How much time do you spend watching television each day? Do you have a favorite show that you absolutely cannot miss? Most of us are so busy with our schedules and other miscellaneous extra-curricular activities, that we’re lucky if we have five minutes to ourselves at the end of the day. Now, how much time would you say you spend on the Internet? Ah- forget the Internet- how much time do you spend on or near a computer? It seems like no matter how hard we try, it is simply too difficult to tear ourselves away from a computer screen versus the television.

It’s like an Addiction

Hi, my name is Janelle, and I’m addicted to the Internet. Up until a few years ago, I still had time for television and the movies occasionally, but then AOL Instant messenger came along, followed by a handful of email accounts, online newspapers, quizzes, myspace and facebook, to name a few. How do I spend my time on the Internet nowadays? Well, I would venture to guess that my time spent on the Internet is similar to how other people who are addicted to it spend their time: checking my email account(s), doing work-related research and writing, chatting with friends via facebook and/or AIM and keeping up with the latest news and celebrity gossip. It’s only within the past couple of years that my Internet addiction has gotten out of hand. I quit myspace and thought that it would get better, and for a little while, it did. But now it seems like I’ve fallen off of the wagon. I’m not the only one though. I have dozens of friends who do nothing (it would seem) but sit on their computers all day looking up useless information. Even my boyfriend is addicted. We actually had a discussion about how the Internet is affecting our lives and decided that we would limit our time on the computer when we were around one another. The other night, I was reading for a few hours while he was on the Internet THE ENTIRE TIME. It turned out, that while surfing, he had found this online program that allows you to start a virtual library, so he was feverishly cataloging all of our books. As, you can see, that plan has been working really well.

The Impact as Seen Around the World

It’s no secret that the number of people who use the Internet has gone up significantly around the world. For instance, if you go to this web site, you can see for yourself. It is estimated that there are now over 1 billion people who use the Internet worldwide. Since 2000 up until now, North America has seen a 125.2% increase in the number of people using the Internet. For 2008, the percentage of Internet users by region can be seen as follows:

• Asia: 37.8%
• Europe: 27.6%
• North America: 18.0%
• Latin America/Caribbean: 9.4%
• Africa: 3.3%
• Middle East: 27.6%
  
• Oceana/Australia: 1.4%

If you’ve got a story about using the Internet, please share it with the rest of us!
For more information on Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!

Tags: media interests // 1 Comment »

Ever wonder why your web site isn’t getting the kind of traffic you think it should be getting? Well, it could be due to several problems, but the one area that most people overlook is the part that has to do with the writing. Writing is an essential part of any web site’s success. If you’re trying to market something on the Internet, sure your web page should look a little flashy- but once a person gets beyond the looks, it’s all about what’s actually written.

Some Helpful Tips

Some of us are fantastic writers. However, you could be the greatest writer in the world and have a ton of interesting ideas; but if you don’t know how to properly convey that to readers, no one will notice how talented you are nor will they care what you have to say. So, here are some helpful tips to assist you into becoming a better writer:

