Business Plan 101 How to Write a Table of Contents

No matter what business you plan to start in your next entrepreneurial endeavor you need to be thinking about writing a business plan. Even if you are not seeking funding for your new business or already have secured funds from family members, angel investor types, personal savings or partners. A business plan helps you start out on the right foot and makes you think about your future strategies. One important thing you need in a business plan is a table of contents that you can use as a guide, as you go thru the hectic and tedious steps to start your new business. There are a myriad of rules, regulations and inane paper work and you must stay focused at all times.

It is recommended that you go and buy yourself a book on "how to write a business plan" and try to find one, which has a sample business plan which is most similar to your business model inside. Below is a sample Table of Contents that you can use to help you, so A.) you do not forget any important items and B.) as a template to help you create your own table of contents. I recommend you print this article and then take the table of contents and modify it to fit your business model. Once you complete this exercise you are well on your way to creating the best possible business plan for your future small business. Now then, below is a table of contents, which we had used in a business for a mobile car wash company. Go ahead and look it over and see if this is something you believe can assist you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Executive Summary 3

Company Analysis 6

Company Description

Company Mission Statement

Company Analysis

Industry Analysis 10

Trends

Position for Growth

Marketing Analysis 12

Target Markets

Bonzai and Blitz Marketing

Sales

Advertising

Media

Management 22

Operations 25

Inventory

Equipment

Hours

Systems, Procedures, Computer, Credit Card Units

Legal Strategies 30

Licensing

Regulations

Insurance

Financial Strategies 32

Taxes

Capital Requirements

Benefits

Strategic Planning 35

Long Term Goals

Manager Plug-Ins

Financial Projections

Billing

Anticipated Gross Sales from Services

Anticipated Business Expenses

Profit Per Truck

Appendix 38

First Year One Truck - Anticipated Gross Sales from Services

First Year One Truck - Anticipated Business Expenses

Net Profit One Truck

Picture and Sketch of Unit and Signage

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Your Car Battery: How to Clean It

Did you ever go to jumpstart your car, and notice that you can barely see your battery underneath all the gunk? This 'gunk' is actually battery corrosion, which is formed by acid condensation. Since this is formed by acid, a basic chemical solution will do the cleaning trick. Battery acid is actually very easy to clean away with a common household item- baking soda! But still, precautions must be followed. This article will inform you step by step how to clean the battery while keeping safe.

First, you will need to gather supplies for this project. Most of these items you may already have in your home.

Safety glasses or goggles

Box of baking soda

Adjustable pliers with insulated handles

Screwdrivers with insulated handles

A small, stiff-bristled brush (an old toothbrush will work just fine!)

Assorted small open-end and box wrenches

Small metal or plastic scraper

Special battery tools, including a cable puller and cable

terminal cleaning brushes

A turkey baster or small funnel

All-purpose household cleaner in a spray bottle

Sponges or clean cloths

A source of ample clean water such as a garden hose or a large

bucket and sponge

Rubber gloves for protecting your hands

There are a few safety tips to keep in mind when getting ready to clean the battery. First of all, you safety glasses and gloves must be worn to protect your eyes and skin from sulfuric acid that can linger in the corrosion deposits. Also, this material can eat away at your car's paint, so keep it away from that as well.

Because the amount of dirt and corrosion on batteries may differ from one another, battery cleaning will vary, so some of the steps below may or may not need to be performed. Sometimes, to thoroughly remove severe corrosion and dirt, you may even need to remove the battery from the vehicle.

First, scrape off any white or greenish corrosion deposits with the stiff-bristled brush or small metal or plastic scraper. Next, use the solution of baking soda mixed with water, approximately one heaping tablespoon to each pint of water. Carefully apply it to the outside of the battery and its cable connections with the turkey baster or small funnel. Then, you can use your brush to work the baking soda solution into the heavily corroded areas. If you find that the cable clamps or terminals are badly corroded at the battery, you can disconnect them for easier cleaning. For this, you may need to use pliers, assorted wrenches and a small battery cable puller to disconnect them. You should disconnect the negative first, followed by the positive.

Then, use your battery cable scrapers or brush to remove the corrosion from the terminals, battery posts and hold down clamps and brackets. Flush these parts with your baking soda solution to rid them of any trace of corrosion. After this, wash the outside of the battery, the cable ends and the hold down parts with a liquid cleaner in a spray bottle. After that, use a sponge or rag to get off any remaining dirt or grease. After everything is clean, dry off the battery and all its parts with a dry rag or cloth.

The final step is just reinstalling any part that was removed and tightening everything so it is secure. Reconnect the battery, positive cable first. You're done! You're battery is now safe and clean.

Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and hints on engine related topics such as engines from the JDM, used Honda engines and used Nissan engines. His articles are a valuable source of information for the auto enthusiast.

How to Change a Spark Plug: Do it Yourself

Spark plugs are small. Yet- the performance of your vehicle depends on them. Sometimes, people who are having car trouble- as in the car will not start- fear the worst. Yet, this could simply mean the spark plugs need to be changed. Keeping up with the routine maintenance on your car with things like changing spark plugs will keep your car running just fine, as well as get better gas mileage. Here are some tips on how to save yourself some cash by doing this simple task yourself.

First, you will need to gather the items you will need for the job, which probably means hitting your favorite auto parts store. On your checklist should be a 3/8" ratchet, ratchet extensions, a sparkplug socket, a sparkplug gap tool and a small, clean rubber hose. And of course, your new sparkplugs. Be sure to ask which are right for your year, make and model.

Your obvious first step is to remove the old sparkplugs. (Be sure the engine is cooled off before you take on this task.) After you open the hood, you will need to find the spark plugs. They are located in a row alongside the engine. The plugs are attached to thick spark plug wires. Cars with V-shaped engines differ, as they will have plugs and wires on either side of the engine.

Next, begin changing the plugs. It is important to do this one at a time, as this will keep things in order. If you take them all off, and put them back on, you could do it in the wrong order, which could make the car run poorly- or even not at all. So, first, disconnect the plug from the wire by pulling on the small boot at the end of the spark plug wire. Once the plug is off, use your small hose to blow away any dirt or debris around the area. You do this because you do not want anything to fall into the hole once the plug is taken off.

Once disconnected use your socket and ratchet to remove the sparkplug, turning it counterclockwise. If the sparkplugs are set deeper, use the extension to help you get to them. Once removed, inspect the plug to make sure it needs changing, as sometimes they may not all need to be replaced. A good plug will be lightly coated with grayish-green deposits, so if it is heavily coated with dark, black deposits or if it looks damaged you're right on track.

Next, gap the new sparkplug. You will start by looking in your owner's manual to find the proper "gap" for your plugs. This could also be found on a sticker on the inside of the hood. If you can't find either, as the auto parts store for the specs. Then, insert the sparkplug gapping tool in the gap between the metal center electrode and the metal side electrode of the plug's tip. Look at the gapping tool's ruled edge to find the gap's measurement. If it is too big, you will have to bend the plug's end with the tool to widen it. If you need to make the gap smaller, you can push the side electrode against a hard surface. After you make the necessary adjustments, measure once again just to be sure. If you need to, repeat this step until the gap matches your car's specification.

Now that you have that done, you've got a feel for it. You will now repeat this process for each sparkplug. It will get easier with each plug you change! Once they are all in place, you will want to hand-tighten each plug. Then, you can use the socket to tighten them a little more. Do not overtighten though, as you will one day need to change these too. Then, replace each of the sparkplug wires. When finished, start the engine to make sure everything sounds good. If it does, you are ready to go!

Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and hints on engine related topics such as JDM engines, used JDM engines and used Nissan engines. His articles are a valuable source of information for the auto enthusiast.

How To Start An Internet Business - Site Layout

The fourth step of how to start an Internet business involves the layout of your site. When organizing it, two audiences must be considered. Obviously, visitors to the site are the first audience. You must also keep in mind the second audience, search engine robots. Both audiences are extremely important and, fortunately, both want the same thing.

Lean, Mean Layout

Your site needs to be clean and quick if you want to be successful. Slow, cluttered sites inevitably fail because visitors and spiders get distracted and leave before taking the action you want. Let's take a closer look.

Visitors

The layout of your site should allow visitors to quickly find information and solutions. To achieve this, every page should be no more than two clicks from the home page. Have you ever been on a site where you have to hunt to find a particular page? Poor layouts are aggravating and hurt conversion rates.

