Overcome Your Fear Of Switching Web Hosts

By: Justine Richards

This is intended to be a hold-your-hand guide, to assist even the least intrepid website owner to get over their needless fear of switching to another web host or web hosting package.

It is important to realize that by sticking to your old web host you may be losing out on better deals, more up time and superior back-up and support. All that translates into more income and after all that is why you have a website. Surveys conducted among website owners show that website owners are paying up to ten times more for their current web host than they would for a cheaper and better web host, just because they fear the switching over process. They believe that changing web hosts will be complicated, have direct cost implications and could even lead to the loss or at least the corruption of their website or group of sites. This article intends to help you get over your baseless worries.

If you, as a website owner, started out on the internet by going to a famous branded name for web hosting and you have stuck with it because you think that if they are big and well-known they must give you value for money, then you should reconsider. The odds are that you are paying a premium for the name without necessarily getting the reciprocal service. Do not choose your host because the name makes you feel comfortable, or for that matter because you think it’s a good deal. Rather look at what you are getting and compare the offerings from other web hosting companies. Here is a rule of thumb. You can easily find adequate space for your site requirements, with all the bells and whistles, for under $10 per month, not taking into account handsome discounts for paying quarterly or annually. Another point to watch is the free domain name carrot that web hosts love to dangle. This is not so important, as you will learn later in this article.

Now that we have established that you should look at the benefits rather than the brand name or the bottom line cost, the rule-of-thumb notwithstanding, let us run through the points that you need to check out when investigating alternative hosting companies and their packages.

First, let’s look at capacity. You don’t really need more than 100 megs of space even if you are planning to build a large community or make uploaded albums part of the mix. It is really not necessary to opt for anything above that for the average or even an above-average website. By resisting the temptation to go for more space you could find yourself switching to a superior host for the same or less money.

Second, I mentioned support earlier and that is something you should look at carefully. You should be able to get answers to your queries in 24 hours or less by email. The very best hosts have live chat facilities available during business hours. It is well worth it, for your peace of mind, especially during the switchover process, to opt for a host that has a reputation for good support. Also check before signing up that the web hosting firm has a contactable physical address and phone numbers. Go ahead and test the support system by phoning them, live chatting to them and emailing them.

Thirdly, look at the number of email Pop3 emails your web host can offer. You should be able to get at least 10 and rest assured you will need these in time, as your business grows. Remember, if staff and family use email addresses related to your site, this is a form of advertising for your website. Also your host should offer web-based emails so you can check your email anywhere.

Finally, have a good look at the control panel which the new host is providing. See if there is a demo so you can try it out and get the feel of how user-friendly it is. A plus factor here is FTP access. Ideally you should have 24-hour FTP access so you can make modifications whenever you like. Also look out for a site builder, bulletin boards or chat rooms so you can interact with your visitors using the host’s services. Also check to see if the new host will be able to handle such popular features as PHP, ASP, CGI, Java scripts, Perl scripting or whatever else you have.

Once you have decided to move to a new host, timing becomes paramount. Make sure you cancel your subscription to your existing host before the end of the billing cycle. If you cancel too late you will end up paying for a month’s hosting you will not be using. Forget about refunds from your old host. You will not get one for periods of less than a month. I also recommend at least a week’s overlap when you will effectively have two hosts, the old and the new. You will use this time to ensure that everything works correctly on the new host and that all the files and email accounts are present.

Right, so you have signed up with the new host. Now you must save the files created for the site on your computer so they can be stored and backed-up. If you created the site yourself with a website builder like FrontPage or Dreamweaver you will probably have those files already. If, however, you used a web-based builder then you should download every page of the site along with their dependent files to a folder on the computer. This is easier than it sounds. You can either use an FTP tool to accomplish this or you can use the File>Save As method, which works as follows. Open your web browser (it can be Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer or Mozilla) then find the file button on the tool bar. Now go to the first page of the website. Once it has loaded, click on “File” then “Save As” and save this and all dependent files to a folder. Do this with each page until everything is saved. Now back this up to a disk.

The next step is to see that any other files on the outgoing web host are backed up. For example, if you have been using web-based mail then forward the emails to an “off-network” email address, or even archive emails to the computer’s hard drive. Remember that once you switch to your new host, all emails at the outgoing host will be deleted.

