Thursday, September 29, 2016

So you have a website but can people find it

:
There are various ways of getting people to your website. One way is using print: business cards, letterhead, newspaper ads, and even billboards. While printing your business website on everything and anything is a good start, there are some additional, more important ways to increase your website's prominence on the Internet. Because more people are using the Internet everyday a business must have a good Internet presence to survive. Sure, people still use the Yellow Pages, but more often than not they also (or only) check the web for the information they are seeking.

Search engines are the primary way to find information on the Internet. Approximately half a billion, yes billion, searches are done per day between the two search giants - Google and Overture. The way search engines operate is by searching the content of web pages for relevant phrases. Webpages are found by robots that crawl the web constantly looking for new and updated content. The search engines then use various algorithms to compile this information and deliver it as results for a keyword or keyword phrase which was typed into the browser. Although Google is the leading search engine using this method, there are "second level" engines doing the same thing. But for all intents and purposes, Google is the main focus as recent reports suggest that Google currently powers around 73% of all search engine results.

Along with free indexing search engines like Google, there are paid-inclusion and paid-placement sites offering a different way to get your website listed. These help to power the rest of the 500 million searches done everyday. Overture and its affiliates deliver the majority of paid placement results today. Paid-placement methods allow an advertiser to bid on keyword phrases to determine placement of their ad in "sponsored results" on sites that include Overture's content. Advertisers are billed by the click, meaning every time a searcher clicks that link which came up as a result of a search, they pay the corresponding bid amount. This is where the term pay-per-click (PPC) was derived.

Paid inclusion is a bit different. Certain databases providing content to certain search engines require website owners to pay to have their website listed. The pages are found if they are relevant to a search. This requires a renewable annual fee. Any knowledgeable Search Engine Optimization (SEO) company will be able to get your website included in these important databases.

All three of these methods are important because they make up the majority of search results. However, SEO should be regarded as the most fundamental part of a website's Internet presence. You may say that you are getting traffic to your website, but is everyone able to find it when searching for your products or services? Every website has a target audience and it is very important to optimize your website's content for target phrases and search terms relevant to your products or services. This is the essential aspect of ranking. Google is constantly changing their algorithms to deliver more quality content and SEO companies are constantly working to keep up with these changes modifying pages and content to gain quality rankings. This is the main reason one should obtain the services of a SEO company. Most business owners are busy running their companies and have very little time to learn about website ranking. JAZ Design Co., LLC, a professional SEO Company, is familiar with the ever changing industry and able to help with your website SEO and managing PPC campaigns.

Ok, I made my plug, but here is some free advice: The first things to consider about your website are your target keywords and keyword phrases. Some questions to ask yourself: What is my product? How would I search for it? How would my friends search for it? (Ask them!) What will they expect when they find my website? And finally, how will they find your website if they don't know the correct address? Maybe they have your business card and with your website address printed on it or maybe they took a wild guess and found it, but most of the time they've done a keyword search. The question is did they find you or your competitor? This is where an SEO company can make some valuable recommendations and get your website equipped to rank higher on the search engines.

This concept applies to regional companies too. As everyone continues to use the Internet more, they are turning to their computer when looking for local services. This aspect of the Internet is just starting to evolve and does still have a long way to go. Eventually, a business without a website will suffer even if it is only a local "mom and pop" store.

Your website will be found by its content and the robot's ability to crawl the web, find your pages, and index them in their database. Many website designers neglect to utilize important 'tricks' causing pages never to be found. You may have good content, but if robots cannot index your website it will not be nearly as valuable. It is said that 20% of the pages currently published on the Internet are not indexed with search engines. This means most people never see them. For example, websites built with frames and ones built with a lot of fancy graphics or flashy multimedia will not be sufficiently indexed. It is the job and responsibility of website designers and business owners to make sure their websites are found. Of course there are some websites that we would not want anyone to find by doing a search such as personal sites and confidential business information. If this is the case, the responsibility also lies with the website developer to make sure these pages are not indexed. Various methods are used to keep parts of your website from being indexed such as special tags used in the code and/or password-protected directories.

To keep the Internet full of easy-to-find quality content, the publishers must take the responsibility for making it that way. Through experience and constant research, JAZ Design Company ( www. jazvt. com ) can help your business develop an easy-to-find and successful online presence.

