When you’re online the information about what you’re viewing can be seen whether you like it or not. It does not necessarily require malware or virus to exist in order for this to happen. It can be disturbing when you know all of your critical data can be passed on to a third party who may have ulterior motives for collecting such information from internet users. If you are using a computer that supports programs such as fingers and indents, then you are in for some serious troubles; now they can get access to your data and get your name and other data that will expose you to the threat of identity theft.

Are you curious how those crafty minds get all the crucial info from you?

When surfing the web you leave tracks. This info is recognized and used to track you online. How can you keep this from happening?

It is a great feeling  when you learn how to surf the web anonymously. Keep in mind that this method is not perfect, but it makes it a lot more difficult for others to find out who you actually are. Proxy servers let you remain anonymous. They can be used to hide your IP. This will mask your internet address and uses its own in its place.

Is there an easy way to obtain an anonymous proxy server? The first way is to get one from a vendor. You can search for free proxy services online. ShadowSurf and Guardster are two of the best tools online; Guardster gives you the option to choose from both paid and free services. ShadowSurf is free and worth of taking a look at. Access the site and use the box to type the URL that you wish to remain hidden. There is quite a number of services, but those two are definitely the most popular.

While the guys at Google might be concerned about filtering the content for the Chinese authorities, Anonymiser has quite a different story. What is interesting, this organization actually claims that they are currently developing a new application that will let all Citizens of China to surf the Internet censor free.

Are these the ultimate solution for safety online? No it is not but it is a better option than surfing naked. Is there anything else to worry about when trying to keep my private information confidential? You can use encrypted connection to prevent exposure of data. There is a lot of info on this technology, so google it to learn more. After each session, delete all cookies. Sometimes you can remove JavaScript, Java, and active content to reduce the risk. This can be good, but it will hinder you from totally enjoying your web surfing experience so select wisely.

Want to know what the top 10 laptops are?  Where to look for used cheap gaming laptops? Check out www.cheapgaminglaptops.org! 

Popularity: 2% [?]

Technorati Tags: proxy server, proxy servers, surf the web

What would 3,000 or more unique visitors mean to you?  Article marketing could do just that for you.  What would that mean for your own personal success?  Article marketing is one way I attract traffic to myself.  I make thousands of dollars each month from the visitors I receive doing it.

If my word isn’t enough for you (which it shouldn’t be), seek out the top online article producing authors.  They have written thousands of articles.  They would not find the motivation to write so much if they were not making a serious return on their investment.  When I initially started online marketing, I looked at the statistics.  I realized that if I could submit similar numbers, I could have the same success.  So that’s what I did.

Before any of that though, you need to run your numbers.  What is your sales conversion rate?  What about your opt-in rate?   If you make 1 sale per 100 visitors, a conversion rate of 1%, those 5,000 new visitors to a $50 product would be an additional $2,500 in revenue for you.  And at the 2% conversation rate, a rate generally considered to be average, 5,000 new visitors would translate into $5,000 each month.  It’s like receiving $1 per visitor.

The fastest, cheapest way I know of getting unique, targeted traffic is article marketing.  It’s free and requires just a little bit of time.  You could use these articles to achieve a full-time income. But how many articles are we talking here?  That depends on your definition of full time.  Is full time $1000 a month or is it $5,000?  What if it’s 10,000?  Define your exact salary and write it down.  This is the goal you are now striving toward.

If I had it to do all over again, knowing then what I know now, I would have plowed ahead full steam.  At the beginning, I submitted only 250 articles at first.  I had them out there for almost 6 months.  It got me considerable amounts of traffic, it’s true.  But what if I’d had 500 or even 1,000?  That would have been double or quadruple the number of sales I actually received.  I guess the important thing I am stressing here is persistent submission.  Create a goal of how many articles you need to write.  If the number you choose is one thousand, than strive toward that.  You’ll be able to make a considerable amount with 1000 articles.  It might make you $15,000.  It might only make you $5,000.  But that is $5,000 you didn’t have beforehand.  It all depends on your personal market, your niche, how the articles are written, and how you translate them into cash.

