Assurance fall 2014 bebis 2

VEHICLES

BUSINESS MARKETING

IDEAS TECHNOLOGY

OUR PLANET

ASSURANCE FALL 2014 EDITION

MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE LET’S

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EXTINCTION Car Buying Made Easy

GO GREEN

+ HOW TO CREATE ENGAGING FACEBOOK CONTESTS

ASSURANCE

CONTENT 10

On the Cover Choosing the right insurance policy is much like choosing the right motorcycle. You want it to fit your needs and lifestyle, but at the same time be within your budget. Although most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, other types of coverage are usually optional. Always ask your insurance agent or company representative which laws apply in your state.

Choosing the right inMore surance policy is much like choosing the right 6 BuyingYou an SUV? motorcycle. want

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My Favorite Motorcycle Helmet

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Let’s End Extinction

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Motorycycle Insurance

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My Favorite Motorcycle Helmet

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2014 BMW I8 Concept Car

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Car Buying Made Easy

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Web Design Tips: Ecommerce Design Trends that will Drive 2014

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What Types of Business’ Should Consider Instagram and Why?

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Long Vs. Short Emails

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How to Create Engaging Facebook Contests

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7 Strategies to Streamline CustomerCentric Culture Change

Car Buying Made Easy

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I Forgot the Password to My Laptop

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

46 Electronic Recycling Grows

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Watch Where You Step - Understanding Your Carbon Footprint

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Let’s End Extinction

So many insurance agencies talk about, and focus on, insurance policies. This is one way we are different. Our focus is on Protection.

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hat does this word actually mean? The dictionary defines it as “the action of protecting someone or something, or the state of being protected.” Let’s take a closer look.

When you complete a Protection Review it is definitely an action of protecting something– your family and your lifestyle. An annual review makes certain that rapid changes in your environment are included in your Insurance plan. Without the review, it’s very easy for something to not be protected in the event of an accident or claim.

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Going Green is Much Simplier Than Most People Think

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I Forgot the Password to My Laptop

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Now You Can Buy International Sim Cards Online

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Electronic Recycling Grows

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Cell Phone Jammer Blocks Cell Phone Signal to Shun Communication

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Learn How to Setup Your PC to TV System Using Video and Audio Cable Connectors

We are grateful for the many people who have partnered with us allowing our Protection Specialists to share in their lives and their protection.

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Computer Network Tips For The Home User

Enjoy this issue!

What does “state of being protected” mean? This means that you can focus on more important things in life, like your family, hobbies and avocations. You can enjoy life instead of worrying about what might happen should something catastrophic happen.

Ted Baker

Mainstreet business owners like you are the lifeblood of America.

Our economy depends on you and your success. That’s why we partner with businesses just like you to make certain you stay strong in these tough economic times. Find out the difference an involved insurance professional can make.

Every hour of every day, American’s are hard at work

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BUYING AN SUV?

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n the market for a new (or at least new to you) sports utility vehicle, but feel completely overwhelmed by the many options available?

You’re not alone; struggling to pinpoint the right SUV can prove a common issue for prospective buyers.

With so many available options on the market, finding the right one to suit your specific needs can, at least initially, feel challenging.

Key Criteria To Consider When Beginning The Purchasing Process

Fortunately, successfully purchasing a high performing, yet economical SUV is possible, as long as you know what to focus on when screening through various makes and models. Keeping a few critical criteria in mind throughout your search experience can help ensure that you drive off your local dealership lot with a winning model.

BUYING AN SUV? WHEN SCREENING THROUGH POTENTIAL SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES, CONSIDER:

delivers optimal off-road performance. A sound off-road choice? Choosing a model that has a longstanding history for 4WD

Look for a dealership that offers various promotions and packaging to ensure that you get the best value possible on your selected model.

capacity as well as a reputation as being an off-road powerhouse.

OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY

FUEL ECONOMY Just because a vehicle delivers high-performance, prowess, and precision, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t keep a steady eye on petrol guzzling. Yes, these larger vehicles will use more fuel than their car counterparts; however, there are many SUVs available that make conscientious fuel consumption a top priority.

It’s also important to search for an auto that touts some of the latest innovations and technologies.

INNOVATIVE FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGY Beyond sheer off-road force, it’s also important to search for an auto that touts some of the latest innovations and technologies.

When screening through vehicles, look for features such as handsfree cell phone connection, navigation system, power locks/ windows, as well as a touchscreen multimedia application to ensure that you are purchasing a model that makes innovation and technology a top priority.

OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY

COMFORTS AND CONVIENCES

Does your lifestyle require a vehicle that can dominate any terrain it encounters? If so, you really need to research an SUV that truly

It’s no secret that, when it comes to sheer creature comforts and conveniences, not all SUVs are

created alike. When perusing market options, consider purchasing one that touts amenities such as premium interior materials, easy to access buttons, knobs, and levers, as well as significant storage space.

SAFETY SYSTEMS Safety can also play a critical role in determining which sports utility vehicle makes sense for your lifestyle. Look for a model that offers key safety systems such as park assist, accident avoidance technology, and even a rear view camera. Purchasing an automobile that showcases many safety systems can help keep you and your passengers protected in any driving situation.

PRICE POINTS Perhaps the biggest consideration when buying your new automobile?

Price. Don’t let various automotive manufacturers convince you that you have to pay a premium price to enjoy all the features and amenities you’re looking for. Many in-class leading options can deliver everything you’re looking for, at value pricing. Most importantly, when financing your automobile look for a dealership that offers various promotions and packaging to ensure that you get the best value possible on your selected model.

MOTORCYCLE

INSURANCE

Choosing the right insurance policy is much like choosing the right motorcycle. You want it to fit your needs and lifestyle, but at the same time be within your budget. Although most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, other types of coverage are usually optional.

Always ask your insurance agent or company representative which laws apply in your state.

In order to find out what coverage is best for you, it is important to understand all the options available.

LIABILITY COVERAGE Liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage that you may cause to other people involved in an accident. It doesn’t cover you or your motorcycle.

Find out if your coverage includes Guest Passenger Liability, which provides protection in the event that a passenger is injured on the motorcycle. Whether or not this is included depends on the laws of your state and the company issuing the policy.

COLLISION COVERAGE Collision insurance covers damage to your motorcycle if you are involved in an accident.

Your insurance company pays for damages, minus your deductible, caused when you collide with another vehicle or object. Collision insurance usually covers the book

NOTE

Keep in mind most comprehensive and collision coverages will only cover the factory standard parts on your motorcycle.

