First the Panda, Now the Penguin - What's Up With Google?

On May 22, 2013, Matt Cutts announced on his blog that they are rolling out Penguin 2.0 . It has actually been the fourth release since the first Penguin. However, Google have been referring to it as Penguin 2.0 since not just minor refreshes on the existing algorithm were made.  They had made some changes on the algorithm itself.  This means, the updates would most likely have a stronger impact in the search results. 

So, what's up with Google this time? What can webmasters expect in the coming months from Google SEO?   On this video, Matt Cutts not only answers this question. He reassures webmasters- who prioritize the benefits of their users, that they should not be affected negatively in any way. On the contrary, the Penguin should bring more good their way because the new algorithms were created to help people find the best sites out there. How?  Here are some of the points given:

Discover black hat webspam. One of the main purposes of Penguin 2.0 is to discover webspam, What is webspam? It is a "black hat", meaning illegal SEO tactic which deceives search engine spiders. Webspam can be done in different ways such as by swamping an entire page with a lot of keywords or key phrases. 

Another strategy is by deliberately inserting keywords in the content, not withstanding the fact that the article is filled with grammatical errors and that some statements do not make any sense at all. Indeed, armed with a Spinning Software, many webmasters can recreate multiple versions of a single article within minutes, simply by altering words and phrases with possible replacements. The result is a poorly "spun" version of the article, stuffed with meaningless phrases which, would often sound ridiculous to a sane human reader. Obviously, the content was not created for people but intended to make-a-fool out of search engine spiders. 

Apparently, the Penguin can tell. In addition, Google encourages more interaction with webmasters. For instance, if you happen to come across a spam site, you can report it at http://bit.ly/penguinspamreport and Google will check on it. 

Distinguish advertorials that violate guidelines. Some advertisers pay to have their links included in a post or to get a positive review. Matt said there's nothing wrong with paid posts and that advertorials should not lower a website's page rank as long as it meets the guidelines accordingly. For example, there should be a clear disclosure stating that it was a paid review so that the reader can be made aware of that fact. 

Detect hacked sites and sites with malware. Searchers are now alerted about websites that have been possibly hacked or may serve malware. Again, Matt emphasized that they are not after penalizing the webmasters of the hacked sites. They are simply protecting internet users from opening potentially hazardous websites or pages. In fact, Google has provided assistance for webmasters who have been hacked (http://www.google.com/webmasters/hacked/) so they can immediately fix the problem.

Matt did not give exact details about the changes or the algorithms. He made it clear though that for those who are working hard to enhance the quality of their websites by implementing "white hat" or legitimate SEO techniques, there is nothing to worry about. In effect, these updates would benefit even webmasters who do not perform SEO tactics at all, but who are focusing on providing great, quality content for their audience.

Google Bids Goodbye to Google Reader

Last week, Google has made the official announcement on its blog that it would be shutting down Google Reader along with other services it has provided in the past years. Google Reader is set to retire on July 1, 2013.  According to Google, despite a solid following, the number of users has declined over time.  Another reason cited is that the move was essential so that it can focus on enhancing its primary products and services.

What is Google Reader?  

If this is the first time you've been hearing about Google Reader because of all the news of its imminent closing, you might be wondering what the fuss is about.  It is basically a feed subscription or an RSS (Rich Site Summary) reader.  Basically, it enables you to keep track of the latest content from your favorite websites and read them all from a single page.  

Many people has been utilizing this tool for years since it was introduced in 2005.  Obviously, not many are happy to hear about the news of its retirement.  If you have been using Google Reader, you can download an archive of your subscriptions through Google Takeout. 

Alternatives to Google Reader

Here are three alternative readers you can use for free :

Feedly  You can download Feedly on your desktop, mobile phone or tablet.  Use it to organize, read and share content from your favorite websites.  You can also migrate subscriptions from your existing Google Reader account to Feedly.

The Old Reader   It works pretty much like the Google Reader. As of this moment, it does not have a mobile app just yet so you can only view it from a desktop.  It's free for up to one hundred feeds and costs $3 per month for the Premium account. Can you directly import subscriptions from your Google Reader account?  Yes, you can.

Bloglovin  As the name suggests, if you love blogs, then you'd love Bloglovin too! It allows you  to find and follow blogs across the web all in one page- simple as that.   But wait, there's more!

You can organize your favorite blogs according to categories - an indispensable option if you'd ask me, especially if you're subscribed to a hundred blogs or more.  You can download it on your desktop, iPhone, iPad and Android. 

If you're a blogger, it's also the perfect place to gain more followers.  Finally, you can import blog subscriptions from your Google Reader account in one click of a button.

What is SEO and Why Should You Learn It

SEO.  The three letters stand for Search Engine Optimization.  Based on this acronym, it's easy to guess that it has something to do with search engines and optimizing or enhancing website performance. 

To understand the concept of search engine optimization, imagine the World Wide Web as one huge spider web.  The spider must crawl along the thread to make its way around the web. In the same way, the World Wide Web is made up of billions of websites which are all inter-connected by a threadlike network.  Search engine spiders can crawl along these threadlike network to discover web pages. 

What are search engines?
Search engines help us find the exact information we need from the World Wide Web. How? We simply need to type a word or a phrase related to the information we are looking for, and let the search engine spider crawl along the threads and bring back a list of web pages with content relevant to our search.  

But, you may ask, "with a multitude of pages to discover in such a vast network, how does a search engine know which pages to include in the search result?"  Good question.  Search engines do not just discover web pages and bring back results based on keywords alone.  It also distinguishes good, quality websites from the poor ones.  Needless to say, it prioritizes good websites and these will float on top of search result listings. 