Make things as easy as possible by interlinking between the site pages. Every page should have links to primary pages and as many other pages as possible. If you look at good site, links to primary pages are listed across the top and bottom of each page. Links to specific services or products are always listed on each page. It may sound like overkill, but make it as easy as possible for your clients to move around.

Spiders

Search engines use programs called "spiders" to surf the net and index sites. When a spider finds a page, it reads the code from top to bottom and left to right. If the code is clean, the spider will index the page and follow the links to the other pages of the site.

If the code isn't clean, spiders stop indexing pages. If pages aren't indexed, they do not appear in search engine results. What stops spiders? Following are the most common problems:

1. Bottlenecks - Make sure each page of your site links to every primary page at a minimum. You do not want a spider to get stuck on a page and miss others.

2. Dynamic Pages - Your pages need to be static or carefully designed. If dynamic, spiders often will not index them because they aren't sure of the content.

3. Frames - Don't use this antiquated design technique.

4. Poor URLs - A huge mistake is to put database parameters in the URL. The URL should contain only the domain name and keywords for the page. A good URL reads: http://www.marketingtitan.com/internet_marketing_services. A poor URL with parameters would read: http://www.marketingtitan.com/id#us57486&095783

5. Images - Don't overuse images and don't put text in images. Images slow down your site, so make them small and optimized. Robots do not read text inside of images, thus text needs to go outside of the images or ALT tags need to be used.

Evaluating The Layout

Once the site is designed, TEST IT! Surf the pages and see if you are able to flow through the site. Add internal links wherever possible. Finally, test the load times of your site on a 56k dial-up modem. If the site loads in under 20 seconds, you are headed in the correct direction.

Your site layout is important. Make sure it caters to the needs of the visitors, whether human or spider.

Halstatt Pires is with MarketingTitan.com - a firm providing internet marketing services.

How To Indirectly Get To The Top Of Search Engines

There are millions of web sites trying to get listed in the top 20 spots of the major search engines. That amounts to a lot of competition! Even if your website can't get in the Top 20, you can use indirect ways to get it there.

How do you do this? By using the success of others to your advantage. Look up the top 20 web sites on the major search engines under the keywords and phrases people would find your web site. The key would be to your website's link on those web sites.

The most expensive way would be to buy ad space on those web sites. If you don't want to spend any money, you could use the ten strategies below. These strategies may not apply to every web site.

1. Participate on their discussion boards. You could post questions, answer other peoples questions, and join in on conversations. Just include your signature file and link at the end of your messages. This is a great way to build link popularity for your website.

2. Ask the web site owner if they would like a f.ree ebook to giveaway to their visitors. You could have them link to your web site or include your ad in the f.ree ebook.

3. Submit content to their web site. You could write articles for their web site and include your resource box and link at the end of the article. If they publish it, you'll indirectly be at the top of the search engines and your site's link popularity will soar!

4. Write an excellent article review of their web site, products or services. Then publish the review on your web site. E-mail the web site owner and tell him or her about it. They may link to your web site so their visitors read it.

5. Ask the owner of the web site if they would want to trade advertising. If you don't get as much traffic as they do, you could throw in some extra incentives.

6. Propose a cross p.romotion deal with the web site. You both could promote each others products or services together in one package deal. This means a mention and link back to your web site.

7. Give the web site a testimonial for their product or service. Include a little text link for your web site with the testimonial. You n.ever know; it could end up on their ad copy.

8. Post your advertisement on their free classified ad section on their web site. You want to be sure you have an attractive headline so they will read your ad.

9. Post your text link on their f.ree-for-all links page. You want to go back and post your link regularly so it stays towards the top.

10. Sign their guest books. You could leave a short compliment about their web site on their guest book. Just include your signature file and link at the end of your message.

If your site is not in the Top 20 positions in the search engines, then your goal should be to get your site's link on those sites that are there. Using these indirect methods mentioned in this article should help you to accomplish just exactly that.

Copyright 2005 Ronald Gibson

Ronald Gibson is a Web Designer and Web Marketer. He is the Webmaster of AffiliateUtopia.com, which offers information about some of the best money making opportunities on the Web. For more information, visit: http://www.affiliateutopia.com/

The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Stronger, More Muscular YOU!

The Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises is the essential workout guide for anyone who wants a better body. As the most comprehensive collection of exercises ever created, this book is a body-shaping power tool for both beginners and longtime lifters alike. From start to finish, this 480-page muscle manual bulges with hundreds of useful tips, the latest findings in exercise science, and cutting-edge workouts from the world's top trainers.

 

Inside The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises you'll find:

 

619 Exercises!
All expertly demonstrated with color photographs, with dozens of movements for every muscle in your body, including:
* More than 100 core exercises! You'll never run out of ways to sculpt your six-pack.
* 74 biceps, triceps, and forearm exercises: Build your arms faster than ever before.
* 64 chest exercises, and featuring dozens of variations of the pushup and bench press.
* 103 back exercises, so you can carve a v-shaped torso.
* 40 shoulder exercises, for a tank-top worthy torso.
* 99 quadriceps and calves exercises, to help you jump higher and run faster.
* 62 glutes and hamstrings exercises, for a more powerful, athletic body.

 

Hundreds of workouts!
From cover to cover, you'll quickly see that there's a training plan for every fitness goal—whether you want to shrink your hip, find your abs, or shape your arms. Highlights include:

* The World's Greatest 4-Week Diet and Exercise Plan
Lose 10 pounds of pure fat in 30 days! This scientifically proven plan, based on research from the University of Connecticut, shows what's truly possible when you combine the right kind of diet with the right kind of exercise. You'll build muscle and lose fat faster than ever.

* 64 Ways to Add Inches to Your Arms
You'll learn how to mix-and-match the 12 best biceps exercises to create scores of sleeve-busting routines. The upshot: You'll never get stuck in a muscle-building rut again!

* The Get Back In Shape (Fast!) Guide
If you've never even picked up a weight, you'll want to try this plan from Joe Dowdell, C.S.C.S. Joe makes his living training celebrities, cover models, and professional athletes, such as NBA stars Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy. And the strategies he uses when designing workouts for his high-profile clientele are the same ones he employs to help you burn fat, build muscle, and get back in shape.

* The Ultimate Fat Loss Plan
You might call this the six-pack workout. That's because it's designed to help you finally finish off the flab that's hiding your abs. Created by Bill Hartman, P.T., C.S.C.S., a top fitness advisor to Men's Health, it's based entirely on the new science of fat loss. From the sets to the reps to the rest, every part of this workout is designed to optimize your body's ability to burn away belly-fat.

And:

* Boost Your Bench Press by 50 Pounds in 8 Weeks
World-class powerlifter Dave Tate shares the strategies that helped him lift a personal best of 610 pounds
   
* Triple Your Chinups in 6 Weeks
Use this simple routine that to master one of the world's greatest muscle-building exercises

* Add 4 to 10 inches to Your Vertical Leap
This high-flying plan from strength coach Kelly Baggett will have you jumping out of the gym in no time
   
* The Beach Ready Body Workout
Get-strong to get-big—this 8-week plan shows you how
  
* The Wedding Workout
Look great—just in time for the big day (and your honeymoon!)

* The Best Sports Workout
Train like an athlete, look like an athlete

* The Scrawny to Brawny Workout
Pack on muscle fast: your 4-week plan
   
* The Best Workouts for a Crowded Gym
Sculpt a lean, fit body—no waiting!

* The Best Bodyweight Workouts
Take your workout anywhere with these no-weight routines
 
* The 10 Best 15-Minute Workouts
Bust stress, blast fat, and build muscle in almost no time

* The 7-Minute Back-Saving Workout
End low-back pain for good!

 

Plus:
Every page of The Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises is filled with the fitness and nutrition tips and tricks you need to sculpt the body you want.

Throughout the book, you'll discover:

* The secret to burning 40 percent more fat.
* The 18 muscle mistakes you should never make
* The best stretch for every muscle
* The fastest cardio workout of all-time (just 4 minutes!)
* The best exercises you've never done
* The 8 healthiest foods you aren't eating
* The 4 surprising foods that build muscle
* The 25 super snacks that keep you lean
* The 5 biggest nutrition myths, busted
* The truth about saturated fat
* The perfect foods to fuel your workouts
* The complete guide to protein powders
* The 20 ways lifting weights helps you look great, stay healthy, and live longer

Price: $24.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Bringing Health and Pleasure Back to Eating

At last, a book about eating (and eating well) or health -- from Andrew Weil, the brilliantly innovative and greatly respected doctor who has been instrumental in transforming the way Americans think about health. Now Dr. Weil -- whose nationwide bestsellers Spontaneous Healing and Eight Weeks to Optimum Health have made us aware of the body's capacitiy to heal itself -- provides us with a program for improving our well-being by making informed choices about how and what we eat.

