English Corpus

Search engine optimization seems to be becoming more and more difficult, with search engine algorithms becoming more complexed with what they require to be important. However, one thing for sure is that backlinks in particular are still one of the most effective search engine optimization techniques.

When you receive links to your website, search engines view this as a vote for your site. Now the value of this vote depends on a number of factors such as the number of outgoing links the page with your link on has, the number of incoming links the page has, and whether the site that contains your link is seen by the search engines as an “authority” site.

There are many contributing factors for your website to rank highly in SERP’s, but one thing for sure is that you need to continually build the number and quality of links pointing to your site. This could be through a number of methods:

1) Reciprocal linking - you contact other webmasters to offer the opportunity to provide a link to their website for the same in return.

2) One-way linking - this can be from many methods. Write articles and submit to article directories, add a link in your sig in forums, post opinions on blogs with a link back to your site (providing that the site owner does not mind!), and link directories.

There is no doubt that one-way linking is more powerful than reciprocal linking by a long way. Also consider that reciprocal linking should be conducted with sites that are relevant to your own websites theme.

Link building using your chosen keyword is also important. For example, should you have a website that you would like to rank highly in search engines for the phrase “Dog Beds”, then if possible have website owner’s link to your site using the search term as the actual link to your site. This shows the search engines that your site is relevant to this keyword phrase, and will rank it highly should you receive many links like this. Merely gaining links to your site is not the ONLY optimization that you must do for your site, as mentioned earlier, but it is certainly a significant contributing factor in search results.

An important note to remember is to never link to “link farms”. These are sites that contain hundreds upon hundreds of outgoing links on one page. Search engines do not tend to look upon them favorable, and in any case if your link is also on this “link farm” page, the benefit will be minimal due to the large number of other links taking a share of the value of links from the page.

There are many free article directories, and free link directories where it is possible to gain good quality links to your site. However, paying for a link from a link directory is often very rewarding. You may find that paid directories will guarantee the acceptance of your website within hours to a couple of days. This is compared to many free directories often taking months to review your submission, and may not even approve it in the end. There are some exceptions but the key is to find them. Another good point to remember is that many new link directories that are well setup will possibly have categories with very few websites currently accepted. This provides a great opportunity to submit your site to benefit from the page’s link value to the fullest.

The new directory at www.articleblotter.com/directory offers the perfect opportunity to gain one-way links to your website. The site also allows you to write and submit articles if you choose to in order to gain links. Also keep upto date with article marketing information and site news with the article marketing blog.

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Tanzania has so much to offer and to make a trip here worth wild it is better to expand the safari to include the other wonders Tanzania has to offer outside the National Parks. Yes we are talking in part of an adventure and the cultural safari. This need not be as dreadful or as energetic as you imagine. Simply be visiting out of the way areas and staying in comfortable small hotels will add depth, adventure and culture to the safari experience.

An American lady I know of mature years was so impressed after her journey through Tanzania she sold up her home in the Mid-West and headed into the wilds of Northern Tanzania. It took her three years to realise her dream and to make a permanent home in Tanzania; she has not regretted it.

We met one evening; I working for a Safari Company and had been sent to pick her up from Dar es Salaam Airport. She got as far a reclaiming her bags and then sat down refusing to move any further. Despite my frantic waving at her through the glass window beckoning her to venture through passport control, she stubbornly stayed put; she would not budge. We sent airport officials in to explain we were waiting for her but she chose not to understand. Eventually the officials allowed me to go through to claim her. Welcome to Tanzania I said; a silent steely glare was returned.

We promptly dumped our client in a city hotel for the night. The following morning we drove the six hours north to Pangani. The driver and I had not been to this area of Tanzania and as we reached the hot humid Swahili cost town named Tanga we had to stop and ask for directions. This did not impress our client and we drove to the 45km to the lodge along a very rough and dusty road in silence.

The hotel was called Argovia Lodge; as we arrived at the lodge the tropical heat a sea breeze seemed to melt our guest; it was all so tropical so beautiful. Our rooms were tents with double beds and wardrobes and even a bathroom en-suite with hot water; erected on raised wooden platforms with a viewing deck at the front of each tent. The views looked through the lush tropical gardens out onto the blue waters and white deserted sands around the bay. This was paradise - the last evening here we took a lazy cruise in a rather small motorboat down the wide lazy coconut palm lined Pangani River. We returned to the hotel by leaving the mouth of the river and crossing the bay; a storm was brewing; our small craft battled to cross the bay. Eventually we landed on the beach the hotel staff were there to greet us with towels and cocktails and the trauma of the crossing began to fade and soon became a tale of adventure in the hotel bar.

