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<title>Latest Articles by anutt</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Adjusting the Picture on Customer Focus</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Customer_Service/adjusting-the-picture-on-customer-focus.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Customer_Service/adjusting-the-picture-on-customer-focus.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ At first glance, big picture thinking and customer focus would seem to be mutually exclusive terms. After all, the first phrase connotes a farsighted, panoramic view of business, while the second implies an intense, laser-beam-like concentration on the customer. Yet as revealed in Magnifying Customer Focus: A Study of Current Trends and Future Possibilities 2006-2016, a global study commissioned by American Management Association and conducted by The Human Resource Institute, the terms are not only compatible, they are inseparable.

The study finds that customer focus is a top strategic concern for many businesses today and is ranked as one of the most important needs concerning issues ranging from leadership challenges to ethical behavior and innovation. Yet it also reveals that there is a wide disparity between what activities companies practice when it comes to customer focus and what they should be practicing.

The study asked respondents to rank a variety of strategic actions in each of five areas environment/culture, communications, HR practices, measurement and organizational practices in terms of what their companies are doing now and then to rank those same actions in terms of what their companies should be doing. Here is a closer look at the results for each of the five areas.

In environment/culture, having the support of top management ranked number one in both the should-do and doing-it-now categories. On the surface this would appear to be a heartening result leadership is doing what it should be doing.

But that good news is undercut by the number two should-do action: having leaders set the example with customer-focused behaviors. This is only number four in the doing-it-now category, meaning that while leadership may nominally support customer focus, it is not necessarily supporting it with its actions. Perhaps that helps explain why including customers in our corporate value statements ranked number two in the doing-it-now category but only number six in the should-do category; mission statements are all well and good, but its action that counts.

In the communications area, Magnifying Customer Focus finds that companies are falling short of communicating the customer focus message internally. Respondents ranked the action of having an internal plan in place to communicate customer insights number four in the should-do category, but only number seven in the doing-it-now category, suggesting that many companies are missing this crucial component. Its important to note that this doesn't simply mean leadership handing down memos. It means employees at all levels of the organization must share their perspective and facilitate feedback from the customer so the company can get a true picture of the state of its customer service.

Companies are placing too much emphasis on market share as an indicator of customer satisfaction, according to respondents results in the area of measurement. Regularly measuring market share ranked third in the doing-it-now category, but eighth in the should-do category, strongly suggesting that respondents believe this particular metric is of little value when it comes to gauging customer satisfaction. Bain & Co.s Fred Reich held has gone even further in questioning the relevance of market share as a reliable measurement of customer satisfaction. Reichheld maintains that although companies may capture market share and generate considerable revenue from dissatisfied customers, it is actually more costly than profitable in the long run to do so.

When it comes to HR, expecting employees to anticipate customer needs ranked number one in the doing-it-now category and number three in the should-do category. It seems that while the respondents believe this strategic action is important enough to be included in the top three of actions that should be taken, it is not the overall most important action. That distinction belongs to providing customer-oriented employee training, an action that ranked number one in the should-do category and number three in the doing-it-now category, a surprising result considering the number of customer service training programs currently in place. The takeaway from this seems to be that while companies may think that they're addressing customer service training needs, they are in reality falling far short.

While the organizational practices area is a broadly defined subgroup with substantial overlap with the other four areas, it did produce some interesting results of its own. For example, responding to demands for customization and personalization ranked eighth in the doing-it-now category but ranked only twentieth in the should-do category. Customization and personalization have been hot topics lately, with many proclaiming them the next big thing, but clearly the survey respondents consider them overrated as a customer focus issue.

Conversely, the tactic of being customer-focused at all customer touch points, not just sales and customer service ranked fourth in the should-do category and twelfth in the doing-it-now category, revealing a large disparity between its perceived importance and the extent to which its executed.

