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5 Ways Twitter Can Make You an Industry Expert

2007-05-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

…and 5 ways it can screw it up for you.

By Kelvin Newman

The fuss about twitter has died down a little over the last couple of weeks and people either seem to think it’s the best thing since sliced bread or an indication of everything that’s rubbish about web 2.0. Personally I’m more of the former than the latter.

I think it’s a really interesting tool and offers some excellent opportunities for people who would like to expand the reach of their personal brand and are willing to experiment. But it’s risky too and easy to cock up.

The Good

Gives you a personality – one thing that marks the gurus apart from those less well known industry figures is their character. Whether someone stands out as interesting, funny or just plain weird in any sector the stand out experts have bucketfuls of personality. Regular 140 character updates via SMS or IM give you the perfect opportunity to spread your personality. There’s something unique about the short length of twitter updates that really encapsulates how witty and pithy people are. Sounds like the perfect way to brand yourself.

Breaks through the noise – I get hundreds of emails a day and have an RSS reader full of feeds which is almost a full time job read. But I don’t get many IM messages and even fewer text messages on my mobile. The content of twitter really cuts through the static, most people are selective about who they follow on twitter; but once they do you’ve got a short cut to their attention.

Creates face to face opportunities – if you are nipping down the bar after a conference the chances are you’ll twitter it and other people will too. It might seem impersonal but you’d be surprised how often twitter will offer up opportunities to meet people face to face. It’s one of the best ways to get your face ‘out-there’ and will make the route to the A-list that much easier.

Show you’re ahead of the game – twitter is instant (when it’s working) if you’ve got a scoop it might be old new by the time people check your blog or podcast. If you’ve got some breaking news you’ve really got to take full advantage of it. A quick tweet and all your contacts will know you were first, cementing your place in the psyche.

Helps you stand out – there are millions of blogs, everyday I add a few more to Google reader, but there’s relatively few people taking full advantage of twitter. In many sectors there might be no competition. It’s much easier to be a big fish in a small pond.

The Bad

Don’t bug people – when someone is receiving every update you make straight to their phone or IM it’s easy to get irritating. Don’t update too often and make sure every update has some real value. The people who complain about twitter always mention the ‘I’m getting a coffee update’ they are part of the charm but make sure you ratio of useful tweets is high.

Avoid DUI – Dialing under the influence is a real risk with twitter. Don’t get carried away with a heated twitter debate when you’ve had a couple of beers or are in a bad mood, if you are building up your personal brand the last thing you want to do is come across as an amateur.

Don’t wake people up – my fiancé hates twitter on a couple of occasions I’ve forgotten to switch my mobile to silent overnight and my American twittering friends have given us a nice midnight update. It’s inevitable you’ll have friends in different time zones so it’s worth bearing in mind when it is your sending your twitter.

Avoid being Meta – some of the most annoying messages that come via twitter are about twitter. I’m using the services too, so I know when the IM service is down. If everyone in your contact list lets you know when there’s a problem in the system you’ll be inundated especially with a service as flaky as twitter.

Don’t get distracted – It’s easy when you are trying to make a big splash online to try and do too many things at once. If you are blogging, podcasting, twittering and what ever other latest technique you can get your hands on, you might find you’re not really doing any of them justice. It’s best to master one that experiment with them all.

About Kelvin Newman

Kelvin Newman is a Search Engine & Social Media Marketer for Site Visibility and you can read more of his blog posts for Apple Pie .

10 Stupid Mistakes Made by the Newly Self-Employed

2007-05-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

1. Selling to the wrong people.

While sales are important to the survival of any business, you don’t need to push your business on everyone you meet, including friends and family. Furthermore, it’s a waste of time to try selling to people who simply don’t need what you’re offering.

Selling to the wrong people includes trying to sell to everyone. Some customers are much easier to sell to than others. For example, my wife does web consulting for small businesses, and she’s learned that some clients are much harder to work with than others. If a potential customer is broke and obsessively worried about every nickel they spend, if they want a web site but don’t know why, or if they simply don’t understand the Internet well enough, they won’t be a good client in the long run. Feel free to say no to customers that are more trouble than they’re worth. Let your competitors sell to them instead. You’ll save yourself many headaches, and you’ll free up more time to focus on serving the best customers.

Just because someone is interested in doing business with you doesn’t mean you should accept. In my first year in business, I probably said yes to at least 50% of the people who approached me with a potential business relationship. I wasted a lot of time pursuing deals that were too much of a stretch to begin with. I accepted lunch invitations from random business people who just wanted to “see if there’s a way we could do something together.” Virtually none of them made me a dime. If you think a meeting is pointless, it probably is. Don’t network with random people just because you think you’re supposed to network. Today I accept such invitations less than 1/10 as often. If an offer doesn’t excite me right away, I usually decline or ignore it. Most relationships simply aren’t worth pursuing. Learn to say no to the weak opportunities so you have the capacity to say yes to the golden opportunities.

2. Spending too much money.

Until you have a steady cashflow coming in, don’t spend your precious start-up cash unless it’s absolutely necessary. I started my computer games business with about $20,000 cash (my own money), and it went fast; shortly thereafter I was using debt to finance the business. Unfortunately, the original business model didn’t work, and it took five years before the business was generating a positive cashflow. I soon learned that every dollar invested in the business was another dollar that eventually had to be recouped from sales.

In 2004 I started this personal development business with only $9 cash even though I could have spent much more on it. No fancy logo, no snazzy web design, no business cards or stationary. I paid to register the domain name, and that was it. That’s as much as I was willing to spend before I started generating a positive cashflow. All other business expenditures came out of that cashflow.

Your business should put cash into your pocket, so before you “invest” money into it, be clear on how you’re going to pull that cash back out again.

Obviously some businesses require lots of cash to start, but in the age of the Internet business, you can very easily start a lucrative business for pocket change.

3. Spending too little money.

It’s also a mistake to be too stingy with your cash. Don’t let frugality get in the way of efficiency. Take advantage of skilled contractors who can do certain tasks more efficiently than you can. Buy decent equipment when it’s clear you’ll get your money’s worth. You don’t have to overspend on fancy furniture, but get functional furniture that helps you be more productive. Don’t use an antiquated computer with outdated software that slows you down if you can afford something better.

It takes time to develop the wisdom to know when you’re being too tight or too loose with your cash, so if you’re just starting out, get a second opinion. Often the very thought of getting a second opinion makes the correct choice clear. If you can’t justify the expenditure to someone you respect, it’s probably a mistake. On the other hand, there are situations where it’s hard to justify not spending the cash.

4. Putting on a fake front.

Many one-person businesses refer to themselves as “we.” That’s something a lot of new entrepreneurs do, but it isn’t necessary. There’s nothing wrong with a one-person business, especially today. My games business has mostly been a we over the years, but my personal development business is still an I. My wife’s VegFamily Magazine business is a we, since she has a staff working for her, but her web consulting business is an I. It’s perfectly OK to refer to your business as an I when you’re the only one working in it. Pretending that you’re a we when you’re really an I is a bit silly. It’s not going to gain you any respect in a way that matters. Promoting yourself as an I may even be an advantage today, since people will know the buck stops with you, and if you make a promise, you’re the one who will carry it out. Promises from a we sometimes aren’t worth very much.