TIP

Find out if your coverage includes Guest Passenger Liability, which provides protection in the event that a passenger is injured on the motorcycle.

value of the motorcycle before the loss occurred.

COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by an event

other than a collision, such as fire, theft or vandalism. However, just like collision coverage, your insurance company will pay for damages, minus your deductible, and will cover only the book value of the motorcycle.

TIPS FOR THE COST-CONSCIOUS RIDER MANY FACTORS CAN PLAY A ROLE IN DETERMINING WHAT YOUR INSURANCE COSTS WILL BE SUCH AS YOUR AGE, YOUR DRIVING RECORD, WHERE YOU LIVE AND THE TYPE OF MOTORCYCLE YOU OWN, OR BEING A GRADUATE OF A RIDER-TRAINING COURSE.

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any companies offer discounts from 10 to 15 percent on motorcycle insurance for graduates of training courses, such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) rider course. Riders under the age of 25, usually considered a higher risk, may see some savings by taking this course. It’s also a good idea for cyclists who have already had accidents.

Maintaining a good driving record with no violations will also help reduce your premiums.

Keep in mind most comprehensive and collision coverages will only cover the factory standard parts on your motorcycle. If you decide to add on any optional accessories such as chrome parts, a custom paint job, trailers or sidecars, you should look into obtaining additional or optional equipment coverage.

UNINSURED/ UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE Uninsured/underinsured Motorist Coverage covers damages to you and your property caused by

another driver who either doesn’t have insurance (uninsured) or doesn’t have adequate insurance (underinsured) to cover your damages.

This coverage typically pays for medical treatment, lost wages and other damages. If your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage includes property damage, then your motorcycle would also be covered under the same circumstances. Check with your insurance professional to see if property damage is included or needs to be purchased separately.

In many northern states, riders may save money by buying a “lay-up” policy. With a lay-up policy, all coverage except comprehensive is suspended during winter months.

Find out what discounts your insurance representative offers. Multibike discounts for those insuring more than one bike, organization discounts, if you’re a member of a motorcycle association, and mature rider discounts for experienced riders, are just a few possibilities. Discounts can range anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent, depending on the company and your state. Availability and qualifications for discounts vary from company to company and state to state.

Keep in mind that the type, style (such as a sports bike vs. a cruiser) and age of the motorcycle, as well as the number of miles you drive a year and where you store your bike may also affect how much you pay for your premium.

Motorcycle helmet is a headgear used to offer protection to the riders of motorcycles. The ultimate purpose to wear the helmet is to ensure the head of the rider is protected when an accident occurs. This will prevent the rider from sustaining head injuries and also it is a saver to his life.

MY FAVORITE MOTORCYCLE HELMET

There are a variety of motorcycles helmets in the market today and all are meant for the same purpose but may have distinguishing features from each other. The most common types of motorcycle helmets are; full face helmets, open face, half helmet, motocross or off road helmets and modular helmets.

The full face helmets are meant for the motorcycle riders who desire to have the best and at the same time all-round protection. By having this type of helmet, a rider will have all parts of his or her head wholly covered and this means safety is guaranteed. Full face helmets usually have a shield which flips down which offers maximum protection against harmful rays from the sun, any debris and also strong blowing wind.The modular type of helmets also known as the flip up helmets, has a chin bar which can be moved upwards or at times removed so as to ensure access to the rider`s face.

This allows the rider to be able to even eat or hold a conversation without necessarily having to undo the chinstrap or to remove the modular helmet. This type of helmet is convenient to most touring riders since they are versatile as they only need to pivot up the chin bar and have view easily. The open face helmets usually are meant to offer coverage to the cheeks, the back side of the rider`s head and even to the ears. These helmets do not have a chin bar on their lower part like the full face type. This simply means that the open face helmets will offer rear protection like the full face helmet and have

PROTECTING YOU AND STILL LOOKING GOOD.

partial face protection. Alternatively, riders can wear sunglasses so as to act as a supplement to protect their eyes against dust or wind when riding.

Motocross or the off-road helmets have a stretched chin bar and they are opened partially so as to offer the rider maximum protection. This also allows the continuous flow of air when riding while wearing the motocross helmet. These motorcycle helmets also have an elongated visor which provides protection to the rider against flying objects or debris as well as enabling him to hide his or her head. So for any rider planning or about to have a ride in the sandy areas or roads, motocross helmet will be most suitable.

The half helmet types are usually designed in the same way like the open face helmet in the front side with no any rear which is lowered.

The half helmet will provide little coverage as compared to the other types of helmets.

However, due to the many types of helmets in the markets today, it is advisable for any prospective and potential buyers to choose the right or correct type of helmet. By taking this into consideration, a rider will buy the helmet which will offer the maximum safety and protection.

This is made possible by manufacturers by producing different types of helmet in terms of their size, color and other features. At Burn Out ItalyHealth Fitness Articles, all types of motorcycle helmets all available going for different prices depending on the type.

220 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, that works in tandem with two electric motors

2014 BMW I8 Concept Car

in the Fast

CAPTURING SPEED AND MOVEMENT T

here has never been a lack of designs that provide us with hints on what the cars of the future are going to look like, with Japan and German car makers making the most interesting and realistic-looking concepts, that could get into mass production in the near future. One such car is the BMW i8 concept, which was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, and it’s expected that the Bavarian car manufacturer is going to start producing it in 2013. It’s also known as BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics, and is part of BMW’s “Project i”.

This is a plug-in hybrid, that is powered by a high-performance 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder combustion engine, providing 220 horsepower and 221 lbft of torque, that works in tandem with two electric motors. This combination provides excellent performances, reminiscent of the best sports cars in the world, but also makes for a very good fuel efficiency at the same time. So, it goes from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, with a top speed of 160 mph.

The fuel consumption is rated at 70 mpg, and it has an ultra-low emissions rating of 99 grams per kilometer, according to the manufacturer. You can travel up to 20 miles before the lithium-ion batteries need to be recharged, which is one of the aspects of the i8 that must be improved.

Inside, this coupe can accommodate 4 people, with two pairs of sports leather seats in the front and the back. The control panels and all the instruments are arranged in a way that allows you to enjoy a sporty and aggressive ride, and still be in control of the vehicle.

There are three-dimensional displays which give information on engine speed, navigation and entertainment functions, as well as battery levels.

