Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Build a Large Facebook Fan Following Using Humorous Cartoon Posts, With the New Fun Feed™ Marketing System


Fun Feed™ helps businesses build a large following of Facebook fans with automated postings of humorous, and engaging, content onto your business' Facebook page every day, 365 days a year. Each post features a cartoon character as your company's brand mascot.


Fun Feed™ Marketing System
Fun Feed™ Marketing System uses humorous content, paired with a cartoon brand mascot to make your businesses more endearing and engaging.
Geico and Aflac know how to use a brand mascot to attract millions of Facebook fans. Fun Feed™ leverages the same technique for small businesses.
Lees Summit, Missouri (PRWEB) April 17, 2013
Toons4Biz® announces the launch of Fun Feed™, a marketing system to help businesses develop a more robust, and engaged Facebook fan following using a cartoon character as a brand mascot.
Fun Feed™ is a subscription service that automatically puts humorous posts on a client's Facebook page, every day, 365 days a year. Each post features carefully crafted humor, along with the company's logo, contact info, and a cartoon brand mascot. The cartoon brand mascot helps companies differentiate their brand, and inject personality into their messaging. The humorous statements help bring the character to life and make him/her more likable. Think along the lines of the Aflac Duck, Geico Gecko or M&M characters.
The system nurtures behavior that Facebook rewards by virtue of its EdgeRank algorithm: The content is fresh - delivered at strategic times every day. The affinity people develop for the brand mascot, over time, helps develop a relationship between the consumer and the brand. The posts are not merely humorous. Portions are crafted to entice engagement in the form of Likes, Shares and/or Comments by asking for a desired action. For example: "Vote for your favorite: iPhone or Android."
Fun Feed™ also solves the problem of "not getting around to it," because the system is preloaded with 365 unique posts that are automatically deployed. Business owners can focus their valuable time on core competencies, and rely on Fun Feed™ to keep prospective customers engaged. When they do decide to post a promotion, there will be an army of engaged followers paying attention.
David Thompson, President of Toons4Biz®, said, “Most companies make the mistake of treating Facebook like ‘sell-me’ media instead of ‘social’ media. They post far too much content about their own products and services, and visitors get turned off quickly. People, on the other hand, use Facebook primarily for the three F’s: friends, family and fun. Fun Feed delivers fun, and gets your brand inside the inner social circle of prospects. As a general rule, companies that run successful social media programs dedicate 80% of their content to fun and entertainment, and only 20% to selling and informing. Fun Feed delivers the 80% of content that is difficult to come up with.”
Coming up with a cartoon brand mascot is easy with Toons4Biz®. The company has an online library of more than 14,000 pre-designed brand mascot images. There is one for virtually every type of business. If a company wants a custom designed character, Toons4Biz also provides that service.
Toons4biz® is headquartered in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and has specialized in the development of brand mascots since 2003. Fun Feed was developed as a way for clients to bring their mascot to life, and to leverage the incredible marketing power of such a mascot. For more information, contact Dave Thompson at davet(at)thompsonadvertisinginc(dot)com, call 816-366-0199, or see the brief Fun Feed™ video at toons4biz.com
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In Today's Tech-based Times, LinkedIn is an Awesome Professional Tool, and Here Shweiki Presents a Webinar Offering Tips and Explaining How to Best Utilize LinkedIn Now


With 200 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is the most expansive professional social network out there and an extremely useful resource, serving essentially as a business card, resume and network all in one. Here Shweiki Media teams up with social media guru Kevin Knebl to present a webinar detailing tips, tricks and the most useful way to utilize LinkedIn today.


