Social Media Video Is One Of The Hottest Ways To Sell Virtually...

by CHICKMELIONfreelance


There is a lot of chatter lately about the emergence of a new internet marketing medium called Social Video. In the hustle and bustle of a million and one entrepreneurs jockeying to get themselves in the fore front of the public’s eye amid this vast sea called the web; this medium makes a whole lot of sense. I don't know about you, but on a daily basis I am inundated with words... some days I am so inundated I can’t even type straight.

I joke with my friends that a troll comes in the night and switches my keyboard keys around. My spell check is doing overtime! In all reality we all are doing a lot of reading. Whether it be road signs to and from work, labels, bills, directions, mis-directions, re-directions, white papers, scrap papers... well you get were I am heading. I kind of like the idea of sitting back and having things presented to me... I find that I absorb more information, remember the facts easier, tend to actually go through the whole material instead of skim the surface. That is good news for a marketer! No doubt this is exactly why Social Media Video is taking off like a storm.

I attended a web seminar not too long ago put on by: Mike Koenig whose site is Market Yourself Video (marketyourselfwithvideo.com/video2.html) and I learned with a few tid-bits. For one; the potential for marketing via video is crazy and I am going to quote Mike’s stats directly :


Social media video is one of the hottest, most effective ways to sell virtually anything over the Internet



1) People really like to watch short videos. Consider these facts:

• 30 billion videos are watched in the U.S. every month
• Almost 60% of all web traffic is video
• 100 million people view online videos each month in the United States.
• The average duration of an online video watched is 3.5 minutes.

Secondly, I learned that the amount of social video vehicles available was a whole lot more substantial than I would have guessed.. I counted at least 58 or more sites that you can upload your video to, with YouTube(c) as the giant of all. That is a phenomenal reach and according to Mike Koenig with a nominal investment you can drive targeted visitors to your site and benefit from the SEO bonuses because of it.

Do you need a large production company to direct and produce a 3.5 minute commercial for you? Mike Koenig claims not! He suggests that you think of five objections you can turn into selling points, or answer 5 questions your market may ask you about your business or product and generate five mini conversations around these. Why 5? Well apparently to keep things viral and the hungry viewer satisfied. If they like what they saw they will want more and you had better be prepared to give it to them. Five seems to be the number acceptable to keep the hungry viewer satisfied and give you a toe hold as an authority on your subject.
　
With all this in mind, I thought I would give it a try myself to see what I can come up with. Armed with just my graphics program, windows movie maker and a bit of imagination I threw together a few commercials. Heck, I have to admit, I had fun doing it too! You might want to give it a try yourself! This is a trend that is not going to die out. I am sure you will find yourself down the road looking for the resources to get in on Social Video Marketing . And I wish you the best of luck with it. After all it is the successes of small businesses that builds a strong economy.

HOOKS CROOKS AND GOOD LOOKS

by CHICKMELIONfreelance


There is quite a wide array of business styles swimming in the internet ocean. From the savvy to the sharks... the waters hold them all. Yet survival of the fittest is not necessarily the one who can take the largest bite in the quickest amount of time; but rather the one who surely and steadfastly assembles a foundation of trust and interaction with their client base. Yes these are the ones who seemingly survive tempest of recessions and bounties of growth stages, both of which can drop you to your knees if you are not prepared.

Slow and steady... that is what we have heard for years as a formula for winning the race and because we are on the high speed internet peddling our wares, this by no means dictates a different business approach. Ethics has always outweighed the quick and easy. What does evolve is how we reach and interact with our potential client base. Though a call to action has always been a part of the marketing mix, shout outs now are accompanied with a free offering in hand.

Partly because it has been such a common practice, it has become expected by a consumer driven society being wooed at every turn.Yet there are some very logical and practical applications for offering a free service or product to a prospect such as : creating an avenue to open a dialogue with, creating an environment of trust and confidence, as well as allow the prospect to test the product to see how it fits their needs. Hopefully the prospect gets so used to the convenience of the product they are more than happy to upgrade or try other extensions the organization has to offer.　

A very good example is the strategy Mail Chimp uses. They are a DIY email marketing service that offers a Forever Free Pricing Plan: where you can store up to 500 subscribers and send up to 3000 emails a month... absolutely FREE! Think about it! When you hit their limits what are the chances that you are going to upgrade to one of their paid services and continue with them for a good while in the future?The beauty about this type of plan is the momentum behind the strategy.

It is built on good old fashioned networking and comradely. Mail Chimp graciously allows the "start up businessman" the slack they need to establish a toe hold in their niche. Surely they consider it as an investment in a much larger and longer anticipated relationship in the future. A relationship now built on trust. This is very respectable and ethical partnership mentoring that no doubt enhances Mail Chimp’s success and sets them apart from their competitors.

On the flip side, I have come across far too many of the following characters while surfing the open waters in my research. I fondly call them "Bargain Basement Bobs," and for any of you who are reading this who have shades of silver on your temples and a degree of wisdom only time can serve, you well know this character from old television advertising days.

He’s the outdated, outlandish hustler dressed in an over the top costume claiming to have gone "crazy, crazy crazy... to sell, sell, sell...." (Yes, he’s practically giving it away! Hurry and get in on the deal before they carry him away to the big house!)This entrepreneur overstates the value of their gift, (and I mean grossly overstates,) they claim their product or service is "irreplaceable," while in truth it is shaudy and ..(wink, wink) you can trust them implicitly!

