A focused family business
Chief Geek
Email Picture
Randi Lynn Beach / For The Times
ALL TOGETHER: Don MacAskill, the 30-year-old chief executive and "chief geek," says: "We work in earnest to create a family atmosphere."
Picture this: an online photo-sharing site with a loyal customer base and no corporate ties run by a close-knit clan out of Silicon Valley.
By Jessica Guynn, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 24, 2007
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. -- Ever the proud father, Chris MacAskill screens 20-year-old home movies of his sons -- Ben singing about a stegosaurus, Mark getting a mohawk -- on his laptop.
"This is the negative of working with family members," a red-faced Mark, now 26, says before retreating to his cubicle.
Meet the MacAskills, Silicon Valley's version of the Waltons: seven members of a close-knit clan, ranging in age from 23 to 63, who run SmugMug Inc., which helps families share their own Kodak moments online. They are holding their own against photography services on the Internet run by corporate giants even though they have never taken a dime from outside investors.
They started on a shoestring budget in 2002, not moving into real offices in Mountain View, Calif., until April. Before that, the MacAskills and their employees set up shop in the five-bedroom home of Chris and his wife, Toni. Engineers bunked two to a bedroom. Blow dryers and vacuums routinely blew circuit breakers. Barking yellow Labrador retrievers chased tennis balls up and down the stairs.
Toni, the SmugMug matriarch, referees family squabbles. When things get out of hand she sometimes jokes that she'll send everyone to their rooms for a time out.
The MacAskills deftly blend business and family -- a radical concept in the youth-obsessed Internet industry, which admits adults, particularly of the gray-haired variety, only reluctantly.
The company now employs 28 people -- all MacAskills, family friends and SmugMug customers they hired -- in five countries. The MacAskills have signed up more than 100,000 paying subscribers despite mounting competition from free services, in part by emphasizing their family-friendly approach. They post their own family photos and home videos on the website, spend countless hours chatting up their users in the company's online forum and send lively customer service e-mails such as "Who loves you, baby?"
They also reward customer loyalty. Two years ago, when SmugMug raised its prices, it grandfathered in all its current customers. Every year, SmugMug organizes "shootouts" for its customers: roving expeditions to national parks with expert instruction on how to get the perfect shot.
And once, as payment for photo services, the MacAskills accepted livestock.
That personal touch has won over customers, some of whom traveled from as far away as Boston to attend SmugMug's recent fifth-anniversary party, where they dressed up in colorful costumes courtesy of SmugMug and mugged for the camera. Others have been so taken with the company that they quit their jobs to work there.
"Google went to great lengths to create a dorm atmosphere," said Don MacAskill, the 30-year-old chief executive and "chief geek." "We work in earnest to create a family atmosphere."
At the head of this Mormon family is Chris, 54, a Stanford-trained geophysicist and lifelong shutterbug. After a stint at Steve Jobs' Next Software Inc. in the 1990s, he caught entrepreneurial fever. With his family pitching in, he built Fatbrain.com, an online bookstore for geeks, and took it public in 1998. Barnesandnoble.com bought the company in 2000 for $62 million. The money was distributed among the many stakeholders, with most of it going to outside investors.
SmugMug employees and customers know Chris as "Baldy," not because his hair is thinning (it is) but because he once shaved it off during a motorcycle ride in Mexico -- a trip he took seeking catharsis after he witnessed from a New York board room the collapse of the Twin Towers on Sept. 11.
In 2002, Chris became the first to join his son Don, a programming prodigy then working on his seventh start-up, which soon became SmugMug. Together, they recruited Toni, 56, a motorcyclist like her husband. In addition to helping customers and coining the company's name, she handles SmugMug's finances as she did in the early days of Fatbrain. She calls herself the "countess of cash."
Before long, Don's brothers dropped out of college to lend a hand. Ben, now 28, was going to school to pursue a career in biotechnology, and Mark was eight months away from a degree in actuarial science. Ben, the "czar of testing," hunts down software bugs in new features. Mark, the "stats geek," is in charge of figuring out how people use SmugMug's site to improve it and draw more users.
They were followed by their sister. Anne MacAskill Bean, who is 23 and expecting her first child, provides customer support (her specialty is printing) from her home in Columbus, Ohio.
Chris' sister, Robin MacAskill, 63, of Bethesda, Md., telecommutes part-time as a customer service representative.
The MacAskills have found family to be a competitive advantage. SmugMug's revenue has doubled every year, this year reaching $12 million, and the company turns a profit.
The ties that bind families such as the MacAskills can lead to both great fortune and great friction, management experts say. Relatives who go into business together often work selflessly toward a common goal, but family problems can spill over into the workplace.
"Families have the advantage of a common bond for life, and the disadvantage of a common bond for life," said David Russell, director of Cal State Northridge's Family Business Education and Research Center.
Don acknowledges that at first he wasn't sure whether the MacAskills and the people they work with at SmugMug would be able to separate family and business.
"I worried that new hires would feel alienated or steamrolled by the family," he said. "Now that we have been doing this long enough, we in the family are in the minority, and those fears are evaporating."
He also said the family hadn't seen any conflicts turn into "real family feuds or anything like that -- knock on wood."
The MacAskills are determined to retain control of their business, turning down all offers to invest in or buy the company. Employees, who include "sorcerers" (engineers) and "support heroes" (customer service staff), agree that SmugMug wouldn't be the same with outside influence.
SmugMug may have one of the most distinctive corporate characters in Silicon Valley. After all, this is the company that in January gave a couple, Naomi Smith and Roger Brimacombe from Fetlar, one of Scotland's Shetland islands, a lifetime SmugMug membership in exchange for a sheep. As part of the lighthearted deal, the ram, which remained on Fetlar, was christened Smuggy, and SmugMug's green smiley face logo was spray painted on his coat, where it remained until he was sheared this fall.
In 2005, to celebrate hitting their company's sales goal, the SmugMug family -- babies and dogs included -- dyed their hair green and gathered for a photograph. For corporate photos posted on the site, the company hires a professional face painter to make up employees as superheroes.
Few ham it up quite like Chris. Fellow motorcyclist and SmugMug customer Glen Heggstad once took an around-the-world ride and sent Chris what appeared to be a loincloth from Africa, so Chris donned it -- and nothing else -- for a spin around the neighborhood. When Heggstad saw the photos, he sent Chris one of tribal women wearing the garment as intended: like a halter top.
In more ways than one, SmugMug has defied conventional business wisdom from inception. Undaunted by the prospect of starting a company amid the ruins of the Internet crash and rising competition from major players including Hewlett-Packard Co. and Eastman Kodak Co., the MacAskills set out to build a site they would want to use. That meant sending no spam, running no ads next to people's photos, offering unlimited storage and taking great care to protect photos from unwanted viewers.
Rather than giving away the product like some photo-sharing sites, they decided to offer three levels of paid subscriptions to appeal to amateurs and professionals alike. In doing so, SmugMug has found its niche, albeit a much smaller one than other online photo companies.
SmugMug has a fraction of the monthly visitors of its biggest competitors, but by catering to people who are willing to pay for privacy and storage, the company has become "one of the big winners" in its field, IDC analyst Chris Chute said.
"They really started off as a very realistic service and business model," he said. "They weren't trying to take over the world and become the next Kodak, and that has served them well."
For example, the MacAskills camped the night on a Palo Alto sidewalk to be among the first to buy iPhones and promptly produced a photo service for the device that became one of Apple.com's top picks. They are also getting into video, recently rolling out a high-definition video service for SmugMug users despite the high bandwidth costs.
It's partly that gadget-head spirit that has made SmugMug such a hit with customers. Chris has been building computers from scratch with his sons since they were little. Don spent so much time on the computer that he had to be banned from it for the second half of second grade because he hadn't turned in a single homework assignment.
"We used to dread parent-teacher conferences," Chris said.
Customers crowd an online forum, Digital Grin, where they get to know the MacAskills one on one.
Sean Rogan, 33, was a SmugMug customer who used to keep readers of Chris' motorcycle forum on the edge of their seats with his tales of life on the road. While he was passing through San Francisco on his way to Guatemala, Chris surprised him by offering him a job as the company writer.
"I thought: Could this have really found me?" Rogan said.
The MacAskills enfold their employees, Rogan said. Nicknames, inside jokes and spirited debate are common at the dinner and conference room table, which is Don's repurposed kitchen table. Employees get $500 to decorate their cubicles.
Everyone is treated to annual bonuses, matching 401(k)s, stock options and health club memberships. And SmugMug picks up the entire tab for medical coverage.
Each day, the company takes everyone out to lunch. In the afternoon, Chris, who recently converted some SmugMug employees and even customers to vegetarianism, whips up a fruit-and-vegetable concoction. Toni serves up freshly baked goods, like she did in her kitchen when the kids brought friends home after school.
The company runs on what it calls "collective consciousness," with everyone getting a say.
No one punches a clock; early risers and late sleepers set their own schedules. All have to be nudged to log off and go home at night.
"We just have this love of the business," Chris said. "We would rather do this than anything else."
jessica.guynn@latimes.com
Monday, December 24, 2007
Online social networks get down to business
Online social networks get down to business
Local users find easier connections
Sunday, December 23, 2007
BY TINA REED
The Ann Arbor News
It'd be nice to be able to meet every possible business contact face to face.
But for Ann Arbor attorney and consultant Don Blumenthal, time and money constraints make that impossible, so he turns to LinkedIn and Plaxo, online social networks that've been established as meeting places for business.
"There is only so much you can do unless you have an unlimited travel budget,'' said Blumenthal, who specializes in technology, law and policy. "I can't fly out there to meet (contacts) and it's better than a cold call.''
Social networking online is not just for the young.
Web users of all ages in Ann Arbor have embraced online social networks, jumping on sites like LinkedIn - a strictly business network that creates a form on online resume; Plaxo - a network that catalogs and updates contacts' information; and even the popular social network Facebook to spread information, reach out to customers, contact and collect connections they've met in person and collaborate on business projects.
Using LinkedIn simplifies parts of Lindsay McCarthy's job as the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce's director of programs and events by allowing her to visualize mutual connections with contacts she's collected.
"If I'm looking for a speaker, I can look at my connections and see if I know someone who could perhaps put me in contact with that person I'm looking for,'' McCarthy said. "I've done it without the network's help, but it isn't as easy to see and make those connections.''
Almost every Thursday afternoon, a group of local technology junkies meet over Bi Bim Bop, a Korean dish, at Eastern Accents restaurant on Fourth Street.
Calling the event A2B3, it's a regular chance to network about technological projects in an informal environment - organized by Ed Vielmetti from Internet marketing firm Pure Visibility. Vielmetti has built up hundreds on contacts on Twitter (a socially networked microblogging service), Flickr (a socially networked photo sharing site), LinkedIn and his Ann Arbor blogs.
Flexing his Web marketing muscle with his presence online, Vielmetti puts notes and maps, directions, blog posts and streams news up on the sites; regular updates are sent to subscribers' computers and cell phones using Twitter. Online networking is nothing new, Vielmetti said. The Internet itself was designed as a network between academic institutions; but it's simply evolved into different uses, he said.
"If you're trying to mobilize people to go to an event and you're gathering groups of related people, such as on Twitter, you can get them off their seat to do something,'' he said.
When Eli Neiburger, an occasional A2B3 attendee and Ann Arbor District Library manager of information access and systems, tried to reach a new audience, he did what many businesses have tried by opening a "branch'' on MySpace.com, a popular social networking site used to share music and interests.
It was largely embraced by young gamers, but he found older patrons weren't interested.
"The older generation is entering and networking different ways,'' Neiburger said. "You see a lot of it on Flickr where the social component is almost a secret until you find someone with pictures you enjoy. On eBay, you are professional, you're developing your reputation and you're developing rivalries against other names.''
In more traditional networking in Ann Arbor, job seekers, employers and entrepreneurs gather at downtown venues to exchange business cards over hors d'oeuvres. Events like those have been successful for attendees, said Amy Cell, Ann Arbor Spark's director of talent acquisition who organizes the events.
Rather than wrapping up the schmoozing when the gatherings end, it heads online.
"It makes sense to do both - when you're doing online networking, you can be very targeted in who you approach which can be very helpful in making connections,'' Cell said. "But if you go to a general networking event, you never know who you are going to meet which can be good as well.''
Although "with new job seekers and with the Pfizer closing, there was a big group moving to LinkedIn, certain communities - especially the most technological groups - are on Facebook,'' Cell said.
It's true for Ann Arbor resident Doug Dormer, who said he uses private Facebook groups regularly to collaborate on business projects rather than holding face-to-face meetings.
Before Dormer found Facebook this spring, his business plan for White Pine Systems, LLC was almost grounded. His goal is to design a secure way for individuals to access their own medical records and share them easily.
Facebook provided a well-designed, ubiquitous platform, he said.
"This is where things are going in the future,'' Dormer said. "We think it is the first step toward integrating social communities with traditional business models.''
Tina Reed can be reached at 734-994-6843 or treed@annarbornews.com.
Local users find easier connections
Sunday, December 23, 2007
BY TINA REED
The Ann Arbor News
It'd be nice to be able to meet every possible business contact face to face.
But for Ann Arbor attorney and consultant Don Blumenthal, time and money constraints make that impossible, so he turns to LinkedIn and Plaxo, online social networks that've been established as meeting places for business.
"There is only so much you can do unless you have an unlimited travel budget,'' said Blumenthal, who specializes in technology, law and policy. "I can't fly out there to meet (contacts) and it's better than a cold call.''
Social networking online is not just for the young.
Web users of all ages in Ann Arbor have embraced online social networks, jumping on sites like LinkedIn - a strictly business network that creates a form on online resume; Plaxo - a network that catalogs and updates contacts' information; and even the popular social network Facebook to spread information, reach out to customers, contact and collect connections they've met in person and collaborate on business projects.
Using LinkedIn simplifies parts of Lindsay McCarthy's job as the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce's director of programs and events by allowing her to visualize mutual connections with contacts she's collected.
"If I'm looking for a speaker, I can look at my connections and see if I know someone who could perhaps put me in contact with that person I'm looking for,'' McCarthy said. "I've done it without the network's help, but it isn't as easy to see and make those connections.''
Almost every Thursday afternoon, a group of local technology junkies meet over Bi Bim Bop, a Korean dish, at Eastern Accents restaurant on Fourth Street.
Calling the event A2B3, it's a regular chance to network about technological projects in an informal environment - organized by Ed Vielmetti from Internet marketing firm Pure Visibility. Vielmetti has built up hundreds on contacts on Twitter (a socially networked microblogging service), Flickr (a socially networked photo sharing site), LinkedIn and his Ann Arbor blogs.
Flexing his Web marketing muscle with his presence online, Vielmetti puts notes and maps, directions, blog posts and streams news up on the sites; regular updates are sent to subscribers' computers and cell phones using Twitter. Online networking is nothing new, Vielmetti said. The Internet itself was designed as a network between academic institutions; but it's simply evolved into different uses, he said.
"If you're trying to mobilize people to go to an event and you're gathering groups of related people, such as on Twitter, you can get them off their seat to do something,'' he said.
When Eli Neiburger, an occasional A2B3 attendee and Ann Arbor District Library manager of information access and systems, tried to reach a new audience, he did what many businesses have tried by opening a "branch'' on MySpace.com, a popular social networking site used to share music and interests.
It was largely embraced by young gamers, but he found older patrons weren't interested.
"The older generation is entering and networking different ways,'' Neiburger said. "You see a lot of it on Flickr where the social component is almost a secret until you find someone with pictures you enjoy. On eBay, you are professional, you're developing your reputation and you're developing rivalries against other names.''