With everything else being level, however, the bottom line will come down to the quantity.  The sheer number of articles is going to be the deciding factor on your financial success.  Decide for yourself what full time income means to you and start writing! 

Marketing

What is entailed in marketing your articles?  The simplest way to explain is to say it will expand your horizon and increase the number of people who see your article.  Get your work out there and in front of as many people as you possibly can in as many ways as you possibly can.

Are you unsure how to explain what it is you do?  Not certain how to get people to read your work?  I would recommend getting a domain.  Get a name like “articlesby(your name).com and link it to your EzineArticles Profile Page.  Whenever I am at a social gathering, on an interview, or in a telesiminar, I can refer everyone there to “ArticlesbyJeff.com”.  Suddenly, I have given them instant access to me, my information, my profile, all my websites, and all of my social network links.  In addition, it’s a way to get  to all my article, which of course contain more links to my websites and blogs.

Announcing your own articles on Twitter

If you are an article/information marketer seeking increased readership and audience for your articles, then it would be my personal recommendation set up your EzineArticles Account to automatically post your own approved and published articles to your Twitter profile. Go into your Author’s Area at EzineArticles, then your Profile Manger, and then Edit Your Author Bio. In the fields provided enter your Twitter user name and pass word. You have set it up. Now each time one of your new articles is approved and published at EzineArticles, an announcement will be automatically posted to your Twitter profile. In this manor, you are automatically generating more readership and consistently repurposing your articles.

While the EzineArticles and Twitter automated strategy is extremely productive, I would personally recommend that you continue the process on your own. As you follow discussions on Twitter, I recommend that you refer people to your articles to make a point, educate, and to share your personal expertise. You may also want to consider making a simple annoncement that you have an interesting article you are recommending for them to read and supply the link to your article. With this method, you will keep the traffic generated by the EzineArticle automatic posting continuing for a noticbly longer and effective period of time.

Popularity: 70% [?]

Technorati Tags: Article Marketing, article submissions, article writing, ezine articles

It is widely considered that article writing is now one of the key promotional tools that should be employed to drive targeted traffic to your website. The convenience of article exchange sites has become the normal method for people to obtain new material and promote their sites. Search engines want fresh article content because the people who use their search engines demand it. Most internet users consider the internet to be one huge database and the search engines also see it as a giant source of information. If you’re considering this subject from the search engine’s point of view, which many people do, then rewriting an article simply means to make the article content unique.

If you are the sort of person who likes to write ten you may want to compile your own articles and to help you I have listed a few tips which may help. First of all, research your topic, there is a wealth of information you can search for before you start and all you need to do is enter a few keywords into a search engine. Setting the article out correctly is paramount otherwise it will not flow so you will need the subject introduction which may highlight a particular problem, then a middle section explaining the subject more, finishing with a conclusion. The end of an article should be a conclusion giving possible answers or a summary of what has been written and be about four sentences or so long with most are approximately four to five hundred words. Try not to write your article with long sections of text as people get bored as it can be quite hard on the eyes so break it up into useful paragraphs and finish with a resource box with your website link so you will get credit for your writing.

Using articles to promote your business or website is easy and profitable plus you may be asked to write articles for other internet marketers. Would you like to know one of the little known secrets to good article writing? The answer is simpler than you think because all you have to do is write from your own experience of work, leisure, interests or family. If you tire of writing about yourself then why not find a small niche market that interests you and write a series based on that subject?

To become a good article writer you should employ good writing techniques. By writing a piece every day to get the feel of writing and learn to identify the common problems faced by every other writer will improve your style very quickly. They say practice makes perfect and this is perfectly true with writing and not only that but it becomes easier. Whatever system of writing best suits you, because I cannot guarantee this one will; stick with it and don’t forget the basics because it’s remembering these that will keep your work consistent.

