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Archive for the ‘Educational Corner’ Category

Quality websites are always created using the good kinds of website building tools found in the internet. These tools range from design templates to page creators to web testing programs and optimization software. If you are new to the online business then it would take some time for you to locate the best programs you can use in building your site. This article however focuses on the tried and tested website builders which you can apply to your site creation activities. According to helpful forums such as Yahoo Answers, among them are:

1. WordPress- WordPress is probably one of the most popular website building tools used by web designers and website owners alike. Its user friendly features as a blog software enables almost anyone to build their own website easily, without the hassles of fixing certain codes. You can upload WordPress in your site via FTP or through scrip installers found in your web host. Once you have WordPress, then you can add all the content you want.

2. Snap Pages- is another of the website building tools you can use if you prefer a Flash website with other innovative effects, then you may settle with Snap Pages. It is a page creator which allows you to come up with pages that contain interactive content, as this builder is powered by Flash Player. This suits best with sites that need be more lively and dynamic to their audiences.

3. Web Accessibility Toolbar- this toolbar, created by the Accessible Information Solutions (AIS) of Vision Australia, is one of the helpful website building tools used to address accessibility concerns. You can then validate your CSS, HTML and other links, test your web pages in different patterns and solutions, as well as regulate your CSS options. You can also edit images, check out your alt tags to see if they are working, fix your heading structure, and toggle tables to see how search engine spiders see your web page. This is a must in building your own website, as you get to gear the way search engines view your site.

4. Button Mania- another must have in your list of website building tools is Button Mania. If you are planning to put up a functional site where users can click on the buttons to get the downloads or be redirected to the pages that they want to go to, then this is the tool you need. Button Mania can provide you with quality buttons you can install on your site without the need of editing codes.

In conclusion, the above tips are just a few of the website building tools that are commonly used by website builders. To stay up to date on website building it is necessary to always be searching for new an innovative ideas. Websites for Success is constantly looking for new and innovative ideas to keep our customers as update on website building as possible. If you keep in touch with our website you will always articles on new and innovative ideas and tools that you can use to build a website.

Ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to subscriber inboxes is an increasingly difficult battle in the age of spam filtering. Open and click thru response rates can be dramatically affected by as much as 20-30% due to incorrect spam filter classification.

Permission
Confirming that the people who ask for your information have actually requested to be on your list is the number one step in the battle for deliverability. You should be using a process called confirmed opt-in or verified opt-in to send a unique link to the attempted subscriber when they request information. Before adding the person to your list they must click that unique link verifying that they are indeed the same person that owns the email address and requested to subscribe.

Subscriber Addresses
When requesting website visitors to opt-in ask for their “real” or “primary” email address instead of a free email address like Yahoo or Hotmail. Free emails tend to be throw away accounts and typically have a shorter lifetime than a primary ISP address.

List Maintenance
Always promptly remove undeliverable addresses that bounce when sending email to them. An address that bounces with a permanent error 2-3 times in a 30 day period should be removed from the list. ISP’s track what percentage of your newsletters bounce and will block them if you attempt to continually deliver messages to closed subscriber mailboxes.

Message Format
Usage of HTML messages to allow for text formatting, multiple columns, images, and brand recognition is growing in popularity and is widely supported by most email client software. Most spam is also HTML formatted and thus differentiating between requested email and spam HTML messages can be difficult. A 2004 study by AWeber .com shows that plain text messages are undeliverable 1.15% of the time and HTML only messages were undeliverable 2.3%. If sending HTML it is important to always send a plain text alternative message, also called text/HTML multi-part mime format.

Content
Many ISP’s filter based on the content that appears within the message text.

Website URL:

Research potential newsletter advertisers before allowing them to place ads in your newsletter issues. If they have used their website URL to send spam, just having their URL appear in your newsletter could cause the entire message to be filtered.

Words/phrases:

Choose your language carefully when crafting messages. Avoid hot button topics often found in spam such as medication, mortgages, making money, and pornography. If you do need to use words that might be filtered, don’t attempt to obfuscate words with extra characters or odd spelling, you’ll just make your messages appear more spam like.

Images:

Avoid creating messages that are entirely images. Use images sparingly, if at all. Commonly used open rate tracking technology uses images to calculate opens. You may choose to disable open rate tracking to avoid being filtered based on image content.