In more traditional networking in Ann Arbor, job seekers, employers and entrepreneurs gather at downtown venues to exchange business cards over hors d'oeuvres. Events like those have been successful for attendees, said Amy Cell, Ann Arbor Spark's director of talent acquisition who organizes the events.
Rather than wrapping up the schmoozing when the gatherings end, it heads online.
"It makes sense to do both - when you're doing online networking, you can be very targeted in who you approach which can be very helpful in making connections,'' Cell said. "But if you go to a general networking event, you never know who you are going to meet which can be good as well.''
Although "with new job seekers and with the Pfizer closing, there was a big group moving to LinkedIn, certain communities - especially the most technological groups - are on Facebook,'' Cell said.
It's true for Ann Arbor resident Doug Dormer, who said he uses private Facebook groups regularly to collaborate on business projects rather than holding face-to-face meetings.
Before Dormer found Facebook this spring, his business plan for White Pine Systems, LLC was almost grounded. His goal is to design a secure way for individuals to access their own medical records and share them easily.
Facebook provided a well-designed, ubiquitous platform, he said.
"This is where things are going in the future,'' Dormer said. "We think it is the first step toward integrating social communities with traditional business models.''
Tina Reed can be reached at 734-994-6843 or treed@annarbornews.com.
Email Coaching Program Helps Online Marketers to Create More Profits in 2008
Email Coaching Program Helps Online Marketers to Create More Profits in 2008
Owner of Internet Profit Planning, Angela Wills, announces email coaching program to help small business owners set themselves up for new year's profits.
Baldwin, Canada, December 22, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Angela Wills, owner of Internet Profit Planning has introduced the ‘Set Yourself Up For New Years’ Profits’ Email Coaching Program, which helps online marketers to plan and set up their marketing process for 2008.
Wills has spent the last several years helping internet business owners with various marketing tasks on the internet. Her unique methods have made her the go-to person for online marketers to be more successful.
“I created this coaching product because so many people were struggling to keep on track with plans that make them money online,” says Wills. “Now they’ll be able to grow their online business faster and easier.”
By joining the ‘Set Yourself Up For New Years’ Profits’ program, business owners will be able to:
- Have a plan of action for setting themselves up for profits in 2008.
- Get step-by-step guidance on how to set up the necessary programs for building income.
- Learn how to use the programs put into place for maximum results.
The ‘Set Yourself Up For New Years’ Profits’ email coaching program is available for $147 and can be purchased by going to http://www.NewYearsProfits.com.
For more information, go to NewYearsProfits.com. Questions can be directed to 905-716-2995 or email: info@internetprofitplanning.com.
About Internet Profit Planning (http://www.internetprofitplanning.com)
Internet Profit Planning (http://www.internetprofitplanning.com) works with online business owners all over the United States and Canada to increase their online presence through marketing systems and efforts. With 5 years internet marketing experience, Wills has helped dozens of online business owners increase their income using various online marketing strategies.
###
Contact Information
Internet Profit Planning
Angela Wills
905-716-2995
info@internetprofitplanning.com
internetprofitplanning.com
Owner of Internet Profit Planning, Angela Wills, announces email coaching program to help small business owners set themselves up for new year's profits.
Baldwin, Canada, December 22, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Angela Wills, owner of Internet Profit Planning has introduced the ‘Set Yourself Up For New Years’ Profits’ Email Coaching Program, which helps online marketers to plan and set up their marketing process for 2008.
Wills has spent the last several years helping internet business owners with various marketing tasks on the internet. Her unique methods have made her the go-to person for online marketers to be more successful.
“I created this coaching product because so many people were struggling to keep on track with plans that make them money online,” says Wills. “Now they’ll be able to grow their online business faster and easier.”
By joining the ‘Set Yourself Up For New Years’ Profits’ program, business owners will be able to:
- Have a plan of action for setting themselves up for profits in 2008.
- Get step-by-step guidance on how to set up the necessary programs for building income.
- Learn how to use the programs put into place for maximum results.
The ‘Set Yourself Up For New Years’ Profits’ email coaching program is available for $147 and can be purchased by going to http://www.NewYearsProfits.com.
For more information, go to NewYearsProfits.com. Questions can be directed to 905-716-2995 or email: info@internetprofitplanning.com.
About Internet Profit Planning (http://www.internetprofitplanning.com)
Internet Profit Planning (http://www.internetprofitplanning.com) works with online business owners all over the United States and Canada to increase their online presence through marketing systems and efforts. With 5 years internet marketing experience, Wills has helped dozens of online business owners increase their income using various online marketing strategies.
###
Contact Information
Internet Profit Planning
Angela Wills
905-716-2995
info@internetprofitplanning.com
internetprofitplanning.com
The Children's Internet Announces New Business Developments
The Children's Internet Announces New Business Developments
Highlighted Links
The Children's Internet, Inc.
MacReport.Net
SAN RAMON, CA--(Marketwire - December 20, 2007) - The Children's Internet, Inc. (OTCBB: CITC) announced today that it has amended the terms of its agreement with The Children's Internet Holding Company (TCIH) to permit TCIH to purchase up to an additional 128,040,988 shares of TCI Common Stock for an aggregate of $8 million. The parties also agreed to extend the outside termination date of their Definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (DSPA) from December 31, 2007 to January 31, 2008.
Currently, the DSPA provides for the purchase of 128,040,988 shares of TCI stock for an aggregate purchase price of $8 million. The new agreement allows TCIH to potentially double its investment in TCI through exercise of a warrant to purchase up to 128,040,988 shares of TCI common stock at an exercise price equal to the purchase price per share of common stock under the DSPA. The warrant may only be exercised after the closing of the DSPA, and then, only until April 30, 2008.
Richard J. Lewis III, TCI's Acting CEO and the Manager of TCIH, commented: "The warrant gives TCIH the flexibility to provide significant additional funding to TCI at the closing, which will allow TCI to implement its post-closing strategy more quickly and efficiently than we otherwise would have been able to do. The extension of the termination date also gives us additional time to plan our post-closing efforts, manage the IT transfer from Two Dog Net and raise additional funds."
TCI also recently entered into a Services Agreement with Two Dog Net (TDN) under which, TDN will continue to provide TCI office lease and equipment rental services until the closing under the DSPA. TCIH is a third-party beneficiary to the rights of TCI and a guarantor of the payments to be made by TCI under the Services Agreement.
New Technology Development Team
In order to facilitate the transfer of technology and ensure continual and reliable performance under the Service Agreement, TCI is also pleased to announce the formation of its new technology development team (the "Tech Team") that is being put into place by TCIH in anticipation of the closing. Each member of the Tech Team has a specific area of Internet software and security expertise. The Tech Team is led by Kenneth C. Wilkinson, formerly of Boxer Technology, LLC., who has over 20 years' experience in the IT business including as a leading software developer. Senior Developer Rick Leinecker has been an expert in the field of Internet filtering technologies for over 10 years. Tyler Wheeler, the Chief Architect and one of the original creators of The Children's Internet® software, has over 20 years of software and hardware integration and design experience. Daniel W. Schoenthal has over 25 years of design and implementation experience, and is currently providing content architecture and access control list services in addition to being the home office trouble shooter for TCIH
About The Children's Internet, Inc.:
The Children's Internet, Inc. (http://www.ChildrensInternet.com) is the exclusive marketer and distributor of The Children's Internet® membership based service created just for kids. The Children's Internet is the most comprehensive, secure Internet service and "educational super portal" for children, pre-school to junior high, providing them with SAFE, real time access to millions of the best pre-selected, pre-approved educational and entertaining web pages accessed through a kid-friendly search engine.
The Children's Internet provides kids with a rich array of easy to use applications, including secure e-mail, search engine, homework help, games, news, learning activities and virtually limitless educational resources all within its safe, protected online community that gives kids a sense of freedom and parent's total peace of mind!
Awards won by The Children's Internet®:
The Children's Internet® was declared winner of Outstanding Products of 2006 by iParenting Media Awards in the software category.
The Children's Internet® received the coveted National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval.
The Children's Internet® was ranked by PC Magazine as Editors' Choice in the category of "Kids' Browsers and Services" and declared the winner, rated #1 over AOL, MSN and EarthLink.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release may be deemed to contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements are made as of today's date and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. You can identify such statements by our use of such words as "should," "expect," "will," "intends," and similar words and phrases which denote future events and which may depend on the future performance of the Company. Specifically, these include statements as to future product releases, the implementation of strategic initiatives and the ownership in TCI upon completion of the transaction and whether or not the transaction will be consummated. Our assumptions underlying these statements are also "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information and assumptions that are dynamic in nature and subject to rapid and sometimes abrupt changes. Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to important risks and uncertainties detailed in our latest reports filed with the SEC and available on its website at www.sec.gov.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
ir@tciholdingco.com
Phone: (916) 965-5300
Fax: (916) 965-8275
Highlighted Links
The Children's Internet, Inc.
MacReport.Net
SAN RAMON, CA--(Marketwire - December 20, 2007) - The Children's Internet, Inc. (OTCBB: CITC) announced today that it has amended the terms of its agreement with The Children's Internet Holding Company (TCIH) to permit TCIH to purchase up to an additional 128,040,988 shares of TCI Common Stock for an aggregate of $8 million. The parties also agreed to extend the outside termination date of their Definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (DSPA) from December 31, 2007 to January 31, 2008.
Currently, the DSPA provides for the purchase of 128,040,988 shares of TCI stock for an aggregate purchase price of $8 million. The new agreement allows TCIH to potentially double its investment in TCI through exercise of a warrant to purchase up to 128,040,988 shares of TCI common stock at an exercise price equal to the purchase price per share of common stock under the DSPA. The warrant may only be exercised after the closing of the DSPA, and then, only until April 30, 2008.
Richard J. Lewis III, TCI's Acting CEO and the Manager of TCIH, commented: "The warrant gives TCIH the flexibility to provide significant additional funding to TCI at the closing, which will allow TCI to implement its post-closing strategy more quickly and efficiently than we otherwise would have been able to do. The extension of the termination date also gives us additional time to plan our post-closing efforts, manage the IT transfer from Two Dog Net and raise additional funds."
TCI also recently entered into a Services Agreement with Two Dog Net (TDN) under which, TDN will continue to provide TCI office lease and equipment rental services until the closing under the DSPA. TCIH is a third-party beneficiary to the rights of TCI and a guarantor of the payments to be made by TCI under the Services Agreement.
New Technology Development Team
In order to facilitate the transfer of technology and ensure continual and reliable performance under the Service Agreement, TCI is also pleased to announce the formation of its new technology development team (the "Tech Team") that is being put into place by TCIH in anticipation of the closing. Each member of the Tech Team has a specific area of Internet software and security expertise. The Tech Team is led by Kenneth C. Wilkinson, formerly of Boxer Technology, LLC., who has over 20 years' experience in the IT business including as a leading software developer. Senior Developer Rick Leinecker has been an expert in the field of Internet filtering technologies for over 10 years. Tyler Wheeler, the Chief Architect and one of the original creators of The Children's Internet® software, has over 20 years of software and hardware integration and design experience. Daniel W. Schoenthal has over 25 years of design and implementation experience, and is currently providing content architecture and access control list services in addition to being the home office trouble shooter for TCIH
About The Children's Internet, Inc.:
The Children's Internet, Inc. (http://www.ChildrensInternet.com) is the exclusive marketer and distributor of The Children's Internet® membership based service created just for kids. The Children's Internet is the most comprehensive, secure Internet service and "educational super portal" for children, pre-school to junior high, providing them with SAFE, real time access to millions of the best pre-selected, pre-approved educational and entertaining web pages accessed through a kid-friendly search engine.
The Children's Internet provides kids with a rich array of easy to use applications, including secure e-mail, search engine, homework help, games, news, learning activities and virtually limitless educational resources all within its safe, protected online community that gives kids a sense of freedom and parent's total peace of mind!
Awards won by The Children's Internet®:
The Children's Internet® was declared winner of Outstanding Products of 2006 by iParenting Media Awards in the software category.
The Children's Internet® received the coveted National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval.
The Children's Internet® was ranked by PC Magazine as Editors' Choice in the category of "Kids' Browsers and Services" and declared the winner, rated #1 over AOL, MSN and EarthLink.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release may be deemed to contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements are made as of today's date and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. You can identify such statements by our use of such words as "should," "expect," "will," "intends," and similar words and phrases which denote future events and which may depend on the future performance of the Company. Specifically, these include statements as to future product releases, the implementation of strategic initiatives and the ownership in TCI upon completion of the transaction and whether or not the transaction will be consummated. Our assumptions underlying these statements are also "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information and assumptions that are dynamic in nature and subject to rapid and sometimes abrupt changes. Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to important risks and uncertainties detailed in our latest reports filed with the SEC and available on its website at www.sec.gov.
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FACES OF BUSINESS 2007 : True believer: John Battelle tries his third media enterprise
FACES OF BUSINESS 2007
True believer: John Battelle tries his third media enterprise
Sam Zuckerman, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, December 24, 2007
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As long as there's been a Web, John Battelle has been near the center of it.
Managing editor of Wired magazine and later CEO of the company that published the Industry Standard, Battelle was an essential figure at the digital world's two most iconic publishing enterprises, chronicling the explosive growth of the Internet during the 1990s.
His contagious enthusiasm and missionary zeal about the world-changing power of technology were instrumental in making both magazines cultural phenomena in their own right.
"John saw certain things way before most people," said former Industry Standard Managing Editor Jonathan Weber, now publisher of New West, a Denver online media company. "His role was to be the true believer."
Now, at the ripe age of 42, Battelle is in the thick of his third media venture, one he says could become an even bigger phenomenon than the first two.
This being 2007, there are no printers and no post office to contend with. Battelle's Federated Media Publishing lives entirely in the online world of blogs and related Web 2.0 sites.
What Battelle has done is zero in on a unique money-making opportunity that's emerged as a handful of such sites have turned into successful businesses. With a roster of 140 online affiliates, his company handles back-office chores - most vitally the sale of advertising, which is the life blood of Internet publishing ventures - so that the bloggers and online entrepreneurs can spend their time thinking great thoughts and writing great copy.
"He was looking for a way to somehow liberate the folks who do the writing," said Martin Nisenholtz, CEO of New York Times Digital, an investor in Federated.
Just 2 years old, Federated Media, with a staff of 53, has been in the black for three months, Battelle said recently during a wide-ranging interview in his Sausalito office.
In contrast with online publishing conglomerates such as Gawker Media, Federated doesn't own the sites in its network. Its business model is to contract with independent online publishers and take a minority cut, typically 40 percent, of the advertising it sells for them.
It also makes money by holding conferences that attract well-heeled digerati, charging several thousand dollars for admission.
Gawker Publisher Nick Denton, who's made a cottage industry of tormenting Battelle, needles Federated's chief for allegedly exaggerating the popularity of the company's affiliated sites and for losing ad sales business from key clients, such as Digg.com. And Denton, whose sites have been accused of tabloid-style journalism, repeatedly has posted an old photo of Battelle flipping the bird.
Battelle said he has no interest in publicly feuding with Denton. "I have nothing but nice things to say," he said.
Recent surveys of traffic to Federated sites have confirmed Battelle's claims about the network's popularity, he said. And concerning Denton's gloating over lost clients, Battelle noted that Digg and other supposed defectors still do business with Federated. Affiliate gains and losses are part of the normal churn of the advertising business, he added.
"Our churn is extraordinarily low," Battelle said.
When Digg moved its ad sales business to Microsoft, founder Kevin Rose posted a statement calling Federated "an awesome partner" and noting that his company would continue working with Battelle's operation on special projects.