That point an urgent reminder that customer focus needs to be instilled throughout the organization and not isolated in one or two departments serves well to sum up the entire survey. ]]></description>
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<title>Can a Steel Building be Used as a Dog Kennel?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Pets_and_Animals/can-a-steel-building-be-used-as-a-dog-kennel.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Pets_and_Animals/can-a-steel-building-be-used-as-a-dog-kennel.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you operate a dog kennel, you are probably wondering if you can utilize a steel building in order to expand the business. The truth is that you can. Many businesses that house dogs are using steel buildings to ensure that the dogs are in a warm and secure place. It is very important that the dogs are as comfortable as possible, which is crucial to the operation of the kennel. It is also important that the quarters stay clean so that the dogs stay healthy. 

By providing a healthy environment for the dogs, they will be less distraught that their owner has had to leave them there. Many owners must leave their dogs at kennels while they are on vacation or are traveling on business. As a result, dogs can become upset, but having a nice kennel will keep the dog's stress level to a minimum. 

As a kennel

When being used as a kennel, the steel building must be insulated. This is so that the dogs do not become too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Air conditioning, heat pumps, electricity, phone lines, and even plumbing can be installed. This is one reason why the steel building has become a very important structure to many businesses and even homeowners. They are durable, so they stand up to many different weather phenomenons. Once insulated, temperature control does not become an issue at all. 

What's most important is that the dogs are protected and they can be secured. Installing an alarm system is easy to do to ensure that no one will break in and steal or harm the dogs. Also important to dog safety is the cleanliness of the steel building. The ease of cleaning these structures is also a fantastic feature that really makes them sell. 

It doesn't matter if the cleaning has to be completed on the inside or the outside. When being used as a dog kennel, dogs may make a mess. Fortunately, there are no wooden floors or other type of flooring that is hard to clean. Concrete floors can be laid out to ensure easy cleaning. Even the walls can be easy to clean. They usually just need to be wiped or hosed down. As far as the exterior goes, a water hose can usually do the job and the steel building will look nice when the process is finished. As a matter of fact, a steel building can look just like new for the life of the building, which is a pretty long life. 

Space issues

Fortunately, the affordability of the steel building means that more buildings can be acquired if the space is needed. There are plenty of dog kennels that use multiple buildings on the premises or the kennel owners will combine several buildings together. This means that they will place them side-by-side, and create doorways that go from building-to-building. This is a method similar to what is used at craft fairs and county fairs. Multiple steel buildings are pushed together with doorways going from one to the other. By doing this with a dog kennel, all of the dogs can be attended to even easier. 

So now you know how convenient it is to use a steel building as a dog kennel. They are very useful and really take away the need to use any other type of structure. The idea is to keep the dogs safe, comfortable, and clean. It is also a plus that the cleaning is a lot easier on you, allowing you the time to take care of those other duties that really matter. ]]></description>
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<title>Using Search to Mitigate/Reduce Business Risks</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Internet_Marketing/Search_Engine_Marketing/using-search-to-mitigate-reduce-business-risks.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Internet_Marketing/Search_Engine_Marketing/using-search-to-mitigate-reduce-business-risks.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Talk to most people and ask why they engage in search and they'll answer ..."because it gets results". There's no question; search is a very important part of the marketing mix.

That said, many people and businesses do not necessarily understand all the inherent benefits of search. Consider for example, the ability of search to mitigate or reduce certain types of business risks. Accordingly, the remainder of this post will assess the numerous ways that search can help mitigate or reduce business risks. In particular:

      1. Marketing Channel Diversification: the more marketing channels bringing in positive ROI (return on investment) to a company, the better. If a company relies too heavily or just one or a few channels, that really is not a solid foundation for a successful business model (consider Porter's Model). The company's bargaining power is ultimately reduced.

      2. Economic Risk Diversification Often, economic conditions in one country or region are not the same as in other countries or regions. For companies marketing their wares/services in but one country/region, all their proverbial eggs are in one basket so to speak. Consider the possible fate of a company marketing its services only in a small mining town dominated by one employer, when the employer pulls the plug on the mine. Instead, the company could have anticipated this probability, and started promoting its services via search in other surrounding towns in advance of the closure.

