We have a new website – Marketing-Products
Offering a free Video Tutorial from our new series. Check it out here:
All The Best!
We have a new website – Marketing-Products
Offering a free Video Tutorial from our new series. Check it out here:
All The Best!
In the course of my duties (reviewing Software and eBooks) it is necessary that I join and/or participate in most of the on-line Giveaway promotions abundant on the Internet today. Yesterday I signed on to one such program and afterwards downloaded 25 “.zip” files to review. Each represented a different “free” program or eBook offer in return for my name and email address.
As a safety measure in such download incidences, I always make such downloads to an external USB hard drive, thereby isolating the files received from my system. For further protection, these files are downloaded to a separate folder in an isolated and protected portion of that drive. Thereafter, when time permits, a separate virus scan is run on that folder before it is used for anything. OK, so I have a lot of equipment…that’s not what is important here!
What is important…of the 25 “.zip” files downloaded, 21 of them contained a “Trojan Horse” of one type or another!
What is a Trojan Horse, well, I’ll leave you to research that on your own since it would take too much time to explain in this article and there is plenty of material already available on the subject. But, what you need to know (if you do not already understand) is that you “Do Not want a Trojan Horse infecting your system”!
What I want to identify in this article is one of the largest common vehicles responsible for the dissemination of the Trojan Horse infection. Now, 21 out of 25 files must give you some clue, but who is responsible?
In truth, it is impossible to answer that question. In general, these Trojan Horses have to be coded (written) into the file being distributed and this is usually accomplished when the file is originally created. However, it is possible to be added after the original creation of the file. The “file” as stated here is usually an execution (“.exe”) or other file that must be opened by your system. Therefore, the Trojan Horse coding could have been written and attached to the program any-time from its origination up and including the time it was made available for you to download. So as you can see, responsibility can be very hard to attach with respect to the origin of a particular Trojan Horse coding. However, placing responsibility for its dissemination is another matter!
In the world of today, generally these malicious programs are disseminated by unsuspecting, usually fairly “newbie” persons in the Internet Marketing game. But, they must take responsibility, in part, as the final link in the distribution chain. Before them, however, there are generally several other layers of persons who, many times, are just as passively innocent as the “newbie”. You see, today, many of these programs have a very wide bottom level and pyramid to a single person at the top, who may or may not be equally responsible. Remember, the file has probably by now passed through many hands since its origination.
All Internet Marketers are taught that getting involved in “giveaway” programs and the like are valuable in building their business. Offer something “free” in return for a “sign-up”. This will “build your list” which established your client base. This in itself is a myth, but that is a completely different topic. The Internet buzz phrase is: “The money is in the list”! However, no-one tells the new entries into the field of Internet Marketing that the statement only really applies to “lists of customers” (people who buy), not to generally collected names and email addresses of people looking specifically for something “free”. So, how does it go?
The elite Internet Marketers recruit “newbies” and during the process offer them “free” items in return for their sign-up. Some of thee people sign-on as affiliates (people who will promote the products they received in return for a commission). Hey, says the recruiter, you thought this product was great, so will others. Why not promote it your self (to your friend, family, neighbours and others, and earn some money from this worthwhile product? Each affiliate is provided their own identification and in some cases their own little website (which is owned and maintained by the product owner). The recruiter inform the new sign-on, “we will give you the product with your own affiliate links already installed, so anyone who clicks on any of the links set in the product and buys will earn you a commission”. They are instructed to join these giveaway programs, joint ventures and other such programs, place their product on the site as a “free” item, and collect the name and email address of those people who take the product without cost – “Build Your List”!
Unfortunately, unknowing to them, or the person instructing them in many cases, the product contains the deadly Trojan Horse! These people would probably be horrified if they realized they were part of a chain distributing such a harmful item. Along comes “John Q Public” – “Hey that looks interesting and it’s free” I’ll have a go at that. Download…install…use…and Bingo…the malicious code (Trojan Horse) has been spread again!
The simple truth is the spreading of this Trojan Horse code can be easily diminished. It will probably never by stopped altogether since it is impossible to assume that every hacker, young kid out for thrills, idiots experimenting with new-found coding skills, or others will consider the harm caused to the public by their activities. On the other hand it can be seriously diminished by eliminating its distribution through methods described in this article. No, I am not suggesting these programs be stopped. Instead, I am interested in seeing the marketers involved take more responsibility for their product inclusions in such programs.
That is very easily accomplished. First by the marketer offering the “free” product simply using a virus checking program to inspect the file before submission into such a project. Second by the project owner, director, or whoever, also virus checking the program before placing it on the project site for download. Yes, it would take a little of these people’s time. That time doesn’t compare to the time it takes the public to rid their systems of such codes once their have reached their systems.
