FolioViewer.com Launches

Vision Business Concepts Inc is launching FolioViewer.com, a site that will make it easy for any small business owner to easily create a multimedia presentation from just a few digital photographs, and help them build up a dynamic online portfolio.

“Websites are a place to sell your prospects on your products and services, yet so many small business owners treat them only as an online brochure,” states Lori Osterberg, President of Vision Business Concepts Inc. “With FolioViewer.com, anyone can create an interactive sales presentation to show off their products and services, and add a whole new level to their online sales strategies.”

FolioViewer.com is an online tool that allows a business owner to upload 15 digital images, and create a multimedia sales presentation in just a matter of minutes. Upon purchase, the code is emailed to the purchaser, and can be copy/pasted into any website.

As more consumers are accessing the Internet via broadband, the demand for rich media is also becoming more in demand. Multimedia presentations are becoming more acceptable as a way of advertising online. And tools like FolioViewer.com will allow even the smallest business owners to present a professional image to their clients and online visitors.

“We’ve made it easy for anyone to create professional presentations,” states Osterberg. “We know how important it is for artists, photographers, designers and consultants to have impressive online portfolios.”

Visit FolioViewer.com to view samples and see how small businesses are using FolioViewer.com to create online portfolios.

About Vision Business Concepts Inc
Vision Business Concepts Inc. is an Internet marketing and strategy company. Co-founded by two dynamic entrepreneurs, Andrew Osterberg and Lori Osterberg, Vision Business Concepts provides its clients with a multitude of services to help them profit online.

Fun sites to visit

Some individuals either have great ideas or have too much time on their hands. I found a site with a baby names wizard where you can see how popular a name is. This site also lets you see how popular the name is with boys and girls (Taylor for example) and shows you a history of the name. Very fun to play with.

Increased web traffic to Superbowl website

It always amazes me when you watch a subject soar. Imagine having a site with very little traffic one day and the next your site’s traffic increases 100 fold or more. One site that has had a huge increase in visitors is superbowl.com.

Other related site are:

nfl.com
buccaneers.com
giants.com
packers.com
vikings.com
redskins.com
colts.com
playfootball.com
jaguars.com
superbowlxxxv.org

Real Estate Marketing Online - Search Engine Tips for Agents

Real Estate Marketing Online - Search Engine Tips for Agents

by Brandon Cornett

Spend some time in a real estate marketing forum online, and you'll soon discover that search engines top the list of hot topics.

Every agent wants his or her website to rank high in the search engines, and rightfully so. But with so much information (and misinformation) out there, the path to success can be hard to follow. This article will help you navigate.

Five steps to better search engine rankings:

Step 1 - Choose Your Key Phrases
The first step in any search engine optimization (SEO) campaign is to determine your key phrases. Key phrases are those words and phrases you want your website to be found for in the search engines. For example, if you're a real estate agent in Smithville, Texas, one of your key phrases might be "Smithville Texas real estate."

Don't choose your key phrases based on a hunch. Research them. Find out how many people are searching which phrases. Overture (a Yahoo company) has a key phrase research tool you can use for free. It's located at http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/rc/srch/.

If you really want to get scientific, you can sign up with WordTracker. It's not free like the Overture tool, but it's much more thorough. It includes all of the major search engines with its results.

Step 2 - Evaluate Your Infrastructure
This section will step *briefly* into the technical weeds. Even if you don't fully understand this information, you will benefit from it. If you hire a web designer, for example, you'll be able to speak intelligently about your search engine aspirations.

A website with clean, properly structured HTML (web code) will have greater search engine visibility than a site with complex, poorly structured HTML code.

Search engines rank your website on its content (among other things). The more complicated your website's HTML code, the harder it is for search engines to find what they want … your content. That's the importance of having clean "lightweight" coding on all your pages.

Burying your site's content under mounds of Javascript, table tags and graphics will only reduce your SEO success.

You can avoid these things by hiring a professional designer, and telling him or her you want a properly built website that's primed for SEO.

Step 3 - Create Quality Content (And Plenty of It)
Even if you do everything else right, your site will rank low if it lacks quality content. Search engines love content. It's one of the ways they validate genuine websites from "spam" websites.

Revisit your list of key phrases from Step 1. Find ways to interweave those phrases -- in a natural way -- throughout your content.