Why SEO is Essential
Now, here is where Search Engine Optimization becomes a matter of importance.  There are different factors which can affect a website's search engine ranking.   Each search engine has a set of metrics or algorithms that it uses to gauge the relevance, popularity and quality of a website.  Optimizing search engine means taking the necessary steps to make sure that your website meets the search engines' criteria of a good, quality website.

Now, try to search for a specific keyword in Google, for example, and notice that you will get not just one or two-pages of results but more likely, a couple of pages, even a hundred of pages containing a list of websites that contains the keyword you searched for.  Which websites are included on the first page or the first few pages?  These are supposedly the websites that offer the most significant and relevant information on the keyword being searched.  In addition, the websites on the first page also bear the highest rankings which is why it is given the top priority on the list.

Of course, if you were searching for information, wouldn't you most likely check out the websites found on the first page of the results list?   You may also check out the results found on the second, third or the next few pages but only if you do not find what you need right away.  Consequently, websites that are on the bottom pages has a slim chance of getting discovered.  Thus, you can begin to understand why websites are competing achieve a high rank and be on top of the search engine's listing.

Indeed, SEO is such a crucial endeavor for many webmasters.  Should you learn it?  Understanding the concept of SEO and implementing basic SEO steps can tremendously enhance your website's search engine rank and make it more accessible to people. So long as you stick with "white hat" SEO techniques,  optimizing your website for search engines would bring many advantages.

References:

Beginner's Guide to SEO by MOZ

Search Engine Land Guide to SEO

Six Proven WordPress Blogging Tips that Actually Work

There are a number of blogging platforms to choose from but among the popular ones, Wordpress has proven to be the most versatile and the preferred platform of many professional bloggers.  If you are planning to launch a blog or a website for business, it is strongly recommended that you explore the features and services that WordPress offers.  On this post, we provide five smart and proven tips for effective blogging in WordPress.

1. Have a clear goal in mind.  Why do you blog and who is your targeted audience?  Knowing the answers to these two important questions would help you to make the right decision about many aspects of your blog.  For example, knowing your purpose and your audience will enable you to choose the right look for your blog. That brings us to the second tip.

2.    Choose a theme that works best for you.  The great thing about WordPress is that you can choose from a wide-range of designs.  We’re not just talking about a handful of designs.  With WordPress, you have literally hundreds of themes to choose from.  These templates are ready-to-use and just in case you’re not happy with the one you picked, it’s very easy to try out a different theme, until you find the perfect look for your website.

3.    Edit the URL of the page.  Here’s another wonderful feature of WP blogs that not many people are making full use of.  You can edit the URL of the page so that it doesn’t have to be the exact title of your post.  Why is this useful?  You can leave out unnecessary words (prepositions, conjunctions) or punctuation marks from the URL and include only the most relevant words in the URL, making it more Search Engine friendly.

You can also shorten the link in just one click of the mouse.  When you create a post, you can find the “Get Shortlink” button right below the title box and the URL editor.  Why would you need to shorten links?  This is helpful if you want to share the URL of your post on Social Sites like Twitter, where you can type only a limited set of characters.   Although there are other URL shortening services that do this, it’s already available in Wordpress so there’s really no need to look far.

4.    Schedule posts in advance.  One of the biggest challenges in blogging is posting on a regular basis. In order for a blog to be successful, you should be able to update posts at least three or five times a week, if not daily.  Sometimes, you might find yourself confronted with too many tasks, making it impossible for you to sit down and write an intelligent post.  Hence, it’s good to create back-up posts for times like these. 

WordPress allows you to publish multiple posts in advance and set the exact date and time when you want each post to go live.  This way, you can make sure that your audience would find fresh content in your blog even when you are away or too busy living your life in the real world.

5.   Take advantage of widgets.  Widgets are small, indispensable applications that come free with your chosen theme.  They are pretty much like plugins.  However, you don’t need to install them as each theme already has its own set of widgets.  You simply drag and drop the ones you like to use them.  Widgets are built to make your life as a blogger a little bit more hassle-free so put them to good use.  

6.  Make use of plug-ins to simplify your tasks.  For WordPress.org users (not the free Wordpress), hundreds of plugins have been created.  These plug-ins are free and each plug-in is designed to do a specific function.  For example, there are plugins designed to optimize the blog, making it easily visible to search engines.  Some plugins are made to help you organize photos on your blog.  There are also Social Network plugins which promotes audience interaction.  And if you are using your blog as a means to promote your business, you can surely find plugins with E-commerce functionality.  What’s important to remember is that installing too many plugins can slow down the website so choose only the essential ones.

   

Top Ten Blog Hosting Sites of 2013

Would you like to start your very own blog this year?  If yes, you have a number of blog hosting sites to choose from.  Check out this shortlist of the most popular blog publishing platforms for the year 2013.  You can click on each link to be directed to the blog host you would like to try.

1. Blogger  A free blog publishing service provided by Google.  Without a doubt, one of the leading blogging platforms in the world. If you have a Google account, you can use it to sign in and create a blog straightaway.  The free account offers six customizable templates and all the basic tools needed in blogging.  You can buy a custom domain for your blog at $10 per year.  This would remove the ".blogspot" extension from your website address.

2. Wordpress.com  A powerful, free blog publishing site that offers reliable support, secure hosting, 3GB storage, blogging tools, and with over 200 ready-to-use customizable themes.  You have the option to subscribe to different kinds of premium upgrades at any time.

3. Tumblr  Founded in 2007, it is considered to be the fastest growing blog hosting site with about 112.6 million blogs to date.  Tumblr is both a microblogging platform and a social networking site where people can share blog entries, photos, videos, music, and texts from a desktop, mobile phone or email.  It is a favorite platform among photo bloggers.

4. Typepad Starting from $8.95 a month, you can fully personalize your blog's design, get help from Typepad's support team, create up to four different blogs, and enjoy unlimited storage.  There's a 14-day free trial period if you want to try it out.

