Get OpenOffice for Free!
Posted on | February 25, 2009 | No Comments
OpenOffice is already in version 3 and it just keeps getting better. OpenOffice is a product of Sun Microsystems and competes with Microsoft Office. But instead of having to buy Microsoft Office you can save hundreds of dollars and not lose many features.
I have been using the Windows version for a while now and I love all the applications that comes with it. I have had no compatibility problems and I run it on both Microsoft XP and Windows Vista.
It actually comes with six full-blown applications: the Writer word processor, Calc spreadsheet, Impress presentations program, Base database program, Math equation editor, and Draw graphics program. All work great and are completely compatible with each other. What I mean by that is that if you create a spreadsheet it will import directly into your writer with no problems at all.
So given the fact the full suite is free this is one of the best deals that you can get. On top of that there are extra add-ons that you can choose from for the great price of FREE. More free, everyone likes that price!
OpenOffice works with a large variety of formats including the OpenDocument format, Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2008 for the Mac, and PDF. Speaking of PDF you can save your file as a PDF document which is incredibly useful if you have a document that you want to post on the web, or create as a downloadable ebook.
The book Blogging For Pros was created with OpenOffice and was saved in PDF format with OpenOffice.
So to end this commercial I would say this. Get OpenOffice. You have nothing to lose, it is a great product, and it is free. If you don’t like it that is fine go back to Microsoft Office. And by the way I am not getting paid for this commercial because OpenOffice is free!
20 Ways to increase your blog traffic
Posted on | February 20, 2009 | No Comments
Increase your traffic flow using 20 easy steps
There are lots of ways to improve your website statistics. I have come up with a simple list for you to use to help you get your website more exposure on the web.
I use most of these techniques personally and some of them work really really well. With many of my sites I use these simple steps and it gets me to the six figures in traffic quite quickly.
- Submit a blog to a blog directory
- Submit you RSS feed to RSS feed directories
- Have a signature link in forums that points to your site
- Post links to your pages to social bookmarking sites.
- Leave comments on other people’s blogs and link back to your site.
- Write something great about your niche and email other bloggers to let them know - there’s a good chance they’ll link to you.
- Have the opposite opinion on everyone else on a popular topic. Everyone will link to you saying your wrong. This one sounds risky but it really is not.
- Review a product or company - if your review is positive email the company and ask to be featured in their press section.
- Write good headlines/titles - good titles get more clicks.
- Answer questions on Yahoo Answers. You are the expert so start giving expert advise.
- Post in Yahoo and Google Groups with a link to your site in your signature. Do a simple search and you will find that there are plenty of groups for you to choose from.
- Have an opt-in form - trade links with someone else who has an opt in form on your confirmation page.
- Write articles and submit them to article directories. This one is golden a must to get good traffic rankings.
- Get yourself known as an expert and get featured in offline magazines, TV and radio stations.
- Write a Press Release and submit it to PRWeb (make sure it is newsworthy).
- Add an RSS subscribe button/link in a high profile spot on your site.
- Add a mailing list subscribe form in a high profile spot on your site.
- Add a bookmark this site link in a high profile spot on your site.
- Use a Tell A Friend Script on your site so people can email their friend about an article on your website.
- Mention your website in a post on Craigslist (don’t spam).
Have fun and above all be creative.
Social Networking – Don’t get left behind
Posted on | February 15, 2009 | No Comments
The youth of today are flocking to sites like MySpace (http://www.myspace.com) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) instead of going to the mall or hanging out at the movies together. Instead they sit at their computer for hours developing elaborate profiles and watch the profiles of others like a hawk, waiting for the next cool thing to come along. They are joining interest groups and exchanging views online in record numbers. Social networking has become the norm of the day.
There are many popular sites on the net which promote social networking. The most popular today is MySpace (http://www.myspace.com) but Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) is catching up quickly. At the time of this article Facebook is receiving about 200 Million visitors a month for socializing. This is the new cult of the new generation which has taken off as how the internet will be utilized for a long time into the future.