A quality LinkedIn profile has a catchy headline and a friendly looking profile picture.
[A LinkedIn] profile can be equated to an online business card: It essentially tells the story of who you are and what you do.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) April 17, 2013
In this free webinar, Shweiki Media presents valuable tips and tricks to have the best LinkedIn profile possible. Kevin Knebl, author and trained social media advisor, fills Shweiki Media in on the "ins and outs" of LinkedIn profile optimization and explains how individuals and businesses can utilize it best It’s good for businesses to think of LinkedIn as an online business database, complete with over 200 million users worldwide and gaining new users every couple of seconds. Functionally, LinkedIn is used as a site business professionals look towards to "link" up with both past coworkers and clients and valuable potential future contacts.
LinkedIn: online business card
The average LinkedIn user is over 40 years old and makes approximately 100k a year. This is important data to know when creating one's own personal profile, because it gives the user an idea of (1) what the majority of users pages might look like (thus giving the creator a status quo template to build on) and (2) it supplies the user with an accurate estimation of the demographic profile of their LinkedIn peers, providing him/her with a basic understanding of how to conduct himself/herself conversationally online.
Because of the business implications on which LinkedIn thrives, personal profile can be equated to an online business card: It essentially tells the story of both who you are and what you do. It’s important to remember detail is important when optimization is considered, as huge doors of opportunity swing on small hinges.
Profile details
Here are some helpful hints for building a great LinkedIn profile:
1. Photo
A photo headshot (as opposed to logo, third-party picture, etc.) is best. Choosing a smiling (or a photo that looks like one is generally in a good mood) profile picture is important, as in most cases this is the first impression a potential business client will have.
2. Name
Married females should highlight their maiden name between their current first and last (so users who knew them pre-marriage can still link up)
3. Headline
One should build an informal headline. A headline is a space consisting of 120 characters to promote individual job titles and a short description of a unique personality. (With that character restraint, one can almost think of it as how they’d sum up their profile in Tweet form.) It’s also important to keep in mind that the more informative headline one uses, the better. The user wants a clear picture of who they are looking for and why.
4. Summary
The summary is both the most important section of the LinkedIn profile and where most users find themselves astray. Many people forego the summary, but one shouldn’t leave money on the table; this is where there’s the most real estate available for one to explain who they are and what about them adds value. Another good idea is uploading a client testimonial or self-shot promotional video in the allotted space. Adding video links to personalYouTube channels and sharing video content with LinkedIn contacts is a great way for one to add life to their profile and put their personality, product or company on the radar.
Another important LinkedIn summary feature is its SEO capabilities. Linked-In specifically designed its SEO technologies to score summaries and highlight them in Google searches. All in all, foregoing a summary is one of the biggest LinkedIn mistakes one can make.
Shweiki Media's mission has always been to help publishers improve by providing the most profitable, hassle-free printing experience possible. This includes guaranteeing the highest quality product, exceptional customer service and on-time delivery.
As a printer and publisher, Shweiki Media also believes that this hassle-free experience includes making their clients better, whether printing magazines, postcards, catalogs, etc. Utilizing relationships with industry experts, Shweiki Media strives to educate clients and help them thrive in the exciting world of publishing--while having lots of fun along the way!
For more great info from and about Shweiki Media, please check out shweiki.com, follow us @ShweikiMedia and "like" us at Facebook.com/shweikimedia.

Consumer Targeted Mobile App Creation Platform, Appy Pie Inc., Launches Out of Beta


Mobile app building tool enters marketplace to provide adaptive and easy-to-use model for independent developers and businesses.


Appy Pie Inc.
Appy Pie Inc.
Appy Pie’s App Builder makes everything simple to create and augment, whether you’re an experienced coder or a small business entrepreneur
New York, NY April 17, 2013
Appy Pie, the cloud-based mobile app development solution, is proud to announce its out-of-beta launch today after months of closed testing. The Appy Pie platform allow users to create fully functional and customized apps in a wide series of unique categories that range from mobile games and navigational tools, to e-book readers and business utilities on today’s most popular operating systems.
The beta testing stage has already seen over 1,000 apps submitted to Appy Pie’s marketplace, leading to approximately 750 published and available apps for instant download on a variety of mobile devices. With a team of coding specialists behind the scenes of the platform, Appy Pie ensures their straightforward approach will be a developer mandate to integrate apps within their own business models.”
“Appy Pie saves users time, frustration and most importantly, money by allowing them to build apps with maximum functionality and minimal experience,” says Abhinav Girdhar, CEO of Appy Pie. “We have done everything we can to take the headache out of what would normally be an extremely backbreaking science. Appy Pie’s App Builder makes everything simple to create and augment, whether you’re an experienced coder or a small business entrepreneur.”
By using Appy Pie’s App Builder Platform, users can access various app building tools, and begin the process of bringing their application to life through an easy, step-by-step set of instructions that guide consumers with interactive directions right on the screen. Once completed, users are able to upload their mobile creation onto Android, iTunes, and very soon, to Blackberry and Windows operating systems, allowing for much needed exposure, sharing, and even monetization upon approval.
The platform has already amassed more than 40 paid subscribers to their service, as well as a handful of re-sellers around the globe since beta testing began, that have re-purposed Appy Pie’s API for their own white label purposes.
ABOUT Appy Pie Inc.,
Appy Pie is a cloud based Mobile App Builder that allows everyone to create an app. The platform allows anyone with limited or no technical knowledge to create basic mobile apps for iOS & Android-based mobile phones. There’s nothing to download or install and no external programming required. Just drag and drop. Appy Pie is trademark of Appy Pie, Inc.