      3. Regulatory and Compliance Risk Diversification Sometimes, political decisions can have catastrophic impacts on companies eg. the U.S.'s embargo against Cuban products. If you were a Cuban cigar distributor at the time of the introduction of the Helms-Burton Act, and the U.S. was your only market... you would have been in financial trouble. But now imagine, if you were already marketing Cuban cigars in 50 other countries around the world, which search makes infinitely easier. The impact would have been dramatically reduced.

      4. Reputation Management Risks Occasionally, negative press surfaces about companies, and while sometimes merited, other times its completely unjustified. Often, this type of press or negative mentions appear for your business name in the search results. When this occurs, or often even in advance of this possibility occurring, search can be used to reduce the probability that these results will ever be seen.

      5. Staffing Issue Risks In industries requiring specialized knowledge, it can be difficult to attract resumes from qualified individuals using standard approaches. All to often, you're drawing from a very limited pool of individuals, or from expensive headhunters. Obviously both methods dramatically increase the cost of hiring and paying qualified individuals. More and more however, attracting strong candidates occurs online, and search can play a big role. It can also help to keep the employment prospect funnel full at all times. 

In order to determine if search can help you mitigate business risks, I'd encourage most business to do an introspective analysis of such risks, identify what your risks are, the probability of each occurring, and then devise (simple) solutions to mitigate those risks both with and without search. ]]></description>
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<title>Are Registered Massage Sessions covered by OHIP?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/are-registered-massage-sessions-covered-by-ohip.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/are-registered-massage-sessions-covered-by-ohip.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ All different types of massage can be beneficial in helping with many different types of aches and ailments.  Sports massage, deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage can reduce back and neck pain, relieve stress and speed up the recovery process after surgeries and injuries, but without medical coverage the burden of cost can be too much for some patients to be able to afford.

Will I be Covered?

This is a common question because of the fact that massages can be so beneficial, but also so expensive.  Unfortunately, the short answer seems to be that most registered massage sessions will not be covered by OHIP.

There are potentially some cases where massage may be covered, but there are some very specific requirements that must be met in order for the patient to be eligible for coverage: factors like the age of the patient, the nature of the injury being treated and whether or not the clinic administering the massage is registered as a designated physiotherapy clinic.

What's the Difference between Physiotherapy and Massage?

A hundred years age there wasn't a great deal of difference between a physiotherapist and a licensed sports massage therapist - both provided an almost identical rehabilitant service, but today's licensed physiotherapist actually use very little, if any massage, techniques in their treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and ailments.

In the past, sessions with a licensed sports massage therapist would very likely have been covered in full, but with recent changes to coverage under OHIP, coverage only pertains to a limited number of sessions with a designated physiotherapy clinic under the guidelines of eligibility.

Who's Covered?

With the new rules of coverage in place, in most cases, any patient over the age of sixty five or under the age of nineteen that needs physiotherapy sessions will have coverage up to a predetermined number of sessions.  All residents of long term care facilities or nursing homes, regardless of age, who require physiotherapy will have coverage up to a pre determined amount of sessions in a calendar year; and anyone needing physiotherapy sessions in their home after having been hospitalized, regardless of age, will be covered up to a pre determined number of sessions.

Under these new rules, anyone not currently living in a long term care facility or anyone not having been recently hospitalized, between the ages of nineteen and sixty four, will not be covered for any massage or physiotherapy sessions, even if the physiotherapy clinic is on the designated list on the OHIP website.

Therapeutic, sports, hot stone and shiatsu massage can all bring with them a host of benefits to the recipient, unfortunately very few if any of these sessions are eligible for coverage by the government under the news policies of the OHIP.  Of course, residents are still more than welcome to participate in sessions by any licensed massage therapist, but in doing so they should be prepared to pay for the services out of their own pocket, without the hope of reimbursement from the government.

If you need to schedule a massage session for rehabilitation and are hoping that yours is one of the cases that will be eligible for coverage, make sure that your case meets the requirements above and also make sure that the clinic you are planning on visiting is on the designated list available on the OHIP website.