The exterior design is what really makes the car look futuristic. It has a lightweight, aluminum chassis, with the sunroof, windows and windshield made of polycarbonate glass. The doors and the roof are completely transparent, which gives you a clear view of the inside and provides a lot of light into the cabin. But, the innovations don’t stop here. The BMW i8 features something that is rarely seen on cars – laser lighting. There are laser headlights instead of LED lights, which makes the car a lot more energy efficient than the other futuristic concept cars.

This amazing sports car should become available for purchase in 2014, and according to some speculations, it will definitely cost over $150,000.

car buying made easy What to consider before hitting the sales lot

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ere are some tips to simplify the car buying process and improve the overall shopping experience.

Determine Budget: Before getting your heart set on a car that could break the bank, you need to calculate your estimated price range. To avoid getting in over your head, follow the general rule of thumb that payments shouldn’t exceed more than 20 percent of your monthly take-home pay.

Do Your Research: Start your search on sites that allow you to browse and compare vehicles from various automakers side by side, so you can learn how they stack up. One of the leading sites, Edmunds.com, has been a trusted and reliable online shopping resource for 20 years and offers tools that will make your car shopping journey much easier.

Decide What Is Right For You: The type of car you choose should reflect your lifestyle. Narrow your options by considering how you’ll use the car on a daily basis. Ask yourself questions, like how many passengers you’ll need to accommodate; whether you typically drive on the highway, in the city or off-road; and how much cargo space you’ll need. If you want someone to help walk you through all the considerations, which can be overwhelming, check out Edmunds.com’s Live Advice. Through this free service, a real person on the other end of a phone, email or online chat will answer your questions with unbiased expertise and will help you through the entire journey, from research to purchase.

Browse Inventory Online: Before heading out the door, review a listing of the available cars in your area from the comfort of your own home. Search Edmunds.com to view local

cars for sale, find car reviews and view dealer ratings.

Secure the Price: Once you’ve found the car you would like to purchase, the next step is to obtain price quotes from a few different dealers and compare them with the market value.

You can bypass the negotiation process and secure a fair price upfront by getting an Edmunds Price Promise certificate, which is a dealer guaranteed, vehicle specific price quote. Take the price certificate along with you to the dealer to simplify the purchasing process.

Once you have the car in mind and a price in hand, arrange for a test drive and move forward with the purchase. By following these tips before you step foot on the sales lot, the entire car buying process should be a more enjoyable experience.

Although 2014 is underway, there’s still a lot of time until we make it to 2015. Since competition among ecommerce companies of all sizes has really heated up over the last few years, let’s look at five different ecommerce design trends that are going to be significant throughout the rest of this year:

WEB DESIGN TIPS:

Ecommerce Design Trends That Will Drive 2014

FLAT DESIGN While flat design is actually a trend that can be seen on many different sites, it has several features that make it an especially good fit for ecommerce sites. Because this style of design eschews many decorative elements, it’s a great way to put the full focus of a site on products. It also makes it possible to use large product pictures and still allow sites to load quite quickly. Another advantage is it’s a nice complement to the next trend we’re going to discuss.

RESPONSIVE DESIGN

MULTIPLE FONTS It can be hard to use multiple fonts and create a cohesive look. But when done correctly, this technique can add a lot of visual appeal without distracting from the main focus of a product page.

LESS SLIDERS AND LARGER NAVIGATION ELEMENTS

Because online retailers want to ensure that visitors can use any device, designers are making a conscious effort to alter or remove elements that may not work as well on smaller screens. The two best examples of this design trend are sliders and navigation elements. With the former, many designers are choosing to remove sliders as a result of them not working all that great on phones and tablets. And with the latter, a lot of designers are opting to increase the size of those elements so they’re easier to click.

More people are using phones and tablets to shop online. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is abandoning their desktops and laptops.

Because all of these devices are regularly used by ecommerce customers, retailers have to find a way to deliver a consistent experience.

While mobile apps make sense in some cases, responsive design can work extremely well and eliminate the need for users to download another app. By utilizing this type of ecommerce website design, retailers can provide customers with a consistent experience regardless of what size of screen they’re using at the moment.

WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESS SHOULD CONSIDER USING

Instagram

AND WHY? INSTAGRAM IS ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD SOCIAL MEDIA APPLICATIONS IN BUSINESS MARKETING. SOME COMPANIES HAVE JUST DON’T SEE THE IMPORTANCE IN INVESTING THE TIME AND ENERGY INTO SELLING THEMSELVES THROUGH PICTURES. IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES, OR WORK FOR ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES, JUST REMEMBER THAT A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

What Types of Companies Should Use Instagram?

Instagram can drive sales and increase correspondence just as effectively as other social media channels if not better in a lot of ways. Approximately 75% of businesses are already using Instagram to promote their business and develop a well-rounded social media presence. With the 150 million users that access Instagram, you are missing out on a vast number of potential clients and outreach opportunities if you neglect this important resource.

Every company should use an Instagram no matter what industry you work for. The fact of the matter is that communication is key, and the more resources that you can use to get ahold of customers, the better. Obvious companies to use Instagram would be anyone that has something to do with visual media or physical products; however, that that’s not to say that your company won’t reap any of the benefits if you happen to sell something such as a service.

What If I Offer A Service?

Let’s take for example, nonprofits. Nonprofit organizations work with communities and donors everyday to generate fundraising to showcase all of the great work that they do. Instagram gives nonprofit organizations the opportunity to interact with their donors and volunteers in a unique way so that every can share the experiences that a nonprofit is working toward. If individuals are able to see nonprofit directors and employees in the field and get to know their faces personally, they are going to be far more likely to make continued contributions and wish to join the cause themselves.

fact.

APPROXIMATELY 75% OF BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY USING INSTAGRAM TO PROMOTE THEIR BUSINESS AND DEVELOP A WELL-ROUNDED SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

Another example to use is a travel agent. Someone who is in the travel and tourism industry doesn’t have a product to sell, but they have an experience that can be shared. Posting desirable photos of tropical beach side paradise destinations and showcasing customers who have used your services to visit exotic lands will entice customers to use your business. In the meantime, a travel agent can also engage on an individual level with every client or prospective client to like their travel related pictures and keep up with how their trip is going.

These are just two fields that could successfully use Instagram to their advantage. Practically any service industry or visual product could find a way to use Instagram in their favor to increase sales and reach out to customers. Even getting the opportunity to engage customers in unique ways such as sharing promotional codes via Instagram can benefit you and your business. For every excuse you come up with to avoid utilizing your marketing resources to develop an Instagram account is 150 million other reasons to do so.

EMAILS

LONG VS SHORT EMAILS: WHICH STYLE WILL CONVERT YOUR PROSPECTS INTO CUSTOMERS?

