Internet Traffic - Website Visitors

Pay Per Click and Online Advertising

2009-03-07T22:11:00.000-06:00

Pay per Click is very much quicker to implement than most other forms of advertising.

PPC is a type of search engine marketing where advertisers pay a determined amount (starting at $0.02) each time their ad is clicked by a prospective customer.
AdWords is probably the biggest and best way to send traffic to your site using pay per click advertising.

This is a cost-effective solution to generating cheap but quality targeted internet traffic to your website.

Sounds easy, doesn't it. Well, it is not that easy as it may seem in the beginning.
But Pay per click is here to stay and is a quick and an inexpensive way to get target visitors to your website.

Is affordable for even the smallest marketing budget and it brings results fast.

Pay Per Click and Online Advertising

Increase Site Traffic

2009-03-07T22:07:00.002-06:00

Increasing web site traffic to your web page

If you have an online home based business, increasing web site traffic to your web page is incredibly important. Not only in order to make sales and increase revenues but to continue your business. However, you probably have realized that getting increase targeted web site traffic and getting a high ranking result from the search engines is difficult. In light of that, here are a couple of tips you can use that will help you increase the traffic to your web page.

One of the best ways of increasing web site traffic ranking for a variety of keywords and phrases is to use keyword rich articles on your web page. This will allow you to provide useful information for web surfers as well as include keywords that will help your page get noticed.

When it comes to keyword rich articles, you can either write them yourself or have them written for you. The first thing you need is a list of the most popular keywords and phrases people search for, and then write articles that include useful information which uses the exact keyword phrase multiple times. When someone searches for that particular term, your page will be returned as a high result while increasing web site traffic.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to provide relevant, useful and pertinent information. When it comes to outdoing your competition regarding keywords and search engine results the relevance of your article is essentially increasing web site traffic. If you are creating relevant, keyword rich articles, people will get to your page and will be more likely to stay.

Increase Site Traffic

Internet Traffic. Web Traffic.

2009-03-07T22:02:00.001-06:00

TRAFFIC? WHO NEEDS IT!

Traffic? Who needs traffic? Only those businesses who want to STAY in business need traffic. Only those businesses who wish to grow need traffic. Only those business owners who wish to make a living with their business need traffic. If you don't fit into any of the categories above, then you don't need traffic and you can forget about reading the rest of this article.
For those of you who have continued reading, lets get a little more indepth about the subject of traffic.

I am quite frequently asked, is your guaranteed traffic targeted? Targeted is the buzz word of the Internet selling sector right now. Is "targeted" important? Yes, when it comes to emailing your offer. Why? Because emailing someone who didn't specifically request your information is considered spam. And spamming can get you in all kinds of trouble, the least of which is to lose your ISP (Internet Service Provider - AOL, Earthlink, etc.) connection.

Is targeted traffic important when it comes to programs such as my guaranteed traffic? No! Why not? Because traffic is traffic. Look in your ads in the newspaper. See all sorts of businesses advertising? Listen to your radio. Hear all kinds of advertisements? Look at your TV. Loaded with all kinds of ads? Sure. Why? Because those businesses also know that traffic is traffic. It takes MEGA traffic to get sales - on or off the Internet. And those business know that.

I have businesses using my service who are run by executives who understand the nature of traffic. They know that buying 5,000 visitors to your site one time is not going to accomplish what you want to accomplish. They know that in order to attain real success, it takes much more traffic than that and it takes CONTINUING traffic.

Do you send out one ad, and stop at that? Of course not. Why? Because you know even if you get sales off of that ad, you have to keep sending that ad to different places to hit different people.
Do you build a downline and then quit advertising? Not if you want to keep your business growing! Stagnation=death in the business world. You NEVER sit back and rest on your laurels. You must continually use ALL the avenues available to you.

Microsoft is a big business. They bring in quite a lot of money every day. Bill Gates is a multi-billionaire. Do you see Microsoft not advertising? Why are they advertising? To get TRAFFIC! Why? Because traffic means sales! Do they expect every visitor to their website to buy? No! But they also know that some will return when they are in the market for Microsoft's products. If they hadn't seen the site, they wouldn't have known about it!

If they never see YOUR site, they will never think of you when they want what you offer! The more you get your offer known, the better the odds are they will think of YOU when they are in the market for what you sell.

Online Advertising Visit: http://www.ifsmall.com/

Illegal Movie Downloads - Top 5 Reasons to Avoid Illegal Movie Downloads

2009-02-03T14:13:00.000-06:00

Turn on your computer and browse through the series of online websites. Sure enough, you are going to meet a handful of unlimited online portals that make the illegal movie downloads their cup of tea. This prospect is then the best avenue for those who wish to get their hands on their favorite films without shelling any single cent out of their pockets! And who says no one is practicing such? Not all movie enthusiasts are straight. Many of them, if not all, pleasurably take part in the illegal act of using the copies of the movies for their own benefit.

A lot of unscrupulous folks are out there and who are more than ready to extract money for themselves at the expense of those original movie creators. They know for certain that only a few are about to purchase the genuine materials given the fact that they cost too much and that a lot of the movie watchers would be happier to get the freebies. And so their business goes this way.

With the variety of websites that permit the download of movies, it is too hard to comprehend on their validity as your sources. Oftentimes, you get confused about which sites are supposed to be legal. After all, not any one of them claims that they are illegal, right? So the choice is yours. You must be very cautious if you don't want to face the risks that come along with illegal movie downloads. So, better ask yourself. Are you willing to sacrifice a lot in terms of the film's quality just for a free opportunity?

So, why must you avoid the illegal movie downloads? Here are a couple of reasons.

Reason 1

A legal movie download gives you a better viewing experience. You are certain to hate having to squint your eyes and look closely at the screen just to decipher what is going on in the scene. Illegal movie downloads are typical of hazy figures and inaudible sound.

Reason 2

A legal site promotes better download. When the online website for movie downloads is backed up with a movie production outfit, then, you can enjoy watching the film as if it is the original copy itself. So, ensure that the website that you are accessing is authorized by major film productions.

Reason 4

You spare yourself from the verdict of the law. For quite some time you may be spared by the law but in due time, there would be an end to it all. Why risk your future just for the illegal movie downloads? In fact, you can be banned from using the Internet because there is a proposed campaign that monitors the ISPs of those who adhere to piracy.

Reason 5

Illegal movie downloads degrade the effort concerted by the producers and the staff to come up with a polished output. More so, the industry itself would lose its glory because of this detrimental act. So, why not be an instrument for change and partake in providing the solution rather than be a contributor to the problem?

Solution:

An alternative to illegal movie downloads is legal movie downloads.

David Archuleta Ringtones | Crush Ringtone - David Archuleta Ringtones - Crush

2009-02-03T14:11:00.000-06:00

David Archuleta Ringtones | Crush Ringtone - David Archuleta Ringtones - Crush

David James Archuleta is an American singer. In May 2008, he became the runner-up on the seventh season of American Idol receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes. Archuleta's first single "Crush" was released in August 2008; his self-titled debut album was released on November 11th 2008. In June 2008, Jive Records announced that Archuleta signed a recording contract and his debut album will be released later in 2008, after the "American Idols tour". The three songs he performed in the American Idol finale; "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", "In This Moment", and "Imagine", became top-10 downloads on iTunes. All three debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. David Archuleta's newest single, Crush, reached #2 on the iTunes Top Songs Chart and also peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

David Archuleta has released some of the most popular songs of the year and David Archuleta Ringtones are some of the hottest tones in the world right now. David Archuleta's latest single, Crush, is doing very well on North American music charts and is one of the most popular downloads on iTunes. You can get David Archuleta ringtones for your mobile phone.

How to Get Through the American Idol Auditions by Impressing the American Idol Judges

2008-08-05T15:27:00.000-05:00

How to Get Through the American Idol Auditions by Impressing the American Idol Judges

Tips To Get You Through The American Idol Auditions

The Fox networks television show is an Americanized version of the U.K. show called Pop Idol. American Idol is produced by Ken Warwick and Simon Fuller, the very same U.K. producers of Pop Idol. The American Idol TV show made its U.S. debut on June 11, 2002. America Idol's first television season was enthusiastically received by record television viewers from across America. By way of doing a nationwide search for talented singers, the TV show aims to discover the best unknown singing talent in the country. The American Idol contestants are selected from the American Idol auditions which are usually held in six to seven U.S. cities every season.

As everyone in the entire world knows by now, the hit TV show American Idol is about talented and not so talented singers making it through the American Idol tryouts by impressing the American Idol judges and then competing against other American Idol contestants in order to be given the coveted title of American Idol winner. Here are some helpful tips to help you advance through the American Idol auditions and rounds.

From American Idol Auditions To The Finals

During these American Idol tryouts, the American Idol contestants are culled from thousands of singers into a few hundred. The American Idol judges will whittle down the remaining contestants even further still during the Hollywood round. In the end, from the thousands of hopeful singers who signed up for the American Idol tryouts with dreams of being acclaimed the American Idol winner, only 24 contestants, 12 males and 12 females, go to the semifinals.