Dog sports for every breed

Engaging in sports is not only for humans. It is also well-loved by our best friend, the dog. Dog sports do not only make a dog's life fun, but healthy, as well. Here is a list of dog sports that you may want your dog to get involved into depending on his breed, of course.


Agility


This is when a dog moves through an obstacle course, i. e., contact obstacles, tunnels, jump, etc., as guided by his or her handler. What controls the dog is only its handler's voice and body language. Without a leash, obedience training is the major requirement for a dog to enjoy this sport. Speed and accuracy are the names of this game.


Carting


Large breeds usually participate in this dog sport. It mainly involves the dog pulling a cart filled with supplies like firewood or other farm goods, sometimes even pulling people. It is also known as dry land mushing and sulky driving and is well-known and practiced all over the world.


Frisbee Dog


Commonly known as disc dog, frisbee dog competition is about a dog and a human disc thrower competing in events such as a choreographed freestyle catching and distance catching. The division of events on this kind of dog sport depends on the handler's skill and experience. What makes this one of the most popular dog sports is that any kind of dog can participate.


Flyball


This dog sport is a relay wherein teams of dogs race against each other leaving their handlers. These teams need to surmount four hurdles that are placed 3 meters apart from each other. Then, they have to reach a box that will release a tennis ball that needs to be caught when the dog presses the pad which is spring-loaded. Then, they have to go back to their respective handlers while carrying the ball.


Scootering


It is a sport where one or more dogs pull an unmotorized scooter in which a human is riding. It is similar to another dog sport done in the winter known as mushing, only dog scooter involves fewer dogs and instead of a dogsled used in mushing, a scooter is used. Like sled dogs, dogs that are doing scootering wear harnesses and are hooked to the scooter using a gangline.


Sheepdog Trial


Also known as "dog trial", this is one of the competitive dog sports in which breeds that are into herding move sheep around a field, gates, fences or enclosures as directed by their handlers. Think of "babe" the movie about a pig. This is more popular in UK, Canada, Ireland, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and other farming nations.


Your first quarter review are you awesome or average

One fourth of the year is over. How are you doing in meeting your goals? How are you doing compared to your budget? In my last article, I talked about how business systems aren’t just for big business. Guess what? Neither are goals and budgets.


Big businesses put tremendous effort into creating detailed budgets and detailed goals each year and checking their progress against them monthly and quarterly. Investors eagerly await the announcement of quarterly earnings and stock prices jump up or down based on the results. They go to all this expense and trouble for only one real reason. It works.


Big businesses very seldom wander from the tried and true. They set goals, budget and compare to their budgets frequently because successful businesses before them did it. I’m not saying that you have to have goals and a budget to be successful, but it sure does increase your chances of success. That’s also why you are reading this. To help increase your chances of success. So here’s your tip of the week.


If you don’t have goals and a budget, stop what you are doing and create them. If you do have goals and a budget, stop and take a look at them. Ask yourself the following questions:


How have you done so far this year?


Are you awesome or average?


What can you tell from your results?


What’s working and what’s not?


Where could you use some help?


What successes can you leverage?


Now is the time to start looking at what adjustments you need to make to continue your successes or cut your losses. It’s also a good time to revise your estimates for the rest of the year. Don’t stop at just revising the numbers. Now is the time to revise your action plan too. Where do you need to step up your action and where do you need to cut back? Again look at what’s working and what’s not. Don’t have an action plan? Now would be a good time to create one. Goals and business plans only get you so far. An action plan is what makes your goals and budgets work.


Does this all sound like a lot of work? I’m sure it does, but it is time and effort that will pay itself back tenfold. Knowing where you want to go and then comparing regularly is the only way to assure yourself you’ll get to where you want to be. Otherwise you might end up like Alice in Wonderland.


Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”


The Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to”.


Alice: “I don't much care where.”


The Cat: “Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.”


Wednesday, September 28, 2016

How to avoid double taxation of your small business profits

Have you been thinking about incorporating your small business or self-employment activity? The advantages are many!


For starters, you'll be protecting yourself and your family from the possibility of a business ending lawsuit. Forming a corporation is Step One on the path known as "Asset Protection" -- you are moving from the world of unlimited liability to the world of limited liability.