Because of this success more and more sits have begun to pop up specializing in different segments like students, professionals, gardeners, etc. With a little search you can become a member of a professional social networking site. You will gain from the experience of other professionals.
It is not just for creating social profiles and making friends either. Sites like Photobucket (http://www.photobucket.com), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com) , and Picasa (http://www.picasa.com) have developed into the top photo sharing sites. Youtube (http://www.youtube.com) , Metacafe (http://www.metacafe.com) , and Daily Motion (http://www.dailymotion.com) have revolutionized how we watch videos online, and can be very useful for finding instructional videos made be people like you and me. There are nearly endless opportunities for social interaction on the internet.
New generations are going to see social networking as completely normal, and not something that is new and should be viewed with skepticism. Youth have never had problems following a trend, and this trend will last well into their adult lives. The good news is that social marketing is still new. You still have time to be an innovator. In a very short amount of time you will begin saying “I have been on that site for years” and you will be looked at as a tech guru. Besides when other sites come along and members flock there for the latest in social networking you will already be a seasoned pro and the move will be easy.
Writing Tips
Posted on | February 10, 2009 | No Comments
So now that you have a blog what do you do with it? The key is to write. A successful blog is updated regularly with good content and good posts. So here are my 12 best tips for writing.
- Do it. Write. Write often. Get on a regular schedule.
- Read other blogs, read books, read anything and everything. There is inspiration and good writing examples everywhere.
- Keep a journal or notebook handy at all times so you can jot down all of your ideas. I like to keep a little notebook in my pocket at all times just to write quick notes to myself.
- Write once from your heart, then proofread and write for your readers.
- Subscribe to other blogs that have styles that you like. Copy what they do.
- Don’t worry about being perfect every time. If you write something that is just bad then learn from it. Everything is a learning experience if you let it.
- Write, keep writing, write when you feel like it, write when you don’t feel like it, just start typing and things will come to you.
- Be observant. Again inspiration is everywhere. You never know what might give you an idea for your best post ever.
- Write how you like to write. Don’t worry about the rules, just write.
- Turn off the TV, tune out the rest of the world, sit down, and write. You will feel better in the end.
- Find a space that you can set aside for your writing. Make it comfortable but not too comfortable. Make it inspiring.
- Become a blogger. Enjoy being a blogger. Tell people “I am a blogger”.
Manage Your Activities
Posted on | February 5, 2009 | No Comments
Time Management is a myth. Don’t focus on managing your time, time is infinite, abundant, there is always time to do what you want. Instead manage your activities.
You see with the same amount of time you can become Bill Gates, or bankrupt. It is done all in the same time. The difference between successes is how you manage your activities.
Activity Management not Time Management
Time cannot be managed; everyone has 24 hours a day 7 days a week to get things done. Only the types of activities that you do make a difference. Figure out which activities get you closer to your goals. Find out which activities help you reach your success. Then do those, and do those more often.
Planning
Sit down and plan out your activities. Make a list of 4-6 activities at a time and concentrate at one at a time. When you get done with one activity then move on to the next. Treat your activities like little mini goals. Start with one and move on to the next. Celebrate each accomplished activity as an accomplished goal. Have a chocolate, a cup of gourmet coffee, put $5 in a jar for every activity accomplished and the next thing you know you can go out and treat yourself to a shopping spree.
Shut Out Interruptions
Interruptions will happen; the key is to be able to shut them out as much as possible. You don’t have to answer every email you get every minute of every day. You don’t have to answer every phone call. These are merely distractions to your day. Let people leave a message. Go back to your email box and answer all your emails at once. Both of these activities will take less time then answering them one at a time and it will also let you concentrate on what it is that makes you a success.
Write Out Your Plan
Write your plan out on paper and keep it in front of you while you are working. This will be very helpful so that you don’t miss out on any essential actives that will lead you to success. Make it into a list and you can check each individual item off, it will again give you a big sense of accomplishment.
If you can master activity management you will find that your time management will follow automatically.
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