One way to achieve this is to add article pages to your website. An article of 300 – 500 words will allow you to integrate your key phrases in a natural way. Good for search engines, and good for your readers!

Step 4 - Obtain Inbound Links from Quality Websites
Search engines also evaluate your website based on the number (and quality) of inbound links. Inbound links are hyperlinks on other websites that link to yours.

When it comes to inbound links, you should favor quality over quantity. It's far better to have inbound links from a handful of quality websites (that already rank high with search engines) than 100 "starter" sites with low ranking.

You can increase the number of inbound links in several ways. In my opinion, writing and publishing articles online is the best way to go about it. "Article marketing," as it's known, warrants a discussion all to itself. Just know it can help you increase the number of quality sites that link to yours.

Step 5 - Be Patient and Persistent
Search engine optimization takes time. People who say they can get your website on page one of Google overnight are either (A) lying to you, or (B) using practices that will do you more harm than good in the long run.

A solid SEO program takes time and persistence. But take heart in the fact that once you achieve good ranking through the practices outlined above, you'll be able to maintain your ranking for quite some time. Of course, it helps to make SEO a perpetual part of your overall marketing efforts.

Conclusion
There you have it, five steps to a solid SEO program: Determine your key search phrases. Evaluate your website's structure. Add quality content to your site. Seek inbound links from quality sites. Be patient and persistent.

By taking the time to do it right, you'll be able to achieve better rankings, maintain them longer, and drive qualified traffic to your website. So keep learning, and keep at it!

Brandon Cornett has worked as a web writer and marketing manager for a direct mail company serving real estate agents since 1986. His "Agent's Guide to Web Marketing" and his free newsletter are available at: http://www.ArmingYourFarming.com

Disney and Pixar Merging?

Pixar and Disney have an amazing level of connection. Disney, who created the hand painted, award winning, animated movies has slipped recently into a need for a boost. Pixar has enjoyed huge hits like Toy Story and Finding Nemo is at the top of their game in winning over audiences with these mega hits. Let’s hope they can make a connection and keep Disney in the limelight.

Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks for winning their way to the Super Bowl

Contrats to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks for winning their way to the Super Bowl! I am from Denver and was a little sad to watch us being eliminated in this great feat. Maybe next year.

How To Put An XML Feed On Your Webpage

by William Lee
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) has taken off in a big way. Just as satellite television beams more channels into your home than you can watch, RSS allows to you display an endless amount of other peoples content. Whilst RSS XML feeds are plenty, there's not as much in the way of clear, simple instruction when it comes to making use of those feeds.

If you're one of the webmasters who uses a content management system that makes using RSS XML feeds as simple as specifying a feed URL then you're fortunate in that respect. For others, the options available tend to be offered by developers of the software and the usage instructions provided can often be riddled with technical jargon. Many cry, "Use my feed", but fewer tell you how.

One of the best and easiest ways I've found to show the content from an RSS XML feed on one of my websites is to use a ready made PHP parser. Now, don't worry about what that means, just think of it as somthing that someone has already created; a blackbox that makes it easy for you to use content from RSS feeds and display it on your website.

For this guide, I've used MagpieRSS because it's compact, works well and is distributed under the GPL, which basically means it's free for you to use. Now, MagpieRSS is written in PHP so you'll need a compatible hosting account that allows you to execute PHP scripts.

For the purposes of this guide, I'm assuming you've some level of basic knowledge about websites e.g. you know how to FTP, change file permissions etc. Covering the basics of running a website is beyond the scope of this article.

Instead, let's cover what are probably the most difficult steps; displaying the content from an RSS feed on your website.

1. Download the latest stable release of MagpieRSS.

2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file onto your computer.

3. The core files you need from the ZIP package are rss_cache.inc, rss_fetch.inc, rss_parse.inc, rss_utils.inc. You'll also need the extlib folder together with the Snoopy.class.inc file inside of it.

4. Create a new file to display your RSS feed. I've called mine, index.php. Inside this file, copy and paste the contents of the file referred to below and save it.

5. Upload all of the files and the folder mentioned in steps 3 and 4 to your hosting account. Put them into the desired location, but ensure that the Snoopy.class.inc file is still within the extlib folder.