Now that you have control over the contents of your website, you need to upload all of the files to the new host’s servers. They will provide you with the FTP details required and this is where online and live support is invaluable. Once this is done you should create an email accounts to match each email account from the outgoing web host. This is essential so that there are no bouncing emails later when the switch goes through. This is the point at which you can change the domain name’s main servers, and for this the new host should supply all the information. There will also probably be subsidiary servers.

If you have registered your own domain name then the registrar should have a management area. If your domain name is registered through the outgoing host then you should ensure you have access to change this. It will take a day or two for the name server change to propagate so the domain name points to the new servers. Use the week when you have access to the old host and the new one to make any modifications.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3983.shtml

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10 Creative Uses for Ecards

By: Chris Robertson

Ecards were once only sent for fun and as special greeting cards, but now online users are finding many creative ways to maximize the benefits of ecards. Ecards are practical, easy to send, and even free or very low priced. So what exactly are ecards? Ecard is another word for "electronic card" and describes any digital postcard or greeting card that is sent by e-mail.

While many e-card services are free, some providers offer custom e-cards for a small fee. Both free e-cards and paid e-cards are created online using sophisticated, interactive graphic software. Let's explore 10 creative ways to use e-cards.

1. E-card Memos for Companies

Companies once delivered memos in print or by fax, but today many are turning to the use of e-mail, especially those with an intranet system in place. Employees each have their own company e-mail. E-cards can be used to send out creative memos to employees. These creative ecard memos can boost morale, remind employees of an event, instruct employees on a daily task, or even give praise for a job well done. The good news is employers can customize the ecards and send them to all employees at once or to only a select few.

2. Birthday E-cards

Birthday e-cards are great for sharing a surprise "Happy Birthday" message to your friend or loved one. You can create a custom e-card for their birthday based on their personality and you can even set the date for the e-card to be sent on their birthday in advance so you won't forget! Birthday e-card messages can be personal, humorous, lovely, or romantic. They can even play music.

3. E-cards for Weddings and Anniversaries

For weddings and anniversaries, there are a number of e-cards to fit your style. These can be sent on the wedding day to the bride or groom as a relaxing gesture. They can be customized with unique themes to reflect the type of relationship enjoyed by the couple. Anniversary ecards can be customized with the date of the wedding and number of years married.

4. E-cards for Holidays

Holiday e-cards can be customized with themes for Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Halloween, and so forth. You can find musical ecards that play Christmas songs or romantic Valentine's Day themes. For Halloween, send a spooky one! For Thanksgiving Day, send a "thankful" ecard with fall colors, pilgrims, turkeys, or harvest themes.

5. Mother's or Father's Day E-cards

For Mother's and Father's Day, customize e-cards with your own photos. You can also create e-cards with your own special designs. If you sign on for paid e-card services, your recipient will be able to print the card as a keepsake. If you have kids, get them involved in creating these special keepsake ecards.

6. E-cards for Kids

With adult supervision, kids can create e-cards of their own with puzzles, special effects, images, and photos. They can send these to their grandparents or other relatives, or even to their friends. Puzzle ecards are usually included in paid packages, but there are also many special effects and images to choose from with free e-card services.

7. Invitational E-cards

E-cards can also be used in place of mailed invitation cards. You can send printable e-cards to invite friends and loved ones to birthday parties, holiday parties, weddings, company parties, summer grill-outs, and other special functions. They're much cheaper than mailing out invitations, and you can always mail a few to those who don't use e-mail.

8. Friendship E-cards

Send an e-card just to say a quick "hello" to your friends. You can send notes of encouragement, funny ecards, and a variety of themed e-cards to let them know you're thinking of them. Some of the themes to choose from include animals, congratulations, friendship, missing you, love, flowers, cute animations, destinations, landscapes, and many others.

9. Note of Thanks by E-card

E-cards can also be used to send a note of thanks to friends or loved ones. Perhaps you received a gift and want to return thanks. You can also create e-cards as a "thank you" note to clients if you own an Internet business or a business with e-mail contacts.

10. New Baby E-cards

E-cards also come with great themes for new babies. Send a boy or girl themed e-card or unique themes such as animals with their younglings or storks carrying a baby. You can write a message of congratulations to the new mother and customize the card with love.

