SaaS - Sofware as a Service - Why is Important?

SaaS stands for software as a service, a fascinating and affordable means of accessing the most innovative business technologies of today. Instead of making the investment involved in owning the technology and engaging in a more labor intensive installation process, clients are able to subscribe to it as a service, paying a fee at regular intervals. It is a growing means of software access and delivery because it is a convenient and affordable option.

Small Business Solution
Small businesses, naturally, are working with smaller budgets, especially in their human resources departments. Indeed, this may be overstating the human resources manpower investment the typical small business is able to make. The ability to access such targeted human resources technologies as an applicant tracking system and recruitment tracking software easily and affordably through software as a service plan can make a small human resources team function like it was a full-fledged human resources department, while saving the expense of funding a dedicated department. With less up-front money than buying, SaaS is the right solution for many businesses.
Another element of using SaaS is that sometimes a small business just needs a particular system or software on a temporary or occasional basis. When working within the confines of a limited budget, sometimes it just doesn't make sense to spend more to own something that is used just a few times a year or is only needed during a specific, temporary phase of operation. It is also a great way to try out new technologies to see if they are suitable to the needs of a particular business. Demonstrations are one thing, but actually using a system for day-to-day operations for a while is where the real information about practicality of use comes from.

Less Hassle
There is often far less labor involved, typically, in utilizing software as a service than there is in buying and installing systems and software. If there is a problem with a SaaS service, tech support is on hand. Many business owners are not techies, and appreciate not having to deal with the inner workings of computer systems and programs. Having somebody on-call, but not on their payroll, is an attractive option. There is something to be said for the simplicity of service as needed, and that is one of the main reasons this is a growing business model. When using software as a service subscription, there's little wait time, and the software is quickly usable after minor, easy installation, unlike the major installation required by other options.
SaaS is an option that is gaining in popularity due to its affordability and convenience. Large and small businesses alike are recognizing the benefits of choosing to subscribe to a SaaS offering an assortment of the technologies used by their businesses, such as recruitment tracking software to compliment an in-house applicant tracking system. It's a great way to discover and utilize the most suitable business technologies, quickly and affordably, whether as a precursor to buying or as a long-term targeted business solution.

What Is Video Marketing and Why to Use It

Video marketing is the process of using videos to promote your products, services, or websites.

You've probably heard of the world's largest video website, YouTube.com

Online videos are HOT and are great for establishing expert status in your niche as well as connecting with your local customers.

Online video is steadily becoming the next biggest thing in Internet Marketing - if it isn't already. The same thing happened with TV commercials back in the day!

However, TV commercials are no where near as effective as online marketing methods anymore.

Here are 5 main benefits of online videos:

·        Help You Develop Expert Status
·        Help You Engage Website Visitors & Increases Conversions
·        Help You Increase Website Traffic
·        They Run on 24/7 on Auto-pilot
·        They Set You Apart from Your Competitors

Everyone is online... and most people spend a LOT of time watching videos while surfing the web.

In fact, approximately 50% of people who watch an online video will take action... whether it is to download a free report, click on your website link, subscribe to your newsletter, or whatever you want them to do.

Because of this, video marketing will help increase traffic to your website so you should get amazing results by combining the both them together.

If you don't have a website, do not worry... you can still utilize the power of online videos on increase business. But get this... Did you also know that approximately 12% of people who visit a website with videos will end up buying from that site?

This conversion rate is amazing compared to non-video website conversions!

So, why is video so powerful?

The answer is simply that online videos are quickly becoming the preferred method for taking in information online.
People would rather spend 1-3 minutes watching a video than taking 10-20 minutes reading text.

Not only that, but using video allows you to communicate the important points you want to get over to your target audience in very little time.

Another note about video is that not only can you place them on your website for your visitors to see, but you can also distribute them all over the Internet for maximum exposure!

Websites such as YouTube, Vimeo, and many others make it extremely easy for you to host and distribute your online videos.

Not only that, but your videos can be optimized to rank high in the search engines - giving your business immediate exposure to potential customers.

Imagine someone in your local area doing a Google search for your type of product or service... and then your video pops up.

Do you think they'll click on it? Yes!

Videos get much more attention than most forms of online media, which explains why it's a "must-have" if you really want to connect with your existing and potential customers.

Not only that, but videos easily "go viral," meaning they are shared by other viewers.

Studies show that approximately 90% of consumers who like an online video always share it with their friends.

Imagine how much extra exposure that will bring to your business - with no additional efforts on your part!

Online videos also make it easy to cross-sell your product or service. You are allowed to place a link and/or strong call to action at the end of your video, so you can sell even more.
There are several different styles of video that can be used and in order to really capitalize on them, you should try different versions.

