Jamie Rock's Scribblings

Some Great Manchester Websites To Check Out

2011-05-16T03:28:00.001-07:00

There are lots and lots of websites out there but we have chosen a few to highlight to our readers. Don't get to excited. here they are:

Hairdressers Manchester
Indian Restaurants Manchester
Travel Agents Manchester
Manchester Estate Agent
Estate Agents Greater Manchester
Tattoo Removal Manchester

The Benefits of Setting up a Credit Account for Office Supplies Orders

2011-02-28T04:31:00.001-08:00

Those of you who work in an office environment are sure to be at least vaguely acquainted with the regularity with which stocks of office supplies and stationery need to be replenished. In the course of performing daily tasks and duties, consumables such as copier paper, printer ink cartridges and notepads are quickly used up and failure to have the necessary reserves ready can severely impact upon productivity.

Although far from the most exciting of tasks; ordering office supplies is an essential component of maintaining an efficient and functional office environment. Often the responsibility of the Office Manager (alongside a world of other pressing duties) the key to successful and cost-effective office supplies maintenance and replenishment is a thorough understanding of the rate at which different items are depleted alongside a quick and easy means of re-stocking.

Whilst the understanding of an organisation’s office supplies usage is something which can only really be acquired over time - streamlining and getting maximum value during the course of the re-ordering process is an incredible simple activity. In terms of both speeding up ordering and getting the best value on your purchases, setting up a business account or credit account with a specialist office supplies retailer such as DG Office Supplies can have an incredible impact.

By setting up a business account with DGOS you essentially bypass the general issues encountered when ordering online or by mail order. You have your own dedicated account manager who is well acquainted with your requirements and also able to provide accurate delivery timescales. In addition to a high level of customer service, as an account holding customer your company benefit financially on two fronts – payment by invoice to aid cash flow and even more competitive pricing than is available to non-account holders.

In addition to making long-term financial sense, there are also immediate cash benefits to setting up a credit or business account for office equipment purchases. New account sign-ups who register now will receive not only 20% off their first order (order value up to £500) but also a credit rebate of 15% of the total value of all purchases made within 3 months from the creation of their account. In essence, by signing your company up for a credit/business account with DG Office Supplies you will get the equivalent of more than 15 % discount off your orders for the first 3 months.

If you would like to find out more about DGOS Office Supplies Business Accounts and register with them then simply visit their new office supplies credit accounts page.

Get Solar Powered

2011-01-26T06:40:00.000-08:00

Ever considered investing in a home solar panel system? Why not find out if your home is suitable free of charge? Visit Solarlec Solar PV to see if you can generate your own power!

Five Ways to Beat the Bulge Over Christmas

2010-12-14T09:24:00.000-08:00

The festive period is a time associated with excess; most notably on the food front. It’s a time for letting loose a little, enjoying time with family and friends and of course eating some seriously hearty meals! As a result of the ever present chocolates, snacks and other tasty morsels it also tends to have a pretty negative impact on the waistline. This needn’t however be the case; a bit of effort here and moderation there can leave you feeling full, festive and fit...without taking the merriment out of Christmas:

Keep Up Your Existing Exercise Routines

Just because your daily routine may be slightly different at this time of year doesn’t mean you should drop your usual exercise. In fact, if you’re off work then there’s even more opportunity to pop down to the gym or go out for a run. Remember that regular exercise invigorates body and mind, with extra food and alcohol likely to be on the cards, getting your regular dose of exercise in can help to stave off lethargy and fatigue.

Don’t Give In...Too Much

We all need to treat ourselves on occasion and Christmas is the ideal time to do it...everyone else is for a start! The key is not necessarily saying ‘no’ but more so knowing when to say ‘stop’, a chocolate or two is an inevitability, just make sure you don’t get carried away. As with most things, moderation is the key here.

Hit the Veggies

One of the saving graces of Christmas fayre is the consistent presence of vegetables. Yes Christmas dinner may be an unrelenting hulk of a meal but it is laden with sprouts, carrots, parsnips, peas and other fibrous, nutritious titbits. Be sure to help yourself to a hefty portion of vegetables and you’ll feel full, content and less guilty on boxing day.

Walk it Off

Following the heavy Christmas dinner many families exercise the festive tradition of going for a walk. This is a great idea for all (provided you wrap up warm and wear appropriate footwear), it will not only prevent the post-dinner slump but also invigorate you and help to burn off some of those excess calories- an hour long walk at a leisurely 2 miles an hour pace will typically burn off around 200 calories.

Take it Easy with the Alcohol

Many of us enjoy a tipple at this time of year, it is however vital to once again consider the importance of moderation. Not only is binge drinking harmful in itself but alcohol is also highly calorific. There’s no use in holding off on tasty morsels if you are then going to drink yourself into oblivion- for many reasons. A glass of wine here and there is certainly going to do you no harm, (provided there’s no risk of drink driving as a result) just bear in mind that even these occasional glasses add to your calorific intake.

The True Cost Of Asbestos

2010-12-06T02:52:00.000-08:00

Does Snowfall Need to Result in Falling Revenue?

2010-12-03T03:54:00.000-08:00

With the UKs roads, rail network and airports all struggling to compete with the persistent ice and snow, this December threatens to be a torrid time for British businesses. Despite the lesson taught by the prolonged cold snap which hit the country in January, it seems that preparations have been somewhat lacking with regard to the transport infrastructure and the chilly white flakes have had more of an impact than they need have. Whilst those countries who are accustomed to snow for a large proportion of the year appear to make us look foolish for our apparent collapse in the face of a few inches of snow- it is important to bear in mind that with the myriad governmental and council cuts, the country just can’t afford to invest in the equipment and labour to facilitate a seamless continuation of transport services when the ice and snow hit.

Supposing that this weather continues, many businesses face a series of problems, most notably high street retailers. Staff absences are likely to increase, whilst retailers will suffer a shortfall in footfall and increasing numbers of businesses will consequently experience plummeting revenue during the historically rich Christmas shopping period. In stark contrast to the potential pitfalls facing high street retailers, online commerce could well experience a noticeable upturn at the expense of their rivals who rely upon physical locations. With many consumers reluctant to brave the elements in order to purchase their Christmas gifts, online shopping is likely to build upon its already growing popularity and pick up the slack from the high street slump. This activity mirrors the year-round shift towards online purchase in areas such as office supplies, books and travel.

Many other businesses who do not operate in the retail sector are also finding ways around the transport problems posed by the current weather. Allowing staff to work from home (provided they can perform their role remotely) is a highly effective means of bypassing the absenteeism issue. Not only does it mean that staff members who would otherwise have been unable to make it into the office are still able to work, having staff work from home is also a great exercise in trust building. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that those who work from home are often more productive than their office based counterparts as they are able to create the work environment which best suits them, do not waste time commuting and often work extra hours. Through email, Skype and remote desktop function it is as though the remote worker is several desks away as opposed to many miles.

Although the snow may be wreaking havoc on commuters right now, if the business landscape changes to embrace the growth in online activity and the opportunities presented by allowing staff to work from home, then maybe next time there will be fewer commuters to affect.

5 Top Tips For the Merry Traveller – Getting Home Safely Over Christmas

2010-11-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

The festive period is a time for merry revelry and with this liberal good cheer comes a risk of excess. Excessive eating, excessive laughter and excessive snow are all part and parcel of a jolly good Christmas and excessive alcohol consumption will often also feature. Although I would never venture to condone too hefty a tipple at any time of year, I’m a realist and as such acknowledge that hangovers aplenty are on the cards between now and the New Year. With this inevitability in mind, here are my 5 top tips for negotiating your way home following a session on the sherry:

1. Don’t Under Any Circumstances Drive
Drink driving is a reckless, dangerous and selfish act. You should never, under any circumstances drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or get in a car with an inebriated driver. If you are not sure if you are fit to drive then always err on the side of caution and find an alternative means of wending your way home following an evening of joviality. Keep Christmas merry – don’t drink and drive.

2. If Your Wallet Permits: Call a Taxi
Taxi drivers are a noble breed who give up their time to safely escort others from A to B, if you have the funds available then make use of their generous services. Only ever use a licensed taxi (even if it does mean waiting a little longer), licensing exists for a reason and is in the passenger’s best interest.

3. When and Where Available, Chance Public Transport
Public transport is one of those things which makes Britain truly ‘Great’. Come rain or shine, wind or snow (well, some snow) trains, buses and if you’re lucky: tubes and trams are at your disposal for a meagre fee. If you have a snazzy ‘Smartphone’ then you can access timetables from the comfort of your armchair and plan your departure in advance to avoid getting unnecessarily chilly. I understand that there are people who have an unjustified dislike of public transport, if you are amongst that number then just give it a go, before you know it you’ll be selling your car and buying a bus pass.

4. You Have to Walk then Plan Ahead
What in your slightly tipsy mind may seem to be a 2 minute jaunt could well end up being a two hour hike if you don’t adequately prepare. Double check you know where you’re going, actually, to be certain of a successful trip; get a sober friend to draw you a map. Wrap up warm, check your phone has battery and set off with confidence.

5. Watch Your Step
Snow and ice can be a pedestrian’s worst enemy...particularly if said pedestrian is slightly ‘merry’. Try and avoid compacted snow, ice or metal grids when walking (they’re as frictionless as Teflon) and be sure to walk as far away from the kerb as possible (without trampling flowerbeds) so as to minimise the potentially tragic repercussions of a slip, trip or fall. Avoid running, look both ways before crossing roads, don’t steal any traffic cones, oh, and I’m sorry to say that making snow shoes out of tennis racquets is much less effective than you may have imagined.

Get home safe and have a magical Christmas.

What Is Recruitment Outsourcing?

2010-11-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

Recruitment outsourcing is the utilisation of a specialist external organisation for the sourcing and hiring of staff. Their task is to perform all aspects of the recruitment process; from profiling through to the advancement of candidates to the interview stage. Increasing numbers of businesses are turning to external recruitment companies in order to recruit the best possible new starters to their organisation.

The task of recruiting was historically amongst the duties of the human resources department of an organisation, but many large companies are now looking to outsource this task so that the HR department can focus more upon business strategy and existing personnel management. Small businesses which lack a dedicated human resources function are particularly reliant upon recruitment outsourcing as a means of gaining the best possible new staff with minimum disruption to their day to day operations.

Utilising an external, specialist organisation to perform your recruitment for you brings with it a number of benefits:

Lower Cost

Advertising for a position yourself can be an extremely costly endeavour. Just having your job advert listed on one job board can cost several hundred pounds – and having an advert put into the local paper can cost considerably more. When utilising an external recruitment organisation, your job advert is pushed out through their carefully researched and highly effective channels as part of your fee. Flat fee recruitment in particular represents incredible value in terms of the total cost of the service.

Faster Sourcing

Given that a dedicated recruitment agency is an expert in their field and fully geared towards highly effective recruitment practices: they will almost certainly perform the task of recruiting for a role considerably faster than you could do so in-house.

Higher Quality of Candidates

Not only will a recruitment specialist be able to source candidates very quickly, but will also make maximum use of their experience, networks and contacts to find the best possible people for the job.

Improved Time Efficiency

Outsourcing your recruitment requirements avoids the need to allocate your own time or that of another member of staff to the task of sourcing candidates. If your company doesn’t have a fulltime human resources function then this is a particularly strong argument for bringing a recruitment company on board.

Condoms Demystified

2010-10-14T01:41:00.000-07:00

Now first things first; I realise that of all the words that you can put before ‘sex’ the word ‘safe’ isn’t the most exciting – especially considering the alternatives like ‘kinky’, ‘dirty’, ‘outdoor’, ‘anal’, ‘mind-blowing’...but if you want to indulge in sensational, passionate, worry-free sexual adventures for years and years to come, then safe sex is an absolute essential.

Having established the importance of safe sex it’s time for me to try to put my one track minds to good use and outline just how nonsensical some arguments against condom use are:

The Claim:

"With a condom on you can’t feel anything!"

The Truth:

Evidently you’ve been buying c**p condoms! I accept that if you’re using a bargain basement sheath bought in a rush from a rusty machine in a pub toilet then there’s a chance that you will indeed struggle to experience the subtle tactile sensations of penetrative intercourse. If however you’ve ever used any of the numerous Ultra-thin condoms, Sensitive condoms or Fetherlite condoms then you (like the rest of the sexually enlightened world) will be fully aware that by using a condom which works for you, you can experience awesome sex without potentially spawning a little one or contracting a genital nasty. Just shop around until you come across a willy warmer that works for you!

The Claim:

"They break really easily!"