I truly believe these are the ones who have ruined consumer trust in the first place, causing worthy and ethical entrepreneurs to have to dig in just that much harder to re-establish a foundation with the consumer. As an example, I wrote an article a while back on using PLR products to help keep content fresh on a website for the cash strapped and time starved business owners. Now I am not picking on PLR products, they can be a very handy tool given they are of quality and delivered with integrity! In my research though, I decided to test try a few outfits to see what they had to offer so I could get a full grasp of the pro’s and con’s on doing business within this niche. I was readily offered free PLR products to test, some which were very good and indeed they have succeeded in establishing trust.

Unfortunately I found Bargain Basement Bobs lair as well, and it did not take long to come to the conclusion that the 3D Ebook Cover Generating software they were using was far more valuable than the product that the shiny graphic presentation was pimping. It left a very dissatisfied taste in my mouth and a renewed respect for the PLR offering entrepreneurs who stands proudly behind their products with no smoke and mirrors.

Fortunately for this entrepreneur, Bargain Basement Bob just landed him a sale. Now I am not sure if Bargain Basement Bob’s actual product line was as shaudy as the sample he was passing out, but I was not going to lay out hard earned money to find out and in there lies the lesson!

It doesn’t take long to discern the cream from the curds. In the world of advertising wisdom, it is said that the average person generally buys a product only on the 6th or 7th exposure... and there is a good reason for it. So for all of you who are pushing through consistently and ethically, choosing the slower yet steady path... take courage, your foundation will last and your rewards will equal your persistence. My hats off to all you who chose the straight and narrow path......

THE ULTIMATE PRESS RELEASE

by CHICKMELIONfreelance

Press releases are a viable means of drawing attention and back-links to your business page. Because of this, your release is facing a very competitive environment. Your objective is not only to get the release posted on the sites your distributor"s package offered and which you paid for; you are hoping for a bigger bang for your dollar. To entice "the press" to be interested and pick it up for publishing in their media as well such as: magazines, newspapers, blogs....etc.

Each individual journalist who picks up your story for reprint represents a substantial reach of their own, opening you to even more back-links. That is how to get the most of your advertising dollar. Consider this similar to fishing. A daylong cast with good bait will increase your chances of landing a targeted potential customer to land on your business page. There you can convert to paying customer. A drag net is even better if you can afford it, but you had better be prepared for dealing with a large volume of inquiries. Drawing in a number of interested prospects and being unable to service them adequately is far more damaging. Their word of mouth can kill any reputation you hit worked hard to build.

Though your press release distributor welcomes all releases, including those which tout your new business, your new boss, or your new product; and though they do hit a substantial reach to be proud of, it is important to note that journalists rarely pick up stories about companies unless the story is news worthy. Something big has had to hit happened. Perhaps those instances you may not necessarily want to be involved with, like a scandal for instance. The fact is, these journalists are also working hard to keep their subscribers satisfied; so they pick the cream of the posted releases in order to fulfill their own patrons lust for meaty and interesting content. You want your release then answer this need, in order for it to go viral. Here are some presentations with a twist that seem to work better than the rest:


1) Lists!
It is the fad now days. You probably have read one or two of them yourself. Perhaps they read like: "10 things not to say to a disgruntled customer " or "5 mistakes bulls make in a china shop."
They are proven to be an easy comfortable well organized read,suitable for our rushed world, because they are orderly and concise. They are a good vehicle for a little light humor or a twist; as well as an easy avenue to host captions that may stop a reader in their tracks. Almost any organization can come up with an interesting twist or view of their business with this form of story.

2) The "Good Guy" story!
We all like to read a feel good piece. It breaks up the monotony of our day to day news feeds such as: tragedies, hardships, obstacles, and disappointments. People have always enjoyed good public relations pieces and tend to bond, as well as be loyal to corporate images that project this human touch. Stories need not necessarily read of giving and charity, but also a show of appreciation for their customers, neighbors, employees, even the environment...etc. Anything that would make the readership feel good when scanning through your story.

3) Legitimate News Tie-ins!
We face issues in our day to day: the economy, health scares, or global shifts that will affect us negatively if we don’t plan now. If you company or product can tie into these issues and solve whatever of the concerns that the media has raised around these issues, it is very likely these same journalists would be interested in your story as a tie-in. To take advantage of this type of press release you need to act fast while the " threat," is fresh and relevant in the minds of the readership.

4) The all out unusual!
The more unusual the caption as well as the story, the more likely this form of press release will gain attention. Again, it is a break away from the monotonous day to day information gathering your readership engages in. As example a restraint releases an announces a free omelet for any one who considers themselves brave!(The twist... Eat their giant sized one dozen egg dish in 10 minutes and not only will it be free but you get immortalized on the Wall of Fame as well.) As a follow up press release, the same restaurant can publish a story on a few very satisfied wall of fame customers.



With a bit of ingenuity and creative talent, an attention getting and well written release can go a good distance as a viral marketing tool. It will work hard for you to get your service and your product in sight of targeted prospects. Yet when writing your release you have to put yourself in two sets of shoes and write from their perspective and needs. These shoes are filled by the journalist who will take your release and increase the reach of it to targeted subscribers and these very same subscribers as well. Fortunately for you they are all looking for the same thing...a very good read! One which you are going to provide it for them!

INTERNET MARKETING MEEST UP WITH A REVOLUTION

BY CHICKMELIONfreelance


INTERNET MARKETING MEETS UP WITH A REVOLUTION


It is a common place consequence of living on earth where absolutely everything is subject to a form of evolution. But when it comes to Internet Marketing the evolution has been kicked up a gear or two and perhaps can be best coined as an outright revolution. A globular about face is being introduced for search engines: from an address based listing, to an all out solution based portal, with a outfit called Findsolve pioneering the movement.