Those who know Battelle, who grew up in Pasadena, say his drive and charisma were evident from his earliest days at MacWeek, when he was a newly minted Berkeley anthropology graduate turned tech reporter. He was legendary for prying loose secrets about the insular Apple, once getting his hands on a new Mac version before its official release. MacWeek put a picture of the computer's motherboard on the cover.
Wired founders Louis Rossetto and Jane Metcalfe picked Battelle to be their managing editor, a leap of faith almost as big as starting the magazine itself.
"He looked like a Southern California water polo player and had this can-do attitude, excitement and optimism," Metcalfe recalled. "He came to us with fully formed ideas about the magazine we were inventing. Here's a complete stranger that felt like our oldest friend."
What they shared, Metcalfe said, was a vision of digital technology as "this giant economic machine creating wealth, disrupting existing power structures and sparking a whole new way of thinking."
After Wired, Battelle was recruited by publisher International Data Group to start the Industry Standard. The magazine quickly became the essential guide to the dot-com boom. And it turned into an integral part of the bubble itself, thick with advertising and known for its flashy electronic billboard at the foot of the Bay Bridge. Everyone expected a blockbuster initial public offering that would sow a crop of millionaires and place the Standard in the top tier of magazine publishing.
A year-and-a-half later, the Standard was dead, killed by the dot-com bust and IDG's decision to declare the magazine bankrupt. Never in publishing history had a magazine risen so spectacularly and fallen to Earth with such a resounding thud.
Battelle said he was shattered by the Standard's spectacular and very public flame-out.
"I was bereft," he recalled. "I lost something I had created. I knew I had let down so many people."
Some in the Internet world suggested his Internet boosterism and predilection for Big Thoughts about the march of technology had blinded him to the excesses of the dot-com era and set the Standard up for failure. One disgruntled ex-employee even started a Web site called Battelle Watch, sticking him with the name "Mr. Bubble" and chronicling his foibles.
For his part, Battelle experienced an almost religious crisis of faith in the theme that had animated his personal and professional outlook since college and his early days as a wunderkind reporter at MacWeek - the idea that the digital revolution was an epochal and potentially liberating event in human history. He even considered forsaking the tech world to start a magazine about men's health.
"It was the narrative I had been involved in since MacWeek," he said. "But when the Industry Standard blew up, I lost faith in the narrative."
Battelle taught at UC Berkeley and then found his optimism rekindled by the mushrooming clout of Google as an Internet search powerhouse. His best-selling book, "The Search," is part history and part meditation on the transformation wrought by search technology.
Battelle said he got the idea for Federated in 2004 from his blog, SearchBrains, which was attracting up to 60,000 visitors a month. But he couldn't make a business of it without hiring a staff, and there wasn't enough revenue to pay employees. Catch-22.
Around that time, friends at technology blog Boing Boing told him that their expenses for Internet hosting services were doubling, a drain of cash that threatened to shut them down. Battelle had a brainstorm - start a business to handle administrative tasks and pump up advertising so there would be enough money coming in to pay the bills and turn a profit.
"Why not create a company to partner with them ... a collection of companies that hang together?" he recalled thinking. "Perhaps there's a business there.
"I just saw it," he said. "But I couldn't believe it would work. You say, 'No, put it away. Last time I started a business it didn't work out so well.' "
But he couldn't put it away. He modeled it and found "off-the-charts" profit potential for his company and its affiliates. Both his marketing and online author contacts told him they were interested. He started Federated Media in spring 2005.
Now, once again, Battelle is in a publishing maelstrom of his own making. Federated's Sausalito office buzzes - just like Wired and the Standard. Battelle is at the center, setting off sparks that keep the atmosphere electric and inspire prodigies of work from his staff.
And he's still the true believer.
Asked about his reputation as a wide-eyed technology enthusiast, Battelle confessed that there's truth in the description: "I believe in Google. I believe in the Internet. I believed in the Industry Standard. I believe in Federated Media. Frankly, I don't know how else to live."
Battelle said he doesn't know what's going to happen to Federated, although he suggested one possibility is "a great exit." That could be interpreted as a sale down the road at a fabulous price to a deep-pocketed buyer who would preserve his vision of an online media community.
But the prospect of big money seems less crucial than that sense of being at the center of things.
"Maybe ... we become part of media history," he mused. "That would be most important to me."
Online resource
Faces of Business is a year-end series of profiles featuring prominent people in the Bay Area business scene. To read all the profiles:
www.sfgate.com/ZBWQ
Faces of Business is a year-end series of profiles featuring prominent people in the Bay Area business scene. To read all the profiles, go to www.sfgate.com/ZBWQ.
John Batelle
Age: 42
Job: Founder, chairman, Federated Media Publishing
Previous employment: Founder, chairman, CEO, Standard Media International; publisher of the Industry Standard; managing editor, Wired magazine.
Blog: SearchBrains ( www.searchblog.com), covering media, technology and the Internet.
Education: Bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology and master's degree in journalism, UC Berkeley
Family: Married, three children
Quote: "I've had a 15-year obsession with the intersection of media and technology. I've been obsessed with making media in this space."
E-mail Sam Zuckerman at szuckerman@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
True believer: John Battelle tries his third media enterprise
Sam Zuckerman, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, December 24, 2007
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John Battelle runs his Federated Media Publishing from an... John Battelle likes the feeling of being at the center of...
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As long as there's been a Web, John Battelle has been near the center of it.
Managing editor of Wired magazine and later CEO of the company that published the Industry Standard, Battelle was an essential figure at the digital world's two most iconic publishing enterprises, chronicling the explosive growth of the Internet during the 1990s.
His contagious enthusiasm and missionary zeal about the world-changing power of technology were instrumental in making both magazines cultural phenomena in their own right.
"John saw certain things way before most people," said former Industry Standard Managing Editor Jonathan Weber, now publisher of New West, a Denver online media company. "His role was to be the true believer."
Now, at the ripe age of 42, Battelle is in the thick of his third media venture, one he says could become an even bigger phenomenon than the first two.
This being 2007, there are no printers and no post office to contend with. Battelle's Federated Media Publishing lives entirely in the online world of blogs and related Web 2.0 sites.
What Battelle has done is zero in on a unique money-making opportunity that's emerged as a handful of such sites have turned into successful businesses. With a roster of 140 online affiliates, his company handles back-office chores - most vitally the sale of advertising, which is the life blood of Internet publishing ventures - so that the bloggers and online entrepreneurs can spend their time thinking great thoughts and writing great copy.
"He was looking for a way to somehow liberate the folks who do the writing," said Martin Nisenholtz, CEO of New York Times Digital, an investor in Federated.
Just 2 years old, Federated Media, with a staff of 53, has been in the black for three months, Battelle said recently during a wide-ranging interview in his Sausalito office.
In contrast with online publishing conglomerates such as Gawker Media, Federated doesn't own the sites in its network. Its business model is to contract with independent online publishers and take a minority cut, typically 40 percent, of the advertising it sells for them.
It also makes money by holding conferences that attract well-heeled digerati, charging several thousand dollars for admission.
Gawker Publisher Nick Denton, who's made a cottage industry of tormenting Battelle, needles Federated's chief for allegedly exaggerating the popularity of the company's affiliated sites and for losing ad sales business from key clients, such as Digg.com. And Denton, whose sites have been accused of tabloid-style journalism, repeatedly has posted an old photo of Battelle flipping the bird.
Battelle said he has no interest in publicly feuding with Denton. "I have nothing but nice things to say," he said.
Recent surveys of traffic to Federated sites have confirmed Battelle's claims about the network's popularity, he said. And concerning Denton's gloating over lost clients, Battelle noted that Digg and other supposed defectors still do business with Federated. Affiliate gains and losses are part of the normal churn of the advertising business, he added.
"Our churn is extraordinarily low," Battelle said.
When Digg moved its ad sales business to Microsoft, founder Kevin Rose posted a statement calling Federated "an awesome partner" and noting that his company would continue working with Battelle's operation on special projects.
Those who know Battelle, who grew up in Pasadena, say his drive and charisma were evident from his earliest days at MacWeek, when he was a newly minted Berkeley anthropology graduate turned tech reporter. He was legendary for prying loose secrets about the insular Apple, once getting his hands on a new Mac version before its official release. MacWeek put a picture of the computer's motherboard on the cover.
Wired founders Louis Rossetto and Jane Metcalfe picked Battelle to be their managing editor, a leap of faith almost as big as starting the magazine itself.
"He looked like a Southern California water polo player and had this can-do attitude, excitement and optimism," Metcalfe recalled. "He came to us with fully formed ideas about the magazine we were inventing. Here's a complete stranger that felt like our oldest friend."
What they shared, Metcalfe said, was a vision of digital technology as "this giant economic machine creating wealth, disrupting existing power structures and sparking a whole new way of thinking."
After Wired, Battelle was recruited by publisher International Data Group to start the Industry Standard. The magazine quickly became the essential guide to the dot-com boom. And it turned into an integral part of the bubble itself, thick with advertising and known for its flashy electronic billboard at the foot of the Bay Bridge. Everyone expected a blockbuster initial public offering that would sow a crop of millionaires and place the Standard in the top tier of magazine publishing.
A year-and-a-half later, the Standard was dead, killed by the dot-com bust and IDG's decision to declare the magazine bankrupt. Never in publishing history had a magazine risen so spectacularly and fallen to Earth with such a resounding thud.
Battelle said he was shattered by the Standard's spectacular and very public flame-out.
"I was bereft," he recalled. "I lost something I had created. I knew I had let down so many people."
Some in the Internet world suggested his Internet boosterism and predilection for Big Thoughts about the march of technology had blinded him to the excesses of the dot-com era and set the Standard up for failure. One disgruntled ex-employee even started a Web site called Battelle Watch, sticking him with the name "Mr. Bubble" and chronicling his foibles.
For his part, Battelle experienced an almost religious crisis of faith in the theme that had animated his personal and professional outlook since college and his early days as a wunderkind reporter at MacWeek - the idea that the digital revolution was an epochal and potentially liberating event in human history. He even considered forsaking the tech world to start a magazine about men's health.
"It was the narrative I had been involved in since MacWeek," he said. "But when the Industry Standard blew up, I lost faith in the narrative."
Battelle taught at UC Berkeley and then found his optimism rekindled by the mushrooming clout of Google as an Internet search powerhouse. His best-selling book, "The Search," is part history and part meditation on the transformation wrought by search technology.
Battelle said he got the idea for Federated in 2004 from his blog, SearchBrains, which was attracting up to 60,000 visitors a month. But he couldn't make a business of it without hiring a staff, and there wasn't enough revenue to pay employees. Catch-22.
Around that time, friends at technology blog Boing Boing told him that their expenses for Internet hosting services were doubling, a drain of cash that threatened to shut them down. Battelle had a brainstorm - start a business to handle administrative tasks and pump up advertising so there would be enough money coming in to pay the bills and turn a profit.
"Why not create a company to partner with them ... a collection of companies that hang together?" he recalled thinking. "Perhaps there's a business there.
"I just saw it," he said. "But I couldn't believe it would work. You say, 'No, put it away. Last time I started a business it didn't work out so well.' "
But he couldn't put it away. He modeled it and found "off-the-charts" profit potential for his company and its affiliates. Both his marketing and online author contacts told him they were interested. He started Federated Media in spring 2005.
Now, once again, Battelle is in a publishing maelstrom of his own making. Federated's Sausalito office buzzes - just like Wired and the Standard. Battelle is at the center, setting off sparks that keep the atmosphere electric and inspire prodigies of work from his staff.
And he's still the true believer.
Asked about his reputation as a wide-eyed technology enthusiast, Battelle confessed that there's truth in the description: "I believe in Google. I believe in the Internet. I believed in the Industry Standard. I believe in Federated Media. Frankly, I don't know how else to live."
Battelle said he doesn't know what's going to happen to Federated, although he suggested one possibility is "a great exit." That could be interpreted as a sale down the road at a fabulous price to a deep-pocketed buyer who would preserve his vision of an online media community.
But the prospect of big money seems less crucial than that sense of being at the center of things.
"Maybe ... we become part of media history," he mused. "That would be most important to me."
Online resource
Faces of Business is a year-end series of profiles featuring prominent people in the Bay Area business scene. To read all the profiles:
www.sfgate.com/ZBWQ
Faces of Business is a year-end series of profiles featuring prominent people in the Bay Area business scene. To read all the profiles, go to www.sfgate.com/ZBWQ.
John Batelle
Age: 42
Job: Founder, chairman, Federated Media Publishing
Previous employment: Founder, chairman, CEO, Standard Media International; publisher of the Industry Standard; managing editor, Wired magazine.
Blog: SearchBrains ( www.searchblog.com), covering media, technology and the Internet.
Education: Bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology and master's degree in journalism, UC Berkeley
Family: Married, three children
Quote: "I've had a 15-year obsession with the intersection of media and technology. I've been obsessed with making media in this space."
E-mail Sam Zuckerman at szuckerman@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Businesses Reveal New Year's Resolutions for Online Marketing in 2008
Businesses Reveal New Year's Resolutions for Online Marketing in 2008
New survey shows how businesses operating online intend to ring in more profits in the New Year.
Montclair, NJ, (PRWEB) December 19, 2007 -- How will businesses operating online ring in a more profitable New Year? In a survey of 1,050 northern New Jersey businesses, the top three goals for online marketing in 2008 are: improving website content and layout (24.3 percent), stoking up e-mail marketing (19.5 percent), and search engine optimization (SEO) (17 percent).
SEO uses "keywords" (popular search terms) to make a company easier for prospects to find on search engines like Google and Yahoo!.
It's surprising that 25 percent of those surveyed either weren't sure or didn't have a clue about which keywords were important in helping prospects find them. Clearly, a properly optimized site can increase web traffic -- and the business a company can expect to gain in 2008 and beyond
The survey, conducted by Internet marketing firm Samson Media, llc (Montclair, NJ) in late November, polled executives from retail, banking, manufacturing, trades, and business service companies.
"It's surprising that 25 percent of those surveyed either weren't sure or didn't have a clue about which keywords were important in helping prospects find them. Clearly, a properly optimized site can increase web traffic -- and the business a company can expect to gain in 2008 and beyond," said Gene R. Sower, principal of Samson Media (http://www.samsonmedia.net).
Other survey highlights revealed that 90 percent of respondents had a business website, and an equal percentage felt it made a positive impact on their business. Nearly 30 percent admitted to either creating their sites themselves or using someone in-house who had no professional web design and optimization experience.
The increase in search engine use to find everything from pet sitters to plumbers was even evident among the survey respondents, with 38 percent reporting using online search, second only to "personal referral." This compared with 10 percent who chose the traditional yellow pages.
The online marketing focus is in addition to traditional advertising. Nearly 40 percent of respondents currently advertise in newspapers and magazines. Other ad vehicles included: yellow pages (34 percent); radio (16 percent), and TV or cable (5 percent). In addition, 42 percent use some form of direct mail.
Samson Media, celebrating its one year anniversary in December 2007, is an online marketing firm specializing in website design, search engine optimization and small business consulting. For more information, visit http://www.samsonmedia.net, or call 973-744-6621.
###
New survey shows how businesses operating online intend to ring in more profits in the New Year.
Montclair, NJ, (PRWEB) December 19, 2007 -- How will businesses operating online ring in a more profitable New Year? In a survey of 1,050 northern New Jersey businesses, the top three goals for online marketing in 2008 are: improving website content and layout (24.3 percent), stoking up e-mail marketing (19.5 percent), and search engine optimization (SEO) (17 percent).
SEO uses "keywords" (popular search terms) to make a company easier for prospects to find on search engines like Google and Yahoo!.