After three days of luxury on the coast we headed to the top of the Usambara Mountains. These African mountains are so different. Often they are likened to the Swiss Mountains with a generous pinch of African thrown into the mix. Grants Lodge was a small four bed-roomed farm and was charming. The food was out of this world cooked on a wood burning stove; the local people washing clothes in the river, cattle wandering, children chattering in this clean, quiet retreat. We felt close to the African culture without being intrusive, without having to rough it either.

The first day in the late afternoon we approached a table in the hotel garden, where drinks were waiting for us, a branch snapped in the tree above and wham onto the table it laded with a chameleon attached to the branch and a rather large snake attached to the chameleon. The waiter who was waiting beside the table screamed and ran away leaving one of the ladies from the kitchen to run out and beat the snake to death with a broom. It added to the adventure; a safe comfortable and very lazy adventure.

The following day we figuratively returned to five million B. C. on the primordial Bird Walk. This enchanting walk took us through the forest and eventually to wetlands where we spent an afternoon relaxing and watch birds along the grassy meadows of a small stream. We felt we had been transported back in time and was sure we noticed a pterodactyl streak overhead.

After two days here we headed toward the game parks. On leaving the Usambara if it is a Thursday or Sunday, the colourful and vibrant Lushoto market is a must stop. The market is chockablock with fruits and vegetables. There are 160 fruits, vegetables, and herbs, at this market; the mountains are famous for juicy plums, crunchy pears and purple avocados.

After a night in Arusha Town it was off to the Elephants and the Leopards in the Tarangire and the Lions of the Serenegeti. The whole experience took 12 days, it was not rushed and Tanzania, just a little, was reviled and experience to be cherished for the rest of our days.

For information on Tanzania adventures see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk and for all information on Tanzania see http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk responsible tourism can change lives, support the communities you visit.

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Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that the really big issue is motivation - where do we find it, how do we keep it going, and what do we do when it slips!

To be successful at losing weight you must find your own motivation. More importantly, you must keep motivated, even when times get tough! Read through the tips and tricks and other resources below to help you find and maintain your motivation.

* Set your goals and work out a realistic timescale for achieving them. Commit to them 100%.

* Put it in writing! Scribble down in as much detail as possible why you need to lose weight, how much you are going to lose, when and how. The more you commit to paper the better. Carry a notebook around with you and use it to record thoughts and ideas, recipes, quotes - whatever will inspire you and keep you going.

* Tell a friend or member of the family and ask them to help you stick with your plan.

* Remember that you are losing weight and improving your health “one day at a time”. You can stick at anything for one day!

* Don’t dwell on the junk that you are taking out of your diet. Instead, celebrate the healthy foods that you are putting in.

* Make bullet points of your main motivational issues and write them on a stack of cards. Display the cards where you will see them regularly - on your bathroom mirror, in your purse, in your car.

* Create a “mantra” to repeat to yourself when times get hard. For example, “Every day I am improving my health, my looks and my well-being. I am getting stronger in every way.”

* Consider asking for sponsorship from friends and family for a good cause. Perhaps you can raise money for starving children while you get your own eating under control?

* Start a file or scrapbook of articles, recipes and any other interesting titbits you read.

* Start another file of fashion and wardrobe ideas. Plan what you will need to buy when you shrink a size or two!

* Buy a piggybank and fill it up with a particular sum for every pound you lose. You can use it towards your new outfits!

* Find someone to share the experience with, and laugh your way through the tough times.

* Learn from other successful slimmers. Read other people’s stories, join a club, find a chat room, or start your own email group.

* Motivate yourself with our collection of weight loss quotes, available free to subscribers to the weekly Losing It My Way ezine.

Lindsay Small is the creator of Losing It My Way.com, which provides a wealth of information and resources (including an innovative range of free weight loss printables) designed to help you make your own weight loss decisions! For a new look at weight loss visit www.Losingitmyway.com.

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The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

• Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

• Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

• Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

By understanding exactly what elements make up each major stage of the Hero’s Journey, screenwriters can easily build a screenplay from the ground up.

Some elements of the Call to Adventure include:

Hero’s Back-story. When the Hero is pushed into the journey very early on, or when it is necessary, some back-story reveals necessary information.