We have all been there... on the see engine highway pouring through hundreds of listings, scanning quickly for keywords that seem closest to our search needs. We open up pages and it is like a crap shoot isn’t it? Maybe the listing is just what we are looking for, or more than likely ...NOT! Certainly not a good thing if we are hard pressed for a solution in a time pinch. Which is exactly where most business entrepreneurs find themselves for a good portion of their day. Worse than this, chances are a considerable amount of these same individuals have themselves invested in SEO marketing; investing in optimization efforts only to find themselves still pages behind listings that aren’t even truly germane to the search. Who isn’t finding this very frustrating ?

No wonder a cry rang out over the global web for a more effective solution’s based answer to see engines. Something that will truly recognize and reward the product and services being offered as opposed to successful SEO efforts which may or may not truly represent how the organization actually service their customer’s needs. What was left wanting was for was a database that will put everyone on a level playing field regardless of corporate size and allow a finder to critique the company’s offered solutions as opposed to address. These solutions can be based on parameters that are important to finder’s specifications whether it be product, price, references, or even distribution.

Still in it’s infancy and to be honest with you having a ways to go still before they hold a sizeable market share, you can bet that Findsolve is only the first of such innovative portals. There are just too many frustrated customers surfing the web with the same relative complaint for it not to flourish. After all the kinks are ironed out in this newborn solution based portal, no doubt these innovators will give the current see engine giants like Google a good run for their money, and force them to rethink how they service their own clients as well. Kinks? Hey any newborn concept is inherent with their issues like creating market awareness, and modifying customer behavior. Certainly not unconquerable obstacles and indeed ones SEO campaign’s themselves had to deal with head on in their own inception.

It will require altering the mindset once again when listing your website in a solutions based portal and looking for successful ranking in your market niche. Rather than thinking in terms of communicating to the intangible "web spiders" who deal complicated algorithms, you will have to think of your corporate benefits and how they translate best to your customers needs. You will have to think, "if I were looking for my business, what key questions would I ask to find it?" It sounds like good old fashioned tried and true marketing has found it’s way to the web search engines.

Is this the end of SEO marketing? I doubt it, however I am quite confident that it will have to share the arena with more formidable forms of marketing. Indeed if SEO companies desire to survive they too will have to evolve. They will have to take a very close look at what their own consumers are unhappy about. Already SEO marketing is seeing a revolution of it’s own, offering "pay upon success" options in answer to a market flooded with unscrupulous and unproductive agents who charge for services they fail to perform on. Isn’t it funny, their head on competitor Findsolve offers corporate performance rating by their own clients as one of the search parameters.

Yes indeed there are big changes in the wind, but as an entrepreneur myself, I am excited where this movement is leading to. After all it is on the backs of successful business that this country stays strong and viable. I welcome change, even if as a writer I too will have to find my niche in these changes.

Cecil's ReUpholstery
This Web page
has been designed and authored by
CHICKMELION freelance...
Check it out, hit the link!

Conquering the Stains and Saving the Furniture

By CHICKMELIONfreelance

Conquering the Stains and Saving the Furniture


It is always an exciting moment when we place our new or newly re upholstered treasured piece of furniture in it’s rightful place. Indeed there is considerable truth to the old adage, “a change is often as good as a rest.” A new or revitalized piece can refresh and delight any space it adorns, and bring much pleasure to it’s household. Until the unspeakable happens. An accident of epic proportion: grape juice, candle wax, or ink is splattered on the prized treasure. These accidents are be notorious for occurring at their worst possible moments as well... like when you find yourself without a commercial solution.

We all know that to effectively deal with a stain on rugs or upholstery, you have to act fast. Often enough finding yourself not well equipped for the task at hand....or so you think! Well think again! Let us look at some effective and powerful home remedies concocted from simple supplies that I am sure you have on hand right now. Check your pantry or cupboards and see if you have any of the following:

baking soda
borax
white vinegar
salt
lime
mayonnaise
toothpaste
egg yoke
milk
rubbing alcohol
salad oil
Windex


This unusual list is going to be all you need in any spill emergency and a large majority of them you will already have on hand. What is the added bonus is that these are earth friendly applications as well. With these you will be able to effectively restore any fibre to its original form without damage to the colors.

An all purpose cleanser made of 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of white vinegar and warm water will provide grease cutting, mildly abrasive cleaning action that deodorizes and softens hard water as well. This is a good solution for mopping up a large spill as it will effectively handle the majority of the stain, as well as eliminate water stains on wood. You can also use straight borax instead of baking soda and white vinegar. This makes a very effective and color safe solution that provides added disinfecting power. If the stain persists, do not dismay, there are more things in your arsenal you can use.

Another effective means of dealing with water stains on the wooden surfaces of your treasured piece, is with either toothpaste or mayonnaise applied to a damp cloth. Any brand will do. Just buff the surface after application and you are good to go.

A rust stain can be easily dealt with salt. Sprinkle it directly to the stain and squeeze a lime over top of it until the salt is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for about three minutes and then wipe clean with a moist cloth or sponge. If you don’t have a lime, vinegar will also work. Salt also works very well on dark colored juice or wine stains. Again sprinkle the salt on the area and rub with a cloth moistened in cold water.

Another equally effective remedy for dark stubborn stains, like coffee; is to mix an egg yoke and a tablespoon of milk and water. Rub this mixture on the stain. If the stain had set or is stubborn then a stronger mixture is needed; just add a little rubbing alcohol and continue working on the stain. Then rinse with a moistened cloth. Rubbing Alcohol is effective for spilled candle wax on fabrics as well as tar on wools. Clean off the excess spillage and rub the area with the alcohol, and the wax will dissolve. Tar on cotton can be dealt with salad oil. After you scrape off the excess dab the stain with salad oil and let is set for 24 hours and then rub with a warm soapy wet cloth.

