Social Media's Role In Reputation Management

It hasn’t escaped the attention of the savvy business that online reputation management is becoming more and more important pretty much by the day. With almost everyone now turning to the Internet before making any real spending decisions, it’s hardly surprising that what’s said about you and your brand online counts for more now than largely any other form of feedback. There were once only select service industries that were dependent on positive online feedback – the same now extends to every business and service across the board. But here’s the real kicker – a full 23% of people admit that they will take to the web to say bad things about a brand if need be, but less than 10% will sing the brand’s praises when absolutely delighted with their services or products. As such, the vast majority of online feedback has the potential to be negative and paint a picture of a brand that’s neither balanced nor fair – especially where everyday social network gossip is concerned.

This makes it hugely important to tap into the power of social media for positive reputation management and promotion – here are a few tips from the pros on how to go about this:

Optimize Social Media Pages

If and when it gets to the point that entering your brand name or other keywords returns a list of results where several are negative, you’re in trouble. The last thing you want is for the first thing people to see about your brand to be negative comments and reviews in Google. In order to prevent or treat this, optimize your social media pages and create more pages to optimize, in order to get these higher in the rankings and push the negative feedback further down while you go about addressing it.

Choose Social Media Carefully

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the world of social media begins and ends with Facebook. Not only is this not the case, but Facebook might not be the best platform for you to choose – not even close. Take into account the various platforms out there in accordance with the target market you’re trying to reach, in order to tailor your decision accordingly. The power of Pinterest and LinkedIn for example cannot be overstated for a great many business areas.

When You Find Praise, Run With It!

Without getting carried away and coming across as desperate, it’s never a bad idea to spread the good word about you and your brand every time something positive is said about you. If you happen to find some really glowing feedback in a dark corner somewhere that most folk won’t come across, bring it to light on either your primary page or via social media. Likewise, be sure to draw further attention to any glowing praise you receive by responding to it or leaving your own comment thanking the reviewer. In addition, don’t ever be worried to reach out to your target market and actually ask them to leave you a positive review. Assuming of course you haven’t let yourself down and did a great job living up to expectations, some will be more than happy to do so.

Embrace the Criticism

It might not appear so on the surface, but negative criticism can actually be better for your business over the long-term. Not only does it show you where you need to improve, but you can turn any negative into a positive by following it up and responding to it in order to win over the part responsible party and anyone else coming across it.

Listen and Learn

And finally, the most important thing of all to take away from social media in terms of reputation management is constructive feedback as to where you’re going wrong and what is going down well with the punters. Don’t weigh up what you read against your own biased views of the business, take them as the most valuable insights you will ever have as to how you can better your operations.

Author Bio
Rocky John Tayaban, for the past 8 years, has been helping small and large companies all over the world in their online marketing. At the moment, Rocky is the managing director of iSolutions Media - a search engine marketing firm in the Philippines. Follow him on Twitter @SmartOnlinePros to stay updated on all the latest in social and search.

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How To Sell Stock Photos Online And Make Good Money

With the world becoming a digital village, photography has also gone digital. The on-line photo market has become so vibrant, that a photographer can take photos and instantly, sell them online. Selling stock photos online however, can be tricky, especially if you do not match up the style and modern trend of photography. With the increased use of online technology across the world photographers are making good money by selling their photos to online users and clients. However it is important to remember that not all images or photos can be sold on-line. Online photo buyers are looking for quality and only quality and high standard photos will sell fast.

How to sell photos online
The first step for any photographer wishing to sell photos online is to register with a photo agency. It will be easier to sell your photos through the agency rather than doing it on your own. Online photo agencies have a constant and reliable customer base, this means that your photos are more likely to be sold out faster.

After registering with a photo agency the next step will be to capture the best images that will attract the attention of any photo lover, and then upload them and mail them to the agency. If your photos become so impressive, you will become a reliable source for the agency. Remember the more pictures you submit to the agency the more cash you receive.

Factors to consider when taking photos
The quality of your pictures will determine how fast you sell them, let your pictures speak for themselves, photos you take should be able to tell a story.

• Make sure that your photos are well lit and cropped. A well lit photo will attract someone at first sight. A photo that is well lit is more appealing and clearly brings out the idea and the message of the photo.

• Do not try to submit plagiarized photos or photos that might turn out to be defamatory. Online photos need to be of high resolution, therefore if you want your photos to sell faster ensure that they are of high resolution.

• For your photos to sell online, ensure that they have appropriate captions and key words if necessary. Photos with captions and key words are more complete and will sell easily.

• Photos that are unique are more likely to sell on any online website, therefore as a photographer ensure that you capture what people want to see, capture unique photos but not obvious photos. Do not submit what has already been submitted before, always submit new content.

• Ensure that you have the exclusive rights over your photos, this will prevent your photos from being used without your consent. For your photos to sell faster ensure that they stand out from the rest, always capture the extraordinary and always take your photos from a unique angle.

Generally for you to sell your photos online you need to have high quality, unique and clear photos. Always send your photos to a reliable agency, this will ensure that you are not conned in any way.

Sean Kelly is a blogger at acceleratingpossibilities.org. With a background in seo and affiliate marketing, he enjoys writing about creative ways to make money Online.

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The Easy Fundamentals Of Building Car Websites

The Internet is full of acronyms these days, and SEO, short for search engine optimization, is one of them. However, it's not just another set of letters that have no real meaning. When it comes to the building blocks of SEO for auto dealerships and their car websites, there's a few specifics that marketers should keep in mind.

Avoid These Mistakes
Auto SEO has a lot to do with optimizing for local buyers. But's not just about a single geographical area. For example, neighborhoods and suburbs are also important. Secondly, consumers aren't just concerned with make and model. As a salesman, you might know which cars have what features, but consumers don't. They might be shopping for an SUV with four wheel drive or a luxury sedan, so don't forget about keywords that describe vehicles rather than just naming them.

Lastly, smart SEOs recognize the value of targeting car buyers based on the stage of the buying process. People who are searching for a vehicle are comparing features and look at options, which ties into the previous though. As they move through the process, consumers will want real choices, which your dealership may be able to provide them. Obviously, there's a lot of keywords that you can focus on, but you don't want to try to do everything at once, especially when you're doing SEO yourself. Instead, consider the keywords that will have the highest conversion and focus on that. You can always tweak or adjust your campaigns in the future, but you don't want to spread yourself too thin when you're getting started.

Getting Social with Content
The obvious way to avoid low-quality content is to create content that visitors will find useful. Car dealers have a specific advantage because there's so much that consumers don't know about cars. First-time buyers will especially find comparisons and feature guides useful. Plus, a car blog is the perfect way to advise drivers on keeping their vehicles in the best condition for resale. In locations where snow is a concern, dealers can populate their blogs.