6. Then visit the file you created in step 4 using your web browser.

That's the basics of it. Once you've got this far, customising the way you present the content of the feed is relatively easy. Just refer back to the MagpieRSS website for guidance on how to do this.

William Lee is the Internet Marketing Fool. The MagpieRSS website is http://magpierss.sourceforge.net/. The code to copy in step 4 can be found at http://snipurl.com/example_code.

The Buzz About Blogs

The “blogosphere” continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. In fact, the number of blogs is doubling every 6 months.

Right now, there is a new blog published every second, according to Technorati, the search engine that keeps track of Weblogs. In August 2005 there were over 7 million blogs, that number is now over 14 million.

Weblogs have become the homepages of the 21st century and are used for everything from sharing recipes, personal opinions and travel adventures, to the latest in political and economic news.



Blogs are also facing their share of controversy and praise. Reporters Without Borders recently published their “short list” of the seven best blogs out of 60, which won the “Freedom Blog Awards” for defending freedom of expression.

Winners (who are chosen by the public who vote for their favorite blogs) included “Shared Pains” which describes life in Afghan, and Mojtaba Saminejad, an Iranian whose blog is published in the Farsi language. (He received a two-year prison sentence in 2005 because of his blog). Another winner, Jeff Ooi, publishes the Malaysian blog “Screenshots” which is in English. Because he allowed a comment on his blog back in 2004 which reportedly “insulted Islam” according to authorities, he was also threatened with imprisonment.

This award marks the first year for the event, but Reporters Without Borders hopes to make it an annual one. The organization follows and reports on freedom of the press around the world.

In oppressive countries, such as Iran (which shut down almost all independent newspapers in 2000), blogs have provided a way for journalists and others to express themselves and share the latest news and happenings. But speaking up in such places often has serious consequences, such as one blogger in Iraq who was jailed by authorities after speaking up about what was simply a local problem.

China is another repressive area. Recently Chinese authorities declared that all bloggers had to register their blogs with them, or risk being shut down.

To help combat these and similar problems around the world, organizations are being set up to provide global support among bloggers for those who are being repressed.

One of the biggest controversies right now, is whether bloggers should receive “journalistic” status. Some people see blogs and bloggers as a kind of counterbalance to what they see as media arrogance, while others call them vigilantes. Recent events with Newsweek, CBS News and others have caused a division between the main stream media and bloggers who feel the “truth is out there” and they want it told.

One thing both bloggers and the mainstream media agree on, is that things have been forever changed. The tools of mass media are no longer the property of the press alone, they’re also freely available to the people. If the medium is the message, what impact will blogging have on our lives.

Not as controversial, blogs have also become a mainstream tool of large and small businesses everywhere.

Blogging provides a simple and low-cost method for businesses to stay in touch with their customers, get free publicity and build a business brand.

As technology continues to evolve, and the number of blogs continues to rise, it remains to be seen whether blogging will remain an effective business and marketing tool. But one thing is for certain – blogs are here to stay.

Dan Mitchell reports on blogs for http://www.bloggingtrends.com

What Was The Question?

Think back to each of your sales presentations, your phone calls and incoming emails from prospective customers. What questions did they have? Amazingly enough, most people will start a relationship with you by asking similar questions. Questions such as, "How much?" or "Can you do ___?" are very common.
Many times people ask those simple questions because they don't know enough about your business to ask detailed questions. They are looking for a way in to find out more information. And they may not want a 'simple' answer to their original question!

When we were in photography, the most common first question was "How much is an 8x10?" However, price was not usually what they wanted answered. They wanted to know what type of photography we did, what our customer service was like, how we presented our finished products, and what our references were. A long way from "How much is an 8x10?" isn't it!

Dig past the initial questions your prospects are asking you, and discover a wealth of opportunity. When you find what the 'real' questions are, you can immediately switch the tone of your initial meeting, and find a way to develop a relationship. And we all know relationships are the key to success!

A New Breed Of Autoresponder, Auto Message Setup

A New Breed Of Autoresponder, Auto Message Setup
[By: Beka Ruse]

The concept of the follow up autoresponder revolutionized Internet Marketing. Now, "Auto Message Setup" promises to bring the field an even greater degree of efficiency.

This recent innovation lets experienced marketers painlessly transfer marketing know-how to their entire downlines. A marketer can now provide each of his downline representatives with a follow up autoresponse system that is already packaged with the marketer's pre-written messages.