Dr. Weil makes clear how an optimal diet can both supply the basic needs of the body and fortify the body's defenses and mechanisms of healing. And he always stresses that good food -- and the good feeling it engenders at the table -- is not only a delight but also necessary to our well being so that eating for health means enjoyable eating.

Eating Well for Optimum Health is a hugely practical and inspiring book about food, diet and nutrition that stands to change -- for the better and the healthier -- our most fundamental ideas about eating.

Price: $14.95

Click here to buy from Amazon

My Amazing Body: A First Look at Health and Fitness

Many aspects of health and physical fitness are explained in a way that younger children can readily understand. This lively picture book explores the importance of a good diet and plenty of exercise, and encourages kids to make positive decisions about caring for themselves. Kids discover that even healthy people get ill sometimes, but that our bodies have special abilities to protect us and restore our health. Titles in this series for younger children explore emotional issues that boys and girls encounter as part of the growing-up process. Books are focused to appeal to kids of preschool through early school age. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, A First Look At books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers, and encourage kids to ask questions and confront social and emotional questions that sometimes present problems. Books feature appealing full-color illustrations on every page plus a page of advice to parents and teachers.

Price: $7.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating

This updated edition of the national bestseller debunks dietary myths and presents Dr. Willett's New Healthy Eating Pyramid, a healthier guide to nutrition than the recently revised USDA pyramid.

Inside you'll discover:

• eye-opening new research on the healthiest carbohydrates, fats, and proteins

• why weight control is still the single most important factor

• menu plans and brand-new recipes that make it even easier to reinvent your diet

Price: $15.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Sexier, Healthier YOU!

The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises is the essential workout guide for anyone who wants a better body. As the most comprehensive collection of exercises ever created, this makeover manual is a body-shaping power tool for both beginners and longtime fitness buffs alike. From start to finish, this 480-page makeover manual bulges with hundreds of useful tips, the latest findings in exercise science, and cutting-edge workouts from the world's top trainers.

 

Inside The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises you'll find:

 

619 Exercises!
All expertly demonstrated with color photographs, with dozens of movements for every muscle in your body, including:
* More than 100 core exercises! You'll never run out of ways to sculpt your abs.
* 74 biceps, triceps, and forearm exercises: Tone your arms faster than ever before.
* 64 chest exercises, to burn more calories and even help give your bosom a lift.
* 103 back exercises, to make sure you turn heads in your backless dress.
* 40 shoulder exercises, so you can wear a tank top with confidence.
* 99 quadriceps and calves exercises, to help you look great in a pair of shorts.
* 62 glutes and hamstrings exercises, for the perfect backside.

 

Hundreds of workouts!
From cover to cover, you'll quickly see that there's a training plan for every fitness goal—whether you want to shrink your hip, find your abs, or shape your arms. Highlights include:

* The World's Greatest 4-Week Diet and Exercise Plan
Lose 10 pounds of pure fat in 30 days! This scientifically proven plan, based on research from the University of Connecticut, shows what's truly possible when you combine the right kind of diet with the right kind of exercise. You'll build muscle and lose fat faster than ever.

* The Get-Your-Body-Back (Fast!) Guide
If you've never even picked up a weight, you'll want to try this plan from Joe Dowdell, C.S.C.S. Joe makes his living training models, athletes, and celebrities, and has worked with such names as Anne Hathaway, Claire Danes, Molly Sims, and Kate Hudson, as well as Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. And the strategies he uses when designing workouts for his high-profile clientele are the same ones he employs to help you quickly burn fat, firm up, and improve your overall fitness.

* The Bikini-Ready Workout
This fitness plan will help you flatten your stomach and tighten your butt. It’s designed by celebrity trainer Valerie Waters, who has perfected the body-shaping workouts you’ll find here on dozens of Hollywood stars, including Jennifer Garner, Rachel Nichols, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel. Add your name to Valerie’s client list to tone your total body and feel more confident than ever.

* The Skinny Jeans Workout
Want to look sexier in a pair of Sevens? Try this routine from Women’s Health fitness advisor Rachel Cosgrove, CSCS. In a pilot study at Rachel’s gym, clients who tried the plan dropped two jean sizes in just 8 weeks.

 

And:

* The Wedding Workout
Look great—just in time for the big day (and your honeymoon!)

* The Hard-Body Workout
Use this 12-week plan to tone your legs, arms, and abs faster than ever
* The Lose-the-Last-10-Pounds Workout
Your guide to finishing off that last bit of flab for good
* The Total-body Arm-shaping Workout
Blast fat as you shape and firm your arms
* The Best Three-Exercise Workouts
Shrink your hips with just three simple moves
* The Prenatal Workout
Stay fit and healthy during your pregnancy
* The Best Workouts for a Crowded Gym
Sculpt a lean, fit body—no waiting!

* The Time-Saving Couples Workout
Burn fat together (it's the secret to better sex!)

* The Best Bodyweight Workouts
Take your workout anywhere with these no-weight routines

* The 10 Best 15-Minute Workouts

Bust stress, blast fat, and build muscle in almost no time

 

Plus:
Every page of The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises is filled with the fitness and nutrition tips and tricks you need to sculpt the body you want.

Throughout the book, you'll discover:

* The secret to burning 40 percent more fat.
* The 18 fitness mistakes you should never make
* The best stretch for every muscle
* The fastest cardio workout of all-time (just 4 minutes!)
* The best exercises you've never done
* The 8 healthiest foods you aren't eating
* The 4 perfect fitness foods
* The 25 super snacks that keep you lean
* The 5 biggest nutrition lies—exposed!
* The truth about saturated fat
* The simple way to master the pushup
* The 20 ways lifting weights helps you look great, stay healthy, and live longer

Price: $24.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

How to Increase Alexa Ranking of Your Website

Alexa toolbar also useful to Browse expired websites database. Many times when we visit any website we got error message that website is not available. We have to simply click The Wayback Machine button on Alexa toolbar and we can see the old data of that website.

How to Increase Alexa Ranking of your website?

Alexa Toolbar using millions of users. Alexa Gives Ranking by Analysing the web usage of millions of Alexa Toolbar Users. Alexa Sorting Millions of websites thru Alexa Toolbar and giving numerical rank for each website browsed by Alexa Toolbar.

First Step of increasing your websites Alexa Rank is Download Alexa Toolbar and start browsing your website regularly.

When you completed downloading of Alexa Toolbar, then you can see your websites Alexa Rank on Alexa Toolbar. May be if you dont have Alexa Rank it will Display "No Data" rank. Dont worry after couple of days your website will get Alexa Rank in number.

Keep browsing thru Alexa Toolbar within couple of months period your website will get good Alexa Ranking. Suggest & encourage your friends, relatives, your Company employees to download Alexa Toolbar in their computers. You will see the miracle your compnay websites will get very nice alexa rank.

You can download Alexa Toolbar here also. please click following link to download alexa Toolbar. forward this link to your friends, employees and many others alo.

http://download.alexa.com/index.cgi?amzn_id=ahirebros

Yogesh Ahire

eMarketing consultant from India

URL: http://www.e-Gurukul.com, [http://www.e-Guru.org]

Spyware, What it is, What it Does, and How to Stop it

Spyware is software that runs on a personal computer without the knowledge or consent of the owner of that computer. The Spyware then collects personal information about the user or users of the infected computer. The personal information collected is usually the name of the user; the users email address, Websites visited, online shopping habits, as well as various other information about the user.

Spyware is also sometimes known as Scumware, and Adware. Although Adware is slightly different in that the makers claim that the users are aware that they are collecting information about the user. Sometimes this is true, other times it is not. Many times these terms are used interchangeably because many feel that they present the same problems. This however goes to the definition of what Spyware is, making it sometimes difficult to combat from a legal standpoint. This is generally due to how Adware works in that the user downloads a program that they feel is useful for some reason and, that program also collects user information as described above. Although the government is currently taking steps to protect users from these programs it is a slow process because of the current definitions.