With e-cards, you can send messages quickly through e-mail for almost any occasion. Best of all, you'll save time and money. You won't have to spend countless hours writing out cards and envelopes. You won't have to pay for postage, and you'll avoid numerous trips to the post office! Free e-cards and paid services are definitely worthwhile for greeting cards, messages, memos, and more!

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4024.shtml

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Must Know Shopping Tips For Internet Faxing

By: Phil Anderson

There are more than a few reasons why virtual faxing is recommended for most users. In fact Internet fax is growing into a multimillion industry where virtual faxing services are now offered worldwide. Conventional fax machines are old, expensive, and some what inefficient in modern days like now. Imaging you have a service that requires zero to low start up cost, great working mobility, easier fax management, and more over, a service with better reliability – would you be switching to this service from the stale facsimile machine? You bet!

The service I am talking about is Internet faxing service

Internet faxing in brief is a web application that allows you to send and receive faxes via Internet. Also known as virtual faxing, Internet fax uses IP networks to transmit fax data instead of the conventional PSTN. E-mails are normally used as the medium in commercial Internet faxing services.

Explaining the Email faxing service in detail might be a very tough job. However, there is nothing much consumers need to learned in order to implement the Internet faxing technology into their business. In brief, Internet faxing is a service that enables you to send and receive faxes without using the fax machine.Instead, faxes will be transmitted in digital form via the Internet. Sent (or received) in Email attachment, Email faxes can be read and organized in both soft- and hardcopy.

What can Internet fax service do for you?

While faxing is an indispensable communication way, Internet faxing turned out to be a better choice against conventional fax machine. Instead of causing problem like paper jam, extra phone line cost, cuts off page text, and fax transmission failure; Internet faxing offer faxing solution with cheaper operation cost, easier 24/7 faxing, greater mobility, and of course, no more paper jamming.

Internet faxing requires very low start up and operation cost. You can actually estimate to save 50 – 70 % startup cost when compare with conventional faxing machine. To use Email faxing services, all you need is a computer with Internet connection and an active Internet fax service account. As the PC is a must for any kind of business nowadays, theoretically the account subscription fees is the only extra pay for using Internet fax. When comparing with conventional faxing equipment such subscription fees are extremely low as they normally ranged from $10 to $20 (depends on your level of usage).

Mobility is another selling point for Internet faxing services. All you need for sending Email fax is just a PC with Internet connection and an Internet faxing account – this enables you to send faxes in anywhere, anytime.

Answering the 'who' question

So who are the reputable merchants in Internet faxing services? If you are shopping for one, these names should not be stranger to you: eFax, Fax Away, MyFax, Virtual Fax, and CallWave Virtual Fax (new service).

Now shopping for Internet faxing might be confusing with so many merchant, there are, nevertheless, lots of great deals available online. The smart thing to do is, of course, check a few reputable ones and pick the one that suits your faxing needs best.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4000.shtml

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10 Benefits Of Video Games

By: Timothy Rudon

Gaming both video and computer has become more than a fad, it is a part of life. First generation video game players have now become adult and carry their passion to adulthood. Parents and teachers worry about games having negative effects on children and a great deal has been written about games leading to violent behavior and addiction. However, all is not negative about gaming, studies by leading researchers have shown that video and computer games have many benefits:

1. Games help children who are ill or have injuries. Absorption in a game distracts the mind from pain and discomfort. Many hospitals are encouraging children and others undergoing painful treatments to play games.

2. Griffiths a professor at Nottingham University wrote in a medical journal that playing games could help children with attention deficit disorders. Research indicates that the children could gain social skills.

3. Many medical departments are using computer games as a form of physiotherapy. Games help people who are recovery from physical injuries gain motor skills and coordination too.

4. Video games and computer games are known to improve hand-eye co-ordination and help players gain many skills.

5. Games induce decision making and tech players to think on their feet.

6. Games create team players and hone social skills too.

7. Games are known to enhance creativity and inculcate a taste for graphics, design and technology.

8. Many games improve language and math skills as players have to move at a great speed along with the heroes of the game.

9. Video and computer games help children gain self confidence and many games are based on history, city building, and governance and so on. Such games indirectly teach children about aspects of life on earth.

