Firefox has included some customization and add on features that need to be seen and experienced to truly appreciate.  Go to http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html to download Firefox.

Opera, touts that it is the “Fastest Browser on Earth!”  I use this browser as well, and it is pretty darn fast.  To download Opera, just click on this link http://www.opera.com/ and follow their download and install instructions.

Both of these browsers work great on both Macs and PCs, so check them out, and have fun.

Also, we’re so happy to be able to offer the latest edition of Jim’s eBook Make Your Networks Matter…Turn the People You Meet Into Profitable Client$ which includes a forward by Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chairman of Business Network International (BNI).

Dear Ginny,

I’m thrilled to report my new www.salesprospectingexpert.com consulting services website has already paid for itself after 3 weeks of prime-time viewing.

It provides me the first-class impression I need to secure top level b2b sales consulting clients.  Just as importantly, it reinforces my Power Prospecting® brand and nicely compliments my two other redesigned websites for selling eBooks and posting my weekly blog.

– Gordie Allen, Sales Prospecting Trainer

“When asked whether they used the internet to relax and help get their minds off of the recent economic or financial problems, three-quarters (74%) of online economic users said they had done so.” -  The Internet as a Diversion, Pew Internet

I don’t know about you, but this is true for me.  Some people turn on the TV or jump into video games and escape.  As for me, most of the time I go online.

So, I’ve decided to list my Top 10 online destinations.

Top 10 Online Escape Routes

10.  iLearningGlobal.biz – I listed this first, not necessarily because it’s my last choice of my Top Ten, but because you need to join in order to view the resources.  But with an account, you have access to really great video, audio, and ebook resources ranging on topics from business strategies including marketing and leadership development, to life skills and personal improvement.  The faculty boasts an impressive group of industry leaders.

9.  Hulu.com – This is one of my favorite video sites.  Hulu offers complete TV episodes as well as full movies which is great if I want to escape for hours.

8. Google.com – Sometimes when I just want to see if there’s an answer to a random question, I’ll google the question just to see what pops to the top of the search engine.  The answers aren’t always the most relevant, but my curiosity as to what google’s reply will be is satisfied.

7. Apple.com – This is a favorite destination when I want to see what’s new in the way of products, pricing and downloads such as widgets for my Mac.  Apple really does a great job and keeping people on their site by offering a lot of content, downloads, movie clips, and more, if you’re in a browsing mood.

6. Hubblesite.org – Out of all of the sites I escape to, this one takes me to the outer reaches of the universe.  The Gallery on the site offers the most stunning images of space as taken by Hubble.  Not only can you browse the images online, but you can also download some for your desktop or screensaver.  If you really want to escape, Hubblesite.org takes you where no man has gone before.

5. PewInternet.org – If you have a web site, especially a business web site, you should be checking out PewInternet.org on a regular basis.  This site offers the latest and greatest in internet research.  It has been quoted and featured on mainstream news media as the resource for internet research and trends.  It really is a “must visit” for anyone who want’s to know what everyone is doing online.

4. Write a blog post - While this escape tactic takes thought, it can be a welcome outlet for inspiration, discovery, and venting.  If you have a web site, and you don’t have a blog, you need one.  It’s a great way to build the content on your site to draw more site visitors.  Not only that, blogs help you tell the world what you’re good at, and why you do what you do.

And now for my Top 3…

3. Tumblr.com – Okay, while I was writing this post, I went to Tumblr.com and couldn’t help but check out the latest posts.  This site is great social site that makes it super easy to post everything from text to images to video, long and short, it’s got it all.  It’s like a twitter for all kinds of media.  And then, depending on what you may be in the mood for, it lists what’s popular as well as all posts by tags.  I really enjoy checking out what’s on this site.

2. Facebook.com - Facebook is my friend and family connection.  Not only that, but I, too, escape into the applications on FB.  This site can easily act as a time vacuum, but it’s one of those sites that keeps me connected with others.

1. StumbleUpon.com – This is my #1 escape destination.  As I said in a previous post, I really love the way my interests matter, I can “favorite” sites, and  also stumble onto newly added sites by using the “Stumble” feature.  When I want to read articles about business, I can choose to just stumble into this category, and when I want to have more fun, I may go to online games or art.  The best thing about this site is that it’s interest driven.

I also like that it’s so easy to share the sites and resources I’ve found with others.  This site also offers a “Stumble!” toolbar for Firefox that makes it even easier to recommend and favorite sites I normally go to.

Check out the sites above, and think about what your top ten web escape routes are.

“Since it launched out of Canada in 2002, StumbleUpon’s focus has always been about directing users towards good content. It’s good at doing just that through a tailored process that includes a classification engine, a clustering engine and friend recommendations.” – VentureBeat, September 30, 2008

When a user registers, they indicate what topics/categories they’re interested in.  Then when the “Stumble” button is clicked, Stumbleupon.com cycles through the content submitted by over 8.2 million members.  I found articles and information from web design to business entrepreneur resources, and from the newspapers throughout the world to the arts.

It’s great for finding business resources, too.  The other great thing is that by using the Firefox toolbar, you can easily give a web site a “Thumbs Up” and add it to your favorites.  Because it’s browser based, favorite sites can be accessed anywhere.

I’ve used other social bookmarking sites like digg.com and delicious.com, but for me, the difference is the “stumble” feature that recommends sites based on my interests.   For me, it uses the best features of social bookmarking and makes it more fun and relevant.