Here's a short list to get your creative juices flowing:
Create a "Welcome" Message for Your Website - this will allow you to introduce yourself and your products/services to your website visitors. You can even do a tour of your business facilities to give your audience an "insider view" of your business. They will warm-up to you and start to feel like they already know you.
Create "How-To" Educational Videos - this will allow you to bond with your target audience by giving them valuable information that they can use.
Create "Interview-Style" Videos - this will allow your visitors to learn even more about you and your business. Use the interview to answer some of the questions that your potential market would have when it comes to your industry. You can have your staff interview you or you can interview your staff- whatever makes sense for your business.
Create "Commercial" Videos - this will allow you to sell your product or service online 24/7 on complete auto-pilot. Similar to TV commercials, online video commercials can be used to quickly promote your product or service.
Ask Your Satisfied Customers to Create Video Testimonials - this will allow you to easily provide "social proof" using the power of video. Showing live video coverage of one of your happy customers will boost your conversion rates.

What Is Data Mining

Data mining is an integral part of data analysis which contains a series of activities that goes from the 'meaning' of the ideas, to the 'analysis' of the data and up to the 'interpretation' and 'evaluation' of the outcome. The different stages of the technique are as follows:

Objectives for Analysis: It is sometimes very difficult to statistically define the phenomenon we wish to analyze. In fact, the business objectives are often clear, but the same can be difficult to formalize. A clear understanding of the crisis and the goals is very important setup the analysis correctly. This is undoubtedly, one of the most complex parts of the process, since it establishes the techniques to be engaged and as such, the objectives must be crystal clear and there should not be any doubt or ambiguity.

Collection, grouping and pre-processing of the data: Once the objectives of the analysis are set and defined, we need to gather or choose the data needed for the study. At first, it is essential to recognize the data sources. Usually data are collected from the internal sources as the same are economical and more dependable and moreover these data also has the benefit of being the outcome of the experiences and procedures of the business itself.

Investigative analysis of the data and their conversion: This stage includes a preliminary examination of the information available. It involves a preliminary assessment of the significance of the gathered data. An exploratory and / or investigative analysis can highlight the irregular data. An exploratory analysis is important because it lets the analyst choose the most suitable statistical method for the subsequent stage of the analysis.

Choosing statistical methods: There are multiple statistical methods that can be put into use for the purpose of analysis, so it is very essential to categorize the existing methods. The choice statistical method is case specific and depends on the problem and also upon the type of information available.

Data analysis on the basis of chosen methods: Once the statistical method is chosen, the same must be translated into proper algorithms for working out the results. Ranges of specialized and non-specialized software are widely available for data mining and as such it is not always required to develop ad hoc computation algorithms for the most 'standard' purpose. However, it is essential that the people managing the data mining method well aware and have a good knowledge and understanding of the various methods of data analysis and also the different software solutions available for the same, so that they may adapt the same in times of need of the company and can flawlessly interpret the results.

Assessment and contrast of the techniques used and selection of the final model for analysis: It is of utmost necessity to choose the best 'model' from the variety of statistical methods accessible. The selection of the model should be based in contrast with the results obtained. When assessing the performance of a specific statistical method and / or type, all other dependent and / or relevant criterions should also be considered. The other criterions may be the constraints on the company both in terms of time and resources or it may be in terms of quality and the accessibility of data.

Elucidation of the selected statistical model and its employment in the decision making process: The scope of data mining is not limited to data analysis rather it is also includes the integration of the results so as to facilitate the decision making process of the company. Business awareness, the pulling out of rules and their use in the decision process allows us to proceed from the diagnostic phase to the phase of decision making. Once the model is finalized and tested with an information set, the categorization rule can be generalized. But the inclusion of the data mining process in the business should not be done in haste; rather the same should always be done slowly, setting out sensible and logical aims. The final aim of data mining is to be an integral supporting part of the company's decision making process.

What Is A Virus? Overview

A computer virus is a software program that replicates itself and infects a computer. A true virus has reproductive ability. Although in factual sense, some types of malware including adware and spyware programs do not have reproductive ability, they are included under the term computer virus. A computer virus performs a variety of functions, like annoyingly popping up irrelevant messages to deleting files and destroying hard disks.

It is an oddity that a computer virus shows how vulnerable we are, by being victims of devastating consequences like disrupted productivity running into billions of dollars, while at the same time demonstrating the sophistication of our amazing interconnectivity. We all became aware what is a computer virus and what havoc it can do when the Mydoom worm infected nearly a quarter million computers in 2004. This worm affected Microsoft Windows, probably through e-mail spammers by sending junk mail through infected computers. In an extreme scenario, a computer virus can spread through most, if not all vital computers, in the world and wreak havoc for business organizations, financial establishments, government functioning, and academic institutions.