(NOTE: For further insight into the legal advantages of incorporating, check out the article: "It Can Happen To You: Why Any Sole Proprietorship Is A Risky Business" at http://www. YouSaveOnTaxes. com/happen-to-you. html)


From a tax standpoint, there are both advantages and disadvantages to incorporating. Yes, forming a corporation can either reduce your taxes or increase your taxes, depending on what type of corporation you create.


There are two main types of corporations: "C" Corporations and "S" Corporations -- and which type you choose can make all the difference in the world of taxes.


NOTE: The question of "C" Corp vs. "S" Corp has no effect on the asset protection provided by your corporation. This is a tax issue, not a legal issue.


A "C" Corporation can lead you into a Tax Trap known as "double taxation". Yes, income from a "C" Corporation can actually be taxed twice -- once when it's earned on the corporate level and again when it's paid to you, the shareholder, in dividends.


There are several ways to avoid double taxation. Often the easiest way is to tell the IRS that you choose to be an "S" Corp instead of a "C" Corp. The profits of an "S" Corp are not taxable to the corporation; instead, those profits are reported directly on the shareholder's personal income tax return and are therefore only taxed once.


And once is enough, don't you think!


Of course, any article on Choice of Entity must contain the old disclaimer, "Consult your tax professional" -- I am not prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach to this issue. But for many small biz owners and self-employed folks, the "S" Corporation is a good fit because it provides protection from personal liability and avoids the nasty tax trap of double taxation -- two great benefits worth checking into.


Should you incoporate your sole proprietorship and then decide that the "S" Corporation is the right fit, you must inform the IRS that your corporation is choosing "S" Corporation status by filing Form 2553, which is, in effect, an application to become an "S" Corporation.


IMPORTANT:


If you incorporate and do not file Form 2553, you are automatically considered to be a "C" Corporation by the IRS. In other words, to be a "C" Corporation, you just incorporate; there is nothing you have to do to inform the IRS you want to be a "C" Corporation.


There are critical rules regarding how and when to file Form 2553, so be sure to read the instructions carefully, or check with your tax pro.


Failure to file Form 2553 on time or filing Form 2553 incorrectly results in a rejection of your corporation's "S" Corp application, and the corporation is then by default treated as a "C" Corp, subject to double taxation, the very trap you were trying to avoid.


To download a copy of Form 2553, go to: http://www. irs. gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2553.pdf


The instructions for filing Form 2553 are found here: http://www. irs. gov/pub/irs-pdf/i2553.pdf


Discovering the hotels in downtown chicago illinois

"I give you Chicago," the journalist H. L Mencken had once written. "It is not London and Harvard. It is not Paris and buttermilk. It is American in every chitling and sparerib. It is alive from snout to tail."


Chicago is a city much romanticized in novels and movies. But who could blame writers and playwrights for paying homage to this great and bustling city? Chicago gushes with elan and vitality. One of the largest cities in the state of Illinois, Chicago is both a major business district and an important seat of culture.


Downtown Chicago


Downtown Chicago is the most hip and popular part of the city. The Loop area, in particular, is known for its very tall buildings. In the Loop tower massive skyscrapers like the Sears Tower, the Aon Center, and the John Hancock Center. Downtown Chicago is also the industrial area of the city, and there, major tourist attractions are found alongside offices and big financial institutions.


Because of the area's popularity, there are numerous luxury hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois. These hotels provide a slew of lodging choices to visitors from far and wide. The hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois are known for their opulent interiors and incomparable customer service. Almost all boast of lavish furnishings and world-class pampering. It is, thus, no wonder that living in any of the hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois is living in style. You will be made to feel like royalty during your stay.


High-end Hotels in Downtown Chicago


If you intend to stay in this part of the city, be sure to check out some of the major hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois. These include the Fairmont Hotel, Hotel 71, Amalfi Hotel, Allegro Hotel, Monaco Hotel, Renaissance Hotel, the Congress Plaza Hotel, and many others. On top of ensuring that your stay is as memorable and enjoyable as possible, these hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois offer a wide range of services that include dry cleaning, banquet facilities, 24-hour room service, medical assistance, and even secretarial and translation services.


Low-end Hotels in Downtown Chicago


If, on the other hand, you are staying in Chicago on a shoestring budget, there are also a number of hotels that offer room rooms at very affordable rates. In some of these hotels, you can book a room for as low as $44 a night.