Once this information is collected, the Spyware then can send your personal information to advertisers that will then send you targeted advertisements through annoying popups, and spam in your email. They can also hijack your web browser and redirect you to a page that they want you to see with their advertising targeted to you through your personal information. This redirecting is sophisticated enough to notice what you are attempting to purchase on one site and can redirect you to another site with the same or similar products so that you make the purchase through them.

In addition to the problems of "stealing" your personal information, Spyware runs in the background on your computer using up valuable system resources. This is a major cause of your PC "running slow."

The statistics are 9 of 10 computers connected to the internet are infected with some type of Spyware. This could probably be taken a step further to say all PC's connected to the internet are infected with some type of Spyware. The reason for this is because all of the best Anti-Spyware software on the market today can only stop software that it knows or recognizes as Spyware. These Spyware killers work in a way similar to Anti-Virus software and need to be updated on a regular basis to be effective.

Spyware is also a large cause of popups occurring on your computer as well. Popups are messages that "pop up" onto your computer screen generally through your internet browser. These popups can be reduced and at times stopped completely by using a web browser other than IE (Internet Explorer) such as Firefox by Mozilla.org and Opera located at:

http://www.mozilla.org/

http://opera.com/

Both are adept at stopping popups from occurring. If you choose to use one of these browsers be sure to periodically check for updates to get the best protection available.

One of the ways to defend against Spyware is to use a third party firewall. Although the current version of Windows XP comes with a firewall it is not effective at stopping Spyware as of this writing. Third party firewalls can block unwanted traffic from passing to and from the internet to your computer. Some of the better third party firewalls listed below are:

• Kerio Personal Firewall

• ZoneAlarm Firewall

• Sygate Firewall

Kerio Personal Firewall can be downloaded from its Website at the following URL:

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_download.html

Although they have a limited free version it does not provide the same level of protection as the paid version does. I would recommend the paid version of their firewall at $45.00. Next there is ZoneAlarm which is perhaps one of the more recognized firewall around. You can get the free version for non business users at the following URL:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/

znalm/freeDownload.jsp

business users can get the paid version here
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

Sygate also has a good firewall that is available for $39.95 available at the URL:

http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_pro.htm

Firewalls are effective at stopping many Spyware programs as well as other potential problems but they are not a cure all. To be more effective you will want to use Anti-Spyware software along with your firewall.

Some of the top Anti-Spyware programs are Webroot Spy Sweeper which you can buy for $29.95 and Spyware Doctor also $29.95, Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition which is free. Also free is Spybot Search and Destroy. All are good and considered some of the best at Spyware detection and removal. All four of these programs can be downloaded at download.com at URL:

http://www.download.com/spyware-center/2001-2023_4-0.html

You can also use the above URL for additional information about Spyware.

Also available now is the Microsoft beta version of its Spyware blocker.

Unfortunately there are also some very unscrupulous people out there who will purposefully cause your computer problems if you use their software. This software will often "miss" or "overlook" some Spyware leaving it unsuspectingly on your computer. Worse yet, some of these supposed Anti-Spyware programs will actually place Spyware onto your computer as well. Some of these programs are Spyblaster, Spyware Assasin, as well as many others. The best way to check to see if you are using an Anti-Spyware program that fits into this category is to visit The following URL:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

If you are using any of the programs in this listing you should remove it immediately and use one of the known good programs such as the ones I listed above to check your computer.

You can also keep up to date and learn more about the on going threat of Spyware by visiting the following websites.

http://www.ftc.gov/infosecurity/

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/spyware

[http://spywareinfo.com/]

http://spywarewarrior.com/

Copyright © Keith Erwood, 2005 All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Keith Erwood, is an author, and head consultant and owner of Dyanmic Network Technologies a computer consulting and services business located in New York City.

Visit us at Dynamic Network Technologies

How to Do Window Tinting

Window Tinting BMPs - Best Management Practices and Procedures. Every auto detailer who lives in works south of the Mason Dixon line or in a large metro area has asked themselves; should I offer window tinting to my customers? Every wholesale auto detailer in such states in areas has probably been asked by their customers, namely new car dealerships and small used car dealerships, do you know anybody who does window tinting? That simple question spins around your mind like a thought you can control, hey, maybe I should you window tinting, what can I charge, how do you do it? Is it difficult?

Many auto detailer's and professional car care specialists or even those that call themselves mobile car washers and detailer's have considered such a tact. Some have found that they did not have proper training, that was not as easy as it looked in that they had made a grave mistake. While others seem to have a knack for tinting windows tinting windows is as much an art as a science you have to mistake and a careful I and patience, just the thing for a detailer, well at least a professional one, someone who is into the details. Here are some tips and ideas that may help you decide if you want to go get some professional training, and start offering such services. There are some relatively basic steps that does the profession must follow. It is not easy, but in theory it is simple. First you must prepare the surface of the window, the window must be perfectly clean with not even the finest speck of dust. It saves a lot of time if you have proper tools for window tinting, for instance some hard-cards, a heat gun and some in razor blades.

It is also nice to have a tiny squeegee. You'll see seasoned professionals who also carry around paper towels and dishes soap. You also need to look out for the things like automotive caulking compounds and weather stripping sticking out, these can make for it to install, any need to take care these things upfront. Also, make sure there are no cellular phone or satellite radio antenna components on the inside the window. If there are you're going to the work around us any need to put extra liquid around us area so you can move the tent around to get in the right spot before you start cutting up the shape of the razor blade.

We have often seen old antenna mounts or leftover glue on the windows that we didn't see due to the lighting or shading when we first started, and there you are with a soapy film mass with one hand it is a razor blade to scrape of the other hand, all the while knowing that you don't do everything right, he could easily fold over the window tent and have to start completely over any just by yourself extra material. This is why you should pay extra attention to every square into the surface of the interior of the window before attempting this procedure. Once this is completed while the window film is still dry, you need to cut the film to the basic shape of the window. The easiest way to do this is to lay on the outside of the window and cut into the basic shape in a nylon paper, but leave yourself a little extra room. Then take the nylon paper and slightly moisten the window to the desired amount and lay the paper against the inside of the window and then smooth out the paper working from the center outward in all directions. As you get towards the edges make a few cuts along the edge. Cut the paper to the exact shape and then lay it on top of the film w/liner.

Trace around the outside of the paper on top after you tape down four edges and are sure it is perfectly flat. If you have and areas where you have to go around like the mirrors you have already cut the opening in the paper and will trace that opening on to the film and peel sheet. Once you have the perfect shape you are ready to go and install the tint. Now place this on the window in the right place after you have put some soapy water on the inside of the window, pull back the first 1/3 of the peel sheet and spray the window tint showing with adhesive window solution. It best if you never touch the window film itself during this process. Makes sure the edges are lined up on all sides. Slowly peel and spray adhesive and work any air bubbles out you want to leave about one-eight inch from the top of the window and work downwards. By using the squeegee you need to slowly work downward all the to the bottom and out to the sides, it is okay to let the solution move down with your squeegee, it is better to use a little extra solution than not enough. Once everything is correct use the plastic hard tool too bring down the solution and any soapy water and then pat and buff the moisture left.

To keep the plastic tool from ripping often it is advised to use a paper towel wrapped around it. This is what we have seen most operators do who are seasoned and experienced. One recent problem we have seen in the last few years is those windows with safety glass, which have a dot pattern on the edges. This makes things a little tougher.

You want to use more adhesive on the edges otherwise it will try to peel up. So use more solution as you are working outward and try to work upward on the initial point of contact, some of this extra solution will roll down, but that is okay you need a tight seam at the top. Another issue is to advise your clients of the law in your state if one exists for window tinting.

Many states outlaw black out tinting commonly referred to a Limo tinting, some allow SUVs to have tint like this but not cars, some states SUVs can have it in the back, but not in the front. There are so many laws you need to know what your state says and also and if you live near a border to another state, well? Best to know those laws too. In some stats the operator is responsible, other states the vehicle owner and in some states the installer also. Great more laws, yep. Get use to it you are in an over regulated industry.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Learn How To Be A Successful eBay Seller

Anyone can sell anything on eBay. Open an account, list your product, and wait for the bids to start coming in. While it is true that anyone can sell, to be successful, you need to know the inside secrets.

One woman made over $250,000 last year on items sold on eBay. She is just one out of thousands and thousands of people that make a ton of money just selling merchandise.

Are you ready to learn how to be an eBay seller? You will find it to be easy, fun, and exciting. Here are some of the things that you need to know to get started.

