computer products Products we recommend
Cisco Aironet 802.11a/b/g Wireless PCI Adapter - Network adapter - PCI - 802.11b

The Cisco Aironet IEEE 802.11a/b/g Wireless PCI Adapter provides high-performance 54 Mbps connectivity in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. Whether configured to support single 802.11b coverage, single 802.11g coverage, single 802.11a coverage, dual-mode 802.11a/g coverage or tri-mode 802.11a/b/g coverage, the Cisco Aironet 802.11a/b/g Wireless PCI Adapter is Wi-Fi compliant and combines the freedom of wireless connectivity with the performance, security, and manageability that businesses require.The low-profile form factor and two-meter cable length provide significant flexibility for installation in low-profile devices, such as slim desktops and point-of-sale (POS) devices. For versatility, both a low profile and a standard profile bracket frame are included with the adapter. The attached dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 1 dBi effective gain antenna has a two-meter cable allowing for optimal placement and maximum performance.

Price: 176.89

APC Personal Biometric USB Pod - Fingerprint reader - USB

APC Personal Biometric USB POD is a simple and secure way to remember passwords. It includes: CD with software, USB cable, user manual.

Price: 41.60

Crucial - Memory - 1 GB - DIMM 184-pin - DDR - 333 MHz / PC2700 - CL2.5 - 2.5 V

Crucial Technology offers customers a number of clear advantages over its competitors. As the only consumer memory upgrade supplier that's part of a major DRAM manufacturer, Crucial sells high-quality memory that has been qualified and approved by all major original equipment manufacturers. That's important to customers who need quality-assured memory for mission-critical applications.

Price: 46.26

Brother P-Touch 9500pc - Label printer - B/W - thermal transfer - Roll (1.42 in

It's now easier than ever to create professional looking laminated labels right from your desktop. Create and print, it's as easy and 1-2-3. Those assets you've thought about labeling can now be done with labels that stick anywhere at any time. With the 9500PC you can create a strip of labels from your desktop so you can be off and labeling user machines in no time flat. This labeler also has an auto-cutter and can print "crack and peel" labels for easy peeling. Pre-design your labels with your company logo or other graphics, import your database, and print - labeling has never been easier.The PT-9500PC connects to your PC or MAC and uses easy-swap tape cassettes allowing you to print laminated labels with standard or "industrial strength" adhesive (twice the adhesive strength) in a variety of fonts and styles. With built-in base code templates and symbols, the PT-9500PC delivers the performance and reliability you want in a label printer.

Price: 251.62

Belkin - Printer cable - DB-25 (M) - 36 pin Centronics (M) - 15 ft

This is a quality Belkins parallel braided-shield cable. With its 15-feet (5-meter) length it is long enough to connect your peripheral equipment to the PC via the parallel port.

Price: 11.56

DYMO - Diskette labels - black on white - 2.13 in x 2.75 in - 400 label(s)

Paper labels direct from the roll for simple use. Perfect for 3.5" diskettes and also a good size for temporary name badges. Print labels 1-up or in a batch.

Price: 17.05

Targus 15" CityLite Notebook Case - Notebook carrying case - gray, black

The Targus CityLite Notebook Case is great for the notebook user who wants ease and mobility when traveling with a notebook and accessories. The padded computer compartment accommodates notebooks with screens up to 15". An easily accessible front compartment and interior file section create ample space to hold pens, cords, CDs and other mobile accessories, allowing easy access and organization.

Price: 28.29

Targus Mobile 70 Universal AC Power Adapter - Power adapter ( external ) - 70 Wa

Weighing just 7.5 ounces, Targus Mobile 70 Universal AC Power Adapter is lightweight, compact and ideal for travel. Leave your current power adapter at the office and use the Mobile 70 on the road or at home.

Price: 72.77

Impact Acoustics SonicWave - Video / audio cable - composite video / audio - RCA

Impact Acoustics SonicWave Series Component Video Interconnects achieve unsurpassed performance through advanced cable design, construction and materials. These quality cables give you maximum performance from your home theater equipment. Low-loss 75ohm silver-coated oxygen-free copper wire and Teflon insulation delivers the most accurate picture, resolution and color. CU Shielding Technology provides three layers of shielding, two 80%+ OFC copper braids and one 100% overlapped Mylar foil, which protects against unwanted noise and interference. The SplitLok connectors are 24K gold-plated with split center pins to ensure long lasting connections free from corrosion. The color-coded connectors attach to a flexible PVC jacket allowing for easy installation and identification.