Five Options for Project Start Dates





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Five Options for Project Start Dates
One of the characteristics of a project is that it is a temporary endeavor. In other words there is a start and end-date. This seems simple enough until you start to try to define exactly what these dates mean. Is it after the Project Charter is signed? Is it when the schedule is finalized?
There are no universally recommended definition for either date. It depends on each organization and whether there are any implications for choosing one alternative over another. Here are some of the options for identifying the project start-date.
  • The need/idea is generated. The definition you choose can depend on what the implication is. You may choose this definition of project start date if your company is trying to focus on the time it takes between when an idea is generated until the idea is fulfilled. Your company may be concerned that it takes too long to commercialize good ideas. If your company wants to minimize this total time span between idea and fulfillment, you might go with an early project start-date definition like this.
  • A budget is approved. In this definition, an idea has been generated and the idea has made it far enough that a cost/benefit statement has been prepared. The project has also made it through the prioritization process and an actual budget has been approved. Keep in mind that the budget may have been approved during the prior year business planning process. The actual work may not start until the following year. Therefore, this definition may also start the clock too early for many organizations.
  • A project manager is assigned. This one is more common. The assumption here is that the project manager is the first resource assigned to a project. When the project manager is assigned, the project initiation and planning begins. This is the definition for project start-date in the TenStep Project Management Process.
  • The Project Charter is approved by the sponsor. In some organizations the project officially starts when the sponsor approves the Project Charter. Some companies require an approved Project Charter and schedule before the project team can be allocated.
  • The project kickoff meeting is held. Using this definition, the planning work is considered to be “pre-project”. The projects starts with a formal kickoff meeting with the major stakeholders and the project team. The kickoff meeting is the time to tell everyone that the project is ready to begin.
In some respects the exact definition of the project start is not as important as whether the definition is applied consistently. For example, if you wanted to compare the time it takes for two projects to complete, it is important that both projects use the same definition for start and end date. 
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Thou Shalt Consume: The Story of Consumer Electronics [Feature]

MakeUseOf Newsletter
Tip of the Day: Don't just throw it out: we've covered ways to recycle laptop components and old cell phones before.

Thou Shalt Consume: The Story of Consumer Electronics [Feature]

by Tina Sieber
consumer electronics
I freeze as I see the screen. A panic rises in my head. This can't be! Immediately, control kicks in. Breathe. Think. Act. Still in denial of what I see, I hard reboot the laptop.
I'm surprised by how calm I am as the display lights up and the lines are still flickering across the screen. I locate a crack on the side of the LCD. In my head I go through my packing routine. Yes, this end usually sits at the bottom of my backpack. So I did damage the laptop when I slipped on the ice earlier that morning. Why now?
I take a deep breath. Beautiful Full HD display, barely a year old; now it is toast. Calm, but gutted I reach for my phone and hack in an email to Mark. I won't make my deadline today.
Ironically, this episode happened during final revisions of the article you are now reading.

Introduction

Every year, consumer electronics exhibitions around the world present new high tech devices; expensive toys that come with many promises. They aim to make our lives easier, more fun, super connected, and of course they are status symbols. Moreover, they are an electronic manifestation of the ideals that drive our society: bigger, better, faster, more.
On the bright side, high-end electronics demonstrate advanced engineering and stunning design solutions. However, novelty tends to fade quickly. Only a few months later the hardware is outdated, the design is stale, and the shelves are stocked with fresh models. Nothing ages as quickly and permanently as consumer electronics.
Gadgets get discarded at ever faster rates and account for millions of tons of consumer electronic waste every year. To feed production, more and more resources are claimed and we are beginning to suffer from the immense burden on the natural and social environment.
What is the purpose of driving the technological advancement? Does it help us create something that will last? Where are we going so fast? We don't know. Or do we?

The Bonding

Jane* carefully places the laptop on her living room table. It's a used HP that a friend gave to her. Jane is excited about the prospect of using the Internet from her wing chair, rather than having to crunch in front of the old desktop in her bedroom.
Jane has family all over the country and many friends around the world. She loves to stay in touch with them and finds that the Internet is a blessing. One of her grandchildren set her up on Facebook, but she found it too confusing. However, she happily uses Skype, email, browses the Internet, plays games, and does online banking. Now she curiously watches as I try to connect the laptop to her WiFi.
consumer electronics