• In Midnight Cowboy (1969), Joe Buck sets off for New York almost immediately - his inner challenges and back-story are revealed through flashbacks.

• In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Andy Dusfresne goes to jail almost immediately - the reasons for the sentence (his wife was murdered) are quickly made explicit.

Hero’s Capabilities. Once we meet the hero, we learn of his capabilities. Often hero’s have supernatural abilities, which in the modern day translates into them being exceptional at something.

• In War of the Worlds (2005), Ray Ferrier is excellent at his job - which we know by the way he sensitively handles the load he is lifting at work.

• In Gladiator (2000), we discover that Maximus is an excellent swordsman in battle.

Hero’s Status. Defining the hero relationship to others is common:

• In Spiderman (2002), no one wants to sit next to Peter Parker on the bus.

• In Forrest Gump (1994), no one wants to sit next to Forrest on the bus.

• In Beverly Hills Cop (1984), other officers try to interact with Axel Foley - they follow him around.

Hero’s True Nature. We learn of the hero’s true nature (which if negative, may be an inner challenge).

• In Gladiator (2000), Maximus takes time to feel the tall grass.

• In War of the Worlds (2005), Ray walks away from other workmen as they ask him favours - illustrating selfishness.

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/

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If you’re an online business using public relations (PR) to help increase traffic at your site, you’ve found a great way to gain exposure at little cost. And before you know it, the day will come when you are invited to do an interview with a reporter. It’s exciting, but scary. What do you do? How do you prepare?

First, be prepared when the telephone rings. If you sent out a release recently, have it at your fingertips.

Get some information yourself before you answer any questions: Ask the reporter:

* his or her name?
* the name of the news outlet?
* his or her phone number?
* what exactly is the story they are working on?
* are they coming on-site to do the interview or will this be a phone interview?

Then buy yourself some time. If this is an onsite interview, it you’ll already have time to prepare. If it’s a phone interview, you need to ask for the extra time you need to get ready.

Most reporters deadlines aren’t immediate but within a couple of hours. Ask the reporter what his or her deadline is. If you have some time tell them you’ll call them back in 15 minutes or half-hour, so you can gather what you need.

Here’s some tips to get you ready for your 15 minutes (or more) of fame.

Before the interview:

1. Practice your answers to the questions that will most likely be asked - both the easy and the difficult ones. Prepare and practice so your statements will flow smoothly.

2.Consider the main messages that you want the audience to receive. Make a list of three major points, and practice saying these three points to yourself until you can speak them smoothly and confidently, without stumbling.

3. Be prepared to tell brief anecdotes and short stories. Find a way to mix one or more of your three main marketing messages into each anecdote.

4. Avoid trying to be humorous or telling negative stories. Both will most likely backfire, making you look like the fool.

During the interview:

5. Try to include your three main points as much as possible. Your interview is likely to be edited prior to publishing or broadcasting. By repeating your main points, you reduce the possibility that your preferred message will be edited out.

6. Speak in plain English. Remember the average newspaper’s reading level is at grade six. Using jargon or trying to sound more important or educated by using big words will only make it hard to use your sound bites or quotes.

7. Don’t lie. Ever. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so, but offer to find out the answer and get back to the reporter.

8. Remember, there really is no such thing as ‘off the record.’ Everything you say to a reporter is fair game to use. Don’t say anything to a reporter you wouldn’t want everyone in the world to know about!

9. When you’ve made your point, stop talking. Silence by a reporter could mean two things: either they are taking notes and haven’t caught up with what you’re saying, or it’s a tactic to get you to say more than you want to reveal.

10. Don’t ask if you can see the story before it goes to print. It’s the most insulting thing you can do to a reporter. After all, they are the experts in their jobs, you are not. How would you feel if someone challenged your expertise?

Shannon Cherry, APR, MA helps businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations to be heard. She’s a marketing communications and public relations expert with more than 15 years experience and the owner of Cherry Communications. Subscribe today for Be Heard! a FREE biweekly ezine and get the FREE special report: “Be the Big Fish: Three No-Cost Publicity Tactics to Help You Be Heard.” Go to: http://www.cherrycommunications.com/FreeReport.htm

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Throwing a perfect party is a hard task to accomplish. There are parties thrown every day by a variety of people for countless reasons. Whether the party is to celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, or the coming of a new baby, there are some elements that almost all parties hold in common. The giving of a party favor to each of the guests is no exception.