If you’re a newly self-employed person, don’t pretend you’re anything else. Price your products and services fairly for your level of skills and talents. Some newly self-employed people think they must become actors. The business they promote to the world is pure fantasy. Trying to fool your customers in this manner will only backfire. If you’re so desperate for business that you need to lie, you shouldn’t be starting your own business. If you can’t provide real value and charge fairly for it, don’t play the game of business. Develop your skills a bit more first.

5. Assuming a signed contract will be honored.

I’ve made this mistake more than I care to admit. I’ve had signed contracts with supposedly reputable corporations, and they weren’t worth squat when the CEO decided he wanted out of the deal, even for completely dishonorable reasons. Sure I was in the right, but did I want to go to court to enforce it? No, I’d rather continue doing meaningful work.

A signed contract is just a piece of paper. What’s behind a signed contract is a relationship. If the relationship goes sour, the contract won’t save you. The purpose of a contract is to clearly define everyone’s roles and commitments. But it’s the relationship, not the paper, that ultimately enforces those commitments. When I understood this, I focused more on relationships and worried less about what was on paper, and my business deals went much more smoothly. Once you start falling back on the paper, the deal is already in trouble. Creative (and lucrative) business deals almost always stray from the paper contracts that represent them. One of my attorneys, who had worked on dozens of game development deals, told me that no deal he worked on ever followed the contract exactly; most weren’t even close. And these were big money deals in many cases. Business relationships are similar to other personal relationships — they twist and turn all over the place.

Written contracts are still necessary, especially when dealing with larger corporations where people come and go, but they’re secondary to relationships. Just don’t make the mistake of assuming that the contract is the deal. The contract is only the deal’s shadow. The real deal is the relationship. Keep your business relationships in good order, and you won’t have to worry so much about what’s on paper.

It’s sad but true that there are loads of scoundrels in business. Many of them hold titles like CEO, President, and CFO. There are indeed people out there who seem to care about nothing but money, and they will lie, cheat, and steal to get it. In recent years some of the more despicable ones have gotten themselves indicted (or are already behind bars). But there are plenty of others to whom the word honor has no meaning. For example, in the computer gaming industry, it isn’t unusual for large publishers to feign interest in certain games and string the developers along. They give the developer every indication that a deal is pending, but all the developer sees are delays and false verbal promises. In reality the publisher only wants to keep the game off the market to keep it from competing with one of their own titles; they hope to cause the developer to miss the next Christmas season or to run out of cash and cancel the title altogether. It happens. Business, especially the entertainment industry, is not for the timid.

6. Going against your intuition.

Intuition is just as important in business as it is in other settings. You’d be amazed at how many gigantic corporate deals are green-lighted or red-lighted because of some CEO’s gut feeling. While you might think that logic is the language of business, that’s far from reality. If you base all your business deals on hard logic and ignore your intuition, most likely you’ll be in for a world of hurt.

We humans aren’t very logical to begin with. We simply don’t have enough data to make truly logical decisions because business deals depend on human beings, and we don’t have a logical system for accurately predicting human behavior. Not being able to predict how other humans will behave is a pretty big gap in our logic. And intuition has to fill that gap. The real performance of human beings is what makes or breaks business deals. But to assume everyone will perform as expected is unrealistic in the extreme. No deal ever goes perfectly.

It’s hard to say no to a deal that seems juicy by the numbers when my gut is saying, “You’ll regret it,” but more often than not, I later see evidence my intuition was right all along. Sometimes I just get a bad read on someone, and then years later, several people I know are complaining about being ripped off by that person.

Intuition is a critical part of the decision-making process in business. Since business deals depend on relationships, you need to get a read on the other people involved in any deal you consider. If you get a bad read, walk away. If you get a good read, proceed with caution.

7. Being too formal.

I’ll say it again. Business is built on relationships. In some settings a certain degree of formality is appropriate, but in most business situations being too formal only gets in the way. Business relationships work best when there’s a decent human-to-human connection behind them.

I think it’s a mistake to be too formal even when looking to establish new business relationships. If someone mails me a letter that starts with “Dear Mr. Pavlina” and then goes on to explain a long-winded business proposal, I’ll usually just trash it, especially if it uses the word “we” a lot. Better to fire off an email with a “Hi Steve,” and just ask me very informally if I’m interested in the kind of arrangement you’re seeking. It saves time and opens the door to a real human relationship. Human beings don’t want to build relationships with faceless corporations. They only want relationships with other human beings… sometimes animals too I suppose.

Treat your business relationships like friendships (or potential friendships). Formality puts up walls, and walls don’t foster good business relationships. No one is loyal to a wall… except the one in China.

Formality is boring and tedious. People want to enjoy their work. If someone address me like a computer, I’ll respond in kind — by hitting delete. But if someone demonstrates they have a real personality and a good sense of humor, a connection is far more likely.

8. Sacrificing your personality quirks.

In the early years of running my games business, I took myself too seriously and assumed that I had to act “businesslike” … whatever that meant. Being self-employed was a weighty responsibility, and other people were counting on me. Sink or swim, right?

I started my games business in my early 20s, and people in their early 20s are invariably weird. But I assumed that as a business owner, being weird wasn’t appropriate or acceptable. So most of my business letters and emails looked like they were written by the same people who created Microsoft’s EULAs. The job title of “President” really went to my head. I learned how to function without a personality.

It took a number of years, but eventually I became comfortable just being myself, especially after my games business became profitable. Now that I’m a blogger, my personality quirks and unusual experiences are strengths. My personal oddities give this blog a unique flavor. If I were to take myself too seriously and write more formally, this blog would be very dull and would likely lose much of its audience.

It’s perfectly OK to be your own weird self and to inject your own unique spirit into your business, especially if you’re in your teens or 20s. Don’t be afraid to be more like Steve Jobs… and less like Steve Ballmer. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Ultimately you’ll enjoy your work much more if you attract the kinds of customers and partners that want to work with you for who you are — warts and all. Send the people who only want to work with androids to your corporate competitors. They deserve each other.

If other people can’t handle your weirdness, too bad for them. Focus your energy on the people who can.

9. Failing to focus on value creation.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the purpose of a business is to make money. But the real purpose of a business is to create value. While it’s possible to make money in the short run without creating much value, in the long run it’s unsustainable. Even criminal organizations have to create value for someone. When you know your business is just sucking value away from others without providing anything in return, it will erode your self-esteem, and the business won’t be much fun to run.

Why does your business exist? It exists to provide some sort of value, both for you and your customers. The better you understand what value you’re trying to provide, the better you’ll be able to focus. The basic value provided by my games business was cerebral entertainment. The basic value provided by StevePavlina.com is personal growth. Too often business owners aren’t clear on what value they’re trying to provide. They just sell stuff and hope for the best. That’s a lousy business model. The world doesn’t need more selling or more stuff. But it always needs and wants genuine value creation, and that’s where you should direct your efforts.