10. Games teach players problem solving, motivation, and cognitive skills. Most games inspire players to strive and reach more difficult levels presenting challenges at each stage.

Gaming video or computers has positive as well as negative effects. Anything in moderation is not a problem. Parents and children need to be able to decide how much gaming is permissible and what kind of gaming. Parents must teach their children what is good and what is bad. Gaming is like any other activity in life, too much hamburger or pizza can be harmful too.

The world of gaming is constantly changing. The internet is replete with articles and tips written by experts on gaming, benefits, and disadvantages, it is important to be informed parents and game players. Read up on games and learn how to choose games that are beneficial. Know what your child is doing at all times. Place your trust in your child but ensure that he or she is able to gauge accurately right from wrong.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4035.shtml

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How To Avoid The Google Sandbox

By: Pete Moret

There still is a lot of discussion going on wether the Google Sandbox exists or not. Some say it exists, some say it doesn't. Just pretend it does exist, how is it possible that some SEO's don't get hit by the sandbox filter?

First of all, let me explain to you what the Google sandbox is. The sandbox filter is a filter that Google uses on keywords with high search volume and high competition. The whole mindset of the filter is that new website go in some sort of quarantine so they don't rank high in the search engine result pages of Google. This quarantine could take from several months to a year. This was originally introduced to block out spam websites. Before the sandbox filter was born, as a spammer you could make a website, spam Google with it, get banned, and instantly make another website and get your original ranking in Google back again. But with another domainname. And because Google isn't really fast in giving penalties and bans it takes a couple of months before the new domains get caught. This was easy money making in those days! But not anymore, because now the Google Sandbox filter will solve the problem!

But that doesn't mean we're really stuck to that filter. We are optimizing for search engines, and the sandbox is part of that, so there is a solution.

Only new domains trigger the sandbox filter. So a solution may be to buy an old domain name, or if you already have one, use an old domain name. But this is often really expensive and it doesn't always fit your needs. But there is a solution for that: DeletedDomains.com. On this website are domains that come available the same day. Just search the age of some of the domains with the Archive.org wayback machine, and if you find an old domain, you can buy it at a hosting company for as little as 15 bucks. You can also take a look in Google to see if the website on the domain is still indexed in Google, that fastens up the process a bit. It doesn't matter what domain you choose, the only thing you have to do is to 301 redirect the domain to your main domain. Then you have to hope your old domain get's indexed again so Google will know that the domain moved permanently to the new location. This will give you all the linklove of the old domain and you get the age of that domain. So you can easily build your website and gain high rankings without any sandbox restrictions.

There is another way that I used. I had bought a domain, but didn't use it at the time I bought it. I had plans for it but for the future. So I put a page on the domain, with a few backlinks to get it indexed, and a year later I started using the domain for real. But I could begin right away because the domain was already a year old!

This last one isn't really a way to avoid the sandbox but it happens a lot that you buy domains to use in the future. It isn't hard to get like 20 backlinks to it just to be out of the sandbox at the time you really want to start your website.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4004.shtml

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Will DirectX 10 Graphics Deliver Better Gaming?

By: Titus Hoskins

Right now all the talk in PC gaming is DirectX 10 Graphics. New hardware and new DX10 games have everyone buzzing about a new era in PC gaming. But is all the celebration a little bit premature?

Yes and no!

As with any new technology there is a lag time before everything catches up, before the new technology is truly integrated into the old, in this case gaming systems. The big question on everyone's mind (especially gamers), how long will we have to wait before DX10 graphics delivers the goods?

In other words, how long is the lag time before performance (what you see in your games) catches up with the technology DX10 Graphics will ultimately deliver?

For the ordinary consumer who is not a techie or even a dedicated gamer, all this fuss about X10 Graphics can be downright confusing to say the least. Getting a handle on even the simplest terminology can be a challenge.

First, you have to understand DirectX is a Microsoft Windows technology that lets you have higher performance in sound and graphics when playing games and/or watching videos on your computer. In the past we have had different versions of DirectX… DirectX 8, DirectX 9, and with the introduction of Windows Vista we have DirectX 10.

DX10 Graphics gives us better performance and better looking PC graphics with clearer, higher resolution images with more shading and details. It simply means better overall picture quality and performance, a forward step to true realism in gaming.