1. Have a Headline: Spend some time working on a catchy headline. A really great headline will grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read on to see what your content has to say. For example, many people who read newspapers only tend to read the headlines. The will usually scan the headlines until they find something that grabs their attention. Then, and only then, will they read the article.
2. Know Your Audience: If you are writing for a particular web site, or if you have your own web site, it helps to know who your audience is. Who are you trying to market your information to? This will make a difference in how you write as well as what you’re writing about.
3. Give Examples: Providing examples when you are writing content can help a reader to better understand what you are trying to say because it adds clarification. However, be careful not to overdo it with too many examples because then all you’re doing is breaking up the text, making it more difficult to absorb what is being said. Take the example of some books and articles that have the footnotes right in the text.
4. Avoid Being Verbose: No one likes to read a piece of content that is too wordy. Avoid the wordiness if you can and keep things as succinct as possible while still providing the necessary information that readers will be looking for.
5. Don’t Play the Guessing Game: Readers shouldn’t have to guess at what you are trying to say. Rather, it should be fairly obvious.
6. Keep it Short: No one likes to read content that goes on and on. Keep your sentences and paragraphs relatively short. Remember that if someone comes across a page of entire text, they are less likely to read it. Create some white space in there by shortening sentences and paragraphs down so that it will look and read better.
7. Use Active vs. Passive Voice: Whenever possible, avoid using passive voice. Content that is written in passive voice is a lot weaker than content that is written in active voice. An example of this would be: passive: My shoes have been completely destroyed by rain VERSUS active: The rain completely destroyed my shoes.
8. Be Specific: Readers love details and hate generalizations. When you are writing content, always try to be as specific as possible. Being specific also makes you seem a heck of a lot more credible because it shows that you know what you’re talking about.
9. Don’t Stop Writing: When you are writing content, just write what you what you feel. After you’ve finished writing, then you can go back and correct your mistakes and/or change it as you please.
10. Pretend to Be the Reader: When you are finished writing your first draft of content, take a minute to step outside of the box and into the shoes of a total stranger who would happen to come across your content. Does it seem appealing? Is everything explained well and in a way that can be easily understood by the average reader, or are there still questions that you might have?

For more information about Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!

Tags: Marketing // 1 Comment »

Ah, the beauty of e-mail. Does anyone even pick up a pen anymore? What’s the point of writing out a letter to someone and paying however much it is nowadays for a stamp to mail it out and wait for them to get it two-three days later when you can simply send someone a message in a matter of seconds? If you’re like most people, you don’t just have one email account; you have SEVERAL. You don’t just check your email once a day; you check it at least fifty times. Think about all the money and time you’ve saved with email than with regular mail. People rely on their email almost entirely. Think about how many jobs you’ve applied for via email, how many resumes you’ve uploaded, how many pictures you’ve sent to relatives and other loved ones, how many quirky messages you’ve sent to friends, invites to parties and other social functions, etc. Recently, I just renewed my soccer membership, made plans with friends for this weekend and received three bills- all via my email.

If It’s Important to You; Treat it Right!

If you’re the type of person as described above, then you should always make sure that you’re organized when it comes to sorting through email. There are several things that you can do to help you better manage your email:

• Sorting by Subject: Have you ever had one of those days where you’re in a rush to find something that someone sent you, but don’t remember who the person was that sent you the information? For example, if you just moved into a new house, the subject heading will probably have something to do with the house. Sorting your inbox by subject will also help you identify spammers, since they tend to use the same headings. This makes it easier to group them and delete them.
• Filtering: Most email accounts have a section under the options that will allow you to filter your email so that any incoming mail will automatically go to a designated folder (which you would have to create) within your email account. For example, you could have a folder called “friends,” another called “business,” and another called “Other”. Anytime you receive email, it will go to one of these folders.
• Color Code: You can make it easier to see who is emailing you if you color code your incoming emails. So, for instance, anytime you see something highlighted in pink, you know it’s your best friend before you even open the email.

If you have any other email tips or advice that you can think of, feel free to leave a comment; we’d love to hear what you have to say! For more information about Internet Marketing, visit Create Business Growth today!

Tags: Internet Marketing // 2 Comments »

Social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook used to be strictly for socializing purposes. You could hook up with friends, send messages back and forth, exchange pictures and information, etc. However, now these same social networking sites have developed into much more. Let’s take a look at the infamous Facebook.

A Little Background on Facebook

Facebook originally began back in 2004 when a guy named Mark Zuckerberg launched a social networking site that, at the time, was exclusively for students at Harvard University. Within a short matter of time (something like 2 weeks), over half of the student body at the university had signed up. Zuckerberg had came up with the idea for Facebook after he had attended his high school (Phillips Exeter Academy). At Zuckerberg’s high school, the Exeter Face Book was passed out to each student as a way for students to get to know their fellow classmates. It used to be a paper book until Zuckerberg brought it into existence on the World Wide Web. After the initial (and somewhat unexpected) success of launching the web site, Zuckerberg brought in a couple of his friends, Dustin Moskowitz and Chris Hughes to help him manage Facebook. Within only a few months of having the site up and running, 30 other colleges requested to join.