Presently this web site contains over 400 free articles. That’s a lot of value creation. Thousands of people visit each day to receive some of that value. Helping people grow is the business’ primary aim.

10. Failing to optimize.

Although value creation is essential to a sustainable business, it’s equally naive to assume you can simply focus on creating value, and the rest will take care of itself. You may build a business that provides good value but loses money. As a business owner, you need to find a way to deliver your value in a cost effective manner. Most likely your first attempt will be very suboptimal. You’ll waste too much time, money, and resources trying to produce and deliver your value. That’s OK though. Many businesses start out that way. Just don’t let yours stay that way.

Once you have a particular business process in place, pull it apart and re-optimize it from time to time. Look for ways to make it more efficient. Can you get it done in less time? At less cost? Can you do it less frequently? Can you outsource it? Can you dump the process altogether?

I used to process credit orders for my games business manually. I started the business in 1994, and when I’d receive an order through the mail or via my web site, I’d use some software to input and run the orders by modem. At the end of each month, I’d manually tally the sales. That worked fine when sales were low, but it became burdensome as more products were released and sales increased. Several years ago I upgraded the process such that online orders were fully automated, including instant delivery of the game download. All orders are recorded in a database, and I can view real-time reports to see how sales are doing for each product. It took some work to set this up, but it was well worth it. That one optimization saved me a lot of time and effort, and I don’t have to pay high fees for a third-party order processing service.

Don’t fall into the trap of using archaic methods for doing routine tasks that could be automated, including inventory management, billing, accounting, order processing, communications, and marketing. If you find yourself doing the same repetitive tasks month after month, make sure you put some effort into optimizing them. Not optimizing is like throwing time and money down the drain. It’s often much easier to save time and money than it is to create them.

An Internet business has abundant opportunities for optimization because it’s so easy to try new things and measure the results. In the first year after launching this site, I experimented quite a bit with Google Adsense. Many people don’t like the ad layout on this site, but it’s the most effective layout I’ve tried so far. I use it because it works. Adding the donations page was another optimization. Some people click ads, some people donate, and some do both. So even though value creation is the primary aim of the business, this is still a for-profit business and needs to generate income in order to be sustainable. If I don’t eat, I don’t write. More money means more resources for ongoing value creation. So value creation and optimization go hand-in-hand.

It takes significant effort to build a successful business, but it’s also a tremendous growth experience. I know many people who have quit their jobs to run their own businesses. Many of them didn’t do as well as they’d hoped, but I don’t know any that regretted taking the plunge. There’s simply no substitue for holding the reins of your own destiny

Top ten free SEO tools down

2007-05-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered which are the best free SEO tools available on the Internet? Well here is my top ten list, so listen closely.

Free SEO Tool #10: Top Ten Analysis SEO Tool at http://www.webuildpages.com/cool-seo-tool/ is a great way to get a snapshot of your top ten competitors at Google for any given search term.

Free SEO Tool #9: Go Rank Analyzer at http://www.gorank.com/analyze.php reviews your web page for a given search term to give you a snapshot of how the search term shows up on the page. Actually, this probably should be higher up on the list. In other words, I should use it more often.

Free SEO Tool #8: Aftervote at http://younanimous.com/ is a really different tool, and I’m not sure too many people would think of it as an SEO tool. It is, in fact, a meta search engine that combines the results of Google, Yahoo and MSN, along with some other factors to provide its own original results. So you can see at a glance which sites are doing well for a given search term across all three engines. It also features a number of performance indicators, including Google PageRank, Alexa ranking, Compete page strength, and a link to see the WhoIs data. You can also add a whole slew of plugins, including Netcraft reports and submission links for Digg and other social bookmarking websites. In short, this is a great all-in-one tool for sizing up the competition for an individual search term or for finding joint venture or link partners of value. One of the handy features is that you can see the Alexa ratings for some of your top competitors at once, so you can better judge the value of your own Alexa rating. Hmm. Actually, Aftervote is a bit like #10 above.

Free SEO Tool #7: Overture Keyword Selection Tool at http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/ is useable. OK, this is one area where Mr. Cheapie here is willing to pay the big bucks, specifically for Keyword Discovery. But if you really want a free tool, Overture can really help. It just doesn’t carry over search data from previous months, so if data is seasonal, you have to wait until, say, the Christmas season to do the keyword research that will carry you next Christmas.

Free SEO Tool #6: Google Toolbar at http://toolbar.google.com/T4/index_pack.html is pretty useful. Sure people make way too much of it, but the little green bar gives an instantaneous snapshot of the value of a page. No green, and you might as well check the drop-down to make sure a page is cached. If it’s not, forget it. The difference between a PR2 and PR4 might be irrelevant in practical terms, despite the world wars and family feuds that can be fought over such minutia, but if the Toolbar shows a PR5, that’s pretty impressive (if it is real). If all you need is a quick snapshot, use the toolbar. If you want better info, use the Page Strength Tool or another.

Free SEO Tool #5: Spider simulator at http://www.webconfs.com/search-engine-spider-simulator.php . This lets you see at a glance what the search engines see, which links they can follow and what text they see. I have often found major problems much quicker this way than wading through a jungle of code. It can also be helpful for locating hidden text and hidden links on competitors’ websites if you think they are all a bunch of thieving hooligans. There are probably hundreds of spider simulators of similar quality. I use this one; it works for me.

Free SEO Tool #4: Social Bookmarking Aggregator Tool at http://www.seo-writer.com/tools/bookmarker.php should really be at #1, given that I created it and it is, of course, perfect. But it is more of a viral tool than an SEO tool. Still, the more people bookmark your pages, the more links they build and the more bloggers are likely to pick up on the bookmark and build links – all natural links the way Google and Yahoo like them! And it’s available in Spanish, too, at http://es.seo-writer.com/tools/bookmarker.php Go to the bottom of this post right now and click on the social bookmarking links to bookmark this post. You’ll see how it works and make me happy all at once.

Free SEO Tool #3: Common Links at http://www.randycullom.com/common_link.php is an even more ingenious backlink tool than Yahoo Site Explorer, but it is less flexible. Pick a search term, and plug it in. It will tell you which are the top ten sites for that term at Google or at Yahoo, then get the common backlinks. For instance, if a page links to three of the top ten websites for a certain search term, chances are that the same page is more likely to link to your similar website than a page that links to only one of your competitors (and could be the owners’ mother’s website, a satisfied client, a supplier, a buddy, another site owned by the same person, etc.)

Free SEO Tool #2: Yahoo Site Explorer, at https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/ shows pages indexed and backlinks to either the site as a whole or to a specific page. This is superb competitive intelligence. You can mine your competitors’ backlinks to create your own backlinks. Unlike Google, Yahoo gives you the whole list. Why stop at your competitors? Why not look for complementary websites and what their backlinks are, too?