Image credits: Woman with Laptop via Shutterstock
For its owner, a new gadget is not just a financial investment; it also is a major time and not least an emotional commitment. Something new enters your life, you let it in, spend hours setting it up, trust it with personal data, dress it up with accessories, and share your most intimate experiences with it. It becomes an essential part of your daily routine and a bearer of secrets. Just imagine the horror if you lost your smartphone! We deeply depend on our tools and, even more so, we become emotionally attached.
The more we depend on our gadgets and the less we actually understand them, the more attached we tend to become. Jane for example uses her computer only for the most basic tasks. She is not well versed in technology and although she is careful, she often needs help fixing small bugs. Jane is a confirmed optimist and has many hobbies that keep her busy away from the computer, but she does get slightly frustrated when she is cut off from her far away friends.
Jane grew up in a small isolated town. Goods and the mail were delivered only once a week, the phone line that eventually came was precious. Being one of the younger siblings, she received a lot of hand-me-downs. Although she now can afford a more luxurious lifestyle, she still treats all her belongings with great care and believes in using things until they break. When things do perish, Jane wonders why it is so much cheaper to replace them with something new. And especially with consumer electronics, repairing is rarely an option. Jane shrugs it off as "that's the way things are."
From an engineer who learned his profession in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), I learn his peers prided themselves in producing only the best quality and they built devices that would last for decades. In principle, that is not different from engineers elsewhere. However, material resources were scarce and what these people did have was time; endless amounts of time.
"We worked on the first computer-operated tuner of the GDR. A microprocessor that converted the signal from analog to digital produced a 50 KHz error. The device was examined in detail and eventually someone identified the component that caused the error. A different type of plastic had changed the inductance of a coil. Changing back to the original plastic corrected the error." - Norbert Storch
consumer electronics history

Image credits: Computer Engineer via Shutterstock
Things are different today. Companies cannot afford to track down defects all the time; where possible quick fixes are applied. And the tools are different, too. A hardware loss today is often equal to an irreversible loss of personal data, including emotional pieces like photos and private messages.
Devices like laptops or smartphones are much more integral parts of our lives than the electronics of the past. We are in an intimate relationship with technology. Recall the last time you were saving up for and finally bought a new gadget. Wasn't it a little like this: You fell in love with a sexy design and promising features. Once you held it in your hands it was the most exciting thing you ever had. You got to know the new one through rose-colored glasses, you interacted with it every day, constantly trusting it with more private information, thereby bonding and deepening your relationship. And maybe you are still in the honeymoon phase with that latest acquisition of yours. But consider this: should serious issues surface, you are now committed.
Replacing a laptop or a phone then is a lot like breaking up. As issues deepen, you hold on and try to fix them. However, no counseling in the world can mend broken hardware or bridge serious software or hardware incompatibilities. There comes a time when you must part with your gadget. You know that migrating data will be a painful process. But once you get excited about the new one in your life, it's all forgotten. You're in love and everything comes easily.
The tendency to bond, even with lifeless objects, is very human and has served us well. Jane for example has had her desktop computer for many years. It's a piece of her home and part of her daily routine. If everything kept working reliably, she would never see the need to replace it. Such loyalty to a piece of hardware, however, can be a problem, both for the user and for companies that must sell to stay in business.

Built to Break?

What keeps our economy going is the perpetual transfer of money. Companies inherently depend on customers to buy their products. One questionable technique that has been said to sustain consumption is designing products to break prematurely.
The technical term for this approach is planned obsolescence. It describes an approach to consciously limit product lifetime through the use of weak spots or inferior material. The concept can also be extended to new software no longer running on older hardware or vice versa. Planned obsolescence guarantees lasting consumption and a growing economy at the expense of consumers.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Businesses Can Boost Their Online Visibility with Limited Time Offer from PRMarketing.com


New customers who sign up in April can establish and begin to grow their online footprint for just $500 for the first month.