Price: 76.39

Belkin - Network cable - RJ-45 (M) - RJ-45 (M) - 14 ft - UTP - ( CAT 5 ) - red

Having trouble finding the right cable for your PC system configuration? Let Belkin help you find the right cable for you.This LAN UTP Category 5 patch cable is designed for Ethernet 10Base T and Token Ring type 3 connection.

Price: 10.94

Targus Groove Notebook Backpack - Notebook carrying backpack - black

The Targus Groove Notebook Backpack is the affordable backpack for your notebook and all of your gear. The padded sleeve protects notebooks with screens up to 15.4". The front section provides generous storage for CDs, pens, a key clip, mobile phone pocket and a porthole for headphones. In addition, there is an extra pocket for files or accessories and even a side pocket for your water bottle. All these features are designed into a durable nylon case with a PVC bottom for protection against water and wear making this the backpack to own.

Price: 28.26

Kensington MicroSaver Security Cable Lock - Notebook locking cable

The Kensington MicroSaver 64068E Security Cable Lock provides an extra level of security by physically securing your ThinkPad notebook or docking solution to a stationary object.This security cable lock is designed for ThinkPad notebooks.For a complete compatibility list please refer to the original manufacturer's web site.

Price: 39.00

SimpleTech Premium Brand - Memory - 1 GB - DDR - 333 MHz / PC2700 - unbuffered

SimpleTech provides one of the most complete offerings of performance memory solutions in the industry, unsurpassed in quality, performance, and price. With over a decade of design and manufacturing expertise, SimpleTech knows what it takes to build quality and reliability into every memory solution. SimpleTech takes the complexity out of choosing the right solution for your system. With support for hundreds of desktop, notebook, workstation, server, and printer models, it offers thousands of memory upgrades made for your system.

Price: 46.04

Cisco - Network cable - RJ-45 (M) - RJ-45 (M) - 6 ft - yellow

Cisco introduces a straight-through yellow cable for Ethernet. It will never let you down providing the most reliable connection all over your network.

Price: 12.93

Canon PU-100U - Power adapter - car

The Automobile Power Unit (PU-100U) allows mobile users who frequently work from their car to charge or power their i80 mobile printer directly through a car power socket, helping to ensure they can print virtually anywhere.

Price: 83.98

StarTech.com - Display extender - DVI-D (M) - DVI-D (F) - 10 ft

Extend your high-speed DVI-D connection with StarTech.com's DVI-D dual-link extension cables. These quality cables allow you extend your existing digital connection by 10 feet while keeping the resolution on your panel display, digital projector, or HDTV crystal clear. These cables allow high-speed data transmission up to 9.9 Gbits/sec.

Price: 20.23

Xerox - Maintenance kit ( 110 V ) - 300000 pages

The quality of your documents communicates your image to the world and to your customers. Xerox formulates every supply product to match the performance specifications of your Xerox equipment.

Price: 530.00

D-Link DGS 1216T - Switch - 16 ports - EN, Fast EN, Gigabit EN - 10Base-T, 100Ba

The DGS-1216T Smart Switch presents a cost-effective solution for the small and medium business to economically implement high-speed Gigabit packet switching with easy fine tuning of network performance and security. This switch comes with 16 copper Gigabit ports and 2 combo SFP (Mini GBIC) for fiber connection. Port trunks are provided for server deployment and network backbone attachment, while functions important for bandwidth-intensive applications such as Priority Queues and VLANs are supported to enable you to implement Quality of Service (QoS) and security without having to go through complex network management usually found in other managed switches.16 copper Gigabit ports provide an inexpensive alternative solution to fiber-optic. Using your existing low-cost Cat. 5 copper twisted-pair wires as the transmission media, these ports allow you to instantly upgrade to Gigabit capability without requiring you to install new, expensive fiber cables. All ports support plug-and-play connections with auto-sensing of 10/100/1000Mbps network speeds, full/half duplex auto negotiation and MDI/MDIX cross over.Gigabit ports can be combined together to create multi-link load-sharing aggregated bandwidths to a server or a network backbone. To expand the network, you can also make use of the port trunks to eliminate bottlenecks between the cascaded switches.The switch support VLANs to let you improve security and bandwidth utilization by limiting the broadcast domains and confining intra-group traffic within their segments. To segment up the network, VLAN-supported workstations and servers that are connected to the switch can be grouped into different Virtual LANs (VLANs).The switch supports not only Layer 2 802.1p Priority Queue control, but also other ways to prioritize network packets. Classification of users data priorities can be based on a data packet Priority Queue or the TOS field in the IP header. This QoS function support allows you to run bandwidth-intensive/delay-sensitive applications and to attach video servers to the switch for video conference. VLANs for Enhanced Security & Performance.