Free SEO Tool #1 - SEOmoz PageStrength Tool at http://www.seomoz.org/page-strength/ is a superb alternative the Google Toolbar’s PageRank measure. I like the PageStrength Tool because it pulls information from a number of indicators – including the Google PageRank toolbar – and provides a composite view of how important a page is. This is useful in evaluating potential partners, purchasing domains, sizing up the competition, etc. However, it does have some limitations. I have noticed that it sometimes draws inaccurate backlink data from Yahoo, and it gives big marks to certain very specific criteria, such as links from Wikipedia and Digg, rather than from a range of major Web 2.0 sites. Still, it does include age of domain and Alexa ranking, both of which are also important, as well as a number of other indicators totally lost on the Google Toolbar addicts (and we all know how reliable the Google toolbar is every third Tuesday of even numbered months!). In some ways, this is similar to Aftervote and to the Top Ten Analysis SEO Tool, but it is a little more sophisticated.

So there you have it, my top ten list of free SEO tools. And no sooner will I hit the “publish” button, that I’ll tell myself that I really did not put them in the right order.

If you have ideas on the top free SEO tools, please leave a comment.

the five most importance elements of Search engines

2007-05-15T03:28:00.000-07:00

Doing search engine optimization, there are many factors to consider, Below these elements is usually all search engines will be considered, but on a very important position :
Five elements
1) the title of the website title is always the most important,the key words in the performance here, and the frequency and location will affect the search results rankings.

2) website, we can see the contents of the website exists because these can be seen as users visit the page, look at the website is the most valuable part. This part of the general content is not too little and not too long, of the 200 characters to 600 characters for good, Keywords which the density of 5%, should not be too high.

3) reverse link (quality and quantity) into reverse link is the link the quality and quantity of the pages on behalf of the quality, A good quality website will link to the pages good in the rankings.

4) the reverse link text to link the words will affect the use of the Keywords search website in the rankings. Using keywords or related Keywords text link is to do better.

5) the age of the domain name domain name credibility of the same age, that is not to say that I just registered the domain name credibility, but the need to establish the credibility of the time, just like people in the association community, credibility of the day can not establish.

Affect search engine rankings were hundreds of species or more factors, but these factors do not weight the same, Search engines also will make regular adjustments to adapt to the changes in the network world. Optimization of the site so friends should always pay attention to the changes in order to make timely adjustments in a timely manner.

Top 25 Geekiest Free Fonts

2007-05-15T03:22:00.000-07:00

Top 25 Geekiest Free Fonts

There are thousands of familiar fonts out there if you think about it. From beverages
(everyone knows the Coca-Cola font)
to rock bands (AC/DC,
for instance), you can use a famous font for just about anything and people will
instantly recognize where it's from. This can be a lot of fun for geeks, especially
if you have a project you want to customize, such as a blog entry about Lord of
the Rings (Elvish script,
anyone?) or a birthday invitation with a superhero
theme. Listed below are 25 of the geekiest free fonts available for download.

Note: The
following fonts were not created by Free Geekery. By clicking on each
font title, you will be directed to a freeware
download page where credit is
given to all known authors.

Topping the list is the Star Trek font from the original series. It made
the number one spot because geeks
love Star Trek. It's a scientfic fact. But before you segue into a "Kirk
vs Picard" debate, rest assured that there are many other Trek fonts where
this came from— including alien languages. So for those of you who are
brushing up on your Klingon or Cardassian,
you are in luck.

Star Wars fans are just as enthusiastic
as Trekkies, so this font should interest a lot of geeks. The style is based
on the classic 1977 logo from A New Hope that is still being used today on,
well, everything.
This is easily one of the most recognizable fonts in movie history and is recommended if you feel like traveling to a galaxy far, far away.

Yes, the most successful sci-fi
franchises have the word "star" in the title. Originally a major
motion picture, Stargate then became Stargate SG-1, the longest running
sci-fi series of all time. We're not sure what the technical term is for the
circle above the "A", but it is a cool font, nonetheless.

This is a no-frills typewriter font that geeks everywhere should recognize.
Each episode of the X-Files
used this font for the credits, as well as the Law
& Order-esque subtitles that accompanied major scene changes.

Harry Potter has become a multimedia phenomenon, making creator J.K. Rowling
the richest woman in England.
Due to popular demand, this font was created to mimic the same used for
both the books and the films. Fashioned to look whimsical, the "P" appears
like a lightning bolt, similar to the scar
on Harry Potter's forehead.

Like Stargate SG-1, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a wildly popular series based
on a mediocre
film. This font, the same used for the show's opening title and official
merchandise, looks like dripping blood. It serves as a great multi-purpose
font, as it could be used for anything Halloween
or horror-related.

You can't have a Buffy font without the Angel font. Angel,
the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off series, respectably held its own for
five seasons. This is the stylized font used in the opening title sequence
of the show. It's not as bold as the dripping
blood on the Buffy font, but fans will definitely recognize it.

For children of the 1980s, this film is still considered a favorite. In fact,
its cult status has recently prompted director Richard Donner and producer
Steven Spielberg to write a Broadway
musical based on the movie. The Goonies' title logo, particularly the
skull above the "I", is still recognized by people over twenty years after
the film's release.

Goth geeks will love this Crow font, based on the title logo from James
O'Barr's classic graphic novel. This is also the same font used in
the Crow films, which never seem to quit returning
from the dead (pun intended).

Sliders was a low-budget
science fiction series that flew under the radar for five years. It must
have a strong cult following,
however, because this font can be found all over the Net. This design is borrowed
from the show's opening and closing credits.

Japan has made a great impact on American popular culture in recent years,
thanks to a growing interest in anime
and manga. However, before any of that
was popular in America, we were enjoying heavy doses of Japanese monsters,
or "kaiju". This font comes
from the original Godzilla (1958) film credits, making it the oldest of the
geeky fonts on the list.

If you think the Ghostbusters craze is over, then you clearly haven't
been to a sci-fi convention lately. There's usually at least one
guy walking around the place in a jumpsuit, with a homemade
proton pack strapped to his back. This font is proof of the Ghostbusters'
enduring popularity, although it is only really recognizable when you use
the "O".

Galaxy Quest was a hit
comedy that accurately spoofed sci-fi
culture, but it did so with affection and for that reason, many geeks
love it. While it may not be universally familiar to people as the font
from Galaxy Quest, this is an attractive and practical font to have available
on your word processor.

Matt Groening's cartoon series Futurama is a geek favorite. In fact,
the canceled series will be returning to television in 2008, largely due to
public demand and high ratings that
the show's reruns consistently
earn. There are several variations of the Futurama font, including the alien
script used on the show.

Comic book fans will immediately
recognize this Fantastic Four font. No, this has nothing to do with the Jessica
Alba films. This is old school, Silver
Age Fantastic Four font.