How Do Viruses Spread?

We now know what is a computer virus and so, it will be interesting to understand how do viruses spread. For a virus to spread it must first be triggered, for example, by the user visiting a potentially dangerous site, opening a document infected by a virus, booting with a diskette infected by a "boot sector virus," or by double clicking on an infected executable file.

The Entire Process Works In The Following Way:

* A virus software program is launched
* The virus code is loaded into the PC memory
* The virus executes its destructive payload
* The virus replicates itself into other programs

If all a virus did was to replicate itself, then the harm caused would have been negligible, but unfortunately viruses do something far destructive like overwriting the boot sector of your hard drive, stealing your sensitive passwords, and hacking your e-mail ids.

What Are Trojan Horses?

As explained earlier, Trojans or Trojan horses do not replicate themselves but perform an undesired yet intended function, while at the same time pretending to do something else. A classic example is a fake log in program into a supposedly genuine bank site that prompts you to display your sensitive account information.

How Do You Protect Your Computer From Viruses?

To be safe, you simply need to load antivirus software. Once you buy and install antivirus software, you will be prompted to download regular updates that will allow the program to fight the latest computer viruses. A typical antivirus software performs the following functions:

* Scans and protects your computer against incoming e-mails
* Alerts you, if you attempt to download an infected file
* Prevents external attacks by firewall software

Fortunately, computer users do not feel jinxed with viruses these days. Antivirus products have become more advanced. People have understood that the problem of virus will stay forever, with newer versions making appearance, often with regular predictability. Happily, people will continue to use computers as long as there are people who can offer solutions.

A good solution is to be very careful with every software you download, scan it properly with your antivirus and use websites like www.virustotal.com where the file is scanned by many different anti viruses online and you do not even have to register. 

Data Entry Jobs.... Real or Scam?

Are data entry jobs a scam? If you have been on the hunt for part-time online jobs, you might have encountered any one of the following ads:

'Earn money online by typing data from the comfort of your home. If you are a stay-at-home mom, student, or just somebody who wants to earn extra income, then this job is for you.'

'Want extra cash? Here's the job that you've always dreamed of. Join our growing company; get paid simply by typing data. It's as simple as that. No minimum requirement needed.'

This kind of online work seems to be the job that everyone wants to do today. Why, in the comfort of my very home I can work sitting all day and see my bank account flourish. I can do away with the heavy traffic, office politics, formal dress codes, and time cards. I can work anytime I want to and get sleep without worrying about waking and getting up early. I can do all those, imagine, just by typing data. No wonder more and more people get attracted by these job ads.

However fascinating its offers, I find the popularity of these so-called typing programs job quite intriguing. At the back of my mind I keep thinking, 'Are data entry jobs a scam?' So I decided to do a little research on my own and here is what I found out.

First, I noticed two things-things that seem to be the general trend in these types of companies:

1) Customer service is either too lousy you wish you could sabotage the person on the other end of the line or completely nonexistent, which is all the more frustrating.

2) Their websites boast of loaded promises and their ads are downright misleading.

I checked Clickbank's Marketplace because they have some of the more sought after data entry programs. Guess what I've found out? Instead of finding real data entry jobs, I found lots of e-Books showing and teaching you how to make money selling their products using Google AdWords. For a fee you get to register for any of the data entry program you want, receive a set of training materials on typing 'data entry ads', and talk other people into doing the same. But there's the rub, you pay for EVERY ad you up and make money ONLY when you manage to get a sale. Sounds like real data entry scams, right? This, my friend, is what you call Affiliate Marketing, Nothing there.

So to settle this issue once and for all, here's my take on the issue: Typing programs are not altogether scams. It's the advertising and selling of the company's products that make these jobs bad. After all, you did not apply to be a salesman, but rather a data entry associate. So if you really want to pursue this kind of job, find a legitimate program. I tell you there are more programs considered data entry scam than authentic ones but when you do find one, you are well off to the path you expected. Try looking at Webmaster forums. They have a good selection of data entry programs there.

Tablet PC

Tech fanatics and bloggers were quick to herald the introduction of tablet PC's as the next big thing since sliced bread. The media hype that followed was enough to send jitters down the spine of newspaper and magazine publishers. Sadly, the skyrocketing popularity of Slate PC's coincided with an ad recession that saw small time newspapers and magazines close shop. The new buzz word became apps and if you didn't own one, you were doomed in the future.