The survivors of the semifinal round, 12 American Idol contestants in all, will then go on to give it their all in the final round. To make it all the way from the American Idol tryouts into the final round takes a great deal of talent. In the final rounds, one singer will be eliminated from the bottom three contestants each week until the American Idol's final episode of the season where there are only two singers remaining from which the American Idol winner and runner up are then selected. Too bad the name is already being used by another popular TV show because American Idol should be more aptly named "Survivor".

What It Takes To Become An American Idol Winner

Getting a break on the American Idol TV show is what many novice singers can only dream about. They hope that some day the American Idol results will have their name as the winner. After seeing the successful careers of past American Idol contestants, many singers are also trying very hard to get an American Idol tryout. While some contestants fail and some come out on top, we need to realize that there can be only winner at the end of each season and not every singer performing on the show can wear the American Idol crown. Singing talent alone is not enough to make you a winner. A beautiful voice may get you through the American Idol tryouts, but you also need to have a special personality to have a chance at winning the competition. I is important to have the rhythm and command over different tunes in addition to having a beautiful singing voice. Knowing how to dance along with your singing is a talent that is sure to give you a huge advantage over other competitors who can?t dance a lick.

The American Idol Official Website

If you are planning to tryout for an American Idol audition you need to be prepared. It's a good idea to head over to Fox television?s official American Idol website and read and memorize all of the helpful information provided there. You will find plenty of frequently asked questions and answers on their website. If you have any misconceptions about trying out for the American Idol auditions and/or competition, you can clear many of them up by reading the information provided. A couple of the eligibility requirements to get into the competition are: You should be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. and You should be between the ages of 16 and 29.

Tips To Make You An American Idol Winner

Some helpful advice for aspiring contestants from previous winners of the American Idol are:

1) It is imperative that you rehearse the songs you choose over and over again until you've got it perfect. Then, make sure you sing that same song in front of the American Idol judges with full confidence. If you do it right, you will capture their attention and imagination and leave them wanting to hear more form you.

2) You really need to put everything you can into the song you are singing.

3) You should feel the lyrics when you are singing a song. When you do it right, the expressions should show on your face.

4) Remember to focus all of your attention on getting though the American Idol audition or current round. Each time you make it into next round you have an extra chance to show your talent and you are that much closer to the crown.

5) Always treat the American Idol judges with respect. Be completely honest and truthful at all times.

6) American Idol judges often like contestants who dedicate songs to their family members and friends.

7) If you are asked about your role models, try to come up with at least two or three names. When you describe them, you need to fine tune your verbiage and if at all possible try to come up with some interesting words to describe those personalities, but only if you are comfortable doing so. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, then do not use it because you could only end up getting embarrassed.

8) Be prepared to tell about yourself succinctly. Make sure that you dress well. It's important to dress fashionable, but never be under dressed or too overdressed.

9) It never hurts to train. By taking a few voice-training classes you will greatly increases your chances of making it past American Idol tryouts.

Are You The Next American Idol Winner?

By following the tips discussed above you can only enhance your chances of making it past the American Idol audition. Who knows, with your talent and my tips there should be no stopping you. I look forward to seeing you on the next American Idol TV show. Heck, who knows, the next American Idol results may have as the next American Idol champion!

Neil Gerstein writes informative articles on various subjects like American Idol Auditions when he isn't busy building and promoting his own websites. He currently have several websites that are great for content. At Movies, Music, Games & More he reviews the best unlimited free download sites for movies, music, games, zune, psp and iphone.

American Idol Simon Cowell

2008-08-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

Who is Simon Phillip Cowell? And What does American Idol and Nasty has in common?

Brutal honesty comes to mind. He is known as Mr. Nasty or Judge Dread in England. Mr. Cowell was born in Brighton, England. He is as short as you have heard it and yes it stands confirm, and is true he stands only 5' 9" (1.75 m) tall as so many contestant have said on Americas American Idol.For a high school drop out at the age of 16 he sure learned some smarts in the business savvy sectors of the Entertainment industry. Working is way up the latter as a mail boy at EMI.

He is? most recently noticed as one of the judges on American Idol and is quoted after being asked if he feels quality about his harsh criticisms towards the contestants Conwell said, "No, what I am doing is kind by telling people who are useless 'Do something that you're good at'. So I would only feel guilt if I misled somebody who was terrible." "We've done three seasons of American Idol and by now it is safe to assume that most people know that you have to be able to sing. But people turn up who can't sing a note and yet they believe they are the Second Coming." "Sit in these auditions for three weeks and hear "I Believe I Can Fly" out of tune for the millionth time, YOU try and be nice"

When I first saw Mr. Foul on American Idol I had the same perception of his demeanor at first glance as well but lets be honesty here for moment; do you remember the iniquitous Keith who sang the dreadful depiction of 'Like a Virgin' last year? Well Mr. Cowell said, "Keith, last year I described someone as being the worst singer in America. I think you're possibly the worst singer in the world ... I've never, ever heard anything like that in my life, ever." True, and true again. So what does this say when shows like American Idol make untalented nobody's into somebody's?

Just imagine as a judge your are induced by untalented, fashion victims, make-up whores, and those working straight out of a vacuum bag sing a song that needs a serious tune-up. I get why he is short tempered and caste as the Meany, but if you want to be taking seriously these contestants need to really work on presenting themselves as a serious artist and some are really in denial and deluding themselves. With that said, still over exposed contestant's untalented and talented gather their sleep bags and head back for more and more mockery. Last week???s episode in Chicago took a spin for some unleashing diabolical, explosive attitudes on the judges. What's worse is the untalented nobody turned somebody Keith (the Like a Virgin singer last year) and William Hung is sending a message to spotlighting the untalented is just destined to open more doors and statements by Mr. Cowell. He said, "When you celebrate awfulness it puts you in a slightly uncomfortable position," then, adding he was nervous "that we're going to get people coming on the show next year that want to be bad."

Yes Mr. Cowell, you are right, and right on! Perhaps a bit presumptuous but again I pegged that his demeanor won him a spot on American idol for mere Entertainment. It is as sad as that sounds, because Americans love to watch those plummet down the drain. Absolutely yes, that is TV, and that is Entertainment today; but isn't that sad? Isn't it sad that we seek entertainment by someone else's demise, embarrassment, hurt, and ridicule?

In last week's Chicago audition, a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) with an outstanding voice got a thumbs-up from the judges ??? and then the paramount provocateur Simon Cowell suggested the show might consider a bigger stage. Shame on you Simon! She had the looks but some deem she needed a total body work-out for this industry. Mr. Cowell have you heard of Aretha Franklin? Would he have said the same insult behind her back only to be aired and seen by millions? Is this the industries perception of being All Over talented?

Also in Chicago, a man with a girly type voice got Conwell's vicious recommendation: Cowell said, "Shave your beard and try wearing a dress ". Sorry, but I really have to agree with Cowell again. What the heck was he thinking, this show is American Idol, meaning must sell records to those tinny boppers and I am sorry but I seriously doubt that a cross dresser would be the next American Idol. To add insult to injury his voice needed some serious tweaking, and I am being nice. My advice to him is doing drag, you can make money and not let your talent go to waste, but for the next American idol??? NOT! Mr. Cowell let's be fair and give Mr. Nasty, I mean Mr. Cowell the benefit of the doubt. American Idol is pure entertainment. To sit and judge talent takes patience and juicy bias. It's obvious that many couch potatoes gulp down the idiotic stratagem.

Search Engines and Pay-Per-Click

2008-08-05T10:32:00.000-05:00

What Should You Know About Search Engines and Pay-Per-Click?

Here’s a fact for you, 85 to 95% of websites are found through a search engine. You may have the most incredible website on the Internet, but it will receive little or no traffic without search engine visibility and ranking. Can you imagine a billboard in the Sahara desert? Who sees it?

So, how will searchers find your website? What types of search engines could they use?

Search engines fall into two categories. The first is referred to as natural, organic or standard. The second is called pay-per-click, paid inclusion or paid placement.

Natural, organic and standard are interchangeable terms describing a search engine that bases its search rankings on a ranking algorithm. The algorithms involve a number of criteria and parameters, all relating to the content of the website, the website’s size, the number of incoming links to the website, and the content’s relevancy. You will hear terms such as keyword relevancy and keyword density to describe various components of the algorithms.

For the standard search engines, you, your webmaster or hired search engine optimization specialist could spend considerable time optimizing your website to achieve top rankings. The goal is for your website to appear on the first or second page of the search engines’ results when your target user searches keywords or keyword phrases.

The good news is rankings on standard search engines are free. The downside is the tremendous amount of time and effort required to achieve exceptional search engine rankings. Let’s confess to each other that top rankings on standard search engines can be tough and timely to achieve!