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ou may have noticed that some emails you receive from top marketing gurus are three or four sentences tops. Other emails contain paragraph after paragraph of long, scrolling copy that seems to go on forever.

Some small business owners swear by “the scroll,” while others insist that short and sweet can’t be beat.

So which email style is right for your small business and your customers?

Here’s the long and short of it: SHORT AND SWEET EMAIL COPY

Pros: Short email advocates swear by the method because of its power to create curiosity.

Without a lot of text, the copy you do use can pack a bigger punch. Strategically placed links in short emails encourage the reader to click in order to find out more information (and purchase your product!)

Short emails are also less intimidating for those who don’t consider themselves “readers” and might feel overwhelmed by multiple paragraphs.

Cons: It’s difficult to develop trust with just a sentence or two, and your audience might not take the bait and click your link if they don’t know you very well.

Also, super short emails, while highlighting a strong call to action, don’t give you an opportunity to address your customer’s potential objections.

LONG, SCROLLING EMAIL COPY Pros: With long emails, you have endless opportunities to insert multiple links, highlight affiliate offers, and appeal to a wider audience.

Long emails also give you a chance to usher your reader through your sales funnel right from their inbox - you can highlight all of the benefits of your product/service, answer all of their objections, and

guide them toward the purchase.

By the time they click a link, they’ve already made up their mind to buy (or not buy).

Cons: Long emails might distract the reader from the call to action you want them to complete, especially if you include lots of affiliate links.

Some people may only skim the email when they see how long it is, missing out on crucial benefits and important information.

Finally, long emails don’t work as well when it comes to creating a sense of curiosity, because the information they contain already answers all of your customer’s questions.

THE VERDICT:

The style of email marketing you choose should cater to your customers’ tastes. If you are an author and have built a platform around storytelling, your audience will most likely be open to reading longer emails.

If, however, you’re in a more visual field like web design, short copy will focus attention where you need it most - on your graphics and visuals.

If you’re still not sure what your audience will respond to, try this test: create content for two separate emails, but make sure those emails have the same call to action.

For example, let’s say you want your customers to sign up for your upcoming webinar.

Send a short email to half of your list, and a long email to the other half of your list. Check back in a few days (remember people don’t always get to their email right away) and see what your clickthrough rate is. Which email sent more people to your webinar sign up page?

Keep in mind that you may need to toggle back and forth between styles depending on what you’re promoting. A short email may work well for a webinarBusiness Management Articles, while a long email might be great for a live event or course.

HOW TO CREATE ENGAGING

facebook ASKING FOR AN EMAIL ADDRESS ALLOWS YOU TO CONTACT THE WINNER, BUT IT ALSO HELPS WHEN BUILDING YOUR MARKETING LIST SO YOU CAN LATER FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR SALES LEADS.

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ontests can be one of the most lucrative marketing payoffs if done right. The idea of winning prizes has a tendency to draws crowd, and Facebook is the only true way to reach so many diverse demographics with such a limited budget.

Make the most out of your online marketing by creating engaging Facebook contests that will pay off for you.

Setting Up A Contest Setting up an engaging Facebook Contest requires some initial planning much like you would do if you were hosting any other contest. The great thing about Facebook is that Facebook is a high traffic platform that over 1-billion individuals.

Determine Clear Goals Set clear objects before you start putting together the contest page. Do you want to get more followers, increase your web traffic, or draw awareness to your brand? It is important to decide what you actually want to get out of creating a Facebook event so that you can tailor the contest toward those goals.

Select a Prize That Attracts Select a prize that will attract a wide demographic of potential participants. Gift cards are always a good choice as it gives the winner a little freedom to buy with it what they please; that way you won’t turn anybody away if they aren’t interested in the prize that you are offering.

SET OBTAINABLE

Requirements

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equire some type of action in order to sign up. This is the most important part of a contest and the best way to engage others into participating in your contest. For instance, if you want to increase your web traffic, make all participants click on a link and go to your website in order to enter, or perhaps ask users to follow you or provide their email address.

Asking for an email address allows you to contact the winner, but it also helps when building your marketing list so you can later follow up with those individuals for sales leads. You can also make it a requirement for users to post pictures of themselves with your brand, giving you the

opportunity to use those pictures in later ad campaigns. Don’t make it too difficult for someone to sign up unless you have a really fantastic prize or you might turn some away.

Marketing After you have set up your contest and established all of the details, you want to begin marketing your contest. The quality of the marketing is what distinguishes between what is and is not an engaging contest.

Ask for Referrals

You drastically increase the number of participants in your contest if you ask

them to refer a friend or give them some type of extra-entry incentive for doing so. This will increase awareness of your contest and increase your brand notoriety.

Promote Your Contest Regularly Connect to all channels of social media to regularly promote your contest and keep your fans and participants informed of the progress. Increase the regularity of these reminds as your contest gets closer and closer to the deadline day so that anyone who is interested in signing up will be inclined to do so right away.

INVEST in paid advertisement

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ased on the value of your prize and what you expect to get from the contest, you might want to consider investing in a Facebook advertisement.

Advertising on Facebook works a lot like advertising on Google AdWords and will help you to expand beyond your current group of subscribers and reach out to potential new contestants.

Now it’s your turn. Review all of the steps above, give some thought to your contest objectivesFeature Articles, the prize and the any special requirements. Put your marketing in place and watch your mailing list increase and the leads start rolling in.

Advertise On Your Page Set your profile picture and the banner of your Facebook to the contest logo or a snippet about the contest. This will maintain visibility and help to increase entries as individuals decide to sign up whenever they scroll past a page on their friend’s dashboard.

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STRATEGIES TO STREAMLINE CUSTOMER-CENTRIC CULTURE CHANGE Efforts to improve customer experience are meaningless without a considered effort to change the culture. Here are seven strategies that will help you overcome the resistance to change, and engage every employee in the business of serving customers.

single, disgruntled employee can sabotage the work of hundreds, even thousands in a single destructive customer interaction. An uninformed policy change can destroy loyalty in a heartbeat.

Successful chief customer officers recognize that efforts to improve customer experience are meaningless without a considered effort to change the culture. One company identified that only 6% of a measure of customer centricity was attributable to customer service; the other 94% came from other activities such ease of deciphering bills, cleanliness and maintenance of company vehicles, and understandability of contracts. Customer centricity is much more than customer service or customer experience.

It requires a significant change in attitude and culture across virtually 100% of the company.