The Truth:

If you have a particularly gargantuan penis then you may well break or tear a standard condom...which is why Extra large condoms exist (don’t get carried away though guys, if a standard condom fits you well then don’t go buying extra large johnnies to impress people, there’s a chance they’ll slip off). The other two major factors which can cause a condom to break are putting it on wrong (read the packaging properly for goodness sake!) and insufficient lubrication – which can be remedied with a high quality water-based sexual lubricant.

The Claim:

"They are unnatural and forbidden by my religion!"

The Truth:

Firstly, how many modern items are strictly ‘natural’? If you wear shoes on your feet then why not wear a condom on your little chap? Like a shoe, a condom is a manufactured product worn on a part of the body to ensure safe performance of a physical act (I realise that walking and sex are slightly different but you can see my point).

On the religion front: I am yet to hear of a religion which simultaneously denounces both recreational sex and condoms. If your belief is strong enough to prevent you from using a condom then surely it is strong enough to prevent you from engaging in sexually activity except with a spouse and then only for the purposes of reproduction...in which case you wouldn’t want a condom anyway.

The Claim:

"I can’t use a condom; I’m allergic to latex!"

The Truth:

A small proportion of people are indeed allergic to latex, and to be honest; if I was allergic to something I certainly wouldn’t encase my bits in it. I would of course buy one of the many equally effective types of latex-free condoms. Solved!

So wrap up warm; it’s almost Winter.

DGOS Expand their Regional Services Benefits

2010-10-04T08:32:00.001-07:00

DGOS are proud to announce that due to company expansion and a further focus upon supporting businesses of all sizes; a number of areas in the North of England are now able to benefit from an increased level of service. Previously only offered to companies based in the North West region; the DGOS local service offers unparalelled customer service and same day delivery when and where possible.

So if you're a company looking for Office Supplies Leeds, Office Supplies Stafford, Office Supplies Bradford or Office Supplies Stoke: then DGOS look forward to offering you the benefits, value and efficiency of their local area speciality service.

Happy Shopping!

Photo Paper – Hailing a New Dawn for Personal Photography

2010-09-28T03:43:00.000-07:00

The digital age is upon us and nowhere is this more evident than in the world of photography. Developments in digital photographic technology have made digital cameras accessible to all, and the quality of images is now easily on a par with a high quality conventional film camera. This shift has meant that increasing numbers of people utilise digital cameras on a regular basis and consequently upload the images to their computer, distribute through social networks and archive images in digital format as albums on their computer.

Although the increased popularity of digital photography has given more people access to a low cost means of taking high quality photographs, it has meant that for the most part traditional photographs are becoming increasingly obsolete. The practice of taking film to be developed is in decline, which is a positive in that it was a costly expense and negative as many photographs remain forever unseen once taken and simply reside in the depths of a computer hard drive.

There are however a number of solutions to this problem of never-seen photographs, and each brings with it its own unique benefits:

Digital Photo Frames

Digital photo frames are essential small, flat LCD screens which are built into a mount which resembles a traditional photo frame. These compact but accomplished devices then display images taken by a digital camera as if they were paper photographs- with the added benefit of the ability to scroll through the images automatically and even play video clips. Digital photo frames are a great way to display images in the home or on a desk in the office and despite using a small amount of electricity when in operation- are environmentally ethical in that they replace the need for paper or image developing chemicals.

Photo Printing Stations/Services

In order to avoid being too heavily affected by the shift away from conventional photograph development processes, many high street and mail order businesses who previously specialised in developing film have brought in services which offer to print images from memory cards. This system allows a digital camera user to select their favourite images, hand them over and receive high quality photograph prints on photo paper. The major upshot of this service is that rather than paying to develop poorly taken photographs, the user gets to choose which images become ‘hard copies’ and as such exercise a higher level of control over what they’re paying for.

Using Photo Paper to Print at Home

The majority of digital camera owners will be in possession of a home computer and a printer of at least moderate quality. With the use of specialised photo paper or glossy printer paper it is possible to cut out the middle man and print your own high quality copies of digital images at home. Even if your printer doesn’t appear to be of the best quality when printing normally- with a high quality photo paper; even a low cost inkjet printer is capable of producing crisp, clear photo prints which wouldn’t look out of place in a frame. Much like with photo printing services, this solution means that you only need print the images you wish to, but with the added benefits of lower costs and the ability to print images instantly, as and when required. Photo paper may well signify the end of commercial photograph development providers if enough people give it a chance and embrace the lower cost, ease of use and incredibly high quality results.

For all of your photo paper needs pay a visit to DG Office Supplies

Stocking Up On a Budget

2010-07-20T03:24:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying how essential it is for every office to be fully stocked with all of the office supplies, office equipment, stationery and consumables that they are likely to need to go about their day to day business. What isn’t however a given is that this procedure is necessarily expensive. It is true in many industries that you don’t have to buy products from widely recognised manufacturers in order to be sure of quality and in the office supplies world, that rule holds true: provided you shop carefully and intelligently.

Although at first glance the one off special offers displayed in high street office supplies stores may hold appeal, for the most part, physical office supplies stores charge a premium for the majority of their stock. This is no surprise when you consider the costs they incur in terms of overheads, rent and staff. By all means take advantage of special offers if they represent great value and you genuinely need the item, but avoid paying over the odds for other items purely because you’re already in the store. It is almost universally better value to purchase the lion’s share of your office supplies and other associated equipment from an online retailer given their significantly lower overheads and consequently: lower prices.

Having sourced an office supplies retailer who offers a wide range of products at highly competitive prices the next step towards stocking up the office supplies cupboard on a shoestring is to look for items which fulfil the necessary criteria but aren’t priced at a premium. Although you may feel more confident opting for items from high visibility, widely recognised brands: a specific label is by no means a guarantee of higher quality. It can save you a great deal of money if you look at lower priced items from manufacturers you’re less familiar with. To secure peace of mind simply type the name of the manufacturer and item into a search engine in order to read reviews of the product.

The final major means of making a saving is to buy everything in one go. For a start, many online office supplies retailers offer free delivery on orders over a certain value: so by buying enough to qualify for the free delivery you are already making a saving. In addition to the free delivery, for the most part buying items in bulk results in a lower price per unit due to the phenomena known as economies of scale. Don’t go overboard, or buy more than you’re likely to need: but aim to buy all that you’re likely to need for the foreseeable future and you’ll notice the savings immediately and the benefits for months to come.

Written by Jamie Rock Lyons for DGOS Office Supplies and their Office Supplies Blog

Office Supplies? Check!

2010-07-06T04:05:00.001-07:00

It may be that you have been set the task of reviewing office supplies for your building and are not sure where to start. When you’re running a business you need to be in control of items that are needed on a daily basis.

Below we compiled a list of potential products that your office is likely to currently use on a pretty much daily basis, or will use regularly in time if you’re a start up business, and a few pointers on how to organise office supplies so that you don’t over order or of course run out of stock.

The majority of products used on a daily basis may include:

• Bathroom and kitchen cleaning supplies
• Blackboards or whiteboards
• CD’s for data storage
• Calculators
• Envelopes
• Erasers
• Fax & copy paper
• Franking machine accessories
• Glue
• Kitchen consumables (kettle, tea, coffee, cutlery)
• Labels (for postage, marking files, archiving)
• Lever-arch files (binders)
• Marker pens
• Message pads
• Stationery (letterheads, compliment slips, invoices)
• Sticky tape
• Paper clips
• Pens (Bics, ballpoints, highlighers, fountain pens (for the boss!) & Pencils
• Plastic wallets
• Postage stamps
• Print cartridges
• Rubber bands
• Rulers
• Scissors
• Stamps (marking post as read, invoices as paid etc)
• Stapler & staples
• Correction Fluid
• Toilet rolls
• Phone headsets
• Wall calendars
• Water bottles (water coolers in a large office need replacing regularly)

We do save time by having stationery on hand and it is worth keeping a note to colleagues to ensure they report when they are on the last dozen or so (the last box of pens or the last couple of reams of printer paper etc). Replenishing stocks every month or so is a great help – there’s no point in running out of printer paper when a colleague is in the middle of an invoice run!

Considering an order system to order these types of office supplies on a regular basis isn’t easy but generating processes that can be followed simply by using a master list and reviewing the office supplies needed every couple of months can help. Maintaining a stationery file can help identify where reductions and savings can be made even just months down the line so it’s a huge help where organization, budgets and time is concerned. By gaining an understanding of your office requirements, areas of surplus and products which are required on a rolling basis, keeping the office running smoothly is incredibly simple.

A Look at Taboo

2010-06-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

Throughout history, ethics, morals and general social conduct have been in a state of constant flux, to such an extent that numerous practices which were considered unacceptable in the past are now a common constituent of our daily lives. The social conventions which govern many aspects of any given period are essentially an amalgamation of tradition, innate morality (if such a thing is to be conceived as existent); which are often to some extent enforced by ideological state apparatus of the ilk of the church and racial heritage; and the laws of the time and place, as upheld by the governing body through repressive state apparatus such as the police and consequently the judicial system. A most forceful and interesting example of this is to be found in our understanding of the term ‘taboo’.

In a collection of his essays entitled “Totem and Taboo” first published in 1919,Sigmund Freud posits amongst other things, his interpretation of the role of taboo in both history and the modern day, ultimately linking it with the actions and views of neurotics. Freud, in Chapter 2: Taboo and the Ambivalence of Emotions presents the intriguing paradox that: “For us the meaning of taboo branches off into two opposite directions. On the one hand it means to us sacred, consecrated: but on the other hand it means, uncanny, dangerous, forbidden, and unclean.”(P41)

As this apparent contradiction of definitions would suggest; the age old concept of taboo: in the eyes of Freud focuses upon prohibitions and desires. Within the text, Freud elaborates that in ancient civilisation, most notably in Polynesia; taboo served several functions. Not only did it guard those in power against assassination through a network of superstitions which prevented direct contact between a chief and a common man, but also fulfilled a similar task in protecting the vulnerable. Simultaneously, taboo as is stated in the quotation from Northcote W. Thomas’ article on the subject within Totem and Taboo, protected an individual’s property from theft, prevented the consumption of particular animals and substances and barred interaction with the corpses of the dead. Consequently it can be judged that taboo is generally held to be considered that which through threat of negative repercussions, is restricted or prohibited.

In his introduction to the splendid little tome: ‘The Wordsworth Dictionary of Obscenity and Taboo’, James McDonald provides an outline of the way in which taboos operate in modern society rather than as a universal concept: “In practice, therefore, our chosen taboos reflect our communal attitudes, and the fact that in recent times English speakers have tended to stigmatize sex and excretion must say something about our collective mentality.”(p6 1988) As McDonald points out; taboo leads inevitably to the imposition of euphemisms in order to avoid direct utterance of particular socially prohibited terms. In turn these euphemisms themselves gain taboo status as a consequence, one would presume, of the familiarity resulting from persistent usage, which in turn grants them an even closer association with the action or object of taboo than the term they served to replace.

Are we eternally engaged in a system where euphemisms from their day of entry to the lexicon are gradually dragged toward the taboo end of the spectrum; only for the whole process to be repeated ad infinitum?

This doesn't even relate to office supplies

5 Top Tips for Keeping Happy Goldfish

2010-06-29T05:51:00.000-07:00

The goldfish is widely considered one of the lowest maintenance pets available. There is a great deal of truth in this statement: there is no need to take it out on walks in the rain, nor the requirement to fix a fish-flap into your backdoor. Despite the relative ease with which fish can be kept however; there are still a few commonly made mistakes when it comes to looking after these water loving companions.

The following points are by no means an exhaustive list of aspects to consider but are most definitely worth bearing in mind if you’re planning to invest in an aquatic pal:

1- Chlorine is good for swimming pools...but not good for fish tanks: Although relatively hardy, there are some things which fish struggle to tolerate. Unfortunately one of these things is chlorine and other trace elements, which it just so happens are often present in small quantities in tap water. In order to prevent this chlorine and other contaminants from posing a threat to your goldfish, run the tap for at least 30 seconds before filling the tank. In addition it is advisable to add some de-chlorination solution to the water.

2- Fish are sociable: Research has suggested that gold fish enjoy watching their owners go about their daily lives as much as we take pleasure in watching them do the same. As such: keep your fish tank somewhere visible and relatively light (but out of direct sunlight), this also lessens the risk of forgetting to feed your fish.

3- Don’t overfeed your fish: Overfeeding is the single largest cause of premature death in goldfish. They pretty greedy chaps and are unlikely to stop eating just because they’re full, so you must make sure that they don’t get carried away. Once a day should be the absolute maximum in terms of feeding regularity. I personally have found that once every two days is absolutely perfect: it also saves a little money on fish food!