This content is perfect for sharing on social media, too. An article or image that goes viral brings traffic to your website, and those visitors can become customers. Social media has become increasingly more important. Google counts retweets, shares and +1s when ranking pages in the SERPs. Furthermore, Google shows results from its own social network, Google+, above organic results in the search engine, so it's vital that you promote content from your dealer website and blog on Google+.

Embracing Your Identity
Authorship is another opportunity of which you should take advantage. When you link to your Google+ profile from your website or blog and place the link of your site in your profile, you've claimed your site as an author. When you post content to your site, your Google+ profile picture will appear next to that content in the SERPs along with links to your profile. This visually separates your content from others on the results page. This is important for salesman because it shows a real person associated with the content. If yours is a trusted name, why wouldn't you want to take advantage of it?

SEO is a big task, which is why so many dealers hire on a freelancer or even a team of SEO pros to help with the job. An SEO may be able to see where your campaigns are lacking or provide knowledge gained through experience in other industries. Of course, this comes at a price. Whether you're simply paying cash or spending your time on SEO, it's important to get it right.

By Andrew Handley
I write weekly articles for a car blog. I've had experience with car dealerships and maintenance business websites, as well as car hobby communities.

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How To Draw A Circle Form In C#

 

I have seen some controls/components that can change the form into circle.. today I came up with something very simple umm well, it’s done with drawing. You’ll need to add the namespace : using System.Drawing;. We’ll do the drawing in form_load if you want you can do it under a button_click event or something else..

This is the code :

System.Drawing.Drawing2D.GraphicsPath XY = new System.Drawing.Drawing2D.GraphicsPath();
            XY.AddEllipse(0, 0, 300, 300);
            this.Region = new Region(XY);

GraphicsPath() : Initialize a new Graphics Path.
AddEllipse() : Adds a Ellipse to the Graphics Path.
new Region() : Describes a Graphics Shape.

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Investing In Office Hardware - Why Not To Overlook Telephony Headset

It’s not uncommon for business owners to occasionally take stock of the equipment currently in use around the office and plan a bit of an overhaul when and where needed. However, something that rarely fails to escape the attention of those concerned is the contingency of telephony hardware sitting around every desk and workspace. In essence the reason for this is pretty simple – something along the lines of the old ‘If it isn’t broken then don’t fix it’ way of thinking. After all, the standard analogue phone lines and devices themselves have been serving businesses faithfully for decades, so is there really any need to start replacing them all now? Well, you could argue whether the need exists as such, but when it comes to the business that really wants to keep itself ahead of the game, telephony is a very good place to start.

New Standards

Across pretty much every business area the world over today, standards have never been higher and neither have the expectations of clients, customers and peer businesses alike. This of course includes communication which despite having shifted in many circles primarily to the internet still for most means the good old-fashioned telephone. So the phone still counts for a great deal, but what won’t be put up with by anyone these days is the unreliable, low quality or out-of-service telephone number. Likewise, high-rate calls are a thing of the past and so too are enormously irritating call-waiting systems. This is precisely why remaining with an outdated office phone system has the very real potential to leave any modern business trailing dangerously behind its rivals. It’s not a case of going OTT with the most cutting edge gear available, but rather one of responding to precisely what it is that people are expecting these days and not building a reputation for all the wrong reasons.

Ease of Use

In addition to the above, it might seem like staying with legacy telephone systems makes sense for the sake of simplicity, but in practice it can be anything but. Today’s cutting-edge internet phones make it child’s play to operate anything and everything you can possibly think of on the subject of office communications. From the simple corded phones to wireless headset accessories to large-scale conference calling and the most comprehensive caller-ID and recording systems ever devised, all of these features and more are as easy to use as a quick point and click via a computer program. The days of bashing buttons and wiggling wires to try and get telephones working properly are mercifully over.

Cost Reductions

And here comes the real kicker of all – the most advanced digital and internet phones you can buy today are in fact 100% guaranteed to pay for themselves. Sure they cost most to buy than the cheapest legacy phones, but when you consider the gigantic savings made every day in every call made and service used, there’s really no comparing the two. So when the time comes once again to revamp the office, take a look at your phones consider the fact that you’ve already got the necessary internet connections installed and mull over how much better off you could be by making the switch.

Author Bio
John Baron has been writing full-time for over 5 years. He regularly blogs about the Internet, tech gadgets and web development. John is also an animal rights activist and an active member of PETA. Follow him on Twitter @SEOquickrank to get the latest technology updates.

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Automated Material Handling Systems The Power And Benefits

From the moment man figured out how to move objects from one place to another, the world changed forever. Manual laborers armed with the tools to handle and transfer materials quickly and efficiently, soon transformed manufacturing and distribution---giving rise to whole new industries. Today, thanks to the power of automated material handling systems, a new transformation has occurred, allowing small and large businesses to thrive like never before. Here’s a look at some of the many benefits of automated material handling systems.

Reduced labor costs – From handling raw materials during manufacturing to the handling and transportation of finished products to facilities for storage and distribution, the costs of manually handling materials can be considerable. Automated Material Handling Systems can dramatically reduce costs by minimizing manual handling or eliminating it altogether.

Improved efficiency – Despite best efforts, the manual handling of materials has traditionally been plagued by inefficiencies, due to the human factor. In contrast, an Automated Handling System (AHS) maximizes efficiency by handling and delivering the correct materials and products---in the correct quantities to the desired location at the correct time---in the most economical manner.

Reduced damage – One of the downsides of the manual handling of materials and products during all phases of production and distribution is that damage can often occur during storage and movement. Automated handling systems are designed to minimize damage through proper material handling systems. In addition, reduced damage can mean substantial savings.

Reduced waste of space – Unlike the manual warehousing of materials--- which often results in less than optimal space utilization---automated handling systems are designed to make the most of every available inch of storage space, thus reducing both handling and storage costs. In addition, automated systems can also free up valuable floor space in production facilities.

Reduced accidents – The human handling of materials carries inherent risks of accidents, such as slips, trips and falls. Not to mention the Cumulative Trauma Disorders that are the result of repetitive movements such as lifting and twisting. Along with exacting a human toll, accidents additionally result in lost productivity. By eliminating manual handling, automated systems minimize accidents while ensuring a safe and efficient flow of materials and products. In addition, automation typically allows for a cleaner more orderly environment than found in operations that are dependent on manual product movement.

Increased scalability – As businesses grow and expand, one of the challenges they face is being able to expand operations in order to meet increased demand. Automated handling systems have the ability to scale up quickly and easily to meet new production needs---along with larger and heavier product units if required---without prolonged downtime for adding and retooling equipment.