5. Weebly  Its website creator uses a drag-and-drop interface, making it very easy for anyone to design a website that looks professional.  You can post entries from your iPhone or any Android device wherever you are. The free option includes the basic tools you need for blogging while the complete package costs $8 per month.  Furthermore, like the above blogging sites mentioned, it is search engine optimized; has built-in site analytics, and provides reliable cloud hosting service. 

6. LiveJournal  As the name suggests, LiveJournal promotes personal journaling online.  It combines blogging and social networking in one platform. You can post entries on your blog, join blog groups and interact with people in the blogging community.  Bloggers may use a free account or sign up for a paid account to access special features such as a personalized @livejournal email address, advanced customization option, etc.

7. Squarespace  Starting from $16 a month, you get a custom domain, unlimited pages, galleries and blogs, unlimited bandwith and storage, an advanced form builder, and 24/7 cusomer support.  You get to integrate your website with Google Docs and MailChimp for easy management of your mailing list.  You can also connect your website with a Facebook Page for instant tabs sharing.  At $24 per month, you can enjoy a fully-integrated e-commerce website along with other merchant tools and services.  If you have an online business, Squarespace is worth checking out.


8. Webs The free package is ad supported and includes the easy-to-use site builder, 40 MB storage and the option to display up to 5 items in your shop. Meanwhile, the Pro package starts from $15.67 per month, is ad free and includes a custom domain name, access to premium templates, up to 15 personalized email addresses, 5000 MB storage, unlimited HQ video storage, $100 Google AdWords Credit, $50 Facebook Ads Credit, and unlimited items in your web store. Like Squarespace, the e-commerce features makes this blogging platform ideal for business owners.

9. Xanga Founded in 1999, it was originally created as a place to share book and music reviews online.  Since then, it has continued to grow and has expanded to become both a blog hosting service and a social networking website with millions of users worldwide.
 

10. Wordpress.org  Here is a web publishing software for those who have their own domain with an independent web hosting service.  It offers thousands of plug-ins and themes to choose from so you can fully-customize the look, feel and functionality of your blog or website.  This blog publishing tool is currently used by millions of professional bloggers and internet marketers worldwide.

Blogger vs Wordpress Which Should You Use

Blogger is a free service provided by Google so you will be required to create a Google account.  If you're already using Gmail, you can sign in straightaway using your existing Gmail account.

Meanwhile, Wordpress is a publishing site with its own community of bloggers.  Wordpress.com is the free version.  To sign up, you must provide a valid email address and create a unique username and password. 

Now, let's take a look at their main features:

Blogger

Easy access to other Google services such as Adsense, Google+ and Analytics.

Customizable template designer so you can choose the look and feel of your blog.

Customizable template designer for mobile devices (iPhone and Android apps).

Unlimited storage space for uploaded media files (videos and pictures).

You can publish posts using your email or mobile device.


Wordpress
Hundreds of themes to choose from so you can really personalize your blog.
More widgets available, depending on the Theme you're using.
Customizable template designer for mobile devices (iPhone and Android apps).
Import option so you can instantly move content from a different blog site to WP.
Limited storage space (3,072MB).  If you run out of storage, you can upgrade to increase storage capacity.  The price starts from $20 for an additional 10GB.

Which Should You Use?
Compared to Blogger, Wordpress provides a great number of tools and options which might be a bit daunting for a newbie.  In other words, Blogger is more user-friendly, particularly for people who has no background in blogging or the internet.  You can explore the world of blogging one-step-at-time in Blogger and you should have no problem finding your way in there.  The fact that there are fewer choices.makes Blogger hassle-free so you can focus on creating great content.  

On the other hand, Wordpress seems to be the preferred choice of many experienced bloggers, primarily because it allows more options and more flexibility when it comes to blogging technicalities.  Since it is equipped with the "import" tool, you can easily move content and comments from your old blog once you're ready to take the plunge.

Make Your Blog Search Engine Friendly In Ten Easy Steps

Here are ten practical and easy-to-follow steps to make your blog more search engine friendly.

1. Make your content worthwhile. Quality content is still an essential foundation to stay on top of the competition.  If you work hard to present useful, original, informative, compelling, entertaining, worthwhile content on your website, it will surely attract a great number of readers and build a solid following of audience. People would bookmark your site, subscribe to your feeds, or sign up for email subscriptions.  People are driven to your website simply because they find something that’s genuinely worth their time in there – and this is called “organic traffic”.

2. Post new content daily. Search engine spiders are easily attracted by updates.  In other words, putting out fresh, unique content every day would make your site a search engine magnet.  If you can't publish a post on a daily basis, do it at least three times a week or as frequently as possible.  This is the reason why blogs have become strong traffic competitors ~ most bloggers post entries everyday.

3. Do not copy content.  :Publishing duplicate content has always been a violation and will definitely damage your website's reputation.  A lot of webmasters today use Copyscape - a software that can detect duplicate content and plagiarism.

What about posting excerpts or a portion of an article taken from another website?  This should be done very sparingly and with good intent.  Scraping content or making slight modifications on the text to make it seem "unique" just for the sake adding content to your website will not contribute real value to your website's ranking and credibility.  Instead, work hard on creating well-researched, professionally written, original posts.

4. Use categories smartly.  Using categories helps readers find posts on specific topics more easily.  But that's not at all.  It also helps search engines to classify pages of your website according to groups or keywords, making it easier to find relevant search results from your website.

To make the most of this tool, limit the number of categories on your website and choose the best category for each post.  This way, you can be sure that all posts related to a particular topic falls only under one category.  Furthermore, you can avoid having duplicate content or pages with the same content belonging to different categories.