More detailed information regarding exact situations and types of services, answers to frequently asked questions regarding when and why the coverage was changed and the list of designated physiotherapy clinics that are part of the network can be found by visiting the OHIP website. ]]></description>
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<title>What Dental Services Fall Under Cosmetic Dentistry?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Beauty/what-dental-services-fall-under-cosmetic-dentistry.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Beauty/what-dental-services-fall-under-cosmetic-dentistry.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Cosmetic dentistry, although still very focused on all around oral care and well being, revolves around practices and procedures that have a pleasing appearance as the ultimate goal.

A cosmetic dentist can attack and usually repair all of the issues that make a patient feel uncomfortable about the current state of their smile.

Some of the normal procedures that would fall under the category of cosmetic dentistry are as follows:

Removing and Replacing Dark Metallic Fillings

Though some dentists today no longer use the metallic filler to repair cavities, there are thousands and thousands of people walking around with them and many of those people are a bit uncomfortable with the appearance of their teeth because of them.

There isn't anything necessarily wrong with the old style metallic fillings, in fact they serve the purpose of repairing a damaged tooth very well, they just happen to be a fairly unattractive way of repairing the problem.

A cosmetic dentist can easily remove the old, unsightly metallic filling and repair the cavity with a tooth colored bonding that will be un-noticeable even at a relatively close distance.  The problem will be fixed just the same as it were with the metallic filling, but it will be done in a way that will keep the patients smile as attractive as possible.

Straightening Crooked Teeth

Crooked teeth can, at times, be the cause of some discomfort to some patients, but even if there is no physical discomfort a crooked tooth will always detract from the smiles beauty.  Today's cosmetic dentists have more options available to repair this problem that just painful metal braces.

There are options available today like invisible, removable aligners that will rectify the problem of a crooked smile with no pain to the patient at all.  This incredible innovation is a huge positive for anyone who is looking to repair a potentially big dental issue, but who doesn't want to deal with the pain or the embarrassment of having it done with bulky metal braces.

Stains

Cigarette smokers, coffee drinkers and tea drinkers can all suffer from dark stains that make their smile unattractive.  A good cosmetic dentist can easily and painlessly eliminate this unsightly problem and most likely recommend a good over the counter product that will help keep it under control between regular dental visits.

Spaces between Teeth or Missing Teeth

Gaps between the teeth, whether they stem from an unaligned smile or from missing teeth can totally ruin an otherwise beautiful smile.  A qualified cosmetic dentist will be able to fill the small gaps seamlessly with invisible aligners or create a custom plate to fill the holes left by missing teeth to create a perfectly beautiful and natural smile.

For many people, a smile is a big part of the first impression.  Many people are too embarrassed or insecure about the problems that exist with their teeth and they become shy or withdrawn in social situations, for those people, cosmetic dentistry can solve many of the problems that they face on a daily basis in dealing with others.  A good cosmetic dentist can fix virtually all of the problems associated with general dentistry, but will do so in a fashion that helps perfect your smile at the same time.

Regardless of the issue that you have with your smile, a good cosmetic dentist will likely be able to fix it relatively quickly and painlessly.  If problems with your smile are holding you back in social situations, and you have the money to fix them, a cosmetic dentist could certainly be the answer to your problem. ]]></description>
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<title>Breast Augmentation - Saline Versus Silicone and Procedures</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Beauty/breast-augmentation-saline-versus-silicone-and-procedures.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Beauty/breast-augmentation-saline-versus-silicone-and-procedures.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Breast augmentation, a cosmetic surgery where a medical prosthesis is used to enlarge the breasts, is one of the more popular enhancements around.  Actresses, exotic dancers and even the everyday gal who wishes to create as sexier bustline can get this popular surgery done.

Of course, the procedure may set you back $5,000-$10,000 dollars; however, financing is available for those who desperately desire the cosmetic surgery.  Before you sign up to pay off a hefty loan for the next twenty years, you may wish to learn about the implants themselves and what revolutionary new procedures reduce scarring and downtime.