online-public-relations
To show businesses the value of online marketing and public relations, new PRMarketing.com customers can begin an integrated marketing and public relations campaign for just $500 for the first month.
This is an integrated online marketing and public relations campaign that will not only get your business noticed in the search engines, but also in print, on television and the radio.
Salt Lake City, UT  April 09, 2013
With the launch this week of a new company website, PRMarketing.com has an offer for businesses that have been hesitant to hire an outside marketing or public relations team because of the cost. To show businesses the value of online marketing and public relations, in April, new PRMarketing.com customers can begin an integrated marketing and public relations campaign for just $500 for the first month.
A $1,500 value, the offer includes an article written by PRMarketing.com, submission of the article to online media outlets and blogs, and personalized outreach by PRMarketing.com to influential journalists and bloggers. Click here to learn more about the April offer.
“This is an affordable opportunity to establish and grow your online footprint,” PRMarketing.com President Lonny Stanford said. “This is an integrated online marketing and public relations campaign that will not only get your business noticed in the search engines, but also in print, on television and the radio.”
PRMarketing.com typically sells the package for $1,500 per month, Stanford said.
“We hope to show new customers the value of online marketing and public relations by pricing our services at a rate many businesses won’t be able to refuse,” Stanford said. “I encourage any organization that qualifies to take advantage of this offer. Once a business sees the strong results we can provide, I’m certain they will be back for more.”
PRMarketing.com’s clients have been interviewed by The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Washington Examiner and Forbes. Meanwhile, press releases written by PRMarketing.com have made it into high-profile media outlets including the San Francisco Chronicle, Newsday, CBS MoneyWatch and Associated Press. Links in the press releases help optimize websites for search engines by directing readers from the article to important pages on a company’s website.
“Whether releasing a new product announcement or a positive article aimed at countering something negative posted about a business online, these articles provide long-lasting content that ranks highly when people search the Internet for your product or service,” Stanford said. “Furthermore, few things do more to promote a company’s credibility and expertise than articles printed in major newspapers or reported on TV and radio.”
According to Stanford, “Online public relations will increase visibility for any business or nonprofit organization. This $500 package is one of my first recommendations for a company working to widen its critical Internet footprint.”

fishbat Inc. Discusses How Social Media Reduces Street Gang Violence


Following a CBS Local article about a crackdown on rival street gang members in East Harlem, social media agency fishbat Inc. says social media can be used to fight crime.


Bohemia, NY  April 09, 2013
On April 9, 2013, social media agency fishbat, Inc., details a recent CBS Local article regarding the recent street gang crackdown and the roll that social media played in the detainment of 63 gang members.
According to the CBS Local article, many rival gang members in Harlem used social media as a tactic to scare the community as they promoted the use of violence including gun trafficking, assaults and murder.”
In the article, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says, “Social media remains a double-edged sword in our crime fighting strategies. It is used by crew members to brag about past crimes, taunt rivals, and incite violence,” Kelly said. “On the other hand, we use social media to document past crimes and intercept new ones being talked about openly by crew members on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.”
The article says suspected gang members used social media networks to outline plans to murder rival crew members with guns. Alleged gang members were using Facebook, Twitter and text messages to plan out their kills and warn allies of police activity, the article says.
Scott Darrohn, COO of social media agency, fishbat Inc. offers his comments in regards to the CBS article. “Social media is a growing tool that allows users to communicate and see what others are doing,” he says. “In this case, the NYPD was able to take a remarkable step by using social media to crack down on crime. The police are using social media very efficiently to monitor illegal behavior and protect our communities from criminals.”
Darrohn says social media opens a new way to communicate and track actions. “If gang members are publicly dishing out this information on social media, it makes to use it to determine who’s participating in illegal activity,” he says.
fishbat, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service online marketing firm and social media agency. We’re branding experts dedicated to making your business a part of conversations that are already happening. Through social media management, search engine optimization (SEO), web design, and cutting-edge public relations strategies, we can raise awareness of your brand, strengthen your corporate image, and place your business in front of your ideal audience.
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WeVideo Launches “iMovie Competitor” for Android