Oil paint on fabrics is enough to stop your heart, but it can be dealt with windex if you have it on hand, or even ammonia. Unlike turpentine it is color safe and more likely to be in your cupboard. Spray the area with index and initially dab the area as not to spread the damage. When the excess of oil paint is off, then rub the area. Repeat as necessary, and then wipe the area with a dampened cloth .

With some fast acting and easily accessible products, which chances are you already have on hand; an accident regardless of it’s nature need not destroy your investment in a new or newly refurbished piece of furniture. Ensuring it’s enjoyment worry free for a long time to come.

Article Marketing

　


by CHICKMELIONfreelance


We know that quality content for your web page as a marketing tool is the ideal, but how does one keep fresh content on their web page that satisfies the readers, the search engines and your business budget all the same time? A simple truth about the Internet today is that any site without consistent updated quality content is not seen as important enough to merit spidering by the search engines. This can leave your web site and your company-- pages and pages behind your competitors in the search listing and article marketing is all about getting yourself on the front pages!
　
Writing and submitting articles to article banks is a well-known method for promoting one’s website and as a means of optimizing position in the search listings. It serves a few good purposes. Regular submissions by you about your profession, product or service will build you as an expert in the eye of the reader. In addition, these articles stored in article banks usually in the very least have an author’s box at the bottom of the article that allows you to provide a link back to your website. This link is valuable in two ways. First, it provides direct traffic from those reading the article to the website. Second, the link counts as a vote to the website when a search engine robot crawls the article. This will help your website rank higher in the search engine results pages.
　
To help you understand and optimize your efforts, let us first consider the politics of search engines:

• By routinely adding fresh website content with back links more search engine indexing opportunities are created;
• 
  this in turn provides better visibility to traffic searching your particular niche;
  
• more search engine traffic leads to more online popularity and viral online linking;
  
• this increased linking to a website results in more perceived relevancy by the search engines;
  
• and again resulting in higher search engine listings;
  
• which can promote more traffic because of its visibility;
  
• ...and the cycle continues.
  

What counts is quality! Your content as well as your web page must be able to attract targeted visitors to come time and time again. This is where you will be in contact with them and avail yourselves the opportunity to turn them into loyal customers. Successful internet marketers typically write and distribute at least one article per week to various article banks, as well as doing double duty in their own ezine/newsletter and keeping fresh keyword content on their own pages.

That is a lot of writing ! And if you are not in the business of writing you will soon find that the demands of article marketing, (though very profitable if used strategically) can pull an entrepreneur away from what they do best and that is run their business. There are various different methods used to tackle the content issue from: hiring freelance ghost writers, buying PLR content, spinning and article rewriting to refresh them for reuse, as well as using an article bank your self. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

　
PLR CONTENT....
PLR is short for private label rights meaning when you purchase PLR products they are free for your to alter and use as you wish, after all you just bought the rights to them;. just add your name/logo and off you go!. There is no shortage of PLR content being offered on the net and no matter what you are in business for, there is no doubt a PLR option that will fit quite well with your needs. These have some fantastic marketing applications. In this day and age “value added” is the catch phrase. Consumers are being wooed continually with free offerings by savvy entrepreneurs to get their foot in the door so to speak. These free offerings such as e-books, video tutorials, programs and dvd’s are usually attached to an opt-in list such as a newsletter that keeps the entrepreneur and their business forefront in the consumers eye on a regular basis. You can even buy PLR articles as well and freely submit these to article directories with your name on them. Now here are some things you will need to consider when you purchase PLR article material for a SEO ( search engine optimization) campaign:
You are not the only one purchasing this particular article there fore the content may not necessarily be fresh.

Even reputable PLR sites offer content writing services to combat this issue with in house writers submitting to blogs and websites on a regular basis.
Though you are satisfied with the article you may have to consider a few re-written copies to distribute not only to get your monies worth, but to avoid being penalized by some well known search engines (like Google for example) who frown greatly on duplicate content. They have some massively sophisticated algorithms that can detect duplicated content rather effectively and you may find yourself at the back of the search listings as a penalty.

There are those that argue that Google doesn’t out right penalize for duplication but rather duplicate content is identified by advance filtering techniques and rarely features well in SERPs (search engine results pages)... to me when your investment and your results do not get you to where you had worked so hard to be; this sounds like being penalized. With a few extra dollars or a few extra minutes of time you can ensure that a few versions with a fresh spin are available for use. It can make the difference between being on the 7th page of the search listings as opposed to the first.. Think about it, when you do any searching yourself - how far into the page listings were you willing to go?
　

ARTICLE SPINNING AND RE-WRITING...
In attempts to stay one step ahead of duplication penalties entrepreneurs have turned to a few means of article re-writing, they can purchase programs to spin or re-write an article and if all else fails have an article spun by hand the old fashioned way. Why do I mention the old fashioned way? Because these programs though effective in providing very good word substitutions or sentence rearranging, they are not so good at making the content come across as clear and relevant. Editing will still need to be considered to polish a re-write so it actually makes sense. The last thing you want is your name and reputation tagged to an article that is senseless. Some professionals claim that having a program re-write an article effectively loses the articles soul. Perhaps take a few free programs that are out on the market out for a spin and you be the judge. But don't forget to spin the title too, or else you are shooting yourself in the foot!

MAKING A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE ARTICLE BANK ....
When it comes to balancing time, money, and tasks at hand it makes perfect sense to throw in a free article from the bank once in a while. I say this for a few good reasons. While you may be a “re-upholsterer” and establishing yourself as an authority in your field or area on your site, you can draw from a wellspring of clients who may be found in an interior designer’s blog. As mentioned earlier, the articles at the Article Bank have back links, follow the link and make a deal to swap content. This is a profitable means of both link sharing and networking. that can save the both of you a bit of coin as well as time. Don’t forget, quality content is still key.