Breast Augmentation Consultation

A lot of the questions you may have about surgical breast enhancement will be answered by the initial doctor's visit.  Be sure to bring a list of questions you have along with you so you know what you are getting into.  A reluctance to discuss the surgery or the cost of the procedure is something of a red flag.  Reputable plastic surgeon wants their patients to feel entirely comfortable about their cosmetic surgery.

One for the many things you will discuss during the first office visit may be the type of implants used.  The two most common implants are silicone and saline and both have their drawbacks and advantages.

Saline Implants

Encased in a silicone rubber coating, saline implants consist of a salt water solution that is close to the natural water found in the human body.   There are pre filled implants and others that are adjustable so that the volume can be raised or lowered during and after the cosmetic surgery.

Advantages:  Because saline implants have a sterile salt water base, they fluid is easily absorbed into the body should the implant rupture.  There are far more surgical techniques that can be utilized with saline implants as well.

Drawbacks:  Saline implants tend to ripple and buckle beneath the skin and feel less real then silicone implants.

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants can either have a rough or smooth outer coating or have a fixed volume that cannot be altered.  Although they once were considered potentially harmful, the FDA has been able to prove that silicone implants do not cause serious tissue damage or medical conditions.

Advantages: Silicone implants look and feel more like breasts and are heartier than saline so they are less apt to rupture post cosmetic surgery.

Drawbacks:  Since silicone implants are not adjustable, there are only a few techniques that can be used to insert them.  This often means large incisions have to be made. Also, when silicone implants rupture, the gel is not absorbed by the body.

The doctor should have several implant samples in the office.  Ask to handle the implants you are considering and look into the various risks associated with both before making any firm decisions.
Breast augmentation techniques

There are several techniques that a plastic surgeon can use to put the implants in place but all largely fall under the realm of subglandular (under the breast gland) or submuscular (under the muscle).  The most popular cosmetic surgery option is to place the implant just under the pectoral muscle.  It creates longer lasting and more realistic results, but often requires general anesthesia and longer recovery time.

Several different types of incisions can be made to introduce the implants as well, however, the most contemporary cosmetic surgeries, even those that are introduced via the belly button, are complimented by saline implants due to their inflatable nature.

Just realize that any implant you obtain, whether saline or silicone, are not permanent and have to be replaced.  Some implant manufacturers even offer a replacement program.  

Before you decide on breast augmentation, learn all you can about this popular cosmetic surgery procedure. By doing this, you can all but guarantee stellar results! ]]></description>
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<title>5 Tips for Travel to Canada</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Travel/Destinations/5-tips-for-travel-to-canada.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Recreation_and_Leisure/Travel/Destinations/5-tips-for-travel-to-canada.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Canada can be a great vacation destination, with its beautiful vistas, wild animals, gorgeous winding roads, and cosmopolitan cities.  Even if you travel to Canada on a regular basis, the out this list of five travel tips for Canada. 

Tip #1:  Bring a Good Travel Guide to Canada

When you travel to any new place, it's important to carry a good travel guide.  Canada is no exception.  You can print out a travel guide on line, or you can purchase a well-know travel guide for Canada, such as Lonely Planet.   

A good travel guide will give you insight into where to stay, shop, eat, and drive.  Plus, it will give you lots of tips about things to do, great night life, and activities that are fun for the whole family.  Invest in a good travel guide for Canada, and you won't be sorry. 

Tip #2:  Think About the Climate

Before you pack for your travel to Canada, don't forget to consider the weather.  If you're going to the Maritime Provinces, remember that they tend to be a bit more humid than the provinces in the west.  In Halifax, Nova Scotia, you can expect weather that hovers around freezing in winter and is temperate in the summer.   

If you are traveling to Canada and staying the mountain areas, you can expect to see a lot of variation in temperature.  Layering clothing is helpful in these regions.  Conversely, the areas of Vancouver and Victoria are much more temperate and don't often see freezing temperatures. 

Tip # 3:  Plan for the Border Crossing

Travel to Canada has gotten a lot more complicated in recent years, as new restrictions on border entry have been imposed.  The documentation requirements for travel to Canada are in a constant state of change, so it's important to check into these requirements before you leave. 

