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The Marriage Between Radio And The Internet

Four years ago, naysayers were saying that Radio was dead. That with the advent of Satellite Radio, Cable TV and the internet, who wanted to listen to what savvy radio programmers were producing?

However, as with every media based change that has occurred over the years, Radio has survived. More so now than ever before. Radio has married the internet, and the relationship is flourishing.

Interactive Media is the hot buzz word for 2007. Radio stations across the country have successfully figured out how to incorporate online activity into their strategy to increase revenue. Take a look at some figures.

Forrester Research’s U.S. Interactive Marketing Forecast said interactive spending will total $18 billion this year and jump to $24 billion in 2008. By 2012, it will reach $61 billion. This will all be manipulated by you, the people who purchase display advertising, online search and online video. Advertisers are allocating more money in their marketing budgets for online promotions. As a blogger, this could mean an increase in your bottom line.

CBS Radio just agreed to partner with AOL to receive video content from AOL’s Truveo. This includes video content produced by CBS, ABC, CNBC and more. It even includes user generated video content from places like YouTube.

Need more evidence? Just check out your local radio station which now streams audio of its terrestrial daily programming. Advertisers are chomping at the bit to advertise on the audio players of these stations. All because they know their target market will be there. Their target consumers will be watching that pre-roll of streaming video just before the actual audio content begins. Listening Live has become as much a part of day to day life as listening to your radio in the car while driving home.

Listening to Radio online has a higher time spent listening percentage because many listeners can tune in while at their desks during their work day. It’s a 100%, fail safe captive audience. An advertiser would have to be living under a rock not to take advantage of it.

Many Radio stations also utilize email blasts as a way to keep their loyal listening audience informed. Here’s another great way to reach a totally captive audience.

When listeners sign up for a Radio stations’ listener club, they agree to receive periodic email mailings from that station. Within those email blasts is an advertisers dream. There an advertiser can purchase highly targeted marketing tools to reach their target consumer. Again, Radio has identified a method to utilize the online audience.

If you’re looking for potential customers, they just might be as close as your radio.

RSS Feeds On Your Site: Be Noticed and Recommended to Similar Bloggers

This week’s guest article is by Allen Thomason.

RSS is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication. RSS are managed by XML codes. RSS feeds actually helps information to reach the target audience as and when information is updated and modified. RSS is a bleeding edge breakthrough technology of 2005. RSS1.0 and RSS2.0 are the most commonly used feeds.

RSS 2.0 being the latest is used by almost all the sites and blogs. There are quite a few feed readers compatible for Windows and Linux and is Open Source e.g. Beaver, WinRSS, Awasu, Aggie etc. Your blog is readily compatible to incorporate the RSS feed, even if you do not know html or xml (extensible markup language) coding. Therefore, it is convenient to use, simple and user friendly.

Popular Browsers like Yahoo and Firefox has built in RSS feeds that help in Content syndication. If you have published content, Yahoo and Google makes, it reachable to many viewers through the RSS feed reader. The RSS feed in your blog helps your content to be indexed quickly to the search engines. Therefore, if you are using blogs to publish your articles then it reaches to target viewers and similar bloggers instantly.

Using the ping functionality also helps to include your content and makes it visible through aggregators like Technorati and others. With a RSS feed your blog is naturally rich in content that you update regularly and the search engines are exactly looking for this kind of quality information.

* RSS feeds are excellent to disseminate information about new audio, video releases and are used in information sensitive business like news and podcasting. * RSS also helps to catalogue websites in a manner so that you can actually read the headlines, titles and choose the content you want to read. The feed reader or aggregators facilitate reading of any RSS content. * Clicking the RSS icon in a browser actually initiates the subscription process to a blog or site. The reader monitors the subscribed feeds frequently for updated, modifies content, and downloads new content replacing the older versions. The popular BitTorrent clients also offer RSS support. RSS feeds are thus instant contact mechanism that boosts the fundamental principles of internet marketing. Your information will spread like fire to the similar minds and interested crawlers.

When someone is picking up your feed, she or she actually subscribes to your blog. They add you to their favorite lists and reach you whenever they want to. This contributes to building your client database very fast. It complements the tasks that you do through your promotional emails. So even if you are not sending out mails for any reasons your clients will be updated about the new changes in information.

Feeds also contribute to link building and magnifying your link popularity. With RSS feeds, you also get instant feedbacks on your blog. This increases your visibility and clients are happy to build their trust and dependence on your skills. Therefore, RSS feeds are the best way to be noticed and recommended to others. If you are not convinced then you will be denying a cost effective and simple technology at your own risk.

Allen Thomason is an accomplished and established internet marketer. To find out how to expand your online knowledge and learn more about Internet Marketing, Advertising, and Proven Marketing Tactics visit http://www.TheProfitCombination.com.