5. Use sharing buttons.  One way to promote wider readership is to provide sharing buttons on each page, making it easier for your readers to share a post from your blog or website on Social Networks.  A lot of people today are on these social sites (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest Google+, Instagram) and if a guest enjoyed your post, this person surely wouldn't mind clicking on one of the sharing buttons for friends, relatives and other people to see it.  Thus, including a simple statement asking a reader to "share the post if they liked it" may go a long way. 

Does Google measure social media popularity in ranking a website?  The world is still waiting for a clear confirmation from Google on this matter but considering the fact that Google Analytics has included social media stats on its report only strengthens the assumption that social media popularity signals (especially, Google+), has bearing on search engine ranking. One thing is certain though - applying this advice is a proven way to increase exposure and drive traffic to your site.

6. Use the "ALT" tag. The ALT tag?  It is an html code used for images where you can insert a text description of the photo on the post. Usually, blogging platforms like Blogger and Wordpress has an easy-to-use tool that allows you to do this to edit the properties of the photo.

Why is it important to include an ALT description?  The answer is because search engine crawlers cannot read images. Therefore, Including a text description in the ALT tag helps search engines to recognize images on your posts, so they can also be visible in search results.

7. Use relevant keywords or phrases.  Which words or phrases would people type in the search box if they want to find information relevant to your content?  These are called keywords or key phrases and it is very important to include them in your posts.  Use keywords in titles and headings as well.  Be careful not to overdo it though.  Keyword stuffing or filling a page with too many keywords is considered as a violation and would make your website look bad in the eyes of search engine spiders.  If you keep Step #1 in mind, which is to write quality posts, this should not be a problem at all.

8.  Include relevant inside links in your content.  This is a good strategy to point your readers to other pages of your website. For instance, you may recommend one or two posts on the same topic which you think would be helpful or provide additional information.  Test if the link is working and that the URL directs to the right page.  Instead of using vague words like "here" or "this", try to use more descriptive words so that it is clear what the page is about.  (To see examples, pay attention to the links in Step #9).

9.  Submit a Sitemap  A sitemap is basically a list of all pages in your website and it helps search engines find its way more easily, so to speak, through your website.  Having a sitemap would ensure that Google and other search engines can crawl and index all the pages of your website.  This is especially recommended if your website has dynamic pages or if it contains a lot of videos, moving images, and photos.

Otherwise, your Sitemap can be a list of all the URLs or pages of your website, with only one URL per line.  You can submit your Sitemap using Google Webmaster Tools. For a more in-depth discussion on Sitemaps, here's an article from Google on How to Create A Sitemap.

10. Exchange links with high quality blogs.  Blogging involves active participation in blogging communities.  It's not just a one-way road.  Reading and following other blogs is an essential gesture to gain exposure and promote your own blog as well.  In the process, you are bound to meet other bloggers on the same niche.  Look for blogs with great content like yours and see if you can exchange links with the blog authors.

References:

Webmaster Guidelines
Scraped Content 
About Sitemaps

Boost Your Blog's Seo MOJO with these 6 Simple, Actionable Steps

Do Google Use Social Media Links in their Ranking Algorithm?
Making Search Engine Friendly

Blogging Basics: Let’s Start with the ABCs

What is a blog?  

The word "Blog" is coined from the words Web and Log.  Simply put, a blog is an online journal.

What can you with your blog?

As the author, you have the power to write posts about anything you like, whenever you like.  On your blog, you can give your personal opinion, write about your dreams, share your experiences, skill or knowledge, talk about your passion, or record daily happenings just like a diary. You have the option to share your blog with the public or with a selected group of people.   You may choose to publish a post daily, weekly, even sporadically (if you don’t have the time). 

What kinds of blogs are out there?

There are different kinds of blogs.  Some blogs are devoted to a specific genre.  These blogs reach out to a particular niche or audience.  The most popular ones are dedicated to fashion, weddings, gadget and techno, design, DIY, photography, food and pets. 

Usually, you can guess what a blog is all about based on its name and sometimes you can never tell. There are also general blogs where you can read posts on various topics.   A bog post may contain purely text; or a mix of texts, images, and videos.  Some bloggers post only photos with captions on their Photo blogs.

Why blog?

Initially, people created personal blogs in order to have their own space on the web - where they can share their thoughts and ideas.  Some bloggers use their blog as a platform to voice out their opinions and reactions on controversial topics.  Others use it to compile the favorite finds from the internet. 

You can also blog to showcase your skills, knowledge and expertise.  Blogging is a great way to be noticed and build a following of audience, especially if you've got something valuable to share. 

These days, many people blog for business, which means, they blog to promote their products and services online, build a good reputation in the market, and strengthen customer relationships.

Blogging can also be a means to make extra money.  It is an undeniable fact that online advertising is a growing trend.  More and more companies are willing to pay to promote their brand online.  A lot of bloggers are paid to write reviews, place ads on their blogs, or include the advertiser's website link on their blog post.

Google AdSense is another way to earn revenue from your blog or website.  When you join the program, ads which are relevant to your content will be displayed on your blog, enabling you to earn extra bucks depending on the number of clicks each ad gets and the number of visits your blog receives per day.

Indeed, you can blog for one, two or all of the above reasons. What's nice about running a blog is that you don't need to be an expert right away or be an internet geek or an online techie. Creating a blog is really easy and all the tools you need to get started - from designing a blog to publishing a post - are readily available for you to use.  All you have to do is choose and click. Do you use Facebook or Twitter?  Yes?  Then, you should find blogging not complicated at all.

Which blog hosting site should I use?

The two most popular blog hosting sites are Blogger (by Google) and Wordpress. This blog for example has been created in Blogger.  Both platforms are reliable but of course, each one has different features and services.  If you are a beginner, using Blogger is recommended as it offers the basic blogging tools with fewer, simpler options.  However, Blogger & Wordpress are not the only blogging platforms online. Other popular blog hosting sites are Tumblr, Typepad, LiveJournal, Weebly, SquareSpace, Xanga, etc.