The result? Just a few minutes of work on the part of an experienced marketer, and each of his reps is set up with the same tried and true marketing messages.


Case Study: Marketer Matt and the New Breed
For example, take a look at the case of a fictional network marketer named Matt M:

For years, Matt has been successfully marketing All Natural Pharmaceuticals using a follow up autoresponder. In fact, much of his success can be attributed to the set of seven messages e-mailed to all of his potential customers. Matt has carefully crafted those messages over the years, and they're really great.

Recently, Matt has been trying to pass what he's learned along to his downline representatives. He explains his marketing principles over the phone, and he knows that several of his reps pass his follow up messages around amongst themselves.

However, Matt finds that his pearls of wisdom rarely survive this 'telling and retelling' intact. He knows his reps aren't getting anywhere near what they could out of his knowledge. He wishes there were a way to harness today's technology, and put it to use for the greater good of his downline...


Enter Auto Message Setup
Using an Auto Message Setup system, Matt's downline reps can order their own follow up autoresponse accounts that are already packaged with Matt's pre-written messages. They can reap the fruits of Matt's experience with ease.

Each rep will customize Matt's messages for himself by logging in to his new follow up autoresponder account, and entering his own contact information.

Here is Matt's original autoresponse message:
Hi LEAD NAME,

Thanks for stopping by the All Natural Pharmaceuticals web site today! We hope you come back soon!

Best Regards, Matt M.
matt@all-natural-pharma.com 918 Awl St.
Natural, PA 22314

Notice that the message greeting uses a variable, (LEAD NAME). The variable ensures that each of Matt's leads will receive a message personalized with his or her own name. Notice, also, that Matt's name and address are at the end of the message.


Case Study: Downline Dan and the New Breed
Dan is one of Matt's downline representatives. He's ordered his own follow up autoresponder through Matt. Since Matt is using Auto Message Setup, Dan's account came pre-packaged with Matt's marketing messages. Dan personalized those messages to himself by answering a few questions in his Online Control Panel. Now Dan is sending his own personalized version of Matt's messages to his customers! All of the basic content is Matt's, but Dan's contact information is on the letters. Here is the autoresponse that Dan sends to his potential customers:
Hi, LEAD NAME

Thanks for stopping by the All Natural Pharmaceuticals web site today! We hope you come back soon!

Best Regards, Dan D.
dan@pharma-ceuticals.com 5 Farm Way
Sootuh, TN 88457

Notice that the contact name and address at the end of the e-mail are Dan's, but that the greeting at the beginning of the message still includes the name of Dan's lead.


Mission Accomplished
With Matt's experience in hand, Dan is now marketing more successfully than ever before. And he isn't the only one - Matt's entire downline is now using his marketing messages! Matt's commissions are growing exponentially.

Matt and Dan's situation is not unique. Any network marketer with an established downline can take advantage of the opportunities available in an auto message setup system. There's no better way to put more auto in your autoresponder.

Cyclical Marketing

Are you tired of cyclical marketing? You know, when you have lots of clients, your marketing strategies tend to fall to the wayside. Then when you have tons of free time, you frantically begin marketing to fill the voids?
Marketing is the one part of your business that should be strategized and worked on every week of the year. Marketing continually brings in the clients. When you level off your marketing efforts, you're not promoting your business for the upcoming months.

I have found the easiest way to keep a marketing plan on track all year long is to schedule each piece throughout the year, and put it on your calendar. Create a weekly to-do list. I have several things I do every week, and I create a simple check-off list to make sure each item is accomplished. Things like:

Produce and send ezine.
Post on message boards.
Send out brochures to new contacts.
Submit 2 ads to online targeted sites.
Write an article for one publication.
In our busy lives, I have found that creating a to-do list is the only way I stay on track. Things seem to disappear if I don't have them in front of me, telling me to get it done. Try a to-do list this week, and see if you can get more done on your marketing strategies!

Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts

Adobe photoshop keyboard shortcuts help the user manuver quickly through this massive program. Time savers like keyboard shortcuts can cut seconds quickly off of every image and let you get back to doing what you do best, photographing. I struggled with Adobe Photoshop when I learned about the ease of keyboard shorcuts. We have a downloadable pdf of an easy to understand layout for most of the Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts on our site. Here is a quick link.