Businesses Must Learn to Make SEO Work

By Terry Detty

One of the most important talents any management team of a business can have is to be able to detect changes in the marketplace and adjust how the business operates to function in that new market. Some call it "thinking outside the box" and others refer to this talent as "working with a new paradigm". Whatever the term of the day is, without the flexibility to change as the market changes, it is destined to fade away.

Of the many business and market trends that have changed the paradigm by which it is done in the new century, internet marketing ranks near the top of the most drastic and sweeping change that virtually every company has had to adapt to in order to survive and thrive in the new world.

At first, most in this world considered the internet to be a toy and perhaps a good communication tool. But in the last decade, the power of internet marketing and the need to compete in that marketplace has never been more evident. And just as business learns new marketing and communication methods when they enter a new market such as learning to do business overseas, the internet has brought with it entirely new tools and weapons that the modern business must learn to use skillfully to succeed in a cyberspace business environment.

Of the many new acronyms that have been added to the business vocabulary, "SEO" is one that is central to success in the internet marketing world. SEO stands for "Search Engine Optimization" and it is an entire discipline unto itself. By learning to utilize well developed SEO methods, a business can learn to dominate their particular market niche even in a cyberspace world.

Just as in the conventional world, to be successful with a particular market, you have to go where they are and learn to get noticed and get your message to the consumer even as your competition is doing the same thing. In the world outside of cyberspace that may mean various methods of advertising, promotional campaigns, good customer service and a long term promotional strategy that will grow the businesses market presence over time.

All of these objectives remain the same in the world of internet marketing, but the "places" customers can be found are profoundly different. As such, it becomes critical that a business builds a modern and up to date web site that appeals to the customers perceptions of what they will expect when they come to shop with you and that stays up to date continuously s the internet continues to change and evolve.

But it isn't enough to just have a state of the art web site up for modern internet web site to succeed. Just as to be successful in the physical world, customers must come to you or you must go to them. And the primary method of letting customers know who you are and drawing them to your well designed web site is to connect to them through a search engine such as Yahoo, Google or MSN.

Search Engine Optimization methods are powerful techniques that can be used to assure that when your customer looks for a business such as yours, they will notice you first and your competition second, or not at all. That means when the customer "searches" for your product or service on Google or another search engine, your business comes up on the first page of selections that the search engine finds.

SEO takes time, investment of funds and talent and skill to work with the search engines so your company gets that kind of attention. But it is worth the investment because the outcome can be an internet presence that bring the kind of success every business wants.

Terry Detty finds Internet Marketing and SEO Results his passion. In addition to marketing, he enjoys reading and occasionally goes out for a short walk. His latest interest is a new Best SEO eBook program he's been using.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Detty

15 Weirdest Work Stories of 2007

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Natural disasters, revolutionary technology, pro-athlete scandals and national calamities marked 2007 as an unforgettable year. Yet, amid these major happenings arose stories that were overlooked, unseen or ignored altogether: tales of our nation’s work force.

Understandably, these pieces weren’t as newsworthy as Michael Vick’s dog fighting charges or Paris Hilton going to jail. But these stories held an angle unlike any other: They were just plain weird.

Here are 15 headlines that exemplify the strange happenings that took place in the workplace in 2007.

1. “Employee eats 32 vending machine items for charity”
A juvenile probation officer ate one of every item in a county courthouse vending machine in one day. She consumed more than 7,000 calories and more than 300 grams of fat, eating such items as beef sticks, candy bars, Pop Tarts and potato chips – all to win a bet with co-workers and raise $300 for charity.

2. “Cola wars get physical as Pepsi worker attacks Coke employee”
Two employees from the rival companies got into a tiff over shelf space in the aisle of a Wal-Mart in Indiana. The Pepsi worker allegedly assaulted the Coca-Cola employee, hitting him in the face, giving him a black eye and breaking his nose. Police say the two were also accused of trying to run each other over with pallets full of soda bottles.

3. “Alleged robber asks victim out for date”
After two men robbed a Domino’s Pizza delivery woman, one of them called the victim from his cell phone to apologize – and to ask her out.