As it turns out, all these fears were unfounded. In general, there has been a decline in sale of subscription newspapers and magazines; but not due to Tablet Computers. According to analysts, reduction in newspaper sale was more as a result of the economic recession than technological revolution. In fact, the economic recovery has brought back advertisers and print sales have begun to stabilize.

The reason for the turnaround is simple to explain. The popularity of Tablet Computers and Smartphone's is not driven by news. Hard news falls behind games, music, movies, books and other entertainment applications found on these devices. Hence, most of the news content that is sampled on slates and Smartphone's is also read on print. As a matter of fact, many people use tablet computer news applications to supplement rather than replace their main news sources.

Initial reactions to Tablet Computers among publishers were varied. Some were quick to commission for news applications and immediately set up digital divisions. Others took a watch and wait approach, while the rest brushed off the threat. The first batch is probably the most frustrated currently since they are seeing no immediate returns. Most slate users do not find it necessary to pay for online news content. The figures for development and subscription of news applications are also quite prohibitive.

All in all, no forward-looking company can ignore the ever-growing tablet computer apps market. Currently, there are more than half a million apps in the market with three percent representing news companies. Albeit there is no particular rush for newspapers and magazines to join the apps market, the option should still be kept open. It is important for newspaper and magazine publishers to study the tablet consumer market before investing in apps. As such, they will be able to reinvent themselves online and not simply replicate what others are doing.

Tablet computers have become all the rage since they were introduced in the market a couple of years back. Many people thought that newspapers and magazines had been relegated to the deathbed. Contrary to this, publishers are witnessing substantial returns from sales and advertisement. However, many publishers have also taken note of the potential in the tablet computers apps market and joined the fray.

What is SSL - Its Importance in Online Secure Businesses

SSL certificates are great invention of technology that allows anyone to an online business with secure platform. All online stores or ecommerce businesses must have an SSL certificate for website security as it helps to protect transactions as well as customer's information. If you run an online store you have probably come across the term SSL certificate in your research or from hosting companies.


SSL is acronym of "secure sockets layer" and is a data encryption protocol which will keep your information safe from third parties who might try as well as steal it even as making a purchase from a website. While a SSL certificate has many benefits and can be used in many different ways there are two main functions:


SSL Certificates protect your information throughout the payment transactions. It means SSL turns your information into a code which can only be read by a third party that has the key to read the information. In this way it will keep your customers information safe from third party trying to steal the information from either their Debit or Credit card. Moreover, it offers information about the site and company they are securing.


SSL lets your customers to immediately verify who you are, who you say, making your website or your online business much more trustworthy. Skilled online shoppers will also notice that a dead bolt is displayed by the browser as well as the URL bar may also turn green. This is a great visible pointer to a prospective customer that you take their online security seriously.


Secure Sockets Layer arrive in diverse sizes of bit encryption. The first is a 128 bit encryption that is still very good as well as is the standard encryption level used by most online stores. Moreover, the final one is the 256 bit encryption which is currently the highest level of security available today.


SSL certificates uses ports to send information over the Internet and internet has always used the term port to describe how information is sent. When you use an unsecure website to make any transactions the port that is used is usually number 80, information is then sent in small snippets over the Internet from Port 80. With an SSL Certificate Services because the transactions are now secure the port number becomes 443.

What Is the Point of Social Bookmarking?

I'm often asked what exactly social bookmarks are, why they are important, and how they are beneficial for SEO. They are a great tool for search engine optimization, because it was never meant to become one. Social bookmarking's original purpose was to be able to save your bookmarked/favorite websites to a website, such as Digg or Del.icio.us, so you can access these bookmarks later from a different location.


The reason it has become a marketing strategy is that your bookmarks are visible to others, meaning they have the potential of following the same sites you do. People that follow your sites can spread the bookmarks you create and as the popularity grows your site's traffic will grow, giving them the potential of any other social network's virality.


There is always the potential you will never draw significant traffic from social bookmarks directly, but that's okay as it is only half their purpose. The real beauty is the fact that you have control over a great link back to your site. As others follow your bookmarks they are also providing free one-way links from their own social bookmarking pages. So even if the traffic from the bookmarks is slow you have the added benefit of a linking campaign providing solid links to your site, increasing your site's ranking in the search engines.


Hopefully you can see the value and power of social bookmarks. Remember, while you don't want to base your SEO campaign on bookmarks you definitely do not want to leave them out.

What Is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a community of knowledgeable experts from around the globe. Once you become a member of it, you build a user profile that summarizes your specialized knowledge and achievements. You will find, be launched to, and work together with skilled specialists you will want to work with to achieve your goals.