Following the Trends

Social networks, such as Facebook, used to be watering holes for young adults and professors to go and hang out. However, it wasn’t long before marketers and businesses realized the value of using Facebook to generate business. Today, many small and large businesses alike are stuck trying to figure out how they can best utilize Facebook to generate more traffic to their sites. There are many rules in place that govern how one is allowed to use Facebook, and if you’re not careful; if you’re leaving a web trail of spammy looking material, you could get yourself kicked out. Everyone seems to know or realize that social networks are what most young people are tinkering around with. Hence, the wave of businesses who are trying to get into Facebook now is almost ridiculous. They are taking Facebook at face value and are finally seeing its importance.

For more information about Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!

Tags: Business Networking, Internet Marketing // 2 Comments »

There’s no doubt that most of us use the Internet for research purposes.  But how do we know that the resources we’re using on the Internet are telling the truth?  There are lots of Internet marketing companies out there that advertise various products and services, but how do we know that those services are reliable?  If you think about it, anyone can design a web site or page to make it look professional, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the information they are presenting is truthful.

Problems with Information

The Internet is a big place occupied by many people.  There is no shortage of information on any topic that you so desire.  However, much of the information on the Internet ranges in its accuracy and reliability.  For example, unlike published books that you can buy at the bookstore, the Internet doesn’t require all of those copyrights, etc.  Just about anyone can upload just about anything they want and claim it as their own…..at least, until they get caught. 

C.A.S.T. Your Worries Away!

The next time you use the Internet for something, think about what your goal is.  What are you looking for?  Does it require statistical evidence? Once you’ve figured that out, then you can begin to “C.A.S.T” your worries away:

• Credibility- Is the source you’re using credible?  Does it have have an author?  Does the author’s credentials trace back to other reliable sources.  Never trust a site that has no author or does not give the last name of the author.  Also look to see how the page is set up.   Does it look like and amateur designed it?  Are words misspelled? Did you see the same information word-for-word on someone else’s page?  If so, the document might be plagiarized.
• Accuracy- How does the information presented on the one web site compare to other reliable sources that you know of?  Look for references throughout the page and then attempt to trace a few of the references back to their source.  Can you find a source for the information presented?
• Source Reliability-  When examining the sources, look for dates of when things were published.  casino online in italianogiochi keno in lineacasino gratis slot machineall slots casinogioco di roulettecasino 10 euro gratisgioco pc casinoscaricare casino gratiscasino online comslots machine downloads gratuito,slots machine,giochi gratis slots machineroulette online,per vincere alla roulette online,la roulette onlinevip casinoplay kenoroulette gamesbaccarat onlinewww casino on lineaprire un casino onlinevideo poker da scaricare gratisgiocare alla roulettevideo poker online,giochi online video poker,video poker online gratisdownload slotscasino on line italiano,casino on line,giochi casino gratis on linegioco kenoplay free kenocasino online in italiacasino on line conblack jackmetodo roulettecasino tropez bonus codeslots gratis3d roulettegiochi blackjack in lineagiochi keno inlineacasino on line senza depositogold casinocasino da scaricare gratiscasino venezia on linegiochi keno gratis in lineavideo poker pcgiochi on line roulettejack black in lineaautomatic video pokermobile casino games,online casino games,casino gamesvideo poker per pcgiochi black jackonline casino gamesla rouletteroulette europeaslots casinocasino on net com,casino on net,questionario casino on net Make sure the authors’ names match up with other credible sources.  Some well-known sources such as CNN.com or Wikipedia will sometimes suggest sources of information.  Try to start with a credible source that is well known and then branch out from there.
• Traceability-Test out the links on the web page.  Do the links lead you to a dead end?  Do the links lead you back to information that is extremely outdated?

