Archive for April, 2009

Online Article Content from Answer Questions in Emails

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

As an online article writer and getting to be a pretty good typist of all things I often find my email conversations getting rather lengthy in nature. These lengthy conversations indeed cover a wide range of topics and seem to be worthy content for article writing; with a little touching up and flushing out that is. Have you considered using your email conversations for online article content? Recently I turned an email conversation into a few articles, as it was over 3-pages long and the funniest thing happened, the person who I was conversing with thanked me for doing so and thus I replied;

“No worries I convert all incoming questions to articles if I believe there is any chance that the discussion could benefit someone else who is surfing around the Internet for a specific topic. You know, it is not important for you to agree with my views, although that is interesting to know. What is important in your case and to all parents who have Autistic or neurotypical children and to the general public who does not quite understand it all; that we make them think about it. We are all one, all in this together; it makes sense to do that really.”

The articles were about Autism and the email was about his autistic son, who is quite a great person indeed. And in using this email we were able to raise awareness for the cause of Autism and thus help more people you see? Now let me tell you another little something.

This article about using emails to write articles contains the above quote, which was in fact my reply to him for thanking me for converting our conversation into articles to raise the awareness you see? So, that is one email conversation and this makes the fourth article. You can do this too and if will be of value to others, so consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow - EzineArticles Expert Author

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Divorce – A Painful and Protracted Process

Monday, April 27th, 2009

You are having a turbulent marriage life and wanted to end it. Divorce is the solution. Divorce is the word used to describe the legal dissolution of a marriage. The party who files the petition is called plaintiff. The petition for divorce is submitted with the country’s clerk office. The friend of the court receives copies of the petition to facilitate development of local policies and procedures. The defendant or the other party may dispute some of the claims by plaintiff and the case is then contested in the court of law.

The consultancy of an attorney before breaking your plans to your spouse will be a wise option. By doing so you will have a complete set of legally protected steps to follow making your position stronger and safer. You need to speak every minute detail with your attorney whether it is the matter of child custody or an issue regarding your rented accommodation. An initial consultation will allow you to ask questions, and an attorney can offer advice specific to your situation. It will help you to plan your moves strategically as well.

The attorney may also get a temporary order to maintain the similar status in relationship during the proceeding tenure of divorce. Child support and parenting time may be included in these orders.

The final judgment of divorce must include:

•Responsibilities and rights regarding the care, control and maintenance of minor children (Child custody)

•Parenting time, i.e. will the child have contact with other party

•Property Settlement, i.e. how shall the acquired property be divided

•Financial obligation of other party towards the child

•What contribution, if any, should one party make to support the other, either permanently or temporarily? (Spousal support)

•Restoration of maiden name: can wife take back her maiden name

•Will the minor children be taken away from the present state by the custodian?

•Will the grandparents be allowed to meet the children?

•How will the tax laws be considered in deciding support and property matters? Will the parties consider college expenses?

In case of involvement of minor children, the court has to wait for six months following the time of submission of divorce petition. The friend of the court may intervene during this period, and sometime the parties may reconcile.

After the completion of six months the case is scheduled for hearing before the Judge. In many cases, the matters are resolved and the court simply takes the testimony of one of the parties and grants the divorce. The divorce papers are called judgment of divorce. The judgment is prepared by attorney and is presented to the judge for his signature.

Important Tips for the People Seeking Divorce

•Seek consultancy of an attorney before breaking the news to your spouse

•Collect all critical information regarding the spouse income and assets so you can calculate a reasonable figure for spousal and/or child support in the divorce settlement

•Assess your own earnings potential, learn about your family’s financial holdings, assess the debt, and make photocopies of all the relevant records

•Determine where you are going to live following the separation and figure out all expenses

•Save up money, build up your own credit and cancel charge cards, if any

•Take property that belongs to you and move it out of the house, and don’t make any unnecessary purchases

•Pick the right time to break the news to your spouse and children

Anurag Tyagi is a contributor with many legal websites running with Legal Services for Less