This skilled social networking giant was launched in December 2002 and was formally unveiled for general public use in May 2003. LinkedIn is available for global use and also as of August 2010 LinkedIn documented more than seventy five million users. Furthermore, it permits them to manage the way they are identified by the world wide web - LinkedIn ranks very well in Google, therefore it is your LinkedIn user profile which will be shown initially should you research your name.


LinkedIn is considerably more targeted, it really is specifically considering business associations. LinkedIn features an organized structure that enables you to enter in your resume. The organized data format allows LinkedIn to respond to questions like "Indicate me all the individuals I'm connected to who presently work for company X and live in area Y."


Linkedin has 70+ million members in 200 international locations and associates from 170 industrial sectors, which includes all Fortune 500 companies. It can be useful for career research and job research,to get maximum guidance or details from business experts, to locate prospective clients or business partners by firms, to distribute employment opportunities by headhunters, research the community for possible applicants and screen prospects prior to job interviews.


Creating a user profile on Linkedin does not always mean you might be employment searching, so you do not have to be worried about linking with individuals at your present employment. Nevertheless, you are able to restrict access to user profile details should you desire.


Most social networking sites began catering to one market and after that increased into massive global networks catering to numerous viewers. LinkedIn is centered on the corporate world and they're consistently incorporating additional features for their website to learn effectively to speak with prospective customers and acquaintances.


LinkedIn is a very smart way to get in touch. Be sure that your user profile consists of your background, achievements, and don't overlook a very good user profile photograph. This is actually significant. Individuals are interested in a face. It's important any time they setup a meeting with you at a social networking function, your contacts know your identify.


LinkedIn is really a well-liked professional social networking website -- take a look at http://www.linkedin.com -- that permits you to publish a user profile of your respective professional pursuits, your education and learning, as well as your other pursuits. After that it enables you to "link" with acquaintances, close friends, and family members, developing a community of relationships.


I've discovered LinkedIn as a beneficial strategy to sustain connection with acquaintances who may have progressed to new work opportunities or who you work together with now, to get back in contact with individuals you might have stumbled upon at all levels of school as well as in a variety of organizations, as well as to connect with family members. After that it enables you to "link" with fellow workers, close friends, and family members, developing a community of relationships.


LinkedIn's customs is extremely professional so in order to use LinkedIn properly, your improvements, queries and existence have to be professionally instead of privately focused. In the event you just use a single social network website, or social media marketing device, then LinkedIn really should be it.

Networks

When most people think of computer networks they think of large businesses. Many people have networked their home systems to enable a shared internet connection, shared files and even shared printing capabilities. The process of sharing resources and data between more than one computer is referred to as computer networking. When you link the computers together they are capable of not only sharing the internet connection, printer, FAX and other components but are also capable of sharing files, pictures, songs and other data stored on the hard disk.


Networking Explained
The network can be divided into a local or small area network such as a LAN network where computers are shared within an office building or home space, MAN where two or more locations are connected throughout an area and WAN where the network can be created to connect to a home or office from anywhere in the country.


WAN is the most common use for connectivity, it allows the network to connect to millions of computers across the globe. The WAN network is the world's largest network and through connection if a router and running the proper software you can be connected to any location from just about anywhere in the world.
Computer networks can be wired or wireless, although there are not many who use the wired feature these days. Depending on the set up you need, how you need to access the main computer and how many you need to link together will determine the type of network you need to create.


There are two main ways to connect the computers, through client-server systems and through peer-2-peer servers. The client-server network has a main computer or computers that work as the server for the network. The data, files, pictures, docs and other information is stored on these servers that are then accesses from various computers that are on the network. The other computers in the network are called the clients and they are linked to the server to get any or all of their information.


Peer-2-Peer networks allow each computer to choose what information will be shared. There is no main server where it is all stored, each hard drive is open to the network and each computer on the network will be given the appropriate access to the hard drives on each system. Most home users have the peer-2-peer network setup where they can pick and choose what information is needed or wanted from each system in the home on the network. Most businesses use the client-server network with different topologies or structures or designs within their layouts.


The common language or communications between computers when networking are known as protocols. The most popular and commonly used protocols are the TCP/IP where it works with several protocols and not just a single protocol. The TCP/IP protocol can be used and will work with either wired or wireless connections and can be used through the client-server or peer-2-peer networks.