Attachments:

With viruses running rampant and spreading thru the usage of malicious email attachments many users are wary of attached documents. It’s often better to link to files via a website URL to reduce recipient fear of attachments and reduce the overall message size.

CAN-SPAM Compliance
The January 2004 Federal CAN-SPAM law introduced a number of rules regarding the delivery of email. It’s important you have your legal counsel review your practices and ensure you are in compliance. The two most important rules include having a valid postal mail address listed in all commercial messages and a working unsubscribe link that is promptly honored to remove the subscriber from future messages.

Reputation
Reputation services are often used by large ISP’s as a way to vet email senders regarding their email practices and policies. Businesses listed with these services are then given less stringent filtering or no filtering at all. Several reputation services are:

•http://www.isipp.com/iadb.php
•http://www.bondedsender.com
•http://www.habeas.com

Relationships & Whitelisting
Contact with major ISP’s and email providers is essential in letting them know about your requested subscriber email. Many large providers such as AOL and Yahoo have specific whitelisting programs and postmaster website areas to ensure your email is delivered as long as you meet their policies and procedures in handling your opt-in list.

Email deliverability is about ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to the intended recipient. While no single tip will enable you to get 100% of your email delivered each one utilized as a group can go a long way to reaching that goal.

Posted by Tom Kulzer (AWeber CEO)

Deciding on a family road trip can be a daunting challenge, not to mention an exercise in patience.  However if you prepare ahead of time, the trip can be one of the most memorable experiences of your family’s life.

Here are some quick and easy tips for making your family road trip a fun and safe one.

First, prepare a checklist of items you will need.  This will include first aid kit, food, snacks, drinks, and lots of toys, coloring books, paper and crayons, a portable DVD player so your kids can watch their favorite movies; and a cooler.  A good idea is to ask the kids what games they would like to take, within limits of course.

Ensure that the snacks are healthy in nature.  Too many sugar snacks can have the kids bouncing off the car seats.  Remember, this is a relaxing family vacation and you want to avoid the kids getting bored or repeatedly asking you when you are going to arrive.

Check online to print out games for the road that you and the kids can play along the way.  There are an assortment of puzzles and riddles as well.

In addition, if you have very young children you will need to take the diaper bag and wipes for the occasional spills, blankets and pillows if applicable and a favourite item or stuffed animal for the young ones is a good idea as well.

Second, decide on the destination and then contact AAA for a trip ticket.  Ask for the scenic route, one that is much more calming and pleasing to the eye, especially the driver!

Third, as you check out the planned route you may want to check online to find gas stations along the way that offer the cheapest gas.  Also if there are any points of interest along the route mark them on the map and plan to stop at these sites.

Fourth, while on the road ensure that you make pit stops regularly.  This will allow the kids to run around and let off some steam, while allowing the adults to stretch and reenergize.  Bring along a football or soccer ball so that the entire family can have some fun while exercising at the same time.

Finally, it is very important that safety concerns are met.  This includes having the car checked at your local mechanic or gas station.  Ensure that the oil and filter are changed; the tires are well inflated (don’t forget the spare tire, too); the windshield wipers are replaced (if needed); and the car is in great condition before you head out.

In addition, you may want to place the following items in your trunk: a lawn chair, extra blanket, emergency road kit, umbrellas, water, flashlight and batteries, a battery-powered radio, and windshield wiper cleaner.  In the glove compartment include a first aid kit and cell phone charger.  Keep all medications in a Ziploc bag in the glove compartment as well.

Another good idea is to take a list of telephone numbers including the hotel or motel where you are staying as well as those of family and friends you may need to contact.

If you enjoy scrapbooking, this road trip may be a perfect opportunity to add new treasures to the book.  As you make stops at some scenic sites, ask the kids to find an item they would like to include in the scrapbook.  Or if the kids point out something along the way that they find fascinating, take a picture of it to include in the scrapbook as well.

Engage the kids in the decision making, age appropriate, and allow them to decide what they would like to bring.  Have them pack their clothes (check the suitcases afterwards) so they feel part of the overall experience. Planning ahead of time for a family road trip will save you time, stress, and money.  And the kids will enjoy this adventure, too!