Flameless Candles Candles Everywhere, All Time

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

With spring in the air and winter soon fading now is the time to store out the sweaters or possibly take out one’s flip flops! It is furthermore the thing to overhaul or possibly rejuvenate even if it be your self & a condo. Sweet-smelling candles are also a considerable approach to usher when we move to a regenerated season. It is time to come to put out those nutty or perhaps pine Sweet-smelling 1 and accept its scents of the season. Flowery or fruity bouquets can be found what you yourself can often smell at the moment. Along with both zephyr coming through the house, the perfumed candle fragrance might glide throughout the condo. They are likewise profoundly appealing when the person is meeting people in & around the warmer times. Once your bash is beginning to move outdoor, adding pool Scented Candles to some adornment is explicit fire tactic to tag additional atmosphere. swimming Scented Candles come in so loads of patterns & measurements then again my favorite are also the floral figured ones. Putting a few bigger pieces within a swimming pool or perhaps pond bring back memories of cotillions & cheerful gatherings of seasons gone by. Votive candles will every now and then be useful in the slot of floating candles. Make certain to use the votivo candle from of their hardware jar so that it will hover correctly. To discuss candle have a look at this site.

With the summer time allowing us to entertain open-air and reside open-air candle care could change. Of course swimming candles employed outside is unbelievable but what happens when there is a whiff & greater yet what happens when there is an enormous whiff? The 1 blow out & out and out. It might often get wonderfully annoying, consequently for those windy garden nights candle holders are optimal. candles holder appear in legions of shapes and measurements just even like each and every other candle. Me personally appreciate the ones that have a little lucent patterns as those give off particular luminosity. The candles holder are creating an enclosure for the candles safekeeping them afire and cheerful. One comment of counsel though, when getting candles holders for utilization in the outside, make certain that there are no cutouts, otherwise you yourself are back to square one with one’s Scented Candles going away faster than Bday 1 on a 5 year olds b-day bash! Those will often work in the inside or hush nights yet not if those is a little gust. Some other alternative on all these nights is to use electronic candles.

Put Your Writing On A Diet: Strategies For Leaner Communication

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

It’s no coincidence that edit and diet are spelled with the same letters. Success in either case requires cutting some things and keeping others.

Here are some professional editing tips to help you keep your writing lean and your readers interested.

Eliminate Unnecessary Words

The most important thing to remember when editing is that every word leads the reader. Since people generally want the most direct route, cut every word or sentence that wanders, meanders or leads to a dead end.

Consider this weighty sentence:

I’ve noticed that one project that I and many other people undertake during the winter months is rededicating themselves to an exercise program for such reasons as to get in shape, improve their health and have a good time.

A bit of editing trims the fatty passage to:
Many people rediscover exercise as a way to get fit and have fun during the winter.

I’ve retained the key message, but eliminated extra words that make the original sentence feel like a workout.

If you’re not sure which are the unnecessary words, look for “I” statements – I’ve noticed, I and many others, etc. These can often be eliminated without losing the meaning of the sentence.

Cut words that are repetitive or that state something obvious. Winter months becomes winter; exercise program becomes exercise.

Be aware of calorie-dense language. Phrases like in spite of the fact and because of the fact make your writing feel heavy. Substitute although and because to keep your writing lively and your reader engaged.

Use An Active Voice
Active voice means beginning a sentence with the subject rather than the verb; identify the person first, then the action. Instead of saying that a meeting was held or an award was received, say we held a meeting or we received an award.

Active voice is important because our brains automatically create mental images of the words we read or hear. (Don’t think of an orange elephant. See what I mean?) It’s easier for readers to follow what was done if they know first, who did it.

Which of these statements do you prefer?
A resume writing workshop was conducted by our training department.
Our training department conducted a resume writing workshop.

A presentation on motivating employees was given by Chris.
Chris gave a presentation on motivating employees.

I’ll wager my orange elephant that you chose the second sentence in each pair. The power of the active voice.