Price: 248.94

APC SurgeArrest Network - Surge suppressor ( external ) - AC 120 V - 7 output co

Lightning and power surges can permanently ruin your electronic equipment. Changes in voltage cause lockups and loss of work. This unit will protect your equipment from the threat of bad power. The Network SurgeArrest series provides maximum protection for network and business computer equipment including workstations and network modems.

Price: 26.69

Lexmark - Toner cartridge - 1 x black - 6000 pages

The Lexmark X422 print cartridges are specifically designed to assure optimal print quality, with crisp, dark output from first print to last. A clean hands design means easy cartridge installation and removal.

Price: 181.93

D-Link DKVM 4K - KVM switch - 4 ports - 1 local user

The D-Link DKVM-4K is a 4-port PS/2 based KVM switch for controlling up to 4 computers using a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The DKVM-4K minimizes clutter on your desktop with its sleek, compact design. Ready to work right out of the box, the DKVM-4K requires no drivers, extra power supplies, or accessories and is compatible with all Windows Operating Systems.The DKVM-4K is convenient and simple to use with features such as: at a glance LED indicators for computer status, hot keys and push buttons for switching between computers, included 6' standard cables, and an autoscan mode for automatically detecting computers connected to the switch. You get added flexibility with the DKVM-4K's hot plug capability - add or disconnect computers simply by unplugging the cables without having to power down your computers! Versatile, portable, and convenient, the D-Link DKVM-4K can be easily integrated into your existing desktop environment at home or in the office.

Price: 48.57

Epson - Print ribbon - 1 x black - 2 million characters

Epson manufacture all their ribbons to the highest possible specification to ensure the maximum efficiency of the Epson printer. This black cartridge is specially designed for use with LX1050/FX1170.

Price: 11.72

computer products For Your Reading Pleasure
UPS Battery For Your Computer

Do you have a number of electrial items that requires 24/7 power? Are you aware that there are items out there that will be a benefit for your company and home business in the long run? When you are going to have a UPS Battery for your company you will end up saving a lot of money and hassle in the end.

The Ups Battery is a battery that will give you an opportunity of having some kind of back up for your companies work if the power would ever happen to fail for some reason. Just think of the hassle of being able to shut down your computer the right way instead of a hard shut down.

Some thing that it's an expense that's not worth spending on but you will even be able to end up saving some money in the long run. When you and your employees are able to shut down your computers the right way you will be saving some much unwanted wear and tear on the hard drives. In that sense you are going to save the big expense of having to buy many computers in the end because of too many hard shut downs. Plus you are going to be able to save all of the work that you put all your time and energy in through out the day.

When you have a Ups Battery in place in your company you are going to be able to have the security of being able to shut down your computer the right and safe way. One thing that the UPS battery is not is a power surge protector you will need to make sure that you have the surge protectors to save your computer from direct lighting strikes.

When you start to look at purchasing a UPS battery you are going to want to check around for what is going to be the best deal on the batteries that you are going to need for your company. There are many different UPS Batteries out there so you are going to want to make sure that you are taking your time in checking all the different styles and the different power strengths that you can purchase. You are even going to need to know what you are going to need covered as far as equipment that you are going to need covered.

About the Author

Want to know more about UPS batteries? Check it out at: rechargable-nimh-batteries.info

Benefits of latest Computer Courses

ABCO Technology INC prepares individuals to work in the field of IT (Information Technology) or enhance individual's technical skills for other career areas with cheaply offer