The interchangeable terms pay-per-click, paid inclusion or paid placement describe a search engine that bases its search rankings on a "bid for position" basis. Simply stated, you "bid" a price to be in a specific position of the search rankings for a particular search keyword or keyword phrase. For example, the #1 position on the search phrase "pay per click" recently required a bid of $3.55 per click, whereas the 15th position required only a bid of 55 cents. As a result, your differential website advertising costs between position #1 and #15 can be considerable.

With pay-per-click search engines, your ability to bid high can dramatically impact your website's search engine ranking when the search results display website domain names or URL's for the search keyword or keyword phrase. The benefit is your website gains visibility with the searcher, but you are not charged the pay-per-click "bid" until a searcher actually clicks on your website domain name or URL displayed in the search engine results. The selection of your website in the search engine results is called a click-through.

In general, click-through rates range from 1% to 5% of the number of impressions. What is all of this? A click is when a searcher selects or "clicks" your pay-per-click ad. An impression is one display of your pay-per-click ad on the search engine results. So, the click-through rate is a measure of the total number of ad clicks versus the total number of impressions in a period of time:

Click-Through Rate % = Total Number of Ad Clicks / Total Number of Ad Impressions * 100

Let's do the math for our #1 position bid of $3.55 per click. In September, 2004 there were 21,535 searches for "pay per click." First, let’s assume a 1% click-through rate. The top bidder spent $764.49 (21,535 * 1% * $3.55). Now, at a 5% click-through rate the top bidder spent $3,822.45 (21,535 * 5% * $3.55). Budgeting and controlling marketing expenses with such a broad range of potential costs could be tough. Plus, such costs could be the tip of the iceberg. We still must consider derivatives of the keyword or keyword phrase. So, was being #1 worthwhile? That depends on your website’s cost per visitor, conversion rate and profit margin of your product or service.

From what we’ve covered so far, you should realize you can achieve a top or high ranking through the pay-per-click search engine. But, a high ranking will cost money and these costs can be volatile. Meanwhile, the standard search engine remains free.

However, pay-per-click offers one significant advantage. It enables you to achieve website visibility with a high ranking instantaneously or overnight. If you want to draw traffic to your website fast for any reason, pay-per-click can make that happen. Remember, maximizing the standard search engine process takes time!

Let’s summarize the pros and cons of pay-per-click marketing:

Pros

* Improves your website’s ranking and traffic quickly.
* Tests the marketability of your product or service swiftly.
* Determines the ability of your web site to convert visitors to a call to action or make a purchase promptly.
* Identifies which keyword phrases will provide the best conversion rate rapidly.
* Provides complete control of the search engine campaign, both position and cost.

Cons

* Cost

Many individuals criticize pay-per-click because of the costs involved. But, have you really thought about the cost issue? Unless you or someone in your organization has expertise in search engine optimization, you’ll probably pay several thousand dollars in fees to a search engine optimization specialist to improve and optimize your website to achieve higher rankings in the standard search engines. So, my question to you is. Are the standard search engine rankings really free?

At the end of the standard versus pay-per-click search engine debate, it’s like the old saying, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." Or, it’s like the old commercial, "You can pay me now or you can pay me later." The reality of the debate is you must evaluate your specific website situation and utilize the search engine approach that maximizes your website promotion goals and investment.

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Home Business University

2008-08-05T10:20:00.000-05:00

The Home Business University That Changed My Life

During my first 2 years as a struggling home business entrepreneur dreaming of making big money and leading a free lifestyle, I made many mistakes. Some of those mistakes cost me money. Others caused me heartache, and a few almost completely destroyed my faith that an ordinary person like me could dream of extraordinary things.

But I have also made a handful of good decisions, and at the top of that list is my decision to become a member of the IAHBE. The IAHBE (http://www.iahbe.org) stands for International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs. In one sentence, it is simply "An online Home Business University with an extensive Learning Center packed with home business information, reports, articles, seminars and other content put under one roof."

Being an exclusive paid membership resource, I was very half-hearted at first at the thought of spending a good $29 for something as intangible as "information". As I once asked myself, many people now ask me this question: "Can't I get this information for FREE on the Internet? So why do I need to pay for it?"

I have to admit that this is a valid question. And I have to agree that you CAN find similar (but not exact) information for free, scattered around the Internet. So why choose the IAHBE? How can it help you?

Let me tell you my story, from the point of view of an entrepreneur living in Malaysia, while trying to build a global business on the Internet. This is how it changed my life...

1) Your Words are the Holy Truth

Not too long ago, I used to think that my ex-MLM upline leader had my best interests at heart. I thought that the meetings I went for and the methods they preached were the only way to build and market a home based business.

That couldn't be any further from the truth. For example, my upline thought me these lessons about prospecting:

a) Go door-to-door and ask people to come to the Opportunity Meeting...
b) NEVER mention that it is a "business opportunity meeting"...
c) Personally go to the prospect's home and bring them to the opportunity meeting...
d) Make a surprise visit to your prospect's home and show them the compensation plan...
e) Convince the prospect to join or buy the products

I could go on and on, but surely you get the point. In the IAHBE, I came across an article by Tom “Big Al” Schreiter about prospecting, and it changed my life forever. Here's what the article said:

"Professionals sort, amateurs convince"

I wish words could express how that simple sentence changed my idea of prospecting forever...

The point is this: You can never rely on a single source of information. The IAHBE has so many good and qualified authors, every one of them a success in their own rights. Finally, I found a place where I can get so much high quality information, compare them, and decide for myself which ideas I want to follow.

If you’ve decided to climb the home business ladder to success, and you want to REALLY make sure that it’s not leaning against the wrong wall, you’ll need guidance from people who have "been there and done that" before you start your journey.

2) Running Around in Circles

Before I joined the IAHBE, I was scouting around the Internet for free home business tips and ideas. I found many, but the problem was that I now had to ask myself:

- Which Internet "guru" you should I listen to?
- What should I invest in?
- Which resources will help me achieve profitability and which ones won't?
- What steps should I take to get where I want without busting my budget?

As I sat around cracking my head with these questions, I realized another undeniable factor to home business success, TIME! The fact is that there are only so many hours in a day, and why was I wasting time trying to wade through the sea of information called the Internet?

Information on the Internet, I learned, can never be fully trusted, especially if it's FREE. There are so many "Fake Experts" out there pitching ideas they have not tried themselves, which can lead the new guy astray.

With the IAHBE on the other hand, I can be assured that I am getting only top quality information. All writers are screened and evaluated before their material is accepted by the IAHBE. You don't get the fake ones here, and that's a real relief.

3) Keeping My Home Business Costs under Control

As a budding home business entrepreneur, my survival depended on how well I controlled my meager finances and small capital. And yet, every business owner knows the costs associated when starting your business. For example, I had to spend on:

a) My personal growth - books, ebooks, reports
b) Advertising - ezine ads, PPC, leads and print media ads
c) Operations - PC software, productivity tools

I had, at that time, spent close to $3000 just getting started. Most that was spent on useless website traffic schemes, so called "targeted" home business leads, books, software and PPC advertising. But in my second month as a member of the IAHBE, I realized that I actually have hundreds of unused coupons, discounts and special offers for the same products and services that I paid the full price for elsewhere. How can they do this?

It's a question of simple economics. What you cannot achieve as an individual, you can easily achieve as a group. Since the IAHBE has thousands of members, they can easily negotiate for special bulk discounts, free trials, and even free gifts from various suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.

4) A Simple Choice I had to Make

Many of my downline affiliates ask; is the IAHBE suitable for me? To this question I always ask them back:

"Do you want to spend time finding information, or do you want to spend time building a business?"

The reason is this; if you're content in running around chasing information, instead of actually building a business, you don't need the IAHBE. If you want to learn only from truly successful people, and get the information delivered to your doorstep, there is no smarter choice. After all, it only costs you around a dollar a day. Heck, even useless 'lifestyle' magazines cost more :)

5) The Journey Makes a Full Circle

The only apparent weakness of the IAHBE was that it did not provide information specific to Malaysia, where I live and run my Internet business. Sure, the articles and tips were great, but when I needed information that applies to me as a Malaysian, I dreaded the thought of going back to the world of offline information retrieval.

In an email, I told them that they should be more "International" as their name suggests. To my honest surprise, three months down the road, they did indeed become truly "International". And they were looking for writers to complement their search for information on Asia, especially in home business hotspots like India, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan and the Philippines.

Good things happen to those who persist. Not only did I get what I want, I was also appointed as a writer for topics related to Asia. Now I had to give back, and I could not be happier doing so.

So even if you are based in far corners of Asia, the International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs could be the smartest choice you make this year to help you improve as an entrepreneur, as a marketer, and as a human being.

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Traffic Exchange Sites

2008-08-05T10:07:00.000-05:00

Traffic Exchange Sites

Traffic Exchange Sites are websites where you get page views of your own site in exchange for visiting others. Many such sites are available. However, choosing the right one or a combination of them can be a very time consuming process.

Basically there are two types. Manual surfing and Auto surfing. Some Traffic exchanges cater for Manual surfing only, some cater for Auto surfing only and some cater for both.