4. “Four women fired for gossiping”
Four women employed in a small New Hampshire town were fired for gossiping about a relationship between the town administrator and a fellow co-worker. They were fired on the basis that “gossip, whispering and an unfriendly environment are causing poor morale and interfering with the efficient performance of town business.”

5. “Eau de Lawsuit: Woman sues over scent”
An employee in the Detroit planning department sued the city, saying a female co-worker’s strong fragrance prohibited her from working. The woman claimed she is severely sensitive to perfumes and her co-worker not only wore a strong scent, but also plugged in a scented room deodorizer.

6. “Salt lands McDonald’s employee in jail”
A McDonald’s employee was arrested, jailed and is facing criminal charges because a police officer got sick after a hamburger he ate was too salty. The employee accidentally spilled salt on some hamburger meat and told her supervisor and co-worker, who “tried to thump the salt off.” The employee was charged because she served the burger “without regards to the well-being of anyone who might consume it.”

7. “Carpenter free to ply trade in the nude”
A carpenter caught hammering nails and sawing wood in the nude says he prefers working in the buff because it’s more comfortable and helps keep his clothes clean. The carpenter was found not guilty of indecent exposure.

8. “Southwest Airlines employee tells passenger her outfit won’t fly”
A Southwest employee asked a young woman in a short skirt to leave the airplane, saying she was dressed too provocatively for the family airline. The young woman was eventually allowed to complete her trip after covering up. On her return flight, she came home with no problem – in the same outfit.

9. “Employee accused of faking being cop”
A Taco Bell employee was arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer and attempting to arrest his managers and co-worker. He passed himself off as an undercover narcotics investigator, going as far as typing fake criminal histories on the general manager, two shift managers and an employee and telling them they were going to be arrested.

10. “Employee took 1 million screws home from factory”
An assembly worker hid screws in a specially designed hiding place and took up to 7,000 home with him every day. Over a two-year period, he stole more than 1.1 million screws with an estimated value of $155,000. He allegedly sold the screws over the Internet at discount prices.

11. “Deputy nabbed twice for DUI – by husband”
An off-duty jail deputy was pulled over and charged with driving under the influence – by her husband, a fellow deputy. She supposedly left before he could give her a Breathalyzer test, so he pulled her over again and called for backup. She was placed on administrative leave.

12. “Workers killed after seeking raises”
A car dealership owner killed two employees because they kept asking for more pay. The employer told police he was having financial problems and was under a lot of stress.

13. “Man demands coupons from radio station employee”
A radio station employee was threatened at gunpoint when an angry patron was unhappy with the promotional bumper stickers he received. The patron demanded McDonald’s coupons instead; when the employee didn’t have any, the man flashed what looked like a handgun. She searched her car and found a coupon for a free cheeseburger. The man took it, made a derogatory comment about the radio station and rode away on his bike.

14. “Wienermobile gets cop roasted”
When a 27-foot-long, 11-foot-tall vehicle – known to most as the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile – was slowing traffic in a construction zone in Arizona, an officer ran its “YUMMY” license plate to make sure it was street legal. A bad computer entry erroneously showed the Wienermobile as having stolen plates, forcing the officer to pull it over. After further investigation, the officer learned that the entry should have read that license plate had been stolen – but only if found on any vehicle that isn’t a giant hot dog.

15. “Drive-through dispute gets suspect jail food”
Workers at a Burger King in New York got into a dispute with a customer after he refused to turn his music down while ordering at the drive-through. The customer grabbed the restaurant’s manager, tried to pull her through a window and then attempted to run over a worker who came to help the manager.

Autism Therapy Is a Lifetime of Work

By Kerry Ng

Currently, there is no known to cure for autism known to man. Little is known about why it affects some people. Diagnosing autism can be a challenge because initially the disorder is taken as "bad - behavior "another corrective measures are applied. Some people believe that if autism therapy it started early in a child's life, there is some hope for amelioration in some children. Still, for parents and caregivers of an autistic child, it can be a real challenge at the best of times.

Autism can be a Very Painful Predicament for Parents
It can be very challenging as well as very painful for some parents to learn that their child is affected by autism. What makes this even more painful is the fact that there it is no cure yet for this disease and there are no guarantees that the future will bring some change. Autism therapy basically involves a series of exercises to bring the child out of his or her world. However, many parents are disappointed when it seems that their child has a door that which they shut against the world and no one can seem the open it again regardless of what they do or say.