Use Positive Statements

Positive wording prevents confusion. This is especially important if you are trying to make a specific impression or compel your reader to take action. If I write use positive statements, you know exactly what I want you to do. If I write don’t use negative statements, I’ve told you what not to do, but I haven’t told you what to do instead.

Don’t send press releases to this department leaves me wondering where to send them. Send all press releases to the news department tells me where to send and where not to send my press releases.

I’m not suggesting that all written communication should express a positive sentiment. The sentence that you just read is a negative sentence. What I am suggesting is that you substitute positive wording whenever possible.

Although editing and dieting are alike in some ways, editing is actually much easier than dieting. Dieting requires careful attention to calories, portions, hunger, habits and lifestyle. Editing requires careful attention to only one thing. Your reader.

Sally Bacchetta - EzineArticles Expert Author

Sally Bacchetta is an award-winning sales trainer and freelance writer. She has published articles on a variety of topics, including selling skills, motivation, pharmaceutical sales, parenting and RFID.

You can contact her at sb14580@yahoo.com and read her latest Onwords column on her website.

Graduation Diplomas For All

Friday, April 24th, 2009


Graduation Gown


Graduation gowns are part of the traditional regalia that have been worn since the 14th century during graduation ceremonies. A graduation gown resembles a clerical robe. Traditionally, the gowns were made of black material that is long and gathered into a yoke. The graduation gowns have long sleeves that could be designed according to the faculty within which the grandaunts are graduating. The color of the gown is also determined by the courses that the students were undertaking. The gowns are worn alongside a graduation cap as well a graduation cords. The graduation gown is worn during the graduation ceremony to signify the academic status one has achieved on successfully completing their studies.
The graduation gowns are obtained from service providers who specialize in making graduation regalia. One should purchase their graduation gown from service providers who offer reasonable prices to make them as well as quick delivery so that the gowns are received in time for the graduation ceremony. In addition, they should offer gowns that are made from quality material so that they are long lasting. A grandaunt can also opt to hire the gowns so that they cut the costs involved in buying the graduation regalia. In addition, they can purchase or hire the gowns online. In this case therefore, they should ensure that they supply the providers with all the relevant details to avoid last minute frustrations.
GraduationSource, a leader in graduation regalia products since 1960.

Mentoring: A Partnership for Success

Friday, April 24th, 2009

A mentoring relationship produces numerous benefits for both the mentor and protégé. Mentors have reported an enhanced self-esteem and a revitalized interest in work, finding it flattering that someone is seeking their advice. Protégés experience an increased likelihood of success with higher performance and productivity ratings. Other benefits include greater career satisfaction, an expanded professional network, and an opportunity to hear of job openings before they’ve been advertised.

Company wide Benefit

Companies are finding that establishing a mentoring program is an inexpensive way to achieve several organizational goals. Typically, a senior person from another department oversees the development and progress of a junior person. Improved management and staff relationships, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and improved recruitment efforts are just a few of the reported benefits of an internal mentoring program. Research indicates that the number of businesses planning the development of mentoring programs doubled between 1995 and 1996.

Internet Mentoring

Internet mentoring has been growing in popularity over the past few years. NursingNet, an online mentoring program, pairs experienced nurses with students, new grads, or nurses changing specialties. Mentors and protégés correspond via email, never meeting face-to-face.

Maintaining a mentoring relationship requires a commitment on behalf of the mentor and the protégé. As a protégé, your responsibility is to share goals with your mentor and to provide updates on your progress. Be sure to respect your mentor’s time by being punctual and keeping your meetings within the scheduled time. The mentor’s responsibility is to set clear boundaries for both parties.

Identifying Mentors

To identify potential mentors, talk to people within your immediate network. Consider talking to your supervisor, human resource manager, co-workers, family, and friends. Outside of your immediate network, look at past supervisors and co-workers, parents of your children’s friends, and service providers including your doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc. Be prepared to ask questions to determine if there is a good match. Your goal is to find an expert in your field. You want someone who is willing to help you plan your advancement strategy.