Real-time control – In order to better meet the often stringent demands of today’s customers---who typically want things “yesterday”---more and more facilities are turning to automation and computerization to give them complete system control in real-time. This type of flexibility allows for the accurate and fast fulfillment of all orders, the net result being better customer service, higher profits and a greater competitive advantage.

David Glenn is a home improvement expert. He occasionally freelance writes about home security and DIY home repair. 

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Top Technology Gifts For Her

Are you looking to surprise your girlfriend by giving her an unexpected gift? Would you like to buy something special for your wife? Whether you are planning on buying a video game console or a brand-new mobile phone, this post will help you select the best technology present for your loved ones.

Enjoy the New Nexus 5
If you are interested in purchasing one of the most powerful and innovative mobile phones on the market, the Nexus 5 is a great gift for every occasion. This smartphone has been designed by Google, making it one of the lightest and more refined devices ever manufactured, and while the Nexus 5 offers a wide variety of features, it is a much more affordable mobile phone than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 or the Apple iPhone 5S. The Nexus 5 features a 5-inch display capable of offering a great image quality, but also an 8-megapixel rear camera that will allow your significant other to capture some of her most special moments. Last, but not least, thanks to Android 4.4, Nexus 5’s new operating system, she will also be able to download some of the most popular applications on her smartphone, such as Twitter or Instagram.

Discover the New Xbox One
There is always an occasion for buying a new gift, and what better present than one of the latest and most exciting devices on the market? While just some years ago consoles were only able to play video games, the brand-new Xbox One is capable of much more, including the ability to stream music or movies from the Internet. Thanks to its innovative user interface and its new operating system, you and your girlfriend will be able to use the Xbox One as a multimedia device, giving you the opportunity of using popular applications such as Skype or Internet Explorer from the comfort of your couch. Whether she would like to follow her favourite TV series or download the latest films, this video game console is compatible with some the most widely used streaming services, including Hulu or Netflix, something that will allow both of you to benefit from your hyperfast fibre optic internet connection. 

Give Her the New Amazon Kindle
If you are looking for a convenient and light reading device, the Amazon Kindle is one of the best options available on the market. This gadget is able to provide hours and hours of reading with just a single charge thanks to its improved battery life. On top of that, she won’t have to worry about reading in bright sunlight thanks to the Kindle’s high-quality electronic ink screen, a unique technology that avoids glare while using your device. Additionally, Amazon offers a wide selection of books in its online store for her to download on the Amazon Kindle, allowing her to easily purchase books from her favourite authors. Moreover, it is also possible to download books in the public domain from the Amazon store, a very interesting option if she wants to enjoy classic books without having to spend any money.

Take a look at this :  Best Apps To Make Christmas Easier

Sarah is a writer and blogger with a special interest in technology. She has little patience for things which are slow and so is constantly on the search for the latest technological developments. 

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How To Login To Instagram Using The API In VB.NET

Instagram is a photo and video sharing app for smartphones, we can call it a social network. As I said It's a smartphone app but you can view photos, like photos, comment on photos and follow/unfollow users via their website from computer also there are more than 10 popular websites where you can view photos, like photos, comment on photos and follow/unfollow users, browse hashtags and view stats they use the API to do the works.

Without much talk let's get into it..

Remember you're just going to make a Instagram Login, you won't be able to view photos or do anything. You need two textbox and a button you can also add two labels to make it look good. The textbox1 is for username and textbox2 is for password.

Time for some codes...

Required Namespaces :

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Net
Imports System.Text

Functions(We need two functions) :

  
 Dim CC As New CookieContainer
    Dim RQ As HttpWebRequest
    Dim RP As HttpWebResponse
    Public Function GetResponse(ByVal url As String, ByVal referer As String) As String
        RQ = CType(HttpWebRequest.Create(url), HttpWebRequest)
        RQ.CookieContainer = CC

        If referer <> "" Then
            RQ.Referer = referer
        End If

        RP = CType(RQ.GetResponse(), HttpWebResponse)

        Return New StreamReader(RP.GetResponseStream()).ReadToEnd()
    End Function

    Public Function GetResponse(ByVal url As String, ByVal post As String, ByVal referer As String) As String
        RQ = CType(HttpWebRequest.Create(url), HttpWebRequest)
        RQ.Method = "POST"
        RQ.CookieContainer = CC
        RQ.UserAgent = "AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) Chrome/28.0.1468.0 Safari/537.36"

        If referer <> "" Then
            RQ.Referer = referer
        End If

        Dim byteArr() As Byte = Encoding.Default.GetBytes(post)
        RQ.ContentLength = byteArr.Length

        Dim dataStream As Stream = RQ.GetRequestStream()
        dataStream.Write(byteArr, 0, byteArr.Length)

        RP = CType(RQ.GetResponse(), HttpWebResponse)

        Return New StreamReader(RP.GetResponseStream()).ReadToEnd()
    End Function

This code is for your login button :

Dim html As String = GetResponse("https://instagram.com/accounts/login/", "")
        Dim token As String = html.Substring(html.IndexOf("csrfmiddlewaretoken")).Split(""""c)(2)
        Dim username As String = TextBox1.Text
        Dim password As String = TextBox2.Text

        Dim S_B As New StringBuilder
        S_B.Append("csrfmiddlewaretoken=" & token)
        S_B.Append("&username=" & username)
        S_B.Append("&password=" & password)

        html = GetResponse("https://instagram.com/accounts/login/", S_B.ToString, "https://instagram.com/accounts/login/")

        If html.Contains("""username"":""" & username) Then
            MsgBox("Successfully Logged In", MessageBoxIcon.Information)
        ElseIf html.Contains("Please enter a correct username and password.") Then
            MsgBox("Invalid Username or Password", MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        Else
            MsgBox("Unable Login Error", MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        End If

Now run the program and test it..

If you enter correct login credentials you will get this message :

I am looking to develop a Instagram picture view if everything goes well I will let you all know. Follow me on Instagram @54j33dh4.

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How To Detect Real Time Browser Size In JQuery

This JQuery script detects the dimensions of browser's size onload and resize...

Add these in your head :
<meta name='viewport' content='initial-scale=1.0'> <script type='text/javascript' src='http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.9.1.min.js'></script>  <script type='text/javascript'> $(function() { // Declare the load n resize on event handlers $(window).on('load resize', function() { // Show/Detect browser size on specified elements. $('#width').text($(window).width().toString()); $('#height').text($(window).height().toString()); }); }); </script> <br>

Add the styles(not so important) :
<style type='text/css'> /* Body + Text Color */ body { background:#ccc; color:#000; } #detectsize { position:absolute; top:0; left:0; width:100%; } </style>

Add these to your body :
<div id="detectsize"> <center> <h1> Width: <span id="width"></span>px</h1> <h1> Height: <span id="height"></span>px</h1> </center> </div>

Now just save the document and run in your browser :)

All the credits goes to Michael(mikethedj4)

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How To Get Environment Variables In VB.NET and C#

Environment Variables are set of values that are used for running special processes or special system files.. for example when you install java or python you must make a new environment variable in order to compile and run java or python programs that's all I know about it. Without wasting anytime let's get into it...