To be successful, the CCO must systematically inject the customer voice into the strategic decision-making processes, and ensure that customer needs are effectively balanced with business needs across the entire business. Becoming more customer-centric is paramount to success in executing customer strategy, improving customer experience, creating sustainable competitive advantage, and growing profits.

The following are seven strategies for making culture change far less painful:

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OBTAIN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT: Executive support for the CCO and cultural change must be constant and visible. Only the CEO has the sphere of influence to mandate change across all facets of the company, and the effective CCO will leverage this Borrowed Authority to open doors and encourage people to listen. With the executive team, CCOs should create a clear definition of what customer centricity means, how the company plans to implement the concept, and how it will be measured.

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IDENTIFY DESIRED BEHAVIORS AND MEASURE THEIR ADOPTION: CCOs must clearly define, articulate, and gain consensus around ideal behaviors of a customer centric organization.

Behaviors should be demonstrated from the top down, and those who consistently exhibit desired behaviors should be recognized and rewarded. Clear and shared expectations and feedback will help employees understand the process and adoption of culture change.

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CREATE DIRECT AND INDIRECT INCENTIVES Incentives, both direct and indirect, drive behavior change and can effectively be used to reward employees for embracing customer centricity. Direct incentives may be financial and take the form of a spot or annual performance bonus. Indirect incentives include personal and organizational recognition such as a personal voicemail from the CCO or recognition at a company awards banquet.

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EDUCATE AND INFORM Every new employee training should include a presentation by the CCO, providing clear and consistent expectations of the employee’s contribution to customer centricity. Share case studies of employee and client successes on company intranets.

Leverage departmental and company-wide meetings to reinforce key messages and content, share feedback on progress toward change goals, and to reward exemplary staff.

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HIRE FOR CULTURAL FIT The CCO should define the characteristics of individuals who are most likely to embrace cultural change to gain customer centricity. Hiring managers can include those characteristics as part of the employee evaluation criteria.

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INVOLVE CUSTOMERS Where appropriate, invite customers to tell their story personally or convey their expectations and experience through video or case study. Consider bringing disgruntled customers to meet with key executives, engineers, or support staff. Making the customers real personalizes the customer centricity imperative and leads to much stronger employee commitment.

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CREATE ALLIES AND HEROES Share far and wide the successes of the people involved in change efforts, making them “heroes” and examples for the rest of the organization to emulate. Make allies of leadership all the way up to the executive committee. In so doing, the CCO leverages greater Borrowed Authority and greater Earned Authority to continue making changes in other parts of the organization. much stronger employee commitment.

Customer service and even customer experience are only a small part of becoming customer centric. You need to engage every employee in the business of serving customers. Using these seven strategies will help you as a CCO to overcome resistance to change, create a powerful customer-centric cultureFeature Articles, and drive more profitable business results.

Watch Where you step Understanding Your Carbon Footprint

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hile making visits to national parks or forest preserves, you’ll often be told to leave nothing but footprints. This is always a good policy in these types of situations. However, we often forget, or simply do not know that wherever we go, we actually leave two sets of footprints. Your physical footprint is, for the most part, a harmless indentation left behind wherever you step. Your other footprint is what is known as your carbon footprint, essentially the

level of greenhouse gases your lifestyle and activity emit into the environment. We’d like to help you understand not only what your carbon footprint is, but also how to measure it and identify some simple ways to reduce it and to save energy.

YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT: WHAT IS IT? By definition, a carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product, or person.This means that if you live a lifestyle that requires the use of a greater amount of energy and fossil fuels that form greenhouse gases through combustion, the larger your impact on the environment and your carbon footprint will be. Often people consider their carbon footprint to be the result of their immediate use of fossil fuels and energy usage, like cooking with natural gas or using petroleum to run their automobile. However, your carbon footprint consists of many activities that can be far less obvious. This may include the fossil fuels used to transport the food that you buy at your local grocery store, or the energy used to dispose of the waste produced in your household. All this comes into account when trying to make an accurate estimate of what impact is left behind by your daily activities and choices.

HOW TO MEASURE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT? Perhaps not surprisingly, the U.S. has one of the largest carbon footprints in the world, ranking #2 in total emissions (other countries near the top include China #1, India #3, Russia #4 and Japan #5) but #1 in emissions per capita. Since this much larger footprint is made up of many much smaller individual footprints, it is important to understand your contribution and responsibility to the greater whole.

Individually, the average American produces 9.44 tons of carbon dioxide on their own each year! Did this surprise you? The link below will help you to calculate the size of the carbon footprint of your household: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ emissions/ind_calculator.html.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? Taking small steps to reduce your carbon footprint and saving energy is actually fairly simple. Here is a list of some easy things that you can do to live a more environmentally healthy lifestyle.

- Limit Consumption of Bottled Water The production, consumption and disposal of bottled water leaves a rather significant carbon footprint. It requires the combustion of fossil fuels to make the bottle, transport it, and dispose of it if it’s not recycled. In-house filtration systems can reduce your impact and cost for water.

- Unplug Appliances That Are Not Frequently In Use Most of these items have a standby mode that wastes energy even when they’re not in use.

Unplugging is the best way to ensure that unnecessary energy is not lost.

With a powerstrip, you can even switch off more than one appliance at once.

- Use Cold Water No, I’m not suggesting that you start taking cold showers. Using colder water to wash clothes that do not require a hot water wash is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. While washers already require a lot of energy to run, it takes even more to heat the water. Using cold water whenever possible can make a big difference and will increase your energy saving.

- Recycle And Reuse Recycling uses a lot less energy since it is reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that would come out of creating a completely new product.

- Upgrade The Energy Efficiency Of Your Home New energy efficient light bulbs, filters, and appliances could have a massive impact in reducing your carbon footprint. Less energy used means less greenhouse gas emissions. Even just maintaining and taking care of the appliances and products you already own can ensure a smaller footprint without spending a lot of money. You can measure the energy efficiency of your home and your potential energy savings at www.energyresults.com.

With easy steps like these, you are on your way to increasing your energy savings and reducing the size of the carbon footprint left behind. We all have a role in trying to shrink the adverse impact we have on the environment, not only as an individual, but also as a member of a household, as a citizen of a country, and as an inhabitant of planet earth.

LET’S END EXTINCTION

CAN YOU IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT WILDLIFE? FROM THE LARGEST TREES TO THE SMALLEST INSECTS, NATURE IS CRITICAL TO MAN’S SURVIVAL.

conservation.

Leading the fight against extinction One such organization is San Diego Zoo Global, which is dedicated to saving endangered species worldwide.