Should You Take Out a Bad Credit Loan?

Can you borrow money if you have bad credit? It is possible but the reality is that acquiring a loan would not be easy if your personal credit isn’t at its best since most lenders offer their best rates to customers with high rating. Nonetheless, if you badly need cash for an emergency, there are some things you need to seriously consider before taking out a bad credit loan. 

Is borrowing money the real solution? Some people need to change their perspective about what constitutes an emergency and what does not. Is it absolutely necessary to take out a loan now? Have you considered alternative steps that wouldn’t require you to be in debt? How urgent and crucial is your need for cash? Can you wait out until you managed to save up enough money to resolve the problem? 

Can you afford repayment? Paying off your debts can prove to be a grueling task. An installment loan may come with very steep interest rates. Failing to submit your payment on a due date may also cost you extra penalty charges. So think about it. How do you plan to shoulder repayment once the loan has been spent? Would you be able to pay back that amount according to your lender’s terms? 

Which loan should you take? First of all, what is your purpose for wanting to get a loan?  Do you need money to buy a car, fund a business, pay medical bills, or for other personal reasons?  Be sure to find a loan that is suitable to your needs.

In addition, do not forget that if your personal credit is less than stellar, you cannot qualify for certain loans.  For instance, fast loans or anything loans are exclusively provided for borrowers with excellent credit.  If your credit isn't great, you need to make sure that approval would not be based on good credit standing.

Are you clear of the terms and conditions? The specific rules and fees will vary depending on the type of loan and the lending company you choose. Pay close attention to every detail of the fine print. You need to fully understand the stipulations of the contract before signing up anything. 

Can you trust your lender? It’s no secret that unscrupulous lenders or loan sharks abound in the market and borrowers need to be extremely careful to avoid them. What do you know about the lending company? Does it have a solid reputation and track record? Taking some time to do research can save you the trouble of dealing with a fraud. 

photos

Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those

What are demonstratives?  

This, That, These, Those are demonstratives. They are used to show the distance of an object or objects from the speaker. They can be used as pronouns or adjectives. When a demonstrative is used as an adjective, it modifies the noun. 

When do we use This, That, These, Those?

This -  if the noun is singular and is close to the speaker.

That - if the noun is singular and is far from the speaker.

These - if the noun is plural and is close to the speaker.

Those - if the noun is plural and is far from the speaker.

Try these exercises:

 ________ is a balloon.

 _________ are balloons.

 ______________ is a book.

___________ are books.

 ___________ is a hill.

 ___________ is a building.

 _________ are tomatoes.

_____________ are birds.

ANSWERS:

This is a balloon.

 These are balloons.

 This is a book.

These are books.

That is a hill.

That is a building.

Those are tomatoes.

Those are birds.

Handy Tips for A First-time Traveller

Are you planning to go on a trip any time soon? If so, check out these handy travel tips: 

Know the local custom and laws.  Conduct research in advance to know the custom, the laws, and the overall conditions in your destination especially if you are visiting a foreign country for the first time.

You can check out Travel.State.Gov, a website managed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs under the US Department of State, to get accurate information about the specific country you will visit.  In case of an emergency, the Bureau of Consular Affairs can be reached at 1-888-407-4747.

Take precautionary measures.  Write down or print your itinerary and passport information. Leave the document to a family or a trusted friend who stays in your country of origin. 

If you live in the US, don’t forget to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so the State Department can assist you right away in case of an emergency. You can sign up the form at https://travelregistration.state.gov. All the information you will provide regarding yourself and your planned trip will be held strictly confidential, in accordance with the Privacy Act.

If you have a medical insurance, review the policy to know if emergency expenses incurred overseas are covered in the plan.

Do not bring a large bulk of cash or wear conspicuous jewelry while on your trip.  Do not speak and never accept packages from strangers who may approach you.  

If you are on medication, be sure to bring along a letter from the attending physician.  The letter should clearly state your medical condition and the name including the generic names of the of prescription drugs you are carrying. Be sure to pack your medicine kit in your hand luggage for easy access. 

Pack light. Carrying too many luggage is a big hassle so bring only what’s necessary for your trip.  Choose clothes that are light, can be worn in layers, and can mixed and matched, especially if you’re going in a cold country or if you plan to stay there for a few weeks.  

Bring two or three coats that you can wear on top of casual as well as formal outfits, and two or three pairs of shoes that you can wear with a sporty, casual, and business attire.  You can also bring in a few accessories such as scarves and belts to create different looks with the same pieces of clothing.

Bring small, refillable, plastic bottles for your toiletries.  You can surely buy more of your personal stuff from a department store or a convenience store at your destination, unless you will be staying in an island or a remote province. Pack in extra underwears in your hand bag just in case something unexpected happens with your luggage.

Create a list and double check when you pack. Jot down all the things that you need to bring on your trip.  Gather all the items on your list in one place before putting them one-by-one in your suitcase.  As you put an item in your bag, strike through the item from your list so you can be sure that you will not leave behind anything important.  Don’t forget to bring with you the list and use it again when it’s time to re-pack and go back home.

Make sure that you can easily recognize your luggage from the rest of the bags at the airport by adding name tags and distinctive stickers.

Learn the local language.  If you are going in a country where English is not the primary language, it’s best to learn the basics.

Search for an online translator and check out phrases and terms that you might need to use in an everyday conversation such as the customary greetings, how to ask for directions, the local currency, etc.  Print it out and bring the copy with you.

Even if the people you meet understand and speak English, tourists who try to communicate using the local language are much appreciated.  Besides, meeting the local people and being able to converse with them in their dialect is part of what makes traveling fun and memorable.