Setting Up a Home Network
There are some great programs out there that will walk you through setting up a home network in no time. You do not have to be a network engineer and it takes little knowledge of how the network actually works. You basically only have to the systems you wish to connect or link together in the network, an internet connection and the ability to follow simple instructions.
 If you are setting up a wireless internet connection you will not have to worry about running cables from one computer to the next and the only thing that will be done is some simple changes in the networking section of each computer. 
You can create a secured connection that is protected with a password to ensure that you do not have an open connection to outsiders who wish to snoop through your shared files. You get the option on each system to choose what you want to share and what you do not. 
You can create a folder that is for the network and put it on a virtual drive, this way no one can enter the actual computer's hard drive, just the file and what is stored on it. The process for computer networks is simple and easy to do and can make a multiple computer home run much smoother.

Social Proof

Social proof is continuing to play a paramount role in determining how a web page ranks in the search engines. This article is going to define what is social proof and what you need to know to use it to your advantage.


Social proof means that the actions which other people have taken in the past can influence people in the present to believe that those actions represent correct behavior. The effect of this is that those people take the same actions themselves. Social proof is especially powerful on the internet where it influences people to do all kinds of things just because someone else has done it before them.


Most of the time, social proof reflects a real truth, other times it does not. Whether or not that action is in reality correct or not seems to be a moot point, however.


Some examples of social proof could be putting a ticker for either your total number of subscribers for your email list or your Twitter following. If you have a substantial number of Twitter followers, someone is far more likely to also follow you while you have that proof in place.


We're starting to see social proof being shown off everywhere. Virtually any popular blog or website which you go to has social network integration. Even the major social networks have available integration with the other major players.


Of course this proof isn't just aesthetic or important to impress potential followers, friends, etc. but it's also very important in terms of the search engines. Google for example has recently shaken up their algorithm which they use to rank web pages. They do this quite often, but recently they dealt a large blow to content farms.


I believe that a major effect of this update was that Google took a much greater emphasis on proof. Whereas content farms were symbols of low quality, Google looked for the only true metric for measuring quality according to other people. This is again where social networks like Facebook come into play.


The more "Likes" a web page has, the more implied quality is in its content. Google knows that bad content won't get praised by its peers, so this is a reliable way from its eyes to decide what is of higher quality and deserves a more visible search engine ranking. Google is effectively putting its own users in charge of deciding what is good and what is bad and, consequently, how a web page should be ranked.

Social Bookmarking

Now if you've been involving yourself in the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) business for quite some time, then you would know all too well about the significance that link building serves in the profitability and online visibility of any web marketing business. Obviously, online businesses need a good website that features useful content and information about the services and products that you are offering online. No matter how good your website is or how interesting or how useful your content is though, all of that would certainly amount to nothing if online users can't even find it online which is why some form of online advertisement is clearly needed. Backlinks are a significant part of implementing such advertisements and one of the most effective methods for building links lies in social bookmarking.


What exactly is social bookmarking?
Social bookmarking as an effective and viable SEO strategy revolves around storing and organizing bookmarks in fairly much the same way as you add sites to your favorites except that in this case, the websites that were bookmarked can be accessed by anyone online. Websites for social bookmarks were initially intended as an online resource that practically anyone could tap into that is until it was discovered that it presents an excellent opportunity for one-way link building. These sites often feature fairly high page ranks which mean they possess relevance and authority in the eyes of major search engines which will certainly benefit your efforts at attaining quality and effective backlinks.


Social bookmarking and its advantages
If you look up several resources online about the subject, you'll find that among the significant advantages of this particular solution for building links is its accessibility and convenience. You can access your bookmarks from practically any computer connected online. This enables web marketers to reach out a broader range of audience making it an important tool for web marketing.


Another significant advantage of social bookmarking is that it yields a large number of backlinks and generates ample traffic from potential consumers looking for a specific product or service. That and the implementation of effective strategies for building links helps web marketers generate the traffic they need to strengthen their online businesses and create more opportunities for generating profit. Link building is after all a highly competitive and tedious business. If there is to be any chance of success, online businesses need all the leverage they can get in their SEO efforts. Link building through social bookmarking can offer you just that!

What Is Cloud Computing

Most computer users today are already using cloud computing. Do you use Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo email: congratulations you are in the cloud. If you are reading this you are in the cloud: the Internet is the cloud.


Way back in the day, your computer's hard drive was the repository for all your digital information. Emails, photos, documents were all stored inside your computer. Cloud computing changes the way you store your digital information: your emails are no longer stored on your computer, but exist only on Google's servers (think hard drive) if you use Gmail, or Microsoft's servers if you use Hotmail, etc.


