Google Docs - An Essential Blogging Tool?

In managing my blog one of the tools I rely on is Google Docs. In this article I provide an introduction to Google Docs and explain its advantages to those running an blog.

What is Google Docs?

Google Docs is best summarized as a completely web-based, simplified, free version of Microsoft Office. It provides basic functionality such as word-processing, spreadsheets and presentations. The fact that it is an online service gives it a number of advantages, but there are also one or two disadvantages you need to be aware of.

Web-based service

The fact that Google Docs is an online service has a great advantage, you can work on a document from anywhere you have Internet access and a browser. This is more convenient than it sounds. For example, I have several computers and, using OpenOffice, I might create a Word-compatible document on, say, my desktop computer. If I am then on the road I don't have access to that document from my laptop as the document might still be on my desktop computer's hard-drive.

There are ways to transfer between computers, and one technique I used in the past was to email the document to Hotmail. This ensured that I could access the document from any of my computers and it was backed-up by Microsoft. This wasn't convenient though as I ended up having several versions of the document on different computers and keeping track of the current version proved difficult. Google Docs solves this problem as all the documents you create are hosted by Google. You can access your documents from any computer that has a browser and Internet access.

Summary

I would say I am addicted to Google Docs and find it to be an essential part of running my blog - it is one of the main reasons I use Blogger. It is convenient, easy to use and being able to store your documents (and publish them) on the web is a huge advantage. I no longer have to transfer documents between computers or worry about issues such as versioning. It is very easy to be able to export the documents to a local file, such as a PDF. So far, I have found Google Docs to be invaluable.

Google Docs can be found at http://docs.google.com

Tony Bedford first started blogging in March 2000. Tony currently maintains a free guide to more profitable blogging at http://the-business-of-blogging.blogspot.com

What NOT To Do Using Pay Per Click Campaigns

I see a lot of experts recommending that new online entrepreneurs use pay-per-click programs as a traffic building source to generate profits for their new online businesses. Unfortunately, what they fail to mention is the potential costs involved. Many new online business owners underestimate the potential traffic if they are new to pay-per-click programs and wind up paying much more money than they had planned on. This is particularly true if they are unfamiliar with PPC.

Others who are new to the program choose a very general search term in order to maximize the number of clicks. They mistakenly think that more clicks will automatically mean more money. Unfortunately, this is not true. In order to make money using PPC programs, you need TARGETED clicks. You have to use a very narrow focus to concentrate on people who are likely to need the products that you are offering.

If you focus on the word "ebooks" in your campaign, you will get tons of clicks from people who are looking for free ebooks, but you probably won't get many buyers for your "ebook maker" product. This campaign will be doomed to failure. But unfortunately, many new entrepreneurs hear about the PPC hype and jump right in without doing the necessary research.

So, if you are new to the Internet marketing business. Do your research before committing yourself to any type of program. Make sure that you can afford the 'worst case scenario.' If you are using PPC programs, narrow your focus. Be aware that a higher number of clicks does not necessarily mean a higher amount of profit, but it WILL mean a higher cost. And sometimes it means a much higher cost. So do your research. Your online business doesn't have to begin making profits in 2 minutes; it's okay if it takes a little longer.

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The PSP Guide - How To Download Music and Video's to Your PSP

Congratulations on buying that new PSP. You bought some great games with your new PSP and to play them, all you need do is slip a cartridge in the slot and your good to go. Sweet, isn't life great. Hey, how about playing some of your favorite songs or watching one of your music videos on your new favorite toy. Oh! Oh! The store didn't have a cartridge for that! Now what? Don't panic, just follow the step-by-step instructions below and life will be sweet again.

To download music to your PSP you will need to follow these steps.

Definitions

CD Ripper Software - Software that extracts (rips) music/mp3 files from your CD and puts them in another file on your computer's hard drive.

PSP Video Converter - Converts your personal computers (PC) video/movie format files into Sony's PSP video/movie format so that you can view them on your PSP.

USB Cable - Cable used to connect peripheral equipment such as camera's, external hard drives and PSP's to your computer's USB port.

1) Put your music CD (the one with the songs you want converted) into your PC's CD drive. Start-up your CD Ripper software or PSP Video Converter.

2) Choose the songs you want to extract to your PSP and select "Extract & Encode". This will convert the selected songs PSP format and transfer them to a file on your PC's hard drive.

3) Using the USB Cable, connect your PSP to your computer.

4) Turn on your PSP and select "USB Connection" on your PSP. Your computer will automatically detect the new USB device connected to it and designate a new drive letter, usually E:, but not always. You can check in "My Computer" to be sure.

5) Create a new Folder (name it Music or Videos) under the E: drive or whatever letter your PSP was designated. This new folder will actually be your PSP.

6) It's time to start downloading your music and/or video files from your computer to your PSP.

7) That's all there is to it. After you have downloaded all of your favorite video's and music, disconnect the USB cable and you're good to go.

http://www.moviesmusicgamesandmore.com/games.html

I live in Largo, Florida where I work for the states largest Power Company. I currently have two websites, one being http://www.moviesmusicgamesandmore.com/ and I also have a Squidoo lens: http://www.squidoo.com/game-download-sites-review I also enjoy writing articles on different subjects.

Alexa Traffic Rank - Improve Your Low Ranking

Informing Alexa Of All Website Visitors

I wanted Alexa to know about "ALL" visitors my traffic exchange website was receiving, not just traffic from their toolbar users. I wanted them to know not because I support them, but because so many other users did. Users that were apparently unaware of the traffic-ranking prejudice. I accomplished this by installing the Alexa traffic rank banner on all of the pages within my website.

Free Advertising

The Alexa traffic rank banner is a free advertisment for them. Adding their banner to your site is a small price to pay for the increase in traffic rank. They offer several types of banners in different sizes, so it should be easy to one that fits your pages.

Since installing the code on January 15, 2007, the traffic rank for checks4free.com had improved by over 4.5 million within 15 days. That does not mean there was that much traffic. It means that the website had moved up the list from the number 6 million spot to approximately the 1 million spot.

You can view the Alexa traffic rank for the Checks4Free Traffic Exchange using this URL: http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?url=checks4free.com.

Conclusion

If your website has a low Alexa traffic rank, I hope the suggestion in this article will help you to improve your ranking as well. The help file on the Alexa website talks about the biased ranking. However, to the millions of users that base an opinion about a website using the Alexa traffic rank, numbers speak louder than words. Your only other option is to hope that more Alexa toolbar users visit your website.

Tim Predaina is with Checks 4 Free, a free manual traffic exchange - http://www.checks4free.com - that delivers real visitors to your websites. Visit: http://copywriting.predaina.com for information about writing articles for content to build traffic.

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