These are all important points to think about and consider the next time you are out “surfing” for information.  If you know how do distinguish bogus information from credible information, you’ll have no problem getting what you want out of your Internet experience.  For more information on Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth.

Tags: Blogging, Social Networking // 2 Comments »

If you’re thinking moving or relocating to a different area but don’t want to have to drive your vehicle, then you should consider auto transport. Auto transport is no longer just something reserved for car dealerships. Rather, it is gaining increasing attention from everyday people who are concerned with saving money as well as the uncertainty of the future of the economy and rising oil prices, etc. Think about all of the expenses that you would normally be responsible for if you drove versus if you used a car transport company. For example, if you were moving from New York to Florida, you would probably rent a U-Haul truck as well as drive your car down to Florida. Now consider all of the money you would have to spend on gas for that long drive, battling traffic, inclement weather and frequent stops for food, gas or to stretch. Also consider the fact that the drive would probably take up the span of at least two days, which would mean that you’d also have to shell out money on a hotel/motel. Now imagine going with an auto transport company. You would’ve already called and arranged for a representative from the auto transport company to come to your house to pick up your vehicle. You may have chosen to go with the enclosed vehicle shipping deal (because you’re super paranoid about your car). You have been told that your vehicle will be there the day after you’re scheduled to move into your new home. With all of that taken care of, all you have to worry about is booking your plane ticket and letting the moving company take care of the rest. For a lot of people, auto transport is the easier, more convenient and financially sensible choice. So, the next time you’re thinking about moving or if want your car to be wherever you are but simply don’t feel like it driving across the country, consider having it shipped. It just may save you a lot of time and money minus the headache!

Tags: Marketing // Add Comment »

My mother always used to (and still does) tell me to “Never depend on other people for things.” The advice is so simple and true and yet, people still ignore it anyway.  I mean, how many times have you asked someone to do something as simple as remember to bring back the cd they borrowed from you last week and then they forgot it?  The same is true for businesses- not the cd borrowing part- but the fact that many companies rely solely on the Internet to run their businesses.

Now, I’m not saying that the Internet is a bad thing.  On the contrary, I think that the Internet has done wonders for all of us.  However, there has been a growing tendency for many businesses to rely on the Internet, which opens them up to all sorts of vulnerabilities if they’re not careful.

Business Functions that Rely on the Internet

The following are some examples of things that a lot of businesses rely on where the Internet is involved. 

• Employee benefits administration
• Corporate transfer of funds
• Document backup and storage
• Contact info for customers
• Communications (i.e. voice, data)
• Accounting purposes
• Business management
• Payroll

Potential Internet Threats

Some potential threats to the Internet include things like:

• Corrupt code written by individuals
• Internet disruptions
• Natural disasters
• Terrorist attacks
• Hackers
• People looking to harm the United States

There is much talk today about global terrorism.  Terrorists aren’t just blowing things up anymore, they’re doing things more quietly too.  For example, there is much speculation that a future terrorist attacks will come in the form of a cyber war.  These attacks will be aimed not at the military, but at the United States economic infrastructure. 

So, What Can We Do?

BR suggests that CEOs ask some of the following questions:

And you thought running a business was easy!  There are many things to consider when operating your own business, especially if it is Internet- dependent! 

For more information about Internet marketing, visit Create Business Growth!

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking // 5 Comments »

It is no surprise that ever since it’s introduction, Internet usage by United States businesses and governement has been growing rapidly over the past decade or so.  Additionally, Internet dependence has permeated to every inch of the global economy.  For instance, according to a 2007 study published by the World Bank, between the years of 1994 to 2004, Internet usage in the United States grew from less than 10 million users to more than 180 million users. 