Popularity: 70% [?]

Technorati Tags: article writing, article writing tips, articles

Not everyone can write very well, and that’s just fine.

You need to be coherent and knowledgeable first. Then, with a lot of practice, mediocre articles can be turned into excellent promotional materials by just having the right sources. Writing for websites is particularly tricky because you have to take in account the demographics of your target market.

It’s still important to have great and unique content in order to attract readers.

Most people who surf the Internet are just basically browsing through the sites. They are scanning the pages more than reading them. So, it is not advisable to spend long hours writing an article, all you have to do is find the most effective way of communicating a message across without boring the readers. That’s not to say you just throw in some generalized view on specific products.

Read more >>

Popularity: 93% [?]

Technorati Tags: article research, article writing, writing, writing your article

Amazon.com is one of the companies who first ventured into electronic commerce. It started as an online bookstore but has since expanded its product line to include computer software, video games, electronics, DVDs, CDs and other consumer items. Despite some setback, the company remained profitable and has continued to reach millions of users worldwide.

While sales and profits remain steady, Amazon.com looks ahead and re-invents itself by utilizing several online features that will promote the products being sold in the website. Capitalizing on the popularity of blogs, the company launched AmazonConnect.

Read more »

Popularity: 100% [?]

Technorati Tags: Amazon, Amazon Books, AmazonConnect, Book Publishing

Many people have multiple questions about the publishing process involved if you are ready to try to sell a book in science fiction, romance, children’s literature, or any other genre. The daunting questions loom particularly large for authors who haven’t had any books published yet. As an effort to help you if you are in the same boat as those unpublished authors, the following questions have been included below.

Though you should always remember that the goal is one you can accomplish, you should also know that many writers never get anything beyond rejection letters. Yet, never give up your pursuit of trying to achieve your goal just because you have been rejected. Most authors receive these rejections, which means your favorite and most well-known authors succeeded only after being handed pile after pile of rejection letters. Time - and plenty of trial and error - are necessary to find the right publisher for your book and you.

No one can tell you how much money you will make, as that varies considerably. For a writer, there are a lot of factors that go into deciding how much their book pays them: these include length of book, genre of book, and the specific publisher. Typically speaking though, books that are longer in length are likely more valuable and well-known publishers are more likely to make more money.

Literary agents are universally recommended by any online resource in how to get a book published. Contrary to popular belief, there are many publishers who can and do work with authors that do not have a literary agent. Not everyone can afford an agent at the start so, if you cannot, focus on the important part of getting your book published yourself.

The easiest approach to find a publisher is through a guide such as the Writer’s Market, or similar resource. This guide lists publishers in specific genres, outlines what specifics they are looking for, and what requirements each publishers have. Many helpful internet websites exist which tell you which publishers accept manuscripts, but it is better to visit individual publishing websites for this information. The publisher’s websites also give detailed information that you would find in printed guides for writers.

Many things can influence the degree of difficulty in getting your book published. A general rule to consider is that your chances increase with every additional publisher you approach. To further help you, look at the average number of books that your Writer’s Guide says each publisher publishes each year. This can be a great indicator of your chances, as well. While sheer tenacity and never giving up is very important to your goal, you should also keep in mind how important researching your publishers are, and the fact that book publishing is never guaranteed to make you any specific amount of money.

Popularity: 90% [?]

Technorati Tags: Book Publishing, get your book published

You must be prepared to work always without applause. - Ernest Hemingway

Much of the wisdom available from established authors may be surprising in it’s honesty and straightforward nature. The reason this is likely true is the authors in question have had enough success that there is no need to candy coat the truths they have discovered in their experience. This is the final article in this series.