It should be apparent it is in the interest of the marketers to include such policies in their programs. Do they really think their credibility holds up to the person whose system has become infected? I don’t know about you, but I, for one, immediately click the “un-subscribe” link in any email received from one of these people. Yes, that means I have un-subscribed to 21 such emails yesterday! Perhaps if more of us took this type of action marketers would get the message and start to act more responsibly, checking their offerings before placing them for public consumption.
In any regard, I strongly suggest and recommend that anyone downloading anything from anywhere on the Internet make sure the incoming file is downloaded to an isolated folder on their hard drive and that they use a virus program to check the file before use. One day there may be legislation enacted that will hold the marketer responsible for the dissemination of materials. Until then, the responsibility lies with the person receiving the file as well as the cost of repair.
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Ron Terre | Internet Marketing | How To…
Twitter Wonder Tactics is an eBook to help Internet Marketers understand the value of the Twitter platform. It turned out to be well written and informative. It starts by briefly explaining the power of Twitter going on to talk about how and why Twitter should be integrated in a marketing strategy and then provides some useful ideas for implementation. The table of contents reads as follows:
The title of this PDF File leads one to expect more from the contents, but it does delivers on its stated “title” message. If you are looking for in-depth, instruction in any of the areas included in the title, that information does not exist on the pages. In essence, Twitter Wonder Tactics is not written for the computer novice or someone mildly familiar with Internet Marketing. Instead, this eBook is provided mostly for experienced Internet Marketers as a means of introducing them to the possibilities that opening the Twitter door can bring.
Twitter Wonder Tactics is an eBook full of concepts and ideas for using the Twitter platform as part of an overall Internet Marketing strategy. The ideas and concepts are well thought through and the presentation is superb. The eBook will be very helpful to those wishing to take an original gander into Twitter, or those already into the Twitter process and lost with what `they find there.
Twitter is a platform that has its own language and its own modus operandi. Understanding its methods and concepts can be quite daunting to those new to the platform. Twitter Wonder Tactics clears up a lot of these elements and will allow one to come to grips with exactly what the platform offers and how to best incorporate it into a current marketing strategy. As with most things, there is no magic wand that will let you snap your fingers and find instant success. The eBook discusses the elements necessary to find success using the platform and the descriptions, concepts and ideas indicate the necessity for of the work and effort necessary in reaching that goal.
I would recommend the book to experienced Internet Marketers looking to enter the world of Twitter. It would probably be a useful read to less affluent marketers since it presumes a certain level of business and marketing experience. It is definitely not one of those “how-to” eBooks. Instead it merely presents concepts and ideas in explaining how they apply to the Twitter platform allowing the reader the flexibility to decide how to employ that material in their own Internet Marketing effort.
If you’re a novice or are only casually familiar with Internet Marketing as a concept or business, this eBook is probably best kept on the shelf for the present since there are many more pressing matters to occupy your time in learning to establish your business. One of the greatest things that emerge from Twitter Wonder Tactics is the necessity to plan your way into and through any type of campaign while engaging in the Twitter platform.
In addition, all Internet Marketers, regardless of their level of experience and expertise will require further reading and instruction in order to implement the ideas and concepts presented. While the eBook lists some resources that can be utilized for implementation of some of the concepts outlined, it falls way short of explaining or identifying any real method of employment of those ideas.
Anyone wanting a copy of Twitter Wonder Tactics, whether for present reading or just to keep for future reference, can acquire one free of charge here…..http://testitnow.cashsite4u.com/
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I was reviewing some software for inclusion in this week’s Software Review on my other blog:
when I came across an included ebook. I started reading it and was unable to stop. It’s entitled “The Newbies Guide…” Oh no, I’m not disclosing the full title here. Check this page later this week when it’s published. In fact, subscribe to this blog and get a notice every time a new posting is made.
But that ebook made me wonder. What is a newbie? Who is considered a newbie? How do we define a newbie? Where can we actually find a newbie? The term seems to only be applied to users of the internet. Why?
Well, in fact, we are all newbies at something or other. In plain English, a newbie is someone who is “new to something”. From what I can determine, the same applies to the slang – computer lingo. Simply put, a “newbie” is considered one who is new to computer…? The end of that last sentence is the problem! New to computer what?
I know people who have been using computers for many years, yet, some will refer to them as newbies. The answer seems to lie in what is being referred to in the term itself. For instance, these same people are newbies to computer programming or internet marketing. These are new skills to them as they have no experience in these areas.