THE FREELANCE GHOST WRITER...
Though you may want to take on an article or two yourself, or buy some PLR content and spin them a few times; it may be well worth your while to get to know and have on hand a freelance writer. One that is willing to get to know you and your business, takes the time to research the material as well as become familiar with your competitors material, can help with keyword research, back linking, and re-writes. This will free you up to focus on the million and one areas your business demands of you daily.

You want them to ghost write for you because it is more valuable for you to have your name on the content in order to establish yourself as “the expert”. This builds a relationship of trust towards people who frequently come across your name when searching for information on your subject matter. Any freelance author worth their weight in salt will realize this.
　

Whether it be on your website, at the bank, or on a complimentary website with keywords and back links articles can certainly provide ample exposure for you to reap the benefits from .

Color Considerations For Upholstery and Room Design

COLOR CONSIDERATIONS FOR UPHOLSTERY AND ROOM DESIGN



By CHICKMELIONfreelance

Imagine a world without color! Color delivers an emotional ambience into our worlds like nothing else and though it seems that basic survival needs are not necessarily dependant on color we do hear of seasonal affective disorder -- an illness deemed to be due to the lack of light. Darkness holds little to no color. For within the lights rays colors are displayed and our innermost emotions are stimulated

Colors do affect our psyche... that has been determined and color can set the tone as if it were spoken in a whisper. Very subtle yet very clear. Not heard with the ears, but seen with the eyes and felt with the heart. It is not surprising then that color plays a very important and intricate role in interior decorating. Your furniture, your drapes, your walls will speak a mood and tone to everyone who sets eyes on them. It is important therefore to take a moment to think about the message you wish to deliver.

As every room of your home and workspace serves it’s own special function, every color in these spaces should also match these prescribed functions. It would not serve well to set a somber mood in a child's playroom, or splash vibrant enthusiasm and energy in a formal board room. The aesthetics have to match the theme and intended use of the room design or the audience will feel uncomfortable. Much research has gone into what is now refereed to as the psychology of color. Let’s take a quick look at what they have learned.　



Red...
This is the color of primal energy, it is dramatic and intense. Symbolic for passion, strength , motivation and physical drive. It is a color that can rouse us to activity and fill us with energy to get things done. It is the pioneering spirit, the revolutionist, and the extrovert. It is a color that alerts , excites and motivates. Positive red can give us feelings of warmth, friendship and excitement. Red is empowering in meeting rooms, speakers tend to be fiery. It is often used in bars to create a cozy environment, and to encourage people to talk. It increases body temperature and stimulates blood circulation. However too much red can leave a person feeling drained and constantly tired, and create an aggressive angry impulse.


Orange and Yellow...
These are uplifting colors, stimulating and enlivening. Orange is the color most closely associated with joy and excitement. It sparks movement , creativity, dance and self expression. It promotes a sociable sporty, and good natured demeanor. It is warming, enchanting and captivating. While yellow is more connected with ego and in some instances fosters a feeling of detachment. Being warm and optimistic, yellow is closely associated with the sun. It is the color of detachment and is related to control. It stimulates our intellect and logical mind as well as helping with the digestive process. Too much yellow however results in excessive mental stimulation, ego, detachment and argument.

Although orange and yellow radiate distinctly different energies, both are warm and optimistic colors with the ability to clear our minds, brighten our moods and raise our spirits. It encourages creativity, excitement vibrancy and humor. However too much exposure to orange will create emotions of fear, uneasiness, and shyness, as well as irresponsibility.


Green...
Green is the color mostly associated with balance, harmony, nature, and healing. Especially when the healing is heart related. In the middle of the visible spectrum, it is considered neither hot or cold. It is honest, stable and reliable. It is the color of kindness, compassion, caring, and sharing. Green is viewed as comforting to the soul as well as stress relieving. Green is not conducive to argument or conflict. It reminds us of the healing that can come from nature, connecting us to the unconditional, nurturing and constant support we receive from our world. When life gets out of hand, the green of the grass, plants, and trees are there to soothe us.

Too much green can over stimulate the emotions, causing one to be overcautious, and overly sensitive. On the negative side, green is associated with envy or a desire unfulfilled..."the green eyed monster"... this is a term used when the heart is not balanced; add a little red as a grounding to subdue "the green eyed monster." Too much of any one color will create an imbalance of energy with detrimental consequences. Perhaps that is why our world is not grey scale.


Turquoise and Aquamarine
This mixture of green and blue holds a youthful, vibrant, and invigorating characteristics. It is the color of pure fresh glacial water, it is the color of cool.. Turquoise induces clarity and the flow of communication. It soothes away tension, and can help when we feel vulnerable and nervous. It calms the mind and helps to promote clarity of thought. Too much however will foster feelings of insecurity, isolation, and confusion.


Blue...
This is the color of calm. It cools, pacifies, comforts and helps unwind down our day. Blue induces us to take am more leisurely pace. It has been documented to slow down the heart beat, blood pressure and breathing. Blue is also the color for communication, imagination, as well as inner strength. Bringing to you quiet, peace and serenity. It is also a color that has qualities that provide healing of pain: such as burns and pre-menstrual conditions. We absorb colors in many ways, through our eyes, in the food we eat, and through our shin. Too much absorption of blue in any environment could induce laziness, depression, apathy detachment and introversion.


Purple...
The color of meditation! Purple helps to develop insight and perception. It can center, and help you feel more balanced and in touch with yourself and the world around you. It is a lofty color, often used by kings and successful people, perhaps because of it’s associations with impact and intensity. It is considered to be a very influencing color. Purple unites two extremes of the color spectrum: energetic red, and calming blue; and is said to elevate or heighten your five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and and smell.