Manual surfing - This requires your input by clicking a button after a specified time period, generally 15, 20 or 30 seconds, although there are a few other variations. With manual surfing, the surfer is expected to view each site. However, with most exchange sites, it is possible to minimize or resize the windows. This defeats the purpose because it allows multiple sessions to be run simultaneously. On the better exchange sites, security measures are often used to deter this. These are normally random prompts that require user input. For example, after x number of page views, you may be required to enter a code, select a color or image or perform some other variation of this.

Auto surfing - This requires no input. However in reality, your input may be required because of popup or frame breakers. Some traffic exchange sites require that the pages run are maximized and although you can minimize the page yourself, it will automatically maximize at the next refresh. You will also find that with some exchange sites, pages will run on top whereas with others, pages will run quite happily underneath, allowing you to do what ever you like without ever viewing the page content.

Both manual and auto surfing will bring traffic to your website, but there is a much greater likelihood of your web pages being actually seen with manual surfing.

Credits - As well as surfing, credits are usually acquired for subscribing, for referrals and for any winnings associated with exchange site lotteries, games or competitions. These credits can then be used to increase the traffic to your site. Some exchange sites will also allow you to sell your credits to other members.

Free or Paid - The majority of Traffic Exchanges offer a paid option. This option may give you a better surf ratio, bonus credits, money for referrals or other benefits. Before paying however, it is important that you test how targeted the traffic is that you receive. There's no point in paying for extra traffic if it doesn't generate any more income for you.

Click for Credits or Buy Credits - Is it worth buying credits?

This can depend on a number of reasons. The two main ones are time and money.

Let’s take an example

At the time of writing the cost of 2000 credits for free members of a well known Traffic Exchange Site was $40. This works out at $0.02 a click. For pro members the same $40 bought 2200 credits.

With the number of clicks limited to 250 per day and page views of 20 seconds this means that in theory it will take you 250 X 20 = 5000 sec or 83 minutes 20 seconds to view the 250 pages. However in practice you must allow extra time for clicking the next button, clicking the title of the page you will be viewing and any sites worth looking at.

Since I am a firm believer in practical results, I viewed the 250 pages. It took me 2 hours and 12 minutes to accomplish this. During that time, I accumulated 854 credits. To buy these credits would have cost $17.08 as a free member and approximately $15.53 as a pro member. Allowing for rounding up, this equates to almost 390 credits per hour or $7.80 per hour cash value.

Now ask yourself this. Would you work for $7.80 per hour?

I must emphasize that this is only one example and that other results will differ because of the random allocation of credits. It is shown here only as an example and to give you an idea of the cost implications for one particular traffic exchange site. The cost of credits may differ dramatically for different exchange sites. If you buy or intend to buy credits from a traffic exchange site, you can apply what is shown in the example. There's no need to click on a large number of websites to find out if your exchange site is giving you enough credits for your money. A sample of around 20 sites should give you enough information to produce a rough value-for-money guide.

If you enjoy this sort of thing or want a break from train spotting, you could expand on this. Increase your sample size, increase the number of samples, select a good representation of traffic exchanges and tabulate your results. Choose enough sites and you will be able to create your own league table. There’s a market for everything.

Whether you use traffic exchange sites or not in the quest for more visitors to your site, you should at the very least know what they are and what they do. But don't totally dismiss them. They are part of an expanding market. I recommend that you try at least one traffic exchange site. You could read every book on the subject, but without active participation, you will not be qualified to comment on their worth or suitability. The time taken for a few mouse clicks is a small price to pay. If it works for you, you have learned. If it doesn't work for you, you have learned.

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Satellite Radio: Subscription Costs

2008-08-05T06:32:00.000-05:00

Satellite Radio: Subscription Costs

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio subscription costs vary and are changing though recent promotions.

XM Satellite Radio Subscription

If you agree to a commitment ranging from two to five years and prepay you can lower your effective monthly charge to as low as $7.48.

XM Satellite Radio Subscription costs are a monthly service where the charge is $9.99.

Adding up to four additional receivers only costs $6.99 each, per month. Certain special channels cost a little more for your satellite radio subscription cost, for example, Playboy Radio, a premium service, is an additional $2.99 per month. Commercial and Business subscriptions cost $24.99 per month. Business subscriptions are a little more expensive due to additional royalties that must be paid when potentially more people are listening to the station.

Sirius Satellite Radio Subscription

Sirius Satellite radio subscription costs are a monthly service where the charge is $12.95. With a year or 2 year commitment, Sirius offers lower monthly rates.

Check out this hot deal going on right now! For $499.99, your radio is live for life! Sirius is currently offering a pretty good deal on a lifetime subscription that is radio-attached.

With Sirius you can activate as many as three additional radios for $6.99 each per month. Business subscriptions are $24.99 per month.

Satellite radio subscription cost is based on the number of stations that you have access to any the amount of extras that you add. Adding special services can increase your satellite radio subscription.

Satellite Radio: The Waves Of The Future

2008-08-05T06:29:00.000-05:00

Satellite Radio: The Waves Of The Future?

Satellite Radio – Its here! Satellite radio is a new service being offered by two companies, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Both companies are offering over 100 channels of streaming music and entertainment. High quality sound is achieved through the use of satellites orbiting high above. Satellite radio is commercial free and free from regulations by federal committees. The impossible, is now possible, hearing the same radio station across North America and from coast to coast. All made possible by XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio.

Normal radio has been around for decades and is part of many people’s lifestyle. This is changing. Regular radio is monitored and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, whom has fined several radio stations and media companies within the last 3-4 years. The FCC has only fined radio stations a maximum of $27,500 per show no matter how man profanities were aired.

Recently the FCC has been upping the ante and in conjunction with Congress has decided to raise the fine up to $500,000 per incident per station (Potter). A slap on the wrist has turned into a business-changing event. “Sexually explicit comments by Bubba the Love Sponge and Howard Stern could get a station in trouble — no doubt about it. Clear Channel Radio dropped both shock jocks this year after being hit with record fines.”(Potter) Recently Howard Stern has made a move to Sirius Satellite Radio in an effort to preserve his career and free speech. Consumers are reaching towards satellite radio as a way to hear unregulated news and content.

Recently XM Satellite Radio has claimed to have over 3 million subscribers paying $9.99 per month and Sirius claims to have over 1.3 million customers paying $12.95 per month. Many of those customers pay an additional $2.99 per month for premium content such as the upcoming Howard Stern Show. Several normal radio stations and media outlets are realizing the potential to get their message across in a broad fashion. XM has launched a morning show, which is hosted by Bob Edwards, whom was fired earlier this year by National Public Radio. "The Bob Edwards Show" will air on a public satellite radio channel that also features news and programs from Public Radio International, among others. Sirius has its own public radio channel carrying NPR programs. Consumers and companies are demanding free speech and it seems that satellite radio is the vehicle.

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio have designed satellite broadcast systems that differ but they achieve the same high quality of satellite radio. A milestone of this success is the fact that satellite radio signals that are available across the United States and into Mexico and Canada. Rock and Roll – No it’s not a genre any more! XM Satellite Radio has two satellites named Rock and Roll, which remain in parallel geostationary orbit to provide radio coverage throughout the United States. Sirius Satellite Radio has chose to use three satellites in an inclined elliptical orbit. This configuration provides 16 hours per satellite of signal, which gives a great redundancy if any satellite were to fail. Playing it smart, Sirius and XM both have spare satellites, which can be called on in a moments notice if needed.

XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio have Earth based broadcast stations that are used to send up information to the satellites, which is then dispersed through out the globe. Sirius and XM both have disk jockeys that manage, create and program music which is then sent up to the satellites. The information is then taken in by the satellites and sent through a rebroadcast of the streams to earth. The Major advantage of this is that, unlike earth-based radio stations whose signals reach listeners 150 miles away, satellite radio signals have a huge reach, and are receivable anywhere within the continental United States and hundreds of miles in each direction of the borders. Satellite Radio is growing to become a worldwide network and offerings are growing throughout the world. XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio are making it happen.

Unregulated Satellite Radio is the answer for free speech in a government regulated airwaves arena. Not only can listeners hear unbiased information but also they can listen to it anywhere in the United States. Media giants are jumping to get the piece of the pie regarding satellite radio, as the new wave of the future is satellite radio.

How Has Eminem Risen to the Top

2008-08-05T06:27:00.000-05:00

How Has Eminem Risen to the Top?

How is it that a little white boy from Kansas City has become
the most well known rapper in the world? Starting from nothing
and eventually moving up to a multi-millionaire, Eminem over the
past seven years has been in the eye of the public everywhere
you look. He has essentially entered a black man’s business and
gone to the top over the course of a few years, but how?

On October 17, 1972 Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born in St.
Joseph, MO by his 15 year old mother Debbie. Six months later
his father was gone and this began the struggle for Marshall and
his mother; one that was just the beginning. Throughout the
course of his childhood Marshall and his mother moved numerous
times into different houses from Kansas City to Detroit. The
maximum time spent in one house was only 3 months, which caused
Marshall to attend many different schools making it difficult to
cope to the different surroundings and make friends. Every new
school he attended he was bullied as he was the new kid. This
was something that he could not change as he was never stationed
in one school for a long period of time. At the age of 12 he and
his mother finally settled in a house in Detroit. He would
later use the bullying to his advantage fueling him to get back
at all his bullies through songs.