That being the case, we’re all newbies…at something. For instance, I have been an entertainer (singer) on stage for over 50 years. But ask me to do comedy? Not just a newbie at it…a disaster! Consequently, this being the case, no-one should be insulted, put off or feel discouraged because they are considered a newbie. Factually, it is to your benefit. In the world of computerism, everyone is out to help a newbie. That is just the ethic of this friendly computer world.
So, if you are considered to be a newbie, feel proud. Hold your head up and soak in all the knowledge the “so-called” advanced people, experts and gurus are willing to offer. Just one word of advice, like everything else in the world, just because someone has been in this game a long time, doesn’t make them eligible to impart their knowledge to you. Remember, the greatest footballer of all time may not be worth a penny as a trainer or coach. Likewise in the computer game! Just because a “guru” made a lot of money marketing on the internet doesn’t provide him/her the ability to get you to do the same.
Well, that’s it for this post. Be back with you in a couple of days with this week’s ebook review. All The Best!
Now the review:
Choosing a Niche & Keyword
Choosing your Domain Name
Registering your Domain Name
Setting up your Webhosting Account
Updating your Domain Nameservers
Creating Domain Name Email Addresses
Installing WordPress Blog using Fantastico
Installing WordPress Blog Manually
Installing WordPress Themes to your Blog
Installing WordPress Plugins to your Blog
Search Engine Optimization for your Blog
Creating Categories for your Blog
Creating Additional Pages for your Blog
Writing your first post for your Blog
Adding Pictures & Video to your Blog
Monetizing your WordPress Blog
Adding Adsense, Aweber & Affiliate Banners
Adding Google Analytics to your Blog
Traffic Generation techniques for your blog
Acknowledgments & Conclusion
It’s like the author is right there with you, holding your hand and guiding you through every process necessary from start to finish. If you can read, or in some cases in this tutorial just follow the graphics, you will wind-up with your project online. Not just that, but you are also walked through the processes of monetizing your blog (ideas on making money from your efforts), adding “widgets” and “plug-ins”, getting products to sell (either outright or passively) and getting traffic (readers/customers) to come by and visit your pages!
This is not just a general manual, but instead, an in-depth guide, with the author holding your hand every step of the way. In some places Blog Setup Tutorials uses what we call “computer lingo”, much like most of the computer technical manuals on offer today. This type of writing has a tendency to put off many a reader, specifically the computer “novice”. This is not the case with this manual. If computer terminology is used, the author breaks it down into layman’s language which most high school drop-outs will understand. Blog Setup Tutorials would also be a pleasure for the older generation to read since it is not published with the normal 10 – 12 point typeface, but instead seems to utilize about a 14 – 16 point typeface. I was able to get from start to finish without the use of my reading glasses and without any form of eye strain.
The eBook was not just a pleasure to read, but overly informative, specific and to the point. Any task required from A to Z is clearly identified and explained. I was able to complete each step easily as I set-up a test blog using the instructions provided. I’m sure most would have no trouble accomplishing the same end.
As a reviewer, it is my job to find and report on the good and bad aspects of any project. I’m pleased to say, no fault could be found with this eBook. It is informative, to the point, and will get the reader through the entire process with little trouble. Additionally, the author offers assistance to anyone who emails in should they encounter a problem with anything outlined in his writing. One could not ask more than that!
The eBook contains useful links to every kind of resource one would need if the reason for starting the blog is a commercial endeavour. The links could be used to create a separate resource directory they are so plentiful. The author is not just handing you a “set-up instruction manual” then leaving you to get on with it. His attitude seems to be one of: “I’m not going to take your money and leave you stranded”!
I have little doubt that some of the links in the eBook lead to products that will require a payment from you and that the author will probably receive a commission should you purchase. However, the author is quick to point out that you are free to use your own resource; his is not the only one in the marketplace. For instance, there is absolutely no pressure or indication that your hosting must come from the company he uses or that you should always purchase your domain name from his source. That being said, this is a product that should probably sell for around $97.00 and it is being handed over for no “out-of-pocket” cost to the recipient. Step-by-step instruction, a ton of resources and the offer to hold your hand if required; all without you handing over a single cent!
In Conclusion:
This was a good read! Blog Setup Tutorials is informative, well research and well written. The information and instruction in the manual is second to none on the topic covered. It could be used by novice and advanced internet marketers in getting a blog up and running, monetizing it and getting traffic to it. All in all, it is certainly worth far more than the author is charging. Well done; Mr. Tommy Mc Laughlin…