New Mobile Video Editor Lets Customers Create On-The-Go


The New WeVideo Android App
The Android market is ready and waiting and we are thrilled to offer our powerful editing tools to the Android community.
Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) April 09, 2013
With innovative new Android phones coming to market, like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, leading online video creation company WeVideo, Inc., today introduces its new Android mobile video editing app which offers a cloud-based “iMovie-like” editing experience for Android phone owners who have the Jellybean OS on their mobile devices. Starting today, the app is available as a free download on the Google Play store.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wevideo.mobile.android
“Mobile video creation is happening anywhere and everywhere nowadays,” says WeVideo CEO and Co-Founder, Jostein Svendsen. “You no longer need to be a professional film maker to create great looking videos. The move toward consumer-created content has grown significantly in recent years due to the mobile technologies that now reside in people’s pockets. Unlike iOS, we think the Android platform has, until now, lacked a decent video editing app. WeVideo believes the Android market is ready and waiting and we are thrilled to offer our powerful editing tools to the Android community.”
WeVideo App Features
WeVideo offers the only mobile app in today’s market that syncs with a unique online video “creation environment,” enabling customers to capture video on a video camera or smartphone, edit their footage on any online computer, and collaborate with anyone, anywhere in the world. Videos created with the WeVideo Android app can be edited, trimmed, stylized and published from the phone, or saved to be edited at a later time, with the sophisticated, yet simple, online WeVideo Video Editor. 
  • In-App Recording
Record videos and take photos directly through the WeVideo app.
  • Mobile Video Editing
WeVideo gives customers full creative control over their projects. Customers can create a project, select video clips for that project, trim and arrange clips on a timeline and adjust clip volume.
  • Automated Styling
With the click of a button, the final “look” of a video can be customized with a variety of personal and professional themes that include pre-selected background music, video transitions, titles, effects and filters.
  • Mobile-To-Cloud Syncing
Videos added to the WeVideo app sync with the customer’s WeVideo account in “the cloud” so the customer’s content is backed up and accessible for further editing.
  • Simple Yet Sophisticated Sharing
Final videos can be saved on-phone or shared with a number of networks including YouTube, Vimeo, or customers’ WeVideo accounts. Automatic notifications can also be sent on Twitter and Facebook.
“We have been testing the beta version of the WeVideo Android editing app for weeks now, and to a very positive response,” says Mark Floisand, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for WeVideo. “We have spent those weeks adding and improving features and overall app functionality. Today, we are confident that this is an app worthy of carrying the WeVideo brand name.”
  • Compatible Android OS:
Jellybean
  • Compatible Android Phones
Samsung Galaxy S4 (upcoming phone)
HTC One (upcoming phone)
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung Galaxy Note II
Google Nexus
Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD
HTC Droid DN
Sony Xperia S
Sony Xperia Z
About WeVideo
WeVideo (http://www.wevideo.com) is a unique cloud-based collaborative video editing service that helps people all over the world simply create and share great looking videos. The WeVideo editor is easy enough for first-time editors, and sophisticated enough to help anyone create a professional-looking video. WeVideo works through any browser and as an integrated video editor on Google Drive. The company's headquarters are in Palo Alto, California and its services are based on technologies that originated in Scandinavia.
Visit WeVideo Online Today!
http://www.wevideo.com
Contact WeVideo PR
pr(at)wevideo(dot)com

What Can You Do To Speed Up Your Browser?

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Tip of the Day: Using a password manager can speed up your browsing, too. You won't have to spend time typing in passwords and other form data.Unsubscribe

What Can You Do To Speed Up Your Browser?

by Joel Lee
how to speed up browser
If you're like me and you spend a huge portion of your day browsing the web (whether it's for research, leisure, or just sheer boredom) then you understand how frustrating it is to have a slow, bloated browser that seems to be on its last leg. While some of that slowness can stem from issues unrelated to the browser, like ISP and computer hardware, there are some steps on how to speed up browser speeds.
I should make a note here that if you're expecting a drastic, mind-blowing speed increase, you won't find it in this article. Switching to a faster ISP package and upgrading your computer hardware (in particular, RAM) will offer the biggest boosts. The following tips can and will make your browsing experience somewhat sleeker, but don't expect a "zero to hero" transformation.

Keep Fewer Tabs Open

My first encounter with tabbed browsing was with Firebird (an earlier incarnation of Firefox), though I'm pretty young so there may have been tabbed browsing before then. But here's my point: tabbed browsing has been around for a long time and many of us, myself included, have started taking them for granted.
how to speed up browser
When people are over my place and happen to see my browser, they inevitably remark at how many tabs I have open. Maybe you're like that, too. I do it out of convenience and I wouldn't have it any other way. When I'm browsing and I come across something that seems interesting, I'll open it in a new tab to browse later. If there's a page that I want to save but it isn't important enough to bookmark, I'll keep it open in a tab, too.
But here's the downside to convenience: each tab hogs up a bit of RAM and when you have too many tabs open your computer will be bogged down. It doesn't matter which browser you're using; sure, some browsers may be more efficient with their RAM usage, but ALL browsers will take up more resources with each new tab. God forbid some of those tabs are Flash-based, because those take up even more RAM!
If you're a tab addict like me, channel that energy in other ways. Use bookmarks if you need to save items. If you want to mark an interesting article for later reading, use an extension like Instapaperor Read Later Fast.

Use Fewer Extensions and Addons

One of the biggest reasons why users will choose one browser over another is the plugin selection. Firefox calls them "addons," Chrome calls them "extensions," and other browsers will use other terms. But they all accomplish the same thing: extensibility and customization for your browser according to your needs.
how to speed up browsing
It's no secret that many users have dozens and dozens of plugins installed. You've got plugins that spruce up the tab barimprove readability, and block pesky ads. But just like tabs (explained above), each active plugin ends up using a little more CPU and RAM on your computer, which can result in some big performance hits.
The quickest way to solve this problem is uninstalling every browser plugin that you don't absolutely need. This is a subjective decision that you need to make. Do you really need that weather plugin? How about that plugin that changes your tab colors? If your browser is slowing down, try disabling as many unnecessary plugins as you can.