ABCO Technology INC is the leading Microsoft Training Company in the Los Angeles, CA. Offer daily public schedule courses for popular programs like Microsoft Excel training. Nowadays, computers are the very first essential thing every working person should know. So people must know how to use and operator computers. To help people in learning computers, there are many online courses available. We have partnered with Microsoft, Oracle, Linux , Cisco Systems, Prometric testing center and as such offer wide variety of computer training that include but are not limited to Microsoft Certification, A+ training, CISCO Certification Course, Oracle Certification Course, Internet and Microsoft Office 2003.Generally the term computer training comprises everything related to the computer as a whole. This training consists of lessons on the various parts of the computer, their functions and necessities and then the manner to compute or run the computer. Computer training has become a necessity in the workplace, especially in internet related fields. Luckily, there are tips on how to further your career with the right software training.It has long been universally accepted by education professionals that there are three methods of human learning: video, audio, and physical. Online computer training courses offer all three. The students learning style plays a large role in determining which kind of computer training course to take.Another great thing about leaning computer skills is that there is usually at least 3 ways to do the same thing, so if you forget one way, there's always another to fall back on. Honestly folks, basic computer skills really are a benefit. Learning the fundamentals on how to use a computer really can make your life easier. These courses can be done at your convenience, especially if you are working at the same tame. The majority of computer training programs allow you to enroll online, and work from the comfort of your own home. With such a huge database of courses, anyone who works hard can succeed. These courses include IT management training and IT project management training. It is great for any employee who wants to manage their company and train others correctly in IT project management. Therefore, it is extremely easy to get your certificate, even if you need to take the classes online.The importance of the computer training is rapidly increasing as it is required in each and every field in this fast growing world. Even the housewives too need to know the basics of the computer if they want to be an efficient home manager. Shopping, cooking, cleaning everything has become computerized nowadays. If you are interested in attaining some basic computer training, hop online today. The first thing you need to do is look at your career and what it requires. Many companies want their employees to know everything about computers ? from Microsoft Word to specific software related to their industry. It can be a daunting task, especially if you know nothing about the field. However, if you do know about these programs, you could get ahead in your career, and perhaps even land a better job. After all, in such a technological age, employees are required to have at least some computer experience.After attending just a few courses you will begin to develop strategies that can ultimately increase your office's performance drastically. The workflow design that Office allows can help you drive your company into maximum efficiency. After you graduate from a specialized course you can carry a Microsoft certified label that will assist you in gaining the positions you have always dreamed of. So why not jumpstart your new career or give yourself an edge over the competition by signing up for a Microsoft Office training course today!If you would like to do computer training courses at ABCO Technology

, then kindly free to visit our website:- abcotechnology.com/

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Please feel free to visit our website for more information about Computer Courses, Computer Training, Computer Training Courses or call us (310)237-5517.

Have You Invited A Spy Into Your Computer?

Ever wondered what to give the "Person Who Has Everything"? A Gift Basket could be just the thing. Have you been from shop to shop and thought "Yes This is It" and then discounted the gift because it wasn't really what you wanted.

My best friend has everything and when I say everything, "I Mean Everything". She has either been given or purchased every conceivable gadget available in the last 5 years. She loves to shop. One of her motto's is "Shop Til you Drop, Spend Til the End". And she lives by that rule!

When it comes to gifts for my friend -- she is "The Hardest Person to Buy For". Oh did I tell you, she even has a kitchen sink on her car key tag !

It was while looking for a present for my friend that I thought "What About A Gift Basket". I was in a specialized shop and the sign said "For the Person Who Has Everything" and the light turned on.

I'm not sure if you are aware but these days gift baskets have changed. No longer are they the old style cane baskets (although there are some very attractive cane baskets available on today's market). Today Gift Baskets came in all shapes and sizes. In fact, it is basically up to your imagination as to what a "Gift Basket" should be. You can use old shoes, buckets, calico bags, pot plant holders in fact anything that holds what items you purchase to fill the basket with.

Gift Baskets are lots of fun to create and very easy to make. Gone are the days of saying... oh I'm not creative enough to make a professional looking basket. Anyone can make a professional looking basket -- as long as you have some imagination and a willingness to give it a try.

If you are stuck for a present for that "Person Who Has Everything" then a Gift Basket is for you!

Firstly decide on a theme or if you aren't sure then write down the interests of the recipient ie. golf or tennis, shopping etc. You could even base it around a coming event. Once you have made the list, work your way through it until you find something that stands out that would fit into your Gift Basket "theme".

For today's basket lets say your friend loves to entertain and one of her favorite meals is "Italian" food.

You could choose a selection of baskets for this theme; today we will use a large pasta bowl as our "basket" or a large cooking pot. Our basket needs to be large enough to hold the goodies that we are going to purchase so that we can then turn this into a Professional Looking "Gift Basket". If neither of these ideas appeals to you, let your imagination take over and choose something that fits into your theme selection.