By the age of 4 Marshall was already beginning to rap and put
words together rhyming them. At school he was rather successful
considering the circumstances, but it was lunchtime that he
enjoyed as he often battled schoolmates through freestyles. At
the age of 14 Marshall began to get serious about rapping and
felt that he had a shot in the business. When he got to the
ninth grade he failed it three times before eventually dropping
out as he felt school was not for him.

When he turned 17 he came up with the name M&M for himself by
combining the first letters of his first and last name, which
later was changed to Eminem. Now that he didn’t have school as
a distraction, he focused solely on rapping with the goal of
making it to the top. He faced constant struggle on the way to
stardom as he was continuously rejected by most rappers because
of his race, despite his true talent. This grew anger inside of
him that he uses in his music today. Knowing that it wasn’t
going to be easy and that he would have to work, Marshall forced
himself onto radio shows and freestyle battles to prove
everybody wrong. He eventually got a first album titled
“Infinite”, but it only sold 1,000 copies. It wasn’t until 1997
that Marshall would make a name for himself.

In 1997 he was married with a child trying to support his family
with very little cash to do it with. He went to the Rap
Olympics in Los Angeles hoping to win the cash prize of $1,500
for first place, but instead was spotted by a few sponsors from
Interscope. Furious that he had come in second, he later found
out about the sponsors and he gave them a copy of the “Infinite”
tape, which was later sent to Dr. Dre. Dre was extremely
impressed with the talent of Eminem and got contact of him,
where the two recorded his second album; The Slim Shady LP.
This album set the tone for his style of rap, as he lashed out
on everyone that had bullied him throughout his life. It was a
different style than anyone had ever heard, which brought him to
stardom.

Eminem is by far the most popular rapper that is seen most in
public. He has been seen in Rap Pages, VIBE, Rolling Stone,
Spin, The Source, URB and Stress and continues to strive for
more. He became the first white person to ever be on the cover
of The Source. Throughout his life he has starred in the movie
“8 Mile” based on his life growing up, has had over 20 guest
appearances on TV, has featured on numerous different rappers
CD’s, and has recorded 5 CD’s of his own. His second LP, “The
Marshall Mathers LP”, sold over 8 million records in the United
States alone, 1.76 million copies in the first week setting a
record for a solo artist. This album became the first rap album
ever to be nominated for “Album of the Year” at the Grammies. He
would go on to win 3 Grammies for the album that night. In the
year 2002 he made $29 million in earnings of his fourth album
“The Eminem Show LP” and touring for it. Then on March 23, 2003
the song “Lose Yourself” from his movie “8 Mile” became the
first rap song to ever win an Academy Award.

While being known for his explicit behavior and horrendous
lyrics on his albums and in the eye of the public, it is
difficult to overlook all that he has achieved. Coming from
where he did and rising to where he is currently, it is
remarkable what he has done not only for himself, but the rap
world as well. While it is hard for most to like him, there are
not many that do not at least respect him for what he has
achieved as of now, and what he may do in the future to come.

Are Free File Download Services Really Safe

2008-08-05T06:20:00.000-05:00

Are Free File Download Services Really Safe

The Supreme Court ruled that Grokster and
Streamsoft, two free file download services, were operating
illegally because they were allegedly encouraging illegal
downloads of copyrighted material.

Encouraging it...that was what the Supreme Court said. These
were free services that were encouraging illegal activity.

Would this have happened if they had had paying customers? In
other words, would a paid file download service be better than a
free download service?

I think so, and here's my reasoning why...

If you consider that every dollar paid is like a vote, then it
becomes clear the paid file downloading services are much more
accountable than free file downloading services.

If you follow my metaphor so far, then you may see how a paid
file download service is like an elected official, and a free
file download service is like a dictator.

Here's how they differ:

1. If an elected official doesn't get enough votes, the elected
official doesn't get re-elected and is "out of there".

2. A dictator doesn't care about votes. A dictator does
whatever they want. And, if you get hurt by what they do....
well, it's YOUR problem.

Basically, it's all about accountability.

A legitimate business has to make money to survive. If a
business hurts people, customers will stop buying from that
business and go elsewhere. And, if people stop buying from that
business, then that business is "out of there" (just like the
elected official which loses votes).

But a free file sharing service can "do what it wants", just like
a dictator, and if they even go to the level of encouraging you
to do things that are illegal, even lying to you by telling you
that it's perfectly legal... well it's no skin off their nose.
It's your problem!

Or so they thought...up to now.

For the first time, the Supreme Court has made these shady liars
legally responsible for their bad behavior.

They got away with it in the past by "advising" people to do
things that were potentially illegal. They rationalized it by
saying "Hey, we aren't the ones actually doing it, so we
shouldn't be held responsible."

But the Supreme Court has finally cleared this up. They are
responsible, and can now be sued for their actions. Even if they
did it for "FREE".

"FREE"... that was the draw that got so many innocent kids
downloading songs, videos, movies, games, etc. illegally without
knowing it. The "FREE" file downloading services were just
exploiting these kids' ignorance.

Paid download services can't afford this kind of behavior. They
look at this as a business. If they start getting their
customers in trouble, word gets around pretty fast on the
internet, and their business will become toast!

Think of this like NetFlix, who doesn't sell download services,
but sends out CDs and DVDs through the mail. What would happen
to them if they "encouraged" purchasing illegally copied movies
or music from them? Yeah you got it... toast!

But the "FREE" file sharing services that are encouraging kids to
do this thought they could get away with this indefinitely
because "they weren't making any money off of it, and after all,
they weren't the actual people doing the downloading."

Nice legal trickery... good thing it won't work anymore!

So... the question still begging to be asked is:

"Are paid file download services better than free file download
services?"

Download Mp3 Music Safely

2008-08-05T06:18:00.000-05:00

Download Mp3 Music Safely

DON'T Download JUNK! Make sure your download mp3 music is a quality mp3 and that your music download doesn't have hidden downloads that will not only ruin your search for great music but will annoy you and invade your privacy.

Here are the four hidden downloads most free music sites install on your computer when you download mp3‘s.

1.Spyware is almost always contained in mp3 freeware and shareware downloads. The spyware gathers information and monitors the activities you perform, unbeknown to you.
2.Adware is also contained in these mp3 download networks. Your computer can and probably will be stuffed with a huge amount of intrusive advertising.
3.Pornography is very prevalent on the Internet. Be very aware that porn peddlers disguise their software as the latest free mp3 download or game demo to redirect your modem to porn sites.
4.Spoofing is when download mp3 networks are filled with fake files. For example, if you download what you think is a popular mp3 song, you will get the same ten seconds of the song over and over again.

So in your hunt to download mp3 ‘s and create your own library of music, be selective of which music download site you use. There are many to choose from but few that offer privacy protection, online service, tech help, spyware-free and adware-free downloads, as well as a large library of quality mp3’s.

Things have come a long way with regards of how we listen to our favorite music. It's as easy as a push of a button with digital music.

Knowing where to start, how you want to listen to your music and what you want to do with it, is the first step. When you download mp3 files from online music services, you need to know what they allow you to do. Some songs are just for listening to, some can be downloaded, and some can be burned to a CD or a portable music player.

A few owners of certain artists publishing rights will not grant the license rights, which means some mp3's are not available for downloading.

The majority of the time, you'll find what you're looking for because the larger download MP3 subscription music web sites have access to the catalog of the Five Big Labels – Sony, Warner, Universal, EMI, and BMG, which account for about 80% of recorded music.

So now that you have the facts on how to download mp3 ‘s, do some research for quality music download sites, take advantage of any Free Trials, download lot’s of music, turn up the volume and don’t forget to Sing Along!

Downloading MP3's Made Easy

2008-08-05T06:16:00.000-05:00

Downloading MP3's Made Easy

The MP3 movement started out with a huge audience of music enthusiasts on the internet. The MP3 digital music format has had, and will continue to have, a huge impart on how people, gather, listen to and share music.

The MP3 format is a compression system for digital music that helps reduce the size of a digitized song without disturbing the sound quality. Digital music is converted to MP3 format and made available for use, usually via the web. MP3 files can be downloaded onto your computer from the internet and special software, either commercial or freeware. Using your computer and software you can convert digital music from a CD into MP3 format.

MP3 files can be played in three different ways:

They can be played directly onto your computer.
They can be decompressed and recorded onto a CD.
These files can be played on a portable MP3 player.
The advantage of MP3 players is that they are small, lightweight and rugged. They are a great way to carry your MP3 files with you!