Delete Cache and Browsing History

In some ways, your browser is like a car: it needs routine maintenance. Imagine if you never took your car in for an oil change or inspection. It may run well for a long time, but eventually there will be a buildup of gunk and goo and nothing will run at maximum capacity. Similarly, you need to clean your browser's cache and history every once in a while.
how to speed up browsing
"But wait, isn't the cache meant to speed up browsing?" Yes. Browsers will save certain pages and images locally so that the next time you visit that site, it can load them instantly without having to download them again. However, as your cache increases in size, the browser spends more time digging through those images and pages in order to find the right ones. Caches are most efficient when they aren't filled with too much data.
In Firefox, you can go to Options and look under the Privacy tab where you can delete recent history, cookies, cache, and other things. In Chrome, open the Wrench and navigate to Settings, look at the Advanced settings for "Clear Browsing Data" to wipe out history, cookies, cache, etc. You can do the same in other browsers by looking in their preference settings.

Change Your DNS Servers

I recently wrote an article on DNS servers and how they impact your Internet speeds. In essence, the Internet relies on a network of DNS servers which are used to translate certain URLs (like www.makeuseof.com) into IP addresses. Your DNS servers determine which route your Internet connection takes, which can result in slow speeds if the routing is poor (a simplified explanation, but enough to understand why DNS is important).
how to speed up browser
Fortunately, there's a tool that I recently discovered called DNS Jumper which easily changes your computer's DNS settings to what you want. It's portable (no installation), easy to learn, and has an internal database of different DNS services, including Google Public DNS and OpenDNS. If you don't know which one to use, you can use the "Fastest DNS" option and DNS Jumper will select the fastest one for you.
If you don't want to use DNS Jumper or if you're on a system that doesn't support it, then you can use a program like NameBench to optimize your DNS settings. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Conclusion

Web browsers may seem simple at first glance, but there's a lot of technology under the hood that keeps the web browsing experience as smooth as it is. Like any other machine, if you don't keep your browser well-oiled and clean, it'll start to hang and sputter and slow down your system. Keep the above tips in mind and your browser won't feel as laggy as it normally does.
Have any other tips, tricks, programs, or plugins that might help with how to speed up browser loads? Please share them with us in the comments! We all know how frustrating it can be to have a languid browser and we'd all benefit from more suggestions.
Image Credit: Browser Via Shutterstock

9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success

Alex Katzen

9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success

In a recent post, I talked about the rules for building blogger outreach relationships. One of the rules, and what I believe to be the most important one, was to understand your audience and/or topic in order to begin researching bloggers for your campaign. This is extremely important, and there are several tools out there that make the research step a little more manageable and efficient. If your company is just starting out, I’d recommend doing some research to find the right set of tools to fit your needs. Of course, you can always use Google, but I’ve found that many of the blogs are either outdated or too general. That’s why it’s really beneficial to learn about all of the blogger outreach platforms available.

Here are some of the tools that I’ve used and had success with:

Vocus

Vocus 9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success
Vocus has been around for years and serves as a helpful tool to find large-scale media outlets. They also have a search option to find bloggers too and hundreds of categories to include in the search. Of course, it is pricey to use and could be out of the budget for many businesses.

BuzzStream

BuzzStream 9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success
My favorite feature of BuzzStream is the link marker. Whenever I come across a relevant blog, I can just click the link marker and BuzzStream will filter through the site to find contact and other information. You can also use BuzzStream to see which sites are currently linking to your company’s website.

GroupHigh

GroupHigh 9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success
GroupHigh is one of the more advanced tools as far as blogger outreach software goes. The all-encompassing database makes it easy to input several keywords, filter by social influence factors, and view SEO metrics to refine the search. It’s a bit pricey but worth it if you plan to do a lot of outreach.

BlogDash

BlogDash 9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success
BlogDash is a good resource to use if you have a very general market you are trying to reach. Some of the categories include, “Food and Drink Bloggers” or “Health Bloggers.” While not the best tool for niche research, you can refine the search by selecting in-depth characteristics about the individual blogger in these large genres.

InkyBee

inkybee 9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success
Although still in beta, Inkybee has already proven to be an advantageous platform. It has a great interface (which is unfortunately rare) and it’s easy to use. Just create a list and click “Add Discovery Job” where you can type up to three keywords for Inkybee to search to find relevant bloggers. It will then deliver all findings straight to your email and you can select the blogs to save or toss. Keep an eye on this tool.