Review the Terms and Conditions of your credit cards.  It is much safer to travel with a credit card than to bring a large amount of cash.  However, bring only the credit cards that you will need to use while on your trip.  Read the fine print so you can be aware of your privileges and limits as a cardholder.

Major credit card issuers usually provide perks and services that are important for travelers such as travel insurance, collision insurance for car rentals, lost luggage insurance, roadside assistance, etc. Using these perks can literally save you hundreds of dollars but you need to be ready to do the paperwork.  To be sure, call up your issuer and ask the exact procedures involved in claiming these perks. 

Furthermore, credit card transactions from an unfamiliar destination may trigger a fraud alert and the issuer may block the account to protect the cardholder so you should inform your bank about your planned trip. And while you’re on the phone, ask for the customer service hotline that you can call from your place of destination just in case you might need assistance.  Check out this article from Creditcards.com, “A Guide to Travelling with a Credit Card”.

Compare hotels at your destination.  Check out a hotel comparison website like Hotelscombined.com to find the best hotel sites in your destination. Thus, you can easily compare the ratings, reviews and prices of different hotels from one website.

Be adventurous. Enjoy the sights and sounds!  Don't be afraid to try out new things. Savor the taste of the local food. Observe how the people live. Speak the local language. Make new friends. Experience life in the other world. Learn.  Take photos and capture moments. 

photos:
1. car ride
2. suitcase
3. map

Health Insurance Tips for Freelance Workers

One of the most important advantages that regular employees enjoy is entitlement to benefits such as Social Security and health care.  A certain percentage of the monthly pay is automatically deducted as contribution for these services, including taxes.  Furthermore, the HR department takes care of all these so it’s the least of an employee’s worries. 

On the other hand, freelancers are in-charge of managing their time, projects, and personal finances.  When it comes to health concerns, freelancers or independent workers are usually at risks.  According to FreelancersUnion.org, a company that provides health insurance and benefits for the self-employed and freelancers in the US, “there are 42 million independent workers in the United States” who do not receive standard benefits. 

The New York Times  reveals that medical debt is cited as a substantial factor in the increase of personal bankruptcy filings.  Lack of health insurance poses a serious threat.  The high costs of hospitalization, medication, treatment and health care services are obvious; and no one is exempted from illness, accidents and other health-related issues.

If you are a freelancer, having a health insurance plan or a healthcare benefits plan is a valuable investment and is something that should not be overlooked.  Below are four practical pointers to remember before acquiring health insurance.

Comparison shop.  Private insurance companies offer varying plans and prices which is why you will need some time to explore and compare your options.   If you live in the UK, check out Paycare.org, a healthcare benefits service provider for individuals, families and businesses.

Know your personal needs.  Do you have a preferred hospital or do you prefer the services of a particular doctor?  If so, make sure that your chosen health care providers are affiliated with the prospective insurance company.  Check out Healthcare.gov to find the health insurance plan best suited to your needs and to compare health care and service providers.  The website is managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Seek professional assistance.  A health insurance broker can help you find the insurance coverage that is best suited to your needs and budget, explain the details of the plan, and assist you throughout the process.  Check out the National Association of Insurance Underwriters or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to find a reputable health insurance adviser.

Open a Health Savings Account. An HSA is ideal for people who only plan to use their insurance for annual check-ups or occasional visits to the doctor. With an HSA, you can raise the amount of your deductible to lower your monthly insurance fees.  What’s great about an HSA is that funds will be availbale for any unexpected medical expenses and when you reach the age of 65, you can withdraw any money you didn't use and spend it as you like.

photo:
1. homebased

Energy-Saving Tips for Washing Machines and How to Save Money on Laundry

I am determined to do every possible way to cut down our electricity bill.  Last time, I posted energy-saving tips for refrigerators. Today, I looked up for practical ways to reduce a washing machine's energy consumption and how to save money on laundry. 

1. Wash with cold water. According to EnergySavers.gov, 90% of the energy used by a conventional top-load washing machine is for heating the water. 

2. Wash in full load. The washer uses the same of energy when washing a half load or a full load so you save more time energy if you choose the latter. 

3. Remove lint. Regularly clean the dryer and washer to remove lint. Lint gets in the way of the airflow and causes the dryer to work harder and consume more energy. (Check out Cloth Diaper Nation for ideas on how to recycle lint) 

4. Shorten the wash cycle. If clothes are not that dirty, you can reduce the "wash" minutes.

5. Measure the detergent you use. Use a cup to make sure that you don’t put in too much than what is needed for the load. 

6. Shorten spin drying. For light clothes, a short spin in the dryer should be enough to remove excess water so they can be hung to dry.

7. Hang to dry. On sunny days, skip the dryer and hang clothes in a clothes line or a drying rack to reduce energy consumption. 

8. Know when it’s time to wash. Some clothing pieces such as jackets and sweaters can be worn a couple of times before they need washing. Don’t toss it in the hamper right away. Instead, hang it neatly on a hanger or a clothing rack. (Read "The When-to-Wash-It Handbook" by Real Simple)

9. Check the ENERGY STAR label. If you live in the US and you plan to buy a washing machine, make sure it has the ENERGY STAR label. Use the EnergyGuide to compare which machine will enable you to conserve energy. 

10. Choose a front-loading washer. Front-loading washing machines are more energy efficient than top-loading machines. Investing on this type of washer will enable to cut down your electricity bill and save money over the long term. 

What energy-saving and money-saving tips can you share? 

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks,
Rachel:)




photos:
1. laundry day 
2. laundry room
3. clothes line

Should You Charge it To Your Credit?

For many people, using a credit card is inevitable, especially for consumers who live in the United States, where credit history and credit score are essential factors that can affect most financial aspects of living such as when applying for a credit card, a car loan, or mortgage; renting an apartment; or when applying for a job.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 159 million credit cardholders in the United States in 2000, 173 million in 2006, and that number is projected to increase to 181 million by 2010.

