of your company are also a good idea if available.

Effortless Virtual Assistants is a full service virtual administrative and online marketing firm. Let us help you with your daily admin needs, plan your next product launch or just answer the questions you have about running your online business. http://www.effortlessvirtualassistants.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Stanek

Work Online To Achieve Financial Success By Following These Guidelines

By Tyrael D Alston

It is the dream of many people to be able to work online from the comfort of their own home, but it takes a special type of person to be able to accomplish this. By special, I simply mean a person that understands that online work is not necessarily easy, it will require time commitments and often it will take a lot of discipline.

With that said online opportunities are simply exploding with growth right now. Whether it is mlm opportunities, freelance opportunities, or affiliate marketing, people have realized the potential for making money online and are making the most of it. Let's quickly explore the various work online options that a person can undertake.

MLM Opportunities

If you decide to join an MLM opportunity the majority of them are now run online, so you'll be operating your own independent business via the internet. Before joining any of these online opportunities you need to carefully analyze them and conduct your due diligence. This is to ensure that you will have enough information to know if the opportunity is indeed legitimate. You'll also need to keep in mind that it is a business opportunity therefore it will require monetary investment.

Freelance Opportunities

If you are particularly good at certain tasks such as writing, programming or design you can become a freelancer and work online. There are many websites that allow you to connect with employers who will temporarily hire you to complete a certain task. Whether it is creating a logo, or simply writing content for a website, there are many opportunities you can explore in the freelance world.

Affiliate Marketing

This is simply where you promote someone else's product online. This can be done using your own website, by placing banners or text links pointing to an affiliate product, or can be done via email as well. For every sale that is made through your affiliate link you'll earn a commission. There are many affiliate opportunities available and can be found through a simple search on Google.

These are three of the main options people have when looking to work online. Of course there are other options as well but trends have shown that the three categories above are the ways that most people are able to sustain a reliable income while working online using their computer.

As with any opportunity nothing is guaranteed. It will take work and consistency to earn a sustainable income. Be realistic in your expectations, be patient, and most importantly do your due diligence and you'll be able to reap some success. Over the years many people have been able to earn great income online, but many have failed as well.

What's the main reason for failure? It can vary with each individual, but in many cases failure was a result of not putting forth enough effort, being impatient, or simply choosing an opportunity that was not legitimate. That's why you need to key in all the points that I mentioned, and by doing so you'll have a great chance of achieving success.

Have you been struggling to find ways to earn money online? Have you started to lose your desire and focus? I'm here to tell you, do not give up! You need to watch this video by clicking here that will get you back on track and better yet you'll be introduced to a sure fire way to start earning money online. Don't just take my word for it, watch the video and see for yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyrael_D_Alston

Internet 3.0 - Artificial Life Online

By C.J. Jones

The internet has been growing and changing in leaps and bounds since it was first created back in the early 80s. We started out with just the most basic ability to post to bulletin boards and reference a few odd news sources. Over time we saw communication by e-mail, instant messaging systems, VOIP. Websites have become increasingly interactive since then.

Chat bot designs emerged even before the internet was fully realized as a sort of play on the idea of thinking machines. These programs would mimic an aspect of human personality through very simplistic scripting mechanisms.

Huge engines including Yahoo, Bing and Google took it upon themselves to acquire and sort the trillions of websites that can be found online so that we can more effectively peruse the available data.

The sophistication of all of these technologies has been evolving parallel and even 'into' the internet itself. The unifying element of these things is summed up simply as data access. The further we progress down this road the closer we are getting to what may be considered a unified, self-propagating educational system. The potential value of which is almost inconceivable.

Imagine for a moment that all forms of bias are stripped from education so that you aren't learning based on the perspective of a given country, religious view or ethnicity but from an overview of world affairs. Then consider how fast this system could build onto and refine itself by receiving and weighing out the input from all who use it without ever forgetting any of the details.