Next take yourself down to the local supermarket or deli who specialize in gourmet foods. Set yourself a budget as to what you want to spend and then go about buying non-perishable items to fill the basket. Speak to the shop attendant to ensure that the items you are purchasing fit into your theme. Buy different colors and types of pasta to give variety of color and shape to your basket.

Next take yourself to a department store or kitchenware shop and purchase some really great utensils to go with the other items that you have purchased.

You could also add an "Easy Step by Step Guide" if they need cooking help, or send them to a "Cooking Lesson" for something extra.

Once you have gathered these items, it is time to begin to assemble your gift basket.

Depending upon the type of basket you have chosen you may need to fill the bottom of the basket with some shredded paper, as this will give the basket height. Place the items in the basket to give a layered effect. Layering items at different heights in the basket makes the overall design more pleasing to the eye.

Use small pieces of tape to hold items in place. Next wrap clear cellophane around the outside of the basket and tie the top with wired ribbon or curling ribbon to match the color scheme of your gift.

To finish off our basket make a gift tag and tuck a small item into the ribbon around the basket to give a professional look.

Congratulations, you've done it... "A Present For the Person Who Has Everything" -- A Gift Basket!

About Donna: Donna Hamer is the author and publisher of 101 Gift Basket Ideas. For a Free 5 part Mini Course on how to create your own "Personalized Gift Baskets", visit 101giftbasketideas.com

We've all felt stress in our lives. And we're left wondering what's the best way to try and deal with it.

Some exercise, others veg out in front of the TV, I however have discovered the amazing zen of charm bracelets.

Charm bracelets are both a way to collect memories without large obtrusive knick knacks everywhere and is also a fun hobby for people that like collecting things.

It's almost like a treasure hunt looking for new charms to add to your collection and display like a trophy to everyone you come in contact with for them to admire your work and your chance to tell them all about the history of each charm.

See, it's not just about collecting the charms simply to collect them, it's about what they mean to you.

Much like someone that gets many tattoos, there's a story that goes behind them and a memory of when they got it.

It's the same with charms, there is a certain story, a certain reason for having the charms you have and everytime you look at them, they remind you about the things that are special to you.

You can collect charms that remind you of a trip you went on, of a certain belief you have, or a special time in your life. And best of all, these can all be worn on your wrist.

You can even make multiple bracelets for different periods in your life or for different moods.

It's a relzxing, almost theraputic hobby that will help you relieve stress and live your life with great joy and happiness. And all those memories are a short glance away.

I would reccomend this hobby to anyone, and once you've got you're very first charm, you'll know what I mean.

The charms are endless just like your memories. Carry them with you always.

About Juliette: Juliette is the nation's leading expert on the creation of charm bracelets and rare charms. Her site is coolcharmbracelets.com

One of the biggest and hottest growing trends in the art of tattoo design is Hawaiian arm or leg band tattoos. As this trend goes a lot of people think to themselves, well of course." At least that is what I said to myself at first. You can hardly drive more then 10 minutes on the freeway in southern California where I am from and not see a big SUV like a Lincoln Navigator or a Cadillac Escalade and not see a Hawaiian sticker. Things with flowers designs, or turtles, dolphins. Ya see it started off with the sticker and then the car seat covers with hibiscus flowers everywhere and it just grew from there.

This trend of Hawaiian design has then met it's match with the whole tribal tattoo movement. Tribal tattoos have been the hottest thing in the tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school WWII era Hula dancer. You see these influences have been all around us for a long time my grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos still. Granted it is a little saggy and faded now but he still has one on his forearm nonetheless.

So the whole tribal tattoo and the growth in interest for Hawaiian designs have combined to make a hot and growing market for Hawaiian tattoos. This is really an up and coming thing and it not huge yet. However many tattoo artists are spotting the trend and jumping on it already.

Of course there is a lot of controversy on this subject also like anything. If you look on the internet there is a controversy about getting Kanji and Japanese Tattoos also. Anytime you try and take the designs of a culture and do not depict them accurately it creates a sense of bastardization or what I call the "Disney Effect" towards the culture. I mean how would you feel if you were in China and someone said, oh you should try this hot new restaurant out it serves this great food that is really American. They have fried chicken and apple pie that is the best." Well, at first you would be excited right? Sure it would be nice for a good home cooked meal if you have been out of the US for a long time. However once you get there you see the place has really tacky and awful reproductions of 50's art and the all the food tastes kind of strange. It would probably bee kind of close or resemble what you were thinking of but it would be missing something or a few key ingredients. I bet this would leave you feeling a little sad and like your culture was not totally understood.