4- Careful with the water temperature: Goldfish are coldwater fish, that does not however mean you should fill the tank with cold water...confusing, I know. The ideal is in fact a more ambient temperature: a couple of degrees lower than room temperature is perfectly adequate. So remember to add a little warm water to cold water and test to ensure that it isn’t icy cold (nor actively warm!).

5- Clean the tank out: Goldfish are relatively dirty animals, then again so would you be if you ate and excreted in the same small space! As such, even if the water in the tank looks clean it may well be rather saturated with none too pleasant micro-organisms. Clean the tank out regularly and make sure to abide by the previous points about de-chlorination and temperature when doing so to keep your fish happy.

Written by Jamie Lyons sponsored by OfficeYoo office supplies and office supplies Liverpool

Autism & Ear Defenders

2010-06-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

Autism is a very misunderstood condition that affects a surprisingly large amount of the UKs population. Until you have firsthand experience of dealing with somebody that you know to be on the Autistic Spectrum, dependant where on the spectrum they are you may be forgiven for not even knowing they are autistic. You are more likely to believe that they are just being rude.

The more you come to know about Autism you will realise that this just isn’t the case. Autistic people are just like the rest of us they just do things differently just as different cultures live by different rules. People with ASDs generally only have a single focus of attention and are UN able to multi task.

As an example if somebody with Autism is watching a particular program on the television that they really like you could be screaming and shouting their name and they could seemingly not hear you because they are so focused on the program they are watching. ASD people are excellent at what they are doing at that point in time and will not change that focus until they want to.

Apart from this there are many other areas of an ASD that may present themselves such as sensory over load. A lot of ASD people cannot cope with their surroundings if it’s too busy as there are simply just too many things for their minds to process. Most of us wouldn’t notice all of these things going on around us but to somebody with an ASD this sort of environment can be very distressing.

This article isn’t intended to give you an overview of Autism and all its traits its more to offer some advice on a particular area that may affect some people with an ASD. Somebody suffering from a sensory issue, in particular aversion to noise, in the past would have probably relied on putting their hands over their ears, not going anywhere where they would come into contact with strange noises or even walked around with a pair of ear phones on.

Today there are at least two popular alternatives that can be offered. The first can help in two ways and is an IPod. IPods are very popular today and if the person wanted to go UN noticed as suffering from this particular trait and IPod would offer a good alternative and they can also pipe some music through it that they like. This solution works well on the move but in some situations just isn’t possible like in school classrooms for instance.

The way around this is the ever popular ear defenders. These devices can be custom moulded to fit snugly in your ear. They come in a whole host of different colours and can be worn as much as you like. Ear Defenders literally block out all the excessive noise allowing you to hear what is being said so your hearing is very focussed rather than all over the place. As an option if the person suffering with an ASD will wear them is probably the most suitable. Autism isn’t a condition to be feared it’s a condition that needs to be understood in greater detail.

Why Does My Site Need Search Engine Optimisation?

2010-06-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

Even with today’s level of internet knowledge it seems that there is still a huge amount of people out there who do not know what search engine optimisation is or why their website needs it if it is going to stand any chance of succeeding in the internet arena. During this article I hope to clear both of the above to problems up.

Before we get into search engine optimisation or SEO as it’s also known you really need to understand a few basic principles. First of all a search engine is a portal that displays results to internet users in response to a specific keyword search. You may now be thinking well what is a keyword search?

A keyword is a word by which you wish to find a specific website. As an example if you wanted to find a website about hotels in the Manchester area a good keyword to search on could be Manchester hotels. After you have inputted your keyword and clicked go it’s the job of the search engine to provide you with the most relevant results.

The internet is becoming more and more competitive everyday with lots of new websites joining if you like every second. This is where top quality search engine optimisation really comes into play.

It’s the job of the search engines to produce the most relevant results to a user. To do this it has to rank each and every website in order of importance based on numerous ranking factors. The job of an SEO is to pre-empt these ranking factors so that the search engines will deem their website more relevant than the next and reward it with a higher ranking.

The search engines are improving on a minute by minute basis so as a good SEO you need to keep yourself up to date with all of the latest changes and updates. All of this now leads me nicely on to the reason why your website needs SEO. The search engines are improving like I said minute by minute so if you or somebody else is not actively optimising your website then somebody else will be optimising theirs and it will be their website that ranks higher than yours. Its best to view top rankings like a race. If you work hard at keeping your website up to date then you will stay up front if you stop or slow down somebody else will overtake you.

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What Is Debt Consolidation?

2010-06-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

Debt consolidation refers to the replacement of several debts or loans with one single loan. There are a number of reasons why an individual may choose to consolidate their various debts into one loan and the overall benefits of doing so are also multitudinous.

The majority of individuals who find themselves in a position which necessitates a complete overhaul of their debt situation will do so due to their inability to stay on top of current debt and loan repayments. It is unfortunately also the norm that a large component of the total amount being paid out each month in servicing debts will tend to be interest payments. Debts such as credit cards and unsecured loans will on the whole incur higher levels of interest and it is often the case that by paying back the minimum monthly sum to cover credit card debt, you will in fact be only making the smallest of dents in the total amount owed due to the interest accumulation. Similarly, the total amount repayable on an unsecured loan taken over a long period will often be a substantially larger sum than the amount borrowed due to the high interest rate.

Debt consolidation loans are for the most part low interest loans and the repayment duration is matched to the circumstances and finances of the individual. By replacing a number of smaller loans or debts with one loan which offers a lower rate of interest, the hassle of covering multiple bills is significantly reduced, along with both the amount paid per month and the total figure paid once the consolidation loan has been cleared. All in all, debt consolidation loans offer a means of paying off debt quicker, for less financial outlay and in doing so induce considerably less stress than juggling various creditors.

Debt consolidation can be performed without a specifically tailored debt consolidation loan by using a credit card which offers an interest free period on balance transfers. Although this method does allow you to consolidate multiple debts it is not a reliable method of doing so. If you are unable to pay off the full balance transferred onto the new credit card before the interest free period expires, then high interest will applied to the remaining figure- which could well simply serve to perpetuate the problem. By contacting a professional debt help organisation you can rest assured that you are taking steps to bring about an end to your debts and doing so in the most time and cost effective manner.

Written by Jamie Rock Lyons on behalf of OfficeYoo Office Supplies and SimpleWeb SEO Oldham

Choosing A Good Curry House

2010-06-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

Living less than ten miles from the famous curry mile, having eaten curry since I was a boy and still enjoying a an Indian takeaway or meal at least once a week I would say that I am reasonably qualified to offer an opinion on how to choose a good curry house.

Location
Curry houses seem to be springing up everywhere nowadays. When I was little there was one curry house and if you didn’t go to that you had to travel rather a long way to get to another one. Today we are spoilt for choice so don’t be put off simply by the location of your restaurant. As there is so much competition it only makes sense to open a new restaurant where there aren’t anymore so don’t be surprised or put off by a new restaurant simply because you think it’s funny where it is located.

Time of the Week
Time of the week is vital for making your decision. Curry houses usually do a great trade over the weekend especially after the pubs have closed. Unless you are a regular drinker you probably won’t see them packed out after closing time so you will need to make a decision based on something else. If you can try and drive past mid week around a normal meal time. I wouldn’t expect you to see a full curry house but if the curry is good you will no doubt see customers inside from the native area of the curry house style. This is obviously a good sign as if the native culture are enjoying the cuisine then you are more than likely to also.

Recommendations
Everybody including myself seems to be an expert on curry but it certainly pays to listen. After all if somebody else has had a good experience then the place has got to be worth a try. Don’t be afraid of listening to recommendations unless they have come from somebody who only eats after they have been thrown out of the pub when quite frankly anything tastes nice.

Menu Variety
Having tried all of the dishes that have been invented especially for the English I now choose my restaurants based on local variations and curries that I haven’t heard of. I like to try new things and like the fact that the curry house is making an effort to be different rather than continuing to churn out the same old tried and tested recipes.

Those four top tips will see you OK when choosing a curry house to eat in but just to leave you on one final note. When you have made your choice it’s always good to try the Dopiaza curry as this will usually give you a good idea of the quality of the restaurant.

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So Whats All The Fuss About?

2010-06-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

Apple is obviously at the forefront of technology in today’s race for supremacy in the tech war. They have recently released the new IPad. This nifty piece of equipment is set to take the world by storm and looks like it already has. What I intend to do is analyse the Apple IPad just to see what all the fuss is actually about.

First Impressions
My first impression of the Ipad was that it looked awful and was extremely overpriced. It looked like an Iphone for a giant. I couldn’t envisage myself carrying one around let alone using one yet, everybody was going mad to get their hands on one not to mention the frenzy when they finally went on sale and people queued for ridiculous amount of hours just so they could be one of the first to own one.

So what was all the fuss about?
Apart from it looking like a huge Iphone this rather clever device actually is just a big Iphone except I don’t think you can make a call from it. I could have listed all of the Ipads functionality and give it just another glowing review when in fact all it is is a glorified laptop that doesn’t require a keyboard. I am a huge Iphone fan and couldn’t live without it but truly believe that the Ipad is just one step too far and appeals to peoples posing sides rather than any practical use.

You can even purchase a keyboard for it as one of it many accessories. Forgive me if I’m being a little funny here but if it comes with a built in keyboard why would you need an external keyboard? The Iphone is extremely fragile and on a number of occasions I have dropped mine and the screen has shattered into a thousand pieces so it seems that the Ipad is just an even bigger piece of equipment to shatter into even more pieces. There is no getting round the fact that it is extremely fragile and doesn’t really offer any benefit to anybody other than giving them the status of owning the latest piece of gadgetry from Apple.

I do take my hat off to Apple for bringing us the Iphone and am looking forward to their next release but as far as their Ipad goes I don’t think the world is a better place for them releasing it and recommend that anybody thinking of buying to not. Sorry Apple.

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A First Time Visitor’s Guide to Dubai

2010-06-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

Dubai is the jewel in the crown of the United Arab Emirates, and a truly unique destination. It is an opulent playground built upon a philosophy with boundary pushing architecture and innovation at its core. What is most astounding about Dubai is the fact that for the most part it is brand new: to the extent that over the course of less than a decade, the Emirate has been transformed from a sparsely populated desert land into one of the most desirable locations on earth. It is a place of great wealth, great power and above all: great times!

Dubai as a holiday destination appeals to a broad spectrum of people, of all ages. The chances are, that if you think you might be interested in visiting Dubai then you will almost certainly enjoy a trip there. It is home to the world’s tallest building, the world’s first seven star hotel and many other world firsts alongside a wealth of shopping, dining, relaxation and diverse experiences. There are very few other places on earth where you can go from 5 star luxury hotel facilities to a Jeep safari in the desert and back again within a matter of hours.

Although it is very similar to Europe and the USA in many cultural aspects, there are however some differences and it is imperative that local laws and cultural issues are respected and adhered to, similarly it must not be forgotten that temperatures can reach very high levels. The following points should be carefully noted but by no means be a cause for concern:

The Climate

Dubai has an arid, sub-tropical climate (which is hardly surprising given that it is located with the Northern desert belt). As such temperatures can reach uncomfortable levels during certain months, between June and September for instance, the average temperature is between 39 and 41 degrees C. As such, the peak holiday season is between December and March when average temperatures are between 23 and 27 degrees: which is considerably more palatable for many Brits! If however you aren’t fazed by high temperatures, then it is worth bearing in mind that there are often incredibly good deals to be had on trips taken between June and September and the vast majority of hotels, restaurants, malls and other indoor areas are fully air conditioned.

Cultural Differences

Despite the high temperatures it is strongly recommended that you dress conservatively when out in public in Dubai, it is for instance never acceptable to wander the streets in swimwear (for men or women) and women are not permitted to go topless, even on the beach or at the pool. Revealing clothing should always be avoided to avoid causing offence to the resident, Muslim population.
Public displays of affection are frowned upon in Dubai, as has been highlighted in the news recently. The cases which have been brought to the attention of the world by the press are however extreme examples and by exercising common sense and restraint you will not encounter any trouble.

The Impact of Islam

Dubai is a predominantly Muslim place and as such Islamic customs are adhered to. One of the most prevalent repercussions of this fact is the impact of Ramadan upon the Emirate. Ramadan is a month long period of fast and it does have a bearing upon the opening hours of bars and restaurants whilst also bringing with it some other restrictions. Ramadan occurs over different dates each year; as such it is worth finding out when it takes place before booking a trip. Although visiting Dubai during Ramadan is still a thoroughly enjoyable experience and unlikely to negatively impact upon your visit, it is generally advised to avoid visiting during the religious festival if possible.