It's surprising that 25 percent of those surveyed either weren't sure or didn't have a clue about which keywords were important in helping prospects find them. Clearly, a properly optimized site can increase web traffic -- and the business a company can expect to gain in 2008 and beyond
The survey, conducted by Internet marketing firm Samson Media, llc (Montclair, NJ) in late November, polled executives from retail, banking, manufacturing, trades, and business service companies.
"It's surprising that 25 percent of those surveyed either weren't sure or didn't have a clue about which keywords were important in helping prospects find them. Clearly, a properly optimized site can increase web traffic -- and the business a company can expect to gain in 2008 and beyond," said Gene R. Sower, principal of Samson Media (http://www.samsonmedia.net).
Other survey highlights revealed that 90 percent of respondents had a business website, and an equal percentage felt it made a positive impact on their business. Nearly 30 percent admitted to either creating their sites themselves or using someone in-house who had no professional web design and optimization experience.
The increase in search engine use to find everything from pet sitters to plumbers was even evident among the survey respondents, with 38 percent reporting using online search, second only to "personal referral." This compared with 10 percent who chose the traditional yellow pages.
The online marketing focus is in addition to traditional advertising. Nearly 40 percent of respondents currently advertise in newspapers and magazines. Other ad vehicles included: yellow pages (34 percent); radio (16 percent), and TV or cable (5 percent). In addition, 42 percent use some form of direct mail.
Samson Media, celebrating its one year anniversary in December 2007, is an online marketing firm specializing in website design, search engine optimization and small business consulting. For more information, visit http://www.samsonmedia.net, or call 973-744-6621.
###
NEW PROGRAM BREAKS GROUND FOR MONEY MAKING BLOGS Business in Internet Marketing
NEW PROGRAM BREAKS GROUND FOR MONEY MAKING BLOGS Business in Internet Marketing Teaches Users to Earn With their Blog
A complete system that helps users learn how to make money with their blog, Money From Blog Coaching Club offers solid instructions that anyone can follow and make money, even if they don't know a thing about blogging.
(PRWEB) December 19, 2007 --
It seems that everyone has a money making internet strategy and they all promise great returns. But how many actually deliver? Jack Lan's MFB-Money From Blog system delivers. A complete system that helps users learn how to make money with their blog, Money From Blog offers solid instructions that anyone can follow and make money, even if they don't know a thing about blogging. People who are looking for a business in internet marketing can readily apply this information and begin drawing an income from their blog. The Money From Blog system offers hands on training through intensive, informative materials that are part of a system that really works.
News Image
It is simple to follow so it is simple to begin making big bucks just through their blog.
Blogging is the next big thing and has emerged, almost overnight, as not only a great way to network and communicate ideas, but also as one of the easiest, fastest ways to increase web site traffic and boost search engine rankings. When this is done with the right formula, all of those hits and higher search engine rankings convert to earnings. People who are "in the know" can earn hundreds, even thousands of extra dollars from their blog. What is most striking about the Money from Blog system is that a person can accomplish this regardless of whether they have a business online, a brick and mortar business or even if they do not have a business at all.
The Money From Blog Internet Coaching system is backed by some of the most intense research in the industry. When blogging first emerged onto the landscape of the world wide web, it was an endeavor that was pursued by the kings and queens of the very tech savvy and trendy. The creators of the Money From Blog system read every item that they could get their hands on regarding blogging and business in internet marketing. As they conducted their research, it was the research itself that helped to form the system of Money from Blog. What the creators found was that there was very little data regarding how blogging could potentially be used in business. They also found insufficient information on the step by step process that showed people how to make money from their blog.
The strategies that are outlined in the system have been used by the creators themselves. Even though they can not physically be there to hold each user's hand as they strive to achieve success, they do provide through the Money From Blog MFB system worksheets, checklists, flowcharts, monitor charts and videos. This makes it much easier for the user to follow and implement in their own internet marketing and blogging. They provide simple, clearcut instructions that nearly anyone can follow, meaning that nearly anyone can succeed.
The Money From Blog system can help users build a powerful blog on any topic with Wordpress and they can teach them how to generate at least 200 unique readers every day without making any monetary investment. Special inclusions such as 10 Unrevealed Traffic Generations that are used by the top leaders in the blogging industry and 10 Most Profitable Monetization Methods that can turn blogs into instrument for generating income. There is potential with a blog for making money and people who are interested in starting a business in internet marketing can truly profit.
The system includes videos that are created by a blogger who is successful and making money with his blogs. In the videos he will impart his secrets with those who purchase the Money from Blog system. Additionally, there are included 24 videos that are hands on, coaching users at their own pace that guarantee success in the blogging business. What's more, they are only available through the Money for Blog system.
There are thousands of dollars that are lost each year by people who throw it away at inferior products in the hopes of learning how to earn money on the internet. The bad press that is currently in the media does not help the case, but people still click that button and type in that credit card number. Maybe this time it will take, they think, hope against hope, only to be let down. Jack Lan, however, made a dramatic decision to no longer be a victim of the schemes and scams online. He developed the Money from Blog system and spent a countless hours during the 12 month development time to create a product that spoke to the user and delivered real results. Lan put together all the information that he had found, researched and compiled to create a system that does deliver and does make money for the user. Users who want to make money with their blog or who wish to start a business in internet marketing can certainly benefit from the system.
Users of the Money from Blog system will learn the fundamentals of blogging, the history of the blog business, how they can set up a Wordpress blog with money making capabilities, how to create a system that they can maintain and keep up with and how to generate traffic with many new visitors on a daily basis. They will also gain coaching in the latest web 2.0 techniques that will drive traffic to their site and learn advanced strategies that are the well kept secrets of the top internet marketers.
"The Money From Blog system is a no fail, win-win for the people who purchase and use it." Says Jack Lan, "It is simple to follow so it is simple to begin making big bucks just through their blog." For those who want to start a business in internet marketing and make a nice supplemental income or a full time income, the Money From Blog Coaching Club is the answer. The Money From Blog system can be found at Learn From Money From Blog Coaching Cluband there are currently deep discounts for purchase of the entire system and accessories. The wait for a great internet income is over, enter the era of the Money From Blog Coaching Club.
Jack Lan's Money from Blog offers a complete program for teaching users how to make money with their blog. For more information, contact MFB Coaching Club or Our Official Blog at MFB Official Blog
# # #
Thursday, December 13, 2007
How to earn extra income
How to earn extra income
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Poh Seng Quek [
How you can earn extra money working online when You have
• a full time job but want part time income,
• only an email account,
• no real product or service to sell,
• no starting capital, and
• no website.
Affiliate marketing could be your way to getting that extra income.
What is affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing allow one to earn revenue from referral leads and sales to a merchant
Via a merchant links on a website, in one’s ezine, newsletter or via merchant links in opt-in mailing lists. Even one’s email can be used to include merchant referral links.
How You can get started in affiliate marketing
As long as You has access to the internet and can read and send email, you can get started. Having basic webpage design skills, an existing website. Or an e-zine, newsletter, opt-in mailing list would certain be an asset.
Which program should one join.
First you should beware of internet scams that tried to cheat you of your money. Also while you can find many affiliate program on web for signing up, it is important that you select an affiliate program that promote a service or product that you have passion for, then you will more likely to persist in your effort until you succeed.
You should join a well-known and well established program where you will receive proven information to help make real money from your affiliate program. If you are looking for a well=known program to market, you may like to look at the “Affiliate of the month” program. It pays you 70% commission for each sale.
Presently Ewen Chia ‘s hottest affiliate program, “Affiliate of the Month” is a top-notch and highly profitable Affiliate program. It rewards you every month with commissions, bonuses and worldwide publicity and provide the teaching and material you need to know about affiliate marketing. Over $50000 in commission have been paid out. You can use the system to market any affiliate program. to access “the affiliate of the month” website.
Source:http://www.webspawner.com/users/puzzlegenie/home.html Quek Poh Seng
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Poh Seng Quek [
How you can earn extra money working online when You have
• a full time job but want part time income,
• only an email account,
• no real product or service to sell,
• no starting capital, and
• no website.
Affiliate marketing could be your way to getting that extra income.
What is affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing allow one to earn revenue from referral leads and sales to a merchant
Via a merchant links on a website, in one’s ezine, newsletter or via merchant links in opt-in mailing lists. Even one’s email can be used to include merchant referral links.
How You can get started in affiliate marketing
As long as You has access to the internet and can read and send email, you can get started. Having basic webpage design skills, an existing website. Or an e-zine, newsletter, opt-in mailing list would certain be an asset.
Which program should one join.
First you should beware of internet scams that tried to cheat you of your money. Also while you can find many affiliate program on web for signing up, it is important that you select an affiliate program that promote a service or product that you have passion for, then you will more likely to persist in your effort until you succeed.
You should join a well-known and well established program where you will receive proven information to help make real money from your affiliate program. If you are looking for a well=known program to market, you may like to look at the “Affiliate of the month” program. It pays you 70% commission for each sale.
Presently Ewen Chia ‘s hottest affiliate program, “Affiliate of the Month” is a top-notch and highly profitable Affiliate program. It rewards you every month with commissions, bonuses and worldwide publicity and provide the teaching and material you need to know about affiliate marketing. Over $50000 in commission have been paid out. You can use the system to market any affiliate program. to access “the affiliate of the month” website.
Source:http://www.webspawner.com/users/puzzlegenie/home.html Quek Poh Seng
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Super Affiliate Marketing Tool – The Viral Report
Super Affiliate Marketing Tool – The Viral Report
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Michael Lee
Viral marketing products are powerful affiliate marketing tools that encourage affiliates to voluntarily pass them along to other people. These so-called super affiliate marketing tools often come in the form of software, ebooks, videos, or emails.
If you want to apply viral marketing to succeed in your affiliate promotions, you must have or create a viral marketing product that makes life easier, contains quality content or beneficial advice worth spreading around, or is controversial in nature.
There must be an incentive for people to pass your viral affiliate marketing tool along. People forward jokes or inspirational stories because they want to brighten someone else’s day. Similarly, if your viral product is interesting, useful or can help solve certain problems, people will pass them to their friends; their friends will pass it to their friends, and the viral marketing campaign spreads like wildfire.
Some product owners have a ready-made brandable report for affiliates to share with others. This is good news since the affiliates don’t need to create the viral product themselves.
Affiliates can include their affiliate links within the brandable report provided by the product owner. Aside from earning affiliate commissions every time someone buys from the affiliate link in the report, affiliates also get to give something that may positively affect people’s lives.
If the brandable report also has the ability to include the affiliate’s name and personal website, the more motivated the affiliate will be to pass the report to others.
If the product owner does not provide its affiliates with any brandable report, or if you want more viral products to pass along, you can browse any reputable article directory and gather articles related to the same topic as the affiliate product you’re promoting.
Make sure that the article directory allows you to reprint or republish articles along with the resource box. If not, you have to ask permission from the authors first. Compile the articles in an organized manner and create a special report. You may arrange the articles in such a way that each article represents one chapter.
An attractive title is a necessity. People will never read your viral report if the title does not grab their attention or if it does not press any of their emotional buttons. If they don’t read the report, it will not get passed around no matter how good the content is.
Remember to insert your affiliate links within the viral report. If possible, include testimonials towards the end of the report. If the product owner provides a brandable report for his affiliates to brand, and he did not include testimonials, ask him if he could put testimonials from his sales page in the viral report. Taking advantage of the power of social proof through testimonials is an effective marketing strategy.
If the viral report is from the product owner, it is most likely in pdf format already so you can already send them to your subscribers, friends, and contacts. However, if you’ve created it yourself, you may convert it into pdf format through the adobe website at https://createpdf.adobe.com/index.pl/.
The viral report is one of the best affiliate marketing tools you can use to pre-sell people, since you’re giving valuable information and not hard-selling. People will like you for sharing something worthwhile with them, and you get to earn affiliate commissions in the process. Very cool, isn’t it?
Michael Lee manages one of the top money making affiliate programs online. He provides highly profitable and FREE affiliate marketing tips, tools and resources to skyrocket your affiliate earnings at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/affiliateforce.html
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Michael Lee
Viral marketing products are powerful affiliate marketing tools that encourage affiliates to voluntarily pass them along to other people. These so-called super affiliate marketing tools often come in the form of software, ebooks, videos, or emails.
If you want to apply viral marketing to succeed in your affiliate promotions, you must have or create a viral marketing product that makes life easier, contains quality content or beneficial advice worth spreading around, or is controversial in nature.
There must be an incentive for people to pass your viral affiliate marketing tool along. People forward jokes or inspirational stories because they want to brighten someone else’s day. Similarly, if your viral product is interesting, useful or can help solve certain problems, people will pass them to their friends; their friends will pass it to their friends, and the viral marketing campaign spreads like wildfire.
Some product owners have a ready-made brandable report for affiliates to share with others. This is good news since the affiliates don’t need to create the viral product themselves.
Affiliates can include their affiliate links within the brandable report provided by the product owner. Aside from earning affiliate commissions every time someone buys from the affiliate link in the report, affiliates also get to give something that may positively affect people’s lives.
If the brandable report also has the ability to include the affiliate’s name and personal website, the more motivated the affiliate will be to pass the report to others.
If the product owner does not provide its affiliates with any brandable report, or if you want more viral products to pass along, you can browse any reputable article directory and gather articles related to the same topic as the affiliate product you’re promoting.
Make sure that the article directory allows you to reprint or republish articles along with the resource box. If not, you have to ask permission from the authors first. Compile the articles in an organized manner and create a special report. You may arrange the articles in such a way that each article represents one chapter.
An attractive title is a necessity. People will never read your viral report if the title does not grab their attention or if it does not press any of their emotional buttons. If they don’t read the report, it will not get passed around no matter how good the content is.
Remember to insert your affiliate links within the viral report. If possible, include testimonials towards the end of the report. If the product owner provides a brandable report for his affiliates to brand, and he did not include testimonials, ask him if he could put testimonials from his sales page in the viral report. Taking advantage of the power of social proof through testimonials is an effective marketing strategy.
If the viral report is from the product owner, it is most likely in pdf format already so you can already send them to your subscribers, friends, and contacts. However, if you’ve created it yourself, you may convert it into pdf format through the adobe website at https://createpdf.adobe.com/index.pl/.
The viral report is one of the best affiliate marketing tools you can use to pre-sell people, since you’re giving valuable information and not hard-selling. People will like you for sharing something worthwhile with them, and you get to earn affiliate commissions in the process. Very cool, isn’t it?
Michael Lee manages one of the top money making affiliate programs online. He provides highly profitable and FREE affiliate marketing tips, tools and resources to skyrocket your affiliate earnings at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/affiliateforce.html
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
How To Explode Your Affiliate Sales In 2008
How To Explode Your Affiliate Sales In 2008
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Dan Lok
Many consider affiliate marketing as the easiest and fastest way to earn money online. But don't be fooled if you think there's no work involved. You CAN earn a 6 figure income through affiliate marketing. But you need to be smart, take action, and most of all you need to make your business unique.
Today I'll point you in the right direction for being smarter and more unique. You're the one who has to take action!
You must have your own website or multiple sites that are yours. I'd recommend you avoid the cookie cutter sites that hundreds of others get for free. Sure... they're easy to implement and convenient. But you'll be shooting your self in the foot. NOT unique.
Quite often your market will need repeated exposure to your marketing message. And you can do that with your own memorable domain name and unique site. Imagine what a potential customer thinks if they have already seen many sites similar to yours? Then it doesn't matter really who they buy from.
Your marketing message gets diluted and you'll only be hurting your own business.
People get bombarded every day by hundreds of ads everywhere they go. So create your own unique ads, banners, whatever you plan to use. It's the same idea behind having your own website.
You NEED to be unique in every way.