At the heart of DirectX are APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), which can be oversimplified as a bridge or way for the hardware and the software to "talk" to each other. These give you multimedia applications such as (3-D) graphics acceleration, sound mixing and sound output and other functions.

We are now seeing higher performing DirectX 10 Graphics GPUs from top makers such as NVIDIA with their 8800 series, including the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX and GeForce 8800 GTS. These GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) will give you better gaming with greater image quality and performance. HD DVD and Blu-ray video playback is even possible.

Top gaming manufacturers like Rockdirect in the UK are now all carrying DX 10 Graphics in their gaming machines. You will also find many of the major gaming specialists such as Alienware, Vigor, and Sager sporting DX 10 graphics.

Present or upcoming games that will have DirectX 10 support include Crysis, Shadowrun, World in Conflict, and Company of Heroes.

Nor should you think DirectX 10 is solely for gamers; the general PC user will also benefit from better graphics and higher performance. For instance, the ability to play and enjoy HD DVD and Blu-ray video playback on their PCs.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of DirectX 10 Graphics is that it makes it much more easier for game designers and developers to create games. For a more detailed discussion of the technical side of this topic, you can try Microsoft Game Developer Presentations here: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/xna/aa937787.aspx

Or you can read this very good, detailed article on "The Future of PC Gaming" by Tim Smalley presented here: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/11/30/directx10_future_of_p c_gaming/1

The question still remains - is DirectX 10 Graphics deserving of all the hoopala or fuss?

Yes, but it will be awhile before the true benefits are fully enjoyed by gaming enthusiasts and the general public. As more DX10 games are developed and as more powerful gaming hardware become available, the full potential of better gaming will hopefully be reached.

But there may be some catching up to do before we see the real benefits. Many gamers complain that presently most hardware is more suited to DX9 Graphics. Here's a very interesting and detailed discussion of this issue done by X-bit Labs entitled: "DirectX 10 Games vs. Contemporary Graphics Accelerators" http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/directx10-games.ht ml

Implementing any new technology takes time, as old technology is gradually replaced by the new. Just compare it to say switching from VHS to DVD and now to Blu-Ray; keeping ahead of the latest technology takes some catching up time. DX9 Graphics will eventually lose ground to DX10 Graphics.

So it may be awhile before DirectX 10 Graphics delivers the full potential of the ultimate gaming experience, but there is little doubt this technology is the future of gaming. It may just take a little while before game developers and hardware makers get all their guns locked and loaded to give you that ultimate gaming experience.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3971.shtml

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Trend Blending: How To Predict What Buyers Will Want Next

By: Chris Malta

Keeping up with consumer trends is essential to building a profitable product line for your E-Biz. It’s a common misconception that trends are random, popping out of nowhere; but this is seldom the case. According to veteran trend spotter Lisa Suttora, founder of http://WhatDoISell.com, most major trends are the result of a process she refers to as “trend blending”. Explains Suttora, “Multiple trends often merge to form the next big trend. If you look closely at today’s hot items, you’ll recognize evolved versions of products that were popular yesterday.”

Buyer Psychology

The reason trend blending is so important to the online retailer is that the resulting products are readily accepted by consumers. Most buyers aren’t consciously aware of why they’re drawn to these new items. But the reason is that these items tap into what consumers already want and provide a cross section of the underlying trends with which they’re already familiar. For example, buyers want high-tech products, and they want products that relate to their favorite entertainment – so when they see Spiderman, Transformers, or Pirates of the Caribbean backpacks with iPod docking stations, it’s a no-brainer for them.

Know Your Market

Blended trends often give rise to extremely specialized niche items that appeal to very specific, very targeted groups of consumers. It’s important to realize that not every niche market is looking for the cheapest deal. There are certainly those consumers out there, but one of the biggest trends in online shopping is actually the movement towards luxury goods.

Advises Suttora, “Statistics show that most online shoppers have annual incomes of $75,000 or more. In fact, the newest big demographic of online shoppers is millionaires. So don’t assume you can’t sell a niche product because it’s not under $25. If it’s on-trend, you may do just as well, or better, with a niche product that costs $5,000.”