Too much purple will however induce a low sense of self worth and inferiority. It will leave you feeling detached from the world, as well as develop a tendency to feel distracted and dreamy.
Pink...The color most associated with love and romance. It is gentle, soft, and soothing. It is the nurturing color of tenderness and compassion. A color of unconditional and spiritual love, yet too much of it can lead to excessive daydreaming and arrogance. Pinks can reinforce positive and reassuring protective influences. It can help steady overactive behavior, as well as have the ability to induce the desire for change.


Brown...
This is the most grounded of all colors. Because of it’s down to earth feel it allows us to feel rooted and connected, thus supplying us with a constant force of energy and inspiration. The color of commitment and security. Brown is strong, sound, silent and reliable. An excess of brown however can hold you back from change and progress.


Grey...
Quiet and laid back, it is often used to support and assist hues from other parts of the spectrum. Framing and encasing some, while subduing and toning down others. A world without the quiet shades of grey lack structure, dimension, sustenance and support. it is why we shadow 3D objects in are with grey tones.Though all colors can benefit from the presence of grey, if grey is allowed to dominate it will make you feel uncommitted as well as leading to feelings of fear and negativity.　



You can heal, motivate, and subdue your environment with splashes of color as you can see. One thing is for sure, as anything else in life a healthy dose of balance and blending goes a long way to a healthy and happy mind body and soul. Too much of anything is never a good idea regardless of how much you like it. Color is no exception.

With a little forethought in what you want to set as a tone for your re-decoration efforts, you will be able to create any environment imaginable with great success. Whether it be a splash of paint or to breathe new life into your favorite treasured furniture by reupholstering them, careful color considerations before hand will make or break your efforts to re-vitalize your life.

The Low Down on The Down Undies

The Low Down On the Down Undies

by CHICKMELIONfreelance

We have come a long way since the origins of simple woven loincloth. Our burdens with uncomfortable, oversized and over heated underwear our great grandmothers had to endure seemingly dissolved with “the vote.’’ Opting for more comfortable styles, we then further “liberated” ourselves to express our femininity and sexuality and perhaps as some say sacrificing comfort again for the evolution towards the G-string of today. Our intimates were all about expression and comfort until the scientists came. Yes...invite a few scientists into any mix and now we’re talking a whole new boudoir! Here’s five ways the scientists plan to mess about in your underwear drawer.


1...Surf and turf.

We are truly living in a disposable world, apparently right down to our knickers. Yet on second thought there are some very practical applications for disposable underwear. Aside from the convenience factor the manufacturer’s claim in relation to travel they do provide a sanitary and comforting option in disasters and emergencies. Remember your mother telling you to wear clean underwear in case you have an accident and have to go to the hospital? Well toss that saying out the window, because now there is no reason why hospitals can not comfortably restore your dignity with these affordable disposable alternatives.

In addition, what survivor of a natural disaster deserves to wear hand-me-down underwear because that was all that was available? After the Katrina aftermath, this alternative may have the Red Cross thinking about these products! They were passing out medical attention, food and comfort... yet fresh underwear was seemingly overlooked and a priceless commodity for anyone involved.

These alternatives average around a dollar a piece, and you can purchase them in a variety of styles: classic briefs, bikini briefs, boxers and hey they even come as ankle socks too! Touted as natural, breathable and cool: this earth friendly bio-degradable garment is made of light weight, soft, breathable cotton. And if the frugal side of you kicks in, they can even be washed a few times. There are not hard at all to find, there are a few North American outlets you can purchase them from, just search for “disposable underwear” on the net.


2...Save energy, wash them once a month.

Yes, you heard me correctly and once you get over the “yuck” factor, again in retrospect there are indeed some very practical applications. I am talking to any of you ladies who has ever had to open a gym bag for the first time in who knows how long. You are going to be grateful for this type of fabric invention whose prototype by the way, was tested on the space station and kept on the butt for 30 days with no foul complaints. After all anti-gravity and dirty knickers just don’t mix. I am talking about a new anti-bacterial underwear called J-wear designed to keep foul odors at bay as well as repel static and wick away water. It leaves a girl to wonder what former space station visits were actually like to necessitate such a specialized invention. Manufactured by the globally based Toray Industries Inc and currently not on the “in-this-world” market just yet, but you know it is coming soon.... maybe just in time for the next Olympics, where the fabric’s wicking attributes will be well needed!


3... They are our friends.

We would highly doubt that our intimates are anything but our nemesis every time they “ride up” on us and we find ourselves squirming in our chairs uncomfortably; however nano-technology laced undies provides a claim as “girl friendly” briefs able to rub away body fat quite literally. Teijhn Fibers Ltd. has invented a polyester called Nanofront(TM) originally designed to polish industrial tools. This same fabric also claims the uncanny ability to buff away unwanted body fat as well! Say what?

The company claims that, “the texture feels soft to the skin, and reduces irritation drastically. It is suitable for a variety of applications, including functional sportswear, inner wear, skin care products, antibacterial filter, precision grinding cloth, etc.” (Only a scientist would feel comfortable clumping those attributes together in one sales pitch without batting an eye.) Teijin makes further claims that in test studies, people who have worn the Nanofront(TM) underwear for 40 consecutive days have experienced lowered body fat by several percent and consequently a reduced waist size by serval centimeters.

All giggling aside, this fabric has pretty amazing attributes. A single strand of this fiber is 7.5 thousand times smaller than a strand of hair, yet the unevenness of the fiber’s surface generates a greater friction allowing for very little slippage or movement. Your briefs will be staying put! Nanofront is also 200,000 times more flexible than regular polyester fibers and it has excellent cooling properties, as well as it absorbing and diffusing perspiration quickly. Now we’re talking girl friendly underwear, pass the nano-briefs please... but skip the bra, I need to hold onto what little I have, thank you!