This is a simple code that will show you the environment variables..

For VB.NET

        Dim EV As String = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process Or EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine)

        MsgBox(EV)

For C#

'you must add these namespaces 

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Microsoft.Win32;

'add this code in an event 
string EV = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", 
                EnvironmentVariableTarget.Process | 
                EnvironmentVariableTarget.Machine);
            MessageBox.Show(EV);

The "PATH" defines the environment variable name so if you want to get another ones just change PATH with the variable name.

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How To Check If Directory Exists In VB.NET And C#

I have had some hard times in solving this problem not these days but sometime ago when I started programming so I think this would be helpful for anyone who has started programming..

Here's the code to check if the directory exists in VB.NET :

Try
            If System.IO.Directory.GetDirectories("PATH").Length > 0 Then
                MsgBox("directory exists")

            End If
        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.Message)
        End Try

All you need to do is replace PATH with the directory you want to check... length > 0 identifies if the directory exists.

Here's the code for C# :

try
            {
                if (System.IO.Directory.GetDirectories("PATH").Length > 0)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("directory exists");

                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }

Do the same thing as given for VB.NET code.

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How To Get The MD5 Hash Of A File In VB.NET

MD5 is a widely used cryptographic algorithm that produces a 128-BIT hash value. I think all the files you have in your computer has a unique md5 hash.. in some virus scanning process the files get identified easily with the hash value. Today we are going to make a simple application that will help you to get the md5 hash of any file.

Start a new project and do the traditions lol.. you must add a button, a label and a textbox.

You must add these namespaces before you could do any coding :

Imports System.Security.Cryptography
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Text

Here's the code for the application it's all under button click event.. I have explained the basic things by small comments.

  'creating the openfiledialog
        Dim Open As OpenFileDialog = New OpenFileDialog
        Open.Filter = "All Files (*.*)|*.*"
        If (Open.ShowDialog() = DialogResult.OK) Then TextBox1.Text = Open.FileName
        If Open.FileName = "" Then Exit Sub

        'accessing file & getting the hash
        Dim RD As FileStream = New FileStream(TextBox1.Text, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.Read, 8192)
        RD = New FileStream(TextBox1.Text, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.Read, 8192)
        Dim md5 As MD5CryptoServiceProvider = New MD5CryptoServiceProvider
        md5.ComputeHash(RD)
        RD.Close()

        'converting the bytes into string
        Dim hash As Byte() = md5.Hash
        Dim SB As StringBuilder = New StringBuilder
        Dim HB As Byte
        For Each HB In hash
            SB.Append(String.Format("{0:X1}", HB))
        Next
        LabelHash.Text = "MD5 : " & SB.ToString()

The usage is pretty easy all you have to do is select and load the file from the button and you will get the Md5 hash for the selected file in the Label.

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How To Get The Cheapest Mobile And Contract Possible

Need that mobile phone and service, but don't want to pay a fortune? Today we're going to tell you the cheapest possible way to get what you want. So if you're looking to save some cash, then here's how you can do it...

Buy Mobile Phones Online...
The first thing that you're going to need is a phone. Don't fall for the incentive contracts that mobile operators are trying to sell you. These are the contracts that come with a free phone, and as tempting as they may be they're going to end up costing you a lot more. The phone you get isn't free; you pay for it in instalments that are added to the cost of your monthly mobile bill. And when you add up all the instalments you'll find that you pay more than the retail cost for the phone. In the long run you're going to save more, and get lower mobile bills, by buying your own phone. The best way to buy mobile phones is online. Online prices are always cheaper, even if you're buying directly through a mobile operator.

You can get a perfectly decent budget, touch screen, smart phone for under a hundred and fifty pounds, so don't let the thought of big prices put you off. Check out the Huawei Ascend models or the lower end Sony Xperias for good deals. If it bothers you to buy mobile phones online, go out and get a physical look at the model you're buying before you commit, but then come home and buy it over the internet. This is by far the cheapest way that you're going to get a phone.

Consider Pay as You Go...
Now you're going to need to get service for that new phone, and you have a couple of options. The first thing you should consider is pay as you go. This is where you buy a SIM card from and operator and load it up with credit. When you use your phone, credit is deducted from your account, and when the credit's gone you phone stops working (though you can still receive texts and calls), at which point you'll need to put more credit on.

This has the advantage of only paying for services that you actually use. Plus, it makes controlling your budget easier, since you can only spend money that you've already put on your phone in credit. But rates on pay as you go are higher than on contract. This doesn't mean that you don't get savings though. In general, light phone users benefit more from pay as you go contracts, since they rarely use up the monthly calling plan limits on contracts. If you use less than ten calling minutes a week, send only three to four text messages a day, and only use mobile data for casual surfing and emailing, then you're probably going to save money with a pay as you go plan. Check out Tesco Mobile for the best pay as you go deals.

Choose a Calling Plan...
If pay as you go isn't for you, then you're going to be signing a mobile contract with an operator, and this means choosing a calling plan. The right calling plan is exceptionally important when it comes to saving money. A calling plan is going to give you a set of limits for the amount of calling minutes, text messages and mobile data that you can use each month for your fixed monthly fee. If this plan is too big you're going to waste money paying for minutes, texts and data that you don't use, because your monthly fee is the same regardless of whether you use all of your limits or none of them. If your plan is too small, then you're going to consistently go over your monthly calling plan limits. When this happens, you have to pay expensive premium rates on any extra services you use on top of your regular monthly fee. There are a couple of things that you can do to make sure that you're choosing the right calling plan. If you've had a contract before, then look at some of your old phone bills. These should give you an idea of what your monthly usage looks like. If you haven't had a contract before then the best thing that you can do is to get a pay as you go plan for a month and then track your phone usage. You can do this yourself, however most modern phones will do it for you. Just look under the settings menu and see if you can find minute, text and data counters. Set these counters to zero, use your phone normally for a month, and then go back and check the numbers. This will tell you the size of calling plan that you should go for.