In time, or sooner if possible, create one or two of your own products to market to your affiliate list. ( You ARE capturing names and emails and creating your list... right?) If you have difficulties with product creation, you can try getting master rights or resell rights only if you can find something good and NOT old. And then try to make it your own as much as possible. Be creative and you'll see what you can do!
Build a strong relationship with your list. These are current and potential customers.
You'll get lots of questions from potential customers about your affiliate products. So the ideal is to buy the product, or products, you're promoting so you can speak from authority. That's best!
People love experts and those in the know. You'll be marketing from a position of strength when you know all about the product. And that fact will come through in your marketing communications.
When you've bought and used the product your support will be better. You can even create stand alone tutorials you can use as bonuses. Be creative.
Also, you may buy a product and discover it's horrible and worthless. And that will save you. It's much, much more difficult to rebuild your credibility than it is to create it.
As much as some marketers will have you believe... your list is NOT an ATM machine. Although when you've done your work sometimes it can seem like it when everything is working as it should.
So don't try to market everything you come across to your list. Be selective. Be smart. Think about the number of times you email your list on a monthly basis. Then use that number to determine how many times you'll promote something to it. And please...
Only provide good, high quality information to your list. When you do, you'll find them much more receptive and responsive to your offers.
Remember... the customer decides what to buy and not you. You, the affiliate marketer, simply offers, or produces, products catering to the needs and wants of your target market. It's about them, not you.
Copyright (c) 2007 Quick Turn Marketing International, Ltd.
A former college dropout, Dan "The Man" Lok transformed himself from a grocery bagger in a local supermarket to an internet multi-millionaire. Discover how you can maximize your website profits in minimum time. For a limited time, you can test-drive Dan's Insiders Club for 30-days Risk-Free and get $1,165 dollars worth of bonus gifts. Rush cover to: http://www.websiteconversionexpert.com/testdrive.html
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Dan Lok
Many consider affiliate marketing as the easiest and fastest way to earn money online. But don't be fooled if you think there's no work involved. You CAN earn a 6 figure income through affiliate marketing. But you need to be smart, take action, and most of all you need to make your business unique.
Today I'll point you in the right direction for being smarter and more unique. You're the one who has to take action!
You must have your own website or multiple sites that are yours. I'd recommend you avoid the cookie cutter sites that hundreds of others get for free. Sure... they're easy to implement and convenient. But you'll be shooting your self in the foot. NOT unique.
Quite often your market will need repeated exposure to your marketing message. And you can do that with your own memorable domain name and unique site. Imagine what a potential customer thinks if they have already seen many sites similar to yours? Then it doesn't matter really who they buy from.
Your marketing message gets diluted and you'll only be hurting your own business.
People get bombarded every day by hundreds of ads everywhere they go. So create your own unique ads, banners, whatever you plan to use. It's the same idea behind having your own website.
You NEED to be unique in every way.
In time, or sooner if possible, create one or two of your own products to market to your affiliate list. ( You ARE capturing names and emails and creating your list... right?) If you have difficulties with product creation, you can try getting master rights or resell rights only if you can find something good and NOT old. And then try to make it your own as much as possible. Be creative and you'll see what you can do!
Build a strong relationship with your list. These are current and potential customers.
You'll get lots of questions from potential customers about your affiliate products. So the ideal is to buy the product, or products, you're promoting so you can speak from authority. That's best!
People love experts and those in the know. You'll be marketing from a position of strength when you know all about the product. And that fact will come through in your marketing communications.
When you've bought and used the product your support will be better. You can even create stand alone tutorials you can use as bonuses. Be creative.
Also, you may buy a product and discover it's horrible and worthless. And that will save you. It's much, much more difficult to rebuild your credibility than it is to create it.
As much as some marketers will have you believe... your list is NOT an ATM machine. Although when you've done your work sometimes it can seem like it when everything is working as it should.
So don't try to market everything you come across to your list. Be selective. Be smart. Think about the number of times you email your list on a monthly basis. Then use that number to determine how many times you'll promote something to it. And please...
Only provide good, high quality information to your list. When you do, you'll find them much more receptive and responsive to your offers.
Remember... the customer decides what to buy and not you. You, the affiliate marketer, simply offers, or produces, products catering to the needs and wants of your target market. It's about them, not you.
Copyright (c) 2007 Quick Turn Marketing International, Ltd.
A former college dropout, Dan "The Man" Lok transformed himself from a grocery bagger in a local supermarket to an internet multi-millionaire. Discover how you can maximize your website profits in minimum time. For a limited time, you can test-drive Dan's Insiders Club for 30-days Risk-Free and get $1,165 dollars worth of bonus gifts. Rush cover to: http://www.websiteconversionexpert.com/testdrive.html
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Affiliate Marketing Tips to Generate Unstoppable Traffic
Affiliate Marketing Tips to Generate Unstoppable Traffic
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Michael Lee
Of all affiliate marketing tips, generating traffic is probably the most important topic. This is because without traffic, no visitors would come to your affiliate sites; hence, there is no way you can make money.
A lot of affiliates don’t have any affiliate plan or strategy in place to promote their affiliate offers. They don’t know that not all website traffic generation techniques will work for affiliates.
In this article, I will be revealing four website traffic techniques that affiliates can begin to use right away to earn those big commission checks.
Google Adwords: This is the quickest way to generate targeted traffic to your affiliate offers. With just $5 you can start generating traffic to your affiliate offers in the next 15 minutes.
Google ads are those ads you see on the right hand site on most search results on google. If you do a search on google, you’ll notice that there are two sets of results. The main ones on the left and the small texts coloured blue on the right.
Advertisers place those ads on the right and they pay for every click on their ads. Your job is to be placing those kinds of ads. Go to google.com/ads for more details.
Article Marketing: This is a great way to generate steady and long-term traffic to your affiliate offers. Another reason why it is great is because it is free. All you need to do is write quality articles and submit to article directories. Please note that some article directories like ezinearticles.com do not accept affiliate links.
To beat that, create a mini website or a blog (using blogger.com or wordpress.com) where you can send your visitors before redirecting them to the merchant’s website. Alternatively, you can buy a new domain name and redirect to your affiliate link.
Ezine Advertising: This is one of the earliest forms of advertising on the Internet. Look for targeted newsletters and advertise your affiliate websites and offers. Write a powerful ad and you will see results in no time.
Solo ads seem to work best with ezine advertising. They are those ads that are sent exclusively to list members. No other ads are placed alongside yours.
To find good ezines to advertise in, go to google and do a search on "ezine advertising" (without the quotes).
Viral Marketing: Write short reports related to your affiliate products and give them out for free. Give them to your subscribers for free, and send them to other product owners to use as bonuses. Remember to include your affiliate links within the contents.
Make sure you give quality information in the report or people won’t appreciate your affiliate recommendations in your report.
If you don’t know how to create such reports, you can buy a private label right report and edit it to your satisfaction.
Out of all affiliate marketing tips, generating traffic is arguably the most important so use these tips and start earning your affiliate commissions now.
Michael Lee gives highly profitable and free affiliate marketing tips, tools and resources to skyrocket your affiliate profits at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/affiliateforce.html. He manages one of the top money making affiliate programs online.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Home :: Business :: Affiliate Programs
By: Michael Lee
Of all affiliate marketing tips, generating traffic is probably the most important topic. This is because without traffic, no visitors would come to your affiliate sites; hence, there is no way you can make money.
A lot of affiliates don’t have any affiliate plan or strategy in place to promote their affiliate offers. They don’t know that not all website traffic generation techniques will work for affiliates.
In this article, I will be revealing four website traffic techniques that affiliates can begin to use right away to earn those big commission checks.
Google Adwords: This is the quickest way to generate targeted traffic to your affiliate offers. With just $5 you can start generating traffic to your affiliate offers in the next 15 minutes.
Google ads are those ads you see on the right hand site on most search results on google. If you do a search on google, you’ll notice that there are two sets of results. The main ones on the left and the small texts coloured blue on the right.
Advertisers place those ads on the right and they pay for every click on their ads. Your job is to be placing those kinds of ads. Go to google.com/ads for more details.
Article Marketing: This is a great way to generate steady and long-term traffic to your affiliate offers. Another reason why it is great is because it is free. All you need to do is write quality articles and submit to article directories. Please note that some article directories like ezinearticles.com do not accept affiliate links.
To beat that, create a mini website or a blog (using blogger.com or wordpress.com) where you can send your visitors before redirecting them to the merchant’s website. Alternatively, you can buy a new domain name and redirect to your affiliate link.
Ezine Advertising: This is one of the earliest forms of advertising on the Internet. Look for targeted newsletters and advertise your affiliate websites and offers. Write a powerful ad and you will see results in no time.
Solo ads seem to work best with ezine advertising. They are those ads that are sent exclusively to list members. No other ads are placed alongside yours.
To find good ezines to advertise in, go to google and do a search on "ezine advertising" (without the quotes).
Viral Marketing: Write short reports related to your affiliate products and give them out for free. Give them to your subscribers for free, and send them to other product owners to use as bonuses. Remember to include your affiliate links within the contents.
Make sure you give quality information in the report or people won’t appreciate your affiliate recommendations in your report.
If you don’t know how to create such reports, you can buy a private label right report and edit it to your satisfaction.
Out of all affiliate marketing tips, generating traffic is arguably the most important so use these tips and start earning your affiliate commissions now.
Michael Lee gives highly profitable and free affiliate marketing tips, tools and resources to skyrocket your affiliate profits at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/affiliateforce.html. He manages one of the top money making affiliate programs online.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Google Adsense adalah Sebuah Investasi
Google Adsense adalah Sebuah Investasi
Member Adsense-Id.com
source:http://www.articlesip.com
By: Yono
Saya lihat banyak member (kebanyakan yg pemula) sering mencoba mencari-cari
jalan singkat bagaimana mendatangkan US$ dari GA secepat & sebanyak mungkin
(Sehingga sering menyalahi aturan dari GA), menurut saya cara ini kurang betul,
saya menyarankan bagi anda yg masih pemula untuk lebih konsentrasi bagaimana
menentukan ‘content’ dari website, kemudian konsentrasi mengisi dan mengupdate
dan juga yang tidak kalah pentingnya adalah bagaimana mempromosikannya baik
lewat Search Engine atau cara lain.
Menurut saya GA adalah sebuah investasi
yang sulit kalau kita ingin dapat
Semua butuh waktu dan kerja keras, jika kita tepat pilih ‘content’, update dan
promosi maka investasi yg kita tanamkan akan kembali dan selanjutnya US$ datang
mengalir setiap bulan dengan cukup tinggal menjaga server tidak down dan
mengikuti jumlah kunjungan jangan sampai turun. Investasi di GA bisa mulai
dengan biaya yang sangat minim : membeli domain (yang tak sampai 100rb),
investasi selanjutnya biasanya tak kelihatan sebab semua berupa kegiatan
virtual di internet (design,promosi,dll), jika sukses, maka impian banyak anak
muda
: ‘tinggal ongkang-ongkang duit mengalir terus’ bisa tercapai. Investasi ini
jangan sampai sia-sia, untuk memberikan bimbingan bagaimana investasi ini agar
tidak sia-sia, saya ada penjelasan sbb :
BAGIAN SATU :
Menyiapkan suatu
website.
1. Tentukan untuk isi websitenya, segment apa yg akan dibuat? misal :
musik, kultur, pariwisata, politik, hobby, portal, dll Untuk segment
international (bhs inggris) peluang meraup
promosinya lebih sulit
2. Pilih nama domain, bisa .com, .biz,.co.id, .web.id,
dll Saya menyarankan kita punya domain sendiri yang menjadi milik kita sendiri!
Jangan pakai domain gratisan, subdomain, dsb…ini kurang baik, sebab ini sangat
tergantung pada domain induknya, jika policy domain induk berubah..bisa-bisa
investasi kita hilang seketika. Harga sebuah domain sekitar 60rb - 165rb,
inilah modal (fisik) awal saat kita membuat website (dan
3.
Cari hosting untuk domain kita, ini bisa cari yang murah bahkan yang
gratisanpun tak apa, yang penting servernya ada jaminan 99.9% online terus,
kalau gratis namun sering down percuma dipakai.
4. Jika server sudah siap, maka
selanjutnya diisi dengan content yang sudah kita pilih, semakin banyak isinya
(dan orisinal!) adalah semakin bagus
5. Saat website sudah siap, maka langkah
selanjutnya yang sangat penting adalah : Promosi !
6. Promosi paling murah dan
sangat efektif adalah lewat Search Engine. Sekitar 80% kunjungan ke website
adalah lewat search engine. Saat ini hanya ada tiga Search engine yang
berpengaruh besar : Google, Yahoo & MSN Untuk mendaftarkan website kita ke
3 search engine ini silahkan kunjungi : Google.com : http://www.google.com/addurl/ Yahoo.com : http://submit.search.yahoo.com/free/request
MSN.com : http://search.msn.com/docs/submit.aspx?FORM=WSDD2
Langkah
selanjutnya adalah konsentrasi untuk promosi dan update content, semakin banyak
melakukan promosi & update content adalah semakin bagus.
catatan :
- Jangan
pernah berusaha mencoba nge-click iklan di website kita sendiri, sebab ini
melanggar aturan GA, bisa-bisa nanti account kita di blokir oleh Google
- Jangan
pernah berpikir apalagi berusaha untuk melakukan bagaimana mengakali GA agar
kita bisa dapat US$ lebih besar dengan jalan yang nakal-nakal. Ini usaha
sia-sia hanya buang waktu (dan tidak betul!).
- Pokoknya jangan pernah berpikir
diluar ‘jalan yg benar’, konsentrasilah pada 2 hal penting :
1. content
2.
promosi
Saya yakin jika dua hal tersebut dilakukan dengan benar maka US$ akan
mulai kita terima beberapa waktu kedepan, dan semoga setelah itu semakin besar
US$ diterima tiap bulannya, itung-itung membantu negara mendatangkan devisa
Untuk menyemangati para pemula di dunia GA, apa perlu saya tampilkan gambar
cek-cek dari Google yang pernah saya terima?, ada yang cuma mulai 0an,
meningkat ke 0an sampai yang 2k, semua masih saya simpan copy nya.
Namun takut
kalau saya tampilkan dikira menyombong padahal tujuannya hanya untuk menambah
motivasi member GA pemula, sebab GA beda dengan cara internet marketing
kebanyakan (yang harus cari downline, harus bayar sesuatu yang tak jelas,
dll,dll). GA adalah salah satu bentuk Internet Marketing yang legal, murah dan
menjanjikan. Namun untuk mencapai sukses lewat GA butuh kerja keras dan waktu.
Member Adsense-Id.com
Friday, October 19, 2007
Getting Free Photoshop Tutorials
Getting Free Photoshop Tutorials
by: Mario Churchill
The Photoshop software is truly a big deal for most people. It pays to have this program in your computer in order to manipulate your pictures as your desire. With this at hand, you can be sure that you get to improve those digital images you have taken even before they get printed. This is more reason for you to give away beautiful pictures to friends and relatives.
However, it is not enough that you have the Photoshop program installed in your computer. It is a must that you have a basic knowledge in Photoshop so you can do the things that you want. As such it is very important to get a Photoshop tutorial.
There are options such as to hire a tutor or enrol in program where you can learn Photoshop skills. You can also choose to buy books that will teach you the aspects of the program. These are options that are open to you. However, it may even be a better choice for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Here, you get to learn a new skill without having to spend the extra money in your pocket.
The Free Photoshop Tutorial
There are many ways for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Be sure that you get to use these options because it sure is a good thing to save your extra money instead. If you can have something for free, then just grab it and make the most out of it.