A common misconception among travelers is that cheap hotel equates poor service and accommodations. Such is not the case. The low-budget hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois offer wonderful amenities and services. All have free parking facilities; valet, secretarial, and laundry services; televisions, hair dryers, telephones, and clock radios inside rooms; and continental breakfasts sure to please even the most discriminating of palates.


Budget-friendly hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois include The Seneca Hotel & Suites, where rooms go for as low as $54. The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers and The Hilton Garden Inn Addison also offer rooms for $60 and $62 respectively.


The price of a night's stay naturally varies according to a hotel's rating. Five-star hotels will always be more expensive than three-star or four-star ones. Bookings for any of the hotels in downtown Chicago, Illinois may be made online, through sites such as http://holiday4you. com. Be sure to read reviews from fellow travelers, so you will have an idea of what to expect.


Earn money with google

The Internet has drawn masses of people that have the same overwhelming desire to work at home or create a home-based business. Why is this so popular? One of the biggest reasons is the fact that you can earn real money with minimal up front expense. It really is mind boggling when you compare the traditional methods of creating income to Online Internet opportunities.


It's easy to see many searches whereby people are looking to earn money-utilizing Google and the Internet. After all it its the premier search engine. Say what you want, but they have become the leader in their market place. You see searches for phrases like Google online store, Google profits, how to make money with Google and many more.


Upon seeing those request I decided to take a look to see what types of opportunities are available. I wanted to get a feel for what these businesses entailed.


Here are a few examples of what you can expect to see in the programs that I found in this niche of the market place:


You get a Online website, instant web site setup, pages with many links to products & services of interest, marketing tools and step-by-step guidance on how to be successful. The overall picture is you are given many links on specific web pages whereby you are paid when people click on links from your site. Google offers many advertisements so it is easy to see how this could be a very profitable business. In fact I use them myself.


Every day people turn to the Internet to look for the products and services they need. When searching for these products it only makes sense that a majority of them would be using Google search engine. You can see where this would create a large amount of demand for web sites such as these.


You need no prior experience. You will not have the typical expenses of a brick and mortar business such as a storefront, inventory cost and employee's. It's all done online so you can have your own Google profit machine in no time at all. Why not put the power of the Internet to work for you?


The key is do your research as I found many companies to fit the bill, but you have to filter through the programs to find the one that fits your financial goals and skill sets. In my previous articles you will find that I always recommend that you either use a website like mine, but necessarily mine, that has researched the types of programs you are looking for. If you choose not to use a website then you will need to do the necessary research yourself. It can be done and you can be successful, but it takes a great deal of time.


It's easy to see that the opportunity to own you own online business is available if you want it. These types of program can be used to create some additional income or to create a more profitable home based business. The choice is yours.


If you are reading this article you more than likely have the necessary equipment to own an online business.


Finding and adding a cool profile layout

MySpace comes with the same basic profile layout on all of its free accounts. There is nothing striking about it, and be able to fail to express your individual personality. Custom and pre-made layouts are available in order to assist you in customizing the profile that best fits you. The next section will touch on locating and using the custom and pre-made layouts for your MySpace profile


Although newbie to Myspace will primarily begin with a basis profile design provided, usually members choose to modify their profiles by exploring one that suits their taste. A large number of websites offers customized design codes that extremely transform the appearance of your MySpace profile, customize it to better fit you!


Using your preferred search engine, you can produce a list of websites which offers a range selection of layouts. Enter the words “MySpace Layouts” on your search engine to seek. With that, it will produce a list of links to provide you potential sites that offer layouts of your choice.


The moment you decide which layout to use for your MySpace profile, that’s the point where you set the code in its proper place. Every layout normally has a code related to it, and you need to copy the code. Paste the code on your wordpad and minimize the window.


Now it's time to set the code into your MySpace profile. To do that, you need to be logged into your MySpace account. Once you’re in, you must see a link to click, in order to "Edit Profile”. The link can be found beside your picture at the top of the list. When you click this link, you will be set to add your new layout code.


You will notice a part that says "About Me" on the "Edit Profile" page of your MySpace account. Now you have to copy again the profile code from the wordpad where you saved it earlier. Paste the saved code into the top of your "About Me" part, before any text or graphics you may have previously place in this area. Click "Save All Changes", at the top the page, and it is all set. Once you view your profile, you will now see the new layout.