Shop (online, again...)...
Now you're ready to find the cheapest contract for you. Go online and find yourself a mobile tariff comparison web site. You'll put the monthly calling plan limits that you're looking for into the site, and then you'll get a list of plans with different operators that match your needs. Make sure that the plan says it's SIM only (you don't want to sign an incentive contract, remember?). Now find the cheapest plan that's the closest match to your required limits. Before you buy, there's one more step to the process. Go to the web site of the operator that the plan is with, and find the coverage map. Every operator has one on their site. Use this to make sure that the provider has good coverage in your area. If they don't, choose another plan with a different operator. Bad coverage will give you bad mobile reception, and it's just not worth paying for. You can then go ahead and buy the contract, again doing it online to get online discounts. And you'll be safe in the knowledge that you've got the cheapest mobile and service plan that you can possibly get.

Sam Jones decided that it was time to buy mobile phones again for the household.  He found the latest offers online with sites like uSwitch and managed to get great phone packages for next to nothing.

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Getting A New Mobile Contract - The Questions You Should Ask Yourself

Before you start signing a mobile contract, there are a few questions that you should be asking yourself to make sure that you're getting the best deal. Most of us want to save a little money these days, and the wrong mobile contract could cost you a fortune. You have plenty of options out there, and you want to make sure that you're choosing the right one. So before you sign, ask yourself these questions...

Do I Really Need a Contract?
You do have another option; you don't have to sign a contract. Pay as you go plans are not as popular as they once were, but some customers benefit more from them than from contracts. If you're a light phone user, someone who calls for less than ten minutes a week, who sends only three to four texts a day and who uses mobile data only for email and casual web browsing, then chances are that pay as you go will be a better deal for you. It's worth keeping in mind...

Am I Choosing the Right Calling Plan?
The calling plan is the most important part of any mobile contract. This is the set of monthly limits for the amount of calling minutes, text messages and mobile data that you're allowed to use for your set monthly fee. The wrong plan is going to end up costing you money. Here's the deal. Imagine you have a plan that includes thirty calling minutes.

If you call for thirty minutes a month, you pay your monthly fee. If you call for five minutes a month, you still pay the same monthly fee. So a plan that's too big means paying for services that you don't use. Now imagine that you call for forty minutes a month, what happens now? You pay your regular monthly fee, plus premium rate charges on the extra ten minutes that you used. So a plan that's too small isn't a good financial decision either. You need the right sized calling plan, even if that means getting a pay as you go plan for a month so that you can track your usage and find out the amount of minutes, texts and data that you need.

Am I Taking Free Txt and Calling Minutes into Account?
Many operators these days will offer you free txt and calling minutes as an incentive to sign up for a contract. There's no point accepting this offer if you're not actually going to use them though. You'll want to take these free txt and calling minute offers into account when choosing your calling plan, so that you make full use of them. If you get thirty free calling minutes a month, for example, you might want to choose a calling plan that has lower calling minute limits than you would otherwise choose.

Do I Really Need that Incentive Phone?
Operators are going to offer you two contract choices, incentive and SIM only. Both of these are going to come with a calling plan of your choosing, but an incentive contract also comes with a free or low cost mobile phone. Think about this option carefully. A phone is pretty tempting, but it's not going to be free. The monthly bill on an incentive contract is going to be higher than the monthly bill on a SIM only contract, because basically you're buying a phone in instalments, and the bill will include a monthly payment for your phone. With most instalment plans you end up paying more than the actual cost of the item that you get, because you're both paying for the convenience of not having to make a big initial payment and because the company is taking a risk by giving you something without get full and immediate payment in return. Incentive contracts are no different. You will pay more than the retail cost of the phone that you get over the course of the contract.

If you already have a phone to use, or if you can afford to buy one up front, you should do so and then sign a SIM only contract, because you will save money. Don't be tempted into getting a new phone just because they're offering you one. You should only sign an incentive contract if that is the only way you can get a phone that you absolutely need.

How Long Am I Going to Sign Up For?
You will also be offered a choice of contract terms. Usually you can choose between a twenty four month, eighteen month or twelve month contract. Some SIM only contracts also come in rolling thirty day periods. This means that the contract is only for thirty days, but it will automatically renew every month unless you tell the operator that you want to stop your service. The longer your contract is the lower your payments will generally be. And if you sign an incentive contract this is especially true, since the cost of the phone is spread out over more monthly payments, making each individual payment smaller. But don't forget that once signed up, it's going to be difficult to get out of your contract. That means that switching to another operator to get a better deal could be complicated. And if your financial situation changes then you might be stuck making payments that you really can't afford to make.

Will I Have Good Service?
Your mobile reception depends on how good coverage is with your operator in you local area. If you don't get good coverage then you won't get good reception. That might mean that your phone won't work at all, but at the least it will mean that you get slow mobile data speeds and bad call quality. You should always check coverage in your area before signing up with an operator. Just go to the operator's web page and look for the coverage map that the operator is required to have there.

Sam Jones’s son knew that packages which included free txt messages would save him money.  He proved himself right when he compared deals online and started to spend less on his phone bill every month.

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How To Get The Best PAYG Deal

Contract mobile phones are definitely a convenience. You tend to get a free or heavily subsidized mobile phone, and you then get the comfort of never running out of credit and just receiving a monthly bill. However, there are downsides. That phone is not free of course, rather you'll be paying for it in monthly instalments on your phone bill, which over the two year contract can add up to a lot more than the actual cost of the phone. For many people, finding the best pay as you go tariff is the key to saving money on their mobiles. So how do you go about it? Read on to find out...

• Find Out What You Need...

The key to a good PAYG tariff deal is to make sure that it matches your needs. Look at your old phone bills and find out how your phone activity is broken up, how much of the time do you spend calling, how many text messages do you send. This information will help you determine which kind of plan is best for you. If you're sending over 500 text messages a month, for example, it's probably a good idea to get a PAYG tariff that includes unlimited texting. Be warned, PAYG tariffs tend to work out as money savers only for those that plan to spend less than £25 a month. For users who regularly spend more, contract phones are still the best deal.

• Decide What to Spend

Not being tied down to a contract means that you don't have to spend money on your phone each month. However, it's a good idea to have a budget for the month that accurately reflects what credit you'll need. This is because a lot of PAYG tariffs offer special deals for customers who top up every month. For example, putting ten pounds of credit on your phone each month will get you unlimited internet.

• Decide Which Operator to Go With...

This decision should have two parts. First, find the operators who have plans that match your needs (they'll probably be more than one of them). Then ask around, ask your family and friends which operator they use. This is a good idea for a couple of reasons; firstly, because you'll get some recommendations, but also because many operators offer lower calling and texting prices to numbers in the same network. If you call your Mum every day, it might not be a bad idea to be on the same network as she is to get some savings for both of you.

• Shop Around

This can take some serious time, but it's definitely worth doing. Just because you already know which network you want doesn't mean that you need to go straight to their store. There are many online sources (such as Carphone Warehouse) that offer special deals on hand sets bought with PAYG tariffs. It may be that you end up back at your mobile service operator, but it doesn't hurt to take a look around and find out what's out there.