A Reason to Depend 

By 2010, it is projected that the Internet will save U.S. businesses approximately $500 billion and increase revenues of $1.5 trillion (BR).  Why is this, you might wonder? The Internet is a valuable resource which reduces the amount of time, money and effort spent communicating ideas as well as information to people around the world.  If businesses are saving time, then it allows them to accomplish more, thereby increasing revenue, etc.  There are also other economic benefits from the increased use of the Internet by businesses, which (according to BR) include the following:

• Enhanced communications between businesses and companies/consumers

• Lower search costs that enable businesses to purchase materials at a lower cost

• Increased productivity

• Lower inventory costs

• Increased competition by making information readily available

• Lower accounting and finance costs

• Expanded sales and delivery channels

Now, what business wouldn’t want that?  However, we need to be weary of our seemingly  harmless dependence on the Internet.  A lot of businesses have turned towards the Internet for all of their company needs.  There’s that saying about putting all of your eggs in one basket.  Perhaps, we need to pay more attention to that.  For more information on Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth!

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking // 2 Comments »

According to a 2007 business dependence report by Business Roundtable (BR), there is major concern that when it comes to having an online business, many companies are not ready or prepared to handle Internet-related disruptions that may arise.  You might be thinking, “So, what’s the big deal?” Well, as stated in my previous blog, when things go wrong with the Internet such as misinformation, glitches and the like, it makes consumers lose faith in that particular company, thereby causing the company to lose business.  In certain instances, this can be a crushing blow. 

Some of the things that catch businesses off guard include:

• Lack of awareness- For example, most businesses aren’t even aware that they have an “addiction” to the Internet until something happens to negatively impact the ability to conduct necessary business functions.
• Failure to plan- Since many businesses don’t view the Internet as something that could possibly work against them, a lot of their company plans don’t include a place for a “backup plan” should something actually go wrong with the Internet.
• Everyone suffers- If you fail to plan, then plan to fail; and plan to take other businesses with you.  The Internet is a social network, allowing for the exchange of ideas, products and services.  It’s a “web” and therefore, we’re all connected.  So, if something goes wrong with your business, plan to have it directly or indirectly affect your neighbors.
• Credibility- Credibility is so extremely important to the success of a business.  If there’s an issue with the Internet and information isn’t properly transmitted (especially if this is not the first time it’s happened), then this can and probably will have a negative impact on your company.

How Do We Fix the Problem?

Prevention is better than cure.  You cannot prevent most Internet problems from happening; however, you can be better prepared, so that when they do occur, you have all your bases covered.  When companies are established, or when annual reviews are done, businesses should address Internet dependence and assess all of the risks involved.  They should be  more proactive in seeking out the partnership of other businesses so that they can strengthen organizational response time in the event that something goes wrong.  BR also suggests that corportate executives ensure executive-level engagement with governement to set and communicate expectations about early warning and threat notifications for the business.

For more information on Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking // 6 Comments »

Lately, the Internet has been a valuable resource and tool for many businesses.  In fact, some would even go so far as to say that it’s truly a ‘dream come true’.  But the Internet isn’t without its risks when it comes down to doing business. 

According to a 2007 report issued by the Business Roundtable (BR), greater dependence on the Internet also raises business vulnerabilities.  The positive thing that the Internet does for businesses is allow companies to conduct business that reaches the worldwide economy.  However, BR points out that many companies rely on the Internet as the source of fundamental business operations; and this dependence on the Internet may leave businesses vulnerable if there are every any significant Internet disruptions.  For example, disruption or corruption of data on the Internet could weaken public confidence in the reliability and integrity of that particular business, thereby ruining the business’ chance for success.

How many times have you been working on something really important- perhaps your college thesis paper- and then all of a sudden, without any warning, the computer crashes and you lose all of the hours of information that you had just worked so diligently on?  Then you remember that you had just printed it up only seconds before.  Whew; that was a close call.  But other people may not be and usually aren’t as lucky.  Face it, computers aren’t perfect.  Every year, it seems as if we have to keep up with technology.  There are always new upgrades to software and things are constantly becoming outdated.  For example, if you’ve had the same computer for longer than two years, then your computer is probably outdated. When doing business on the Internet, companies need to know how to be prepared and respond to Internet-related disruptions and malfunctions so that their business will be protected.

For more information on Internet marketing, contact Create Business Growth today.

Tags: Business Building, Business Networking // 2 Comments »