Typical developmental tasks of a protégé include: time management, stress management, prioritizing, teamwork, and communication skills. Your mentor is someone who has been there, done that. He or she is experienced in working through some of these tasks and can help you over the hurdles.

Length of Relationship

The length of time a mentoring relationship lasts varies from one partnership to another. Six months to one year is a good time frame, allowing enough time to achieve some goals. Good mentors have limited time to share with one protégé. After a year, they may need to move on to another partnership. It’s also good for the protégé to get a new perspective from another mentor. Eventually you may want to become a mentor, sharing your skills and knowledge.

Joan Runnheim - EzineArticles Expert Author

In 1998, Joan Runnheim, M.S., formed Pathways Career Success Strategies. Joan applies nearly ten years of career consulting, job search training, and curriculum development to her practice. She draws from additional lifework experience as a freelance writer and from first-hand familiarity with career transition, lay-offs, and the job search. As a career consultant, workshop facilitator, speaker, and writer, Joan helps men and women develop an effective career development plan or job search strategy.

As a career advisor for Monster.com, Joan has been able to reach out to millions of people with her career-related articles and advice. As a freelance writer, she has written numerous articles, with a focus on career-related issues. Joan has been sought out as an expert in her field, being quoted in local and national print and online publications. She publishes the bi-monthly newsletter, Strategies for Career Success, filled with tips on how to successfully manage your career.

Top Wedding Fitness Questions (and their answers)

Friday, April 24th, 2009

As a Personal Trainer for brides-to-be, I often get asked the same wedding fitness questions over and over again. Brides (and grooms) usually are looking for simple and easy ways to get in better shape for their special day.

While there aren’t any quick-fix overnight shape-up plans, armed with the right knowledge and techniques anyone can improve their appearance in time for their wedding day. Here are the most common questions along with answers to help you get more fit in time for your nuptials.

My wedding is next month, how can I drop 20 pounds? Bottom line – you really can’t. This answer doesn’t get a lot of cheers, but it’s the realistic truth. In a month’s time the most you typically can expect to lose is about 8 pounds. If you try unhealthy, starvation-type diets you might be able to lose more than that. But, the truth is that those extra pounds probably won’t make you look a whole lot better. That’s because if you lose that much weight in such a short period of time then you just lose water and muscle weight primarily – not fat! You’d be better off losing the 8 pounds in a healthy way that includes increasing muscle mass and decreasing fat. This type of weight loss will actually improve your appearance. Plus, with the drastic 20-pound loss, you are putting yourself at risk for illness not to mention making yourself look sickly for your precious wedding photographs.

With all the wedding planning, I don’t have a single minute to workout. What can I do? While wedding planning can make anyone’s life a little crazy, it’s important not to lose sight of the importance of regular exercise. Decreasing your usual weekly fitness regimen is fine, but don’t completely forgo it. Try to fit in even just 20 minutes three times per week. And, don’t feel limited to traditional workouts. You can incorporate your wedding planning and workouts together. For example, enroll your fiancé and yourself in weekly dance lessons. You’ll wow your reception guests with your dance steps plus benefit from the exercise you get during each lesson.

How can I get my upper body more defined looking for my wedding day? You can’t spot reduce. So, if you have a lot of fat in that area, you will first need to reduce it. In basic terms, this is done by burning more calories than you consume. So, you need to participate in a healthy fitness program that includes cardio, strength training, flexibility and good nutrition. Once you have decreased the fat, then you can concentrate on strengthening the muscle groups in your upper body. You can do this with dumbbells, resistance bands or weight machines. Choose 1-2 exercises for each major muscle group and perform 8-12 reps and repeat with 1-2 sets. With a good, targeted strength program you could even see results within four weeks.