Ask a Friend for Help in the Photoshop
Some people are fortunate enough to have friends and relatives who are skilled in the Photoshop application. If you happen to have a friend of your own, then ask him or her to teach you basic Photoshop. This is a good way to get the free Photoshop tutorial. You can even use that extra time of learning as a bonding activity.
Explore the Photoshop Program
If it happens that you cannot access any friend to give the tutorials, you can explore the Photoshop program. The manufacturers do provide basic tutorials with the installation. You can easily check the options for the basic tutorials. This can explain to you how certain commands work and when to use them. You can read on the instructions and the step-by-step processes. There are also editions in the Photoshop software that can actually give tutorial using visuals. You will definitely enjoy viewing how a project is developed.
Download Files Online
You can also get free Photoshop tutorials online. There are numerous web sites that will give help for free. You can access the tutorial in PDF format and see the instructions. You can also browse through the sites to find the discussion on a particular topic. You may even love the options of seeing the tutorial in video format.
Ask for Assistance Online
The manufacturer can provide an option for you to get help online. However, you may find it even amazing to explore the different discussion boards and forums where other Photoshop users converge. This can be an opportunity to get free Photoshop tutorials from them. You can post your question and you can expect the other users to give you the advice you need.
Conclusion
Get your free Photoshop tutorials and learn the basic skills needed to operate the program. This way, you can turn out your nice images into fabulous pictures.
About The Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information about an excellent small business marketing checkout http://www.prophotosecrets.com
by: Mario Churchill
The Photoshop software is truly a big deal for most people. It pays to have this program in your computer in order to manipulate your pictures as your desire. With this at hand, you can be sure that you get to improve those digital images you have taken even before they get printed. This is more reason for you to give away beautiful pictures to friends and relatives.
However, it is not enough that you have the Photoshop program installed in your computer. It is a must that you have a basic knowledge in Photoshop so you can do the things that you want. As such it is very important to get a Photoshop tutorial.
There are options such as to hire a tutor or enrol in program where you can learn Photoshop skills. You can also choose to buy books that will teach you the aspects of the program. These are options that are open to you. However, it may even be a better choice for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Here, you get to learn a new skill without having to spend the extra money in your pocket.
The Free Photoshop Tutorial
There are many ways for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Be sure that you get to use these options because it sure is a good thing to save your extra money instead. If you can have something for free, then just grab it and make the most out of it.
Ask a Friend for Help in the Photoshop
Some people are fortunate enough to have friends and relatives who are skilled in the Photoshop application. If you happen to have a friend of your own, then ask him or her to teach you basic Photoshop. This is a good way to get the free Photoshop tutorial. You can even use that extra time of learning as a bonding activity.
Explore the Photoshop Program
If it happens that you cannot access any friend to give the tutorials, you can explore the Photoshop program. The manufacturers do provide basic tutorials with the installation. You can easily check the options for the basic tutorials. This can explain to you how certain commands work and when to use them. You can read on the instructions and the step-by-step processes. There are also editions in the Photoshop software that can actually give tutorial using visuals. You will definitely enjoy viewing how a project is developed.
Download Files Online
You can also get free Photoshop tutorials online. There are numerous web sites that will give help for free. You can access the tutorial in PDF format and see the instructions. You can also browse through the sites to find the discussion on a particular topic. You may even love the options of seeing the tutorial in video format.
Ask for Assistance Online
The manufacturer can provide an option for you to get help online. However, you may find it even amazing to explore the different discussion boards and forums where other Photoshop users converge. This can be an opportunity to get free Photoshop tutorials from them. You can post your question and you can expect the other users to give you the advice you need.
Conclusion
Get your free Photoshop tutorials and learn the basic skills needed to operate the program. This way, you can turn out your nice images into fabulous pictures.
About The Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information about an excellent small business marketing checkout http://www.prophotosecrets.com
Top 10 Ways To Make A Computer Run Faster
Top 10 Ways To Make A Computer Run Faster
by: Brooks Carver
Today I am going to be talking about different ways you can make a computer run faster. There is actually a lot you can do yourself that will boost your PC's performance. So lets take a look at different ways we can remedy that slow computer of yours!
1. Free Up Disk Space
A great way to make a computer run faster is to free up some disk space. Windows comes with a disk cleanup tool that helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete without messing anything up, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
How to use disk cleanup tool.
* Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.
* In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list. (If you have multiple hard drives you will have to select which one to scan.)
* Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.
* When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click OK.
2. Use Defrag Tool
When you add a file or a new program to a new computer, the hard drive is relatively empty so new data is saved to the hard drive in one whole block. When you need to use that information, the computer can quickly access it because it is all in one place. Defragging your system is definitely a way to make a computer run faster.
How to use defrag tool.
* From the start menu point to "all programs"
* Point to "Accessories"
* Point to "System Tools"
* Click on "Disk Defragmenter"
* The disk defragmenter will display the hard drives on your computer. Just select and click Defragment.
3. Get rid of spyware
Definition
Spyware is software with malicious intent - by design; it does something bad to your computer. Usually, it gets installed without your knowledge. It sometimes takes advantage of the fact that most people click "I Agree" to software licenses without reading them.
The only way to get rid of spyware is to have some kind of scanner, sort of like an anti-virus. In order to make a computer run faster and keep it safer your going to need an anti-spyware program. This is tricky, a lot of the spyware programs out there are malicious and will actually add viruses and spyware to your computer by using the "spyware scanner and blocker". So please remember to be very careful when choosing your anti-spyware program.
4. Find and repair disk errors
Detect and Repair Disk Errors
In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.
How to run the error checking utility.
* Click Start, and then click My Computer.
* In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
* In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
* Click the Check Now button.
* In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
* If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.
Tip: Only select the Automatically fix file system errors check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.
5. Get an external hard drive
Adding an External Hard Drive to your computer will allow you to clear out a lot of the things you don't need to be storing on your normal hard drive.
A great example would be your music or pictures. All those songs and pictures are sitting on your computer making it go slower. You will see a decline in your computers performance as soon as you use over half of your hard drive space.
Moving all your songs or pictures to your external hard drive will free up a lot of space on your main hard drive. You can even move applications such as photoshop or games.
An external hard drive is also handy because it is portable. You can unplug it from your computer and take it to a friends house and plug it in there, sharing photos and pictures very easily.
This is truly a great way to make a computer run faster.
About The Author
My name is Brooks Carver and I am a pretty die hard computer tech. I have been working with computer directly for over 20 years now. I have a beautiful wife and daughter, and when I am not programming or fixing computers I enjoy spending time in the out doors.
If you like these tips then you will love my website. It gives the top 10 ways you can speed up your computer. It is very user friendly, it has pictures going along with every step to show you exactly what I mean. I also give out valuable information about what anit-virus and spyware programs that are safe to buy and really work. There are other fun things there too, such as top fastest things on the internet that you can vote on. If your looking to make a computer run faster this is your #1 resource! Click below now!
http://www.squidoo.com/makecomputerrunfaster/
by: Brooks Carver
Today I am going to be talking about different ways you can make a computer run faster. There is actually a lot you can do yourself that will boost your PC's performance. So lets take a look at different ways we can remedy that slow computer of yours!
1. Free Up Disk Space
A great way to make a computer run faster is to free up some disk space. Windows comes with a disk cleanup tool that helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete without messing anything up, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
How to use disk cleanup tool.
* Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.
* In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list. (If you have multiple hard drives you will have to select which one to scan.)
* Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.
* When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click OK.
2. Use Defrag Tool
When you add a file or a new program to a new computer, the hard drive is relatively empty so new data is saved to the hard drive in one whole block. When you need to use that information, the computer can quickly access it because it is all in one place. Defragging your system is definitely a way to make a computer run faster.
How to use defrag tool.
* From the start menu point to "all programs"
* Point to "Accessories"
* Point to "System Tools"
* Click on "Disk Defragmenter"
* The disk defragmenter will display the hard drives on your computer. Just select and click Defragment.
3. Get rid of spyware
Definition
Spyware is software with malicious intent - by design; it does something bad to your computer. Usually, it gets installed without your knowledge. It sometimes takes advantage of the fact that most people click "I Agree" to software licenses without reading them.
The only way to get rid of spyware is to have some kind of scanner, sort of like an anti-virus. In order to make a computer run faster and keep it safer your going to need an anti-spyware program. This is tricky, a lot of the spyware programs out there are malicious and will actually add viruses and spyware to your computer by using the "spyware scanner and blocker". So please remember to be very careful when choosing your anti-spyware program.
4. Find and repair disk errors
Detect and Repair Disk Errors
In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.
How to run the error checking utility.
* Click Start, and then click My Computer.
* In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
* In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
* Click the Check Now button.
* In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
* If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.
Tip: Only select the Automatically fix file system errors check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.
5. Get an external hard drive
Adding an External Hard Drive to your computer will allow you to clear out a lot of the things you don't need to be storing on your normal hard drive.
A great example would be your music or pictures. All those songs and pictures are sitting on your computer making it go slower. You will see a decline in your computers performance as soon as you use over half of your hard drive space.
Moving all your songs or pictures to your external hard drive will free up a lot of space on your main hard drive. You can even move applications such as photoshop or games.
An external hard drive is also handy because it is portable. You can unplug it from your computer and take it to a friends house and plug it in there, sharing photos and pictures very easily.
This is truly a great way to make a computer run faster.
About The Author
My name is Brooks Carver and I am a pretty die hard computer tech. I have been working with computer directly for over 20 years now. I have a beautiful wife and daughter, and when I am not programming or fixing computers I enjoy spending time in the out doors.
If you like these tips then you will love my website. It gives the top 10 ways you can speed up your computer. It is very user friendly, it has pictures going along with every step to show you exactly what I mean. I also give out valuable information about what anit-virus and spyware programs that are safe to buy and really work. There are other fun things there too, such as top fastest things on the internet that you can vote on. If your looking to make a computer run faster this is your #1 resource! Click below now!
http://www.squidoo.com/makecomputerrunfaster/
What is the Best Method to Back up Data?
What is the Best Method to Back up Data?
by: James Walsh
This being the age of internet, chat rooms, blogging and innovative hackers, their expectation never gets fulfilled. The news always leaks out or is methodically publicised by a rival or a gleeful hacker. Thereafter, insult is added to their injury as irate customers and the eager press demand explanations about every unsavoury detail of the incident. But data loss is not a problem affecting only the big players only any more. All of us deal with some amount of data and almost all of it is important to us. Albums have been replaced by .jpeg files, our music is inside the hard drive of our pc or laptop, and our emails are stored in offline folders or software like Microsoft Outlook. Students keep their study material in their machines, and a doctoral thesis is usually a file on the hard disk instead of being a thick volume bound in leather covers. It is, therefore, strange that we keep losing data because we have not taken the precaution of backing it up elsewhere. Several start-up home businesses have not seen the light of the day anymore after an initial incident of data loss. All of this underlines the importance of backup, which really cannot be overstressed.
Some Methods of Obtaining Backups
The method, or rather, the medium chosen for backing up data will depend on the volume of data to be stored, as well as the nature of the data. Some common methods are being enlisted below:
CD and Floppy: The floppy has largely gone out of use by now, due to its many limitations, small capacity and security problems. The CD is a good choice for obtaining backups, and is one of the favourite choices in both domestic and corporate spheres. It is cheap, readily available, portable and compatible with several file formats. Storing a CD and sharing information from it are also quite simple.
DVD: The DVD is a good choice for storing audio visual information. It may not be as cheap as the CD, but offers better quality, often lasts longer, and has way more space. DVD RWs can be used in such a way that literally every bit is used to store information. A DVD also has the same facilities when it comes to sharing and easy transporting. However, the DVD RW, many market observers feel, may turn out to be an intermediate technology and be replaced by something superior but very similar in function, or may evolve in such a way that the problems would get solved. It must be noted here that the constant research in this regard, and inventions like the Blue Ray disk etc. point out that we can hope for a better technology soon.
USB Devices: These are the new favourites all over the world. The greatest proof of the popularity of this technology lies in two facts. Firstly, the storage space of pen drives / flash drives/ memory sticks is constantly increasing. Secondly, their prices are plummeting downwards rapidly. Almost all kinds of files can be stored on these; they are very easy to carry, do not require a separate software or booting up of the machine to start functioning, and it is very convenient to share the data stored on them. For storing smaller music libraries, an iPod may be an option too.
External Hard Drives: For larger data storage requirements, external hard drives are excellent solutions. Arrays or stacks of hard drives are available for corporate purposes and are provided by all good hard drive manufacturers. Seagate, Maxtor, ASB, LaCie all make external hard drives of varying capacities and prices.
Online and Offline Storage Spaces: These are ‘spaces’ provided by professional firms, and are extremely secure for sensitive data storage.
Tapes and Printouts: Traditional storage should not be left out of the list. There is some information that one simply needs to see on the good old piece of paper. Tape has been in use for a long time now, and will probably continue for some time.
About The Author
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk
by: James Walsh
This being the age of internet, chat rooms, blogging and innovative hackers, their expectation never gets fulfilled. The news always leaks out or is methodically publicised by a rival or a gleeful hacker. Thereafter, insult is added to their injury as irate customers and the eager press demand explanations about every unsavoury detail of the incident. But data loss is not a problem affecting only the big players only any more. All of us deal with some amount of data and almost all of it is important to us. Albums have been replaced by .jpeg files, our music is inside the hard drive of our pc or laptop, and our emails are stored in offline folders or software like Microsoft Outlook. Students keep their study material in their machines, and a doctoral thesis is usually a file on the hard disk instead of being a thick volume bound in leather covers. It is, therefore, strange that we keep losing data because we have not taken the precaution of backing it up elsewhere. Several start-up home businesses have not seen the light of the day anymore after an initial incident of data loss. All of this underlines the importance of backup, which really cannot be overstressed.
Some Methods of Obtaining Backups
The method, or rather, the medium chosen for backing up data will depend on the volume of data to be stored, as well as the nature of the data. Some common methods are being enlisted below:
CD and Floppy: The floppy has largely gone out of use by now, due to its many limitations, small capacity and security problems. The CD is a good choice for obtaining backups, and is one of the favourite choices in both domestic and corporate spheres. It is cheap, readily available, portable and compatible with several file formats. Storing a CD and sharing information from it are also quite simple.
DVD: The DVD is a good choice for storing audio visual information. It may not be as cheap as the CD, but offers better quality, often lasts longer, and has way more space. DVD RWs can be used in such a way that literally every bit is used to store information. A DVD also has the same facilities when it comes to sharing and easy transporting. However, the DVD RW, many market observers feel, may turn out to be an intermediate technology and be replaced by something superior but very similar in function, or may evolve in such a way that the problems would get solved. It must be noted here that the constant research in this regard, and inventions like the Blue Ray disk etc. point out that we can hope for a better technology soon.
USB Devices: These are the new favourites all over the world. The greatest proof of the popularity of this technology lies in two facts. Firstly, the storage space of pen drives / flash drives/ memory sticks is constantly increasing. Secondly, their prices are plummeting downwards rapidly. Almost all kinds of files can be stored on these; they are very easy to carry, do not require a separate software or booting up of the machine to start functioning, and it is very convenient to share the data stored on them. For storing smaller music libraries, an iPod may be an option too.
External Hard Drives: For larger data storage requirements, external hard drives are excellent solutions. Arrays or stacks of hard drives are available for corporate purposes and are provided by all good hard drive manufacturers. Seagate, Maxtor, ASB, LaCie all make external hard drives of varying capacities and prices.
Online and Offline Storage Spaces: These are ‘spaces’ provided by professional firms, and are extremely secure for sensitive data storage.