This non-profit operates three world-class facilities - the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.

Their conservation work takes place locally at these three campuses and reaches beyond to field projects in 35 countries. The organization’s vision is to lead the fight against extinction. Though it is quite an audacious goal, they’ve proven they can do it, with the help of people who care about this important cause.

Survival stories

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ithout forests there would be no air to breath; without insects there would be no fruits and vegetables to eat. The earth is a delicate ecosystem, and it’s up to mankind to make choices for sustaining and improving the environment. One choice is to partner with a trusted and reputable leader in

To date, San Diego Zoo Global has bred over 165 endangered species, and reintroduced 33 species back into the wild including mountain yellow-legged frogs, five species of reptiles, 17 species of birds, and 10 species of mammals. In many cases, these efforts have meant the difference between extinction and survival.

The group has also

TO DATE, SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL HAS BRED OVER 165 ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND REINTRODUCED 33 SPECIES BACK INTO THE WILD INCLUDING MOUNTAIN YELLOW-LEGGED FROGS, FIVE SPECIES OF REPTILES, 17 SPECIES OF BIRDS, AND 10 SPECIES OF MAMMALS. IN MANY CASES, THESE EFFORTS HAVE MEANT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXTINCTION AND SURVIVAL.

ENDING EXTINCTION, TOGETHER

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made major contributions to saving the California condor from extinction, leading a multi-organization effort and helping to increase the population from only 22 birds in the ‘80s to well over 300 today, and releasing the first birds back to the wild in Baja California, Mexico, part of the condor’s original habitat range.

The organization has also been instrumental in helping to increase the number of giant pandas at China’s Wolong Breeding Center from 25 bears to more than 100 by developing new techniques in husbandry, and specifically breeding, then working hands-on to share that knowledge at Wolong and elsewhere.

The research continues

The San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy was established to create a connection between the public and the experts of San Diego Zoo Global.

The Wildlife Conservancy provides a variety of content about the state of endangered species, what is being done for them, and ways someone can help. By joining the Wildlife Conservancy and becoming a Wildlife Hero, people will be directly contributing to ending extinction.

Through their conservation work and collaboration with others, the organization hopes to create a future in which people and wildlife can thrive together. To lean more about how you can help worldwide conservation efforts, visit www. endextinction.org.

GOING GREEN IS SO MUCH SIMPLER THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK An increasing number of people are now wanting to do their part to save the planet due to the worsening problems caused by global warming. Unfortunately, numerous people assume that going green is costly and time consuming. Read on to discover several immediate things you can do to get on on the path to living green.

Recycling is the top way to start.

A lot of people continue to place glass and aluminum items in their normal garbage even though recycling is not that hard to do today.

In the US, it’s not hard to locate a trash service that offers glass and aluminum recycling choices. Many people still continue to discard these items even though recycling bins are not hard to find. It merely takes a few minutes to wash off the cans and bottles before placing them into the recycle bin.

Newspapers are another item that overburden our landfills. Virtu-

ally all people will merely take their daily paper and toss it in the garbage when they are done with it. But, there are many other uses that you can get out of your newsprint other than poring over it it.

Did you know that you can keep your windows clean using newspapers? If you’re tired of seeing small white fragments and streaks on your windowpanes after you clean them with paper towels and cleaner, try to use old newspapers instead. Several community groups run regular paper drives.

Merely compilepile all of your old newspapers, put them in a stack, and see if the paper drive organizers will come to your location and pick them up.

One more thing that could help you to start to live green is to begin walking a bit more. Lots of people routinely drive short distances merely to buy one thing at their local corner market. If you just walk to the store, not only could it take less time, because

you won’t have to locate a parking spot, but you will be saving money on gas and helping to save planet Earth by not burning those fuels.

If you wish to save even more on gas, take the chance to car pool when you can and only mow your lawn two times a month instead of weekly. A gorgeous lawn is good to have but skipping an additional week before you mow again shouldn’t significantly affect it.

Using a manual push mower like those more normally used many, many years ago will help to save the environment even more. Numerous hardware shops still carry this type of mower.

When people make up their mind to try green living, it’s easy to make a few lifestyle modifications that will benefit our environment.

Likewise, you can find lots of info all over the Internet on other ways to start living green, you only have to look for it.

I FORGOT THE PASSWORD

TO MY LAPTOP Laptop became a part of our daily life, important to a business trip for its portability and also to our entertainment life to kill boring time. To protect privacy, the majority of users would like to set a login password. But forgot the password to your laptop? What to do? This tutorial gives you three possible tips.

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orgetting the password to your laptop is not that bad as you imagine. If there are no feasible solutions for you, you

can still go to a computer repair shop and pay to ask help from a computer technician. But you may have better choices to solve your problem on your own easily.

SELF-HELP CHOICE 1: RESET FORGOTTEN LAPTOP PASSWORD WITH PASSWORD RESET DISK. Self-help Choice 1: Reset Forgotten Laptop Password with Password Reset Disk.If you have created a Windows password reset disk after you created a password for your account, you can reset forgotten laptop password easily with it when you forgot password.

1. Click OK button when you forgot your laptop password and get the prompts that the user name or password is incorrect.

2. Click Rest password link under the password box. In the following Welcome to the Password Reset Wizard dialogue box, click Next button to go on.

3. Now insert the Windows password reset disk you created before into your locked laptop, select it from the pull-down list and click Next button.

4. Type in your desired new password and type in it again to confirm it. Click Next button to go on.

5. Click Finish button to finish forgotten laptop password reset.

DISADVANTAGES: - You may haven’t take the precautions to create a password reset disk in advance.

- You may not take the created password reset disk with you everywhere.

SELF-HELP CHOICE 2: RESET FORGOTTEN LAPTOP PASSWORD VIA ANY ACCESSIBLE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT. If you have created more than one accounts on your laptop, you can login your laptop with other accessible account you remember its password. But if the accessible account with administrator privileges, you can reset password for the account you forgot its password.

1. Click OK button when you forgot your laptop password and get the prompts that the user name or password is incorrect.

2. Click Switch User button to login with any accessible administrator account.

3. Click Start button, type lusrmgr.msc in the search box and press Enter key to open Local Users and Groups window.

4. Expand Users folder.

5. Right click on the user account you forgot its password and select Set Password item.

6. Input your desired new password, confirm it and click OK button to save the changes.

DISADVANTAGES: - You may have created more than one account but among which no account with administrator privileges.

- You may forget other alternative administrator account password as well.