Well, I can not speak for you and maybe you will feel different but I was pretty sad when after staying in Japan for 3 months I was invited to a 1950's classic hamburger joint. When we got there it was Elvis with a funny accent playing on the jukebox and when my hamburger came it had a fried egg on top of it with teriyaki sauce. WOW what a surprise that was for me. I kind of felt weird about being in the place that had tried to recreate something from my own culture.

So, the same controversy rolls on in the world of tattoos. Anytime you get a tattoo design from another culture just make sure you go with a professional. Do not have your friend trace out some Kanji in a book for a tattoo and don't go and rip some design of the internet because it states that it is Hawaiian. Go to a real custom tattoo designer and have them do the research and come up with some designs. After all this is going to be on your body for the rest of your life and since Hawaiian arm band tattoos and leg tattoos are typically big it will be a significant investment in pain, time and money to get the thing done. So you should consult with a professional and get top notch work done.

About Chris: Chris is the owner and webmaster of designmyattoos.com where you can find custom tattoo artists waiting to design a tattoo for you. Either a Hawaiian Arm Tattoo or some other tattoo design.

This success mistake has cost me so much money that I'm almost embarrassed to tell you.

"So Mike, why are you telling me?"

Because I know that if you can steer away from this success mistake, it can help you improve your income and change your life. That's my goal.

Here's how this came about:

Yesterday, I was reading a book about investing from the very successful money manager Peter Lynch.

Even though he was talking about 'investing', he zeroed in on a success principle that so many people miss.

I did.for 7+ years and it cost me a fortune.

And it caused me a bunch of stress.

What's so interesting is that Warren Buffett used this same success insight to become the 2nd richest person in the world.

Here's the deal:

I used to be so 'short-sighted' and wanted immediate gratification.

If my new 'business idea' didn't work out in 30-60 days, I quit.

Then I'd try something else and, after a week, I went onto something else.

This downward spiral happened for a while because I was 'ruled' by a short-term vision and the desire for immediate gratification.

This is how 98% of the world operates.

THIS is why only 2% of the world live their dreams.

Here's what Peter Lynch was saying and what Warren Buffet knows.

Also, Michael Dell knows this, Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Oprah and others all know this.

***One of the biggest 'secrets' to success is taking the LONG-TERM VIEW.

(Let me say that again)

***One of the biggest 'secrets' to success is taking the LONG-TERM VIEW.

When Warren Buffett makes an investment, he's looking 5-15 years out, sometimes more.

All great entrepreneurs understand that in order to WIN BIG they must take the long-term view.

3-years, 5-years, 15-years, 20-years+.

You need to give yourself time for your idea or business to grow.

Most people never do this - it's unfortunate. AND it's also never too late to start.

You need to EXPAND your horizon.

Change your perspective.

You need to take the NEXT STEP today and keep in mind your long-term view. Not necessarily a specific long term goal, but a longer term VIEW.

There's a season for everything.

Take the time to plant the seeds, water them, and be patient for your harvest.

Stay disciplined.

I know you can do it.

Resource box: If you're scattered, if you procrastinate too much, and if you want to 'rev up' your income, see Mike Litman's site at: powerofconcentration.net

Only about 20% of your copy is going to get read. The rest will simply be scanned. I'm sure you've heard the statistic before. It's nothing new. While it might sound frightening or frustrating, it's a fact of copywriting life. So what do you do next? Give up? What difference does it make if only about 20% will be read anyway?

It makes a world of difference. Especially if you understand that there are some sections of your copy that are practically guaranteed to get read. If you know what these are and work to reinforce them, you'll see your conversions increase dramatically whether your copy is geared toward online or offline promotions.

HEADLINES

Headlines have always been and will always be the most important section in any copy. They are the first thing to get read and have the greatest impact on whether any of the other copy gets read. Those stories you've seen floating around the Internet about marketers who have made minute changes to a headline and tripled their conversion rates are true. It happens all the time. In fact, it's happened to me.

Headlines and sub-headlines can guide your visitors to read deeper into your copy. If you set up a structure of progressive headlines (marketingwords.com/articles/articles_progressheadlines.html), you'll have a better shot getting your point across. Pay a lot of attention to your headline. It's the powerhouse of your copy.

CAPTIONS

Captions started with newspaper journalists. When they would run a picture with a story, they would add a few words underneath to explain what or who the picture was of. People got into the habit of looking for the captions in order to relate the importance of the image with the information they were receiving. This still holds true. Captions in advertising pieces are highly read. Don't waste the space!