Analyzing Your Blog Competition

Sometimes looking at the competition is difficult. It reveals flaws in our own blogs, yet it may also tell a story. A story that may assist in the improvement in the quality of what we blog about.

Looking at or keeping up with a competitor’s blog allow you to find out what the ‘other guy’ is doing. It is a strategy I use daily. Frequently, I’ll check out ProBlogger just to find out what he is blogging about. Doing this allows me to keep my eyes open for upcoming trends as well as what other people are talking about.

You can find out the type of information your readers are looking for as well as determine any needs. My thinking is, that ProBlogger has a certain audience. His readers may be a lot more experienced in blogging than my readers are. That’s a good thing. I have come to realize that the bulk of my readers are beginners with blogging. Some of them are still trying to grasp the concept behind blogging. That’s ok. I try to provide something for everyone.

In addition, analyzing the competition allows you to compare the style of the blog. Like how the information is presented as well as the design of the blog.

How much advertising is acceptable on a blog and knowing when too much is too much. These are things your readers may tell you, or you may discover while gathering competitive intelligence. I know it sounds a little like a spy movie, however it isn’t. ProBlogger actually has an excellent site, I have an RSS Feed to it just to keep up.

Try not to fall victim to analyzing too many competitors, your mind may become numb and render you unable to tell the difference between blogs. Take one or two that you like and make notes. Jot down differences, similarities and anything else that catches your eye.

Some information you should look for when analyzing the competition, is check how many back links your competitor has using Yahoo. This will help you to understand their marketing methods.

Check out the age of the site using the Wayback Machine. This tool will tell you the age of the site.

Use PR Checker to determine the Page Rank, if that’s important to you.

Also you can find out which pages in a blog has the strongest pages, that is the pages that have the most incoming links to it. Using SEOMoz, it will list the strongest pages of the blog.

You will quickly find out background information about your competitors’ you can use to your advantage. Things you can duplicate in your own blogging efforts.

Understanding and analyzing the competition can help reduce your learning curve and speed up the process of earning an income from your blog.

(photo credit: photos by LaTease 2007)

Choosing The Right Social Bookmarking Community

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about how much traffic I got from Digg. Now, that I’ve had time to analyze the numbers, I realize that the people who visited my blog were just random visits. The numbers looked good on paper, but they didn’t buy anything. And on top of that I received degrading and unprofessional comments about my submission. Supposed top Diggers were angry with me because they said my blog was “spammy.” I didn’t take the comments to heart, I even took some of their advice and redesigned my blog. After awhile, it was like a public lashing.

But, the next day, I found that I had been banned from Digg.

I had read something like that before, where one blogger experienced a similar reaction. Then there was another blogger who reported that he had received 70,000 hits, but no one bought anything. So I have to wonder, is Digg over rated?

It’s been written that Digg users do not click on ads, nor do they generate new users. Digg is like the Paris Hilton of the social media, it brings traffic today, but that same traffic is gone tomorrow. It’s like you are the latest flavor now, but someone else just came up with a better flavor, so you’ve been replaced and forgotten. In other words, if you are looking for Digg to bring you repeat visitors who will click on your ads, that will not happen.

Instead, try to utilize social media that may appeal more to what the niche of your blog is about. Look for social media that is going to be more receptive to your marketing needs. Everybody has an innate need to belong, why not belong to a place that is both comfortable and friendly.

Here are two communities that I just discovered. Try Mixx or Sphinn.

Sphinn caters to SEO news, blogging news, etc. You will be in a social community that has like minded people there. And the readers are more likely to share your work, if it is good, with others looking for the type of information you are blogging about. I have yet to see negative comments posted by readers, so Sphinn is more mature and professional than Digg.

Mixx, I believe will be the next Digg. But not in a bad way. Right now, the people there are very receptive and tend to be looking for fresh news and content in all topics. This news aggregator is fashioned on a similar platform as Digg and many other social bookmarking sites where stories are voted upon and commented on. Both of these sites are worth the time if you are looking for a breath of fresh air from Digg-dom. Here is a button for Mixx.

Also, Sphinn has a more professional feel to it than Digg and as I stated before, it is a place where you can learn as well as submit good quality content.

If you have any experiences with Digg or any other social bookmarking site, post a comment, I’d love to hear from you.

How Digital Photography Transformed Me

I have a love affair with digital photography. It began in 2000 when I debated with my younger brother that digital would never take the place of film. That digital was just a fad and that nothing could replace the ‘artistic’ renderings of a film photographer. Boy was I wrong. Not only was I wrong, as a professional photographer I have since replaced my film camera and now own two pro digital SLRs.