All in all, Dubai is truly incredible holiday destination which offers a perfect hybrid of Middle-Eastern and Western Cultures. The factors listed above should in no way be viewed negatively, but should simply be considered when booking or packing for what promises to be an incredible trip.

Written by Jamie Lyons on behalf of OfficeYoo Office Supplies and DGOS Office Supplies Liverpool - because we all need to take a holiday at some time.

NetBook Verses Notebook

2010-06-02T03:28:00.000-07:00

Everything you look at today seems to be getting smaller. I remember when mobile phones were as big as the old VHS top loading recorder. Both devices now, especially mobile phones can be as small as you like. In most cases the smaller the better. Why should computers be any different? Well there not. Welcome into the world the Netbook.

Netbooks were introduced as a means to browse the internet wherever and whenever you like. It seems that in today's fast moving environment convenience is becoming more and more of a necessity so speaking from experience I would like to produce my thoughts on both the Netbook and notebook to allow everybody to make their own decisions on what types of personal computer they are going to purchase.

Netbook

I purchased a Netbook for the simple reason that it was extremely small and I got rather excited at the prospect of being able to pull it out almost anywhere and not cause too much fuss or bother to anybody else. I started my search comparing all sorts of models all of which baffled me completely as I am guessing with today's technology unless you are wanting to use your system for gaming or anything else that requires high end graphics one PC is pretty much the same as another.

Anyway I made my choice and off I went home and started to play. Initially I really liked my new Netbook. It certainly ticked all the boxes and before long I was happily surfing the net on a hugely reduced screen size with no loss to quality. It wasn't long before I needed to do some real work. This is where the problems began and where I feel the Netbooks of this world really fall down. If you need to do anything other than surf the internet you are really in trouble. Having to switch from screen to screen is a nightmare. If you are programming and have to look at a lot of code the screen size just isn't practical and with most Netbook keyboards being less than half the size of a normal keyboard you can really be in trouble and will probably spend most of your time deleting and re typing.

Notebook (or Laptop)

Moving on to the trusty old notebook. These bad boys will never let you down. Reasonable screen size, nice side keyboard and in most cases just as good spec wise as any desktop machine you can't really go wrong. Comparing them to a Netbook though you have to weigh up the convenience factor. If you are on a busy train the last thing you want to pull out is a massive notebook and this is where a Netbook really comes into its own.

I suppose what I am trying to get at is that they were called Net books for a reason to surf the internet. I can honestly say whilst typing this article on my standard normal size notebook that for surfing the internet in confined spaces on the go a Netbook is definitely the way to go and for everything else i.e. a more practical solution bigger is most definitely better so get a normal notebook.

Written by Jamie Lyons on behalf of Bathshop321 and Tapshop321 Uks number 1 suppliers of the best Bathroom Suites and Basin Mixer Taps

And The Worlds Greatest TV Character is?

2010-06-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

It is no surprise that the worlds greatest TV character has been voted as being none other than the one and only Homer Simpson from the hit television program The Simpsons. There are probably a hundred and one reasons why this is the case and we hope to discover just some of these reasons below. I think if we all think really hard we all know a Homer Simpson character in our own lives. Lets break it down as to why.

Homer really likes his beer and his food as so many men do however Homer takes it to the extreme. Sporting a nice beer belly Homer as so many other men do would rather swill beer and junk food down their necks rather than anything else.

Its no surprise that he doesn't enjoy work. In fact Homer is terrible at work he doesn't really understand his job and regularly gets into trouble. Whilst most men don't like their jobs not everybody gets into trouble or cant carry out their job correctly as ultimately they wouldn't be in the job for long and fact needs to separate from fiction somewhere. Typical realistic traits in Homers working like consist of always trying to find a way to do his job so he doesn't have to think about it, spending longer on breaks than actually working and hiding his mistakes by blaming somebody or something else.

OK so not every man is as lazy as Homer and yes he does take it to the extreme but how many men out there can honestly say they fully pull their weight at home? If we could see a show of hands I am betting it isn't very many. Most men are quite willing to let their wives run around after them whilst they in true Homer style sit in front of the telly eating and drinking beer.

Homer isn't the most clever person in the world and ask any woman and she will probably agree that her man isn't either. The men out there reading this will probably disagree with this statement.

So next time you are out and about take a good look around at the male population and look out for beer loving, food loving, lazy, work hating men and there you will have it your very own Homer Simpson. So to answer the original question about why has Homer Simpson been voted the worlds best TV character the answer is simply because there are so many men out there that can one hundred percent relate to him and even subliminally see themselves in the great man himself.

Written by Jamie Lyons on behalf of Bathshop321 and Tapshop321 Uks number 1 suppliers of the best Bathroom Suites and Basin Mixer Taps

Typical Example Of A Bedtime Routine For Your Baby

2010-06-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

Every baby is different so should be treated differently. The opinions in this article worked for my child and are my opinion only. It has been proven that children like routine and from the day your baby is born all a parent wants apart from a healthy baby of course is to know when they will be getting their next full night's sleep.

It's important to decide on a fixed bedtime and then make sure you stick to it. Once you have chosen your bedtime you then need to let your baby know in various stages that you are leading up to their bedtime. I say this because all a baby knows is what we tell it. Their days are pretty much the same all day they wake up, feed, play and sleep. This cycle continues over and over. They quickly learn what to expect so it makes sense to stick to your bedtime routine and if this differs slightly at bedtime even better as it will break up their day even more and let them know that it's time for bed.

If you have decide that their bedtime is seven PM then it is a sensible idea to begin the routine at least thirty minutes before this time to allow you to fit everything in and not have to rush any of it. It's important that this time is a relaxing time so always start by turning the television off closing the curtains and generally making the surrounding environment as relaxing as possible. Dependant on your child relaxing music can sometimes help.

Lay your babies bedtime cloths out in front of the fire and run them a nice bath. There are lots of lots of bath time products you can purchase but try and choose one that is particularly for bedtime. These bath lotions will generally have ingredients in them that will help your baby relax and also aid in a more restful sleep.

No matter what age your baby is another good tip is to read them a story before bed. They may not understand a word you are saying but as long as you read it in a nice relaxing voice they will associate it with another step before they must go to sleep. Babies will associate the voice of a parent with feeling secure which will further help your child to relax. Reading to your child will also help improve their communication skills without them even really knowing it.

To finish off, again age dependant you will probably be giving your child a bottle. This can be the final stage in your routine. After their bottle you should then take your child to bed and lay them down for the evening.

It may take a few days before they get the hang of this routine but once they do when you begin the routine you will probably find that your child quickly realises what is coming next and in some instances may even fall asleep before you have finished it.

All of the above is the routine I have used on my own children and there is nothing wrong with switching any of it around or totally adapting it. The main points to take away are get a routine that suites you, stick to it for your baby's sake, keep everything as relaxed as possible and then enjoy your adult time whilst your baby is fast asleep snug and warm in his or her bed.

Written by Jamie Lyons on behalf of Speeding Solicitor and Just Ears who are the UKs best motoring offence solicitor and ear defenders suppliers

A Guide to Consumer Credit Act Claims

2010-05-19T02:36:00.000-07:00

The Consumer Credit Act (1974) is in place to ensure that individuals who borrow from a lender do so on fair terms. The CCA stipulates a number of rules, regulations and restrictions and any form of credit must cohere to these stipulations or else it is considered unenforceable.

How do I know if my credit agreement is Unenforceable?

There are a number of possible factors which could result in your credit agreement being categorised as unenforceable, the following are just a few of the most common:
- If the Annual Payable Rate (APR) interest increases during the course of the credit agreement.
- If the monthly payments are not within your financial means.
- If the credit limit on a credit card has been increased without your knowledge or consent.

As there are multitudinous factors which could potentially render a credit agreement unenforceable it is well worth contacting a professional for an assessment or audit in order to assess whether you have a claim. From that point they will be able to advise you on the best forms of action.

What happens if my credit agreement is deemed unenforceable due to failure to comply with the Consumer Credit Act (1974)?

If your credit agreement is found to be unenforceable then not only do your payments to cover the debt cease, but you will also receive a settlement figure as remuneration for payments made. If you use a reputable, established financial services organisation then you should expect to receive 100% of the final settlement figure.

What forms of loan and credit can I claim for?

- Unsecured Loans
- Secured Loans
- Credit Cards
- Store Cards
- Hire/Purchase Agreements
- Any other credit which falls within the regulations of the Consumer Credit
Act (1974)

How do I make my claim?

By contacting a professional, reputable and competitive debt management help organisation for an initial audit to check the validity of a claim, you have made the first step towards bringing about a resolution to an unenforceable credit agreement. And if you have a legitimate claim then they should be able to guide you the rest of the way. Despite misconduct by a high profile organisation in this field, it is a legitimate area of debt management, it is however absolutely essential that you choose a debt management organisation who can be trusted. There are incredibly strict regulations on debt management companies and financial services organisations as a safeguard to the consumer, so there is no risk in finding out whether you have unenforceable debt.

Job Prospects for Graduates

2010-04-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

With the vast increase in the number of individuals going to university in recent years there has been a seismic shift in the job landscape for 18-30 year olds. Historically it was predominantly the academically focussed who progressed through A-levels to tackle a degree at university. In more recent times the percentage of young adults taking the university route has increased vastly. On the up side this has lead to a generally higher level of education throughout society: with many more people educated to a high level and as such better equipped to excel in the business arena. On the other hand however, this increase in university graduates has really impacted upon the job prospects of those who both attend university and those who choose not to.

Gone now are the days of walking; diploma in hand; straight into the career desired. Instead, graduates on the whole face tough choices straight from their graduation: which can ultimately shape their future. With so many graduates entering into a business landscape ravaged with the cuts and redundancies of the recession, it is the lucky few who even enter the industry they had their heart set on, let alone the position they had anticipated when accepting their place at university.

Not only are students competing with each other for entry level jobs but also with considerably more experienced individuals who have been cast from their more senior roles by the downturn in the economy and forced to start from the bottom rung of the career ladder once again. With companies now being cut down to size by the powers that be for committing ‘ageism’ when recruiting new employees, it seems that fresh graduates have a serious fight on their hands to even enter paid employment.

Bearing this hostile recruitment arena in mind, savvy graduates need to carefully consider their options when searching for a route into their chosen area of employment. One of the single best choices in the present economic environment seems to be work experience. Few forward-thinking organisations would decline the offer of a few weeks unpaid work from an enthusiastic, educated individual looking to make their name in the industry. By undertaking a work experience role not only does a graduate get a taste of working in their chosen industry but also gets some experience to back up their qualification: in such a competitive recruitment situation as is prevalent today, those few weeks experience could make all the difference. In the best case scenario, the company for which they volunteer their services for free for a short period may find that the temporary addition fulfils their duties with aplomb and consider offering them fulltime employment.

It is a scary time for ambitious graduates, but with focus, determination and willingness to put the extra effort in: they needn’t stray from the career path they had in mind when choosing their university course, just make a brief, unpaid detour.

Written by Jamie Lyons when really it was office supplies Salford and office supplies Manchester that should have been the focus of this blogpost.

Writer's Block

2010-04-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Writer’s block is the scourge of all writers: whether authors of popular fiction, factual content writers or journalists. It’s seemingly random descent can cast doubts on the feasibility of meeting deadlines and cause general unrest. This strange affliction often comes on unprovoked and seems to strike at the most inopportune of moments. Although there is no cure as such (most notably because it is not an ailment per se) there are certainly things that can be done to stimulate the creative zones of your brain back into action to get you back on track.

In many cases, writer's block is simply an absence of motivation or a prevalence of distractions. Spending too long poring over a written task or spending an inordinate amount of time attempting to re-work or rewrite existing passages can really drain the will to work. Quite simply, writer’s block is generally a side effect of boredom, lack of urgency or pre-occupation. In order to counter this there are a number of techniques, the effectiveness of which is dictated as much by the nature of the individual as it is by the situation.

If you’re unable to complete a piece, article or chapter due to a temporary inability to focus then the first thing to do is step back from the work. Quickly assess your emotions: are you tired, hungry, worried, excited? Although such a seemingly simple, even silly thing to do: by distancing yourself from the task at hand you are more able to focus on the underlying issue. Having established the root of the distraction action can be taken to remedy the problem and regain focus. Obviously time constraints are important here: if you’re exhausted but have a strict deadline then unfortunately short-term remedies such as a boost of caffeine or a brisk walk may be on the agenda. Equally if your distraction spawns from worry about something else then you may not have time to fully address this external problem. A sound alternative in this instance would be to spend a few minutes planning how you will remedy the issue responsible for the distraction once you’ve finished the more urgent writing task- giving you at least some relief and a little more focus.