Historically, there is evidence of many great cultures which have been particularly amazing at one thing or another. Outside of a few relics here and there though, much of the knowledge they possessed has been lost over time. The internet is quite possibly the closest we've come as a race to a solution in avoiding the loss of accumulated knowledge and understanding.

Before the emergence of the internet, the closest thing to it ever to have existed might have been the Great Library of Alexandria.

With the internet being an interactive library itself. It's easy to see how an artificial brain leveraging the same data driven concepts for conversational interaction could take things to the next level.

Of course there are those who will argue that chat bots really haven't come very far and the internet is so full of rubbish that any real filtering system would be impossible. I beg to differ however.

While it's true that 'most' chatbot related programs are still just a simple scripting mechanism. There are some now incorporating far more advanced capabilities.

An artificially intelligent childlike brain can be developed specifically to learn from and process the data provided to it by way of conversation and even books. It's not yet by any means the ultimate solution. It is easy to see however that the new capabilities presented by individualized creations like this are potential game changers lining up a possible future in education like the one outlined above.

There are elements outside of the technology itself which holds back this potential future though. The most obvious being the lack of acceptance for change. Another may be how much weight and expectation is put on any given technological concept by Hollywood to perform as it has in movies.

Things like automated learning and research capabilities have shown up in a few isolated developments like Jeeney AI.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C.J._Jones

Deciphering Legitimate Online Work Opportunities In Simple Steps

By Tyrael D Alston

Without a doubt the internet has opened up new avenues for people to make money online. These online work opportunities have paved the way for many people to earn a living that bypassed their wildest expectations. Unfortunately, the opposite can be said as well, where many online opportunities have led to people being scammed of their hard-earned money with pie in the sky dreams.

Some of the key points you need to be aware of I've highlighted below. Follow each of these simple steps and you'll have the confidence of knowing which opportunity is legitimate and if it's the right opportunity for you.

Avoiding Scams

The best way to go about deciphering which online opportunities are legitimate and the ones that are scams is to simply use a bit of common sense and conduct the necessary research on the particular opportunity. Those two simple steps will help you avoid scams.

Finding Legitimate Opportunities

To find opportunities that have are legitimate then you want to first read valid reviews online regarding the opportunity. Check forums to see what people are saying about the program and the kind of feedback it has been receiving. Based on that feedback you'll be able to make an informed decision regarding the opportunity.

Analyzing Reviews

A general rule is to avoid any reviews that appear to be "over the top" with their assessment of the program, as those tend to be from people who have an interest in marketing the opportunity. Another trend is reviews from people creating YouTube videos talking about the opportunity.

In most cases these are from people who are trying to "sell you" on the opportunity, so be aware of that as well. That's not to say the opportunity is not legitimate but for you to be aware that there is an incentive.

Making An Investment

The majority of online work opportunities will require some form of investment. That's why it is very important to know exactly what you're getting into before spending any money. You need to take into account the amount of money is required to invest. Just as with any other business it does require money to get started with a legitimate business opportunity. The same principles apply as with a brick and mortar company which is takes money to make money.

Stumbling Blocks

Advertising is one of the main stumbling blocks people hit when joining a work online program. Your investment usually does not cover any promotion, so you'll still have to ensure that you have enough money set aside to help with advertising. Of course, there are free methods to promote as well, but those usually are time-consuming and more than likely will not reap results as fast as with paid promotions.

When investigating any online work opportunity simply remember all that we have discussed in this article. Do you due diligence, understand how to decipher scams, have realistic expectations and of course know your budget. Keep all those points in mind you'll have a better understanding of what it takes to be successful when working online.

Have you been struggling to find ways to earn money online? Have you started to lose your desire and focus? I'm here to tell you, do not give up! You need to watch this video by clicking here that will get you back on track and better yet you'll be introduced to a sure fire way to start earning money online. Don't just take my word for it, watch the video and see for yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyrael_D_Alston

10 Common Online Business Blunders

By Terri Seymour

Because of the internet we all have the opportunity to make our own success and live the life of our dreams. But this does not mean that building a thriving internet business is easy or a way to "get rich quick".