This Blade Runner font is from the title credits of the 1982 film. Nominated
for two Academy Awards, this is one of the most well-respected sci-fi films
of all time. There is still a huge following,
particularly on the Net, which explains why there is a need for the creation
of this typeface.

Back to the Future was one of the greatest adventure films of the 1980s, even
spawning two successful sequels. Make a "flux
capacitor" reference in front of a geek and he/she will likely get it.
Naturally, the fans demanded a downloadable
version of this familiar, italicized font.

Jim Henson's Dark Crystal was a groundbreaking
and imaginative film that many geeks fondly remember from childhood. The font
from the film is impressive, even if you don't immediately recognize it. A
variation on standard calligraphy, this one-of-a-kind typeface would be a
nice touch to many creative
writing projects.

Charmed was truly one of those shows that never seemed to end. Alas, it has
finally been canceled, but many geeks pay
tribute to the show by using this elaborate font. Fans will recognize
the witchy design from the show's
opening credits. This one will also be useful for anything Halloween-related.

This is a simple, bold font that may not seem branded, but any horror geek
can tell you that it just screams, "Evil Dead". While Sam Raimi may be making
millions off his Spider-Man franchise, Evil Dead was the cult
classic that got him where he is today.

While there are plenty of fonts on this list to please horror and sci-fi geeks,
we shouldn't leave out the British
comedy geeks. This classic design is similar to the font used in the second
series of Blackadder, which is set during the Renaissance. As such, this
font can be used for many projects, not just ones related to the comedy series.

Alias was a popular action series that had enough intelligence to attract
more discriminating viewers. With a strong geek
fanbase, Alias' famous title font has been beautifully translated into
this downloadable typeface. This design is cutting edge and would work well
on a project such as a rock band's flyer.
Concerning this font, here's a tip: typing in the upper case will produce
white lettering in a black box, while the lower case will produce black lettering
in a white box.

There is just no getting around it, Batman Forever was a terrible
movie. However, this misguided film did produce a pretty cool font and,
thanks to the power of merchandising,
it is a recognizable font. This still won't replace the two hours of your
life spent watching Batman Forever, but it's a start.

This is just about the grooviest font ever designed. While this certainly
isn't practical for the office newsletter, you should be able to use this
Austin Powers-inspired font for
some fun projects.

While this typeface may not be very familiar when it isn't spelling the word
"alien", sci-fi fans should be pleased
with this subtle font. It is exactly like the font used in the original Alien
trilogy, making it a popular design for over 25 years.

Best Places to Get Free Books

2007-05-15T03:14:00.000-07:00

When we were reviewing 10 of the best online resources for free books, we had a LOT of readers chime in with their own favorites as well. Thank you for all your helpful contributions!
In fact, we had so many suggestions, we have enough to compile a huge list from them, so here they are in no particular order:

ManyBooks - Free eBooks for your PDA, iPod, or eBook reader - Thanks Tony Bryan & abben
BookCrossing - Where real books are released into the wild to be found by others - Thanks Engtech
LibraryElf - The perfect companion to a public library system - Thanks Engtech
Scribd - Open library to publish and discover documents online - Thanks CincauHangus
Word Public Library - 400,000 PDF ebooks for download - Thanks Ellen
Free Tech Books - Free computer science and engineering books (+ lecture notes) - Thanks Ellen
Bookins - Swap real books with other readers - Thanks Jimbob
WellToldTales - Free short story podcasts (like audiobooks, but shorter) - Thanks Kevin C.
Wowio - Public domain, free legitimate copyrighted materials & one of the only with a selection of Comic Books - Thanks Jane and Art Dardia
BizBooktalk - Free book giveaway contests on Fridays - Thanks Brandon
MoochMuch - Organize your book lending with your friends - Thanks Bobby
CHMPDF - A collection of general interest and technical ebooks - Thanks Manish Garg & Brian Di Croce
Realtime Publishers - free IT eBooks by many of the world’s best authors - Thanks Kevin
FrugalReader - Trade Books for free - Thanks Brent
TitleTrader - Swap books, movies, and music - Thanks Brent
ZunaFish - Trade your old media and books items for new titles you’d rather have - Thanks Brent
SwapSimple - Swap your used books here - Thanks Brent
SwapThing - Community of users who swap items including books - Thanks Brent
BookCart - Internet paperback exchange - Thanks Brent
SF-Books - Exchange Sci-Fi Books here - Thanks Brent
PaperbackSwap - Swap books for free - Thanks jane dough, IBelieveInFairies, & Lauren
PinkMonkey - 450 Study Guides / Booknotes / Online Chapter Summary Notes and Analysis - Thanks Spellchecker
eBookWorld - Technical resources - Thanks 5n7p3r
Flaxx - IT and computer books - Thanks tejinder
Baen Library - Free science fiction and fantasy novels - Thanks lanthus & Glen Davis
LibraryThing - Social networking and free books - Thanks Michael
Online Books Page - Facilitates access to books that are freely readable over the Internet - Thanks Aman
Podiobooks - free audiobooks that you can subscribe to with iTunes or any other podcatcher - Thanks KJToo
BookRags - Research material in the form of eBooks - Thanks Henry Delany
Technical Books Online - Old tech books from the “vacuum tube age” of electronics- Thanks obiewiz
ebookSearchr - Google powered Thanks Rico & Rokker
Internet Archive - The Intenet indexed - that includes a vast text library - Thanks jojo
BookYards - Books, videos, education materials- Thanks Victor
Memoware - Free books for your PDA - Thanks Doug
The items below were taken from my original Top 10 list with full reviews (here and here)
Gutenberg Project Top 100 - Popular books from the oldest producer of free ebooks on the Internet
BookMooch - Community for exchanging used books
ebookSpyder - Specializes in technical books ranging anywhere from C# to AJAX
Google Book Search - Read the classics online
Dwalin - plain text novels
Free Computer Books - Technical resources about computers
Librivox - Audio works and podcasts of books
CliffsNotes - Get the notes to cram for the exam
WIkibooks - Free textbooks
DailyLit - Receive small parts of books via email

Windows Explorer replacements abound

2007-05-15T03:05:00.000-07:00

If you're an advanced Windows user, you've probably developed a serious hate for Windows Explorer, the built in file management tool. It's weak, it lacks advanced features and most users don't realize it can be replaced.

Lifehacker recently took a long hard look at Xplorer², a tabbed and efficient alternative with a slew of keyboard shortcuts. Xplorer² is definitely worth a look but, if that doesn't tickle your fantasy, here's a short list of other alternatives.

XYPlorer - XYplorer is a multi-tabbed file manager for Windows, featuring a very powerful file search, versatile preview facilities, a highly customizable interface, and a large array of unique ways to efficiently automate frequently recurring tasks.

Free trial available, a license will cost you $29.50.

Windows File Explorer - Windows File Explorer is a file manager for Windows similar to Windows Explorer. But Windows File Explorer uses a different approach: it features many options that Microsoft's Windows Explorer is missing like image preview and it has two fixed file views side by side (but can be change to a single file view) that is useful when copying many files from folder to folder.