With a portable MP3 player, a personal computer, and the appropriate software, you can do the following:

Obtain free or low-cost music from the web.
Create your own mix of music by downloading MP3 files from the web and converting the tracks from CDs.
Listen to near-CD quality music wherever you go.
Listen to more music (up to 10 hours' worth).
If you want to convert your songs from your CDs into MP3 files, you can use ripper and encoder software. A ripper copies a song's file from the CD onto your hard disk. The encoder compresses the song into the MP3 format. By encoding songs, you can play them on your computer or take them with you on your MP3 player. The ripper and encoder software may come with your MP3 player.

The specific instructions will vary with the individual software programs, but the following steps will definitely take place:

Place the CD from which you want to convert songs into your drive.
Select the track(s) that you want to convert to MP3 format.
Convert the selected track(s).
Copy the new MP3 files on to your computer's hard disk.
Now you are ready to download these MP3 files into your portable MP3 player.

Once you have MP3 files on your computer, you can use the software that came with your MP3 player to download the files into your MP3 player. Again, the specific instructions will vary depending upon your software program and player, but you will:

Create a playlist from your MP3 files.
Plug the player into your computer's parallel of USB port.
Transfer the MP3 files according to the instructions.
Once you have downloaded the MP3 files into your portable MP3 player, you are ready to take your music anywhere. Most MP3 players are small, lightweight, and solid-state. Because most players are solid-state, there are no moving parts to break down or skip, so the sound quality is uninterrupted regardless of your physical activity. MP3 players are equipped with various types of headphones or earpieces.

Portable MP3 players can play music longer than a portable CD player. The length of play for a CD player is about 74 minutes, the length of one CD. However, the length of play for an MP3 player depends upon its memory capacity, which can be upgraded on some models. A standard MP3 player can play for about half an hour (32 MB) to a few weeks (40 GB)! Some models can be upgraded with additional memory devices.

TOP FIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS

2008-08-05T06:09:00.000-05:00

THE TOP FIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS

Since competition in terms of health insurance is on the rise, it is no wonder that more and more forms of health insurance are being designed. Among these, there are few that are popular and they are briefly described below.

Individual Insurance: Ensuring a person individually is a common mode of insurance. One may be selective about what s/he wants in a plan through this process. Accordingly, one has required premium is calculated, and the insurance plan takes effect.

Group Insurance: Another type of insurance is the group arrangement. Through this type of insurance, one is compelled to abide by what others are going for, and this is dependent on the insurance providers. They are the ones that decide what is feasible to include in a plan, and on that basis, a group insurance can take place.

Indemnity Plan: This plan allows one to go to any doctor when one needs to; there are no restrictions on this, and it is believed to be more of a traditional plan. One does not need permission to go to a particular health care provider. However, usually what happens is that the member pays 20% of the total fee for treatment while the insurance provider pays 80%. In addition to this, there is a period through which one pays up in this manner, and then the company takes over paying the whole 100%.

HMO: The Health Maintenance Organization is one that allows a member to select a particular doctor off the panel. It is these selected doctors that will deal will with members' problems. The selected doctor is the one that will be approached for checkups of any kind, and if there are problems with a member that cannot be handled by him or her, the member is referred to specialists.

How to Shop for Individual Health Insurance

2008-08-05T06:07:00.000-05:00

How to Shop for Individual Health Insurance

If you find yourself in the position of shopping for an individual health insurance policy, there are certain things you'll want to keep in mind. Whether you are coming out of a job that covered you before, or are at the end of your COBRA benefits, or simply have never had coverage before there are things you can do to get coverage on yourself and your loved ones.

The basic thing to know is that if you have a shot a group health insurance, whether through a job or an association you're a member of, that is usually much more affordable than buying individual health insurance on your own. First you need to figure out your health insurance goals; in other words, what are you after? If you're young, healthy as a horse, no dependents and not attempting Mt. Everest next week, you may want to opt for a policy that covers only the catastrophes, and cover the rest out-of-pocket. On the flip side of that, if you're the sole bread winner with a family to support, the scenario is different.

The basic choices you'll have are Fee-for-Service, Managed Care Plans, and Association-based health insurance. Fee-for-service is the traditional indemnity plan, harder to acquire, more expensive, but usually great coverage. Managed care plans include most HMO's and PPO's. These offer lower costs but your choices are somewhat limited. Another way to get insured is through a group or association you may already be a member of, such as professional, religious or trade organizations. Often they may offer health insurance. It's worth checking out, as sometimes you can strike gold in this vein.

Things to consider when you're looking for any policy are what's covered on this plan, how much are the monthly premiums, what is the yearly out-of-pocket, what is the deductible, how much are office visits, does it cover preventative medicine, vision, dental? And I'm sure you can come up with many of your own. Sit down before you go shopping and make a list of your needs and wants, and decide in advance what you're willing to give to get. Be aware that once you start getting quotes they can vary as much as 50% for the same person! Remember, you're shopping, and nobody's making you do anything. If one insurer isn't cutting it, move on to another. If you're coming at this cold and have no good recommendations it may be wise to use a broker who represents several companies, as he or she wil be more likely to find the best policy for you, as opposed to selling the company they work for.

Shopping for individual health insurance can be frustrating and time-consuming, but if you come armed with facts you'll be able to navigate this highly competitive and ever-changing field.

Understanding Health Insurance Coverage

2008-08-05T06:04:00.000-05:00

Understanding Health Insurance Coverage: A Primer

Health Insurance Coverage: What are ‘Covered’ Services?
Health insurance coverage is a contract used to determine medical benefits that are covered, or not covered, between you and your insurance provider. The insurance company, based on a fee that you provide them on a regular basis, promises to pay health insurance coverage on certain items or benefits listed in that contract. These are called ‘covered’ services. ‘Covered’ services can include a wide variety of things, such as implements, prescriptions, services (such as massage), checkups, tests and/or research.

Your contract should also list all of the things NOT covered in your health insurance coverage – these are items or services that you will need to pay for out of your own pocket, should you require them.

Health Insurance Coverage: What is a Medical Necessity? How is this Different from Covered Services?
Just as it seems, a medical necessity is something that your health professional has deemed a required service/ item that will affect your health negatively should you decide not to purchase it. However, just because your doctor tells you something is a medical necessity does not mean your health insurance actually offers coverage for it.

Since insurance companies decide what health coverage they will and will not provide, you really have no leeway in this area.

Health Insurance Coverage: What Do I Do?
Most doctors try and keep themselves abreast as to what the major insurance companies do, and do not cover when it comes to health coverage. However, there are a LOT of plans out there, so this just isn’t enough. So how can you avoid any nasty surprises during an emergency?

Read your health insurance coverage. You’re better off knowing what your health insurance company will, and will not provide coverage for right off the bat. Then, if your doctor decides on a treatment plan that isn’t covered, you can ask for alternatives that may be.
If there are questions regarding your health insurance coverage, do not hesitate to contact the insurance company. Questions are good, and they expect them.

Health Insurance Coverage: What Do I Do if Something I Need Isn’t Covered?
The gross majority of what your doctor orders for you will be covered in your health insurance plan. If you do get a treatment or supply that isn’t covered, you can always challenge the health insurance coverage. You may not be the only one who requires the same type of service, benefit or item – so you’ll end up fighting not just for yourself, but for others in the same situation.

Ask your doctor for their side, and use this in your claim. It may not help in the end, but if your doctor is on your side, you may be able to convince the health insurance company that coverage is required.

How to Find Affordable Health Insurance

2008-08-05T05:58:00.000-05:00

How to Find Affordable Health Insurance

Affordable health insurance - it seems, especially today, those words just don't belong together in the same sentence. Health insurance monthly premiums have become the biggest single expense in our lives - surpassing even mortgage payments. In fact, if you have any permanent health problems, such as diabetes, or have had cancer at one time in your family history, your monthly cost could easily be more than the house and car payment combined.

Shopping for affordable health insurance can certainly be an eye-opener. If you have always had a health insurance benefit where you work - especially a state or federal employee - and now have to buy your own, you may not be able to afford the level of health insurance coverage you have become used to.

Affordable health insurance, however, is definitely available -if you know how and where to look.

When you are looking for affordable health insurance, you want the lowest cost per year that will fit your budget, of course. But, even more importantly, you want a company that has a good record for paying without fighting with you on every detail. Just as there is a car for just about any budget, there is also affordable health insurance. You may not be able to afford a "Cadillac" policy - but then you probably don't need all the frills anyway.

Shopping for health insurance on the internet is the easiest and best way to find affordable health insurance. Here are five reasons why.

1. You don't need a local agent to help you submit the claims for health insurance. The medical provider does it for you. You save money because the health insurance company saves money by not paying the agent commission. This could amount to an 8% to 12% savings to you.

2. All the top health insurance companies are at your fingertips on the internet. Most local agents can only quote you from the few companies that they represent. They may not offer you what is best for you financially or health-wise but only what they happen to have available.

3. Health insurance companies have to be extremely competitive because it is so quick and easy to compare them with their competitors on the internet today. In the past you would have had to visit physically eight to ten agents to do a similar comparison. Most folks just didn't have the time or desire for that.