Phil Turner is searching for the best pay as you go tariff available to him because he hardly uses his phone at all.

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Pros And Cons Of AdAware Anti-Spyware Program

Often when you surf the Internet going from site to site adware is installed on your computers. This happens when you download a free application or even give out your email. It is a marketing tool that is used for finding out what websites you go to so they can sell products or services to you. There is a debate over whether this is an ethical marketing tool as some consumers do not like these programs.

Pros of Adware Anti-Spyware Program
Adware Anti-Spyware Program is a program you install on your computer or laptop that helps you detect these adware and malware programs. When the program detects the adware it lets blocks or stop the popup ads or programs from functioning. This program scans downloaded files to check for threats. When you attach a USB to your computer the program will scan for malware and infections.

When a file is suspected of infection or malware it moves the file to a quarantined area or sandbox. This program will monitor the behavior of the file to see if it is infected. This program helps you shop and bank online more safely. When people use social networks it helps protect their identify and from virus attacks when using email or links. This program has a game mode that let's you play a video game or watch a movie without the software interrupting you with urgent updates. It scans most websites for url's that are dangerous or downloadable files that have malware or viruses. This sites are checked against a central database of sites that are known to be dangerous.

This central database is updated every five to twenty minutes preventing you from stumbling on phishing sites accidently. The program has free installation and setup assistance. You can call the company by phone and get up to 15 minutes of free advice on a problem you have. If you think your laptop or computer are infected the Lavasoft Network will try to diagnose and fix the problem. This program is for home use or professional offices. It has a fast antivirus program that goes with the Adware Anti-Spyware Program. It protects you from email threats like viruses and program that are sent as attachments through email. It keeps you protected against the latest viruses and worms as they develop. It stops infected files from downloading before they can infect your computer. On social networks it protects your passwords and personal information. If there are links on posting of social network it scans them to insure safety. It has an advanced two way firewall that protect your computer . This program has a file shredder that permanently deletes files with passwords and information you do not want to be found.

Cons of The Program
When tested against other more powerful programs Lavasoft was found to be an average program. It does not slow down your system while performing and does a fairly accurate job of identifying dangerous files and websites. When tested for protecting against malware it was not found to be as good as other program that it competes with.

Reference: http://anti-spyware-review.toptenreviews.com/ad-aware-se-pro-review.html 

+Katrina uses her technical knowledge to help people. At Rack Solutions. her passion for technology and wealth of knowledge have helped many people find the right solution in their unique situation.

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5 Best Data Backup Programs For You And/Or Your Business

Why Should I Back My Data Up?
It is safe to say that computers are one of the most important technical advancements to date. We use them for almost everything imaginable, storing large amounts of data in the form of pictures, videos, music, documents, and executables. Many would attest to the argument that their lives are contained within these intangible bytes of information. Now think about losing all that information; every memory, work file, memoir, and life's work lost. Hard to imagine right? Like life itself coming to an end. This is why data backup software exists. These programs ensure the safety of your files using various methods and tools including scheduled backups and system restore, which allows you to recover all data after a major malfunction without the hassle of reformatting the entire computer.

This article will describe the top 5 data backup programs that will help you keep your data safe.

NovaBACKUP Professional ($49.95)
NovaBACKUP is a top of the line data backup program that uses an automatic back up process to continuously keep all your valuable files safe. In addition, NovaBACKUP can handle more complex processes like creating a full disk image of your hard drive, a more complete backup solution. This program sports a user-friendly interface with advanced options for more tech-savvy users and provides a free online storage service.

NTI Backup Now ($29.99)
NTI Backup Now takes the backup and restoration process and simplifies it into 3 steps. This program is geared towards those who are not very tech-savvy, with a simple UI and process walk-throughs. Because of this, it lacks some advanced features. Like other solutions, NTI Backup Now provides scheduled backups as well as a choice between full or incremental backups.

DT Utilities PC Backup Pro ($49.99)
PC Backup Pro is one of the most reliable and cost-effective data protection solutions. The software has a simple interface suitable for all user levels. It is capable of backing up and recovering data to/from a variety of storage devices including CD/DVDs, online storage, tape and disk drives. The program also provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform backup and restoration procedures, disk-imaging recovery, and scheduled backups.

Macrium Reflect Professional 5 ($58.99)
Macrium Reflect provides a variety of advanced backup tools like scripting abilities, Macirum ReDeploy (restoring your data to a new computer), and image verification. This software also provides the basic tools like incremental and automatic backup. When using these options, Macrium uses a unique drag and drop UI that makes it attractive and easy to use.

Genie Backup Manager 9 Home ($49.95)
Genie Backup Manager uses three different backup types: full, incremental, and mirror. Like the other programs mentioned, it supports scheduled backups but is capable of backing up your data even when you are not logged in. A truly unique feature. This program can also keep your data safe from hackers through military level encryption methods.

Though computers are machines built to support you, they are unreliable at times. These data backup programs were created to ease your mind and provide security for your life's data.

Reference: www.novastor.com, www.nticorp.com, www.dtransfer.com, www.macrium.com, www.genie9.com 

+Katrina uses her technical knowledge to help people. At Rack Solutions. her passion for technology and wealth of knowledge have helped many people find the right solution in their unique situation.

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Reasons Why The Internet Is Essential For Freelancers

If you are a freelancer then you have probably heard more than once that you need to establish yourself online if you want to succeed. If you haven’t ever thought about what the internet can really provide you with then here are some of the biggest reasons why you need to go online as a freelancer.

Increase Your Customer Base

Of course the internet will open up many new doors to attract more clients. You can be instantly connected to people across the world and thus you can think about growing your business a lot quicker online. Many freelancers don’t need to be in the same physical location as their customers and thus you can really benefit from being on the internet.

Market In More Affordable Ways

The internet is also great in providing freelancers with the same opportunities to market their business as the big companies have. For example, with the proper use of SEO on your website and social media platforms you will be able to increase the exposure you get without spending a fortune. If you only had to market through the conventional means like TV ads and newspaper ads you could probably not afford it. But on the internet even running video ads and promotional videos on platforms like Youtube is possible and really affordable.

Improve Your Skills

In order to attract more customers you need to be constantly developing your skills and the internet is an amazing place for making sure you have the knowledge you need. There are so many more opportunities to learn about your industry online and it is important to take advantage of these opportunities. Odesk provides a comprehensive list of the best websites that freelancers can use to improve their skillset and make the most out of the internet. You may notice that many of the options available are either free or very affordable and you would often end up paying a lot of money if you had to take these courses offline. You can also attend seminars online and thus don’t need to travel around the world in order to get the right skills. Make sure you stay on top of your field by going online and making use of the opportunities available.

