Below is a list of free software you can use for your computers if you’re looking for an alternative to programs like Norton’s. I’ve had so many problems with Norton’s, I decided to uninstall their software using their special “Norton’s Removal Tool” program and start over again.
Special thanks to the Firewall Guide for compiling the list. Here it is for your convenience. Happy downloading!
Ad Blocker– For MS Internet Explorer 7, - IE7Pro. For Firefox, - Adblock Plus.
I stopped setting goals about 5 years ago.The word “Goal or Goals” didn’t even appear in American literature until we were already into the early twentieth century.The self-help teachers of the day begin using it thanks to the gaining popularity of sports such as football.In other words, through history, there’s no record of people setting “goals” as we recognizing today.So what did people do “back in the day?”Obviously, individuals accomplished amazing things without “setting goals.”
Life, however, is much more complex than a sporting event.In an athletic event, there are a limited amount of activities taking place at any given moment.There are unlimited things happening at any given moment or situation.There are no flags, no timeouts, and no half-times to help you regroup.Life is the theater of the unexpected.In sports, if someone gets hurt, the game stops and the injured person is attended to.In life, nothing stops.It all keeps right on going.In a game, there are a limited amount of scenarios to plan for in a controlled environment.
In life, anything can happen at any time.
The key to accomplishing the things that have eluded you in the past won’t be found in setting new goals.If you want to be assured of progress… the key that will finally open and unlock the doors to a for you is simply this…
Change your priorities.This works in business as well as everyday life.
Think about the priorities you already have that have been second nature to you.Brushing your teeth before “facing the day.”Do they like doing it? I doubt it.But they do it anyway.They know what’ll happen if they don’t.
If you want to write a book or an eBook, writing time is going to have to take priority over television, answering emails and wasting time chatting on the cell phone.There are only so many hours in a day.When exercise becomes a priority, you’ll cancel movie night with friends and work out instead if need be.Can you see the power of priority?It’s a switch in your thinking.
If leisure is a priority over exercise, you’ll wind up sitting around eating popcorn with friends and family.That’s why goals often fall way short of their ultimate fulfillment.
Stay with me, now.It’s important that you understand what I’m about to say or everything you’ve just read will have been a waste of time.An entertaining one, I hope… but a waste of time none-the-less.Without a conscious rearrangement of your priorities… your new course in life will fall by the wayside – nine times out of ten.Old, non-productive habits and upside down priorities choke out the “dream.”
I’m no different than you.If I have one secret in my favor, it’s this; I know how to get things done.Not because of some ambiguous formula that’s practically impossible to duplicate.It all comes down to priorities.If a project has to be done and I’m falling behind on schedule, my social life gets shelved.TV gets put to the side.
Some people hate marketing.They’d rather network with their business to acquire new clients.They’re always working, always busy… but not doing the things that will earn them more money and a better lifestyle.If you’re busy and broke, guess what?You’re priorities need to change.You can always do the other things later.TV, socializing… those things are basic pastimes in today’s world.Take advantage of opportunities to “cash in” on the American dream don’t come around every day.What are you priorities going to be?
Your business can explode with growth this upcoming year.The Internet, the technology, and the “how-to” – all of it is here, right at your fingertips.Are you ready to live the dream… or are you content to continue “dreaming” the dream?
The choice is as basic a one that you’ll ever have to make.How and when are you going to sit down and rearrange your priorities?The choice is yours.
Several years back I was feeling absolutely miserable.There I was, rolled up on the couch, blowing my nose every thirty seconds or so.My sinuses were driving me crazy.A friend of mine stopped over and commented about pile of tissues amassing on the floor in front of me.I said to him, “Do you mind grabbing a roll of toilet paper for me out of the bathroom.I just ran out of Kleenex.”
“Kleenex?” he replied.“You mean – tissue?”
I’d gotten used to using the word “Kleenex” when referring to tissues for so long, that… in my mind, they were one and the same thing.
In reality, Kleenex is a brand name for the tissues they manufacture.In New Jersey, where I come from, people often refer to a cola as a “Coke.”In Jersey, we’d order two slices and a “Coke.”We really didn’t care if we were drinking Coke or Pepsi… but we never asked for a “Cola.”As a matter of fact, the brand names Coke and Pepsi basically replaced the word “Cola” in our vocabulary altogether.
So what does used tissues and cola’s have to do with marketing and publicity?Well… everything!If you’re an Entrepreneur, you have to make the most of every single marketing dollar you have.One of the easiest ways to do this is by “branding yourself.”You become the brand of the product you sell.As I’ve always said, God knows how many people offer the same or similar products and services as you do.
How do you separate yourself?How do you stand out in the crowd?
By branding yourself.You become your own brand name.In some cases you become a “Guru.”You become the person who others turn to for a particular product, service or both.
This is also a little known secret to search engine positioning.When a person does a search for YOU and your product (for example, Jim Galiano – Internet Marketing), it’s they’ll be able to find your website and products with minimal effort.Remember, your clients are just buying your products… they’re buying you.They’re buying your reputation, your personality, your ability.Your products and services actually become linked with your name.