Universal Explorer - With Universal Explorer, you can manage your files (move/copy/paste/delete) quickly and effectively. Plus, you can also VIEW and EDIT almost any file directly in UE with built-in File Viewer Windows! View and Edit text documents, HTML, a wide range of graphic files, programming source code and more. You can even view Microsoft Word and Excel documents without launching Word or Excel.

ExplorerXP - ExplorerXP is a very fast, small, compact and innovative free (for non - commercial use) file manager for Windows 2000/XP. Unlike the regular Windows Explorer, it displays the total size of each folder and allows you to browse multiple folders from a tabbed interface.

Top 25 Free Resources

2007-05-15T02:55:00.000-07:00

We've been sending out our Free Resource of the Day Emails for one year now. If you've not subscribed yet, we highly encourage you to do so. Who knows what magnificent free audio & video learning resources we'll dig up in the next year...

Here's a top 25 list we threw together of the best of the best that we've featured in the last year:
25. Consider the Lobster
In this essay, offered for free on download from Audible.com, author David Foster Wallace shares his observations on the Maine Lobster Festival. Although written for Gourmet Magazine, Wallace's essay is far from your typical culinary writing.
It contains amusing observations on the not-so-well-known history of lobster-eating, the obnoxiousness of American tourist attractions, and the ethics of boiling lobsters alive. Wallace reads the essay himself and he even worked out a way to fit in audio footnotes by changing the quality of the recording. It's a fun listen.
24. Decadence: Ancient and Modern
In this online audio lecture, Russell Kirk, author of The Conservative Mind, compares the decadence of our time to the decadence of the Greek and Roman civilizations that preceded us. Kirk tosses in a plethora of references to ancient cultures and it's an amusing and interesting lecture.
23. Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka's novella is a bonafide 20th century classic about a traveling salesman that wakes up one morning to find his body has been transformed into that of a giant dung beatle. This highly symbolic tale about the plight of the modern working man, human alienation, and the eternal need to fit in has gone on to be Kafka's signature work.
The audio version is brought to you through Thought Audio, and is narrated in a crisp performance by Michael Scott. If you've ever been interested in Kafka or have heard of the story's premise but never checked it out, now is the time. This book really is as good as everyone says!
22. Eleanor Roosevelt: Address to the United Nations General Assembly on the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948 and ratified by 48 nations. In this speech delivered by the former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, she lays out the aspirations of the declaration with the hope that it will become the "international Magna Carta".
She emphasizes that the declaration is not a binding treaty or law, but rather a moral standard of achievement for all nations concerning basic principles of human rights and freedoms. This speech is available on MP3 download, streaming audio, and streaming video from AmericanRhetoric.com.
21. Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times
In this lecture from the Miller Center of Public Affairs, H.W. Brands lectures on his latest book Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times. Professor Brands focuses on the way that American public opinion regarding Andrew Jackson has changed since Jackson was thought of as "the hero" of his day to his demonization in contemporary America for his policies such as Indian removal.
Brands probes deeper into the character of Jackson, pointing out his admirable qualities and crediting Jackson for twice saving the Union. This lecture is available on MP3 download.
20. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Here's a great short story you can listen to. It is written by Washington Irving, one of the first acclaimed American authors. It tells the tale of a Dutch settlement called Sleepy Hollow which is haunted by the legend of a Headless Horseman. This story is read by Chip at LibriVox and his narration if magnificent. It's available on MP3 Download.
19. Cornel West with Amy Goodman: Lannan Readings & Conversations
In this inspiring oration from the Lannan Foundation, African American intellectual Cornel West calls for revival in America's democratic tradition which draws on our religious, philosophical, and literary history. This speech demonstrates West's charismatic speaking talent in the tradition of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. This talk is available on streaming audio.
18. Yes You Can
In this free downloadable audio program author and motivational speaker Jim Donovan demonstrates in dozens of ways how our thoughts become the outcomes of our life. Through positively shifting what our focus is we inevitably move toward our goals and become happier, healthier, and wealthier. This motivational program is available on MP3 digital download through LearnOutLoud.com.
17. The Age of Innocence Podcast
Listen to Edith Wharton's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Age of Innocence. Brenda Dayne has narrated a very fine unabridged recording of the book and put it out in its entirety as a podcast. Immerse yourself into the upper class of New York City, in an age when "being things" was better than "doing things". Enjoy!
16. The Nature of Islam
In this streaming audio discussion offered by Boston University's World of Ideas forum, spokesman for Islam, Christianity and Judaism convene to examine the modern misconceptions of Islam in the wake of 9/11. Each pundit is given equal footing on hot topic issues such as Islam's concept of Jihad, Martyrdom, Women's rights, Religious Tolerance and other explosive issues that have become part of everyday news.
Join these three men of faith as they work to find common ground on what binds their separate religions, and work to illuminate misunderstandings that could potentially tear the world apart.
15. In Depth: Tom Wolfe
In this streaming video from C-SPAN's BookTV, Tom Wolfe talks about his career as writer from The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby which he wrote back in the 1960s all the way up to his latest novel I Am Charlotte Simmons which explores the college campus life in the present day. He fields call-in questions from people across the United States and tells us the secrets of his craft. Indeed, no writer today is as fun to listen to as Tom Wolfe.
14. Alan Watts Podcast
We're highlighting the Alan Watts Podcast which features recordings of one of the great western interpreters of Eastern religion: Alan Watts. If you've never heard Alan Watts lectures before, please do yourself a favor and listen to this podcast.