Starting and building an established online business takes commitment, persistence, hard work, and the drive to make it succeed. Unfortunately many people are led to believe it is as simple as putting up a website, placing a few ads and watching the money pour in.

That is exactly what I thought over 16 years ago when I first started online. I learned fast that building an online business would be much more than I ever imagined. While teaching myself how to make my business successful I made many mistakes. But I persisted and worked very hard. Then a very exciting thing happened. I started experiencing the benefits of success - both financially and personally. I find this work to be very rewarding in many ways and would recommend to anyone to stick with it and make it happen for yourself!

Mistakes are a very valuable part of building a business if you learn from them. Use your mistakes to your advantage. Below are some of the most common mistakes we can make when developing an online business.

1. Not Choosing Your Passion - In order to build a successful business you have to do something you are passionate about. It is hard to work 16 hours a day on something in which you are not interested. What do you love? What can you see yourself doing that you would not consider a "job"? I have always been a lover of books and wanted to own my own bookstore. The internet allowed me the opportunity to make this dream come true!

2. Unrealistic Expectations - As I mentioned earlier, so many people are misguided into believing that making money online is quick and easy. Please do not fall into this trap! Make sure you are ready and able to put the time and effort into your business. Be prepared to work months or even years before reaping the benefits of success. Expecting unrealistic success is one of the main reasons people give up too quickly.

3. Too Much Preparing, Not Enough Doing - It is a good idea to plan for your business but at some point you actually have to start doing something to get your business going. I know one lady who spent years going to seminars, paying money for complete business packages, buying books, etc. In all this learning, listening and paying out money, she never did start a business. This is also an easy trap to fall into. Yes, you do need to do research and learn but don't make that your business.

4. Too Much Flash - A business website should be clean, sharp, easy to navigate and professional. Don't buy into the idea that you need music, flashing lights, or excessive clutter on your site. If you do offer music or a video give people the choice to listen or watch. Don't have it automatically play when a visitor arrives. Don't put too many banners, ads or flashy graphics on your site either. This will only result in slow loading time and losing visitors.

5. Being Too Personal - Although a small personal touch added to your business is a good thing, don't fill your site with pictures of friends, family vacations, or your life in general. Don't overdo on telling of family stories, get-togethers, etc. Business and personal life must maintain a degree of separation. Create a personal bond with your customers but don't overload them with your own personal life.

6. No Online Support - Don't try to go it alone. Contact other online entrepreneurs. Join groups. Network and obtain support from business associates. When I first started I knew a lady online who encouraged me to start my own newsletter. I had many doubts but she convinced me I could do it and that was a big step towards my success. I will never forget her or the help she gave me when I needed it. You can find many more experienced online business owners who will gladly help beginners and other business owners.

7. Treating Your Business Like a Hobby - I have seen this so many times. People mistakenly start an online business thinking they can work it when they have the time. They say their family comes first and will get to it when they can. This is definitely not true. Your business needs your full attention and you must give it the time it needs to flourish. Yes, my family came first as well which is exactly why I started online. You cannot treat your business as a, "I'll get to it when I can" project.

8. Doing Too Much - Another unfortunate trap I have seen many people get caught in is signing up for multiple business opportunities and thinking they can make them all work. I have seen people trying to run as many as five different businesses. Spreading yourself too thin will accomplish nothing. You should decide on one business at which you will work your hardest and focus your complete attention on making it a success.

9. Not Keeping Up to Date - Running a business is an ongoing process. You need to always be learning, studying new marketing techniques, watching your competitors, etc. Don't fall into the "if it works, don't fix it" routine. Just because your methods are working now, doesn't mean they always will. You have to keep on top of things!

10. Grammar and Spelling - This is an oldie but a goodie! Over the years I have seen some grievous errors in spelling and grammar. Please be sure to proofread and correct any mistakes made. If necessary, have someone else proofread for you. Fresh eyes can catch mistakes you may have missed. I have made some of these mistakes as well so I regularly have someone proofread my work. If you are not sure of the spelling of a word or proper use of grammar, look it up. Your business and your reputation are certainly worth the extra effort!