When autistic children shut the door and close themselves off from their environment, it can be very difficult to teach them because they stop observing and observation is an important tool for learning. What autism therapy involves is working around this obstacle through various approaches based on applied behavioral analysis. However, progress can be very slow in many cases, simply because the child doesn't react to their outside environment. Even with powerful reinforcement and encouragement - which in itself is a very powerful tool - does not apply in this case.

There Are Some Small Rays of Hope
There are cases of children with autism that have made a total transition. With these cases, the autism therapy started when the children were very young, usually between two to three years old. Such cases act as inspiration for both the parents and caregivers of the autistic child. Unfortunately, the educational facilities available for autistic children are very limited and extremely expensive. Obviously, this is very frustrating on the part of the parents with limited resources.

Most parents of these children opt for home schooling. In most cases, these parents find it easier to home school their autistic child, rather than fight the million and one obstacles they will encounter when they ask for state education facilities. Currently there is a shortage of specialist for autism therapy, which stacks the odds against these children.

However, not all is doom or gloom. There is a flicker of hope still. There are a number of cases showing that when autism therapy has been started at an early age, there has been a total turnaround where the child became almost normal. Though nobody knows exactly how or why these turnarounds happened, it still does hold a glimmer of hope and promise for both the parents and the autistic child that there might be a potential cure somewhere down road.

Kerry Ng is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Autism Blog. Click here for more great helpful information about Autism: http://www.autisminfoblog.com/autism-cures

Success - When We Gonna Make It Work?

By Mark McClure

Success to some people may indeed be as simple as this paraphrase of Bob Dylan's words on the subject: "Success is getting up in the morning and going to bed at night, and in between doing what you want to do".

Now since you are reading this article it's possible that you have some interest in being more successful in areas of your own life. Me too! That's one of the reasons I write because it forces me to think about the words I would use to define or describe success.

So let's take a closer look what Bob Dylan said. I guess most of the readers of this article are in the fortunate position of being successful at two of the three criteria he has laid out. It's just the big bit in the middle that gets everyone's attention!

What does he mean by "doing what you want to do?" Even a musical star like Mr. Dylan must encounter some things he doesn't particularly care to do each day. But I suspect he does some of them anyway perhaps because of contractual obligations in his music business. Or because he knows, like the rest of us, that life choices usually come attached with a certain degree of responsibility and obligation. (Just ask any parent or pet owner!)

My coaching experience has given me some insight into why people like Bob Dylan are viewed as successes. When I ask clients who have come to me for goal setting advice or mentoring, what is it that they would really want to be doing most days, the majority of them haven't got much of an opinion.

I am amazed but no longer surprised. Many people appear to be resigned to selling themselves short in life, as Abraham Maslow once commented. Trouble is, life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect it. For example, global economic changes are turning an increasing number of once secure career paths in the Western world into dens of uncertainty.

Where I think Bob Dylan has got it right is in making use of his unique combination of talent, persistence, choices and a dash of that old magic dust known as luck! The thing is, you and I also each have our unique combination of abilities, character and imagination. And luck!

Think on this for a minute."Advice for the young at heart. Soon we will be older. When we gonna make it work?"

These are magical lyrics from the UK band, Tears For Fears, and capture the essence of the message in this article. Go check out their beautiful video on YouTube.com - just search for the song title "Advice For The Young At Heart". That song was released in 1989, I was still in my 20s, and now their message has finally got to me!

I hope that you get something out of it too. And if you do, then I would kindly ask you to also let a few of your close friends benefit too. You can do that by forwarding this article to them by email. There is a small red button at the top right of the article screen. It's labeled "Send to friends". Just click that.

So, when are we gonna make it work?

For help with making it work in your life, I invite you to discover how to create incredible yet reachable goals - in my FREE 14-page report: Successful Goal Setting

Mark McClure is a Japan-based e-coach and now always listens to advice from the young at heart. http://www.goalcreationmaps.com/art

Administrative Work From Home

By Krystine Lewis

The possibility of getting the administrative work from home job is right within your reach. This article will provide you with the resources for the perfect work from home job you are searching for.