SELF-HELP CHOICE 3: RESET FORGOTTEN LAPTOP PASSWORD WITH THE AID OF EFFECTIVE THIRD - PARTY TOOL.IF THE ABOVE TWO METHODS INTRODUCED DON’T WORK FOR YOU SOMEHOW, YOU CAN GET YOURSELF A PROFESSIONAL AND RELIABLE WINDOWS PASSWORD RECOVERY SOFTWARE. THERE IS A SEA OF SUCH SOFTWARE DIFFERS A LITTLE. YOU CAN SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND GET ONE SATISFACTORY. ASUNSOFT WINDOWS PASSWORD GEEKER ADVANCED FOR YOUR REFERENCE HERE FOR IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND WIDELY ACCEPTED ONE. 1. Use another accessible computer with Internet to download Windows Password Geeker Advanced and then install it.

2. Run it and choose USB device or CD/DVD option for your convenience to create a Windows password recovery disk.

3. Insert a USB flash drive or CD/DVD disk accordingly, select it from the pull-down list and click Begin burning button to burn the software into the disk.

4. When burning successfully, transfer the disk into your locked laptop and boot the laptop from the USB or from CD/DVD disk.

5. Select the user account you forgot its password and click Reset Password button.

6. Click Reboot button to restart your laptop. Before restart, remove the USB flash drive or CD/DVD disk first.

ADVANTAGES: - Reset forgotten password no matter which brand your laptop is, like Samsung, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Acer, AsusFind Article, etc.

- Reset forgotten laptop password no matter which Windows system you run.

- 100% recovery rate with only another accessible computer and a USB flash drive or CD/DVD disk.

NOW YOU CAN

BUY INTERNATIONAL SIM CARDS ONLINE The international SIM card providers have introduced numerous options for travellers to ensure connectivity during their trip abroad. The craze to shop online has become yet another advantage that motivates people to take global SIM cards for their travel. The travellers can customise voice and data solutions for their trip that would keep them connected with their loved ones, while staying in their budget.

Keeping in view the craze, these companies have introduced e-commerce functionality that allows customers to take benefit of various features online with a click of a mouse.

When you take services from an e-commerce website, you can benefit from the following features:

1. Buy a SIM Card: In case, you have forgot to contact the sales representative for your upcoming international trip in advance, you can easily go online and buy an International SIM card that suits your needs and budget. Whether you require a country-specific postpaid or prepaid global SIM card, you can select a custom telecom package to meet your travel needs of your overseas trip.

2. Online Recharge: This facility gives the flexibility to customers to recharge their card on-the-go. The prepaid users can login their account and choose the denomination that can match their needs for their travel.

3. Online Payment: It has become convenient for the postpaid users to make their payments online using a secure payment gateway. The users have the advantage of making the payment online even on the last day, without co-ordinating with the company representatives.

4. Value-Add Services: While you are going on an international trip, you don’t only require SIM services. Such online companies also provide value-add services wherein you can take Forex and Travel Insurance to make your trip comfortable and cost-effective.

5. Value-Add Services: Registration Online: In case, you are buying a SIM card through one of the partners, you can activate your card to enjoy the validity through simple steps online.

With user-friendly website, it has become easier for people to access their account history, track their order status and also take the benefit of other services available online. While you are planning for your overseas trip, you can also visit few online websites and compare their prices to decide the right type of solution for your trip. Along with the tariff ratesArticle Submission, you can also compare the type of services offered that would become an important deciding factor for your upcoming trip.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING GROWS

Today, 15% of electronic devices and equipment are recycling in the United States.

Computer recycling or electronic recycling is the recycling or reuse of computer or other electronic devices. In 2007 the United States environment protection agency said that more than 63 million computers in the US were traded in for replacements or discarded. Today, 15% of electronic devices and equipment are recycling in the United States Computer recycling or electronic recycling is the recycling or reuse of computer or other electronic devices. In 2007 the United States environment protection agency said that more than 63 million computers in the US were traded in for replacements or discarded. Today, 15% of electronic devices and equipment are recycling in the United States.

Most electronics waste is sent landfills or incinerated, which releases materials such as lead, mercury or cadmium into the soil, groundwater, and atmosphere, thus having a negative impact on the environment. Many materials used in computer hardware can be recoveredbut recycling for use

in future production. Reuse of tin, silicon, and iron, aluminumand variety of plastics that are present in bulk in computers or other electronics can reduce the coasts of constructing new systems.

Components frequently contain lead, copper, gold and other valuable suitable for reclamation.

Where happens to your old computer, old monitor or keyboard once you are dropped it off for recycling sometimes, computer components will be reused by a charity or school however more than 90% of the products will end up being recycled. Most domestically processed glass recycled.

GO GREEN The plastic housing is ground and the glass recycled. The plastic housing is ground to smaller pieces and recycled for use in various items such as retaining blocks and pothole mix. Circuit boards chips and other parts can be reused to repair or upgrade older electronics or recycled for their scrap value. Metal components will be separated and sold for their scrap value.Lease computer equipment advantage that when it’s time to upgrade to a newer product, the old unit is returned to the vendor, often for a credit toward a future purchase. Electronic versions of traditional household appliances and tools may not actually be an improvement, may be more costly and may wear out faster.If you have an absolute computer or two in your basement, you are not alone. Nearly 2 million tons of used electronics, including computers and televisions are discarded each year. An estimated 128 million cell phones are retired from use annually.

NEWER, FASTER With a supply of newer, faster electronic products on the market, Americans continually replace older models. This trend shows no signs of slowing. As a result electronics have become one of the fastest growing waste streams or portions of our trash. Valuable material can be recovered from old electronics and these materials can be used to make new products. Precious metals are used in computer circuit boards and other electronic components, these products reduce the need to mine the earth foe new raw materials. Donating your old supports schools, low income families, and nonprofit agencies by providing them with refurbished computers cell phones and other electronics.

Individuals are helped by being able to access technology that they could not otherwise afford.

Check with these groups first to make sure equipment their needs. As demand for electronics recycling grows Free Web Content, new businesses will be forming and existing companies will be looking to hire more people to staff their facilities.

Cell Phone Jammer Blocks Cell Phone Signal to Shun Communication There are a number of online shops selling cell phone jammer, phone tracker and GPS jammer at competitive pricing. Before choosing a store, make online search to read out its customer reviews and testimonials - ensuring peace of mind. Once you find everything ok, place your order online and you will get the item home delivered.

Mobile or Cell Phone Jammers are the instruments which are employed to block the signals from reaching the cell phones and it acts on all types of networks available for instance GSM, CDMA, etc. These devices are used in a number of areas where secrecy and privacy is important.