Know Your Trends

Think about some current trends – out-door living, fitness training, incorporating technology into everyday products. Other big trends include character-related products and children’s toys that provide educational value. The following are just a few examples of products these trends have spawned:

• Fitness training meets advanced technology in shirts and shoes fitted with a transmitting device that sends your speed, distance, and heart rate to a monitor wristwatch, or even to your iPod. Your monitor, in turn, displays your training zones, elevation, calories burned, cadence, etc.

• Character items combines with educational toys in Spiderman laptops designed for children under four.

• Outdoor living, fitness training, and advanced technology all contribute to the demand for watches that track the tide – designed for the surfer, boater, fisher, or outdoor enthusiast.

Cracking the Code

To help sharpen your ability to spot blended trends, Suttora recommends a simple exercise: Flip through any industry publication, and study the various articles and advertisements. Try to determine which trends gave rise to the products and industry developments you find. You may be surprised at how easy it is to “crack the code” and figure out the origin of any given trend.

Once you realize that trends move with rhyme and reason, you’ll be well on your way to identifying where today’s trends are going and what products you should be sourcing next. As you calculate where current trends are heading, you can talk to your suppliers and find out what products they carry, or have in development, that will appeal to those niche markets. The information is already out there – all you have to do is put the pieces together.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3987.shtml

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How To Avoid The Google Sandbox

By: Pete Moret

There still is a lot of discussion going on wether the Google Sandbox exists or not. Some say it exists, some say it doesn't. Just pretend it does exist, how is it possible that some SEO's don't get hit by the sandbox filter?

First of all, let me explain to you what the Google sandbox is. The sandbox filter is a filter that Google uses on keywords with high search volume and high competition. The whole mindset of the filter is that new website go in some sort of quarantine so they don't rank high in the search engine result pages of Google. This quarantine could take from several months to a year. This was originally introduced to block out spam websites. Before the sandbox filter was born, as a spammer you could make a website, spam Google with it, get banned, and instantly make another website and get your original ranking in Google back again. But with another domainname. And because Google isn't really fast in giving penalties and bans it takes a couple of months before the new domains get caught. This was easy money making in those days! But not anymore, because now the Google Sandbox filter will solve the problem!

But that doesn't mean we're really stuck to that filter. We are optimizing for search engines, and the sandbox is part of that, so there is a solution.

Only new domains trigger the sandbox filter. So a solution may be to buy an old domain name, or if you already have one, use an old domain name. But this is often really expensive and it doesn't always fit your needs. But there is a solution for that: DeletedDomains.com. On this website are domains that come available the same day. Just search the age of some of the domains with the Archive.org wayback machine, and if you find an old domain, you can buy it at a hosting company for as little as 15 bucks. You can also take a look in Google to see if the website on the domain is still indexed in Google, that fastens up the process a bit. It doesn't matter what domain you choose, the only thing you have to do is to 301 redirect the domain to your main domain. Then you have to hope your old domain get's indexed again so Google will know that the domain moved permanently to the new location. This will give you all the linklove of the old domain and you get the age of that domain. So you can easily build your website and gain high rankings without any sandbox restrictions.

There is another way that I used. I had bought a domain, but didn't use it at the time I bought it. I had plans for it but for the future. So I put a page on the domain, with a few backlinks to get it indexed, and a year later I started using the domain for real. But I could begin right away because the domain was already a year old!

This last one isn't really a way to avoid the sandbox but it happens a lot that you buy domains to use in the future. It isn't hard to get like 20 backlinks to it just to be out of the sandbox at the time you really want to start your website.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4004.shtml

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Internet Is A Gold Mine For Mesothelioma Lawyers

By: Sam Gurgis

One man's misery can be another man's fortune. This seems to be the case with the mesothelioma victims on the one hand and mesothelioma lawyers on the other. An online feeding frenzy is currently taking place. The average mesothelioma case today is settled at around 1 million dollars, and that figure jumps to 6 million dollars when the lawsuit goes to the courts. With such enormous money to be made, legal firms are hungry for a slice of the action, and are shelling out big money for online visitors. The result is that search engines and other sites that can supply them with those visitors are racking up huge revenue.