I have made several of these errors and have definitely learned from them. Developing an online business can certainly be overwhelming and frustrating at times but if we commit to it, we can do it. Do not give up! Make your dream come true!

About the Author:
Terri Seymour has over 15 years of internet marketing experience and has helped many people start their own business. Visit her site for free articles, resources, information, resell ebook business opportunity and more. Get three free gifts including The Big Book of Social Media Tips.http://www.SeymourProducts.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terri_Seymour

Considering a Career in Online Education?

By Brandy L Ross-Jenkins

All the Buzz

Working from home seems appealing to many, and being a teacher is an incredibly wonderful career path. This leads many to wonder if teaching online might be a good career path. However, there are many considerations before you dig in.

How Dedicated are you to Teaching?

Some erroneously believe that teaching online is something that with a master's degree (or higher) in hand they are ready to tackle teaching. In reality, being an instructor takes a lot of skills which aren't necessarily taught at the university level. You will need to have an incredible amount of patience, flexibility, self-discipline and of course, really strong and tactful communication skills-like those of a diplomat! If you are passionate about imparting your own knowledge of your area of expertise these skills might come to you a bit naturally. But if you view online teaching as part-time income, you will be sorely disappointed with the amount of work and low pay.

Getting Started

It will take a lot of work and determination to get your first position. There are many, many qualified applicants applying for these coveted positions. Many faculty have to begin their careers at schools that are less than desirable. These schools have reputations for micromanaging faculty and make huge demands for work in short periods of time. And the pay is dismal. The good news is that these foot-in-the-door schools also have high turnover rates, which means your chances of getting in are much greater. You can find out which schools have high turnover rates by seeking out current online faculty and asking their advice.

Another great way to get started is to demonstrate you have teaching experience, even if it is not necessarily online. Consider applying for an adjunct position at a community college. If that isn't a viable option, be creative. Consider volunteering to tutor, or perhaps hosting a workshop related to your area of expertise.

Once you Get Hired

It takes some thick skin to get started in online teaching. Full-time positions are even more rare. A majority of online faculty members are part-time, and many find themselves teaching at several schools to scrape by. Most likely you won't be classified as an employee, but rather a temporary worker. By the very nature of contingent work you cannot count on receiving future courses. It is best to approach your teaching career like a business. You offer a service and the schools are your clients. It is up to you to determine how much work you can take on, and when it is time to ask for more, or seek new clients/schools all together. Paychecks will be sporadic at best and Ramen noodles will be plentiful at times. This is the development stage of your career. Things will get better.

Moving on to Better Horizons

Once you get a feel for several online schools you will begin to see which ones fit best with your personal teaching style. By this time, you will have also had the opportunity to network with other instructors. With experience (no less than 2 years) under your belt, you will find that better schools are starting to respond to you. This is when your career can really take off.

Some of the very best schools in online education offer full-time faculty positions to their remote workers. This is the gold! If working full-time for one school is your goal, try to get hired in part-time as soon as possible. Generally, you will need to work there for a time before being eligible for promotion.

Alternatively, some people chose to teach online part-time indefinitely as an addition to another traditional career in their field. This can be a very successful and rewarding path as well and certainly offers a lot more job security than those who seek online work as their sole means of employment.

It's a lot of work!

I began teaching online in 2006 and I have loved it. I found my calling! But, it has been a bumpy ride. I often have people say to me nonchalantly that they want to teach a few online classes, just for fun, extra money, or just something to do. Frankly, it is insulting. Teaching online takes so much work to get started and to sustain employment is an even greater task. If you are not serious about making a long-term career of it (full time or part-time in addition to another job), this is not the path for you.