If you are pregnant, it is very important that you ensure you are safe at all times while driving or flying to a summer destination.

Here are eight travel tips during pregnancy:

1. Always be prepared

Being prepared is important as it lowers your stress level. Always ensure when flying or driving that you have everything you’ll possibly need while on your trip. Within the bag that you’ll be taking with you on board the flight, ensure you have all your vital supplies. It’s best to choose an aisle seat so you can have easy access to the bathroom.

2. Pace Yourself

Try not to over-exert yourself. You are on the trip to have a good time, but you also need to ensure you find time to take a nap and get re-energized. While pregnant you will tire easier, so do not push yourself beyond your means. Find the time to relax and pace yourself. You can still have a good time without trying to do too much that will result in over-exertion.

3. Healthy Food

Always ensure that you have easy access to healthy food, as you do not want to be forced into a situation where you eat food that is not good for you or your baby. It’s a good idea to pack healthy snacks and have those snacks available at all times. If traveling by air, then they should be in a bag beneath your seat, so that you can easily access the snacks when you need them. Of course water is a priority item as well.

4. Stop at Regular Intervals

If you are on a road trip, it’s common for you to want to cover as much ground as possible to get to your destination faster. However, it’s important that you stop to use the bathroom when necessary and to get some circulation flowing.

5. Foot Massage

When you are on a long road trip, it’s critical that you make stops every hour or two to stretch your legs. During pregnancy, your feet tend to swell if they are in a certain position for too long. Thus, it’s important that you take frequent breaks and have your feet stretched and massaged.

6. Vaccinations

If you intend to travel to another country where there are known to be health issues, it’s important that you are up-to-date with your vaccinations. Of course, these vaccinations should take place before you are actually pregnant, or else you would need to discuss with your doctor the risks for having vaccinations while pregnant. Check the CDC website to determine if there are travel advisories to certain countries.

7. Comfortable Clothing

No matter what mode of travel you utilize, you want to feel as comfortable as possible. Therefore, wear clothes that are loose-fitting and provide extra comfort. You want to feel free and at ease, so choose your clothes wisely for the trip.

8. Restaurant Food

When you are dining at a restaurant, review the menu in its entirety and choose the healthiest options available. Most restaurants offer salads and lean meat choices. Treat yourself to a dessert every once in a while, too.

Ever notice how when people give you a list of reason to hire a Virtual Assistant they are typically all the same; back office management, transcribing, RE assistance, cost savings, etc.  We admit it, we also have a pretty typical list of reasons ourselves.  But what about all the non-traditional reason to hire a VA?  Last night it came to me that we always tell our clients that if they don’t see what they need on our list of services that they should email us.  But I am sure there are plenty of you out there who just don’t want to have to do that, or maybe think what you need is not a worthy reason to hire a VA.  So with that in mind I put together a short list of some unconventional uses of a VA.  Of course we are not experts in everything but we are always here to lend a helping hand.  Are any of these reasons near and dear to you?  Do you have some ideas that we have missed?  We want to hear from you…..

• You are not a business owner but you are thinking about becoming one – we can help you do the research. 
• You are a business owner and are thinking of starting another business – we can help you run your existing business while you work on starting your new one.
• You are a non-profit organization and you need an extra hand but you just don’t have it in the budget to hire another full time employee – call us, we work only when you need us and you wont have to worry about benefits or permanent overhead!
• You’re a writer or blogger or reporter, you write and post your own articles but you just need a second set of eyes to look your stuff over and your friends are not always available – we can help!  We can look at your writing with an open and unbiased mind.  And if you do need someone to post for you then we can do that too!
• You’re a Realtor and you have been using the administrative help in your office but need someone that is more focused on your needs – we can help!  I bet you spend a lot of time investing in your marketing materials and searching for new promotional items and networking arenas.  We can print, design and even mail out marketing materials for you.  We can help you maintain your website and upload your listings.  We can even put together special items and house warming gifts for your best clients.    
• You are getting married and you just have so much to do.  Call us – we can stuff envelopes, return calls, work with your bridal consultant when you cant, make appointments, we can even help you send out the thank you cards later - you just have to walk down the aisle!