FIRST SENTENCES

When you scan something -- an article, a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a website -- what do you read? Almost everyone reads the first sentence of each paragraph. These sentences are vitally important in order to get your potential customers interested enough to keep reading. If you create exceptional first sentences, one of two things will happen. One: The prospect will be more likely to continue reading the copy. Two: The first sentences in each paragraph will be enough to convince him/her to buy.

FIRST IN BULLETED LIST

Just as with the first sentence in each paragraph, people also almost always read the first entry in a bulleted list. If it hits home, they might keep reading. But, knowing that you have their attention for at least one second, always make sure your first bullet point is extremely powerful and enticing.

PS's

Writing a direct mail or Web sales letter? The PS is another hot spot. Take advantage of this real estate. Repeat offers, remind readers of bonuses, reinforce guarantees or recap limited-time offers. This section is the final pitch before your reader either acts or trashes your copy so make it count.

Have you noticed something about these five sections? Why do you think they are virtually guaranteed to get read in any piece of copy? They are unusual. They are limited. They stand out. They are eye-catching.

You only have a limited number of headlines and sub-heads in copy. They are almost always offset by bolding or underlining so they easily catch the eye of the reader. Captions only appear when there are images. They do not appear all throughout the copy. First sentences are also rare. Only one sentence in each paragraph can be the first one. This tells the reader to keep going or jump to another section that might be of more interest. First entries in bulleted lists are unusually formatted and catch the eye of the reader. PS's? There's only one, and since it's the last thing on the page, most often, it stands out too.

These rare elements give you five guaranteed shots at building curiosity, promoting benefits, generating interest and closing sales. If you haven't done it before, now is the time to review your copy to be sure you're making the most out of these opportunities.

About Karon: Karon Thackston is a veteran copywriting pro who specializes in SEO copy. Learn how to write SEO copy that impresses the engines and your visitors at copywritingcourse.com. Get more tips on incorporating keyphrases into your copy with Karon's latest e-report "How To Increase Keyword Saturation (Without Destroying the Flow of Your Copy)" at copywritingcourse.com/keyword.

I began the journey of owning a home based business several months ago. Like many others, I found the task of marketing my business overwhelming and frustrating. Without marketing, you don't make sales, and without sales, you can't profitably run your business.

After spending countless hours on the computer and throwing many dollars down the drain, I learned one very important thing: You must combine mass marketing with a personal touch.

There are many great marketing tools you can use to achieve mass marketing including pay per click engines, placing ads, buying leads, banner advertising, and exchanging links just to name a few. While these methods can produce positive results, they lack the personal connection many new business owners need to build a true customer base.

On the other hand, personal touch methods such as emailing your family and friends about your new business can be a great way to start spreading the word, but this approach may not help you reach enough people to give your business the jump start it really needs.

So where did this lead this flailing entrepreneur? Message boards.

I initially visited message boards to get help with my marketing dilemma. In the process, I realized this was not only a place to exchange valuable information with other home business owners, but this was also a great place to market my own online business.

Not only did I find plenty of message board group members willing to give information, I found many interested parties for my own business. Soon, I realized that not only was I becoming a more educated marketing guru, I was introducing my new business to many new friends (and customers).

By joining message board groups, not only will you find a new outlet to advertise your business, but you will also build credibility among your peers.

Follow these simple steps to begin utilizing message boards to market your home business today:

Visit a search engine and do a search on message boards.
Click through to the message boards and search for forums related to work from home and/or your specific type of business.
Join a few message board groups. (Note: Some message board groups will allow you to post without being a member, but membership increases your credibility).
Post information about your business. Remember to give specific instructions about how to reach you including email address, Web URL, etc.

Message boards are an efficient and effective way to reach a targeted market with direct contact, and, best of all, they are free. As you will soon see, these message boards are quite powerful as there are thousands of subscribers who receive posts from message board groups in their email boxes each day.

Start joining message board groups now and take your home business to new heights!

About Leslie: Leslie McGuirk is a CPA and holds a Masters of Business Administration. For additional information on home business and marketing ideas, subscribe to mailto:buckyshome@getresponse.com or visit buckyshome.com. If you are interested in getting a free website to market your own home business, visit buckyshome.com/pips.html.

Too often, when we say we are "taking care of business", we think about the paperwork, the accounting, the inventory, etc... the trivial things that are important to get done in order for our business to run smoothly and efficiently. While necessary, they are not the most important.