Some people react well with tight deadlines: others react in the exact opposite manner. The key is to mentally organise yourself in the manner which is most effective for you. If you have no set deadline for completing a task and work best when you do have a deadline then set yourself one! Conversely, if you have a tight deadline but are dwelling on the pressure of completing in time then set yourself smaller deadlines with incremental rewards leading up to completion in the set time.

Writer’s block is a purely mental phenomenon and can be resolved by learning as much as you can about the circumstances in which you work best. Once you know the ideal environment and form of motivation for you then it is easy to go about tailoring the situation to induce maximum productivity.

Written by Jamie Lyons when he was technically meant to be writing about office supplies Warrington and office supplies Bolton but couldn't think of anything to say.

Facebook is Now Friends with Fidelity

2010-04-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Facebook has revolutionised online social interaction and communication. The high level of engagement possible with others around the globe has been one of the major driving factors behind the perpetual ascendancy of the social network’s popularity. While bringing people together it has however also started to tear people apart. As more and more people join the website and more and more mutual friend links develop it becomes increasingly difficult to conceal your activities: whether innocent and innocuous or somewhat more seedy and sinister.

Anyone who has been ‘tagged’ in a somewhat unflattering photograph will be more than aware that Facebook isn’t always your friend when it comes to concealing the more embarrassing moments captured on film. In fact ‘removing tags’ is high on the priority list of many regular Facebook users: particularly following instances of indiscriminate photo uploading by unscrupulous friends. There is however always that gap between the time when a photograph is assigned to an individual and the point when they login, realise they’ve been tagged and promptly remove all evidence. For those dabbling in infidelity, this gap can be relationship destroying.

Being ‘caught with your pants down’ by Facebook is extremely hard to prevent: although a picture may seem innocuous enough to the individual uploading it to the website, they may be unaware of the repercussions. Allied with the danger of having unexpected ‘mutual friends’ and the attention this draws to inexplicable connections: the cheat-catching power of photo tagging makes it seem as though Facebook is in the midst of a war with infidelity...however absurd that may sound.

If you will insist on playing with fire and doing things which could potentially prove disastrous to your relationship, then it’s essential that extreme caution is exercised when it comes to social networking. The first port of call when proofing yourself against Facebook-based relationship disaster is ‘privacy settings’ in the ‘account’ menu of the website. Check and double check that only those people you want to have access to various parts of your profile do have access and while you’re there make sure that those individuals who aren’t your Facebook ‘friend’ can’t find out more about you than you’re happy for them to. An additional security measure is to turn on SMS alerts which notify you when you’ve been interacted with: thus acting as a warning system to check that you haven’t been ‘tagged’ in a compromising image. Beyond that, the only solid advice available to those dishonest types out there is to either stop cheating on your other half, or delete Facebook altogether. The first option will probably be easiest on your conscience in the long-run!

Written by Jamie Rock Lyons

What makes A Good Footballer?

2010-04-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

There have been many great players over the years, but what exactly makes a great player? This subject has been debated in great detail but there must be some characteristics that all of these great players possessed? What follows are my thoughts on the subject and just what makes a great football player.

Vision – All of the greats have been able to pick a pass out even before the run has been made. It is this football brain which truly makes a great player. Although having excellent vision can often be misunderstood for a poor ball unless you have a team around you who knows your capabilities and who are willing to make runs even in seemingly pointless situations.

Control – Having excellent control is a must as great control buys you the time to make the best use of the ball. All of the greats have killer control and can control the ball in any situation. Be it with their head, hip, shoulder: it doesn’t matter. Having even a split second longer on the ball due to excellent control can make the difference between a goal or a killer pass.

Bottle – Having bottle is probably the most controversial element in my list to being a great player but I thought I would put it in as all of the great players in my list have had no fear what so ever and will make tackles even when damaging themselves is a certainty. It’s this passion that drives them on and makes them successful. Some people will call it stupidity but by having bottle you will gain respect from not only your team mates but from other players who will no doubt be more careful when it comes to fifty/fifty challenges.

Cool Head – Moving on from being passionate and oozing bottle, there is also the flip side of course. Those players who seemingly don’t really care yet turn up with the goods when they are required to time and time again. Those players that don’t chase round the pitch constantly for ninety minutes but can ultimately change the entire game with one brilliantly executed pass or goal.

Playing Fair – Nobody likes to see a cheat but unfortunately it seems that diving is becoming more and more a part of today’s game. Although playing fair doesn’t generally count as making you a great player: it can make a difference in terms of winning decisions when you are actually fouled as you are more likely to get the decision if you are generally known for being a fair player in the first place.

There are lots and lots of traits that make a great player but if you posses a true passion for the game, have excellent control and can read the game so much so that you can pick passes out and execute them clinically even before the runs have been made you are well on your way to becoming the best.

Search Engine Optimisation: The Truth

2010-04-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

There are lots of articles on the internet on search engine optimisation and how to do it successfully both on your own website and for others. You will notice however that there are differences of opinion in every article that you read. The reason for this is simple. Search engine optimisation is an art rather than an exact science. The only people who can say 100% that what you are doing is correct are the search engines themselves.

There are a lot of people out there who have had success with their own methods of performing SEO and who regularly produce information for us all to read. The successful people in the world of SEO have one thing in common. They are all extremely passionate about the subject. It is this passion that drives them forward with second guessing the ranking factors that are updated regularly by the search engines.

Whilst SEO isn’t an exact science the SEO world and the experts have reported quite extensively various consistencies in ranking factors and it is these consistencies that the whole industry has been built upon.

I need to mention quite quickly that SEO isn’t a quick process unless you have an extremely niche idea that nobody else has had before. There are no set timescales or secret formulas that lead to top rankings and anybody telling you otherwise are probably doing something that isn’t ethical and should be avoided at all costs. If you look at it logically if it were as easy as simply doing x y z then why share the knowledge when they could keep it for themselves and optimise their own websites for financial gains only.

After looking at hundreds of SEO articles and attending many conferences it is fair to say that the one thing that overrides anything else is quality content. If you can ensure that your website content is original and interesting to your market you stand a real chance of ranking well. The reason for this is the search engines reward quality content and the better the content the more chance you have of people linking to you. I’m not going to go into detail on how to optimise your website here as there are thousands of articles out there that can guide you on this subject.

What I will say is that after top quality content and quality inbound links to your website this is where people’s opinions differ on the subject, and it is really difficult to decide who to believe. Going back to an earlier point why should you believe them in the first place as if they have the answer why are they sharing it with you? The fact is, unless you are the person who decides who ranks where and why, you are never really going to know how to truly optimise your website.

As a result if you are going to optimise your own website you need to be prepared to put the time in as you will need to read as many different article, blog post and attend as many conferences and webinars as humanly possible on a continuous if not daily basis so you can hear other people’s ideas on the subject and keep up with the latest trends. Then to be successful you need to perform your own testing and come up with your own theories based on your findings and everything else you have read and listened to. It’s a long continuous sometimes frustrating journey SEO and for this reason only the passionate are successful.

Written by Jamie Lyons (actually Mark Farrell pretending to be Jamie Lyons) when they should have been writing about office supplies and debt management help.

The Press as a Tool for Political Condemnation

2010-04-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

The televised Prime Ministerial debates have added a compelling new edge to the electioneering campaigns of all parties. One of the most notable and potentially momentous implications of this new form of political canvassing has been the unexpected leap in open public support for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats. Following the first debate, polls showed that the party had gained huge popularity, to the extent that some polls lead to the conclusion that they were in fact serious candidates to gain a majority in the impending election. The backlash to these results has been interesting to say the least.

One of the major arguments for the sudden leap in popularity of the Liberal Democrats following the first televised debate was the fact that Clegg for the most part was distanced from the bickering and belittling evident between the leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties. By escaping the brunt of the targeted attacks rife between David Cameron and Gordon Brown, the Liberal Democrats leader was able to focus upon delivering the party’s policies as opposed to being tied up in trying to address accusations levelled at him. The headlines of the vast majority of the newspapers today imply that during tonight’s televised debate the tables will have turned. The onslaught of slurs against Clegg and his party to be found emblazoning the front pages of tabloids and broadsheets alike not only show that both the Labour and Conservative parties now consider the Liberal Democrats to be a big enough threat as to warrant assaults in the press, but that the majority of the major newspapers are happy to do their bidding.

It is well known that most newspapers have a blatant political leaning or bias, with some publications noted for their Conservative leanings and others for their Labour support. There are however no major printed news outlets with a Liberal Democrats affiliation: this fact has never been more evident than today, when the slurs of the party and its leader have graced the prized spots of both the Labour and Conservative affiliated publications. From a political stance, this demonstrates that the Liberal Democrats are indeed becoming a formidable force, hence threat in the forthcoming elections. From the stance of the public in general it is further proof that the national press is far from objective and raises questions about the impartiality of our news sources.

What remains to be seen: and will be seen this evening, is just how much ammunition these slurs in today’s papers provide for David Cameron and Gordon Brown in tonight’s Prime Ministerial Debate. The media is a powerful force, is it being abused? Or simply used to provide an insight into all aspects of life from steadfast perspectives? Whatever your view, it all seems a little distant from the objectivity the media in general purports to extol.

Written by Jamie 'Rock' Lyons while he should have been writing about office supplies

The Benefits of Direct Debit - Source: First Capital Cashflow

2010-01-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

Copyright © 2010 Jamie Lyons

Direct Debit is a payment form which has become integral to the banking of individuals and companies alike. The simplicity with which regular sums can be taken from a customer account and deposited into that of a company or organisation has resulted in a huge uptake in the service, particularly by larger organisations who charge monthly fees of varying denominations: such as telecoms providers, energy suppliers and council departments.

The extent to which Direct Debit has pervaded the banking activity of the majority is itself a compelling reason for companies currently without the facility to investigate implementing it. In order to outline precisely why it is indispensible to organisations who take regular payment however, it is worth considering the benefits it offers to both organisations who receive payment using it and individuals who pay with it:

Spreading Costs

Direct Debit allows individuals to purchase, or pay bills in monthly instalments as opposed to larger lump sums. As a consequence of this, the customer benefits from a more affordable means of payment and a higher level of control over their outgoings. The company benefits from this too, as the perception that an item or service is more affordable is more likely to induce a sale.

Regular Payment Dates and Automated Payments

With Direct Debit payment is automated and leaves the customer's account on pre-set dates. The advantage to the company here goes without saying. Having a steady, predictable stream of cash entering the company negates the need to involve debt recovery specialists (in the vast majority of cases) and also allows for more accurate forecasting. On the side of the consumer, the benefit of this attribute is that it allows them to either forget about the payment, as it will automatically be made on their behalf, or if money is tight, allow them to accurately budget, safe in the knowledge that a specified figure is due to be deducted on a specified date.

Security

Direct Debit rightly holds a solid reputation for it's security as a means of funds transfer. From the perspective of the customer it guarantees that their bank details are safely and securely stored and that only the agreed or owed figure will be taken. From the stand-point of the company or organisation taking payment, Direct Debit provides a considerably more reliable means of payment than cheque. In short Direct Debit serves as a by-word for secure payment.

As exemplified by the factors above, Direct Debit provides not only peace of mind to both parties, but also allows for more accurate budgeting and forecasting, whilst granting a greater level of control over personal and company finances for all involved. Access to Direct Debit as a means of payment for your company's products or services may also be more affordable and obtainable than you think.

Written by Jamie Lyons- SEO Manchester on behalf of First Capital Cashflow Direct Debit.

What is PRINCE2? - Source: Total Training Solutions

2010-01-29T06:57:00.000-08:00

Copyright © 2010 Jamie Lyons

PRINCE2 is amongst the most highly regarded and respected qualifications in the area of project management. Standing for 'Projects in Controlled Environments', it is an improved and updated version of the PRINCE qualification but which still keeps the same ideals and principles at it's core. With focus on not only project management, but also organisation, management and project control, PRINCE2 is used extensively in the public and private sectors. The popularity of the initiative has resulted in it gaining status as the UK standard in generic project management.

The Stand-out Features of PRINCE2:

- Rigid structure for organisation of the project management team

- Planning approach based on products

- Defined but flexible structure of splitting the project into manageable stages.

- Emphasis on business justification

The overwhelming majority of organisations which implement PRINCE2 actively encourage their employees to gain the qualification. In fact in order to officially announce that a company operates in accordance with PRINCE2, it is essential that employees are certificate holders. This has particular advantages for companies who hope to supply to the NHS, police authorities or any other public sector department.