The benefits of using the cloud to store your information should be obvious: you can check your email from your computer, your smart phone, any computer connected to the web, etc. With cloud computing your information is readily available on a wide range of devices as long as you have an Internet connection. If your computer crashes and can not be repaired you will not lose your emails: they were never stored on your computer. Cloud computing will mean never having to say your sorry worry about moving all your programs and data to a new computer (obscure movie reference deleted). Plug the new computer in, get online, and your data and programs are available.


The downside of using the cloud to store your information should also be obvious: lack of service. If your Internet connection goes down or the server housing your information crashes, you will have no access to your stuff until the problem is repaired. Do you risk loosing all your stuff forever if you use the cloud? If you are dealing with a reputable company with a solid background in cloud computing (Google, Amazon, etc.) temporary outages will occur, but data loss should not be a problem. Hackers have and will continue to attack the cloud: large databases with personal information are a rich target. Will your stuff be 100% safe in the cloud? No. Will you have an alternative if you want to live with all the conveniences the cloud offers: no. Think of the problem of cloud safety this way: would you stop driving a car because a certain number of people are killed in accidents every year?


Cloud computing will eventually offer every software program now available (accounting programs like QuickBooks, web publishing programs like DreamWeaver). Rumours are floating around that Windows 8 will be heavily based in the cloud, Apple is busy developing iCloud, and Google Chromebooks (web only laptops) have already been released.


For better or worse the cloud is already here.

Search Engines - Web Crawlers

It is the search engines that finally bring your website to the notice of the prospective customers. Hence it is better to know how these search engines actually work and how they present information to the customer initiating a search.   

There are basically two types of search engines. The first is by robots called crawlers or spiders.

Search Engines use spiders to index websites. When you submit your website pages to a search engine by completing their required submission page, the search engine spider will index your entire site. A ‘spider’ is an automated program that is run by the search engine system. Spider visits a web site, read the content on the actual site, the site's Meta tags and also follow the links that the site connects. The spider then returns all that information back to a central depository, where the data is indexed. It will visit each link you have on your website and index those sites as well. Some spiders will only index a certain number of pages on your site, so don’t create a site with 500 pages!

The spider will periodically return to the sites to check for any information that has changed. The frequency with which this happens is determined by the moderators of the search engine.

A spider is almost like a book where it contains the table of contents, the actual content and the links and references for all the websites it finds during its search, and it may index up to a million pages a day.

Example:  Excite, Lycos, AltaVista and Google.

When you ask a search engine to locate information, it is actually searching through the index which it has created and not actually searching the Web. Different search engines produce different rankings because not every search engine uses the same algorithm to search through the indices.

One of the things that a search engine algorithm scans for is the frequency and location of keywords on a web page, but it can also detect artificial keyword stuffing or spamdexing. Then the algorithms analyze the way that pages link to other pages in the Web. By checking how pages link to each other, an engine can both determine what a page is about, if the keywords of the linked pages are similar to the keywords on the original page.

What Is Search Engine Optimization SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a process of choosing the most appropriate targeted keyword phrases related to your site and ensuring that this ranks your site highly in search engines so that when someone searches for specific phrases it returns your site on tops. It basically involves fine tuning the content of your site along with the HTML and Meta tags and also involves appropriate link building process. The most popular search engines are Google, Yahoo, MSN Search, AOL and Ask Jeeves. Search engines keep their methods and ranking algorithms secret, to get credit for finding the most valuable search-results and to deter spam pages from clogging those results. A search engine may use hundreds of factors while ranking the listings where the factors themselves and the weight each carries may change continually. Algorithms can differ so widely that a webpage that ranks #1 in a particular search engine could rank #200 in another search engine. New sites need not be "submitted" to search engines to be listed. A simple link from a well established site will get the search engines to visit the new site and begin to spider its contents. It can take a few days to even weeks from the referring of a link from such an established site for all the main search engine spiders to commence visiting and indexing the new site.

If you are unable to research and choose keywords and work on your own search engine ranking, you may want to hire someone to work with you on these issues.

Search engine marketing and promotion companies, will look at the plan for your site and make recommendations to increase your search engine ranking and website traffic. If you wish, they will also provide ongoing consultation and reporting to monitor your website and make recommendations for editing and improvements to keep your site traffic flow and your search engine ranking high. Normally your search engine optimization experts work with your web designer to build an integrated plan right away so that all aspects of design are considered at the same time.

Feel Like Somebody’s Watching You?

Spyware is one of the fastest-growing internet threats.  According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, spyware infects more than 90% of all PCs today.  These unobtrusive, malicious programs are designed to silently bypass firewalls and anti-virus software without the user’s knowledge.  Once embedded in a computer, it can wreak havoc on the system’s performance while gathering your personal information.  Fortunately, unlike viruses and worms, spyware programs do not usually self-replicate.  