I really want to get in-shape for my wedding, but I just don’t have any willpower. How can I make myself exercise? Find a program or a workout-buddy that will help provide you with motivation, encouragement and accountability. Your fiancé is a great first choice. But, you could also enlist the help of a member of the bridal party or your mother. Another great option is working with a fitness professional. The fitness pro can create an individual program for you or one designed for you and your workout-buddy. Plus, being accountable to a stranger can be much more motivating. After all, your buddy may fear offending you when remarking about a missed workout session.

Our honeymoon is at a beach. How can I get firmer abs and butt for my swimsuit? As mentioned above, you can’t spot reduce and you need to take a comprehensive approach to shaping-up. With that said, be sure to include exercises that strengthen and tone those particular areas. For a very challenging abdominal workout, try exercises with a stability ball. There are also many great leg/butt exercises that you can do with the ball. But, plain-old squats and lunges are also effective.

For a comprehensive customized bridal workout program, visit http://www.workoutsforyou.com

About The Author

Lynn Bode, author and certified personal trainer, offers brides and grooms an affordable and convenient way to get fit through her website, WorkoutsForYou.com. WorkoutsForYou can help you get the body you’ve always dreamed of in time for your wedding day. Visit http://www.workoutsforyou.com/wtw_wedding_fitness.asp for more information and a sample workout plan.

info@workoutsforyou.com

Exchange Rates Glossary of Terms

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Some green traders become confused when the situation gets right to the heart of exchange rate industry jargon, though the insider jargon remarkably is quite elementary. Consequently regardless of whether you are a sole trader or a big business seeking to change foreign money; below are a scattering of easy and elementary definitions which may with any luck extinguish nearly all of the mistiness and make the often misunderstood process of earning extra financial income by trading foreign money a fraction easier.

Beginning with the most painless of explanations an exchange rate is the specific price at which one nations currency will be converted to another’s. So for example the exchange rate would be the quantity of Colombia Pesos you are entitled to acquire for each particular Mozambique Meticai.

Fixed exchange rates are of course known by the term ‘pegged exchange rates’; pegged exchange rates are put to use to stabilize the value of a countries currency; especially during times when that particular currency is fluctuating in value a lot; this helps to assist business & investment.

Floating exchange rate – this is when a national currencies exchange rate is dictated via market forces. This is a more risky way to conduct business but nevertheless this is the situation where you might often enjoy the opportunity to earn a tidy profit, Want to find out where you can do money exchanges? This site has some handy information.

You should of course overhear talk of animals in currency; a bull is someone who predicts that market prices will go upwards and a bear is an individual that believes market values will go down. A bull market is a market where prices are at present going upwards and a bear market is the opposite – a market where prices are actually going downwards

A currency broker is someone who acts as an intermediary man in-between you and the market – currency brokers are actually many times in a position to really obtain you the very best price during times when you are looking to buy or conceivably sell.

The dollar rate is the value that one unit of any currency has when pitted against one measure of the American Dollar; this is a very useful indicator for a currencies value.

This is obviously by no means an extensive selection of terms – merely a good starting point; but with a little more research you might be noticeably on your way to now becoming a financial expert in no time at all.

Using Quotes to Give a Creative Twist to Your Writing

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

As any good journalist will tell you, it’s best to let your sources tell the story. That’s true of fiction or news writing, and it’s done with quotes.

For one thing, the use of quotes varies the voice of the story. What do I mean by voice? Every writer has a voice, a certain tone to his or her writing. That’s a good thing. Every writer’s voice is different, so it gives variety to the world of literature. At the same time, big chunks of narrative in the writer’s voice can bog down your writinglike having the same speaker drone on for too long. Almost all writers (including me) are in love with their own voices, but it can get very boring for the reader. That’s why it’s a good idea to break it up by letting someone else do the talking. As I already said, that’s done with quotes.

Nonfiction Writing
Let’s start with journalistic writing. Why? In my opinion, it’s easiest to add quotes to news or feature writing. You’ve interviewed a variety of sources (at least, I hope you have, otherwise you need a different article). Now all you have to do is pick the quotes that best tell your story. While that can seem daunting when you have a long interview, you’ll soon find it’s easy to separate the useful quotes from trashthe wheat from the chaff, as it were.