I have no idea when or why the idea of giving a party favor to each party guest began, but I think that it is one of the most important things to keep in mind when planning a party that people will remember. Why? It’s simple. Everyone loves receiving gifts. So naturally, giving a party favor to your guests will help them to set your party apart from all of the other parties they attend. And we all know that there are enough parties to attends these days that something really unique has to happen or be given in order to make a party more than just okay.

I will offer a few small suggestions to help you in finding and giving the right party favor to your guests. A good rule of thumb is to never give a gift to someone that you wouldn’t enjoy and use yourself. Are you tired of all the smelly samples of lotion and bubble bath? If so, don’t try to give them to your friends as a party favor because they probably will not like it either. Before purchasing any party favor take a moment to consider how you would feel when receiving that same gift.

A great party favor should be something unique. A unique party favor can be based on the theme of your party if there is one. For example, if you are throwing a beach themed party, consider giving little baskets with sun tanning lotion and a gift certificate for sun tanning minutes at a local tanning salon. Or consider giving each guest a set of personalized stationary with a fancy pen. Another way to choose a unique party favor is to think about the person you are throwing the party for. If she loves photography you can give each guest a small photo album and a roll of film as a party favor. Throw in a coupon for free film developing to make the party favor even more unique.

Giving the perfect party favor to your guests should be easy and fun. Keep in mind the things you like, keep in mind the theme of the party and the person you are throwing the party for. Then simply be creative. Decide on a party favor that you have never seen given before and wrap your favors in a unique way. Your guests will remember your party for ages after they receive the creative party favor you give.

Julee Mitchelsin prides herself on giving the right party favors for every occasion. Learn to do the same at www.partyfavorplace.info

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There is too much talk about outsourcing of even the high caliber jobs to Asian countries especially India. What’s the point in snatching jobs from your own citizens and outsourcing to others. Every common person thinks that it is truly injustice on the part of business enterprises to outsource the jobs and deprive their fellow citizens. Will outsourcing produce quality output than home? Sympathy with such issues may help you to get some respect nothing else.

However, for a business enterprise, outsourcing will be definitely beneficial as their saving on labor will be tremendous in the end. Besides saving on cost, outsourcing can help in time-saving for the enterprises. Less important or labor intensive jobs can be easily outsourced and the management will be free to concentrate on other aspects of business to explore. Now even the highly intellectual

Cost saving is, of course, inevitable factor in outsourcing. As we all know that labor is expensive in US and Europe compared to Asian countries, outsourcing jobs will bring huge saving on labor for them. But saving is not only the criteria. You must also look for quality output you desired. If you are offered cheap labor with the same standard of quality results or even better then what would be your answer. Of course, you would say Yes and here comes the need for outsourcing.

India is producing millions of educated workforce every year. Most of them speak good English, sometimes getter than English people. This young workforce is intelligent, enthusiastic and willing to work hard to succeed. They even do not mind night shifts to keep the working pace with their fellow Americans. Not only IT jobs Having so much pool of talented people certainly can not be ignored.

Please do visit at KPO and KPO in India to know more about outsourcing.

Scott Naxton is a freelance journalist having experience of many years writing articles and news releases on health, insurance, interneet businesses and many other public issues.

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As a co-founder of Datacraft Solutions, Justin Diana was formerly VP of Customer Services. According to CEO Matthew Marotta, “Not only has Justin demonstrated and maintained an increasingly important role in the technical success of Datacraft, but he also been indispensable in presenting and explaining our technology and productized integration methodology to our clients and prospective clients.”

Recently Diana was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. Key responsibilities for Chief Technology Officer of Datacraft Solutions, includes company infrastructure and technology, support, operations, information security, facilities and system implementation and product development.

Formerly with Eli Lilly, Cisco Systems and Lucent Technologies, Justin Diana specializes in IT Infrastructure and support. Justin is also a skilled programmer and developer, proficient in many different languages and platforms. His vast array of expertise has made Justin indispensable in many areas of the company’s life, activity and rapidly growing success. He has sole responsibility for setting up and maintaining Datacraft’s servers and network, as well as the critical role he plays in the development of our Signum and Curator applications. Justin has been able to persuade and carry the judgment of the executive level technical management of multi billion dollar corporations, in gaining their confidence that Datacraft can handle the challenges and responsibilities inherent in the critical role we are asking our clients to entrust to us. Justin’s strong core competency to understand and visualize how our technology interfaces with a diversity of manufacturing processes, manifests itself powerfully in conjunction with his exceptional ability to lead, motivate, work and communicate with the Datacraft team, Datacraft’s client base and prospective clients. These strengths have enabled Justin to go out on site, representing Datacraft in critical situations and map Signum’s value and functionality.

