Identify Theft Or Will The Real Me Please Stand Up!
June 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pm by Livvie
There is a new thief on the block. An identity thief and YOU are at risk!
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime today and is effecting approximately 900,000 NEW victims each year!
Everyday transactions such as writing a check, using your cell phone, making a charge purchase, applying for a credit card, mailing your tax returns, even simply placing your outgoing mail in your mail box may put you at risk.
Can identity theft be completely prevented—No, but there are steps you can take to minimize your risk by managing your personal information better.
1. Protect Your Social Security Number
Don’t carry your Social Security card with you or in your wallet. Leave your drivers license, social security and home telephone numbers off your personal checks.
2. Shop Online at Secure Web Sites
Always make sure you are dealing with a secure web site. Look for https:// displayed in your web address bar located near the top of your screen. The “s” after “http” stands for “secure”. https://
3. Destroy Information and Papers You Throw Away
Shred (crosscut shredders are best) bank information, credit card information, offers for credit and payments made with receipts given.
4. Know Your Credit Accounts Billing Cycles
In case your bills are late coming in, you can call the company and request a duplicate copy. This will help you see right away if there is a problem on your account.
5. Check Your Credit Report
Once a year check your credit report with the three major credit reporting agencies. Don’t overlook the Inquiries” section of the report. This will give you an overview of creditors, accounts and inquiries made on your report.
Even though you can’t totally prevent identity theft from occurring, following these few steps will help you lower your risk. When the time (credit report) comes….The Real You IS Standing Up!
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I’ve Written An Article. Now What Do I Do?
June 5th, 2009 at 12:13 pm by Livvie
You’ve finally done it! You’ve written your article, looked it over, tweaked it, and looked it over again, and now you are ready to publish! Now what do you do?
Two things needed to be added to your article. A how to publish statement that is added just before your article and your resource box or bio added at the end of your article.
Here is an example of a how to publish statement:
“Please feel free to publish this article on your website,
your blog, and/or in your e-book or newsletters with the authors
resource box included and without any changes to the
article. (Add your contact e-mail)”
If you would like to be notified if they are using your article, add “A complimentary copy of your ezine or notification you are using this article would be appreciated.”
How To Write Articles When You Are Stumped!
June 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am by Livvie
Let’s face it, we all get writers block from time to time. You sit there with your fingers on the keyboard, your eyes on the monitor, and you’re waiting on…go! But nothing happens, you’re stumped!
Here are some ideas to help you get those creative juices flowing again.
Explore Article Directories:
The Internet is packed with article directories that store articles written on every subject you can think of. It’s a virtual gold mine of information for writers.
Find your niche or targeted audience and sarting with the newest articles posted, read some of the articles written by other writers, then expand on the subject or point using another angle, your own ideas, or your experiences. *Caution: Never plagiarize the actual article.
http://www.ezinearticles.com
http://www.goarticles.com
http://www.ideamarketers.com
Try Blog Hopping
Visit your favorite bloggs and see what topics they are blogging about. Find out what’s of interest to their readers and to the blogger. What’s the “hot topic” or “topic interest of the day”. If you find it of interest, write an article on the subject. While you at the blog, post a view point comment and let them know you found the subject interesting.
Listen To What People Are Actually Saying
Listening is a lost art. When you are around a group of people, try listening to what they are talking about and if it’s an interesting subject, do your research and write an article on the topic answering some of their conerns or posing some questions with you providing the answers as well.
Use Your Own Blog or Previously Written Articles
Don’t overlook the information you already have on hand. Your blog, previously written articles, and any information stored related to your target audience or niche. Reread your information and expand on previously made points or subjects by taking it one step further. this works especially well with articles written a few years back for updating and expanding. You’ll be amazed how far you have come and how much you have learned in such a short period of time.
Polls and Surveys
Polls and surveys can also be an interesting source of information for articles, data in the articles, and/or research. They can provide feedback, story ideas, marketing opportunities, and intersting information.
Relax! Go With the Flow and Enjoy It!
Nothing creative will come from a mind that’s bogged down and not relaxed. If writing has become a chore, a burden, an imposition on your time, you aren’t going to enjoy what you’re doing.
Creative ideas and words come from relaxed minds and from someone who is enjoying what they do AND it’s reflected in your writing. Just like being on a phone, you can ”hear” if someone is upbeat or just going though the motions. Your written words are the same. Your audience can “hear” creative, upbeat, enjoying what you do OR they can “hear” you are just going through the motions.
So there you have it! Five simple ideas to show you ….How to Write Articles When You Are Stumped!
Building Relationships….Priceless!
May 31st, 2009 at 9:00 pm by Livvie
There are many things you can and will do along the way to building your business, but few things will have the impact on your business as that of building relationships.
Some think because you don’t “see” your viewers - customers, you don’t have to “interact”. In fact most of your business is conducted using web sites, e-mail and autoresponders. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Web sites, e-mail and autoresponders are the reasons you must build relationships! Think about it. Don’t you absolutely hate answering machines or voice mail when calling a business? There is no contact.
Social Media Marketing - The Wave of the Future
May 28th, 2009 at 4:57 pm by Livvie
The new buzz word is Social Media Marketing and make no mistake, it’s here to stay. No longer is Twitter, and Facebook just for teenagers. Businesses have found out this is THE way to market and brand their business. Why? Because “word of mouth” advertising has always and will always be the best form of advertising and that’s what Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, three of the largest social medias, are all about… making contacts, building relationships, and gaining your trust. They are “word of mouth advertising on steroids” and…it’s FREE!
It’s one-on-one contact in the best of forms, but at the same time you have the ability to reach hundreds, even thousands of people.
Mari Smith, Michael Stelzner , and Gary Vaynerchuk, (to name a few), are talking about the new age of Social Media Marketing and what it means to consumers and business owners. Networking has always been the way to meet people (customers/consumers), and these sites are networking sites. Joining in on the conversations (Tweets) is shaking hands and networking. AND what’s so good about this?? You didn’t even have to leave home.
Newspapers, magazines, telephone books…print media is no longer in control (why they are having problems). Users are in control and it’s a total mind change!
You can now do for free what it use to cost thousands of dollars to do…make contact. With this new change comes new “rules of engagement”. These social media sites are not about making sales, they are about making contact, building relationships…earning trust and credibility. Then those contacts tell everyone they know, who tells everyone they know about you, your business, service, or product…good or bad.
That’s word of mouth advertising in the best of forms…people telling a LOT of other people. But remember, the two most important principles of social media are authenticity and transparency. Whatever is done needs to be done with quality.
The Internet’s only 15 years old. Social media sites are less than 6 years old. To put it in Gary Vaynerchuk’s words (GaryVee as he likes to be called), “We are in the Cave Man’s age of Social Media Marketing”, it ’s just started. It will be awesome to see what comes down the pike and how it will be used to build business relationships and businesses!
So, how about you? Are you still sitting on the surf board or are you ready to “ride the wave” …Social Media Marketing - (IS) The Wave of the Future!