The PRINCE2 qualification has two levels: foundation and practitioner. Both courses culminate in an examination which appraises the extent to which the individual has retained the information imparted over the duration of the course. Attainment of the Foundation level qualification proves that the individual has a full understanding of what PRINCE2 is, it's uses, methodology and it's ideology. This level of education is particularly suited to employees who work in a supporting role within the company's project management function. The Practitioner level qualification is aimed at individuals who head up projects: providing a full working knowledge of PRINCE2 and how it can be implemented. The APMG run an online register showing candidates who have been certified for either level of the PRINCE2 qualification on the official website.

PRINCE2 is an invaluable tool for both the extension of an individual's career and increased credibility and operational efficiency for companies involved in project management at any level. The qualification maintains credibility and relevance with consistent revisions and updates based on a combination of feedback and critical review. Due the nature of the PRINCE2 framework, it's core principles can be flexibly applied to a wide range of different tasks and projects across disparate sectors. Courses are available across the country and commence at frequent intervals. It is always advisable to use an established training company when looking to undertake the qualification.

Written by Jamie Lyons- SEO Manchester on behalf of Total Training Solutions PRINCE2 Training

Why Your New Year's Resolutions Fail - Source: Calm Minds

2010-01-29T06:56:00.001-08:00

Copyright © 2010 Jamie Lyons

With New Year's resolutions pledged more than three weeks ago, it would be interesting to know exactly how many have already been abandoned. Admittedly this year we've had the snow and ice to blame for our failure to comply with some freshly decided self-promises: it's hard to commit to a new fitness regime when the pavements are more slippery than a proverbial fish and the gym is unreachable as the car is under half a tonne of snow. Less convincing are arguments like: 'cigarettes keep me warm', or even, 'chocolate makes me feel warm inside'! Maybe, just maybe, there's more to such excuses for reverting to old habits than mere weakness of will.

The first stop in this investigation into the lack of motivation we demonstrate towards New Year's resolutions is a look at the motivation behind the resolutions themselves. They are a strange phenomenon, but understandable when contextualised. It is not just that we see the beginning of a new year as an easy to identify marker for the beginning of a lifestyle change, but more so that the festive period leading up to the New Year can involve excesses of bad habits or unhealthy living practice. The resolutions serve as a form of penance for the gluttony committed in the preceding couple of weeks and also a pre-emptive excuse for any over-indulgence engaged in over Christmas.

Now, given that the reason why we decide to undertake a specific lifestyle change promise is not entirely motivated by the desire to actually change, but partially to make up for excesses over a short period of time it is inevitable that the majority of us will fail. We do not actively want to stop smoking, go to the gym more, or eat a more healthy diet we just wanted an excuse to contravene these ideals over the festive period! Unfortunately us mere humans are very much creatures of habit. We enter routines and regularly perform them on what is essentially subconscious auto-pilot. Without a strong desire to break this subconscious routine, failure to adhere to a resolution is unavoidable, as the subconscious is ingrained whilst the conscious will to act in opposition is transitory and takes a concerted effort to enforce.

Essentially, trying to consciously break a habit is like swimming against the tide. That is why even aside from New Year's resolutions, diets don't generally work for weight loss and stopping smoking off your own back is notoriously hard going.

Hypnotherapy could well be the extra little push that turns those elusive resolutions into reality. A hypnotherapist relays a suggestion directly to the subconscious, removing the chosen aspect of your daily routine from the auto-pilot template and actually giving you a fighting chance of using that gym membership or not resorting to fishing the symbolically discarded cigarettes from New Year's Eve out of the bin.

By Jamie Lyons on behalf of Calm Minds, Hypnotherapy Stockport.

From the Rugby Pitch to the Sales Pitch and Beyond - Source: Cotton Traders

2010-01-29T06:54:00.000-08:00

Steve Smith and Fran Cotton will be names evocative of a golden age of rugby to longstanding fans, having both captained England in the 1970's and 80's, both men have earned their places in the history books of the great game. During their fruitful partnerships with Sale, England and the British Lions, the pair experienced a great level of success on the field, but nobody could have predicted just how successful they were to be off the field.

Prior to 1995, rugby union was an amateur game, such that players would have to earn their living elsewhere. Smith and Cotton were particularly prolific in the employment side of their lives, with Cotton working as a regional sales manager, whilst Smith lectured on management and personnel. Following on from these business foundations and their bond on the pitch, the pair joined forces at Bukta Sportswear as their international careers drew to a close. Following a successful development of the company and sale to French Connection, Smith and Cotton decided to act on their entrepreneurial aspirations and set up their own company.

Cotton Traders was established in 1987 with the intention of becoming forerunners in the rugby and leisurewear market. Combining their knowledge of rugby, sales, management and marketing, cultivated over their years of juggling rugby and commerce: they were perfectly poised for success and lived up to that potential.

In 1989, after just 2 years of trading, the pair had managed to generate £2million turnover from their small office in Altrincham, Cheshire and then continued to expand operations at a phenomenal rate. Cotton Traders currently turns over more than £50million annually and boasts a workforce in excess of 700 people. The range of products offered by the company has expanded as rapidly as the company itself, with Cotton Traders covering everything from the original rugby shirts through to footwear, swimwear and accessories.

Much like in their earlier years of club and international rugby, both Smith and Cotton continue to juggle their 2 passions: rugby and business. With Smith still actively involved in the wholesale side of the company whilst also appearing as a television and radio commentator on international matches and Cotton consistently featuring on Boards and committees on the international side of English rugby when he isn't heading up the mail order arm of the business.

In an age when footballers command weekly wages in excess of many corporate directors' annual salary it is amazing to consider the success of these two men who have throughout their lives struck a balance between both sport and business at the very highest level.

Jamie Lyons

Writer for http://www.webvitality.co.uk.

Finding Someone From Your Past - Source: National Person Finder

2010-01-29T06:52:00.001-08:00

Many amongst us have had flashbacks to figures from our past that we've long lost touch with, which induce us try and find out what they're doing now. So many in fact that websites such as Friends Reunited grew in size and popularity at an incredible rate towards the beginning of the decade. The desire to reconnect with forgotten friends, old school buddies and first loves is universal and can be greatly rewarding. As a consequence of this aspect to social networks, a number of them are now amongst the most popular websites on the internet.

Facebook for instance has picked up where Friends Reunited left off, with somewhere in the region of 500, 000 new sign ups reportedly occurring every day. The magnitude of the membership base in conjunction with the 'search' facility allows members a good chance of re-igniting communication with figures from the past, provided they can find them of course. Here lies the problem, if you urgently need to get in touch with a specific individual the chances of actually being able to speak with them are low. Firstly they may not have a Facebook account, in which case there is absolutely no chance of finding them through a Facebook search. Secondly, the chances are that there are a huge number of individuals of the same name registered to the website, in which case your only option is trawl through the listings hoping that a) they have a visible profile picture and that b) you recognise them from it.

If you have successfully overcome the initial hurdles there are still more possible barriers to communication with your chosen individual through Facebook. The regularity with which they check and respond to their friend requests and of course whether they even choose to respond to your request in the affirmative being particularly prominent. Bearing these factors in mind it's apparent that Facebook, although great for many things, is by no means an effective way to track down a specific individual. Considering that this example is based on attempts to reconnect with an old friend, the idea of using a social networking site to try and trace a debtor seems virtually impossible: especially as they are considerably less likely to respond positively to a message or friend request!

Evidently the motives for attempting to track a debtor are for the most part different to those when tracking down an old friend, but both practices are in fact very similar. In each case it is likely that you will have a name, previous contact details and mutual acquaintances to work with, but little more. Similarly, neither an old friend nor an elusive debtor are likely to be actively seeking you, hence the onus is on you to do the legwork. As has been previously established, although definitely a worthy starting place, Facebook is on the most part unlikely to yield success in either instance. But where do you go from here?

If your aim is to find an old friend then a great place to continue your search would be your personal phone book, and a day dedicated to calling all those people who may well still be in touch with the chosen friend, this is however a less effective idea if attempting to find a debtor. Although there is a high chance that an elusive debtor has merely forgotten to give you new contact details, is unaware of missed payments or is even oblivious to any debt, they are still unlikely to be jumping at the opportunity to find you and pay you back, similarly the chances are low that any of your friends will have their latest contact information.

With this in mind it seems sensible to look to one of the new breed of companies who specialise in tracking people down, whether you're looking to trace a debtor, or having trouble re-connecting with someone from your past. With options ranging from one off searches, to prolonged 2 year traces, websites like National Person Finder take the legwork out of finding that elusive individual and do so using legal cutting edge techniques in conjunction with more traditional sleuth methods. Many of these companies also offer smaller services, such as 'who lives there?' address searches.

There are a number of ways in which you can attempt to trace or reconnect with someone, but unless you strike it lucky with Facebook or another social network, the use of a dedicated business specialising in the industry could save hours of work and more than cover its cost.

by Jamie Lyons on behalf of National Person Finder.

A Light-hearted Guide To Writing Your Own Web Content - Source: Web Vitality

2010-01-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

As Christmas is fast approaching (and my post volume of articles on my preferred subject has been considerably thinner on the ground than the blanket of snow outside the office) it seems a good time to share a few of my thoughts with you lovely people.

As you may be aware, a large portion of my day is spent writing. From articles to press releases, website content to blogs: countless hours are spent staring at a blank page, frantically scrambling for inspiration or that perfectly sculpted sentence. The phrase 'writer's block' is an often derided cliché, but there is no denying that sometimes you just can't quite work out exactly what you're trying to say, or even more infuriatingly, the best way to say it. Some will go for a walk to clear their mind, others to their cigarette packet or porcelain throne in an attempt to find clarity.

In the realm of content writing and SEO based copywriting in general there is a very simple reason why these personal catalysts are turned to with persistent regularity: it can be boring. There, I said it and to emphasise my conviction will say it again: WRITING FOR SEO PURPOSES CAN BE BORING. Now hopefully you'll grant me enough time to justify this outburst before reporting me to the various authorities, oh, and please forgive my reliance on personal experience in portraying a more universal point.

I go into work every day knowing that I am required to write intelligently and enthusiastically on topics which I may have very limited previous knowledge of, and due to what I assume to be some sort of genetic defect: utterly love it. It is my love of writing that stops me from finding it boring. I am fully aware that the majority of people wouldn't revel in this challenge, which is great for me as it reduces my competition. Consequently, the odds are that you're reading this purely to find out a little more about writing on just one broad topic: and to make another assumption, I expect that your writing on this topic is to promote your own website. It is to you non-reveller, single broad topic focussed, committed website owner that I level my 'it can be boring' battle-cry as an explanation for your writer's block and seek to show how you can get round it.

You have passion for your chosen topic, well, I sincerely hope you do (if you aren't enthusiastic about your product/website/company/field of operation then it won't be poorly written content that jeopardises your company's longevity and more importantly in this instance: my whole argument rests on it). It is this passion and the resulting knowledge you have amassed on the subject that is key to your success in writing copy, articles and press releases for your website. No amount of literary flair, cunning word play or EXCESSIVE USE OF formatting Tools is ever going to appeal to your target reader more than the sound advice and authoritative content that you, the expert on this subject are capable of providing. Equally important is the very fact that if you're passionate about something then surely you aren't going to find it boring.

Having established that you are more than qualified to advise others on your chosen subject and have enough interest in it to apply yourself to the time consuming task of writing accurately about it, all I can really do is give you a few pointers and tips on converting your knowledge into something which others can benefit from and in doing so raise the profile and credibility of your website. To avoid taking up too much of your time, I'll keep it brief:

1. Provide original content.

Whether you're writing the content for your homepage or an article explaining the finer points of your industry and associated benefits, you must ensure that what you're saying isn't said elsewhere. Inevitably there will be others who have said something vaguely similar, but focus upon being better and different. You will get no credit from search engines for duplicating someone else's work and gain no customers by rehashing a competitor's article.

2. Research tone and style.

We all write differently depending on the context. A blog on celebrity gossip will read very differently to a governmental department's homepage and the way you construct a text message to a friend will differ to the structure of an email you send to a business associate. It's well worth researching the homepage content of similar websites when writing your own in order to judge which style you find most effective, relevant and credible. It is more than likely that the style you find most suitable will be the style your prospective visitors will find most suitable: so copy it (NOT THE CONTENT...just the tone and style). Once you've established this starting point then write in a way you find comfortable but adhering loosely to the tone you've chosen to emulate. The words should come naturally, don't worry if it doesn't sound quite right you can always come back and edit the text.

3. Double check grammar and spelling.

Having spent hours crafting your text, there is nothing more irritating than publishing the piece to discover an abundance of easily avoided errors. Get others to read your copy with a critical eye before making it live, they may well spot something you've missed. Having taken on board any amendments: read it again...and again before committing it to the archives of internet history.