Ginny takes the time to understand my needs as a client and creates a unique design based around the needs of the organization. I endorse Ginny’s work because of the passion she brings to each project and the fact that she will do what it takes to complete a project to the satisfaction of the client. In short, you cannot go wrong engaging Ginny and Simply Bridges on the Web for your next web-based project.

– Eric Hallet

Do you…

• Regularly volunteer or participate in speaking events?
• Belong to a local business networking group like Business Network International (BNI)?
• Communicate your level of expertise in your advertising or marketing materials?
• Update your web site with easy-to-read stories or testimonials highlighting your in-depth knowledge?

If you’re not participating in the above, you should..and here’s why…

Communicating your experience and proficiency in your industry let’s potential customers know that you can work with them to solve their problems.  When searching for products and services, most people want to feel comfortable with who they’re working with.  We all want to feel like we’ve made the best choice, and put our trust in the most capable hands, whenever we make a decision to secure products and services.

An example of Experts in action…

I had been having some issues with my computer.  I knew that I needed to replace some fans as my computer was telling me this, and quite loudly.  I had been using a cooling pad, but this was only a temporary measure.  As difficult as it was to part with my computer, I took it to the Apple Store to have it looked at.

From the start, Apple let me know that they knew what they were doing.  After scheduling a time to take in my Mac, I brought it in to the “Genius Bar” (Expertise clearly alluded to here!).  The person at the bar, Jonathan, not only asked me about what was happening to my computer, but also let me know that they were well-equipped to handle it.  He tested it and let me know straight away that they had the parts, the people, and the time to take care of my problem quickly.  Jonathan was not only knowledgeable, but he was comfortable communicating his level of expertise in a way that would have made anyone feel at ease.

And it wasn’t only Jonathan.  When I eavesdropped on other conversations I was hearing the same thing.  The folks behind the bar not only knew what they were doing, but also knew HOW to communicate their level of expertise in a way that put others at ease.

The point here is…

• What’s your process of communicating your level of expertise? This process not only includes the words that you say, but also how smoothly people are moved from inquiring about your product or service, to securing their business.
• Do you talk with potential and existing clients in a way that quickly puts them at ease? Don’t talk down to people, but talk in “plain English.”  Try to refrain from using industry insider’s language (or “Geek Speak”) when talking with others.  It may demonstrate that you know the insider’s language, but it may not put people at ease…especially if you’re just talking over their heads.
• Do you use your web site to educate and inform others about your level of expertise? If you don’t, you should.  Make a point of using your web site to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs), explain what you can do for others, and help people decide to use your products or services.  This is low cost, often easy to update (especially if you have a business blog like this one), and easily accessed by others.

If you would like to find out more about any of the above, please send us a message and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

NEW LOCATION!!!
BUFFALO WILD WINGS
BUFFALO WILD WINGS
900 S.R. 436
CASSELBERRY, FL 32707
(The Corner of 436 & Red Bug Lake Road)

Hosted By:
Jeff Aames & JT Tsaldaris
J&J Creations, Inc.

Monday, July 20, 2009
11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Here\’s Who Is Attending
FINAL Through NOON Friday!!!
(There\’s Still Time To RSVP)
Let me know if bringing a Door Prize.
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2009-07-20
End Time: 13:00

The reason I ask this question, is because if my client has a smaller inventory, they may not need a feature-packed online cart and store front like X-Cart.  In some cases, clients have just a few products, less than 10, and no need of inventory management.  In these cases, a custom programmed or smaller scale store front solution better meets their needs. Other options for commerce solutions  include Zen-Cart, OS Commerce, Ubercart, just to name a few.

To determine what commerce solution will work best for you, consider the following:

• Inventory management needs,
• Design flexibility,
• Reporting needs,
• Payment gateway like Authorize.net or Paypal.com to accept credit cards and other payment methods,
• Shipping or download methods,
• Currency Support,
• Image options,
• Newsletter capabilities,
• Coupons, specials, and featured products,
• Wish list capabilities,
• Search engine optimization,
• Language support.

Add to the above list, as needed, depending on your circumstances.  Think about the features you need, but make sure it’s put together in a professional manner.  A professional design goes a long way.

Having said that, search engine optimization considerations at the beginning stages of creating your store front are a must—-especially when it’s time to enter your products.  Be sure to include product names and descriptions that will help people understand the products and features.  Use complete descriptions that explain your product clearly.  Don’t just put the name of the product in the description area—-this does little for your potential customers, and little for you in the way of search engine optimization.

Your best bet is to really think about what you want from your e-commerce site and how you want to serve your site visitors.  The right commerce solution, combined with a professional design and user-friendly product descriptions, will ensure your online store front is working for you.

• As of April 2009, 63% of adult Americans have made the switch to home broadband (cable internet), up from 55% in May, 2008.
• In 2009, internet usage for ages 65+ is at 30%, up from 19% in 2008.  For ages 50-64, usage is up to 61% in 2009, up from 50% in 2008.
• Adults who reported annual household incomes over $75,000 had a broadband upgrade rate of 85% in 2009.   — Home Broadband Adoption 2009, by John Horrigan

More people are spending more time online.

How is your business represented on the web?

Who are you trying to reach?

What is your strategy to reach your target audience?

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