Tapes and Printouts: Traditional storage should not be left out of the list. There is some information that one simply needs to see on the good old piece of paper. Tape has been in use for a long time now, and will probably continue for some time.
About The Author
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk
Planning A Camping Trip For Maximum Enjoyment
Planning A Camping Trip For Maximum Enjoyment
by: Roddy Hooper
So you and the family or you and your friends have decided to go on a camping trip. It's Thursday night and you are going to leave right after work Friday evening. Now you go to the garage or basement and pull out the camping gear from last summer and toss it in the trunk. The tent, the stove and the cooler.(we'll buy some franks and beans on the way).
It's late Friday night when you reach your camp ground and you start to pitch your tent when you suddenly remember that you don't have all the tent pegs and the zipper broke the last time you used the tent. Your buddy said he'd bring the gas for the stove and lantern but forgot and the flashlights didn't work and you did not bring spare batteries.
This weekend is starting out not so enjoyably.
Let's step back a week or two and start PLANNING a camping trip.
First decide where it is you want to go camping. If it's the same spot as always then decision made but if it is somewhere new you should check out the Internet to get as much information as you can about the camp ground you plan to visit. What facilities are available and what rules and regulations are in place.
The next thing to do is make a check list of what you need to take and what you want to take. Make this a group discussion involving all that are going on the trip.
The weekend before the trip go to your storage area (Garage, Basement) and pull out all your camping gear. Put up the tent. Does it need any new poles or pegs? Do all the zippers work? Does it need a ground sheet? Do the air mattresses hold air? Do you have all the cooking equipment including gas cylinders, charcoal etc? Do you have Flashlights, Batteries, Sleeping Bags, Cooler? Check the long range weather forecast. Do you need boots, rain gear or warmer clothing (especially if you are heading to the mountains).
Maybe you need a GPS device or two way radios. They need batteries too.
If you are going with a group of friends make sure they have the check list too. Some things everyone needs others can be brought by just one of the group. No need having ten air mattress pumps and nobody brought the any toilet paper. There is roughing it and then there is roughing it! You can bet that nobody forgets the beer and snack food!
Check your list and go out and buy what needs to be replaced or order it online.
Basically, what it boils down to is, if you Plan a camping trip rather than just go on a camping trip you will have much more fun. What does it really matter if it rains if you have all the equipment you need at your fingertips. You are with friends and/or family, you are warm and dry and you are roughing it in the great outdoors.
No planning would mean you are cold, wet and miserable and wishing you are anywhere but half way up a mountain in the rain, having as MUSH fun as you can.
For more information and purchasing your outdoor needs visit: http://www.myoutdoorsplace.com
About The Author
Roddy Hooper is an avid outdoorsman with over 25 years experience. A year round outdoors enthusiast he participates in everything from cross country skiing to scuba diving and from wakeboarding to snowmobiling. Roddy loves to write about his experiences, some serious and some just plain funny.
by: Roddy Hooper
So you and the family or you and your friends have decided to go on a camping trip. It's Thursday night and you are going to leave right after work Friday evening. Now you go to the garage or basement and pull out the camping gear from last summer and toss it in the trunk. The tent, the stove and the cooler.(we'll buy some franks and beans on the way).
It's late Friday night when you reach your camp ground and you start to pitch your tent when you suddenly remember that you don't have all the tent pegs and the zipper broke the last time you used the tent. Your buddy said he'd bring the gas for the stove and lantern but forgot and the flashlights didn't work and you did not bring spare batteries.
This weekend is starting out not so enjoyably.
Let's step back a week or two and start PLANNING a camping trip.
First decide where it is you want to go camping. If it's the same spot as always then decision made but if it is somewhere new you should check out the Internet to get as much information as you can about the camp ground you plan to visit. What facilities are available and what rules and regulations are in place.
The next thing to do is make a check list of what you need to take and what you want to take. Make this a group discussion involving all that are going on the trip.
The weekend before the trip go to your storage area (Garage, Basement) and pull out all your camping gear. Put up the tent. Does it need any new poles or pegs? Do all the zippers work? Does it need a ground sheet? Do the air mattresses hold air? Do you have all the cooking equipment including gas cylinders, charcoal etc? Do you have Flashlights, Batteries, Sleeping Bags, Cooler? Check the long range weather forecast. Do you need boots, rain gear or warmer clothing (especially if you are heading to the mountains).
Maybe you need a GPS device or two way radios. They need batteries too.
If you are going with a group of friends make sure they have the check list too. Some things everyone needs others can be brought by just one of the group. No need having ten air mattress pumps and nobody brought the any toilet paper. There is roughing it and then there is roughing it! You can bet that nobody forgets the beer and snack food!
Check your list and go out and buy what needs to be replaced or order it online.
Basically, what it boils down to is, if you Plan a camping trip rather than just go on a camping trip you will have much more fun. What does it really matter if it rains if you have all the equipment you need at your fingertips. You are with friends and/or family, you are warm and dry and you are roughing it in the great outdoors.
No planning would mean you are cold, wet and miserable and wishing you are anywhere but half way up a mountain in the rain, having as MUSH fun as you can.
For more information and purchasing your outdoor needs visit: http://www.myoutdoorsplace.com
About The Author
Roddy Hooper is an avid outdoorsman with over 25 years experience. A year round outdoors enthusiast he participates in everything from cross country skiing to scuba diving and from wakeboarding to snowmobiling. Roddy loves to write about his experiences, some serious and some just plain funny.
Explanation Of The Offside Rule
Explanation Of The Offside Rule
by: Niv Orlian
Offside Rule - Usually, soccer rules are easy to grasp even by someone that's watching the game for the first time in his life. You foul someone, you get penalized. You hit him in the box, his team gets a penalty. The ball goes beyond the marked area, it's an out throw. Everything is really basic, except the soccer offside rules. This is one tricky rule and although it's not in the original soccer cookbook (as in, it was added over the course of time) it's a much needed one, so that's why I'll try to explain it a bit.
The offside trap rule only applies to attackers and it is meant to regulate both team's positions on the pitch. Without an offside rule, an attacker could simply stay in the other team's penalty box, receive balls and try to score. This would pin down the defenders and they would virtually be unable to play anywhere else outside their own penalty box, since their main job would be marking the striker that is lazying off in there.
It's also a known fact that attackers generally don't have the same effort requirements on the pitch, since they only need to participate in one phase of the game (the offense), unlike defenders and midfielders who have to participate in both the offense and defense, thus having to run more. So now that you know WHY the soccer offside rule is there, let's see WHAT it is anyway.
There are two phases of the offside soccer rule: the offside position and the offside trap sanction. If an attacker is in an offside position, he will only be sanctioned if the ball is heading towards him and he has an intention to play it. Otherwise, if he skips the game, he will not be called, despite having a clear offside position.
An attacker is in an offside position if he is closer to the other team's goal line than the ball and the second last opponent. You'll often hear people say "he was in offside, because he was further towards the goal than the LAST defender". This is actually not a correct statement, since this doesn't take the goalkeeper into account, so the LAST defender is actually the second last, as the above mentioned offside rule shows.
So let's say that team "Yellow" is attacking and "Red" is defending. The ball is at the feet of Yellow's midfielder and the Yellow attacker is a few meters further to the Red team's goal line, than the last Red defender. Then the Yellow attacker is in an offside position, but the referee will only call an offside sanction if the Yellow midfielder passes the ball to the Yellow attacker while the latter is in the offside position.
If you're new to soccer, the offside rule might need a bit of getting used to, but you'll soon be able to spot exactly how and why someone was called offside if you watch a few matches. Note that sometimes, the position of the attacker and the other team's defender are so close together, that the referee will have hard time deciding whether or not an offside should be called.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides.
Find out more info on soccer rules at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/soccer-rules.html
by: Niv Orlian
Offside Rule - Usually, soccer rules are easy to grasp even by someone that's watching the game for the first time in his life. You foul someone, you get penalized. You hit him in the box, his team gets a penalty. The ball goes beyond the marked area, it's an out throw. Everything is really basic, except the soccer offside rules. This is one tricky rule and although it's not in the original soccer cookbook (as in, it was added over the course of time) it's a much needed one, so that's why I'll try to explain it a bit.
The offside trap rule only applies to attackers and it is meant to regulate both team's positions on the pitch. Without an offside rule, an attacker could simply stay in the other team's penalty box, receive balls and try to score. This would pin down the defenders and they would virtually be unable to play anywhere else outside their own penalty box, since their main job would be marking the striker that is lazying off in there.
It's also a known fact that attackers generally don't have the same effort requirements on the pitch, since they only need to participate in one phase of the game (the offense), unlike defenders and midfielders who have to participate in both the offense and defense, thus having to run more. So now that you know WHY the soccer offside rule is there, let's see WHAT it is anyway.
There are two phases of the offside soccer rule: the offside position and the offside trap sanction. If an attacker is in an offside position, he will only be sanctioned if the ball is heading towards him and he has an intention to play it. Otherwise, if he skips the game, he will not be called, despite having a clear offside position.
An attacker is in an offside position if he is closer to the other team's goal line than the ball and the second last opponent. You'll often hear people say "he was in offside, because he was further towards the goal than the LAST defender". This is actually not a correct statement, since this doesn't take the goalkeeper into account, so the LAST defender is actually the second last, as the above mentioned offside rule shows.
So let's say that team "Yellow" is attacking and "Red" is defending. The ball is at the feet of Yellow's midfielder and the Yellow attacker is a few meters further to the Red team's goal line, than the last Red defender. Then the Yellow attacker is in an offside position, but the referee will only call an offside sanction if the Yellow midfielder passes the ball to the Yellow attacker while the latter is in the offside position.
If you're new to soccer, the offside rule might need a bit of getting used to, but you'll soon be able to spot exactly how and why someone was called offside if you watch a few matches. Note that sometimes, the position of the attacker and the other team's defender are so close together, that the referee will have hard time deciding whether or not an offside should be called.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides.
Find out more info on soccer rules at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/soccer-rules.html
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography
by: Niv Orlian
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Foreword
There aren't a lot of soccer players in the world today that can honestly state they are more popular than Cristiano Ronaldo. Except for a few already established super stars such as Ronaldinho or David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the most popular rising star on the pitch.
His good looks combined with his awesome repertoire of Cristiano Ronaldo soccer tricks and a hint of trademarked Cristiano Ronaldo goals made him reach the level of fame on which he is basking in the spotlight sun today.
This Cristiano Ronaldo biography will try to take you through his career and although it's a rare case that a player who is still in his early 20s receives a biography, I'm sure you'll agree that a Cristiano Ronaldo profile is in order, considering his huge talent and fame.
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Youth Clubs
Born in Madeira to a family where soccer was cherished, Cristiano Ronaldo started playing for a local amateur youth team called Andorinha, where his father handled the equipment and acted as a kit man.
Cristiano was 8 when he joined Andorinha and by the time he was 10, he already sparked the curiosity of some of Portugal's biggest clubs. This led him to sign for the local first-division team CD Nacional, where he would join the youth club and immediately make an impact, helping his team win the youth championship the following year.
After just 1 year at Nacional, he was offered a youth contract by bigwigs Sporting Lisbon, who are internationally renowned for having one of the best youth training facilities in the World.
The young player fit right in at Sporting and started scoring regularly, although he was way too fond on his dribble at that point. Despite this short coming, he was taken in to various levels of the Portugal national youth squad, finally getting his big break at the UEFA under 17 Championship in 2001.
His great performance there drew the eyes of Liverpool's scouts, but Ronaldo was just 16 years old and the Liverpool officials decided he needs more time in the Portuguese league before they sign him.
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Sporting Lisbon
Being taken in the senior squad of Sporting meant the young player's first contact with professional football. Although he didn't play regularly, the few moments that he did get on the pitch were greeted with cheers from the Sporting fans, who loved Cristiano Ronaldo's soccer tricks. In 2 seasons with Sporting's senior squad, Ronaldo got to play 28 matches, scoring 3 times before he was picked up by Manchester United's scouts, at age 18.
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson, manager and coach of Manchester United desperately needed a quality right midfielder in 2003, as David Beckham had just left the club for Real Madrid.
Bringing an 18-year old Portuguese player to replace an international super-star like Beckham didn't seem like a good idea at first, but from his first season Cristiano Ronaldo's goals proved decisive and he quickly gained the love of the Red Devils' fans.
In his following seasons at Manchester, with more and more trust coming from Sir Alex Ferguson and the team's fans, Cristiano Ronaldo developed into an extraordinary player that is now feared by even the sturdiest defenders out there.
Despite the fact that he is just 22 years of age right now, Cristiano Ronaldo already has 208 professional matches and 53 goals (190 matches and 50 goals for Manchester, the others for Sporting) and 46 caps in the national squad, with a tally of 17 goals for Portugal. Impressive stats for such a youngster.
The best part is that with each passing year Cristiano Ronaldo improves his game even further, so don't be surprised if in a couple of years he steps up to become the greatest footballer in activity.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides. Find out more info on Cristiano Ronaldo at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/cristiano-ronaldo-biography.html
by: Niv Orlian
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Foreword
There aren't a lot of soccer players in the world today that can honestly state they are more popular than Cristiano Ronaldo. Except for a few already established super stars such as Ronaldinho or David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the most popular rising star on the pitch.
His good looks combined with his awesome repertoire of Cristiano Ronaldo soccer tricks and a hint of trademarked Cristiano Ronaldo goals made him reach the level of fame on which he is basking in the spotlight sun today.
This Cristiano Ronaldo biography will try to take you through his career and although it's a rare case that a player who is still in his early 20s receives a biography, I'm sure you'll agree that a Cristiano Ronaldo profile is in order, considering his huge talent and fame.
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Youth Clubs
Born in Madeira to a family where soccer was cherished, Cristiano Ronaldo started playing for a local amateur youth team called Andorinha, where his father handled the equipment and acted as a kit man.
Cristiano was 8 when he joined Andorinha and by the time he was 10, he already sparked the curiosity of some of Portugal's biggest clubs. This led him to sign for the local first-division team CD Nacional, where he would join the youth club and immediately make an impact, helping his team win the youth championship the following year.
After just 1 year at Nacional, he was offered a youth contract by bigwigs Sporting Lisbon, who are internationally renowned for having one of the best youth training facilities in the World.
The young player fit right in at Sporting and started scoring regularly, although he was way too fond on his dribble at that point. Despite this short coming, he was taken in to various levels of the Portugal national youth squad, finally getting his big break at the UEFA under 17 Championship in 2001.
His great performance there drew the eyes of Liverpool's scouts, but Ronaldo was just 16 years old and the Liverpool officials decided he needs more time in the Portuguese league before they sign him.
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Sporting Lisbon
Being taken in the senior squad of Sporting meant the young player's first contact with professional football. Although he didn't play regularly, the few moments that he did get on the pitch were greeted with cheers from the Sporting fans, who loved Cristiano Ronaldo's soccer tricks. In 2 seasons with Sporting's senior squad, Ronaldo got to play 28 matches, scoring 3 times before he was picked up by Manchester United's scouts, at age 18.
Cristiano Ronaldo Biography – Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson, manager and coach of Manchester United desperately needed a quality right midfielder in 2003, as David Beckham had just left the club for Real Madrid.
Bringing an 18-year old Portuguese player to replace an international super-star like Beckham didn't seem like a good idea at first, but from his first season Cristiano Ronaldo's goals proved decisive and he quickly gained the love of the Red Devils' fans.
In his following seasons at Manchester, with more and more trust coming from Sir Alex Ferguson and the team's fans, Cristiano Ronaldo developed into an extraordinary player that is now feared by even the sturdiest defenders out there.