On Learning the Art of Writing

I learned to write by listening to people talk. I still feel that the best of my writing comes from having heard rather than having read. - Gayl Jones

You have to protect your writing time. You have to protect it to the death. - William Goldman

By writing much, one learns to write well. - Robert Southey

To produce a mighty work, you must choose a mighty theme. - Herman Melville

No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader. - Robert Frost

A writer’s job is to imagine everything so personally that the fiction is as vivid as memories. - John Irving

Plot springs from character…. I’ve always sort of believed that these people inside me — these characters — know who they are and what they’re about and what happens, and they need me to help get it down on paper because they don’t type. - Anne Lamott

In your writing, be strong, defiant, forbearing. Have a point to make and write to it. Dare to say what you want most to say, and say it as plainly as you can. Whether or not you write well, write bravely. - Bill Stout

Whenever you write, whatever you write, never make the mistake of assuming the audience is any less intelligent than you are. - Rod Serling

If the stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. - Barry Lopez

Write about it by day, and dream about it by night. - E. B. White

Any writer overwhelmingly honest about pleasing himself is almost sure to please others. - Marianne Moore

On Humor

When in doubt have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand. - Raymond Chandler

The humorous story is told gravely; the teller does his best to conceal the fact that he even dimly suspects that there is anything funny about it. - Mark Twain

On Naming Your Work

A good title should be like a good metaphor. It should intrigue without being too baffling or too obvious. - Walker Percy

The title to a work of writing is like a house’s front porch…. It should invite you to come on in. - Angela Giles Klocke

I hope you catch the sense that successful authors draw from the real stuff of life, keep things simple and well told. If you look closely, these authors keep a sense of humor about them and remain personable. These are admirable lessons to consider in your writing journey.

Popularity: 87% [?]

Technorati Tags: Children's Writing, writing

Some people like to read and others like to watch learning materials, so both are offered. The text version and the Flash version of the learning materials cover the exact same information, just present it in different ways. A person can study for the exam in the middle of the night or at high noon depending on their personal schedule and it usually takes up to two weeks to prepare although many people have gotten through it in much less time.

Since this is a self-paced learning tool, if a person is unsure of the presentation, repeating it causes no hassle to anyone. At the end of each presentation there is a self-quiz available to see if the person has mastered the material presented. It gives an in-depth overview of Google Analytics and gets into the AdWords Toolbox highlighting some of the tools every advertiser should be familiar with like the Keyword Tool and Traffic Estimator. It goes on through costs and billing, cost control, invoicing and tracking ad performance, ad visibility and finally reports. Targeting is then addressed with subtopics on search and contextual targeting, site targeting and language and location targeting.

It goes through account types, setup and structure, account navigation, organization and keywords, ad text and using different advertising formats. After getting familiar with the program, the second section covers how-to get started with AdWords. There is also a section on pricing and ranking and how it works. Google covers everything including link, editorial and image policies, trademarks, copyrights, Google’s invalid clicks policies and how invalid clicks are identified. Starting at the beginning, the introduction covers the AdWords basics including: the difference between Google and Google advertising, features and benefits.

It is designed to take someone who has absolutely no knowledge of AdWords and turn them into an expert. There are extensive training lessons that are both comprehensive and enlightening on everything from the basics through advanced optimization and usage. After enrolling in the program, individuals can begin preparing for the test by either watching or reading the Google advertising materials available online in the Google Learning Center. There are both text and multimedia lessons available leading up to a 100 word test prepared by Google. The Google Advertising Professional program, designed for managers and individuals administering multiple AdWords client accounts, is a comprehensive, step-by-step course designed to elevate candidates to the status of AdWords guru.

Popularity: 83% [?]

Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the brave fireman, the damsel in distress, the strict schoolmistress. The best characters are those who evoke emotions within the reader - fear, admiration, affection, laughter, horror? If the writer fails to make us care about the characters, no matter how ingenious the plot, we will toss the story aside without a second thought.

Every character should be unique. There are no two people in this world exactly the same. Each of us has an individual personality; everything we do derives from the governing aspects of that personality. The following factors contribute to our uniqueness:

Names
Appearance
Possessions / props
Speech
Body language
Habits
Behaviour
Background
Major traits

These factors are best used in combination. For example, Charlie’s broken spectacles combine with his habit of tripping over things. Natasha’s boasting photographs of her new house combine with her loud voice that demands to be heard. A character who displays only one of these factors is nothing short of mundane.