4...Saving you on nail polish.

Moving onto an underwear of a different kind yet no less frustrating; our scientist friends may have the solution in the works to deal with those pesky runs in the nylons.
Who hasn’t silently pursed their lips when a fingernail ripped through a brand new pair of stockings being pulled on and were forced to dab on nail polish in hopes of halting the run. We could only pray at that moment that it wasn’t our last pair! Wishing there would be a more durable nylon that was still lightweight and comfortable. How does a self repairing material sound?

It is not on the market quite yet, but it is showing some surprisingly positive results in the lab at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA It comes in the form of a poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) copolymers (EMAA). In simpler terms it is a plastic and relatively cheap to produce, with this unique and exciting ability to heal itself. This plastic holds the potential for revolutionizing the way materials are engineered for different applications and it is fast stuff, quicker than you can whip out a bottle nail polish. Scientists tried to capture the healing process using a high-speed camera, but the event happens almost instantaneously. Aside from nylons, (which is at the moment low on the priority scale) there is an interest in this fabric being incorporated in space technology, and bullet proof jackets as well.

5...Tights on a different scale.

As if nano-fabric, self healing polymers, and anti-bacterial threads weren’t enough a technological wonder to get any girl’s head spinning, how about a fabric that emits infra-red rays that reduces cellulite? I bet that has your eyebrows raised! And this marvel is on the market right now, but is such a hot commodity you had better cross your fingers it is not sold out at the moment. These intimates are called Scala Bio-Fir leggings, (they also come in pants) and currently sold at John Lewis who reports that the anti-cellulite pants sold out within 30 minutes of going online.

The Bio-Fir hosiery is said to have the capacity to smooth out orange peel skin. It’s scientific explanation goes as follows: the fabric contains crystals that emit infra-red rays and once they come into contact with the skin these infra-red rays induced an increase in the metabolism in the skin cells by warming them up. This creates an increase in the blood flow in the skin which in turn causes the fat layers that make up the cellulite to melt into a liquid, which the body can eliminate. The leggings are claimed to be most effective if worn for six hours a day for a continuous 30 days.

Now as winter approaches, there are some ladies in the north with a big smile on their faces at the moment. I am not sure how you ladies of the south are going to take to such a product though. There is no end to the suffering and endurance required in the name of beauty, is there?



Indeed, science has come a long way with practical applications for textiles of today. It is equally amazing that in their pursuit of aerospace advancement and artillery protection, that they have not forgotten the finer things in life as well... us ladies and our intimates. Which just proves that we do fit quite high on the priority scale, and one might be able to argue that as long as we make our voices heard, it is no longer a man’s world.

5 Bizzare Ways To Get Your "You Go Girl" On

5 Bizarre Ways To Get Your “You Go Girl” On

by CHICKMELIONfreelance

That dating game can be rough on a girl. There are so many in’s and out’s to come familiar with in order to stay on top of your game and remain competitive in a very aggressive arena. Grabbing and holding onto the attentions of men can wear a poor girl down. Fear not though, here are a few unconventional tricks up the sleeve that might just give you that upper hand you need .

Keep fit and trim for him...
Has this ever happened to you. You have the attention of a guy and you have done what your moma taught you...you’re behave like a lady. You are sitting with your legs closed or crossed. You are accommodating, polite, minding your manners and your verbiage; then some slinky partially dressed vixen with an obvious over exaggerated swagger and anatomy swoons on in and “poof”... he’s gone. Well it’s time to multi task then my dear. Shape up that bottom and learn a whole new swagger of your own with “Erotic Dancercizing” Yes I said it, obviously it’s not just for the bad girls any more. You can fight fire with fire. There are a few products on the market you can check into which offer belly flattening, butt tightening workouts centered around pole dancing, chair dancing, booty dancing, and dancing with stripper. The claim is that this is a fun form of exercising with a bit of sweet vengeance rolled on in to one. Just don’t let your moma know!

Add a dab of perfume behind the ear...
Or was that ground beef....hmmmm...maybe motor oil. There are just so many choices out there. The best way to know how to match up to him as a flavorful scented
flower would be to take a test. Step aside E-Harmony... try O-Harmony instead. There is just no end to the useful means entrepreneurs are coming up with to make meaningful lifetime matches for you. How about you head up to and try an “odor matching” dating site? Yea, that’s right. That may just be the magic you were missing out on in the first place! Basisnote.com will be where you are heading, ( It is a German platform, just look for the English or French switch at the top of the page.) The general gist is that the chemistry for that match made in heaven is nasal determined, well partially at least. But before you concern yourself over being nasally challenged on the net, these folks have got you covered. The Basenote scent tests makes it possible to establish a scent profile that replaces the function of the human nose. You are literally scent matched with other profiles thus increasing your chances of smelling flowers bloom.


Get a good night sleep...
Ever hate those mornings that you wake up and you have a kink in the neck, pillow heat, and your bed is a wrinkled mess? And you look at that thing and think, “Could it be possible just for once that I wake up refreshed feeling and beautiful looking , and ready for the world ?” After all is that not what sleeping is supposed to be about? Not spending the next hour undoing the side effects of your sleep. What you need sweetie is a high -tech bed sheet set. Uh-huh.. I said it! How does anti aging sheets sound for you? One of the newest weapons to hit the wrinkle free arena are “SkinGlows” Cupron Copper Technology pillow covers and comforters by London Luxury. Copper ions are woven into the fabric and the moisture from your body activates these ions. Supposedly within four weeks your skin will not only be soft, but there will be a reduction of lines and wrinkles. Now that may be something worth “sleeping on.”