Where does it come from?

Typically, spyware originates in three ways.  The first and most common way is when the user installs it.  In this scenario, spyware is embedded, attached, or bundled with a freeware or shareware program without the user’s knowledge.  The user downloads the program to their computer.  Once downloaded, the spyware program goes to work collecting data for the spyware author’s personal use or to sell to a third-party.  Beware of many P2P file-sharing programs.  They are notorious for downloads that posses spyware programs.

The user of a downloadable program should pay extra attention to the accompanying licensing agreement.  Often the software publisher will warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested program.  Unfortunately, we do not always take the time to read the fine print.  Some agreements may provide special “opt-out” boxes that the user can click to stop the spyware from being included in the download.  Be sure to review the document before signing off on the download.

Another way that spyware can access your computer is by tricking you into manipulating the security features designed to prevent any unwanted installations.  The Internet Explorer Web browser was designed not to allow websites to start any unwanted downloads.  That is why the user has to initiate a download by clicking on a link.  These links can prove deceptive.  For example, a pop-up modeled after a standard Windows dialog box, may appear on your screen.  The message may ask you if you would like to optimize your internet access.  It provides yes or no answer buttons, but, no matter which button you push, a download containing the spyware program will commence. Newer versions of Internet Explorer are now making this spyware pathway a little more difficult.

Finally, some spyware applications infect a system by attacking security holes in the Web browser or other software.  When the user navigates a webpage controlled by a spyware author, the page contains code designed to attack the browser, and force the installation of the spyware program.

What can spyware programs do?

Spyware programs can accomplish a multitude of malicious tasks.  Some of their deeds are simply annoying for the user; others can become downright aggressive in nature.

Spyware can:

1.            Monitor your keystrokes for reporting purposes.

2.            Scan files located on your hard drive.

3.            Snoop through applications on our desktop.

4.            Install other spyware programs into your computer.

5.            Read your cookies.

6.            Steal credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information.

7.            Change the default settings on your home page web browser.

8.            Mutate into a second generation of spyware thus making it more difficult to           eradicate.

9.            Cause your computer to run slower.

10.        Deliver annoying pop up advertisements.

11.        Add advertising links to web pages for which the author does not get paid.  Instead, payment is directed to the spyware programmer that changed the original affiliate’s settings.

12.        Provide the user with no uninstall option and places itself in unexpected or hidden places within your computer making it difficult to remove.

Spyware Examples

Here are a few examples of commonly seen spyware programs.  Please note that while researchers will often give names to spyware programs, they may not match the names the spyware-writers use. 

CoolWebSearch, a group of programs, that install through “holes” found in Internet Explorer. These programs direct traffic to advertisements on Web sites including coolwebsearch.com. This spyware nuisance displays pop-up ads, rewrites search engine results, and alters the computer host file to direct the Domain Name System (DNS) to lookup preselected sites. 

Internet Optimizer (a/k/a DyFuCa), likes to redirect Internet Explorer error pages to advertisements. When the user follows the broken link or enters an erroneous URL, a page of advertisements pop up.

180 Solutions reports extensive information to advertisers about the Web sites which you visit.  It also alters HTTP requests for affiliate advertisements linked from a Web site.  Therefore the 180 Solutions Company makes an unearned profit off of the click through advertisements they’ve altered.

HuntBar (a/k/a WinTools) or Adware.Websearch, is distributed by Traffic Syndicate and is installed by ActiveX drive-by downloading at affiliate websites or by advertisements displayed by other spyware programs.  It’s a prime example of how spyware can install more spyware.   These programs will add toolbars to Internet Explorer, track Web browsing behavior, and display advertisements.

How can I prevent spyware?

There are a couple things you can do to prevent spyware from infecting your computer system.  First, invest in a reliable commercial anti-spyware program.  There are several currently on the market. Other options provide the anti-spyware software as part of an anti-virus package. Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware by providing real-time protection, scanning, and removal of any found spyware software.   As with most programs, update your anti virus software frequently. You can find also freewares very effective.

As discussed, the Internet Explorer (IE) is often a contributor to the spyware problem because spyware programs like to attach themselves to its functionality.  Spyware enjoys penetrating the IE’s weaknesses.  Because of this, many users have switched to non-IE browsers.  However, if you prefer to stick with Internet Explorer, be sure to update the security patches regularly, and only download programs from reputable sources.  This will help reduce your chances of a spyware infiltration.

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And, when all else fails?

Finally, if your computer has been infected with a large number of spyware programs, the only solution you may have is backing up your data, and performing a complete reinstall of the operating system.