For the most up-to-date information on travel to Canada from the US, go to the US Department of State Website. 

Tip #4:  Understand the Currency

One of the most important travel tips for Canada is the importance of understanding the currency before you go.  Canada uses the Canadian dollar, although many border locations will accept American dollars as well.  It's wise to carry traveler's checks in the Canadian dollar, since they are accepted almost everywhere. 

The best exchange rate for currency and traveler's checks is at the Canadian chartered banks.  There are also many ATMs in Canada. 

Tip #4:  Don't Forget About the Sales Tax

Like the US, the Canadian government has a sales tax for goods and services.  Don't forget about this tax when planning expenses when you travel to Canada.   

Sales tax rates depend on the province.  Current sales tax rates for the provinces are as follows: 

    * No sales tax in Alberta, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, or the Yukon
    * 5% sales tax in Saskatchewan
    * 7% sales tax in Manitoba and British Columbia
    * 7.5% sales tax in Quebec
    * 8% sales tax in Ontario
    * 10% sales tax on Prince Edward Island
    * 13% harmonized sales tax in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia

Tip #5:  Tips On Tipping

Another important tip about travel to Canada is to understand the way Canadians handle gratuities.  Tips are not usually included in restaurant bills.  Standard practice is to tip 12% to 15% for good service.   

For travel guides in Canada, as well as for tour bus drivers, an acceptable tip is $1 to $2 per day for each person. ]]></description>
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<title>Benefits of Using a Rewards Program When Shopping Online</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Shopping/Online-Shopping/benefits-of-using-a-rewards-program-when-shopping-online.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Culture_and_Society/Shopping/Online-Shopping/benefits-of-using-a-rewards-program-when-shopping-online.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Shopping online has many benefits. You save a lot of time and gas by skipping the drive to the mall and the search for a decent parking space. There are far more products available online than you would find in your local mall and this means you have a better selection. You can also save a huge amount of money, if you know what you're doing.

Why a Rewards Program?

You'll notice, when doing your shopping online, that there are two main types of websites where you can buy. The first is the retail site, which is owned by the company that sells the products. These are websites that are set up like a storefront. A retail website offers the products and sometimes has special offers that you can take advantage of, such as free shipping, etc.

The second type of online shopping site is a rewards site. This is where you can sign up to get special offers and to earn points and rewards for shopping online. The benefits are huge since you can actually earn a return on your regular shopping activities. In fact, it doesn't make much sense to shop directly on the retail site . . . not when you could be reaping the rewards of shopping from that same retailer, simply by going through a rewards site.

The benefit of this is that you get rewards for shopping and still get the special offers that are available on the actual retail site. So, if the main website is offering a 50% off sale, you can shop this via the rewards program and get not only the 50% off, but also earn points or get cash back! It's a win-win situation.
How a Rewards Program Works

The idea is quite simple, really. You need to sign up with a rewards program, first. Then, when you are going to do your shopping online, your purchases will go through that program. You don't lose any money this way, in fact, you'll actually be gaining!

Each rewards program is different. Most offer a points system where the points can be turned in for a prize or product or even cash. Others offer a straight rebate or cash-back offer. The bottom line, though, is that when you do your shopping online through a rewards program, you are going to be getting rewarded for doing something you would have done anyway . . . buy things online!
Earning money or incentives for simply doing the same shopping you would have done otherwise makes these types of programs quite popular. You can end up saving a lot of money, or even earning some of it back. If you shop online regularly, you can really end up with some great prizes or quite a bit of savings, depending on the

Sadly, many online shoppers don't realize the amazing benefits of rewards programs and ignore them, preferring to lose out and shop on the actual retail site directly. Big mistake. It's important in today's economy to squeeze as much value as possible out of every penny spent, both online and off. Rewards programs make this quite simple to do when shopping online and it's a good idea to take full advantage of this opportunity.