Stephen King is a “brand.”He’s a brand name in Horror Stories and movies.He could write a shopping list and it would sell.Quentin Tarantino is a “brand.”He’s a brand name in Action B-Movies.Martha Stewart is a brand.
You don’t have to be world-renown to become a brand name.There are plenty of individuals who are local or regional brand names – and they’re making plenty of money, too!Real estate agents, lawyers, medical specialists, ad agencies… the list can go on and on.
So now, the only question is; what are you waiting for?Begin attaching your name to every single thing you do.As though you’re running for office.Make sure your NAME as well as your product and service becomes a part of your advertising and marketing campaigns.Bit by bit, week by week and month by month… the results of your efforts will begin to take root and grow.
Don’t leave this process to chance.Make the effort to be “known.”Don’t worry if you’re not the “Social Butterfly” type.It doesn’t matter.What matters is that your name and your products and services become interlinked.But remember, everything begins with the first step.Don’t be intimidated by your “huge, well-established,” competition.People are funny creatures.They’re always looking for something new.Something fresh.And this is where you come it.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.It’s the labels and window dressings that change.And now you know this secret.Use it.Start now.In 6 to 12 months, you’ll be glad you did!
Today I’m going to talk to you a little bit about focus.Focus in your business… focus in your marketing and focus in your life.Realize this, no matter how talented you are, your efforts will be diluted and much less effective unless you begin to focus in on your objectives with laser clarity.
Hey, I’ll admit, it’s fantastic to be good at a whole lot of things.But today, being good is hardly good enough.To stand out, you have to seen as GREAT in one or two areas.You may in fact BE great at what you do… but unless other people SEE YOU as great, once again, your efforts will generate a less than overwhelming response.
Back in 1997, I started selling information online.A few years later I began designing web sites.Then, I started hosting web sites.By early 2001, I was selling a bulk email service… and by 2002, I was fixing “troubled PC’s” in local business offices here in Florida.I developed a great clientele, too.Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Senator Chip Campsen were both using my Mailing System at worldresponders.com.I also had the world’s largest soccer newsletter.
But it wasn’t until I started in the consulting business – helping companies sell more products and services online that my business really took off. It wasn’t until than that all the “loose string” started drawing everything in together.
Here’s a good way to tell if your business and life in general need some much needed “re-focusing.”If you’re friends, your good friends, can’t describe what you do for a living in a few words or less… you’re way too spread out in your efforts.Not only that, but the chances are great, you income is a whole lot less than it’s capable of being!
Side projects, pet projects, they’re all great.But not if they’re keeping you from getting established in the niche where you’re capable of flourishing above and behind most (if not all) of your peers.Don’t spend your career being “almost famous.”Become famous first in the area that brings the greatest financial return!Then all of your side projects can come to the forefront.And believe me, by then, even your pet projects will more successful and more lucrative than you may have imagined.
The world is filled with talent transformed into mediocrity.Don’t let it happen to you.Develop a laser focus.Sacrifice unimportant time thieves and get going.Windows of opportunity don’t remain open forever.If there was ever a time to do what you need to do… that time is right here… right now.Today.So get going my friend.Do what you know you should be doing… because who knows… in doing so, you may just wind up becoming one the very best there is.
Should You Use Audio On Your Website?Will audio’s, podcasts and the like really help your website make more money?
They can.If you do it right, that is.If not, they’ll actually hurt your sales.You can learn how to use audios effectively, though.It’s not hard to do and certainly worth the effort.But the key is, you want to do it right.
People are inundated these days with one sales message after another.The Internet is no different.Every week, I read loads of sales pages, one after another.After awhile, they even begin to sound alike.Most of the time, I’ll read the headline, the first paragraph (if it’s not too long), and then I’ll skim all the way down to the bottom of the page to check out the price tag on the product.
You can only read so much.You can only take in so much information.And that’s it.I’m sure you’ve been there before.You only have so much concentration to give in a day.That’s where audio comes in.The right kind of audio, the kind that loads quickly… is informative and gets right to the point… that’s the kind of audio that can work “magic” on your website.To be honest, it’s no different with video.Quick loading… informative… and to the point.That’s the winning formula!
Check out the Flash Audio on the first page.It’s located right beneath the picture.
Flash is great for this type of introduction.It creates a small file which doesn’t take up much space on the server (597 KB – slightly over a half of a megabyte) and it loads quickly, too.And last but certainly not least… the quality is great, too.
Another way to incorporate sound into your website is by getting your customers to give you audio testimonials.Don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of creating an audio file.All you need is a simple headphone/microphone set that you can pick up in Staples or Office Depot for around twenty bucks.You don’t need a sound studio and million dollar equipment.All you need is a quiet room without an echo.One with wall to wall carpeting will usually be sufficient.The software you’ll need is inexpensive as well.