Don’t frown sweetie you will get wrinkles...
Not convinced that bed sheets are pro active enough for you? You need something more oomph! You remember the move that came out a while ago called “The Mask” where the character puts on the mask and suddenly his world is supercharged and as he said, “sexy!” Hey it even worked on dogs. Well my dear you too can have a transforming mask of your own! High-tech and all, so you know it’s got to work! I am talking about your very own electric anti-aging mask. The Rejuvenique RJV10KIT Facial Toning Mask Kit , by Guy Fawkes, (and I am not talking about the guy who was coined as the mastermind behind the attempt to blow up the English Parliament in 1605.) This simple plastic mask with an adjustable headband operates on a single 9-Volt battery, which activates twenty-six gold plated contact points that reduce facial wrinkles. Just fifteen minutes a day with plastic and gold strapped to your face, electrically charged will have the “honeys” doing a double take.


And finally try a little rouge...
The French were apparently onto something here, calling now infamous powdered on cheek blush ...”rouge “(or red) and no doubt all the evolutionists are going to perk up and go uh-huh on this one. Apparently research from the University of Rochester discovered that primate males are known to get aroused to women who redden when they come near to ovulation. They site examples of not only the male human species but also baboons as well, and you all may be quite familiar with these who’s bottoms are reddened in a well timed manner in order to attract their amours. So if you are wearing red, and catch him looking at your bottom... Remember girls, he just can’t help it. One interesting difference between the baboon and human male is that apparently red anywhere on the female human species will do the trick...go figure.

No doubt as often as you are dreaming of that magical blend that will keep you attractive and the heads turning in your direction; there are marketers and product developers in your corner dreaming up the very same thing. We will never run out of options or opportunities to make ourselves glow but if you wonder how you will know if he’s the right one for you when you meet up with him... well that’s a whole other story. But to reassure you the same marketers and product developers have got that one covered too. Yes men are entering into the vanity race as well. Just ask Clinique which has just opened up a whole new skin care line just for men. Or Dial who has developed pheromone laced body soap for him. Consider this very interesting scenario: a night club full of men laced with “Men Magnetic Attraction Enhancing Body Wash.” Now that’s a minute and a half I am just not going to get back.

You're Not Married To That Slogan... Dump It And Change

You’re Not Married to Your Slogan, Dump Her and Change

By CHICKMELIONfreelance

Amid the flurry and bustle of a Berlin tech fair, Sony announces their strategy to convey a single umbrella brand message for all it’s entertainment and electronics businesses around the world. Which just leads some one to ask, “well what was their last one?”

That is a very good question and when asked, the answer seemed to elude everyone. There is “The Advertising Slogan Hall of Fame,” a list of the more infamous and memorable slogans inducted on an annual basis, but Sony could not be found recorded. Perhaps their slogan was not monumentally memorable in the first place? One might wonder how far back they would have to go in order to get some answers. According to the official story you will have to go as far back as 1982. When “Blade Runner” and “Tootsie” were on the silver screens, the first artificial heart transplant was performed and the cost of a first class stamp was 20 cents. And don’t forget...one of the biggest technological hits of the day was of course...”the SONY Walkman.”... Ah yes! To be able to strap your stereo to your back pocket and go was a technological miracle at the time. It seems trivial now but it set the stage for Sony to be recognized as not only a quality product, but in tune with their customers and the times... yes Sony was poised as innovators!

It was also the same time that Sony last revamped it’s corporate identity and came up with an “S” mark for a logo. Yet concerned whether people who saw the logo for the first time would wonder what it represented, a brief catchy phrase accompanied the logo stating, “It’s a Sony!” From then on all Sony TV commercials ended with the “S” mark followed by a voice over with the slogan. This combination of picture and sound quickly became recognized around the world as a unique Sony trait. But that was then, and we have certainly come a long way since than. Quite possibly Sony Corporation took the time to stop and ask themselves,”does anyone remember now?”

Slogans are very important advertising tools, they are like mini vision statements, effectively conveying a companies key characteristics to all eyes: investors, customers, and suppliers alike. Every company regardless of size should have one. They are easy to plant on business cards, T-Shirts, promotional materials, and if they are catchy enough they may end up in the hall of fame. Indeed a well crafted slogan can keep the product forefront in the consumers mind. That is why most giant companies love to use corporate slogans to spur growth. Now not every company is ripe for a new slogan They are particularly effective when you are trying to communicate a major shift in strategy, or reflect a change in societal shifts, or wake up a sleeping giant. In Sony's case it would be safe to say all three.

Computer technology has swallowed the world that we had once known. Who has not been touched in more than one way with this monumental evolution which is changing the way we look and interact in our world? Advertising has changed in leaps and bounds as everyone jockeys to catch the eye of the consumer who is more often than not, tuned into the computer monitor or android phone. The term “games” used to mean kicking a ball outside on a field, now you can kick the ball clear across the world sitting in a comfy chair; enjoying 3D quadraphhonic surreal surround sound. Mind sets are changing, and indeed Sony has jumped onboard.

“Make.believe” (pronounced: make dot believe) is their new brand meassage and in their words and I am quoting:, “believe” is the power of inspiration and “make” is about crafting inspiration into products and experiences for our consumers. The “dot” is the place where they meet-and where magic happens. Would anyone like to guess who they are targeting? Anyone? This slogan unites Sony’s communication efforet across electronics, games, movies, music, mobile phones and network services, aimed at delivering unparalleled user experiences.

Sony is hoping to re-ignite the innovative perception and inspire consumers to embrace the spirit of “make.believe.”

It will be interesting to keep an eye on how receptive their customers will be , if this is a “hall-of-fammer” kind of slogan. Indeed it is safe to say that with a new slogan we can rest assured to be captivated with a riveting advertising campaign that goes along with it. Time will tell. In the mean time... how’s your slogan doing?