First let me explain what administrative work from home does entail. Responsibilities may include telephone and online research. You may be performing database management and perhaps general administrative tasks. General administrative tasks can be anywhere from typing, transcribing forms or communicating regularly with clients. Each employer may have different tasks for you to perform. It would be best to be flexible and be willing to do all tasks that are asked of you.

You can do a simple search online to locate your possible administrative work from home job. Type your keywords in quotes and you should be able to get a list of websites that will include job sites that are looking for administrative work. Read their requirements of you. It may be prudent to locate administrative jobs that are in your local city.

You can easily contact the employer and see if they are willing to accept you as a work from home individual performing all their required tasks from home. This may give the employer a better way of handling all their tasks by taking you on as a work from home individual and saving the corporation some money. It also gives you the opportunity to have the flexible hours you want and the ease of working from home in a worthwhile career.

Krystine Lewis writes articles on several subjects including internet marketing and work at home job reviews. You can see more of Krystine's work at home ideas on her blog and sign up for her free newsletter at review work at home jobs

You Dont Have to Work That Hard

By Gina Ratliffe

"Riches begin with a state of mind. With definiteness of purpose, and with little or no hard work." (Taken from Think & Grow Rich)

Sounds good, right? Then why is it so opposite the way most of us think? We tend to tell ourselves that we have to work so hard to get what we want, to lose the weight, to make the money, to create this, to get that done.

But let me assure you, we were not meant to live heavily burdened lives.

Show me the scripture that says you are meant to have a life of heavy burden. That you are meant to work constantly. That you are supposed to do it all by yourself. There's no scripture (from any faith) like that, right?

It's time to really understand and believe that life is not meant to be hard. Nowhere does it say that we are meant to pound the pavement ourselves and work ourselves into oblivion to get what we want. Chances are, if we are really in alignment with what it is we want, God wants us to have it too. He is not up there thinking, "how can I get her to work really hard for this, I know she really wants it. Let's see how hard we can make it for her." Right?

It is the testing of our faith that produces perseverance and it is that perseverance that produces character. And from that character, it is necessary to realize that much of what our culture has taught us--that we HAVE to work hard-is not necessarily true.

It all begin's with your intention. Do what you know. Do what is within your hand. And then follow the people who have been successful doing exactly what it is that you're going after.

You don't have to do this alone. We live in an age of specialists now! There are people out there that are absolute experts in what it is you want to do and accomplish.

Part of what Esther had was a whole support system of maids. When she had to pray and fast, she said, "I'm going to gather my maids and we are going to pray and fast."

So part of what I want all of you to look at is, what assistance do you have available to you to accomplish more and actually do less?

It might mean you getting out of the way of yourself. It might mean letting life be a little bit lighter and easier. It might mean you getting an assistant. It might mean asking your husband or your kids for help with something. It might mean sitting down at the beginning of your day and structuring in three hours to do your work and then the rest of the day to ENJOY yourself, to do what calls you from your soul. There's nothing spiritual about a drained, dried, depleted woman.

The world glorifies luscious, wise, exciting, sensitive, soft women. And no one is going to make you softer than you. There isn't a man, there isn't an amount of money, there isn't an assistant, there isn't anyone who can give you that luscious softness, elegance, magnetism and attraction better than YOU.

And that will require you taking time for your life. Chances are it will require you going a little slower. Chances are it will require you actually living the spiritual practice that I know you all know.

And guess what? You have what you need. And when you have these foundational pieces in line for you, when you're taking care of yourself, when you're in tune with your emotions, when you are journaling or meditating, or doing yoga, or working out, or loving that you're making healthy food choices, then, and only then will you go further.

This will be your foundation. But until you are totally connected to yourself on a deep level, the rest of your work is just futile. It's just empty energy. And there isn't a single woman that doesn't desire profound purpose for her life.

My encouragement to you all is to do what it takes to have meaning in your life. And that may require stopping. That may require breathing and listening to yourself breathe. Who is it that you need to be? What might you need to do differently? The best part is, it's up to you.
© 2007 Gina Ratliffe

**If you would like personalized coaching to assist you in overcoming
your obstacles, call Gina at 310-773-1824 or email her at Gina@EstherExperience.comfor further details.