Online shopping can be a huge time saver, but it is also important to check out your options for saving while doing your online shopping. A rewards program makes this extremely easy and is a very simple option that can bring some great benefits. It's definitely worth checking out if you want to make the most of your online shopping experience. ]]></description>
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<title>Search - Controlling the Conversation</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Internet_Marketing/Search_Engine_Optimization/search-controlling-the-conversation.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Internet_Marketing/Search_Engine_Optimization/search-controlling-the-conversation.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In the past weeks we saw that Search can lead to Instant Answers, effectively reducing the amount of information we're exposed to.

The people involved in that behavior are key parts of our economy: Informers, Decision Makers, Students and Consumers. These key people at best expose themselves to a maximum of 30 entries per search. In general through they "see" none but the first 3 entries for any given search.

The Big Deal

This majority share of attention for a minority portion of information, combined with the illusion of relevance through ranking of results, constitutes their main impression of you, your company, your brand.

Here's What That Means

After a Google search showed that published psychotherapist Andrew Feldmar had used LSD in the late 1960's, he was rejected entry into the USA and is no longer welcome in that country.

Says a USA Customs and Border Protection agency spokesman; "If you are or have been a drug user that's one of the many things that can make you inadmissible to the United States."

One: are you sure about that early afternoon Vodka tweet you just published?
Two: how difficult is it to rank you as a drugs pushing kingpin?

In 2007 a man who had been missing for years mysteriously reappeared, having no recollection of what had happened.

While police and other investigators were still flabbergasted a single mother typed "John Anne Panama" into Google. The first image that came up is the one that solved the case and got John Darwin behind bars.

One: which photos of you are out there on the net? Do they support your story (whether the story is private or corporate branding is irrelevant).
Two: which of those photos could be made to harm you?

If you're one of the world's largest technology companies and people search for the scanning software you bundle, what are they to think when out of the first 5 results only one is positive? (Compare with K Mart, Tim Hortons and Purina who do better job of trying to control the conversation; top award goes to Nescafe which apparently has never ever done anything else but make great products, support faraway places and in general, page after page, has been nothing but a swell company...)

Here's What It Could Mean

The "3 first results" view we have on search is the Internet's equivalent of the 10 second sound bite. Right now Obama's and McCain's results are quite clean, partly, I believe, because these searches are monitored for quality. Certain crap spam won't make it into these results until the election is well behind us.

But highlighting certain things from the past by making them come up through certain searches; this, I predict, will become common place. Offensive SEO, so to say, will become common place. It will be sneaky and hard to trace as you can't monitor nor investigate every single search. Matching good or damning "3 first results" to key and fringe searches will become as common place as buying AdWords for those searches is right now. Only AdWords is easily traceable, this isn't.

The key here is that you don't need to own the "conversation", you don't need to have every single blog post under control. You need to control the top 3 entries. The task to build or destroy, improve or damage, might be much easier, much simpler, than we thought. ]]></description>
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<title>Link Building 101: The Power of Directories</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Internet_Marketing/Search_Engine_Optimization/link-building-101-the-power-of-directories.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Internet_Marketing/Search_Engine_Optimization/link-building-101-the-power-of-directories.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Directory submissions are still one of the most powerful and safest link building strategies in existence. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find quality directories to submit too as many directories continue to get penalized by Google as I outlined in my last post, the History of Paid Directories.

As a result, the goal of this three-part series is to focus on the power of directories for SEO, and more importantly, to teach any SEO enthusiast how to find quality directories (both paid and free) going forward. Here's what you can expect from this three part series:

Post #1: As promised, this post will cover 3 major resources where you can find high quality directories.

Post #2: The second post will focus on link appraisal and analysis, and will provide a checklist of the top 7 most important criteria to look for when evaluating the power of specific directories.

Post #3: The last post will examine the 3 most important downfalls to avoid when making directory submissions and will also provide a short-list of the top directories to submit too.

OK. Let's get down to the goods already. Below are the 3 major resources to use in order to find quality directories. I've also included some best practices and strategies that should be implemented in order to make the most out of these valuable resources.