Get Help To Run Your Business

Being a freelancer isn’t easy and there are a lot of things that you need to learn to juggle at once on your own. But the great benefit of the current technology is that you have many more opportunities to ease your workload.

For example, companies providing online accountancy are really affordable and can give freelancers a lot more time to focus on the more essential parts of the business. Friendly Accountants suggests that getting help with your finances can be a really cost effective way of improving your business prospects. There are also many great tools that make the above points of marketing and attracting customers online a lot easier. It is a good idea to browse through these tools and find out what are the ones that work the best with you.

Marlene is enthusiastic in making sure freelancers are making the most of the internet and the technology available for them and she is constantly reading about new developments in the business field. She is a big ice-cream fan and could eat mint ice-cream all day long if her husband would allow it.

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Freelancing: An Online Profession

Working for yourself is something so many people dream about and perhaps the best way to do this is by being a freelancer. Freelancers make money from doing something they love, in essence they make money from a hobby. Sound good to you? It sure sounds good to me (hence why I do this job). There is nothing better than waking up on a new day and making the money you need to live by doing something that you enjoy.

We live in the internet age and the internet is starting to dominate the freelancing profession, there are so many different platforms online and they are the best place for any freelancer to get noticed. If you are a freelancer or a budding freelancer it is so important to have an online presence, so many potential employers look to the internet to find the experts they need. If you are any good and you can present your profile in an engaging way then there is a really good chance you will get the client base you need for long term success.

Platforms

There are so many different online platforms available now for freelancers to showcase what they can do. We live in the internet age as I have mentioned previously and it is therefore essential that freelancers make use of the World Wide Web. It is by far and away the simplest way for an online expert to get what they can offer across to potential employers in the quickest time possible.

Take a look at Enthuse, they are a company that offer freelancers a blank canvas online from which they can upload their portfolio. The greatest benefit of this is the freedom to upload whatever you like, whether you are going to upload everything you have ever done or just a small selection (something I think is best) the option is there. Just do a little bit of research and ensure that you are willing to spend some time checking out what they best companies are.

Efficient

They are extremely efficient, like anything to do with the internet. You can upload your documents and files online with the greatest of ease, make sure that there are no problems with spelling and grammar and ensure also that if there is any video it is editing in a professional manner.

Cheap

Going about your freelancing career in this manner is extremely cheap, these platforms cost very little or nothing to set up and thus any money you make can be yours. If you are a credible freelance worker then uploading a strong portfolio on these websites really can help you get noticed. Building a strong client base is essential and if you can do that then the chance of building up further is there. We live in a world that is dominated with poor freelance workers, it is an unreliable industry and if you can showcase yourself as the opposite to that then you can be in for a potentially lucrative career.

Tom is a writer who loves to write about the technological developments that have occurred in recent years. He initially began working as a journalist for a local newspaper however soon started working freelance.

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How Technology Improves The Patient Experience

Healthcare delivery is practically unrecognizable when compared to its former self from a few decades ago. Today, technology is making it possible to deliver healthcare services even when the provider isn’t in the same zip code with the patient. Today’s patients can also provide more of their own care from the comfort of their own homes, handling treatments and performing tests that at one time required an inpatient hospital stay. There’s no question that technology is making a big impact on the patient experience in a positive way.

No more waiting in lines
The ability to provide healthcare consultations remotely is a major benefit for elderly and disabled patients who struggle getting to a physical office location. For this reason, technology is essentially improving compliance – while some patients would have skipped visits and therefore missed life-sustaining treatments and medications, they’re now more likely to receive the consistent monitoring required to adequately manage a chronic or life-threatening condition.

It’s not just the elderly and disabled that benefit from technology, however. Even patients who simply need a prescription for an antibiotic have avoided making an appointment with a provider, knowing that they’re giving up an entire day of valuable time thanks to a long wait to see their providers.

Now patients can simply email some healthcare providers, explain their symptoms and have a prescription electronically submitted to their preferred pharmacy – no driving to the physical office necessary to pick up a written prescription. Even better, those same patients could go as far as having the prescription delivered by the pharmacy to the front door. Technology has finally entered an era where nearly the entire sequence of events involved with a single healthcare interaction can be conducted without a physical office visit.

Increased compliance
All of the above means that patients now have the ability to be more compliant, with fewer reasons to skip medications or avoid proper monitoring for a chronic condition. Many patients cope with chronic illnesses and fail to take their medication as prescribed simply because it’s too difficult to get to the doctor’s office. When office visits aren’t regular, providers can miss out on important signs that indicate that a patient is no longer responding to a specific treatment or requires a higher or modified dose of a medication.

There are many things that could go wrong when patients take their healthcare into their own hands. Some go so far as to adjust medication dosages on their own to compensate for increased symptoms or to make a prescription last longer – avoiding more office visits and costly co-pays. But when patients can simply email a provider a status report including vital signs and other test results and readings obtained at home, they can often make informed decisions that are in the patient’s best interests – completely virtually.

Less costly hospital stays
When patients are more compliant and more conscientious about following physicians’ recommendations, they experience fewer complications – and that means less costly hospital stays due to infections left untreated or necessary medications that haven’t been taken properly.

But technology also reduces costly hospital admissions in another way. With sophisticated technology available for medical devices that makes controlling the complex underlying processes of the device using simple, intuitive controls, patients are now able to do themselves at home what once required an office visit or even an inpatient hospital stay. This type of technology, such as Pannam imaging switches, creates a simple user interface that patients can readily learn and use to ensure accurate delivery of treatments and tests – even without the presence of a medical practitioner.

There are still some treatments that require in-person coordination and care, because of the possibility of serious side effects and the need of a trained professional to closely monitor the administration or treatment, but there are more and more treatments and tests that can be conducted entirely by the patient or caregiver at home every day. Technology is a critical component of healthcare delivery. With new advancements every day, healthcare in the future could be even more remote and independent than ever imagined.

Nicole Enwright contributes, on behalf of Pannam, to a variety of tech and new gadget blogs to help users find the product they need.

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Three Top Tips For Protecting Your Smartphone From Damage On Holiday

Most of us love our technology and spend lots of money on our favourite gadgets. Despite the fact that smart phones only hit the mainstream a few years ago, many people can no longer imagine life without them. The thought of not having permanent internet access and constant contact with friends on social media is unthinkable to so many people.

As we struggle to imagine life without our smartphones, many of us can’t even have a holiday without our favourite gadget. Nowadays, we see people on the beach and by the pool with their phones out. Smartphones aren’t cheap, therefore keeping them in good condition is important. Water damage can completely destroy a phone, so when on holiday, it is important to exercise some caution.