My favorite camera for shooting in low light situations is the Canon 30D. This camera is absolutely phenomenal. I can change lenses for different types of shooting whether it be wide angle lenses or zoom lenses, this camera is fully functional and easy to use.

I use the auto focus feature when I want the camera to do the thinking for me. Auto focus (AF) is good if you are not familiar with setting aperture and lighting situations. Just turn the dial to Auto and point and shoot. Your picture will look professional even if you aren’t.

I also own a Canon Digital Rebel XT. This is like an entry level digital camera if you are making that jump into professional digital cameras. It’s lightweight and offers the same features as the 30D, it just sports a smaller LCD screen.

If you notice I have only mentioned Canon cameras. I have a preference to them and my dream camera is the Canon Mark 1.

In the past I have shot concerts, weddings, parties and of course family events. I have even gotten involved in sharing my photos online in social communities. It helps to create an identity and give others a sense of who I am. Now, if I can just make some extra money using my digital camera, I can purchase my dream camera.

Blogging, SEO and RSS Feeds Equal Viral Marketing

As I said when I first started this blog, it is a work in progress. I don’t profess to know it all, as I am discovering new techniques daily. And when I do, I blog about it.

This time, I’d like to revisit RSS Feeds.

I’ve been doing my basic SEO marketing: article submission, search engine submission, updating and creating relevant content, etc. And what I’ve found is that 99% of my traffic is now coming from Google. For me that’s great. That’s the goal I was seeking to achieve. Also, my RSS Feed is driving subscribers and traffic as well.

And if you’ve been tracking my blog, you’ll know that I have been blogging consistently for about 60 days now. In addition, I am receiving requests from other bloggers to run my blog articles.

One reader even wrote me to inform me that she was publishing one of my articles on a blog directory site.

How are you doing with your blog? Are you getting where you want to be?

If not, take a look at some of the things you could be doing. Believe me, the behind the scenes stuff is worth it. People will be sharing your work before you know it, and the traffic will come in droves. Viral Marketing will become your friend.

If you are apart of a social networking site like Tagged, Hi5 or BizPreneur, make sure you post daily to your blog. You will find more like minded people willing to read your material and share it. Sharing it is the desired effect. That’s what RSS Feeds do for you.

My advice to you is to continue to do these things and you will find something new happening to your blog all the time.

(all photos on this blog remain the property of Photos By LaTease)

Be A Negative Optimist

Today’s guest blog is by Brian Tracy. Brian Tracy is the most listened to audio author on personal and business success in the world today. His fast-moving talks and seminars on leadership, sales, managerial effectiveness and business strategy are loaded with powerful, proven ideas and strategies that people can immediately apply to get better results in every area.

Be A Negative Optimist
By: Brian Tracy

The most important quality for success in entrepreneurship and in life is the quality of optimism. Optimists have an unrealistic expectation of success. As a result, they are willing to try far more things without becoming discouraged. In addition, because of their unrealistically positive attitude, they are willing to persist much longer than the average person. Optimism is a wonderful quality as long as you have it under control.

Taper Your Optimism

In order to be successful in business, and in any activity where your money is involved, you must temper your optimism with negativism. You must be enthusiastic about the possible upside of the investment but you must be skeptical, critical, suspicious and demanding about all the different ways that your money can be lost.

Listen to Negative Viewpoints

Seek out and listen carefully to people who are negative towards your idea. Look for negative thinkers, because their viewpoints can be invaluable and save you a fortune in time and money. I have a friend who is a lawyer. And he recommends and gives advice to many people on investments. And what he does is this. When someone comes and they want to make an investment that he’s unsure about, he says, all right, I want you to come to my office and I want you to sit behind my desk. And then I’m going to come in and I’m going to present this investment to you and I want you to critique this investment as if you were me.

Help Others to Evaluate Honestly

And he says that when his clients begin critiquing the investments they’re thinking about going into, when they begin becoming negative thinkers about the investments, he says they are astonished at how bad the investments really are. He said he has saved his clients millions of dollars by forcing them to be negative thinkers about their own ideas, simply by switching roles and sitting in front of the desk while they sit behind the desk.

Keep Your Mind Open

But don’t be overly influenced by negative thinkers. Just take their viewpoints into consideration. There’s a famous story of Mary Hudson, who started off with 200 dollars in the middle of the Depression and leased a gas station that two men had gone broke running at two different occasions. And from that she built a company called Hudson Oil, which is now the biggest independent distributor of gas and oil in the United States. From a 200 dollar investment, even though everybody told her she would fail. So remember, listen to negative thinkers, but don’t necessarily accept their advice.

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do immediately to get these ideas into action.

First, view your idea as if you were an outside consultant. Ask, “What are all of the possible risks or flaws in this cause of action?”