4. You can change your coverage, deductibles, and payment options with just a few clicks rather than going through the paperwork delay with a local agent (and then finding out he/she made a mistake - more delay).

5. Charging to a credit card means you aren't going to forget a payment and be without insurance. Also, it gives you another 30 days before you actually have to pay. Also, many companies today give an additional discount for "auto-pay".

The key, however, to finding affordable health insurance is realizing that the purpose of any health insurance is to protect you from a major financial loss - not to protect you from spending small money on clinic visits and sliver removal. These small expenses may be cumbersome but they generally will not hurt you. It's the $100,000 heart operation that will break you. That's the financial disaster health insurance was originally designed to prevent.

Also, keep this in mind. Health insurance, as with any insurance, is a gamble. You are gambling that you will draw out more than you pay in. Your health insurance company is gambling they will pay out less. The odds are in their favor for two reasons. They have all the facts for millions of families to average out, so they know the risk in advance. Also, they get to set the rules and the prices. The higher you set your deductible, the more risk you take. This is not a bad thing at all. You will most likely be the winner in the long run.

Yes, finding affordable health insurance is much easier than most people think.

Taking more of the risk with higher deductibles, spending a little time on the internet comparing eight to ten different companies, and deleting coverage that you will not likely need (such as maternity for many folks) will make it very possible to find your own affordable health insurance.

Dating Online - The new way to meet people

2008-08-05T05:56:00.000-05:00

Dating Online - The new way to meet people

A lot has changed since the days of matchmaking and escorted evenings out. Dating in the 21st century has taken many turns, among these the emerging popularity of meeting partners online.

Online dating has many benefits. The shy dater can open up and get to know a person without having to deal with first-date jitters that often come from fear of the unknown. By the time he or she meets the potential paramour, they have already established a comfort level that allows the date to flow much more smoothly.

At the other end of the spectrum, social butterflies love online dating because of the number of fish in the sea. With so many people to choose from, booking several dates in a short amount of time is easy. Online dating allows you to be discreet, and it also enables you to be choosy. You choose partners based on common interests gleaned from dating profiles. This is an attractive alternative to approaching a potential mate in a bar going on looks alone.

As the online dating community has grown, so too have the number of vendors willing to help you promote yourself. Professional writers and photographers offer services to assist you with your dating profile. They hawk services to help you attract more hits to your online profile, which obviously helps lead to more dating options.

Dating websites vary. Some require a fee to enjoy certain benefits, such as the ability to post a picture or short video. Other dating sites offer free private e-mail accounts and access to thousands of profiles without paying a dime. When engaging in online dating, however, it is important to exercise caution.

Remember that anyone with Internet access has access to these sites. It is virtually impossible for dating sites to weed out the bad seeds; the online dater must take care in setting up dates with strangers. When first meeting face-to-face, choose a public place. Don't divulge too much information until you have a good idea of the person's character. Be careful not to tell too much too soon. With a responsible attitude and an open mind, online dating can be fun, safe, and exciting.

Sex and the Single Mom

2008-08-05T05:52:00.000-05:00

Sex and the Single Mom

Single moms, more so than anyone, have to be exceedingly careful about the type of man they select as life-long partners. No sensible woman wants to be judged soley on her appearence or sex appeal, right? Moreoever, who would even want a man mostly interested in sex without a real commitment, right again? These questions create an age-old conundrum. Exactly, how does one find a guy who loves them and only wants what is best for them? Let's take it up a notch. How do you resist those natural impulses to throw caution to the wind and break down and have sex?

For starters. . .

Read between the lines.

A wise person once said, Words carry a little weight, but actions truly reveal the entireity of a matter. When you meet a new guy, be especially observant of the kinds of things he talks about. Carefully listen to his conversation. Remember, you can usually learn plenty about a person simply by listening to them. If the conversation is laced with sexual innuendos, that is your "red flag".

Where’s the fire...

Be leery of physical contact early in the relationship. Someone who is overly "touchy" after knowing you for a short amount of time might have less than honorable motives. Yes, some guys are “touchy feely” with women. But think for a moment, if you marry a man who can't keep his hands to himself, you are asking for trouble!

Let get real, here. As single moms, it's only natural to enjoy the attention of men, but don’t allow loneliness or insecurity to propel you into a relationship that may bring pain later. You are far too precious for that, single mom.

Take your time with the physical stuff. Approach the dating relationship the same way you would with a platonic friend. Save the kissing or hugging until you really know the guy.

We often give away far too much too soon in our interpersonal encounters. Don't be the type woman that every guy in the neighborhood knows what it’s like to kiss and squeeze. Even if he says he loves you, remember that love waits. Love is patient, love is kind and real love will never disrespect you. Slow down, enjoy the progression of the new relationship. There's no fire, so hold your horses!

God’s plan for you...

God has a plan and it's not about pointless denial. His plan is first marriage and then sex after the legal, spiritual and emotional commitment. When you create a list of rules for your kids, you do so to protect them, right? Well, God is no different. He loves you and wants to spare you unnecessary grief.

There is forgiveness....

If for whatever reason, you have engaged in a sexual relationship outside of marriage understand that God still loves you. Our blunders don't make Him love us any less. He desperately wants to put the pieces of your life back together and make all things new again.

Living life "our way", guided by our emotions or feelings, always brings disappointment and shame. However, God specializes in such wounds. Allow Him to cleanse your pain and remove your guilt (read 1John 1:9). If you confess your sin, He WILL forgive it. He’s promised. The next and most crucial step is for you to forgive yourself.

Our children....

Our children rely on us to model appropriate moral standards. Most wise moms advise their teens to abstain from sex before marriage. We carefully explain to them the dangers of sex "now a days". We share how abstinence protects us against sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Taking this into account, why should we want anything different for ourselves? Our children are growing up so fast. Our time with them is very precious. Let's not taint it recovering from unecessary love-related heartbreaks. Nothing is worse for children than to see their moms wounded, hurt, bitter and dejected.

My mother recently told me, (relative to my health) 'a good mother takes supreme care of herself for the sake of her children'. I think the same applies to emotional health. Don’t run the risk of giving your body and soul away only to be left with an empty bed and broken heart. It really isn't worth it, single mom.

Change Your Dating Reality

2008-08-05T05:49:00.000-05:00

Change Your Dating Reality

I want to share with you the key to finding the Right One and getting married the quickest way possible -- guaranteed.

It's not hard, doesn't cost any money, and takes only about one minute a day. You already have all the tools you need to make it happen, you just need to apply this for one minute every day.

What will guarantee that you find the Right One and get married the quickest way possible? A key ingredient is to believe in yourself, and I am going to show you why it works, and how to do it the right way.

The word "manifest" means to turn a thought into a thing. Everything you see around you -- cars, houses, the table, a pen -- were all once thoughts that someone turned into a real object. When you manifest something, you make it appear in the real world. Now as a single person, you have an idea that you want to get married, and what you want to do is manifest that idea into reality, to be standing under the marriage canopy.

A key underlying force that allows you to manifest an idea into reality is to believe you can do it. We can all relate to times where the situation looked bad, but through sheer will and determination people beat insurmountable odds.

Consider a life-and-death scenario of being out in the wilderness alone. Gordon Smith, an instructor who spent 26 years in the U.S. Army's Special Forces, says: "If you have a guy with all the survival training in the world who has a negative attitude, and a guy who doesn't have a clue but has a positive attitude, I guarantee you that the one with the positive attitude is coming out of the woods alive. Simple as that."

This heightened motivation of people in dire situations appears to be the force that gets them through. But that's not the whole story. The amazing thing is what happens behind the scenes, the real secret to success. There is a stronger metaphysical component at work here.

Remember the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War? The tiny State of Israel was surrounded by hostile Arab countries numbering over 200 million people. What happened? The Arab countries should have wiped Israel off the map in short order. Instead, Israel beat them all. Miracle!

We call it a miracle when we see a dramatic change in reality. In those wars we see an obvious change of reality -- how God changed a pending defeat into complete victory.

On a smaller scale, you can use the same principle to guarantee that you will get married quickly. Let's explain:

When you believe in something, the sheer force of your will can give God reason to support your goal. Based on your belief, God actually changes reality to make the thing that you want come about. For example: You want to get married, and if you believe with total conviction that you will find the Right One, then God can take your will and actually change reality to cause your soul mate to come to you.

Let's look at the source of this idea, a story in the Talmud (Taanit 8a) about "The Weasel and the Pit." In the story, a young man promised to marry a certain woman. She asked: "Who will be the witness to this pledge?" The only things in the area at the time were a pit, and a weasel walking by. With no other option and in all sincerity, the young man said that the weasel and the pit should be the witnesses.

Time went by, and the young man forgot his pledge. Then he began experiencing serious hardships -- each time involving a weasel or a pit. In the end, he realized why these things were happening, and resolved to keep his pledge. He married the woman, and the misfortunes stopped.

Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz gives insight on how this works. Obviously, the weasel and the pit have extremely limited powers. Yet when the young man initially designated them to be his witnesses, God took his sincerity into account and actually changed the reality to give the weasel and the pit the ability to uphold the promise.

