Bah! Yahoo! To Shut Yahoo! Photos

A fellow blogger, Wilson, told me that Yahoo! is going to shut its free photo album site. I was shocked. I did not get any email notification from Yahoo! and I thought that the email he received was a phishing attempt but apparently not! Check out the news article on Yahoo! News.

This news article was published on 4th May, 2007. So this isn't news to many. How come I did not get any official notification from them? Luckily I read it on Wilson's blog.

I dare not even imagine what would have happened if I did not know about it and then lose all my photos when my account is closed. There are a few hundred images there, mostly photos of lingerie.

According to Wilson, Yahoo wants users to migrate to Flickr. I have a Flickr account but I don't think I want to use it. Perhaps I'm going to use Google's photo album. Google's suite of services has already ruled my life. What is one more?

Well, I am rather pissed off that I have to make this migration of photos one by one. I am already so hard pressed for time, you see. In fact, I had wanted to move my photos because I was not happy with Yahoo! Photos after they upgrade their features. The whole album takes forever to load. Bah!

So now I just have to MAKE time to get this task done. *sigh* DOUBLE SIGH!

Free Tax Forms & Resource Site

While the last day for submitting our income tax returns was on 30th April, 2007 for Malaysians, my sister who lives in the United States told me that they are only now preparing their returns. That's why she told me that she has been very busy with the forms.

First she needed to get hold of the correct tax forms and then get her accounts in order and track down all the receipts to back up her expenditure. I know how messy she is so I bet this is a very stressful time for her. She should have tax planned the whole year through!

To help her, I searched on the internet for a one-stop tax resource website which I luckily found at Free-IRS-Forms.com. Like the name suggests, you can get all your tax forms here. Open up the link and print them out and you are good to go. My sister was elated to find the latest 2006 IRS tax forms there. She thought she would have to get it from the IRS office!

To help her file her tax returns, she read through the tax guide and managed to get hold of a few tips that are useful in her preparation for the coming tax season.

With information from just one website, my sister managed to wrap up her tax returns.

Loan Or Overdraft?

Running a small business, one fear that I have is that not only will my business venture fail, but that I would incur losses and fall into debt. My family has been in debt before and it took us a long time to settle that. This is one reason why I am always reluctant to take out loans.

A friend told me that he is thinking of getting a loan. I strongly discouraged him but did help him to compare loans online so that he will know what he will be getting into. If he is unable to service his loan, then the consequences are great.

When comparing loans, we looked into the annual interest rate, the total repayment amount as opposed to the amount borrowed and also penalty charges or any fees should he default his repayment.

I suggested that since the loan he plans to take out is not such a huge amount, I feel that he would be better off taking an overdraft but he is unsure if a loan is better than an overdraft.

For one, he is afraid that he bank may demand for a repayment at anytime, unlike a loan which comes with a repayment schedule. Moreover, the interest rates for overdrafts are even higher than rates for loans.

In my opinion, the best is to just live within our means.

Who Gives Malaysia A Bad Name?

Many people from foreign countries are weary of Malaysians and equate us with those of people from certain African countries. Can we blame them when we have one of the highest incidences of credit card fraud?

Who should we point our fingers at for credit card fraud? Do we blame the government or the internet? Do we blame our own IQ for being so high that we could crack the credit card system?

Well, we only have ourselves to blame. When there is no demand for clone cards, how can such a business survive? It is because that ordinary folks were paying for such cards that the clone card makers continued to clone the cards with stolen credit card numbers.

You see, because of the greed of all these people, they have hurt the reputation of fellow Malaysians, they have hurt the prospects of the younger generation. Just look at how difficult it is to get a breakthrough in the international business arena.

Even now that the Government has tried to stop these activities, this is still happening only with less intensity. However, the image that we have already projected to the world cannot be wiped out in a single day or year. How long will it take for us to redeem ourselves?

Discovering A New World of Mobility

When my grandfather had a leg amputated due to gangrene as an effect of diabetes, it was very tough days ahead for him and the family, his caregivers. He lost his mobility totally and we had to help him move about. Even with leg prosthesis, he still required a wheelchair to move about.

During that time, I was thinking to myself, how great it would be if we could conveniently install an affordable priced lift in our house so that my grandfather could go upstairs without being carried. I mean, to be carried around at his age must have bruised his ego and dignity.

Unfortunately, that never happened because technology was not as advanced as today. Just now, I came across a website that sells value stairlifts and I feel the need to give the site a mention on my blog because I know that many people with mobility problems like my grandfather would be most happy to have stair lifts installed in their homes to discover a new found freedom in mobility. I know my family and I would have been!

Keeping Track Of Our Food Intake

Last night, my friend told me that he was not feeling too well. I asked him what was wrong and he said there's pain in his legs. Well, I suspect that it's all because of his obesity. We all know that he has a weight problem but nobody dares to tell him in the face.

This morning, I went online to try searching for a website on losing weight that I could forward to him anonymously. Coincidentally, I stumbled upon MyFitnessPal.com. I was so happy to have discovered it, and on top of that, this is a free resource site. When I signed up for an account, they did not ask for my credit card or any private financial data.