Second, seek out the opinions of others. Listen without responding or defending. Thank them for their input. They may save you a lot of money.

A Year’s Supply Of Freeze It Gel A Gift Worth Having

I remember when I was a child, I would watch my grandfather rub liniment on his aching joints. He said he had arthritis. My heart felt heavy as I kept thinking, man he must really be in pain because of the facial expressions he kept making.

Now, as a 46 year old woman I understand that pain. Sometimes trying to find a product that works and works long enough is a challenge. You see, I have arthritis in my knees from a car accident, and let me tell you when it is cold, I hurt! There have even been times when I have been asleep and the pain from arthritis woke me up. With Freeze It Gel, I will be able to get a full nights sleep.

But they tell me there is a new product out there called Freeze It Gel. With Freeze It Gel I could use it up to four times a day on my aching joints and start to feel immediate relief. No longer will I have to wait until a pain relieving pill kick in, now I can massage some Freeze It Gel onto my knees and continue enjoying life.

Winning a year’s supply of Freeze It Gel would allow me to live pain free, especially during the cruel Michigan winters. It’s even recommended to use after working out, when my body is cooling down. It’s even good for muscle strains, if I happen to push myself too hard while exercising.

The ingredients look safe too. It has Vitamin E and Aloe Vera in it, so I feel assured that this product won’t harm my skin. I won’t have to worry about that burning sensation that I get with other products. Freeze It Gel is probably harmless while still being strong enough to soothe my constant pain.

I’m looking forward to trying this product. As anyone with arthritis or chronic pain knows, we are always looking for something to help ease the pain so that we can go on enjoying life to the fullest. A one year supply of Freeze It Gel would help me live my life without me altering my lifestyle to accommodate my pain.

Watch this short video about Freeze It Gel“>. It was on TV.

Ad To Content Ratio

Depending on what you are looking to accomplish with your blog, try to keep a focus of where you are going with your message. If the intention of your blog is to educate, keep your ad to content ratio low. Otherwise your blog will appear like a rolling advertisement. I know it’s a fine line between monetizing your blog versus educating your readers, but maintain a clear purpose for blogging. Your readers will appreciate you for it. Try to create a balance between your content and the advertising on your blog, remove irrelevant ads and focus on building relationships.

Visualize yourself as a consultant, a wise blogger who wants to help solve blogging problems. Become a problem solver, not a salesperson. Your credibility will increase along with your sales. I believe sometimes we have a tendency to want instant financial success, so therefore we promote with intensity, often losing sight of the real reason we started blogging.

Position yourself as a marketing consultant first, and a salesperson second. Just for reading, here are some more places to market your blog below. Enjoy.

EXTRA: Here are 20 more places to submit your blog to and receive back links from.

21. Bloghop - http://www.bloghop.com/account/index.htm

22. Bloghub - http://www.bloghub.com/cgi-bin/add.cgi

23. Blogintro - http://blogintro.com/

24. Bloglisting - http://www.bloglisting.com/addablog.html

25. BlogMap - http://www.csthota.com/blogmap/submit.aspx

26. Blog Mopolis - http://www.blogmopolis.com/

27. Blogion - http://www.blogion.com/

28. BlogOrama - http://www.blogarama.com/add-a-site/

29. BlogORiffic - http://blogoriffic.com/

30. Blogooza - http://www.blogazoo.com/

31. BlogPoint - http://www.blogpoint.com/

32. BlogPulse - http://www.blogpulse.com/submit.html

33. Blog Scholar - http://www.blogscholar.com/

34. Blogs Collection - http://www.blogs-collection.com/

35. Blog-search - http://www.blog-search.com/blog-submission.html

36. Blogs For Small Business - http://www.blogsforsmallbusiness.com

37. Blog Street - http://www.blogstreet.com/

38. BlogSweet.com - http://www.blogsweet.com/

39. Blogz - http://www.sarthak.net/blogz/add.php

40. Bloogz - http://www.bloogz.com/man_en/add_your_url.php

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Prime Dating Sites Taking The Stress Out Of Dating

There are so many online dating services available now, that sometimes it’s difficult to make a decision on which one to choose. That’s why Prime Dating Sites is making it easy for you.

Prime Dating Sites allows Singles to compare each of the online dating sites for services they offer, cost, target audience and more. Dating is hard enough, so you don’t need to stress about the type of online service to use. Having a resource that you can rely upon helps finding a perfect mate for you one step easier.

This full service matchmaking resource wants to make your experience seamless. Getting in touch with customer service is just a click away.

Now that you know, don’t wade through a sea of confusion looking for the matchmaking site that is just right. Visit Prime Dating Sites and arm yourself with all the information you need to make your first choice the right choice.