   1. Directory Critic
   2. Digital Point Forums
   3. DMOZ

Directory Critic is an excellent resource for SEO, and focuses on providing comprehensive lists of directories that are sortable according to a variety of criteria, including PR, type of directory (paid and/or free) and also an overall points rating. There's also a myriad of advertisers and other services on the site as well for webmasters and directory owners to take advantage of. Notice how most of the banners have outdated PR!?! Thought so (sigh) such is the life of a directory.

The directory lists are broken down into new directories, general directories (paid, free, reciprocal, deep links and article) and niche directories. The majority of the new directories are start-ups, so it's best to spend your time focusing in on the general and niche directory lists (ones linked above already sorted by PR). These lists are massive: Directory Critic currently has 3,085 free directories and 3,912 paid directories in its database!

It's best to sort these lists by PR and start submitting from the top and work your way down. Most of these directories don't generate much traffic, and even if they did, the purpose of submitting to a directory is not for traffic, it's usually solely for SEO and to improve your rankings in the SERP's.

Therefore, focus your efforts on securing links from the high PR directories, but don't forget about some of the high quality niche directory lists. These niche lists cover the major topics (health, SEO, sports, shopping, adult, blogging, travel, etc.) as well as geographic regions (Australia, UK, Canada, US) so you should find at least a couple that apply to your niche.

Digital Point Forums is the largest webmasters forum and is an absolutely essential resource for everything related to SEO and internet marketing. Digital Point (DP) literally has sections on everything related to internet and search marketing. When it comes down to finding directories, there are two major categories where you can find a wide range of information and services related to directory submissions.

In the directories category, there is a wide range of thread topics, with the majority focusing on:

    * Directory owners announcing their directories are open for submissions.
    * DP users offering a list of directories (usually free, but sometimes they ask for $).
    * DP users looking for help and advice on which directories to submit too.

Within this category there is also the solicitations sub-section, where you can find the majority of specific offers regarding directory owners announcing their free directories. There's also the occasional paid directory owner offering free submissions to their high PR directory for a limited time.

In the services category, you can find threads where:

    * DP Users are offering bulk manual submissions to free directories for a small fee (e.g. submit to 100 PR 5+ directories for just $10)
    * Directory owners offering directory submissions on their network of directories.

These offers are constantly popping up on the services section, but you need to keep in mind that the quality of these free directory submitters is pretty skeptical in most cases. Just because they are submitting doesn't guarantee approvals. So you need to either find someone who can guarantee a high acceptance rate, or only pay per approval. Either way, these categories provide plenty of opportunities to outsource bulk submission work and to find a lot of free, high quality directories to submit too.

DMOZ is still the king of kings when it comes to directories whether you like it or not. So you might as well accept it, and better yet, realize that you can take advantage of DMOZ using the DMOZ deep mining technique. Got to tip my hat to Debra Mastaler on this one, as once upon a time I also failed to realize the power of this directory as a resource until she showed me the way at SES Toronto just a few months back.

Using the DMOZ deep mining technique, you can find plenty of highly relevant, niche-focused directories to submit too by drilling down through specific categories, or by drilling down by region. It's best to illustrate with a couple of examples:

E.g. #1 How to find niche specific directories

    * Simply select the category which your niche falls under
    * Drill down to your specific niche (e.g. travel, gardening, dentistry, etc.)
    * Select the directories category, or occasionally the guides and directories category

E.g. #2 How to find regional business directories

    * Select the regional category
    * Select which region you want and then drill down by country and even city
    * Then select the business directories category

This strategy may seem very simple, because it is! But, just because it's simple doesn't mean it's not powerful. Keep in mind that these are all DMOZ listed directories, so they must have at least some quality. Either way, it's one of the fastest ways to find highly specific niche directories by both category and region.

By utilizing these strategies in unison, you can really cover a wide range of both general and niche specific directories. Whether you focus on the paid or free directories really depends on your time and budget. But before you run off and start submitting your site to every directory you can find, you need to be able to evaluate the power of specific directories. Only then will you know whether it's worth the money, or in some cases time, to submit to these directories. ]]></description>
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