One Last Piece of Advice

As with any company, there are vast differences in online schools. Some provide a high quality education, and others fleece unsuspecting students and offer worthless degrees. Because online education is still a relatively new concept, there are still many weak links out there. Don't be tempted to work for a school that doesn't offer a legitimate educational experience to students. My personal motto has always been that if I wouldn't be proud to say I graduated from there, then I can't teach there. I have left more than one school when they failed to live up to this. Don't lose sight of your own personal standards. Being a teacher means taking pride in serving students and providing a quality educational experience. Anything less is never acceptable.

I recommend the Babb Group for help with CV, applications, building your online presence, and professional networking.

http://www.thebabbgroup.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandy_L_Ross-Jenkins

iPhone App Development Tips for The New Year

By Simmar Kumar

People are increasingly surfing the web via their smartphones and tablets. Mobile Internet traffic has grown year on year. It has increased from 1% in 2009 to 15% in 2013. Market Research firm Gartner in its publication "Gartner Market Trends: Mobile App Stores, Worldwide, 2012" predicted an estimated 310 billion downloads and $74 billion in revenue from app stores by 2016. It also predicts that 25% of all organizations across the globe will have an app store by 2017.

Some tips for iPhone app development for the year 2014 are detailed below.

Simple Navigation

Mobile app designs have experienced a paradigm shift from previous years - mainly due to a somewhat less complicated navigation. With simpler navigation, users will have easy access to all the major sections of an iPhone mobile app with optimal inconvenience. It is important to maintain an adequate screen space for relevant content. Simple and responsive website navigation which has been doing the rounds for the last three years needs to be adopted more aggressively.

Clean Interface

A clean interface in app design has proven to be a great trendsetter for the year 2013. More and more mobile apps have shown trends of keeping their interface more simplified rather than adapting too much style, color or bling. The redesigned LinkedIn app interface is a classic example of how an app design with a clean interface can look stylish and perform efficiently without going over the top. For the year 2014, it is a good idea to strip out unnecessary functionalities and keep it simple.

Clear Images

Another app design trend that has been dominating the mobile app design scene in 2013, involves more emphasis on clear images and complementary content. One example of this strategy is using streamlined grid layouts that focus on single images. This is being used more and more by popular mobile apps like Facebook and Pinterest. The usability factor of such design layouts is that they pull the posts into one column making the images clearer and the interface neater. For the year 2014, try to avoid using animations unnecessarily and over-stuffing the screen with pixels.

Geo-Targeted Advertising

This has been seen to be a new trend for mobile app development in the previous year. Geo-targeted advertising through iPhone apps is predicted to pick up in the coming years. Using this feature, geographic and contextually optimized ad campaigns are being strategically used to target users by their specific geographic location. The trend of advertising business directly on a map by displaying coupons to potential customers has also been seen to increase in popularity.

Geo-Targeted Push Notifications

For the year 2014, try to build iPhone apps that empower mobile users with information about the world around in a spontaneous way. Push notifications in an iPhone app will help the business to stay very closely connected to customers. This feature will inform the customers about location-based offers, events and deals and even information such as a weather forecast.

The author is a member of the Icreon marketing team, specializing in iPhone App Development New York.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simmar_Kumar

Legitimate Online Jobs Types That You Can Get Started With Almost Immediately

By Tyrael D Alston

There are many different types of legitimate online jobs that you can get started with, but first and foremost you must do your due diligence. Blindly joining any opportunity can certainly lead to loss of your investment, disappoint and heartache. Save yourself the trouble by thoroughly investigating any opportunity that has caught your eye. By taking the time to analyze the job opportunity you'll be ensuring that your time and investment is not wasted.

I've outlined three of the most known ways of earning an income online.

Affiliate Opportunities

An affiliate opportunity is simply a way for you to earn commissions from promoting a product or service. When you join an affiliate program you'll be assigned a special web link or ID. That ID is used to ensure that all those who sign up under that link or under your ID will lead to a commission. The amount of money you can earn will vary depending on the opportunity.

There are usually two types of affiliate programs. In-house affiliate opportunities are run directly by a company that is offering you a commission for any sales you bring in. The second type of opportunity is run by a third-party company that handles the affiliate processing for companies willing to pay a commission for any sales you generate.