Be careful of the temperature
Smartphones feel the hot and cold and can be affected by extremes in temperature. When overheated or freezing, your phone’s battery and display is affected. Some phones even break completely when subjected to extreme temperatures. The best way to protect your phone from the elements is to ensure that you keep it in the shade when in hot temperatures. If your phone has become overheated, put it in a shaded area to cool naturally. Putting your phone in the fridge is not recommended.

If you take your phone on skiing holidays where conditions are freezing, be sure to keep your phone within an inner pocked where it can benefit from your body heat. Once again, allow your phone to return to its normal temperature at a natural pace, don’t try warming it up quickly with a hairdryer or other warm appliance.

Buy a completely waterproof cover
If you’re planning to take your smartphone to the beach, you’re subjecting it to a whole host of risks. Sand and water can both cause irreparable damage to a smartphone. The problem with sand and water is that these substances get everywhere. Simply having your phone in your bag can be a problem as it is all too easy for sand and water to get inside.

Luckily for technology loving holiday goers, a number of companies have developed completely waterproof cases for smartphones. Some cases are completely waterproof, featuring a ziplock feature and buoyancy aids which enable your trusty phone to rise to the surface rather than sinking. Many of these cases have such advanced technology that your device can be completely submerged, allowing you to take amazing underwater photographs of your holiday.

Purchase a waterproof sheath
 If you don’t want to splash out on a case which is 100% waterproof, you could opt for cheaper waterproof cover. These thermoplastic sheets wrap around your phone and protect all of your phone’s ports, preventing sand, dust and water droplets from damaging your phone. Of course, these sheaths don’t allow you to use your phone as an underwater camera, but it does provide you with additional protection whilst at the beach or at the poolside, assuring you that your all important smart phone won’t get damaged.

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Loud-Mouthed Megaphones And The People Who Use Them

Just when you thought that powerful megaphones were only being used as crowd control during times of emergency comes the news that Ryan Seacrest used such a megaphone to exhort 10,000 aspiring American Idols to sing in a huge arena. Ryan Seacrest is not alone – Cyndi Lauper and Kristie Alley have also used such megaphones to good effect.

So, why do celebrities use megaphones? This is probably the shortest and simplest answer you will ever get to such a complex question – because they don’t want to blow their dollars on expensive sound systems.

What’s The Big Deal About Such Powerful Announcement Devices?
Powerful bullhorns are lifesavers. They are reliable to work with and affordable as well. They come equipped with a robust warranty and can achieve a return on investment in double quick time. That is why they are used in a variety of institutions such as:

1. U.S. Army – by commanding officers to instruct and control troops that are spread across a rather large area.
2. U.S. Marines and navy – their applications are similar to the U.S. Army’s.
3. NASA – nope, NASA does not use bullhorns on the moon or Mars! But they do use such devices during rocket launches and other events that require coordination across a vast expanse of land.
4. Churches use powerful megaphones to address large crowds, especially at fundraising events.
5. Dictatorial movie directors who love the sound of their own voice can also use them.

Some megaphone companies manufacture ultra loud devices for crowd control applications, which are fondly referred to as “earthquake makers.” These beauties can clear entire streets and smash window glasses in minutes. My advice to you is not to go near one when it is being used. If you are using one, use it with care and sensitivity.

What Are The Key Features Of Loud-Mouthed Bullhorns?

• These devices amplify sound like no other. Don’t believe me? Stand next to one while an announcement is being made and watch how you go stone-deaf in seconds! Or, at least suffer from tinnitus.
• But you may be spared of deafness if the announcer saw you and toned down the volume control, which manufacturers graciously build into each device.
• These devices are tough. You can treat them real rough and they will take it with a smile. Go ahead: your persistent screaming into them won’t matter.
• Powerful bullhorns at the minimum power rating can throw the voice to about 700 yards. As the power ratings inch higher, so does the amplification area.

To Sum Up
When ancient man conceptualized bullhorns, the idea was to make music and perhaps to make the device work as a Paleolithic long distance telephone. Then population increased and the ancient device was deployed to warn people about impending danger. (Dinosaurs ahoy!) One thing led to another, and you already are familiar with what these devices are capable of these days. Technology will continue to keep changing the way these work and who knows, one day we may be working with mega-powerful megaphones that are no more than 12 inches in length.

Robert R. Thomas lives in Marlin, TX, with his family. He is a blogger, entrepreneur and a gadget enthusiast.

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5 Steps To Marketing Your Law Blog

Even if you are not an ardent internet user, you don’t have to be told that blogging is one of the most effective ways to market your law firm today. You may not enjoy blogging as much as some others do, but it is absolutely necessary for you to ensure that you have an active blog if you want to get your firm’s name out there.

A common mistake made by legal professionals is underestimating the whole blogging process. Here are a few tips on how to effectively develop and market your blog:

Decide your approach:

Before you start your law blog, you should decide on what type of approach you’d like to use for your blog. Do you want to write about law in general or would you prefer to write about a specific area of law? If you are a law firm specializing in a particular field of law, then you should concentrate your efforts in providing information in this field. This will establish you as a professional in this area and you will attract a specific niche of readers interested in this area of law.

Professional or do it yourself

Your next task is to determine if you would like to hire a professional to provide you with articles for your law blog or you’d prefer to write the articles yourself. Hiring a professional will mean that you get professionally done articles at regular intervals. Your blog will therefore have fresh content every so often. Writing the articles yourself will mean that you can share your own personal experiences and therefore give the blog an even more personal touch. You can also opt to combine the two. Have some articles done professionally and provide some of your own personal articles for the blog. You’ll therefore always have fresh information on your blog and keep your readers hooked.

Linking your blog:

Link your blog to your law firm’s website and other social networking accounts. Ensure that updates are provided on these accounts whenever you post new information on your blog. Ask your friends and family to connect to your social networking accounts so that they can get updates as well. You can also request them to share any interesting information from your blog on their social networks. This is a great way to get your law firm’s name out there.

Submitting to directories:

Submit your blog to a blog directory. There are countless directories to which you can submit your blog and get it out there. It is best to submit the blog to a law specific directory such as blawg.com. However, even general directories have law specific categories that your blog will be placed under. Simply ensure that you submit to popular directories that have high ratings with internet users.

Connecting with other bloggers:

Connect with other law bloggers and comment on their blogs. This is a great way to get recognition as an expert. Be sure to include a link to your blog in your signature. Those reading your comments may be curious to find out more about you and your law firm and follow the links that you provide. Marketing your blog is equal to marketing your firm. Invest the resources required to get the best out of blogging.

Melissa Trowbridge is marekting professional from Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in promotions for law firms and legal services companies.

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