Considering specific requirement of users, waterproof cell phone jammers are introduced that withstand on diverse climatic changes. Despite of restaurants, plush theaters, colleges, schools, concerts, shopping malls, seminars, temples and mosques, the devices can be used in a number of functions/parties attended by ministers, politicians or top officials.

Uses of cell phone jammer Since the device blocks signal, mobiles stop working and thus secrecy and privacy is maintained.

The applicant of the item may be anyone from owner of a known jewellery shop, restaurateur, barber, theater manager, the bus owner, property owner to school/ college management. Anyone can Buying a mobile blocker online Of late, a number of devices such as phone tracker, cell phone blocker and GPS jammer are easily available on the net. If you want to buy any of the items featuring latest technology, you are advised to contact e-stores. A far-reaching search through the net helps the potential buyers to come across a number of websites/ portals of online shops selling the devices at huge discount rates, but a sensible buyer is advised to explore only esteemed and known e-shops. Reason being; such a shop would present premium quality products with guarantee of longevity and high performance at much competitive rates.

Of lateFree Articles, manufacturers and suppliers have become able to adapt the items and make them capable and first-class as per the international industry.

learn how to setup your pc to tv system using

Video And Audio Cable Connectors!

When setting up a basic PC to TV system to watch television channels on a computer or computer Internet TV on a home TV-set, a video card with the right video connector/adapter cable is required to make it all work.

Making this connection using a video connector cable and identifying which one to use will be the focal point of this article.

Whichever one is the goal, watch home television on a PC or watch computer Internet TV (with PC Satellite TV software) on a home television set, keep in mind the picture quality on a digital high definition television will be higher than on a computer screen. This has a lot to do with the computer and screen capabilities/limitations that determine the video quality.

Setting up a PC to TV can be very cheap and simple enough that even a cave man can do it. For instance, while there are all kinds of computers today, many of them share common audio and video ports to make the transition easier. There are essentially four types of video connectors that will do the job, and only takes a little tech know

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how. Here is a list of some of the most popular video connectors to consider: Identifying Four Connector/Adapter Cables...

1. VGA, stands for Video Graphics Array, and are available to almost every Windows-based computer.

Although this connection doesn’t offer the highest quality that a HDMI or DVI connection offers, it’s commonly used and works well with a SD (standard definition) or HD (high definition) TV that uses a VGA port. The price for a used VGA connector can be a few dollars and under $20.00 to buy it new.

2. HDMI stands for high-definition multimedia interface and DVI means digital visual interface. Both of them offer the best connection for HD TV. Some high-end video cards on computers will have HDMI ports on HD TV-sets. Many times, MAC computers will have DVI ports that allows a connection to your television’s HDMI port--using an HDMI-to-DVI cable or adapter. For a used HDMI connector, it could run under $10.00 and a new one can cost over $10.00.

3. S-Video means separate video an can be found on SD and HD TV-sets. This type of connection is more common when connecting a DVD player to a SD TV-set. And it works well when using either a desktop or laptop computer that has an S-video port. The cost can be as little as a couple of dollars for a used connector cable to over $5.00 for a new one.00 (new).

4. Composite/RCA often comes with many TV-sets. More than likely, you have seen these cables at one time or another. You may recall those white, yellow, and red connector head cables for video and audio outputs. You can also use them to connect your video camera and DVD player. Some computers have video cards with RCA connections and they can be used to convert a computer’s video signal through the RCA cable going into a TV-set.

How to make the audio connection depends on what type of port a computer has, which determines whether or not separate cables are needed to get the video and audio to work properly. More than likely, you will

have to optimize the computer’s audio output such as volume settings and surround sound. This requires going into the computer’s Control Panel to make minor adjustments.

Design designation is a city promotion project that celebrates the accomplishments of cities that have used design as a tool to reinvent themselves How to make the audio connection depends on whether or not a computer has a HDMI port, which in turn determines if a single cable or separate cables for the audio and

video are required. Also, connecting a headphone jack and external speakers to a computer can be made as well.

Optimizing the audio output may be required but very simple to do. It’s just a matter of adjusting the volume settings by going into the computer’s control panel.

After determining which television and computer connector is neededArticle Submission, the next step is picking the correct video/audio cable to make the PC to TV connection. You can find any one of these connectors/adapters in local computer stores or online easily. The cost is very low and can take minutes to setup a PC to television system.

COMPUTER NETWORK TIPS FOR THE HOME USER

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ack in the old days, we would never dream of setting up a computer network in our own homes. In fact we were lucky to even have one computer per household. However now days, many households have more than one computer and are setting up home networks to share Internet connections and files.

We have come a long way very fast and computer networking is becoming a household chore. People want to become more familiar with computer networking tips because they rely on the Internet connection in day to day life.

Computer networking tips for the home user If you have your own home network which includes: **At least two computers, **And Internet connection,

cracked up to be. It really depends on where you live as to how fast it is. It also depends on how far the signal has to go. If you can possibly connect your network together with wires (cables) then you will undoubtedly have a faster connection. Wireless sounds fancy and is very convenient, however it is not as fast as connecting network cables.

I actually preferred to have a wired network in my home to avoid interference from other devices in my home. For example the simple telephone interferes with a wireless network connectionBusiness Management Articles, as does a TV remote control. You will be amazed at what devices are being used in your house that can interfere with a wireless Internet connection.

**And possibly a router, Computer network security Once people have their computers networked and connected to the Internet they neglect to secure their connection. This is especially necessary when you have a wireless Internet signal.

There are a few ways to set up network security. One includes configuring your router security settings and enabling it to use a secure password. This means that when people want to connect to your network, they will need to enter the password.

If you do not set a network security password you are inviting people to log on to your network and see all the files you are sharing, and possibly even or change them.

This all depends on your settings, however it is much better to be safe than sorry.

Wired VS Wireless Getting a wireless connection isn’t everything that it’s

Finding the right I SP (Internet service provider) Many people sign up with an ISP because they are cheap. Unfortunately this is not a good idea because if you cannot get an Internet connection when you want one is the most frustrating thing that can happen. I prefer to sign up with an ISP company that has a stable connection available to me 24 hours a day.

Word of mouth is a great way to do your research to find the best I SP in your area. You can also search online and visit the forums. If anything bad is being said about an ISP you will be out of find it by searching.

These home networking tips can apply to anyone with two or more computers in their house.

Thousands of homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Over the past 10 years, the average flood claim has amounted to $33,000

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