As a general rule it is best to use third-party affiliate programs since it has stricter rules that will ensure you will receive your payment. Examples of such companies are Clickbank and Commission Junction just to name a few.

MLM Opportunities

An MLM opportunity is where you can invest funds to become an independent distributor for a particular product or service. You earn commissions for the sales you generate and you also earn money on tiered levels based on recruiting others to join the opportunity.

There are many different compensation plans that are available with multi-level marketing, but the most popular are binary structures and profit-sharing structures. With a binary structure you earn based on a two leg system, while with a profit-sharing system you earn a percentage of the profits the company earns.

Freelancing

If you have a specific skill such as web designing you can earn money as a freelancer. Websites have been setup where the entire focus is for employers and freelancers to connect. As a freelancer you are able to place bids on projects offered by employers. You can have a back and forth discussion with the employer and if they decide to accept your bid you'll earn the allocated fee.

There are usually no limits to the number of employers you can work with so the potential to earn stable income is high. It's best to join multiple freelance networks to increase the odds of being awarded a project.

These are just three types of legitimate online jobs categories that you can get started with in a very short period of time. Take the time to analyze which option will be best for you, and when you do get started put your best foot forward and stay committed to it.

Have you been struggling to find ways to earn money online? Have you started to lose your desire and focus? I'm here to tell you, do not give up! You need to watch this video by clicking here that will get you back on track and better yet you'll be introduced to a sure fire way to start earning money online. Don't just take my word for it, watch the video and see for yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyrael_D_Alston

3 Of the Most Common Internet Marketing Mistakes

By Craig Allan Taylor

Internet marketing may very well be the most effective marketing method used to promote small as well as large enterprises, but there's more to it than just paying some website for ad placement, or sending promotional emails to clients. Internet marketing campaigns may or may not be successful, mostly because most marketers do some common mistakes which can easily be avoided. Let's go through the 3 most common Internet marketing mistakes you might be doing.

Overwhelming the Audience
This is generally the most common and deadly mistake that marketers tend to do; overwhelming their audience with numerous emails or ads. You might think there's no harm to it; after all, it's just emails, which the receiver can choose to read or not to read, right?

While that is true, what you are forgetting is the automated spam marking algorithm, present in most email clients today. Sending numerous emails to a client can flood his inbox, which in turn can result in him marking your emails as spam. So all future promotional emails that you might send to the client may directly end up in the spam folder, essentially destroying your marketing campaign.

Even if the recipient doesn't mark your emails as junk, the automated spam program just might, and send all incoming emails from your address to the spam folder, without even giving the client a chance to look at the emails. Isn't a pretty thought, is it? The same goes for pop-up ads, which may be automatically blocked by the web browser, so all the money you paid to the website goes to waste.

Not Including an Opt-Down Option
Next on the list is the ever so famous, Opt-Down option, which most marketers fail to integrate in their advertisements. The Opt-Down option allows the audience to reduce the number of advertisements or promotional emails they receive, and is an alternative to completely unsubscribing from a marketer's mailing list.

Most users have stated too many emails as one of the top reasons for unsubscribing to a mailing service, and adding the opt-down option reduces the chance of them unsubscribing, in-effect improving your internet marketing campaign.

Being Outdated on the Current Technology
We live in a fast paced technology centered world; technology that is considered modern today might get outdated in a short period of time, as is the case with computers. A study revealed that more than 40% of Americans check their emails on their smart phones, beating desktop computers as the primary tool used to open emails.

Some old school internet marketers may disagree, but it is fact that we have to move with the modern times, and should take into account this huge demographic when marketing on the internet, whether through website ads or through emails.

Remember to keep a short subject line when sending emails, so that they may not get truncated by the small screen of smart phones. Also, try to market on a website which also has a mobile version, so that your ad is conveyed to a larger audience. Keep the small screen estate in mind when marketing or advertising online.

These are just 3 of the most common mistakes internet marketers do. For more, visit http://onlinesuccesswithcraig.com/your-income

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Allan_Taylor