Despite the fact that he is just 22 years of age right now, Cristiano Ronaldo already has 208 professional matches and 53 goals (190 matches and 50 goals for Manchester, the others for Sporting) and 46 caps in the national squad, with a tally of 17 goals for Portugal. Impressive stats for such a youngster.
The best part is that with each passing year Cristiano Ronaldo improves his game even further, so don't be surprised if in a couple of years he steps up to become the greatest footballer in activity.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides. Find out more info on Cristiano Ronaldo at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/cristiano-ronaldo-biography.html
English Superstar - David Beckham Biography
English Superstar - David Beckham Biography
by: Niv Orlian
I really thought I knew everything there is about the midfielder, but reading a David Beckham biography I found out more about the man behind the superstar. That's why I decided to write my own biography of David Beckham, to share to you the player behind the million dollar endorsements.
David Beckham Biography – Manchester United
David Beckham's story starts out near London, where he was born to a family of Manchester United fans. Despite being so close to clubs like West Ham United, Arsenal or Chelsea, Beckham's aim was always the Red Devils club. As luck would have it, on his fourteenth birthday, he was taken in the Manchester youth program, and he even starred next to the senior team...as a mascot.
Just 4 years later, he went on to play for Sir Alex Ferguson's senior squad, but his performance still needed fine tuning, so he was loaned to Preston North End for a year, returning to Manchester with some match experience. He quickly gained his place in the squad, despite his young age and became one of Manchester's most preeminent players during the following decade.
His most successful season with Manchester is undoubtedly 1999, when the club achieved the Treble (League, Cup and Champions League in the same season) and with David Beckham playing soccer like never before.
It's around then that he "trademarked" his famous free kicks and crosses and seeing some footage of David Beckham in action during that period will shed all doubts as to whether or not his superstardom status has a solid basis in his playing style, or just his good looks.
David Beckham Biography – 1998 World Cup Incident
His career did have a few rough moments, the most notable one being in 1998 with the English national side, at that year's World Cup. In the Second Round, where England would play Argentina, Beckham was taunted by Argentinean midfielder Diego Simeone and he responded with a swing towards the player, which earned him a red card for bad behavior on the pitch.
With England losing the match and being knocked out of the tournament, all blame fell on David Beckham, as the English newspapers put him against the wall and fired up some poisonous articles. Any other player would have stayed low, or even quit soccer, but David Beckham's ambition brought him back to the top. His performance with Manchester the following year, earned him back the respect of his fans and the entire world.
David Beckham Biography – Real Madrid
By the time David Beckham moved to Real Madrid in 2003, he was already a well-known star on the international stage. In his four years with the Madrid club he managed to win the Spanish league once, but his performance was deemed poorer than what he was playing at Manchester.
Many attributed this loss of form due to the new system found at Real and the fact that at Madrid he wasn't the "star" of the team anymore, since he was playing next to other internationally famous soccer players like Zinedine Zidane, Raul or Roberto Carlos.
David Beckham Biography – Los Angeles Galaxy
Moving to play in the United States for the Los Angeles Galaxy as of 2007 earned him one of the biggest contracts in the history of soccer and it was an offer David couldn't have refused, despite the fact that the soccer level in the United States is not as high as the one practiced in Spain.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides. Find out more info on famous soccer players at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/famous-soccer-players.html
by: Niv Orlian
I really thought I knew everything there is about the midfielder, but reading a David Beckham biography I found out more about the man behind the superstar. That's why I decided to write my own biography of David Beckham, to share to you the player behind the million dollar endorsements.
David Beckham Biography – Manchester United
David Beckham's story starts out near London, where he was born to a family of Manchester United fans. Despite being so close to clubs like West Ham United, Arsenal or Chelsea, Beckham's aim was always the Red Devils club. As luck would have it, on his fourteenth birthday, he was taken in the Manchester youth program, and he even starred next to the senior team...as a mascot.
Just 4 years later, he went on to play for Sir Alex Ferguson's senior squad, but his performance still needed fine tuning, so he was loaned to Preston North End for a year, returning to Manchester with some match experience. He quickly gained his place in the squad, despite his young age and became one of Manchester's most preeminent players during the following decade.
His most successful season with Manchester is undoubtedly 1999, when the club achieved the Treble (League, Cup and Champions League in the same season) and with David Beckham playing soccer like never before.
It's around then that he "trademarked" his famous free kicks and crosses and seeing some footage of David Beckham in action during that period will shed all doubts as to whether or not his superstardom status has a solid basis in his playing style, or just his good looks.
David Beckham Biography – 1998 World Cup Incident
His career did have a few rough moments, the most notable one being in 1998 with the English national side, at that year's World Cup. In the Second Round, where England would play Argentina, Beckham was taunted by Argentinean midfielder Diego Simeone and he responded with a swing towards the player, which earned him a red card for bad behavior on the pitch.
With England losing the match and being knocked out of the tournament, all blame fell on David Beckham, as the English newspapers put him against the wall and fired up some poisonous articles. Any other player would have stayed low, or even quit soccer, but David Beckham's ambition brought him back to the top. His performance with Manchester the following year, earned him back the respect of his fans and the entire world.
David Beckham Biography – Real Madrid
By the time David Beckham moved to Real Madrid in 2003, he was already a well-known star on the international stage. In his four years with the Madrid club he managed to win the Spanish league once, but his performance was deemed poorer than what he was playing at Manchester.
Many attributed this loss of form due to the new system found at Real and the fact that at Madrid he wasn't the "star" of the team anymore, since he was playing next to other internationally famous soccer players like Zinedine Zidane, Raul or Roberto Carlos.
David Beckham Biography – Los Angeles Galaxy
Moving to play in the United States for the Los Angeles Galaxy as of 2007 earned him one of the biggest contracts in the history of soccer and it was an offer David couldn't have refused, despite the fact that the soccer level in the United States is not as high as the one practiced in Spain.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides. Find out more info on famous soccer players at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/famous-soccer-players.html
Better Ping Pong: What You Can Learn From A Table Tennis Video
Better Ping Pong: What You Can Learn From A Table Tennis Video
by: Mario Churchill
Table tennis is a great way to enjoy a lazy summer afternoon, or any afternoon in the year at all. With a round, hollow ball hypnotically bouncing from one end of the table to the other, and taking off with almost rhythmic clicks to signal that a pass or hit has been made, ping pong seems to be the best alternative to an afternoon nap. With all the concentration that goes into the game, moreover, and with all the hitting, running, and picking up that has to be done, table tennis can also be a great way to lose weight.
In the hands of the pros, table tennis looks easy, and seems almost like a dance. All you have to do is find a way to hit the little ball and keep it in play, right? Real table tennis, however, is far more complicated. There are two sides to one paddle, each with their own uses. There are different postures that table tennis players assume in order to best meet their opponents. There are different ways to handle the paddle in order to give the ball its best spin and trajectory.
In other words, table tennis is a product not only of strength and concentration, but knowledge of the physics that go into the game. You will need to understand the science of table tennis if you want to succeed in it, and if you want to enjoy it more. A table tennis video may be able to help you out.
A table tennis video can teach you a variety of things. First, it will introduce you to the sport of table tennis, along with its history, rules, and big players. It will then take you on a tour of the sport’s equipment. Why do table tennis paddles have a smooth and a rubberized side? Why is the net placed so low, and the table positioned so high? What playing ground is best for maximum strength with minimum effort on the part of the players?
The table tennis video will explain all these and more, and how the environment in which you play affects the outcome of your game. The table tennis video will also show you how to handle the paddle in order to make the ball move a certain way. Be sure that you are holding a table tennis paddle while you watch the video, so that you can follow the hand movements that you see on screen.
If you can position your television set and video player so that it faces your table tennis playing ground, then so much the better. Your table tennis video will also have tutorials on how to move your body during a game, and what postures you should assume in order to be less tired and still energetic. If you have friends or family watching the table tennis video with you, follow the movements along with them. Practicing table tennis in this way can be fun and educational, as you can critique each other for any mistakes in movement or posture.
Table tennis can be a joy to play and watch, and, if played well, can be a fulfilling game. Allow a table tennis video to help you. You can find such videos online, through your favorite video merchandiser; and even through your local video store or table tennis equipment suppliers. So instead of sleeping that summer afternoon away, have a great game of table tennis, and soon, with a lot of practice, you might even be in your own table tennis video!
About The Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on table tennis checkout http://www.tabletennismaster.com.
by: Mario Churchill
Table tennis is a great way to enjoy a lazy summer afternoon, or any afternoon in the year at all. With a round, hollow ball hypnotically bouncing from one end of the table to the other, and taking off with almost rhythmic clicks to signal that a pass or hit has been made, ping pong seems to be the best alternative to an afternoon nap. With all the concentration that goes into the game, moreover, and with all the hitting, running, and picking up that has to be done, table tennis can also be a great way to lose weight.
In the hands of the pros, table tennis looks easy, and seems almost like a dance. All you have to do is find a way to hit the little ball and keep it in play, right? Real table tennis, however, is far more complicated. There are two sides to one paddle, each with their own uses. There are different postures that table tennis players assume in order to best meet their opponents. There are different ways to handle the paddle in order to give the ball its best spin and trajectory.
In other words, table tennis is a product not only of strength and concentration, but knowledge of the physics that go into the game. You will need to understand the science of table tennis if you want to succeed in it, and if you want to enjoy it more. A table tennis video may be able to help you out.
A table tennis video can teach you a variety of things. First, it will introduce you to the sport of table tennis, along with its history, rules, and big players. It will then take you on a tour of the sport’s equipment. Why do table tennis paddles have a smooth and a rubberized side? Why is the net placed so low, and the table positioned so high? What playing ground is best for maximum strength with minimum effort on the part of the players?
The table tennis video will explain all these and more, and how the environment in which you play affects the outcome of your game. The table tennis video will also show you how to handle the paddle in order to make the ball move a certain way. Be sure that you are holding a table tennis paddle while you watch the video, so that you can follow the hand movements that you see on screen.
If you can position your television set and video player so that it faces your table tennis playing ground, then so much the better. Your table tennis video will also have tutorials on how to move your body during a game, and what postures you should assume in order to be less tired and still energetic. If you have friends or family watching the table tennis video with you, follow the movements along with them. Practicing table tennis in this way can be fun and educational, as you can critique each other for any mistakes in movement or posture.
Table tennis can be a joy to play and watch, and, if played well, can be a fulfilling game. Allow a table tennis video to help you. You can find such videos online, through your favorite video merchandiser; and even through your local video store or table tennis equipment suppliers. So instead of sleeping that summer afternoon away, have a great game of table tennis, and soon, with a lot of practice, you might even be in your own table tennis video!
About The Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on table tennis checkout http://www.tabletennismaster.com.
The Queen of Soccer - Mia Hamm Biography
The Queen of Soccer - Mia Hamm Biography
by: Niv Orlian
Women's soccer never would have been the same if Mia Hamm hadn't started up soccer when she was little. She had such an impact on women's soccer that she is often thought to mean as much for it as Pele or Cruyff meant for men's soccer. But before being a great soccer player and athlete that broke down almost every possible record at her level, Mia Hamm is a great person and I'd like you to meet the human behind the soccer god in this Mia Hamm biography.
If you're like me, you're probably wondering how and when did Mia Hamm start playing soccer and what events drove her to become a super star of women's soccer. Mia Hamm's childhood circled around sports and athleticism and as her brother recalled, she was faster and more athletic than most of the boys on the block, so she was able to play competitively with and against them.
After taking up youth soccer training at her school's football team when she was only 12 years old, she learned the basics of soccer and started enjoying the sport more and more. Little did she know that three years later, when she was just 15, she would be called up for the United States national women’s soccer team, becoming the youngest player ever to play for her country at that level (one of her first broken records).
That was kind of a weird situation, since Mia Hamm was a soccer player for her national squad but didn't have a fully professional playing contract with a club. But after seeing her performances, the North Carolina Tar Heels quickly signed her and they made quite a deal, since Mia Hamm stayed with the club for 4 seasons, scoring over 100 goals during her time here.
Probably one of Mia Hamm's most important accomplishments is that she managed to bring women’s soccer to a level close to what men are playing. She is one of the two women named in Pele’s "List of 125 Best Soccer Players of All Times" and she is a symbol of women's sports throughout the World.
She also holds two FIFA World Player of the Year awards, which she got in 2001 (the first year the trophy was given) and 2002. Unfortunately, she would have gotten a lot more of these awards, but with the World Player of the Year awards being granted for women when Mia Hamm was already nearing the end of her career, she didn't really have a chance to widen her trophy room.
In numbers, Mia Hamm was the United States top goal scorer, with 158 goals in 275 matches, a remarkable record that will probably dust and rust before it is beaten. She scored more goals than any man or woman for her national team, although many soccer specialists will agree that the level of women's soccer is still in an early grade and cannot be compared to men’s soccer yet.
She won the Women's World Cup twice, in 1991 and 1999 and also put the US national team through a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games in 1996. All these titles, records and awards make Mia Hamm one of the most important players in women's soccer and the fact that Pele considered to put her on the same list as legendary male players such as Maradona, Cruyff, Platini or Beckenbauer says a lot about the influence she had in the game.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides.
Find out more info on Mia Hamm at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/mia-hamm-biography.html
by: Niv Orlian
Women's soccer never would have been the same if Mia Hamm hadn't started up soccer when she was little. She had such an impact on women's soccer that she is often thought to mean as much for it as Pele or Cruyff meant for men's soccer. But before being a great soccer player and athlete that broke down almost every possible record at her level, Mia Hamm is a great person and I'd like you to meet the human behind the soccer god in this Mia Hamm biography.
If you're like me, you're probably wondering how and when did Mia Hamm start playing soccer and what events drove her to become a super star of women's soccer. Mia Hamm's childhood circled around sports and athleticism and as her brother recalled, she was faster and more athletic than most of the boys on the block, so she was able to play competitively with and against them.
After taking up youth soccer training at her school's football team when she was only 12 years old, she learned the basics of soccer and started enjoying the sport more and more. Little did she know that three years later, when she was just 15, she would be called up for the United States national women’s soccer team, becoming the youngest player ever to play for her country at that level (one of her first broken records).
That was kind of a weird situation, since Mia Hamm was a soccer player for her national squad but didn't have a fully professional playing contract with a club. But after seeing her performances, the North Carolina Tar Heels quickly signed her and they made quite a deal, since Mia Hamm stayed with the club for 4 seasons, scoring over 100 goals during her time here.
Probably one of Mia Hamm's most important accomplishments is that she managed to bring women’s soccer to a level close to what men are playing. She is one of the two women named in Pele’s "List of 125 Best Soccer Players of All Times" and she is a symbol of women's sports throughout the World.
She also holds two FIFA World Player of the Year awards, which she got in 2001 (the first year the trophy was given) and 2002. Unfortunately, she would have gotten a lot more of these awards, but with the World Player of the Year awards being granted for women when Mia Hamm was already nearing the end of her career, she didn't really have a chance to widen her trophy room.
In numbers, Mia Hamm was the United States top goal scorer, with 158 goals in 275 matches, a remarkable record that will probably dust and rust before it is beaten. She scored more goals than any man or woman for her national team, although many soccer specialists will agree that the level of women's soccer is still in an early grade and cannot be compared to men’s soccer yet.
She won the Women's World Cup twice, in 1991 and 1999 and also put the US national team through a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games in 1996. All these titles, records and awards make Mia Hamm one of the most important players in women's soccer and the fact that Pele considered to put her on the same list as legendary male players such as Maradona, Cruyff, Platini or Beckenbauer says a lot about the influence she had in the game.
About The Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of http://www.soccer-fans-info.com a website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, rules, famous soccer players, real time news, statistics, and training guides.
Find out more info on Mia Hamm at http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/mia-hamm-biography.html
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