13. The Law
Frederic Bastiat's "The Law" produced by FreeAudio.org is one of the best free audio books available. Bastiat's brief treatise on law is a passionate cry for his belief that law should only be put in place to maintain life, liberty, and property. He denounces legislators and philosophers who seek legalized plunder, moral coercion, and numerous other methods of force through law which encroach on liberties.
The production quality is professional and Marvin Payne's narration is superb. You can download this title through LearnOutLoud.com on MP3 or MPEG-4 (if you want to bookmark it in your iPod).
12. 50 Things I'm Going To Do Today
One of our all-time favorite audio downloads is 50 Things I'm Going to Do Today. Written and narrated by Brian Johnson, CEO of Zaadz, Inc., "50 Things" is a great collection of tips to live your life by. Ranging from "Hit The Rock" and "Pay Your Bills with a Smile" to "Act 'As If'" and "Embrace Opposites," you're in for a real treat if you haven't listened to this already. And if you have it's probably time for another listen. Enjoy!
11. Existentialism in Literature and Film Podcast
We're featuring a full course from the University of California-Berkeley entitled "Existentialism in Literature and Film". The "Existentialism in Literature and Film" course, taught by professor Hubert L. Dreyfus, cuts right to the roots of existentialist thought, looking at the works of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, and examining Dostoyevsky's Brothers Karamazov in depth. It's an excellent philosophy course and it's free!
10. Extraordinary Leadership
LearnOutLoud.com is exclusively offering a free audio book to you by Robin Sharma, author of the bestselling book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.
The title we're offering is called Extraordinary Leadership, and this inspirational program is aimed at bringing out the leader in all of us. Sharma fills this audio book with anecdotes and words of wisdom regarding what it takes to be a great leader in all aspects of life. Extraordinary Leadership is available from LearnOutLoud.com on MP3 Download.
9. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Harvard University Commencement Address
This is a free speech that is not to be missed. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Russian author of the The Gulag Archipelago) delivered the Harvard University Commencement Address in 1978. While in exile from the Soviet Union, he spent a number of years in the United States and this address is his analysis of the Western predicament.
In this comprehensive one hour speech he discusses Western politics, the media, our role in Vietnam, the lack of courage in leadership, Soviet communism, commercialism and materialism, and the spiritual state of Western man. Most of Solzhenitsyn's criticisms still hold true today. He delivers the speech in Russian and it is simultaneously translated into English. This speech is offered by American Rhetoric and you can download the speech on MP3 or listen to it streaming.
8. The Origin of the Human Mind
In this streaming UCTV video Lecture, cognitive scientist Martin Sereno gives us a survey of the brain's evolution. With thorough visual aids, Sereno examines the difference between the human brain and that of other species, showcasing experiments he has conducted that have helped broaden our understanding of the physical mechanics behind human thought.
The biggest question he poses is why our minds are so special, when organically the human brain is 99% similar to that of the primates. Learn why size doesn't matter when it comes to brain power!
7. The King James Version Bible
The Bible is the #1 selling book of all time. If you've been wanting to listen to an audio version the good folks at Audio Treasure would like to treat you to a free one. You can listen on their website or download to put on your mp3 player. It's great for moments when you need a little inspiration!
6. History According to Bob Podcast
For two years, Bob Packett has serviced the world with his podcast, History According to Bob. This retired history professor operating out of Kansas explores a large canvas - from the smallest historical artifacts to decade- spanning cultural upheaval- with the sort of down- home, approachable style that is the earmark of a great teacher.
5. Introduction to Your Mind: Two Guided Meditations
Before you plunge into action, start things off with these two free guided meditations. They were published by Mi Ka El Mindchanger through our TeachOutLoud self-publishing tool. Through these two 10-minute meditations Mi Ka El leads you through the practice of mindfulness meditation with insights on how to transcend your thoughts & feelings and come into awareness of your true Self.
These excellent meditations can be downloaded on MP3 through LearnOutLoud.com and listened to again and again. Thanks Mi Ka El for this great free resource!
4. Tolstoy On Death: The Death of Ivan Ilyich & Master Man
Death is certainly a bit of a morbid subject but often the lessons of death teach us how to live life more fully. These two short novels offer a lot of food for thought. They are a bit of "heavy listening" but offer spiritual encouragement for all of us. Thanks to the gang over at ChristianAudio for making these free audiobooks available through LearnOutLoud.com.
3. TEDTalks Podcast
We're highlighting the TEDTalks Podcast which features key talks from the TED Conference covering the latest ideas in Technology, Entertainment, Design, Business, Science, and other areas. Now on their podcast feed they feature Al Gore delivering jokes and ways to help save the planet, Tony Robbins telling what drives him and discussing the 4 basic human needs, and many other interesting speakers. They're featuring new talks every week so you may want to subscribe to this one.
2. The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson Podcast
This year LearnOutLoud.com launched "The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson Podcast" and we were featured in iTunes many times in the past year for it.
It's an excellent podcast which features a classic essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson every week. We're always recording more Emerson essays including many that've never been on audio before so please subscribe!
1. I Have a Dream Audio and Video
From our very first edition of the Resource of the Day e-mail, we wanted to start out with a special one. One of our favorite free titles in the directory is Martin Luther King, Jr.'s classic "I Have a Dream" speech. Delivered on August 28th, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., King's passionate call for justice and equality was the battle cry for the civil rights movement in America. Choose from an audio version of the speech from American Rhetoric or watch the streaming video.