Let’s look at these issues more closely.

1) Names

Everyone needs a name. Names identify who we are; they can be associated with status, be notorious, unusual, or nondescript. Some beginning writers struggle over naming their characters. Names often hold symbolic association. Pip in Great Expectations is like a seed growing through childhood to adulthood. Lemuel Gulliver is ‘gullible’ in his travels through Lillput, Laputa and beyond. A character should not be given the first name that pops into your head. It requires more thought than that.

2) Appearance

We do not remember every detail of someone’s appearance, but hone in to something that differentiates them from others. In Harry Potter, Ron Weesley’s distinguishable feature is his red hair. In Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, the title character has a large nose. Appearance can be used to reveal personality moreover. For example, someone with dirty fingernails, besides being unclean, is far from a perfectionist; they are neither fussy nor obsessive. The relationship between appearance and reality has always fascinated authors. Appearances can be used to deceive after all. Frankenstein’s monster is inhumanly ugly and yet his natural impulses are benevolent. Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray is stunningly beautiful in everything but his soul, his reality, which is as foul as the rotting canvas hidden out of sight.

3) Possessions and props

Appearance ties in closely with personal possessions (or props). Everyone has possessions, including their homes, clothes, books, and cars. Even a homeless beggar views the street corner on which he sleeps as his own. Let’s look at more examples. Margaret never leaves the house without her bulging handbag. Charlie wears a pair of broken spectacles fastened together with sticky tape. Natasha goes nowhere without a photograph album containing pictures of her new five-bedroom house. Such concrete objects reveal aspects of character. Margaret carries her handbag, stuffed with everything she could ever need, because she feels insecure without it. Charlie is so clumsy that he doesn’t bother to buy a new pair of spectacles for he will only sit on them again. Natasha’s photographs scream out, “I am a shameless show-off!”

4) Speech

Speech evokes personality, both what is said, the content, and the way in which it is said, the manner. Nick is arrogant; his speech is long, loud, and self-interested. Emma’s occasional social shyness, on the other hand, is mirrored in her short speeches. Sometimes she only utters a monosyllable in reply to a prying question. Content and manner, moreover, reflect social class. A university lecturer will use different language than a pub barmaid (even if talking about the same subject.) Also note that people have their own set of speech idioms: Nick waffles, “etc, etc” at the end of each sentence; Emma utters, “don’t you think” to engage her listener’s approval.

5) Body language

Body language falls into two categories: voluntary and involuntary. We shake our head when we mean to say “no,” for example; we smile when we mean to be friendly. Voluntary body language, conversely, may be used to deceive. Sophie laughs loudly at her boss’s jokes even though they bore her to tears. Involuntary gestures are difficult to feign, however, as we tend not to realise we are making them. Sally rubs her left earlobe when she is nervous. Daniel folds his arms across his chest when he feels defensive.

6) Habits

No one is perfect; we all have habits (sometimes very irritating habits!) Mike blinks his eyes excessively. Anne clears her throat every five minutes. Adam picks invisible bits of fluff off his jacket sleeves obsessively. Aunt Hettie pushes her 50 year old false teeth in place, each time they slip from her gums, with a tongue as red as a slab of raw liver. Yuk! Habits can be revolting, irritating, amusing or endearing. Whatever they are, they make characters memorable.

7) Behaviour

Most of us have behavioural patterns such as working long hours, over-eating, spending too much money, heavy drinking, or taking an evening walk at 8:30 precisely. Behaviour under stress reveals a great deal about a character’s personality. Alan’s wife dies unexpectedly, and yet he continues his usual daily routines - he is pretending that nothing has changed, that she will be home for dinner as usual. Even under extreme stress, however, behaviour should remain consistent. For example, Sue never drinks alcohol. It would be out of character for her to turn to alcohol when she loses her job. Instead she turns to something that is consistent with her previous behaviour - her voluntary work at the local hospital perhaps. Even the most spontaneous of individuals is consistent in his/her spontaneity.