WANT TO READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT A SPECIFIC SUBJECT? email your requests to us at info@EstherExperience.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete tag with it: Life & Success Coach, Gina Ratliffe, publishes the Esther Experience weekly ezine. Women entrepreneurs, if you're ready to live as Queen of your finances, relationships, business and health, and have more fun in your life, get your FREE report now at http://www.EstherExperience.com/optinentrepreneurqueen.html

Do More by Doing Less

By Arthur Hastings

Outsourcing has become an integral part of doing business for many companies. With more companies running lean and mean it becomes more efficient to have employees focused on critical tasks and outsource others. Organizations may outsource marketing activities, IT support or even customer support. However there is one area that is ripe for outsourcing and that is Administration.

The International Virtual Assistants Association describes a Virtual Assistant in this way:
“A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative, and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis.”

Hiring a professional VA can free up valuable resources and time for you and your employees. In business “best and highest use” is a time tested principle. Efficiency and profit are maximized when resources are appropriately deployed.

At IAC we have helped many growing businesses with administrative and specialized help. We initially offered Accounting and Tax Services but soon customers began coming to us for trusted professionals in other functional areas. We went out and found high performing professionals and decided to expand our service offering to meet the needs of our client base.


Joe is one of our many success stories. Joe is the owner of a design firm. He has 6 employees who were all stretched very thin. Everyone was handling multiple tasks while also managing client projects. Joe needed to adhere to client deadlines while continuing to grow the business. He sat down with his staff and together they put together a list of tasks that could be outsourced.

Joe and his team came up with a list of tasks that were taking valuable resources away from “highest use.” The list included billing, email marketing campaigns, project management and proposal preparation. Joe had a friend who had used a VA firm and he contacted the same firm to discuss his needs. By outsourcing administrative tasks Joe was able to free up the equivalent of a full time employee for a fraction of what he would have paid to hire another team member.

By taking the time to analyze how the staff was managing their time, Joe was able to identify how individual productivity could be improved. Joe can now spend time gaining business and meeting with customers without having to compile and mail proposals. His team members can focus on client projects without having to manage billing and other administrative tasks.

Each team member can now focus on what they do best. The result has been higher productivity and morale. The team no longer feels the stress of being pulled in various directions. The tasks that were not their primary responsibility are now handled timely and more efficiently. Since billing is centralized by the VA firm, the cash flow has also improved. Sometimes the best way to do more really is to do less!

If you need a helping hand in your business, contact IAC Professionals, your single source business solution: http://www.iacprofessionals.com

Need More Money, Extra Cash, Part Time Work?

By Joe Cavalari

Yeah, I know. Every day the income just doesn't go quite as far as it did the day before. We really do need a part time job, but we do have other needs that are just as compelling. Like family and children that deserve and need our being available to help keep them on the right path. We also have personal needs like getting a reasonable amount of sleep and the occasional recreation and relaxation. How do you accomplish all of this and at the same time fight off the pressures of financial survival?

Well, there are basically two ways to increase your income. The first is to simply get a part time job and the second, which really is becoming increasingly more popular, is to develop a home business using your computer.

In the first case, having a part time job, even if it's slinging burgers at Mickie D's, takes a very heavy toll on our health and well being and really doesn't get it done. I mean, stretching our work week out to 60 or 70 hours and finding that the additional fixed income of a hundred or two a week just seems to disappear without a trace makes for a dismal outlook. After a month or so of doing this you have to ask yourself, "Where am I going with this ? Am I killing myself for nothing ?" The second approach makes infinitely more sense. For one thing, you simply don't have that fixed ceiling on your earnings. You don't spend all that extra time away from your family and make "X" number of dollars that just seem to disappear into budget oblivion. The sky is the literal limit with home based business earnings. If you approach it with the right attitude, you could be making hundreds of dollars an hour and that will constantly increase. Several things you Must understand right up front. This is a business, and like any bricks and mortar business, it must be built from the ground up.. You will start off by working your tail off for "0" bucks an hour and the increases in income will seem painfully slow at the start. But, unlike starting the "Mom and Pop Widget Store" on the corner, you don't have to re-mortgage the house to set it up and you don't have heavy monthly expenses to keep it open. This business can be set up for peanuts and effectively operated using free advertising resources, but in all other respects, it is the same. You do have to attract and keep those lovely members and many of them need help and encouragement. If you can't deal with this fundamental requirement, then I understand that Mickie D's is still hiring ! Don't waste your time and energy to spin your wheels at this approach to making money. If you're not persistent and patient, you will Fail at this and disrupt the continuity in income to all the other members of your business family. If you can meet this basic requirement, then you're definitely in the right place. Carry on !!