Datacraft Solutions has a vast client base including Pacific Scientific, Outokumpu, and Follett Ice. The Intelligent Supply Chain solution is growing exponentially. Matthew Marotta founded Datacraft Solutions, an application service provider that develops powerful software applications to automate complex business processes. Datacraft Solutions specializes in providing their clients with the tools they need to rapidly replace outdated manual systems with technology that speeds process flow and improves accuracy. Datacraft’s premier product, Signum has been developed around the Kanban concept of replenishment, and provides an invaluable tool for manufacturing companies to monitor process flow, lower administrative transaction costs, and improve decision-making ability.

Datacraft Solutions www.datacraftsolutions.com Kelly Pryor 800-819-5326

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Have you ever wonder why car insurance costs vary from one car insurance company to the other? This is due to the different type of computation factors that car insurance companies use to derive the car insurance cost. Based on the answers that you replied to the car insurance company, they will add or discount the cost before arriving at a final price for your car insurance. Thus, it is important for you to shop around first before you commit yourself to a particular car insurance company as different companies take a different view of the various high risk factors. We will look at some of the factors that car insurance companies take into considerations.

1. Having a clean driving record.

Without a doubt, car insurance cost would increase if you have been convicted of a driving conviction. Thus, it pays to be a safe driver so that unnecessary costs won’t be incurred.

2. Adding additional drivers to the policy

By adding additional drivers to the policy, extra premiums will be added. Thus, do not add in drivers into the policy just because you think that this person might be using the car in the future. Consider carefully whether it is necessary to add this person into the policy.

3. The age and gender of the driver

If the driver is under the age of 25 the rate will mostly likely be fairly high. This is due to the lack of driving experience. Usually, you will need to have over three years driving to be quoted a lower rate. Also, a single male driver rates higher than a single female. This is because males are rated as a higher risk to car insurance companies.

4. Your credit report history.

Most car insurance companies take into account of your credit history. Paying your bills on time and maintaining a good credit history will allow you to enjoy lower car insurance cost.

5. Anti-theft alarm

Fix up an electronic central locking and alarm on your car. Discount could be given by insurance companies when you have anti-theft devices install in your car.

About The Author

Justin Koh is the original contributor of this article for http://www.carinsurancecentral.info.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

info.support@gmail.com

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A study of the most successful businesses in town will show that these are franchised businesses. It means the business has been market tested, developed and handed to the owners or franchise holders in a silver platter.

Franchising is a business concept and strategy that has been practiced by basically all the successful businessmen in the world. What separates these businessmen from the ordinary mortals is the way they can recognize a product that will be a hit with the masses.

A business venture is established by its owner with the view of making profit the soonest possible time. No matter what businessmen say about their businesses being pro poor or pro humanity, business is really all abut money and it is its top priority. No one would invest in a business without expecting to earn profits as a result.

The easiest way to ensure profits is to focus on your customers, their wants, their needs, how to satisfy them, how to keep them coming back and how to make them yearn for your product so that your business will grow big.

Getting customers to buy your products is the job of sales and marketing. A good marketing strategy can create a need even when there is none. It means that with a good promotional concept, clients would flock to your products and buy them even if they already have plenty of these products or they do not need these products.

However, once you get the customers to buy your products, your products must be of good quality so they will become satisfied and will not regret buying your product. This way, they will make repeat purchases and you will have repeat customers. The challenge for the businessman now is how to keep their customers.

These concepts of how to get customers to buy your products, how to keep them satisfied and how to keep them coming back for more are the main concepts that are embodied in a good franchising strategy.

The Franchising strategy has been applied to all kinds of businesses from food, retail, internet, beauty salons to distribution services. A person who wants to get a franchise would have no trouble choosing from the variety of businesses that have already been franchised. Just make sure that the important concepts of a business are taken into consideration by the franchise system you have chosen.

Before choosing a franchise system, make sure you are familiar with the product or services being franchised or you have seen how it is being implemented. Observe how the franchises are doing and if possible, do some research on their viability. This way, you will not be shortchanged and you will get what you paid for.

The author is a regular contributor to You Should Franchise where more information about franchising your business and buying and selling franchises is freely available.

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