However, while a credit card offers the cardholder a quick and convenient access to the things and services they need, it’s important to recognize the potential dangers that uncontrolled use or mismanagement of this plastic presents.

For instance, charging the wrong kinds of expenses to a credit card can easily lead to serious debt problems.  Are you tempted to grab that hot vacation package offer online and charge it to your credit?  Some people may be brave enough to do things without a plan because they can finance it with a credit card but if you will ask the opinion of credit experts, they will most likely say that it’s a bad idea.

If you want to go on an escapade, the best thing to do is make plans ahead and save up for it.  Sure enough, booking a flight online or making a hotel reservation online requires a credit card, but you need to make sure that you already have the cash to pay off that balance in full before the due date. 

Travel expenses (airline tickets, hotel accommodation, car rental fees, food, pocket money, shopping allowance) can prove to be very costly.  Blindly charging these expenses to your credit card before and while on a trip is a dreadful habit.  After enjoying your getaway, a huge load of credit card debt awaits you.

Aside from travel expenses, there are other costs that should never be paid with a credit card unless you are certain that you can pay off the full balance on time. (Read 6 Expenses You Should Never Put on a Credit Card at Creditcards.com)  Things can start to become really ugly if you fail to make the full payment.  Interest rate charges can be so high on some credit cards that it can take you a very long time to zero in your balance if you will only pay the minimum due each month.

The Consolidated Credit, a company that offers credit counseling services, reports that in 2011, the average credit card debt per household is $6600.  It is an undeniable fact that credit card debt is a primary cause of financial hardship for many consumers in the US.

While owning a credit card brings certain advantages, a cardholder needs to have a precise and reasonable answer to the question, “Should I charge it to my credit?”  And if there seems to be no clear answer in sight, then that should be an obvious indication that maybe you should not charge it to your credit after all.

Do you own a credit card? What types of purchases or expenses do you pay with plastic?

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks,
Rachel:)

photos:
1. credit card
2. travel

Energy Saving Tips for Refrigerators and Freezers

According to Energy Savers, appliances account for about 17% of household energy consumption.  Add to that, a refrigerator uses almost five times electricity that the average television consumes.  We don't watch really watch TV but we do have a refrigerator.

We live in a city where the temperature can go down to as low as 10 degree Celsius.

What we do is unplug our refrigerator every night and usually the cold is enough to keep the food frozen until the next morning.  We wait when the motor goes off on its own before unplugging it from the power source.

I looked up more information on how we can minimize the energy consumption of this particular appliance so we can cut down our electricity bill.  Here's what I found:

If your refrigerator is too old, it will use up more energy. (Is it time for you to replace your old refrigerator or freezer? Check out this Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator to know the answer.)  Below are  tips to help reduce your fridge or freezer’s energy consumption: 

Position the refrigerator away from direct sunlight. Don’t place it near other appliances that produce heat such as heater, dishwasher, and oven. 

Leave enough room in between food packages especially on the sides, back, and top of your fridge to allow good air circulation. 

Allow food to cool down first before placing it inside the fridge.

Keep the door closed to prevent cold air from getting out. 

Don’t forget to defrost the freezer when the ice builds up. 

Clean the condenser coils regularly.

Make sure that the door seals are airtight. To test, insert a piece of paper between the seals and close the door. If you can pull the paper out easily, that means air is leaking. You can try to put petroleum jelly on the seals but if that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the seals. 

If you are going away for a few days or a few weeks, empty and clean the refrigerator, turn it off, unplug it from the power source and leave the door open. 

If you live in the US and plan to buy a new refrigerator, make sure it has the ENERGY STAR label. The US federal government requires most appliances to display the bright yellow and black EnergyGuide label so consumers can be aware of the annual energy consumption and operating cost for each appliance when doing comparison shopping.

For more tips on buying a refrigerator, visit the ACEEE’s website (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy).

What energy saving tips can you share? 

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks,
Rachel:)

photos:
1. refrigerator
2. pink refrigerator

Three Useful Resources to Learn SEO from Scratch

When a workmate mentioned “SEO” to me, I Googled the term and found out that the acronym stands for Search Engine Optimization. I have not the least idea about what SEO means.

Although I’m no SEO expert, I’ve come to learn that it is an important factor for a blogger, webmaster, or internet marketer’s success. If you’re new to blogging or internet marketing, learning SEO as early as now will give you an advantage in improving your traffic, page rank and overall online presence.

I came across so many websites on the internet that tackle this particular subject but not all of them would be worth your time. On this post, I’m sharing three useful resources I read (and still do) to gain a better insight about Search Engine Optimization. Hopefully, you will find these resources as helpful as I did.

SEOMOZ offers a comprehensive guide for beginners starting from How Search Engines Operate, How People Interact with Search Engines, Why Search Engine Marketing is Necessary; down to the Fundamentals of SEO and How to Measure and Keep Track of Your Success. I love the fact that the concepts were explained in a straightforward manner- minus complicated terminologies; alongside simple illustrations that make the ideas easier to grasp.

Traffic Generation Cafe is a favorite source on my list. Anna Hoffman answers some of the biggest questions about SEO that’s been on my mind. She writes in an engaging style so you feel comfortable reading the whole post.

The Google's SEO Starter Guide provides easy-to-follow optimization techniques especially for beginners. Basic steps like using target keywords in titles and headers, anchor texts, and tags; improving site navigation; creating fresh content; and using free Google Webmaster Tools are discussed in this PDF version.