Just eBay

Although there are several other quality auction websites, eBay is by far the most popular and most successful. Although you could start using all the other sites, by spreading yourself out too thin you take the risk of getting things mixed up. In reality, it is better to use eBay and focus your attention and efforts on this one site. You will not be disappointed.

Look Around

Navigate through each section to familiarize yourself with all the different pages. You will find a site map and help tab, which are very useful tools. It will take a little time to get used to the site but start by looking. As you start selling, navigating will become much easier.

Terms & Conditions

You will run into all types of buyers that try to move past the terms and conditions provided by eBay. Know the Terms & Conditions inside and out and if you have problems, contact eBay immediately. A few examples of the insider secrets are listed below:

* Bid Shielding - Two buyers work together. One person bids high to protect a low bid place by the other person. Right before the auction closes, the high bidder cancels, meaning the low bidder gets your items for a huge bargain.

* Bid Shilling - This is where the seller actually uses a separate ID set up to inflate the number and price of the bid.

* Deadbeat Bidder - The deadbeat bidder bids on your auction and then simply fails to pay.

* Sniping - A "sniper" is a bidder that waits until there are only minutes or seconds left on an item and then quickly bids just a little higher to get the items. Although not against the T&C's, it is considered unprofessional and limits competing bidders from driving a high price.

Excluded Items

Although eBay accepts just about every type of item, there are a few exclusions such as explosions, corrosive material, etc. Before you go through the entire process of listing your items, make sure you are not listing something forbidden by checking out the do's and don'ts listed on eBay.

Competitor Analysis

Just like any other business, you need to know what your competitors are doing. This will help you make the best possible decision when it comes to your own auction. Before listing your items, do a search for the same type items to see what their descriptions looks like. Find different aspects from different sellers and use them to form one comprehensive site for yourself.

Community Boards

Pay attention to the community boards provided by eBay. They offer valuable information and helpful tips that can ultimately save you time and effort.

Category Guide

Use eBay's Category Guide, which is a helpful tool to ensure you place your auction items in the appropriate category.

When to List

The time of day you list your auction is important. The start time will be the same as the end time, which is why it is so important. If you want your auction to end at 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, you need to have the auction start at 10:00 p.m. For this reason, be sure to set the start time accordingly.

Do your Homework

In addition to researching what other people are selling similar items for, you need to conduct your own research outside of eBay as well to determine the going rate for your items. As an example, if you are selling artwork, jewelry, or collectibles, you need to state in your description the going price. Although you may or may not get that price from the buyer, it shows buyers that you have done your homework and will stand a little more firm in your price. It also tells buyers that they are getting quality for a good price.

When it comes to selling on eBay, the door of opportunity stands wide open. Opportunity is what you decide to make of it. As mentioned in the beginning, people literally buy and sell just about everything on eBay. For this reason, do not think that items you have would not be of interest to anyone because more than likely, they will be.

Lewis Leake helps people make money from home. His website at GrowNetProfits.com [http://www.grownetprofits.com] contains tools, resources, articles, newsletters, product reviews and traffic builders to help you make money from your home based business. Click here to Find Out What You Need To Know To Be An eBay Seller [http://www.grownetprofits.com/ebay-seller/].

How to Start a Greeting Cards Home Business

Do you like to create pictures and designs, or writing? Do you love to look at the greeting cards in your local stores? Then a greeting cards home business could be for you. This is a business with incredible growth, and income potential. It also gives the greeting card home based business owner several options in the business itself.

A greeting card home business opportunity can have you doing only one part, such as drawing or writing. This same business can be selling e-cards or cards sold in stores. It could also entail purchasing a territory from a larger card distributor.

The first step in how to start a greeting card company is to decide what part of the greeting card business you want to focus on. As a freelance greeting card artist, you would focus only on designing cards for other companies. There are costs associated with this option and could include the purchase of a computer and graphic art software if you don't already have these items.

If you decide to be a freelance greeting card writer, your home based greeting card business would focus on only writing the phrases to be used on greeting cards. For this, you only need a computer and quick turn around time.

Of course, you can always freelance as both a writer and artist. To get jobs you must contact companies to see if they are in need of freelancers. They pay from $50 an assignment to several hundred dollars per assignment. However, until you build up a portfolio of samples, and sometimes even after, jobs can be hard to find.

Another option is to purchase a vending route from a larger greeting card company. This route becomes your way of starting a greeting card company. You are required to keep current clients stocked in cards, replace old cards with new ones and get new clients to build your income. You have start up costs that can run from several hundred to several thousand dollars in inventory. However, when you take the cards to the clients, you receive your payments right then.

If you want to start your own line of cards, your greeting card business plan would focus on all aspects of greeting card businesses. You will design and write each greeting card inside and out. Your creative freedom would not be hindered by someone telling you what they want. You would make all the decisions and it would truly be your greeting cards business.

Being a greeting cards home business owner would make the internet your best marketing tool. You wouldn't be able to compete with larger greeting card companies, so you will want to create a special niche for your cards on the web and in small local stores.

This option requires research before beginning the creation of cards for your greeting cards home business. You will need to price printing services and software. Once you have these ready, you can being creating. Go ahead a start creating cards, but at the same time, think of a name for your greeting cards home business and create a website.

Websites are very easy to create, depending on the provider you decide on. Research domain name registries and web site providers. The more web pages and information you want to provide will influence the charge of the web site. A greeting cards home business web site should be able to be effective without many extras at first. The extras can come later.

Once your website is ready, put pictures of your cards and ordering information into it. If you create the web site yourself or pay someone else to do it, make sure the site is search engine optimized. This will bring more people to your greeting card web site and start selling your cards.

Since some people like to hold cards and feel their quality before purchasing, it may be best to have your greeting cards home business web site offer one free card, or one free sample package per household. This gets your cards on the market and helps drive customers to your web site. Also, consider creating a special "Thank You" card that you personalized by you for all inquiries and orders. This is another way to let people know the quality of your cards.

Have the cards printed as the orders come in to the web site. Offer personalized cards to increase sales. Make sure you have plenty of designs for each category. You want your greeting cards home business website to look full, but not cluttered.

You now know several of the options available to start your greeting cards home business. Now all you have to do is to decide which is the best option for you. This business can grow to be as large or as small as you want it.

? Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy currently has a website dealing with Reviews of Coffee Related Products such as coffee makers, espresso makers, coffee, k-cups, and more plus articles on coffee enemas and other coffee and health related topics. He also has a website of Reviews of Small Appliances such as ice cream makers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, irons, toasters, food processors, and many other appliances.

How to Choose the Best Treadmill for Your Lifestyle

When choosing a treadmill (or any piece of exercise equipment for that matter), there is a lot to consider. Many people tend to look at the price first, but you don't want to be a slave to a price.

When you're buying a car or house, you don't just look at the price; you consider durability and functionality (car) and location, schools, neighborhoods, etc. (house). You'll want to put the same effort in choosing your treadmill - it's just as important a decision. After all, your health is important to you, right?

Of course, first you'll need to think about several things before choosing a treadmill such as size, manual or motorized, how much use will it need to withstand, and maintenance issues.

If space is an issue, you may want to choose a model that folds for storage. There are several models that fold for storage these days.

If your treadmill is going to get lots of use from you and your whole family, obviously you'll want to invest more for a sturdier model. This means a heavier motor and more cushioning. Be sure to pay attention to construction also, which may be shoddy in the cheapest models.

Be sure to choose a treadmill with an adequate walking track (at least 48 inches long and 17 inches wide). And if you're going to be running, you'll need a longer track. And for comfort, select a treadmill that has a deck thickness of at least 3/4-inch or 1-inch if you plan to run as well as walk.

If you're choosing a motorized treadmill, you'll definitely want to consider motor power. Generally, the larger and heavier the motor is, the cooler it will run and the longer it will last. But don't get burned - you should choose a reputable brand when considering motor power also. Reputable brands tend to use better quality parts than cheaper models that may have heavier motors. So be careful.

And you don't want to buy a treadmill that is going to cost a fortune to fix if something goes wrong - so check out the owner's manual before buying to make sure that parts are easily replaced and not too expensive.

Okay, after you've evaluated what you want and need in your treadmill, you can consider cost. Treadmills can start at about $400 (el cheapo models) and run up to around $4,000 (top of the line luxury). Basically, you'll have to weigh the quality and features you require against what you're willing to spend to arrive at a treadmill purchase that you're satisfied with and will enjoy for a time to come.