The same principle is true for you. If you really believe in something, God may change reality so that it comes about.

However, this powerful idea is a double-edged sword. Just as it can work to your benefit, it can be to your detriment by bringing about something that is bad for you. Let's say you meet a really great person on a date, and decide that you absolutely, positively must marry this person.

In reality, though, you may be temporarily infatuated with this person, and in fact they are really bad for you -- and marrying them will be a disaster. Yet if you will it hard enough, and are over-insistent, it is possible that God will allow you to marry that wrong person.

That's why, when you are dating, you should always ask God to help you marry the "right person" and not any specific person.

To summarize, there are two ways you can use this principle positively:

1) Believe in yourself.

If you truly believe that you will find the Right One and get married, then God can change the reality to make it happen.

2) Ask God to bring you the Right One.

The key here is to ask for "the Right One," and not "that one."

On a practical level, you need to make your belief real, by manifesting this idea -- everyday, once a day, for one minute.

Here's how to do it:

1) Say out loud: "I am ready to get married now. I am ready to meet him/her today. I am committed to being a giver in the relationship, rather than a taker."

2) Make one small effort to find them: Check for the newest members on a dating website. Call a matchmaker. Signup for a Speed Dating event. Call a friend and tell them what you are looking for.

Small, consistent steps is the key to success. "By the inch it's a cinch, by the yard it's hard." Meaning, if you take one small action every day, your small efforts turn out to be significant over time. You don't need to work hard, just be consistent.

The more consistent you are, the more you reinforce your belief. By saying positive statements and making small efforts, you send a bigger message to God, who can make it happen.

One of my mom's favorite sayings is, "Think big, be big." And it is very true.

"Think marriage, get married."

How Did Online Dating Become So Popular?

2008-08-05T05:48:00.000-05:00

How Did Online Dating Become So Popular?

The reason is pretty simple. It is very much the same reason that the internet itself became so popular. The Internet opens up a whole new world of communication and contact. And the reasons for this are given below.

Speed

Try to picture what used to happen earlier in the days when people had to depend on the good ol’ postal system. During those days, a person had to wait for one or two days for a letter to get across to a person who lived in the same state itself. The second person in turn would take one or two days to respond and this letter would take on or two days to get back to the first person.

So in effect, a single correspondence would stretch over a week. But now it’s a totally different story. The time taken for the first letter and the response has been brought to an amazing 2 minutes! Waiting may make the heart grow fonder but e-mail makes two people get close faster!

Privacy

The Internet provides for absolute privacy too. One can carry out communication with another person in the absolute privacy of one’s bedroom or bath room or wherever one chooses to be. There is no fear of eavesdropping (ugh) or over hearing (shudder!) thanks to e-mail and chat facilities.

Options and Opportunities

The Internet provides for other options like voice chat or video conferencing and stops short only of the physical touch. But then who would want to start a relationship by touching right away? You can see a person, talk to a person, and listen to the person’s voice, can you think of a better way to start a date?

Economy

All this and more is possible thanks to the internet and the best part is that all this comes to you for peanuts. All you need is a P.C (who doesn’t have one?) and an Internet Connection (how can anybody live without one) and you are all set. The only thing more you could ask for is a step by step guide to find your dream date…well here it is!

Dating Advice: Love Shouldn't Hurt

2008-08-05T05:45:00.000-05:00

Dating Advice: Love Shouldn't Hurt

"Because when pain has been intertwined with love and closeness, it's very difficult to believe that love and closeness can be experienced without pain." -Gloria Steinem, "Revolution from Within."

If you tend to attract men who disappoint you (by cheating on you, not showing up when they say they will, or just refusing to get off the couch), you may be confusing love with pain.

So many of us have been brought up to believe that pain is normal, even expected, in a love relationship. Without it, the relationship seems flat, boring. We crave drama. (Why is it that so many women have great sex after a fight with a significant other?)

A happy, loving relationship eludes us because we don't recognize it when we see it, or because we simply believe it's not possible (News Flash: According to a recent Today Show, all men lie. All of them! I wasn't aware that men have a monopoly on lying or other bad behavior. I know some women who are breathtaking liars. Don't you?).

According to the media, men are incapable of remembering birthdays, being monogamous, getting through a weekend unless they're transfixed before a marathon of football games. Women internalize these messages: That's the way men are. That's the way life is. Get over it.

And while the media is happy to sell us the myth of the unattainable happy relationship, some of us have come to believe in it because of our own experiences.

Some of us:

(a) Had parents who treated each other indifferently, (b) had parents who outright hated each other, (c) had fathers who ignored us as children, (d) had a parent who suffered from alcoholism, (e) had mothers who would rather have been doing something else, or (f) had a parent who suffered from a mental illness.

And so, we learned to associate love with pain. It's all we knew.

Others among us grew up in perfectly happy homes with parents who loved each other and delighted in us, but we still managed to:

(a) Internalize negative messages we heard from our friends' parents who were unhappily married, or

(b) Internalize negative messages we saw elsewhere (I know a woman who, during her impressionable teenage years, babysat for a couple who gave each other the silent treatment and expected her to relay messages. She also babysat for another family, where the father once came home early and started reading a porn magazine!).

As a result of this programming, we set low bars for the behavior we'll accept from boyfriends or husbands. Hey, it's better than being alone, right?

Wrong.

If you're putting up with substandard behavior from men, make decision to stop. Refuse to date anybody until you attract a man who makes your happiness a priority. Trust me; such a man will come into your life and stay there.

Treat him as you have come to expect him to treat you, which means with affection, respect, and consideration. Does this sound boring to you? If it does, please examine your feelings about relationships and see if they haven't determined the kind of men you attract.

You see, once you stop dating men who disappoint you but excite you, you can make room for a guy who loves you the way you deserve to be loved--and who excites you. Love and excitement are important, but if they're accompanied by pain, something's wrong. You'll never be truly happy with a guy who lets you down.

Ask yourself, "Where did I ever get the idea that love has to hurt?"

Give yourself time to come up with the answers. Take stock of whether your relationship is worth saving. If you speak up, will it make a difference? If not, are you willing to make room for a man who will love you and make you laugh instead of cry for a change?

"Because when pain has been intertwined with love and closeness, it's very difficult to believe that love and closeness can be experienced without pain." -Gloria Steinem, "Revolution from Within."

If you tend to attract men who disappoint you (by cheating on you, not showing up when they say they will, or just refusing to get off the couch), you may be confusing love with pain.

So many of us have been brought up to believe that pain is normal, even expected, in a love relationship. Without it, the relationship seems flat, boring. We crave drama. (Why is it that so many women have great sex after a fight with a significant other?)

A happy, loving relationship eludes us because we don't recognize it when we see it, or because we simply believe it's not possible (News Flash: According to a recent Today Show, all men lie. All of them! I wasn't aware that men have a monopoly on lying or other bad behavior. I know some women who are breathtaking liars. Don't you?).

According to the media, men are incapable of remembering birthdays, being monogamous, getting through a weekend unless they're transfixed before a marathon of football games. Women internalize these messages: That's the way men are. That's the way life is. Get over it.

And while the media is happy to sell us the myth of the unattainable happy relationship, some of us have come to believe in it because of our own experiences.

Some of us:

(a) Had parents who treated each other indifferently, (b) had parents who outright hated each other, (c) had fathers who ignored us as children, (d) had a parent who suffered from alcoholism, (e) had mothers who would rather have been doing something else, or (f) had a parent who suffered from a mental illness.

And so, we learned to associate love with pain. It's all we knew.

Others among us grew up in perfectly happy homes with parents who loved each other and delighted in us, but we still managed to:

(a) Internalize negative messages we heard from our friends' parents who were unhappily married, or

(b) Internalize negative messages we saw elsewhere (I know a woman who, during her impressionable teenage years, babysat for a couple who gave each other the silent treatment and expected her to relay messages. She also babysat for another family, where the father once came home early and started reading a porn magazine!).

As a result of this programming, we set low bars for the behavior we'll accept from boyfriends or husbands. Hey, it's better than being alone, right?

Wrong.

If you're putting up with substandard behavior from men, make decision to stop. Refuse to date anybody until you attract a man who makes your happiness a priority. Trust me; such a man will come into your life and stay there.

Treat him as you have come to expect him to treat you, which means with affection, respect, and consideration. Does this sound boring to you? If it does, please examine your feelings about relationships and see if they haven't determined the kind of men you attract.

You see, once you stop dating men who disappoint you but excite you, you can make room for a guy who loves you the way you deserve to be loved--and who excites you. Love and excitement are important, but if they're accompanied by pain, something's wrong. You'll never be truly happy with a guy who lets you down.

Ask yourself, "Where did I ever get the idea that love has to hurt?"

Give yourself time to come up with the answers. Take stock of whether your relationship is worth saving. If you speak up, will it make a difference? If not, are you willing to make room for a man who will love you and make you laugh instead of cry for a change?