As you get more experienced with news writing, you’ll learn to weave quotes into your story or, even better, make them the foundation on which you build your story. If you’re not at that point yet, a good rule of thumb is to place a relevant quote every few paragraphs.

Voice aside, the biggest plus to adding quotes in nonfiction is that it lends authority to your writing, especially if your sources are credible experts in their fields. Finally, using quotes in nonfiction lends a special human touch to writing that, if the writer isn’t careful, can become too much about facts and figures.

Fiction Writing
It’s a little more difficult to add quotes to fiction. That’s not because it’s hard to make up things for your characters to say. It can be refreshing to be able to make people say whatever you want them to say. However, it is a challenge to make sure those quotes aren’t also in your own voice. If every character sounds the same, it makes your situation worse, not better.

On the other hand, if your characters are too overdone, the dialogue can become laughable. I’m sure you can think of an example from your own readingan Irishman with a brogue so stilted and behavior so stereotypical that the Irish wouldn’t have him, for instance. Anyway, you can see how tricky quotes in fiction can be. Still, if you achieve the right balance, it takes you work to the next level, making it worth every bit of the effort you put into it.

If you’re still shaky about using quotes in your writing, try this:

Write a scene, any scene, in straight narrative. That is, write it only from your narrator’s point of view. Then, go back and write the same scene, but this time describe the same scene using only dialogue. Tough? Probably. But it will help you refine your use of quotes so you’re comfortable using this powerful writing tool.

A Bonus Secret
Finally, I’ll tell you a secret…readers love white space. How is that relevant to quotes? No matter what genre, quotes generally add white space to the page. Pull almost any book off the shelf and look at a page of dialogue. Then compare it to a page of straight narrative. Doesn’t it look like less work to read? Readers think the same way. White space makes them think they can get through a page quickly, so they’re more likely to keep readingand that’s good for you!

Andrea’s writing background includes features, editorials, reviews, profiles, poetry and fiction. She was the winner of the MOTA short story contest in 2002 and received honorable mentions for fiction from Writer’s Journal magazine in 2002 and 2004. Check out her blog at http://creativewithwriting.blogspot.com.

How To Write A Mini-Course

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

Do you use mini-courses in your online marketing? If not then maybe you should! Mini-courses are an important part of Internet marketing. A mini-course is a tool that enables you to provide valuable content to your subscribers and promote your own or affiliate products at the same time.

A mini-course is fr*ee information on a specific topic. It is normally distributed as multiple articles in e-mail format over a defined period of time. The mini-course also goes by the name eCourse, free report or autoresponder course.

Before attempting to write your mini-course, identify a “niche market” that has a unique need for information. A niche market is a small segment of the total general market. It is a group of individuals with a common interest that have specific wants and needs. Individuals in a niche market may also have a common problem that needs a solution.

Creating a mini-course is similar to creating an ebook but on a smaller scale. You need to select a “killer” topic that is of interest to your niche market and satisfies a want or need or solves a problem.

There is an unlimited amount of information that can be used in a mini-course. The key is to know what information to use. What information do most people want? Individuals look for informational products that satisfy their most important wants or needs. This includes information on: how to do something, money, time, work, health, self-improvement, entertainment, hobbies and sex.

How can you find your killer topic?

  • Listen to your customers. Look for problems they are experiencing when they communicate with you.

  • Conduct a survey of your customers and the visitors to your website and ask for comments.

  • Join niche discussion boards and chat rooms. What items are discussed on a repeating basis?

  • Subscribe to article announcement lists in your niche and identify the key topics being published.

Next, look for common issues or problems in the information you have collected. Can you solve any of them? If not, locate an expert that can help you.

Identify creative and useful solutions to the issues or problems. Develop an outline to be used as a guide in writing your mini-course. Perform the necessary research to obtain the information you need for the mini-course. Present your information in a manner that satisfies the wants and needs or solves the common problem of your niche market.