For more information and reviews on treadmills, you should visit our Treadmill Information site. You'll discover what it takes to lose weight and keep it off for good with access to a treasure trove of weight loss tips, articles, ebooks and more.

You may include this article on your site or in your ezine as long as the article and publishing information remains intact.

How Do Contact Lenses Work?

Contact lenses rest on your cornea atop a constant supply of tears. The contacts are also held in place by pressure exerted from the eyelids. When you blink the pressure from the eyelids cause the contacts to move slightly and glide over your cornea. This allows the tears underneath to gently flush out trash or debris that may have accumulated in your eye.

This is just how the contact stays on the eye and is able to provide a way to correct vision. The way the vision is corrected is a different story altogether.

Contact lenses are prescribed to a wide variety of individuals who have vision problems associated with astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and presbyopia. The retinas of individuals who suffer from these conditions cannot properly focus light. When the retina does not function properly and/or does not properly focus light then the result is imperfect and blurry vision.

Contact lenses are made differently depending on the eye condition they are trying to correct. For instance, if you suffer from astigmatism your optometrist will measure your cornea so a contact can be made precisely to fit your eye. By doing this a contact is made that will fit your eye perfectly and direct light rays to one place on the cornea, which in turn corrects your vision.

Those suffering from myopia, also known as nearsightedness, will wear lenses that are thinner in the middle and thicker on the edges. This design allows the light rays to be processed correctly by the retina.

Farsightedness sufferers are prescribed just the opposite contact lens, but with the same end result. They allow the retina to process light correctly as well, resulting in corrected vision for the wearer.

All contact lenses use the basic technology to correct vision for the wearer. They redirect light to the retina so it is processed correctly. The only difference is contacts are made differently to treat different eye problems.

Maria Gonzalez is webmaster of Contact Vision, a site dedicated to bringing you up to date information on vision related topics.

See our website for more great articles on contact lenses

Spyware, What it is, What it Does, and How to Stop it

Spyware is software that runs on a personal computer without the knowledge or consent of the owner of that computer. The Spyware then collects personal information about the user or users of the infected computer. The personal information collected is usually the name of the user; the users email address, Websites visited, online shopping habits, as well as various other information about the user.

Spyware is also sometimes known as Scumware, and Adware. Although Adware is slightly different in that the makers claim that the users are aware that they are collecting information about the user. Sometimes this is true, other times it is not. Many times these terms are used interchangeably because many feel that they present the same problems. This however goes to the definition of what Spyware is, making it sometimes difficult to combat from a legal standpoint. This is generally due to how Adware works in that the user downloads a program that they feel is useful for some reason and, that program also collects user information as described above. Although the government is currently taking steps to protect users from these programs it is a slow process because of the current definitions.

Once this information is collected, the Spyware then can send your personal information to advertisers that will then send you targeted advertisements through annoying popups, and spam in your email. They can also hijack your web browser and redirect you to a page that they want you to see with their advertising targeted to you through your personal information. This redirecting is sophisticated enough to notice what you are attempting to purchase on one site and can redirect you to another site with the same or similar products so that you make the purchase through them.

In addition to the problems of "stealing" your personal information, Spyware runs in the background on your computer using up valuable system resources. This is a major cause of your PC "running slow."

The statistics are 9 of 10 computers connected to the internet are infected with some type of Spyware. This could probably be taken a step further to say all PC's connected to the internet are infected with some type of Spyware. The reason for this is because all of the best Anti-Spyware software on the market today can only stop software that it knows or recognizes as Spyware. These Spyware killers work in a way similar to Anti-Virus software and need to be updated on a regular basis to be effective.

Spyware is also a large cause of popups occurring on your computer as well. Popups are messages that "pop up" onto your computer screen generally through your internet browser. These popups can be reduced and at times stopped completely by using a web browser other than IE (Internet Explorer) such as Firefox by Mozilla.org and Opera located at:

http://www.mozilla.org/

http://opera.com/

Both are adept at stopping popups from occurring. If you choose to use one of these browsers be sure to periodically check for updates to get the best protection available.

One of the ways to defend against Spyware is to use a third party firewall. Although the current version of Windows XP comes with a firewall it is not effective at stopping Spyware as of this writing. Third party firewalls can block unwanted traffic from passing to and from the internet to your computer. Some of the better third party firewalls listed below are:

• Kerio Personal Firewall

• ZoneAlarm Firewall

• Sygate Firewall

Kerio Personal Firewall can be downloaded from its Website at the following URL:

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_download.html

Although they have a limited free version it does not provide the same level of protection as the paid version does. I would recommend the paid version of their firewall at $45.00. Next there is ZoneAlarm which is perhaps one of the more recognized firewall around. You can get the free version for non business users at the following URL:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/

znalm/freeDownload.jsp

business users can get the paid version here
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

Sygate also has a good firewall that is available for $39.95 available at the URL:

http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_pro.htm

Firewalls are effective at stopping many Spyware programs as well as other potential problems but they are not a cure all. To be more effective you will want to use Anti-Spyware software along with your firewall.

Some of the top Anti-Spyware programs are Webroot Spy Sweeper which you can buy for $29.95 and Spyware Doctor also $29.95, Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition which is free. Also free is Spybot Search and Destroy. All are good and considered some of the best at Spyware detection and removal. All four of these programs can be downloaded at download.com at URL:

http://www.download.com/spyware-center/2001-2023_4-0.html

You can also use the above URL for additional information about Spyware.

Also available now is the Microsoft beta version of its Spyware blocker.

Unfortunately there are also some very unscrupulous people out there who will purposefully cause your computer problems if you use their software. This software will often "miss" or "overlook" some Spyware leaving it unsuspectingly on your computer. Worse yet, some of these supposed Anti-Spyware programs will actually place Spyware onto your computer as well. Some of these programs are Spyblaster, Spyware Assasin, as well as many others. The best way to check to see if you are using an Anti-Spyware program that fits into this category is to visit The following URL:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

If you are using any of the programs in this listing you should remove it immediately and use one of the known good programs such as the ones I listed above to check your computer.

You can also keep up to date and learn more about the on going threat of Spyware by visiting the following websites.

http://www.ftc.gov/infosecurity/

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/spyware

[http://spywareinfo.com/]

http://spywarewarrior.com/

Copyright © Keith Erwood, 2005 All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Keith Erwood, is an author, and head consultant and owner of Dyanmic Network Technologies a computer consulting and services business located in New York City.

Visit us at Dynamic Network Technologies

Learn How To Be A Successful eBay Seller

Anyone can sell anything on eBay. Open an account, list your product, and wait for the bids to start coming in. While it is true that anyone can sell, to be successful, you need to know the inside secrets.

One woman made over $250,000 last year on items sold on eBay. She is just one out of thousands and thousands of people that make a ton of money just selling merchandise.

Are you ready to learn how to be an eBay seller? You will find it to be easy, fun, and exciting. Here are some of the things that you need to know to get started.

Just eBay

Although there are several other quality auction websites, eBay is by far the most popular and most successful. Although you could start using all the other sites, by spreading yourself out too thin you take the risk of getting things mixed up. In reality, it is better to use eBay and focus your attention and efforts on this one site. You will not be disappointed.

Look Around

Navigate through each section to familiarize yourself with all the different pages. You will find a site map and help tab, which are very useful tools. It will take a little time to get used to the site but start by looking. As you start selling, navigating will become much easier.

Terms & Conditions

You will run into all types of buyers that try to move past the terms and conditions provided by eBay. Know the Terms & Conditions inside and out and if you have problems, contact eBay immediately. A few examples of the insider secrets are listed below:

* Bid Shielding - Two buyers work together. One person bids high to protect a low bid place by the other person. Right before the auction closes, the high bidder cancels, meaning the low bidder gets your items for a huge bargain.

* Bid Shilling - This is where the seller actually uses a separate ID set up to inflate the number and price of the bid.

* Deadbeat Bidder - The deadbeat bidder bids on your auction and then simply fails to pay.

* Sniping - A "sniper" is a bidder that waits until there are only minutes or seconds left on an item and then quickly bids just a little higher to get the items. Although not against the T&C's, it is considered unprofessional and limits competing bidders from driving a high price.

Excluded Items

Although eBay accepts just about every type of item, there are a few exclusions such as explosions, corrosive material, etc. Before you go through the entire process of listing your items, make sure you are not listing something forbidden by checking out the do's and don'ts listed on eBay.