Topsy

TOPSY 9 Tools to Consider for Blogger Outreach Success
Topsy is a social search engine that indexes different social profiles to deliver pages in chronological order. It’s especially useful if you have a specific topic in mind to search bloggers and social influencers alike.

Whither Google Alerts?

Of course, Google Alerts can help you find current and topical bloggers. From there, you can browse the blog roll and trackbacks to find more potential outreach contacts. However, I have found in recent weeks that it’s not as reliable as it used to be, so many of the tools described above are suitable alternatives.
Here are some other tools worth checking out:
Blog Lines – Resource for local blogs, news and events
Follower Wonk – An SEOmoz app to find, analyze and optimize for social growth
People Browsr – Data, analytics, influencers, and networks in real time data
With so many tools, how do you pick the right one? Decide how much your company is going to invest in blogger outreach in the long run, as well as your specific goals, and work from there. I like to start with the most available tools first (like the free tools) and then re-evaluate once I receive my first set of results.
Investing in a useful tool will save you a lot of time and stress. It all comes down to a strong initial launching point- find a tool, create lists and messaging, begin following and reaching out to the contacts, and finally, let the blogger outreach begin!


About The Author: Alex Katzen joined Search Mojo in October 2012 and serves as the Public Relations Manager, specializing in online reputation management and public outreach. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English and received a certificate from the McIntire Business Institute.

WHEN I LEARN TO FLY


When I Learn To Fly...
I am a well crafted, amply blessed, lovingly painted, hand molded soul.
Made by ONE... as a unique entity in a universe of unique entities.
For the time being I am apprenticing in the safety of a molecular body,
( I look at it as protective gear for a game called life.)
I am charged with for the most part positive energy,
which I learn to regenerate from both heaven and earth.
Thus I learn to honor Father and Mother.
I am a replica of the universe.
I demonstrate to myself and to those who look at me,
the unity and balance that we all are.
Many in one... and one in many.
Working in conjunction yet as individuals; ever moving, ever evolving, ever changing, ever growing and ever seeking universal balance.
I am learning to be in this fluidity without being a harm.
Kicking at the "Oneness" .
Causing it to be off balance by my choices.
I learn the universal rule, "seek balance as a singular entity".
I learn not to be a free-radical that threatens.
I learn there is nothing new under the sun,
all is cyclical, for us all to learn.
I am taught that as bacteria threatens a molecular body, (as my eyes behold)....
my choices threaten the heavenly body, (as my spiritual eye beholds.)
I am as you are... and as all children born are;
proof that our creator has not lost faith in us.
Has not given up on mankind.
That all is not for nothing.
I am freedom of choice.
I am learning by freedom of choice.
I am free to build or destroy.
I am free to in a molecular state see the consequences of these choices.
Feel the consequences.
This choice is not infringed upon by He who crafted me.
It is His tool, as a wise parent, which allows me to taste, test, and see the integrity of positive by knowing negative.
For how then can I know the fullness of joy unless I have something to measure it with?
How then can I appreciate my soul unless it is bound by my molecular shroud?
By the wisdom of ONE, I am ever growing to a point where I will no longer need my shroud of a body to protect me.
I will have learned to be a heavenly body....
I will have learned to make my foot print light.

I will have learned to fly.....

I'm Gonna Try Peace

by ,


Gonna lay my head down in the sand,
let the wind blow over my face.
Gonna render my body to the land,
and give it my sweet tears to taste.
Gonna lay my sword down on the soil
I am not going to swing it no more,
I have nothing to show for all the toil,
been stalemated , “settling the score.”
Gonna put my hands behind my back,
and let the will of heaven flow,
pray for some mercy to put me on track,
and refresh a weary parched soul.
Going to pick up a staff to hold instead,
and try to walk a mile in bare feet.
Gonna listen to what history has said
and pound my drum to a different beat.
Hold words in my mouth of a different plan,
and learn a whole different speech.
Gonna hold them to action as best as I can…
this time I gonna try PEACE!

There is a claim that miracles
are the fancy of imaginations;
and indeed they will be
if you are not open to receive them.
If you hold no faith,
if you do not use your eyes to see them,
if your definition is to tightly wrapped.
All these blocking the vital energy
that all miracles flow on.

You can not see
if you do not look!.
No one will hear you
if you do not speak.
Indeed you will not be tested ,
if you do not stand up for something,
but again....
you will never need a miracle either!
Nor will you experience the euphoria
of being blessed by one ,
unless you put yourself out there in faith,
standing firm in your convictions.

Life is a miracle in it's self,
and you would be squandering your life
unless you put yourself out there as well

by CMD