You need to have a killer title to grab the interest of your visitors. Select a title that compels your visitor to want to see your report. You want your visitor to request the report, download it, read it and purchase your product offerings.

All of your work in creating the mini-course is of no use if nobody reads it. You want a title that reaches out and pulls the individual into downloading your course. Instead of using a title like “My Report on Golf ” use something like “How to Take Strokes Off Your Golf Game.” Which title is more likely to grab the interest of the high handicap golfer?

Once you have the attention of your audience you want to be able to keep them. The opening paragraph must excite your reader and make them want to know more. Use an opening sentence that pulls them into your report like “Everything you ever wanted to know about improving your golf game and more!” Your opening paragraph also needs to define the main objective that will be presented in your mini-course.

The course content is the most critical part of your mini-course. Make certain your information is presented in an organized and meaningful manner. Content can be presented to your readers in many different writing formats.

Some of the most common formats include:

  • How-to-do something tutorial

  • List of ways or tips to accomplish a desired objective

  • Interview of one or more experts regarding your topic

  • Narrative discussion of the issues at hand.

Whatever format you select, it must be easy to read and understand. Do not use difficult words or long sentences and paragraphs. Write in a straightforward manner. Let your personality show in your writing. People that are comfortable with your writing are more likely to buy from you.

Be careful in promoting your own products or affiliate products in the mini-course. The products and services promoted need to relate to the content you are providing. Blend the product or service promotions into your content so that it supports the content. Find ways to weave your product or affiliate program information into your content in a low-key manner.

Avoid outright blatant advertising except in the top sponsor, bottom sponsor and other designated areas of your articles. Blatant advertising in the wrong section will be a quick turn-off. Your mini-course will be viewed as a sales letter and probably not read. Keep your audience in focus. They are reading your mini-course primarily for the valuable content you promised to deliver in the beginning.

The last segment of your mini-course needs to provide a conclusion or closing section. Pull together what you have presented in the course and present your findings. It should satisfy the original objective of your course or provide a solution to the stated problem. Finalize the mini-course with words of value to your readers. Direct your readers to utilize the information you provided. Instill in them the desire to get involved and follow through with your conclusions or implement your solutions.

Organize the information into article segments of roughly 700 to 1,500 words per segment. Keep the length of the mini-course in the range of 3 to 8 segments. Try to avoid information overload and unnecessary padding in your articles. Determine the distribution cycle of the articles. In general, one segment should be delivered each day or every 2 days. Personally, I prefer once every 2 days to avoid overloading the recipient with too much information if they don’t check their e-mail on a daily basis.

The best way to distribute your mini-course is by autoresponder. Set up the autoresponder to automatically distribute your articles according to your defined time schedule.

Use the mini-course to promote yourself, your business and your products. It is fr*ee advertising. You can use the following methods to promote your mini-course:

  • Include in the resource box of an article you wrote

  • Include in your newsletter

  • Include in your signature file

  • Provide as a fr*ee bonus on the purchase of your product

  • Place in an advertisement

  • Provide as a promotional tool for your affiliates to use.

In conclusion, your mini-course should deliver valuable content to your audience with the side benefit of promoting your ezine and products. Create your mini-course with a clear picture of wants and needs of your audience. You have wasted your time and effort if the report has little or no value to your reader. Produce a quality mini-course and both you and your subscribers will benefit.

Best of success in your online business activities.


Copyright © 2003 F. Terrence Markle – All Rights Reserved

Get the FR*EE 8-Day Internet Business Mini-Course at:

http://www.QuikSystems.com/WMC/FreeBizCourse.htm

About The Author

Copyright © 2003 – F. Terrence Markle has worked for over 20 years with public and private companies. He has an MBA in marketing and finance. He has been involved with Internet-related businesses for over 3 years. His primary focus is the marketing of affiliate programs.

tmarkle@quiksystems.com