Competitor Analysis

Just like any other business, you need to know what your competitors are doing. This will help you make the best possible decision when it comes to your own auction. Before listing your items, do a search for the same type items to see what their descriptions looks like. Find different aspects from different sellers and use them to form one comprehensive site for yourself.

Community Boards

Pay attention to the community boards provided by eBay. They offer valuable information and helpful tips that can ultimately save you time and effort.

Category Guide

Use eBay's Category Guide, which is a helpful tool to ensure you place your auction items in the appropriate category.

When to List

The time of day you list your auction is important. The start time will be the same as the end time, which is why it is so important. If you want your auction to end at 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, you need to have the auction start at 10:00 p.m. For this reason, be sure to set the start time accordingly.

Do your Homework

In addition to researching what other people are selling similar items for, you need to conduct your own research outside of eBay as well to determine the going rate for your items. As an example, if you are selling artwork, jewelry, or collectibles, you need to state in your description the going price. Although you may or may not get that price from the buyer, it shows buyers that you have done your homework and will stand a little more firm in your price. It also tells buyers that they are getting quality for a good price.

When it comes to selling on eBay, the door of opportunity stands wide open. Opportunity is what you decide to make of it. As mentioned in the beginning, people literally buy and sell just about everything on eBay. For this reason, do not think that items you have would not be of interest to anyone because more than likely, they will be.

Lewis Leake helps people make money from home. His website at GrowNetProfits.com [http://www.grownetprofits.com] contains tools, resources, articles, newsletters, product reviews and traffic builders to help you make money from your home based business. Click here to Find Out What You Need To Know To Be An eBay Seller [http://www.grownetprofits.com/ebay-seller/].

How to Increase Alexa Ranking of Your Website

Alexa toolbar also useful to Browse expired websites database. Many times when we visit any website we got error message that website is not available. We have to simply click The Wayback Machine button on Alexa toolbar and we can see the old data of that website.

How to Increase Alexa Ranking of your website?

Alexa Toolbar using millions of users. Alexa Gives Ranking by Analysing the web usage of millions of Alexa Toolbar Users. Alexa Sorting Millions of websites thru Alexa Toolbar and giving numerical rank for each website browsed by Alexa Toolbar.

First Step of increasing your websites Alexa Rank is Download Alexa Toolbar and start browsing your website regularly.

When you completed downloading of Alexa Toolbar, then you can see your websites Alexa Rank on Alexa Toolbar. May be if you dont have Alexa Rank it will Display "No Data" rank. Dont worry after couple of days your website will get Alexa Rank in number.

Keep browsing thru Alexa Toolbar within couple of months period your website will get good Alexa Ranking. Suggest & encourage your friends, relatives, your Company employees to download Alexa Toolbar in their computers. You will see the miracle your compnay websites will get very nice alexa rank.

You can download Alexa Toolbar here also. please click following link to download alexa Toolbar. forward this link to your friends, employees and many others alo.

http://download.alexa.com/index.cgi?amzn_id=ahirebros

Yogesh Ahire

eMarketing consultant from India

URL: http://www.e-Gurukul.com, [http://www.e-Guru.org]

How to Build a Waterfall For Your Garden Pond

Building a waterfall is easier than you think and will add a new dimension to your pool.

When building a waterfall, as with any garden project, you must first consider the design and make a plan. The biggest mistake that people make when planning a pond waterfall is to err on the large side. For a pond measuring 12 ft x 14 ft you should think in terms of a fall of 18-24 inches. The width of the waterfall should be in proportion to the size of your pond. The important point is to make sure that the scale of your construction fits in with the surrounding features and does not spoil the balance of your overall garden design.

The next question that has to be answered is the type of construction you wish to use. There are two basic choices. You can either use a liner and place rocks to form the fall or you can save yourself the trouble and buy a fibreglass unit. Either way you will still have to use your shovel to form the site of the waterfall.

The other requirement is a pump which will be sited in the pool to transport the water to the top of your waterfall. The size of pump that you will need depends on the height and width of the waterfall and also the length of pipe from the pump to the top of the fall. Once you have finalised your plans, consult your

dealer and he will be able to supply you with the correct pump.

To maintain a healthy pond environment with crystal clear water usually involves installing a biological filter. Again your dealer will be able to advise you as to the correct type and size. The filter should be placed at the top of the waterfall so that the water is cleaned before issuing out on to the fall.

Once you have assembled all the equipment it is time to get out your shovel. If your site is level and the soil from excavation of your pond is nearby this can be used as the mound on which to place the waterfall. If you are using a liner you first dig out the channel and then fit the liner. Next place the rocks so that the water can flow over them. It is helpful if you observe a natural waterfall to give you some ideas as to how the rocks can be placed for the greatest effect. Once you are satisfied with the arrangement, use black waterfall foam to seal the rocks to ensure that the water flows over and around them and not underneath. If you have chosen to use a fibreglass preformed model, you will avoid the problem of placing the rocks and will just have to dig out sufficient soil to allow you to fit the unit.

To complete the installation fit the pump, filter and hose and connect to the electricity supply. Providing all is working to your satisfaction, now is the time to relax and enjoy your handiwork.

If you have read this far and are wondering whether it would be just too much like hard work, then consider this. Water soothes and relaxes, inspires reflection, and is a source of beauty. A cascading, bubbling stream adds interest and serenity to the garden, while a waterfall can create a dramatic centerpiece. Building a pond waterfall really is worth the effort.

Hugh Harris-Evans is the owner of The Garden Supplies Advisor where you will find further articles, gardening tips and product reviews.

How To Earn Money Without A Website

I will tell you right here and now you do not need to have a website to be successful in internet marketing.

There are some essential tools you will need, but a website needn't be one of them.

Ok, a website is useful, even more so if you sell your own products. But if you are an affiliate salesperson, you don't need your own site.

For affiliate marketing, there is in truth only one tool you need and that is an autoresponder. You need a great autoresponder that will allow you broadcast messages to the contact list that you will build. I have found that the free autoresponder programs will not let you do this, so you need to invest about $15 per month in a good autoresponder. Believe me this will be one of the best investments you ever make in your online business. And, since autoresponder programs are affiliate programs themselves, you can promote your autoresponder program and sooner or later have it pay for itself.

This is a straightforward marketing system that will promote your

affiliate program without your own website:

1. The marketing system is to establish yourself as an expert on the products you are promoting. You wil do this by creating content: first, by posting in related content forums and submitting articles to article directories, secondly, by starting your own ezine or newsletter, and thirdly, by personally contacting ezine owners and offering your article for publication in their ezine. For a free list of article directories I submit to, send a blank email to mailto:directories@homebasedbusinesstraining.com

2. You MUST promote your affiliate product or program in the resource box at the end of your article. Write a brief description of who you are, what you do, and how readers can learn more. For more detail, see my resource box at the end of this article.

3. The secret to promoting your affiliate product is to promote it via your autoresponder. Since you have written an article about what you are selling, you will have the prospect looking for more information. If you wrote an article on dog training, write something like, "For more free tips on training your dog, send a blank email to info@yourautoresponderaddress.com"

4. In your autoresponder, write a series of short emails with a few tips in each email and most importantly a sentence that refers your readers to your sales product or affiliate program.

5. So, Not only have you been promoted your product for a very

very low cost, the cost of your autoresponder, but you have been collecting names that you can offer more related products to again and again. The names also become your list for your newsletter and joint marketing ventures with other marketers.

6. Try to write a brand new article every week or at least every 2 weeks, and continue sending it to your list and article directories, and continue posting in forums. In no time you will have a nice list built. And this is all without your own website!

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: support@lucygreen.com

Edward Green is the owner and operator of a successful online business. Ed has over 15 years in corporate business operations which include guerrilla marketing skills, customer service and Professional networking capabilities. http://www.lucygreen.com

Choose Your Best LCD TV Today

In today's world, there are a very few people who do not have a LCD TV. A LCD, or liquid crystal display, television is one that displays clearer and brighter picture than any other type of television and they are by far the most popular style of television worldwide.

In these televisions, light passes through a panel of liquid crystals. They either produce an image directly on a flat panel television or it is projected onto a large screen. These televisions tend to be very lightweight and provide the viewers with astounding picture quality. The only drawback in the LCD TV is that it tends not to be as bright as other styles of televisions.

Choosing a LCD TV

If you are planning to buy a LCD TV and would like to settle for the best LCD TV, then there are a few things you need to know. First you need to consider the contrast and black levels. This basically refers to, how well the television displays black color and how good the contrast is.