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks,

Rachel:)

photo source:

1. seo

Sixteen Success Tips for the Online Freelancer

A lot of people welcome the idea of being a freelance contractor so they can work from home, do a job they love, or to earn more.  Would you like to be an online freelancer?  If yes,  here are sixteen success tips for you:

1. Share your expertise. 
What kind of service can you offer? There are so many different jobs that you can do from a remote location which is why online freelancing can be a lucrative career. Choose a job that you enjoy and that you are good at. Remember that you have to contend with other freelancers so it’s very important to excel in your field.

2. Know your rights.  As a freelancer, you should be aware of your rights and limits particularly when it comes to matters of payment, copyright ownership and other legalities. Before signing up for a project, make sure that you have read each and every statement in the contract and that you agree with the implications. For your protection, you may choose to provide an Agreement and have it signed by your client.

Never accept a deal unless you are clear about the terms and conditions. What does your client expect once the project is completed? How much is the compensation? When and how will payment be sent? Are you completely granting copyright of your work to your client? (Here’s an article which discusses the copyright issue in detail.) To avoid unpleasant surprises, everything should be explicitly stipulated in the contract.

3. Communicate with your client.  Make sure that you understand exactly what the customer wants. It’s very important to see from your customer’s perspective to deliver a better job. The only way you can do this is to communicate effectively. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Some clients will only give general instructions without specifying details.

Encourage your clients to speak out by asking relevant questions. You can also prepare a form to be filled out so you can get all the information you need before attempting to begin with the project.  After submission, don't forget to ask for feedback so you'll know how well you did with your assignment.

4. Use social media to your advantage.  Social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc. can be wonderful platforms to showcase your work and promote your services. Social sites can give you the exposure you need in the WWW so you can discover new job opportunities and potential employers can find you more easily as well.

5. Expand your professional network.  Use social media sites to build your list of professional contacts. Join a group or a forum related to your niche. Establish ties with other freelancers. This is a great way to get support and grow as a freelancer.

6. Watch out for scams! Not all job opportunities online are legitimate so you need to be careful about accepting projects. You might come across inviting offers from clients who do not pay on time or do not pay at all. Others pretend to be hiring when all they’re really want is to steal your personal information.

Never give out your banking details, Social Security Number or other personal information even when a client insists that it is necessary for sending payment or for tax purposes. You can arrange to have the payment sent via XOOM or other wire money transfer services. You may also choose to receive payment via PayPal or Google Checkout as these are not linked to your personal bank account.

7. Protect your sample work.  A scammer may require you to send work samples such as articles or art work through e-mail, with the intent of stealing your ideas or using the samples without your consent. Protect yourself by sending a link to your online portfolio where samples of your work can be viewed.

8. Live up to your promises.  Make sure that with each project you do, you give it your 100% service. When you give a deadline for a project completion, see to it that you can submit on time. Give yourself a reasonable time frame to get the job done.

Do not accept multiple projects at once to make sure that the quality of your work is not compromised. If you want to build up an outstanding reputation in the freelancing industry, you must ensure that each client will be happy with your output.

9. Make your work space inspiring.  If you do not have an extra room to create an office, you can designate an area in your home as your work space. Create a working space that is comfortable, functional and inspiring. See to it that you have enough storage to help you get organized and keep clutter out of sight.

Paint the wall with your favorite hue. Add beautiful, decorative pieces or art work that are a delight to the eyes. Place a mood board to stimulate creativity. Post motivational quotes on the wall to encourage positivity.

10. Save money from tax deductions.  If you are a freelancer in the US, you are entitled to write off certain expenses from your taxes. (Examples are coffee and lunch during business meetings, business cell phone bills, home office expenses, etc.)

It is recommended that you consult a business attorney or a certified accountant regarding your rights and privileges to make sure that you’re not missing out on these important savings. (Check out this article: 10 Deductions Freelancers Can Grab.)

11. Manage your time.  Freelancers have the freedom to work at their own pace and preferred time. However, just because you are the boss does not mean you should not follow a schedule.

I confess that this is one of my biggest challenges as a freelance writer. It can be tempting to put aside work for other things but such a habit spells trouble for a freelancer. It could result to poor quality of work because you’re rushing to beat the deadline; missing a deadline; or losing clients in the long run.

12. Present yourself as a specialist.  As you gain experience and build-up a solid portfolio, you should become more confident in your abilities. For instance, experienced writers can afford to demand a higher compensation because they are confident about what they can do. If you present yourself as an expert, prospective customers would be more inclined to entrust you with an assignment and pay you with the compensation you deserve.

13. Build your own website or start a blog. Whether you are a freelance web designer, writer, web developer, a virtual assistant, having your own website is recommended if you want to offer freelance services. You can freely showcase your talent from your website or blog and you can even monetize it for extra income. Having your own site/blog would make you look more professional especially when an interested client tries to look up your name in the search engines.

14. Take charge of your finances.  As a freelance contractor, you are in charge of your finances- from issuing invoices, marketing your services, monitoring payments, paying bills, preparing taxes, building up your savings, etc. Monitor your cash flow more effectively by using a simple small business accounting software.

15. Strive for excellence.  No matter what it is you do or how long you’ve been freelancing, continue to work towards improvement. Keep yourself updated about the latest developments in your field. Discover tools that you can use to simplify your work and improve your output. Attend seminars, webinars or conferences to enhance your skills and strengthen your credentials.

16. Promote yourself.  Get yourself out in the market field by joining freelance websites like Freelancer.com, Elance, and oDesk.

Many small business owners who want to outsource tasks use these sites to find qualified candidates so if you are just starting out a career in freelancing, you can build up your portfolio by bidding on projects.

As you complete one project at a time, you will gain ratings and feedback from the clients you’ve worked with.

Are you a freelancer?  What are other tips has helped you to become successful in your field?

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks,
Rachel:)

Photo sources:
1. work
2. love your work
3. professional freelancer
4. oDesk