It works like this. In the sponsored listings of search engines, clicks (visitors) are auctioned off to the highest bidder. When someone searches “mesothelioma”, the highest-bidding law firms appear. With the keen competition, these firms are paying as much as $100 per mesothelioma-related visitor to their web site. That’s $100 every time someone just clicks on their ad - and a lot of the clicks are from competitors. Less than one in ten visitors may actually submit an inquiry about the services of the legal firm. And only a fraction of the inquiries convert into clients. Therefore, it is costing lawyers tens of thousands of dollars in advertising to secure a single client.

There is something truly obscene about this situation. But, it is inevitable that while there is huge money to be made from litigation, lawyers and publishers will continue to hustle for their slice of the action. You can even find these vultures on YouTube making an undignified pitch for business. If only a portion of the money could be directed to cancer research. Perhaps these legal firms and others who profit from this horrendous disease should consider donating a portion of their gains to research organizations. By doing so, they may appear a little more genuine and less like vultures.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. In fact, 70% to 80% of mesothelioma cases are caused by a history of exposure to asbestos. It can take decades for the symptoms to appear. Each year, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are reported. In the past 20 years, the number of reported cases has increased significantly. Although it can take up to 50 years for symptoms to manifest, mesothelioma patients experience a host of symptoms. These include shortness of breath, or a wheezing and hacking cough, which often lead to chest or abdominal pain. In the more serious cases, individuals may have bowel blockages, anaemia, a bloody cough, and jaundice. It is extremely difficult to secure accurate statistics about how many individuals suffer from mesothelioma because in the early stages, the symptoms are quite similar to various other conditions. This often leads to a misdiagnosis of the disease. In addition, when an accurate diagnosis is finally made, the disease has typically already progressed to a more advanced stage.

With the renovation craze that has occurred in the past 2 or 3 decades in countries such as Australia and the US, it is expected that the high rates of diagnosis will continue for decades to come. And as long as there is money to be made from this disease, the vultures will also be around.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3958.shtml

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The Preference For Online News Over Tradtional Newspapers

By: Jon Caldwell

The advent and fruits of technology has everyone getting into the Internet as a means of expanding their businesses with the help of the technology age. Among the leading businesses that have adopted this methodology is that of newspapers and publication, offering an online counterpart of the actual publications that most people are used to buying at their nearby newsstands or delivered directly at the doorsteps.

With the advent of technology, people simply need to type the URL address of their preferred newspaper, and they will actually see similar news and information that they get from reading actual newspapers. Such has been the case for local newspapers, such as Manila Bulletin and The Daily Inquirer in the Philippines. The only advantage of the online access is that they can be easily updated and are more advanced before the actual publication is gotten hold off.

At first glance, there are minimal differences and advantages to be seen. For one, the navigation of the pages is much easier using the web based version, since it can be read immediately with a single click. Unlike in the newsprint version, where a person would have to find the relevant section and locate the article they would want to read on. Access and navigation beats the troubles of having to go over a number of sections to pinpoint the actual news or information contained in newsprints. For example, by merely clicking on the sports section will show summaries of the top stories for this category and the user can immediately read on the latest news of their choice.

Another aspect is that of a detailed summary of sections. Some online news groups would choose to publish only selected and important news items, relegating short news briefs towards the newsprint version. For newsprints, they cover all the information needed and do not leave out the minor ones. Most of the time, people would leave out announcements and news tidbits to save on space, something that can be properly sectioned in newsprint publications.

One other aspect is the fact that online publications can go as far as providing exclusive video coverage through the technology of real media files, actually showing footage of important news alerts through streaming media. This can be done via the Internet, something that newsprints cannot provide considering they are only the text version of the said news story.

The Trend towards Technology of Online News Publications

In conclusion, the shifts towards maximizing cyberspace and allowing it to reach various places and target markets of ethnic origins have offered an abundance of possibilities. People wanting to find out about pertinent information from a certain area, or for some people who reside in other countries can find out what the latest happenings are in their hometown, negating the need to have specialized copies of their preferred newsprint publications which originate from home.

The availability of current information, national and other news items can be accessed by the web, making it a whole lot more convenient for the people wherever they may be. Technology has provided a new dimension towards passing of information, and with the aggressive and tactical strategies that most companies such as public affairs and mass communication strategies, such has become both beneficial towards the consumer and the people passing on the information especially for current events.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3993.shtml

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