LCD display utilizes electric charges to twist and untwist liquid crystals which cause them to block light and therefore emit blacks. Note that LCD's use maximum power while displaying a very dark or black image. So the best LCD TV would be the one that displays blacks as clear as possible.

Also when you are on the hunt for the best LCD TV you need to think about color accuracy. The LCD TVs reproduce colors by manipulating light waves and subtracting colors and white light. Most LCD televisions manage to do this quite well but there are a few in which the color is noticeably darker than others. In order to find the best LCD TV, you will want to take your own time in order to determine which particular models offer the most in this regards.

Yet another factor that one needs to be taken into consideration while looking for the best LCD TV is the computer feature availability. LCD flat screens display static images from computer or VGA sources extremely well and with full color detail. LCD monitors are also very good at displaying large amounts of data, which explains why LCD TVs are so ideal for video gaming.

Finally, with a bit of your valuable time and a lot of patience, you can find the best TV and then make your decision in buying one.

Choose your best LCD TV today

In today's world, there are a very few people who do not have a LCD TV. A LCD, or liquid crystal display, television is one that displays clearer and brighter picture than any other type of television and they are by far the most popular style of television worldwide.

In these televisions, light passes through a panel of liquid crystals. They either produce an image directly on a flat panel television or it is projected onto a large screen. These televisions tend to be very lightweight and provide the viewers with astounding picture quality. The only drawback in the LCD TV is that it tends not to be as bright as other styles of televisions.

Choosing a LCD TV

If you are planning to buy a LCD TV and would like to settle for the best LCD TV, then there are a few things you need to know. First you need to consider the contrast and black levels. This basically refers to, how well the television displays black color and how good the contrast is.

LCD display utilizes electric charges to twist and untwist liquid crystals which cause them to block light and therefore emit blacks. Note that LCD's use maximum power while displaying a very dark or black image. So the best LCD TV would be the one that displays blacks as clear as possible.

Also when you are on the hunt for the best TV you need to think about color accuracy. The LCD TVs reproduce colors by manipulating light waves and subtracting colors and white light. Most LCD televisions manage to do this quite well but there are a few in which the color is noticeably darker than others. In order to find the best LCD TV, you will want to take your own time in order to determine which particular models offer the most in this regards.

Yet another factor that one needs to be taken into consideration while looking for the best TV is the computer feature availability. LCD flat screens display static images from computer or VGA sources extremely well and with full color detail. LCD monitors are also very good at displaying large amounts of data, which explains why LCD TVs are so ideal for video gaming.

Finally, with a bit of your valuable time and a lot of patience, you can find the best LCD TV and then make your decision in buying one.

Find the best info on Best LCD TV and even LCD flat screens.

A Plasma HDTV or an LCD TV Set - Which is Better?

Though both LCD and plasma displays come in the form of slim flat panel displays, yet from a technology perspective, these two flat panel displays process the image in a totally different manner.

Plasma uses a matrix of tiny gas plasma cells that are charged by precise electrical voltages to emit light and hence to create the picture image. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) panels - work by trapping a liquid crystal solution between two sheets of polarized glass. When an electric current is passed through the liquid crystals, they change the polarization of the light passing through them in response to the electric voltage - as a result of which, more or less light is able to pass through the polarized glass on the face of the display.

It is not the scope of this article to go into the actual details of how these different display technologies process the image - after all, what really matters is not what is going behind the screen but rather how these different display technologies perform as a television screen. At the same time, it is worth taking note that it is these same differences that give each of these display technologies, its strengths and weaknesses, and that therefore render one more suitable than the other in certain circumstances.

The list below highlights the most important differences between these two flat panel display technologies:

Size: For the time being, collision between plasma television and LCD TV occur in the 40 to 50 inch screen range. In reality, most LCD TVs top out at around 50 inch; larger screen sizes are also available though choice is still very much limited. This means that for anything larger than 50-inch, a plasma display is your only real option if what you are after is a direct-view TV system. On the other hand, at the smaller end of spectrum, namely 15" to 36" TVs, LCD is the way to go if what you want is something stylish and slim (at under 4-inches in depth).

Price: Here, the playing field is leveling at a fast rate. Up to very recent, plasma was the obvious choice for all screen sizes where collision between these two technologies occurs; this is no longer the case. In general, plasma still leads by a good margin only at the bigger screen sizes - 50-inch and upwards. At the smaller end (up to 44-inch), the price advantage when it comes to plasma vs LCD TV sets, starts to shift more towards LCD TVs.

Overall Picture Performance: Both plasma and the latest TFT-LCD flat panel displays are capable of producing excellent picture quality - with bright, crisp clear images. However, plasma flat panel displays are more suitable for basic home theater usage than LCD. The gas cell structure within a plasma display is such that there is no light leaking between adjacent cells (or pixels). This renders plasma displays capable of displaying deeper blacks - hence more suited to television and movie scenes where lots of dark and light content is shown simultaneously.

In comparison, the nature of LCD technology - where a backlight shines through the LCD layer - means that it is hard for it to achieve true blacks (i.e. true absence of light) as there is always some light leakage from adjacent pixels.

This does not mean that LCD panel s are not suitable as TV screens; today's LCD TV sets make use of extreme high contrast panels that are capable of displaying very deep blacks, yet the latest plasma TV sets still have a slight edge.

Viewing-angle: What used to be a clear advantage for plasma displays is becoming more and more a non-issue especially with the latest generation of LCD televisions, however...

Do not always assume that viewing angle is no longer an issue when comparing plasma vs lcd TVs. The tendency - in particular with the cheaper LCD TV sets - is that the deterioration in picture quality with off-axis viewing is more accentuated with LCD than with plasma displays.

Image Retention and Burn-in: LCD TVs enjoys a technological advantage; they are not prone to burn-in, and image retention in LCD TVs - referred to as 'image sticking', is often completely reversible.

It is important to realize here that while burn-in in plasma displays and image sticking in LCD panels both lead to image retention, yet these are two completely different phenomena.

Burn-in is no longer much of a concern as it used to be with plasma televisions up to the recent past, especially for people with normal TV viewing requirements. Similarly, image sticking with LCD TVs is unlikely to take place under normal home entertainment use.

Viewing Distance: It seems that the pixel size and shape of an LCD panel renders a smoother picture than an equivalently sized plasma panel for the same pixel count.

This means that even if your viewing distance falls within the recommended distance of approximately twice the screen width for an HDTV, if this is less than at least nine feet, most probably you will be better off with an LCD TV.

Life-time: This is a non-issue with either technology. In fact, both plasma and LCD TV sets come with a quoted half-lifetime of around 60,000hrs. Even if this were just 30,000hrs, it would imply more than 14 years of use at 6 hours a day. And this when the average household in the US replaces the TV set every 7 years!

In other words, both plasma and LCD TV sets make use of extremely stable and reliable display technologies. As such, lifetime is more dependent upon manufacturer quality rather than upon display technology.

Response: Plasma TV sets carry an advantage here because even though LCD technology has improved to the extent that this is becoming less of an issue, yet LCD has still some way to go to achieve the same level of pixel response times as phosphor based displays.

Power Requirements: The advantage here goes to LCD panels as these consume less electricity. Estimates show that the use of LCD panels can result in some 30% power savings for the same screen size than plasma display.

Making the Choice

There is a market for both plasma and LCD displays - Plasma gives you a bigger screen for your dollar, deeper blacks, but then LCD do not suffer from burn-in and at the smaller end of the market (less than 40-inch screen size), LCD is your only way forward if you want something slim and stylish.

It is all a question of knowing what are the advantages and limitations of each with respect to your specific needs.

This article is an excerpt from a series of informative guides appearing on Practical-Home-Theater-Guide.COM under the Plasma and LCD TV sections of the site.

It covers only the very basics when it comes to compare plasma vs LCD TVs. There are a lot more considerations one has to take into account when selecting the display technology for a flat screen TV.

To find out more, please refer to the detailed guides appearing on the same site at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/plasma-vs-lcd-TV.html.

Last updated on 10th May 2007. Copyright (c) 2004/2007 http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com. All rights reserved.

Andrew Ghigo ? A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems; a keen home theater enthusiast, with a lifelong interest in home electronics and a devoted audiophile for the last 25-yrs.

Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.

More informative guides on LCD TV sets appear under the LCD TV section of the site at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/LCD-Tv.html.