Another serious consideration that is even more difficult to ascertain is the "Upline Mentor" you end up with in any program you elect to join. There is simply no way you can know this person and what you might expect in the way of help. Sadly, in most cases, you will find that he/she has little or no personal knowledge and is working like mad to make their own downline list bigger leaving no time to help you, even if they could.The first, and believe it or not, the most difficult part, is to find the right business to promote. Just take a peek at any of the offerings on the start page exchange, and you'll soon have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head. Make millions a year without lifting a finger and other such "Pie in the Sky" offerings are abundantly displayed.
Understand this and understand it well !! There are some old adages that directly apply.

If it looks too good to be true, It probably is.

There is no such thing as a free lunch!!

The first, and believe it or not, the most difficult part, is to find the right business to promote. Just take a peek at any of the offerings on the start page exchanges, and you'll soon have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head. Make millions a year without lifting a finger and other such "Pie in the Sky" offerings are abundantly displayed.

If you keep these things Firmly in mind, you will not go wrong.

Forgive me for sounding arrogant, but being an "Upline Mentor" is something I take very seriously and have both the time (Retired) and the experience (over 10 years). I have reached my monetary goal and do not feel the pressure at this point and do get a great deal of satisfaction in helping others achieve their goals. For several of my downline members, I have gone so far as to completely set-up all their programs in my money chain. The only thing these good folks had to do was advertise and promote. Most have done very well, Thank You..

Joe Cavalari
10$ + 1 = 3K+
For more info, drop me a note chip0418@netzero.com

Where to Find Holiday Work

By Ken C. Morris

Volunteering during your vacation is a wonderful way to give back to those in need and make you feel like you accomplished something special. Most people earn at least two weeks a year in vacation time, so taking a few of those days and donating some time to charity can really make a difference in your life and the lives of many others. There are many charity organizations that need volunteers to help serve meals, teach classes, build homes and activity centers, and other jobs. If you have experience in any of these areas or you want to learn a new skill, volunteering is a good way to do so.

Look in your community newspaper, church bulletin, or online to find organizations that are local. Call and ask which types of positions are available and give the organization the dates that you will be available. Even if it is just a few days, most organizations would be thrilled to have your help. Make sure you get all the details before committing your time so you can plan accordingly.

Because natural disasters can strike at any time, you want to volunteer to help clear debris, organize food drives, or deliver supplies to those who need them. This is a good way to use your vacation time, especially if you have a lot of days saved up. In these types of situations, being able to give time will be appreciated by rescue workers, other volunteers, and those you are helping.

Since many volunteer organizations plan events in advance, you will be able to plan your vacation around these events. Contacting these organizations is the best way to find out more information.

If you have teaching experience and want to visit a new part of the world, volunteering your time to teach English as a second language or other courses is a great way to learn about other cultures. This type of volunteer work will take longer than a few days, however. If you have a few weeks of vacation time saved, then you should consider this type of volunteer work. There are many countries that have programs in place that help people learn new languages and other skills.

Even if you cannot donate a lot of time, taking a long weekend here and there is enough time for you to help raise money for volunteer organizations by participating in organizing fundraisers, collection money, or by spreading the word about the organization to others. Many people volunteer to answer phones during telethons, go door to door for donations, or write press releases and other items that can be published in order to help an organization gain a little more exposure.

Donating your time is just as important as donating money. If you have traveled extensively, or you are looking to travel to another country you have not been to before, volunteering is one way to enjoy something new while helping others.

The technical writer Ken Morris is passionate about ideas related to Costa Dorada and Spain. Writing for publications, the columnist demonstrated his depth of understanding on topics dealing with Costa Blanca.