We need to change our thinking about what "taking care of business" means. We need to make sales in order to have a profitable business, and we know without our customers or consultants, we don't have a business. They are our lifeblood, they are what keeps us moving forward, and meeting their needs should be our primary mission.

Without consultants or customers, there are no sales. Without sales, there is no revenue... without revenue, there is no business and we might as well go back and get a j.o.b. It is crucial that we take care of our customers and consultants. CRM (customer-relationship management) is a buzz-word in "big business". Many large corporations have implemented systems and technology to supposedly create customer care. Some have been successful, many have not.

Most of these systems simply give the illusion of customer care, but have failed miserably in actually providing it.

How many times have you been through the "round robin" of "press 1 for this" and "press 2 for that", only to spend an hour or more and never actually speak to a live person or get your problem solved? You hang up in the phone in frustration and vow never to spend money with XYZ Company again. This approach to customer care continues to baffle me as to why large companies believe this is effective. How can they possibly think that customer relationships can be created and nurtured by a recording?

Are those who make these decisions that far removed up the "corporate ladder" they can't see this isn't customer care at all and having the opposite effect?

Each and every one of our customers and consultants should be made to feel like they are our most important one. If we don't take care of them, someone or some other company will. Small and home businesses have an incredible opportunity to take back customer care and relationships the way it is supposed to be. We are in an incredible position to "take care of business".

Technology is wonderful. Without technology, there would be no internet and many of us would not be in business. However, there is no technology on this earth that can replace human connections. Technology will never replace our customers knowing that there is someone who truly cares about their needs.

So, how about you? Are you taking care of business?

About Patty: Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who specializes in personalization and customer care for all her clients. She exchanged her suits, hose and heels for working at home in her "jammies" and is on a mission to empower other women to do the same. She can be reached at: CommuteInYourJammies.com or PattysPrettyPaper.com

10 Classic E-zine Advertising TipsKen Hill

1. Target your advertising.

The more targeted the e-zine is for your offer, the greater your response will be for your proven ad.

2. Track your ads.

Don't leave your ad campaigns to guesswork. Use ad tracking to show you exactly which e-zines and ads are most profitable.

3. Run your ad for multiple issues.

You'll get a better response, and possibly save money as many publishers offer special deals on bulk advertising.

4. Spend lots of time writing your headline.

An effective headline will successfully grab your reader's attention and target your audience.

Your winning headline will also get people to read the rest of your ad, leading to more traffic and sales.

If you're new to writing headlines, and need some help check out my "9 Power Packed Headline Formulas" at: scstats.com/r.cfm?i=5652

5. Don't try to sell your product from your ad.

Write your ads to create interest and get people to visit your site.

From here, your powerful sales page will do the selling for you, and you'll be able to get people to join your e-zine or mailing list for successful follow up.

6. Don't use all caps in your headline.

You'll appear like your yelling at your reader, and your ad will come off as amateurish.

7. Include a "call to action."

At the end of your e-zine ads, include a call to action that tells your reader what you want them to do next (i.e., visit your site or subscribe to your e-zine).

8. Don't be cute or funny with your ad.

You might put your reader in a good mood, but don't count on that translating into more visits to your site or more sales.

9. Offer something for free.

Provide an incentive for visiting your site such as a free ebook, sample chapter, or trial.

10. Subscribe to or view the archives of the
e-zines you would like to advertise in.

You'll be able to see the quality of the content provided, how many ads are published in each issue, and you'll get a good idea of the products those readers are interested in by the ads being run.

About Ken: Ken's articles have been published in numerous e-zines and web sites all over the net. Keep up to date on his latest articles, and get more new valuable tips by visiting him at: kenhill.blogspot.com

11 Creative Ways You Can Use AutorespondersShery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

1. Pick 4 or more articles you've written that have a common theme and put them in an autoresponder series. Announce it on your site as an e-mail course on the go.

2. If you have a page for related links, create a related links file and put it on autoresponder. This can be a one-page e-mail containing 15-50 links that are of interest to your visitors. Put your own promotional texts or blurbs at the top, middle and bottom of the e-mail.

3. Create a fun or trivia quiz, put it up on your site and put the answers in an autoresponder that your visitors can request. This way, you'll know the people who took your quiz.

4. Write reviews of books, music, e-books, sites, software or anything you can think of and put each review (or related reviews) in an autoresponder. If what you are revie