4. Enjoy it.

I know, I know...easier said than done, but if you care about the subject matter and the benefits the content will have for your business then I'm sure you won't find it that hard.

This post was supposed to be brief but I got a little carried away. In the new year I'll pop up a few more guides like this amongst my usual light-hearted blog-banter.

Have an exceptional Christmas.

Jamie

Jamie Lyons copywriter for Web Vitality SEO and Webdesign on behalf of [http://officeyoo.blogspot.com/2009/11/make-impact.html]OfficeYoo environmentally ethical office supplies

The Benefits of Leasing Your Business Computer Hardware - Source: SmartPlan

2010-01-29T06:40:00.000-08:00

Even if you can afford to buy business IT equipment outright, offsetting the cost by employing the benefits of leasing over purchasing is very likely to be a more sensible route. The major argument for leasing as opposed to buying is widely regarded to be the fact that it allows the company to retain capital rather than spending in an upfront lump sum, by shifting to monthly or weekly increments, the acquisition of usually costly equipment has a minimised impact on company cash-flow.

Despite this obvious upside, many decision makers in small businesses still opt to dent their capital by buying computers and the like outright, there is a good chance they hadn't considered the other major reasons for choosing to lease:

Simplicity

IT leasing does not require a deposit, nor reams of paperwork or a lengthy wait for contract approval. The whole process can be carried out quickly and efficiently - applications for leasing can easily be made online, over the phone or in person, and although subject to a credit check, tend to offer a faster answer on approval than other finance options. Unlike the compound interest associated with loan financing, with leasing all payments are for the same amount.

Affordability

Aside from the obvious fact that the cost of any equipment is spread over a long period of time, there is also the fact that leasing is not subject to interest or any hidden and escalating fees. The leaser has control of the length of the lease contract and very often, also the regularity of payments: whether weekely or monthly. There is no risk of paying over the odds and absolute clarity of price from the outset, so whatever a business's requirements, they will never find themselves going over budget.

Tax Benefits

As the equipment is used for business purposes: in the majority of cases, rental payments will be 100% tax deductable. There are exceptions, so a quick consultation with a qualified accountant in consideration of specific circumstances is advised, but more than likely the actual rental can be entirely offset as an expense and essentially cost you nothing.

Upgrades and Buyouts

A top quality leasing company will incorporate both the option to upgrade leased hardware part way through the lease agreement and the option to purchase the equipment for a nominal fee at the end of the term. These options provide the flexibility to change computer hardware to reflect the changes the business has gone through since taking out the lease, and side-steps the issue of being stuck with unnecessary equipment which was expensive but now has a low re-sale value.

Written by Jamie Lyons of Web Vitality SEO Manchester working on behalf of SmartPlan.info - Laptop leasing and business computer leasing in conjunction with PC World.

How PVC Strip Curtains Can Minimise Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Bills in Industry - Source: Camthorne

2010-01-29T06:32:00.000-08:00

With energy bills increasing on a regular basis, and environmental concerns at the forefront of public conscience, many companies are looking to minimise resource wastage as much as possible.

One of the most effective means of reducing energy wastage is the prevention of heat loss in industrial environments. Although the general focus in this field is upon insulation, there are numerous circumstances in which other solutions must be sought to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

In many industrial environments set temperatures need to be maintained, and often these areas encounter a high level of footfall: as a consequence of the comings and goings of personnel, heating or cooling systems regularly must operate above their most efficient levels to maintain a constant temperature. Simply using doors between rooms of different temperature is an ineffective means of maintaining this constant, as every time the door is opened large quantities of cool or warm air enter the controlled temperature zone. With this in mind another solution must be sought to prevent heat loss in regularly accessed areas.

As is often the case, the simplest solution is the most effective means of reducing the impact of the problem of heat loss: PVC strip curtains. Strip curtains allow ease of access for those wishing to pass between temperature controlled zones whilst simultaneously retaining heat and minimising the entry of airborne contaminants.

The ultimate upside of the reduced heat loss attributable to the installation of PVC strip curtains is the environmental benefit. Many industrial processes are by their very nature likely to impact upon the environment, it is however the duty of the manufacturers to ensure that this impact is kept to an absolute minimum. By the implementation of seemingly minor steps against energy wastage, such as the installation of PVC strip curtains, companies can show that they do pay attention to environmental concerns and reduce their carbon footprint as well as their energy overheads.

Jamie Lyons

For more information on PVC Strip Curtains.

As the snow glides, softly down... - Source: Camthorne

2010-01-29T06:29:00.000-08:00

With the snow falling thick and fast across the length and breadth of the country, bringing in tidings of joy and precarious icy highways, the majesty and dangers of this chilly visitor are made apparent. Evidently snow only occurs when the temperature is dancing around zero and as such the air is chilled enough to cut through the thickest of hats and scarves. As we don our extra layers and brace against the frosty spells it is worth considering the implications of these brazen weathers upon heat loss, for failure to curb carbon emissions may well make for ever more inhospitable winters.

With the cavities in walls well stuffed with insulation and energy efficient heaters discreetly whirring at full speed in industrial spaces, the frosty snap is guarded against and it’s impact on fuel guzzling dampened. That is of course except when a trade’s very nature demands a bustling thoroughfare or persistent pedestrian presence. In these cases the services of the durable and economical PVC strip curtain are at their most desired. Creating a permeable barrier against the elements and icy sludge, the strip curtain keeps the inhabitants warm and globe chilled by preventing a gorge on energy resources.

This Christmas consider PVC strip curtains as the guardians of your desired temperature.

Getting the most out of the Au Pair experience - Source: Au Pairs Direct

2010-01-29T06:28:00.000-08:00

If you’re one of the thousands of households who have embraced the benefits of taking on an Au Pair, then you will more than likely be fully aware of the extent to which the extra pair of hands can lighten the load of day to day tasks. In addition to this you will no doubt have also experienced the positives an Au Pair brings socially and culturally. Making an Au Pair welcome and ensuring the most mutually advantageous environment for all involved, does however involve a little work. To help you along, we’ve compiled the following tips and advice:

Communication and Respect

Communication and mutual respect are both crucial from the outset when incorporating an Au Pair into the family. In the first few weeks especially it is vital that you invest plenty of time in helping your Au Pair to adjust to a new culture and the differences in language. Treat your Au Pair with respect, be sure to exercise patience and communicate in simple, clear language. They are not on holiday but nor are they your servant. It is prudent to bear in mind that cultural differences will make things a little strange for both of you at first.

If your Au Pair is experiencing difficulty in understanding verbal communication then it can be a good idea to write things down and advise they use a bi-lingual dictionary to translate it. Another surprisingly effective tool to help them to gain a firm grasp of English is television, not just in the form of language tutorial DVDs but also general programming, as such, installing a television in their bedroom is a great way to speed up the learning process.

Social Inclusion

To help your Au Pair build confidence and generally boost their enjoyment of their experience in the country, look to introduce them to other Au Pairs in the area and also assist them in registering with a local college. At college they will not only further build upon language skills, but also develop a social network outside of the house. As previously stated, they are not in the country purely to service your needs but also for their own enjoyment and development.

An Au Pair’s free time must be their own. By all means invite them to join in with family activities, but do not restrict them from using this leisure time in the manner of their choosing, whether that be going out or staying in their room. A well established and reputable Au Pair Agency will have outlined to all their Au pairs that you and are your partner are also likely to want time to yourself and as such, the Au Pair will respect that, especially if you have cultivated a healthy relationship with them.

Driving

If you need your Au Pair to be able to drive it is your responsibility to arrange and pay for their car insurance, equally the onus is on you to ensure that their driving licence is acceptable for driving in the UK. An Au Pair’s driving ability is likely to be unknown until they have been placed with you, as such it is good practice to arrange for a 2 hour driving lesson such that a qualified instructor can assess their driving ability and road safety, This is particularly paramount if they are expected to drive children, remember that this is your responsibility.

These pointers are only a small selection of the factors to consider when welcoming an Au Pair, but provide a solid foundation and help to ensure that both your family and your Au Pair get the maximum benefit and enjoyment from their placement.

Threats to auditory health and how to avoid them - Source: JustEars

2010-01-29T06:22:00.000-08:00

Nobody is going to refute the importance of hearing, it is one of the main means by which we experience and interact with the world around us. With this in mind it seems strange that auditory health and protection are neglected on a widespread scale.

The maximum volume achievable in air is 194dB (decibels), this is a level which you are never going to personally experience unless at the site of an exploding volcano, although if you have ever fired a shotgun you may have experienced volume at a none too distant level of 165dB!

Putting these massive figures aside, damage can be caused at any level from 85dB: which is equivalent to heavy traffic or a hair dryer- if exposed to the sound for in excess of 8 hours. Evidently given the long exposure time, this doesn’t pose too immediate or major a threat. There are however examples which are far more worrying. Listening to music through headphones is a particularly concerning instance, especially given the proliferation of personal mp3 players in recent years. IPod’s for instance historically had a maximum volume in excess of 110 dB, at this level permanent damage can occur in less than 2 minutes: less than the length of one song.

Thankfully, Apple have recently acquiesced to governmental decrees on maximum volume and have limited devices to levels dictated by the relevant powers in most countries.
Even at their previous, unrestricted volumes however, mp3 players hardly come close to the volume levels commonly reached at rock concerts, which can range from 110dB to a staggering 140dB. At 130dB and above, pain is often experienced and immediate hearing damage is not uncommon. As a consequence of this, not only is it absolutely imperative that musicians take measures to protect themselves from frequent exposure to the volume levels reached at live performances but also that those in the crowd take measures to prevent potential damage.

The same concerns affect motorcyclists, who are often exposed to volumes in the region of 100dB when on the road and those who use power tools, which in some cases emit up to 120dB when in operation. There are a vast range of instances in which individuals may be exposed to sound levels which threaten auditory health.

In order to protect your hearing and prevent future damage there are two simple options, the first of which: turn the volume down, is incredibly effective, but obviously impossible in many situations! In environments without a volume control, ear defenders are the sensible option. Unlike the unwieldy large headgear of the past, ear protection is now extremely discreet and incredibly advanced. In addition, rather than just minimising the sound allowed to pass into the ear, many modern devices are able to block specific frequencies allowing conversation in areas of high background noise, whilst still protecting the user.

Despite recent legislation in some areas, such as the requirement of employers to provide hearing protection to employees working in environments which commonly reach high volume levels, it is almost universally the responsibility of the individual to protect their hearing in the long term. With that in mind, ear defenders may well be worth taking a closer look at.

Stopping a Mistake from Becoming a Nightmare- Source: Speeding Solicitor

2010-01-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

It goes without question that traffic law exists to safeguard against reckless and dangerous driving for the benefit of all. The police generally do a solid job of catching and prosecuting those individuals who breach these regulations and bring them to justice for endangering themselves and others. There are however occasionally extraneous circumstances which lead individuals to commit motoring offences for which they are punished regardless of an absence of intent. On very rare occasions, the authorities may exercise lenience on compassionate grounds when it comes to the penalty for a motoring offence, but this is far from the norm.

The odds of avoiding a ban or hefty fine for speeding or similar can however be stacked in your favour. Unknown to the majority of drivers, there are an array of specialist solicitors whose primary sphere of activity is defending against, disputing and ultimately lessening the blow of prosecution for motoring offences. These experts are fully versed in the intricacies of motoring law and use their knowledge and experience to help clients to avoid heavy penalties.

Astonishingly, the rate of success the more talented ‘speeding solicitors’ achieve is incredibly high, with many cases of prospective bans reduced to small fines and even offences dropped entirely...despite evidence from the police. The techniques they use vary from case to case, but even if the defendant accepts the charge, negotiations to lower the alleged speed can often be very effective in the courts, particularly when punishment is concerned.

Very often the intervention of a professional motoring offence solicitor can prevent cases from even reaching court, if for instance the prosecution are unable to obtain all documentation required to produce a successful case at court. Through this activity, exercising knowledge of evidential, procedural and legal technicalities and highlighting errors (however minor) on the part of the prosecution or police, many cases are dropped entirely prior to entering the courtroom.

It is not just speeding charges which can be challenged, using a mobile phone whilst driving can be disputed, as can failure to comply with traffic signs and signals, drink driving and myriad other offences. Although it is justified that laws prohibiting such activities are in place, for many individuals a lapse of judgement could result in a ban which damages their very livelihood.

The key to avoiding motoring offences is of course to drive within the law. But for those instances when the driver has made an error or simply been accused of committing an offence, Speeding Solicitor are here to prevent the mistake from resulting in stressful and excessively damaging consequences.

