 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| INNOVATE! Technology, Tools, Tips, & Techniques | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
September 2009
Dear Client,
Welcome to INNOVATE!, an administrative resource for small business owners. INNOVATE! is a product of Cybertary, a professional Virtual Assisting company. In these monthly emails we will be giving you numerous resources and tips you can use in your business, your home, your office, and your life!
Everyone has an opinion about something or other, and most of us want to express that opinion. Up until about 12 years ago, people who had something to say were limited in venues of communication, but then along came the Web Log, which morphed into Blog. Now we can let everyone know what we think and what we know in a blog instantly. As soon as we write our blog and post it, people around the world have access to read, recommend, and comment on it. This month in INNOVATE!, Cybertary is going to help you get on the blogging bandwagon. It's free, it's accessible, it's fun, and with some time and effort, blogging can be a powerful marketing tool for your business.
Enjoy!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blogging Basics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Blogging for Your Business
 First things first, Merriam Webster defines a blog as, "A Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer." Blogs cover as many different topics and express as many different opinions as there are people writing them – you can find a blog on just about anything from food to politics to technology, and even blogs about all three combined. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Basics About RSS Feeds and Feed Readers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
How RSS Can Keep You Up to Date Faster and More Easily
 How RSS Can Keep You Up to Date Faster and More Easily RSS feed this, RSS feed that. Just what is this RSS business? You'll see the RSS symbol on many of the online publications you read these days. From newspapers and webzines to blogs, more and more online publications offer RSS feeds as an easier way to alert readers about new content. You'll find RSS makes your knowledge-seeking life so much easier. And, here's a little bit about how it works. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| CyberQuick-Tip: What is a Widget? | |||||||||||||||||||||||
A widget is a small application that runs on your desktop or in a web page and enriches it with functionality, useful information, and fun! Some common examples include calendars, clocks, hit counters, stock market tickers, and games, but widgets come in all shapes and forms.
Desktop widgets usually, but not always, require you to download and install an engine in order to run them. Web widgets are sections of code that can be inserted into any web page, such as your blog or business website, to enhance the user experience. These little embedded gadgets are primarily provided by third parties, self-contained, and updated automatically. Both Yahoo and Google provide thousands of free widgets, and there are several websites devoted exclusively to widgets including: www.widgipedia.com, www.widgetbox.com, www.feedzilla.com, and www.automattic.com (widgets to use in your WordPress blogs). Using Widgets on your website or blog is a great way to differentiate you and make your site more “sticky” by giving readers extra features for either utility or entertainment. They are also easy to use and install without having to understand any HTML – in most cases, you merely copy and paste the HTML on your webpage. Best of all, they are free! Want to give it a try? Below is the HTML for the official Wikipedia Gadget offered by Google. Simply copy and paste the script code into the HTML source of the site where you want the Wikipedia Widget to be displayed and violá! Your users can search Wikipedia directly from your webpage or blog. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| How Not to Forget Things | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Don't Leave Home Without it!
 Have you ever left the house in the morning, rushing off to work, only to leave your cell phone or wallet behind? Or, at the end of a hectic day in a rush to get home, you leave the office and two blocks from home you realize you left your laptop sitting on your desk? We’ve all been there, and are likely to leave something important behind again, but here are some tips to help reduce the possibility that you just might forget that critical item next time you walk out of the house.
Write it down
One of the biggest mistakes we tend to make is to think we can keep everything in our heads. With meeting schedules, grocery lists, business presentations, and family events all whirling around our brains at the same time, it’s no wonder we forget the simple, but necessary things like keys, phones, and briefcases. Keep a small pad (sticky notes work well) or white board at the door, both at home and at work, where you’re sure to see it on the way out. As you think of things you need to take with you that day, write them down. A quick check of the list on your way out is sure to put your mind at ease. Plan Ahead
Nothing can sabotage a day more than rushed chaos. When we are late, our brains are so scattered we are lucky to remember our pants, much less our wallets and phones. To avoid forgetting the necessities, plan ahead. The night before work, place all the items you’ll need for the day in one spot, that way you won’t have to search for them in the morning, or even worse, forget to search for them at all. Valet box
A valet box is a handsome and functional organizational tool. These stylish boxes come in a variety of sizes and many come equipped with built-in power strips and surge protectors so you can charge your cell phone, PDA, or MP3 player simultaneously. With several storage areas, it’s a great tool for the busy executive to keep small personal items, including wallets, keys, electronics, and jewelry, all in one place. Keys are the Key One of the best ways to remember all the things you need to take with you is to put everything with your keys. Throughout the day, as you think of things you need, place them in a basket or a pile and put your keys on top. Keep a duplicate key hidden somewhere safe outside just in case you walk out the door and realize, “Oops, I forgot my keys!” |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
THEME - Blogging for Business -- Part 2
This newsletter is a product of Cybertary, Inc. Please review our policy for reprinting any portion of this newsletter on your own site. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||