Getting Client TestimonialsEven if you have your own product or service, the chances are great these days that there many others selling or offering the same things as you are.It is more important than ever to set yourself apart from the competition.One of these easiest ways to do this is with client testimonials.Written testimonials have worked for years.
Why not take it to the next level?You can easily do that with audio client testimonials.Sure, fake testimonials can be created.But with just a little effort, you can get the real thing.Without going into any lengthy explanations, it’s well worth the effort.
The use of audio testimonials will go a long way in authenticating your sales letters and marketing materials online.Sometimes that’s all it takes to close the deal.Is it difficult getting someone to take the time to give one to you?It’s not as hard as you think.People are more willing to help than you’d imagine.Even in 2007!
I was fortunate to get some high-profile clients early on in my Internet career and it really helped.In other businesses, however, I had to start from the ground up.So I’m telling you from experience what works.
Will Audio Work With A Blog?Sure.A variety of content can be added to your Blog.Audio, Video, Flash, YouTube feeds.The possibilities are endless.Don’t neglect text, though.It’s always good to have quality information that someone can copy and paste to a file.Every now and then I’ll find a great article and end up printing it out on my inkjet printer.Then, later that night when I’m relaxed and all “computered-out,” I’ll stretch out on my living room couch and read it.I happen to be a fast typist.So it’s no big deal for me to pound out emails, articles, ebooks, etc.If you’re a writer, learn to add audio to your marketing equation.If you’re “talker,” learn to add text to your repertoire.If you can do both, don’t neglect video.Are you getting the picture?Great.Check back on this Blog often.There will be loads of valuable information, downloads, etc. in the months to come.
A well-written, press release that captures the attention of journalists and media contacts can generate a lot more publicity than a high-budgeted media campaign.And the right kind of publicity can translate into BIG money for your business.
And best of all, it’s easy to do!Think about it… the press needs to continuously publish news to survive.You don’t need to have a major event, product or service to find your way into print.Take a closer look at your magazines, newspaper and television ads.Highly “ordinary stuff” is written about each and every day.
Below are a few “tricks” you can use to help your press release find its way into print.
OFFER A FREE GIFT This technique has been used for almost 100 years.Why?Because it still works.The lure and draw of something free is the most difficult enticement for most people to resist.Use this to your advantage!
GIVE A PERCENTAGE TO A CHARITY The press loves charitable organizations.A portion of your sales/profit can be donated to a local or national charity.And if that particular charity happens to be making local or national headlines… all the better.
BE DIFFERENT AND OFFER MORE THAN “FLUFF” Always remember the words: “What’s in it for me?”If a press release can answer that question for both the journalist and the consumer, you have yourself a sure-fire winner on your hands.That’s the only question people need answered when it comes to your product service or event.
All of the “big, big event” adjectives and fluff phrases in the world can’t replace a press release that answers the; what’s-in-it-for-me question.
DON’T SOUND LIKE AN ADVERTISEMENT Most press releases are promotional hype. Your main purpose is to inform potential customers about a new business development, product or event.You have but a few seconds to grab the reader’s attention.That’s true with the press and public alike.Get to the point in print.
Most people have become hardened to “tradition” ads.They’re almost invisible these days.If your first paragraph doesn’t hook the reader, it’s most likely they’ll never reach the second.
There was a time when meta-tags meant everything relevant to search engine positioning. Meta-tags were used in determining the type of site you had created and its ranking in a web surfer’s search results.Databases, however, were much smaller in 1999 then they are today in 2007.That’s why meta-tags provided a quick and easy way to determine which keywords were important on a particular site. But that was then… and this is now.Getting a high search engine position or ranking could be accomplished with the proper combination of meta-tags in place.
As time went on, the competition to get top positioning in search engines such as Google, MSN, Yahoo, etc., became unbelievable.Keywords, totally irrelevant to the particular site would nonetheless be incorporated within the meta-tag structure – solely for the purpose of a higher search engine position.As a result, today, as of this writing in 2007, Google, MSN and Yahoo, the most used search engines on the Internet, no longer use meta-tags as the primary basis for determining a web site’s position or ranking under a particular subject or search.
Now, the importance is placed upon the actual content within the actual pages of the site itself.Don’t get me wrong… meta-tags and keywords are not totally unimportant.It’s just that they are no longer play the major role in determining a site’s position or ranking in a particular search engine.Their role (meta-tags and keywords) are now what you might call the “supporting cast” to the actual content of pages within the site itself.
So as the saying goes… “Content is King,” when it comes to search engine positioning in 2007 and 2008.You don’t have to delete your current keywords and meta-tags.Just make sure they’re based upon the content of the pages they’re located on.I don’t think anyone has actually done a percentage breakdown on the relevance of meta-tags and keywords.You can find web sites in the top 10 on any given subject which have little or no keywords at all.Their position is based upon the site’s content.
A rough guess would be about 5% to 10% relevancy.But still, that’s better than nothing.If you really want to boost your site’s content, consider incorporating a blog into your site’s current structure.Search engines love blogs, and their content is easy for them to read and categorize.But that’s another subject for another day!