Cut Costs In Minutes- Source: OfficeYoo

2010-01-26T09:01:00.001-08:00

One of the core maxims of business is to maximise profits while minimising costs. Although simple in theory, cutting expenditure without compromising operations is akin to walking on a tightrope. A fine balance between price and quality must be achieved. All companies are different and must cut-costs in different areas to achieve success; one of the few areas in which almost all businesses are in the same situation however, is in the purchase of office supplies and equipment. With this in mind the following five tips for reducing outgoings on office equipment are worth considering for the vast majority of companies, to help to push the balance sheet into the black.

1. Stay on top of the office supplies inventory

It is imperative that the supplies cupboard is adequately stocked at all times to avoid frustration and even in some cases: lost earnings. By the same token it is not sensible practice to lodge a standard order with an office supplier, as this can result in an excessive surplus of specific items. The individual responsible for keeping the office stocked with stationery should keep a meticulous inventory of which items are needed and which are sufficiently in supply. By staying on top of the levels of each individual product and ordering only that which is required, the weekly or monthly bill will be dramatically reduced.

2. Buy in bulk where possible

Some offices will work their way through a huge amount of printer paper whereas others will rapidly exhaust their supplies of packaging materials. Ordering a large quantity of a specific line rather than frequent small purchases (in accordance with the requirements of the inventory) will reduce the cost per item and ultimately shave a few pounds off the annual cost. Provided an accurate inventory is maintained, the purchaser can make an informed decision as to which items are quickly used up and buy in bulk where appropriate: benefitting from economies of scale.

3. Shop Around

The office equipment supplier that are currently being used are not necessarily the cheapest. Often the larger, more familiar companies are not the best in terms of value. Shopping around on the internet could result in surprising discoveries with regard to obtaining the same products for less than is currently being paid. Equally, there is no harm in haggling, slightly smaller office supplies companies will be more interested in generating and keeping new orders and so are more likely to negotiate on price to keep the customer happy.

4. Consider generic rather than premium brands

As with any industry, you pay a premium price for a premium brand...but this does not mean that their products are necessarily higher quality than those of a less well known brand. There are an abundance of generic brands which quite often are exclusive to a particular supplier, it is well worth trying these products to see if they differ from the brand that is currently being purchased: if the cheaper item can’t be differentiated from the more costly when in use, then switching permanently makes sound business sense.

5. Look at ‘compatible’ consumables

This last point is particularly relevant when considering printer cartridges. Although many major printer manufacturers will claim that their own brand cartridges are of superior quality to compatible versions made by competitors: this is not always the case. Compatible rather than official ink cartridges often cost 70-80% less and in many instances there is no visible difference in print quality or longevity. Savings of that magnitude can seriously mount up over the course of a year and possibly even half the annual office supplies bill if printing is an integral part of the business. It is however vital to ensure that use of a compatible cartridge won’t invalidate a printer’s warranty before purchase.

OfficeYoo Announce Affiliate Network - Source: OfficeYoo

2010-01-26T09:00:00.001-08:00

OfficeYoo are a rapidly expanding office supplies company who focus upon great value and great service. With tens of thousands of products in stock and free next day delivery across the UK on orders over £30, they are at the cutting edge of the industry and continually growing their base of repeat clients due to their reputation for consistently delivering quality on every front.

Make Money With OfficeYoo

In line with their ‘keep it simple and offer great value’ ethos, the company’s recently launched affiliate scheme is not only incredibly easy to get involved with but also pays higher commission to the affiliate than that of any other office products supplier. As it cuts out third party affiliate facilitators, joining the programme does not involve any sign-up fee, nor a lengthy eligibility assessment.

Quite simply, once registered with OfficeYoo, you will receive 10% commission on any purchases by individuals who are referred to the site from your unique link banner.

Quick Reference:

- Free to join
- Flat rate commission of 10% of order value ex. VAT
- Earn commission on all transactions referred by a link from your website
- Average order value of £112.18
- Support to find out up to date commission and referral statistics
- Eye-catching promotional artwork and banners provided
- Use the OfficeYoo branding and name (ethically) as and when required
- Receive commission payments by cheque on a monthly basis

With this simple and profitable structure and the absence of restrictions regarding legitimate use of the company name, any website owner can supplement their income simply by putting a banner on their webpage and leaving it to generate a healthy commission. Not only this, but your website visitors get cheap office supplies in the process.

To get involved with the OfficeYoo affiliate network simply fill in this application form.

Make An Impact - Source: OfficeYoo

2010-01-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

Up and down the country office supplies are consistently wasted, from accidental multiple photocopies, through to inaccurate stationery orders which aren’t rectified. The very fact that paper, printer cartridges and the ilk are often referred to as ‘consumables’ demonstrates the extent to which we live in a consumptive society and goes a way to explaining why stationery stock levels are anything but stationary.

As of late there has been a fresh emphasis on the ethical obligation of corporate entities, particularly with regard to their accountability for the environmental impact of their activities. The public focus has particularly gravitated towards heavyweight companies, notably supermarkets, who have responded by implementing small changes to their operation that ultimately have a substantial impact on minimising their detrimental effect on the earth.

The most prominent of these changes is the recent switch away from spurious distribution of plastic, disposable carrier bags. By promoting ‘bags for life’ and condoning the re-use of plastic carrier bags, major supermarkets are undoubtedly making a dent in their damage to the environment. The ‘every little helps’ attitude has extended beyond a company slogan and into something of a manifesto on environmentally ethical practice. This ethos can comfortably be embraced by considerably smaller companies with regard to their office consumables, whilst you can’t have ‘printer paper for life’ there are now abundant options for recycled office supplies.

Availability of recycled products has extended far beyond paper to such items as folders, desk tidys, bubble-wrap, even recycled recycling bins. Furthermore, unlike previously, recycled products are by no means prohibitively priced, with so many manufacturers turning to more environmentally conscious products it is a highly competitive market: forcing prices down to levels comparable with non-recycled products.

At the risk of coming across evangelical: it is the responsibility of all to ensure the longevity or our planet and the ‘every little helps’ mantra has no more relevant application than to the field of environmentally ethical practice. Whether a company chooses to just reduce waste by refilling ink cartridges, help preserve forests by using recycled paper or goes the whole way and only utilises recycled or sustainable consumables the overall outcome will benefit all in the long run and have no impact on either profit margins or the earth.

To view OfficeYoo’s competitively priced recycled and environmentally conscious products click here.

Writing? Boring? - Source: Web Vitality

2010-01-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

As Christmas is fast approaching (and my post count on this blog has been considerably thinner on the ground than the blanket of snow outside the office) it seems a good time to share a few of my thoughts with you lovely people.

As you may be aware, a large portion of my day is spent writing. From articles to press releases, website content to blogs: countless hours are spent staring at a blank page, frantically scrambling for inspiration or that perfectly sculpted sentence. The phrase ‘writer’s block’ is an often derided cliché, but there is no denying that sometimes you just can’t quite work out exactly what you’re trying to say, or even more infuriatingly, the best way to say it. Some will go for a walk to clear their mind, others to their cigarette packet or porcelain throne in an attempt to find clarity.

In the realm of content writing and SEO based copywriting in general there is a very simple reason why these personal catalysts are turned to with persistent regularity: it can be boring. There, I said it and to emphasise my conviction will say it again: WRITING FOR SEO PURPOSES CAN BE BORING. Now hopefully you’ll grant me enough time to justify this outburst before reporting me to the various authorities, oh, and please forgive my reliance on personal experience in portraying a more universal point.

Over the past couple of weeks I have written articles and press releases on subjects spanning PVC strip curtains, environmentally ethical office supplies, the importance of hearing protection, au pairs, laptop leasing....the list goes on. As you may have noticed, there is no real common ground between each of these fields and you’d be hard pushed to meet someone with a heartfelt passion for a combination of such disparate subjects.

I go into work every day knowing that I am required to write intelligently and enthusiastically on topics which I may have very limited previous knowledge of, and due to what I assume to be some sort of genetic defect: utterly love it. It is my love of writing that stops me from finding it boring. I am fully aware that the majority of people wouldn’t revel in this challenge, which is great for me as it reduces my competition. Consequently, the odds are that you’re reading this purely to find out a little more about writing on just one broad topic: and to make another assumption, I expect that your writing on this topic is to promote your own website. It is to you non-reveller, single broad topic focussed, committed website owner that I level my ‘it can be boring’ battle-cry as an explanation for your writer’s block and seek to show how you can get round it.

You have passion for your chosen topic, well, I sincerely hope you do (if you aren’t enthusiastic about your product/website/company/field of operation then it won’t be poorly written content that jeopardises your company’s longevity and more importantly in this instance: my whole argument rests on it). It is this passion and the resulting knowledge you have amassed on the subject that is key to your success in writing copy, articles and press releases for your website. No amount of literary flair, cunning word play or EXCESSIVE USE OF formatting Tools is ever going to appeal to your target reader more than the sound advice and authoritative content that you, the expert on this subject are capable of providing. Equally important is the very fact that if you’re passionate about something then surely you aren’t going to find it boring.

Having established that you are more than qualified to advise others on your chosen subject and have enough interest in it to apply yourself to the time consuming task of writing accurately about it, all I can really do is give you a few pointers and tips on converting your knowledge into something which others can benefit from and in doing so raise the profile and credibility of your website. To avoid taking up too much of your time, I’ll keep it brief:

1. Provide original content.

Whether you’re writing the content for your homepage or an article explaining the finer points of your industry and associated benefits, you must ensure that what you’re saying isn’t said elsewhere. Inevitably there will be others who have said something vaguely similar, but focus upon being better and different. You will get no credit from search engines for duplicating someone else’s work and gain no customers by rehashing a competitor’s article.

2. Research tone and style.

We all write differently depending on the context. A blog on celebrity gossip will read very differently to a governmental department’s homepage and the way you construct a text message to a friend will differ to the structure of an email you send to a business associate. It’s well worth researching the homepage content of similar websites when writing your own in order to judge which style you find most effective, relevant and credible. It is more than likely that the style you find most suitable will be the style your prospective visitors will find most suitable: so copy it (NOT THE CONTENT...just the tone and style). Once you’ve established this starting point then write in a way you find comfortable but adhering loosely to the tone you’ve chosen to emulate. The words should come naturally, don’t worry if it doesn’t sound quite right you can always come back and edit the text.

3. Double check grammar and spelling.

Having spent hours crafting your text, there is nothing more irritating than publishing the piece to discover an abundance of easily avoided errors. Get others to read your copy with a critical eye before making it live, they may well spot something you’ve missed. Having taken on board any amendments: read it again...and again before committing it to the archives of internet history.

4. Enjoy it.

I know, I know...easier said than done, but if you care about the subject matter and the benefits the content will have for your business then I’m sure you won’t find it that hard.

This post was supposed to be brief but I got a little carried away. In the new year I’ll pop up a few more guides like this amongst my usual light-hearted blog-banter.

The Viral Video Challenge (Part 1) - Source: WebVitality Blog

2010-01-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

We have been toying with the idea of producing some videos for our clients in the hope that they go 'viral'. We’re all familiar with ‘web phenomenon’ videos and the massive amount of attention they attract, well, what if these video clips could raise traffic for a website as well as a smile?

With this in mind, we invite you along with us on a little journey of discovery in hoping to answer the question:

Can we make a video go viral and in doing so increase traffic to a specific, unrelated website?

Before we begin this challenge some elementary research is in order, notably with regard to what kind of videos have the potential to go viral. Having watched hours and hours of youtube we’ve concluded that successful viral videos fall into two basic categories:

Intentional, well thought out content and Off-the-wall, unintentional, downright silliness.

Consciously constructed videos often do well but take time and resources to write, film, produce and promote. Unintentional content on the other hand, is just that: unplanned, unscripted and often unbelievably funny, this material is obtained by luck more than planning and has the potential to achieve immeasurable success if it is latched onto.

Given our budget and time constraints, allied with our fortune in obtaining an original piece of unintentional, cinematic silliness, the latter type of content was the obvious choice. So, onto the 1st step in our quest for viral stardom and abundant traffic:

Getting it online!

...easy, it’s here

Now then, let’s see if anyone watches it in its raw form.

Keep an eye out for future posts in this series as we tweak, edit, link, push and promote the same video in a bid to drive traffic to a specific website. Surely if we succeed then you can too?

Welcome

2010-01-26T08:47:00.000-08:00

Given that I write a huge number of blogs for a number of different companies I figured it would be nice to pop (a selection of) them in one place. On the off chance you enjoy my wordsmanship then fire me over an email and we can have a cyber-natter.

Enjoy