Background

No one just ‘exists’ as they are. We become what we are because of our background and past experiences. Our history shapes our thoughts, actions and motivations. Sam’s mother died when she was eleven years old. As an adult she is far more independent than her friend Jane who was mollycoddled by a protective mother. Luke is scared of animals because, as a small child, a stray dog viciously attacked him. Daniel is overly ambitious because his older brother ridiculed him. Background is especially important when creating believable ‘villains’. Very few people are innately evil. Serial killers crave power over another person’s life; it makes them feel important to dictate who can and cannot live. Why do they seek this perverse power? Maybe they were abused and beaten as helpless children. That does not justify their crimes in our minds, but it justifies them in their minds. But how do we explain why not all abused children grow up to be abusers? Some grow up to be excellent parents. Clearly, background alone doesn’t make a person what they are. It is their major psychological trait, because it dictates how they interpret their background, which makes them what they are.

9) Major trait

All characters have a major trait that dictates their personality and motivates their actions. Greed. Fear. Kindness. Guilt. Envy. Ambition. Worry. Creativity. Obsession. Kate is ruled by kindness and always puts others first. Steve is ruled by arrogance and always puts himself first. A ruling trait reveals itself in action and speech. How would arrogant Steve act in a crowded street? He would forge ahead single-mindedly, pushing everyone out of his way. How would Kate act in the same situation? She would allow herself to be pushed aside by the likes of Steve. Major trait affects every aspect of a person’s life. Kate never moved away to university with her friends, although she was bright enough to, because she felt it her duty to stay at home with her widowed mother. No
one is all-perfect however. Kate worries excessively, despite her kind-heartedness, about anything and everything. No one is all-imperfect either. Steve has a wonderful sense of humour when he is not being arrogant. Even your most beloved heroes and heroines have faults and weaknesses.
Technorati Tags: writing, fiction, characterization

Popularity: 82% [?]

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One of the ways many writers can successfully add credentials to their portfolio if to participate in a variety of literary contests. This type of contest encourages writers to put their best foot forward in both creativity and attention to detail.

It is true that there are some contests that provide a cash award for their top finishers, but there are also publishing scams that will accept your work regardless of quality. When you receive notice that your work has been accepted for publication it can be a real boost, however, a quick look at many writer’s websites can help you define the contests that are essentially vanity publishers willing to print just about anything if they believe you will purchase copies of the book for friends and family.

Many cash award writing contests cover the cost of prize awards by charging an entry fee. This factor often discourages many writers who may not feel confident enough in their writing to pay a fee to submit. This allows those who do enter a better chance at placing.

There are also writing contests that present the opportunity to have their work published online, in a magazine or in an anthology. As a rule this type of contest does not require a purchase of the publication the work will appear in nor will they assume full rights of your work. The best writing contests only require a one time non-exclusive print right. This is important because it allows you the opportunity to sell or place the work in other venues.

Beware of forfeiting full (exclusive) rights in any writing contest. When this right is given the ownership of the work is no longer yours. You will have no right to use the material in any form without permission from the publisher. It is possible to pay to enter a contest, forfeit the rights to your work and allow a publisher to gain long-term financial benefit from your work.

Quality writing contests have the bonus feature of allowing you to fine tune your skills by reading the work of others. Reading can make a good writer even better. If you pay attention you can learn what works and what doesn’t while using writing contests as a means of gaining valuable insight into unique styles and structure.

On a positive note, there have been numerous incidents in which individuals who entered a submission for a writing contest were able to use that same work for publishing in other book anthologies and magazines. The key is making sure to participate in writing contests that preserve your right to control the reuse of the piece.

Popularity: 84% [?]