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2007-05-15T02:42:00.000-07:00

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Google's 10 Commandments

2007-05-15T02:34:00.000-07:00

Ten things Google has found to be true
1. Focus on the user and all else will follow.
From its inception, Google has focused on providing the best user experience possible. While many companies claim to put their customers first, few are able to resist the temptation to make small sacrifices to increase shareholder value. Google has steadfastly refused to make any change that does not offer a benefit to the users who come to the site:
The interface is clear and simple.
Pages load instantly.
Placement in search results is never sold to anyone.
Advertising on the site must offer relevant content and not be a distraction.
By always placing the interests of the user first, Google has built the most loyal audience on the web. And that growth has come not through TV ad campaigns, but through word of mouth from one satisfied user to another.
2. It's best to do one thing really, really well.
Google does search. With one of the world's largest research groups focused exclusively on solving search problems, we know what we do well, and how we could do it better. Through continued iteration on difficult problems, we've been able to solve complex issues and provide continuous improvements to a service already considered the best on the web at making finding information a fast and seamless experience for millions of users. Our dedication to improving search has also allowed us to apply what we've learned to new products, including Gmail, Google Desktop, and Google Maps. As we continue to build new products* while making search better, our hope is to bring the power of search to previously unexplored areas, and to help users access and use even more of the ever-expanding information in their lives.
3. Fast is better than slow.
Google believes in instant gratification. You want answers and you want them right now. Who are we to argue? Google may be the only company in the world whose stated goal is to have users leave its website as quickly as possible. By fanatically obsessing on shaving every excess bit and byte from our pages and increasing the efficiency of our serving environment, Google has broken its own speed records time and again. Others assumed large servers were the fastest way to handle massive amounts of data. Google found networked PCs to be faster. Where others accepted apparent speed limits imposed by search algorithms, Google wrote new algorithms that proved there were no limits. And Google continues to work on making it all go even faster.
4. Democracy on the web works.
Google works because it relies on the millions of individuals posting links on websites to help determine which other sites offer content of value. Google assesses the importance of every web page using a variety of techniques, including its patented PageRank™ algorithm which analyzes which sites have been "voted" the best sources of information by other pages across the web. This technique actually improves as the web gets bigger, as each new site is another point of information and another vote to be counted.
5. You don't need to be at your desk to need an answer.
The world is increasingly mobile and unwilling to be constrained to a fixed location. Whether it's through their PDAs, their wireless phones or even their automobiles, people want information to come to them. Google's innovations in this area include Google Number Search, which reduces the number of keypad strokes required to find data from a web-enabled cellular phone and an on-the-fly translation system that converts pages written in HTML to a format that can be read by phone browsers. This system opens up billions of pages for viewing from devices that would otherwise not be able to display them, including Palm PDAs and Japanese i-mode, J-Sky, and EZWeb devices. Wherever search is likely to help users obtain the information they seek, Google is pioneering new technologies and offering new solutions.
6. You can make money without doing evil.
Google is a business. The revenue the company generates is derived from offering its search technology to companies and from the sale of advertising displayed on Google and on other sites across the web. However, you may have never seen an ad on Google. That's because Google does not allow ads to be displayed on our results pages unless they're relevant to the results page on which they're shown. So, only certain searches produce sponsored links above or to the right of the results. Google firmly believes that ads can provide useful information if, and only if, they are relevant to what you wish to find.
Google has also proven that advertising can be effective without being flashy. Google does not accept pop-up advertising, which interferes with your ability to see the content you've requested. We've found that text ads (AdWords) that are relevant to the person reading them draw much higher clickthrough rates than ads appearing randomly. Google's maximization group works with advertisers to improve clickthrough rates over the life of a campaign, because high clickthrough rates are an indication that ads are relevant to a user's interests. Any advertiser, no matter how small or how large, can take advantage of this highly targeted medium, whether through our self-service advertising program that puts ads online within minutes, or with the assistance of a Google advertising representative.
Advertising on Google is always clearly identified as a "Sponsored Link." It is a core value for Google that there be no compromising of the integrity of our results. We never manipulate rankings to put our partners higher in our search results. No one can buy better PageRank. Our users trust Google's objectivity and no short-term gain could ever justify breaching that trust.
Thousands of advertisers use our Google AdWords program to promote their products; we believe AdWords is the largest program of its kind. In addition, thousands of web site managers take advantage of our Google AdSense program to deliver ads relevant to the content on their sites, improving their ability to generate revenue and enhancing the experience for their users.
7. There's always more information out there.
Once Google had indexed more of the HTML pages on the Internet than any other search service, our engineers turned their attention to information that was not as readily accessible. Sometimes it was just a matter of integrating new databases, such as adding a phone number and address lookup and a business directory. Other efforts required a bit more creativity, like adding the ability to search billions of images and a way to view pages that were originally created as PDF files. The popularity of PDF results led us to expand the list of file types searched to include documents produced in a dozen formats such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. For wireless users, Google developed a unique way to translate HTML formatted files into a format that could be read by mobile devices. The list is not likely to end there as Google's researchers continue looking into ways to bring all the world's information to users seeking answers.
8. The need for information crosses all borders.
Though Google is headquartered in California, our mission is to facilitate access to information for the entire world, so we have offices around the globe. To that end we maintain dozens of Internet domains and serve more than half of our results to users living outside the United States. Google search results can be restricted to pages written in more than 35 languages according to a user's preference. We also offer a translation feature to make content available to users regardless of their native tongue and for those who prefer not to search in English, Google's interface can be customized into more than 100 languages. To accelerate the addition of new languages, Google offers volunteers the opportunity to help in the translation through an automated tool available on the Google.com website. This process has greatly improved both the variety and quality of service we're able to offer users in even the most far flung corners of the globe.
9. You can be serious without a suit.
Google's founders have often stated that the company is not serious about anything but search. They built a company around the idea that work should be challenging and the challenge should be fun. To that end, Google's culture is unlike any in corporate America, and it's not because of the ubiquitous lava lamps and large rubber balls, or the fact that the company's chef used to cook for the Grateful Dead. In the same way Google puts users first when it comes to our online service, Google Inc. puts employees first when it comes to daily life in our Googleplex headquarters. There is an emphasis on team achievements and pride in individual accomplishments that contribute to the company's overall success. Ideas are traded, tested and put into practice with an alacrity that can be dizzying. Meetings that would take hours elsewhere are frequently little more than a conversation in line for lunch and few walls separate those who write the code from those who write the checks. This highly communicative environment fosters a productivity and camaraderie fueled by the realization that millions of people rely on Google results. Give the proper tools to a group of people who like to make a difference, and they will.
10. Great just isn't good enough.
Always deliver more than expected. Google does not accept being the best as an endpoint, but a starting point. Through innovation and iteration, Google takes something that works well and improves upon it in unexpected ways. Search works well for properly spelled words, but what about typos? One engineer saw a need and created a spell checker that seems to read a user's mind. It takes too long to search from a WAP phone? Our wireless group developed Google Number Search to reduce entries from three keystrokes per letter to one. With a user base in the millions, Google is able to identify points of friction quickly and smooth them out. Google's point of distinction however, is anticipating needs not yet articulated by our global audience, then meeting them with products and services that set new standards. This constant dissatisfaction with the way things are is ultimately the driving force behind the world's best search engine.

How to Get Backlinks Other than Link Building & Article Directories?

2007-05-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

>>>>>Linkbuilding means directory submission and link excange
That's building links like I build wooden furniture. Wobbly, and not quite enough legs to stand upright. Apparently you can't build a chest of drawers with only a router and a screwdriver. Who knew?
Try asking for links without offering an exchange. Look in general business associations, regional websites, industry associations.
Create content that includes links to your site. then offer the articles for free to sites you'd like a link from. Make the content unique so it's more attractive to them.
Find blogs in your industry and offer to sponsor them or ask for a site review.
Pick through dmoz for old sites that might give you a link. Dmoz is full of old, derelict websites. As a directory that's not very good, but when you're looking for links it's like a candy store.
Do searches on terms you want to rank for. Look back hundreds of listings, ask appropriate sites for a link.
Check who links to your competitors. Ask them for links. Check who links to sites that are ranking. Ask them for links.
Spend the next week reading all the threads in this section of the forum going back a year. Seriously, that's the first thing I did.

Five Steps to Selecting the Right Mesothelioma Attorney

2007-05-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

Selecting an attorney to represent you in a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit is an important decision that should be made carefully. Below are five points to consider when making that decision:

1) Ignore the Ads
Many asbestos lawyers advertise on television, however, you should not use a TV commercial as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the lawyer achieved? How committed are they to cancer cases? How many other cases have they handled? Many of the best firms do not advertise much because they do not have to.

2) Bigger is Not Better
Big law firms with lots of money and lawyers are not always the best choice for a client. At larger firms, a client may be handed-off to paralegals and younger staff attorneys. (The "big guns" are the ones who show up in court if the case ends up going there. But, most asbestos cases are settled out of court.) You don't want a young lawyer to "learn the ropes" at your expense. It's best to find experienced lawyers who will personally handle your case regardless of the size of their offices or staff. In addition, the lawyer or law firm you choose does not have to be in the same state as you. Most lawyers are able to practice in any state for a specific case.

3) Understand Fees
Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. Nearly all asbestos related lawsuits are handled on a contingency basis. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies by state. It is usually between 33% and 40% of the amount that is awarded to you after expenses are deducted. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, and whether there will be any extra charges.

4) Trusted Partner
For something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who keeps you well informed. You have the right to know and understand every step of the legal process and to be included in key decisions about your case. You should ask a potential attorney to explain how they intend to include you in the decision-making.

5) Warning Signs
Finally, here are three warning signs that an attorney may not be right for you:
The lawyer is hard to reach, does not return calls promptly, or your calls are returned by someone else.

The lawyer seems uninterested in your opinions.
The lawyer asks you questions that make you doubt their competence or experience.
Remember: Take your time, do your research, and ask questions BEFORE you sign an agreement.