I believe my friend could get a free diet profile and then start planning his diet from there. My friend tells me that he is happy with his size but that is hard to believe. Who feels happy lugging around those extra weight?

My Fitness Pal has an easy to use calorie counter that teaches us the nutritional content of the food we eat. Once we get the hang of mentally checking the calorie content of what we put into our mouth, I believe it will change our eating habits and hence benefit from a healthier diet.

Save, Save, Save With Mint Credit Cards

I recently had the chance to discuss about the various types of credit cards with my cousin who lives in London. We managed to compare our credit cards and according to her, the UK credit card that she is using has brought her a lot of benefits.

Her new Mint credit card has an attractive introductory offer, which was what made her switch cards in the first place and the recently lowered APR sweetened the deal.

She said that since she shops with her credit card all the time because she doesn't like carrying too much cash, her Mint credit card can save her a tidy sum of money thanks to its 0% interest on purchases until 1st January, 2008, 0% on balance transfer until 1st August, 2008 and 0% on balance transfers until 1st April, 2009.

My cousin said that if using her previous card, she would have been charged for all these and a little fees here, a little fees there all add up to quite a lot. By the sound of it, she sure is utterly satisfied with her new Mint credit card!

Joining My List

As you may have noticed, last weekend, I participated in a couple of blogrolls. I suddenly decided that I have to build backlinks to my blog. Well, Google update was in late April / early May and there was no rank change to my blog *sigh* That has to change and one of the things to do is by participating in blogrolling.

During my search for blogrolls, I am across My List. This is a list of Malaysian or Malaysian-inspired blogs compiled by Daryl. We are supposed to post them up to our blogs. Not only that, hopefully, readers of our blogs will come across new blogs to visit.

If you would like to be included in this list of 200+ blogs, do get detailed instructions from Daryl's post here.

Updated: 10th June, 2007 - Check THIS POST for the finalized list.

Right Time To Buy Gold

A friend asked me if it is now the right time to invest in gold. Gold price and prices of other metals have raised so much but I believe that based on the demand for gold, metals and other minerals, especially with the emerging markets of China and India, the prices will continue to rise further.

Economists have said that the sustainability of these booming economies can last for at least the next five years before showing signs of over heating. So I believe it is still not too late to get in now.

One of the factors is that it is so convenient to purchase gold now. We don't even have to physically carry the gold home or whatever. Gold investment remains an attractive investment option thanks to the availability and professional advice from companies like Monex Deposit Company (MDC).

Make Real Profit From Replica Sunglasses

After a friend of mine read my previous post on how to start a business, he told me that he has answered the questions that I posed and he still thinks that he can manage an online business. He wanted to know what products have a quick turnover and could get him real profit.

As far as I know, from my own observation, selling replica products is a profitable business. If you take a look at Sellers of replica Sunglasses, you can see that they managed to chalk up their positive feedback pretty fast.

I know of quite a few companies that supply Wholesale Sunglasses but not all are reliable.

A Seller really needs as much support as he can get from his suppliers, apart from the lowest price that the Supplier could offer. After much research in the replica wholesale sunglasses market, I believe that CTS Wholesale Sunglasses is one of the leading suppliers of wholesale sunglasses to many of today's Sellers of replica sunglasses.

In Search Of My Dream Car

I told my friend that I am looking to buy a car but as a first time buyer, I feel like a fish out of water with the many confusing car models. As I am not so keen on buying used cars, my friend told me that I should check out the new car website called Autotropolis.

He told me that I should use the Vehicle Selector Aid tool which is very interactive and user-friendly where I determine the type of car features that are important to me and would like to have in a car.

The Vehicle Selector Aid will then render a list of cars that most match my needs. I love this tool because it saves me a lot of time from checking out all the cars one by one. The Vehicle Selector Ad narrows down my list to cars to research further on.

Since I have not bought a car before, I find the Dealership Locator and outstanding feature on the Autotropolis website. I could easily locate dealers of new cars by zip code. What I had to do was just input my own zip code and I managed to get a list of dealerships in my neighborhood. It's better than flipping the Yellow Pages!

Hopefully, I can get my dream car soon!

Developing Interpersonal Communication Skills

I always believe that people work better if they could communicate well and if we could cultivate our interpersonal communication skills, we would be able to perform better at work and be a valuable part of any work team. This will improve our productivity at work and in our daily life.

I feel that great interpersonal communications is not only use at our workplace but also whenever we interact with people.

I came across The Forte Institute recently while surfing the internet. This is a company that provides customized professional Executive Coaching services

Many corporations are using The Forte System because it was established as the world's first PC-based computerized profiling system. This means that Forte's full range of coaching tool is available on demand online.

I feel that every company needs to send their executives for interpersonal development because it is very important not only for the individual but also the company as a whole.

How To Start A Business

I am often asked by friends and people who know me on how to start a business. Well, I do not proclaim to be an expert but I am asked because I am available to them.

The questions that one should answer before thinking of starting a business are:
1. Am I really interested in business?
2. What am I looking for in business?
3. Why do I want to go into business?
4. What are my short term plans and long term goals?
5. Am I prepared to spend long hours on it?
6. What is the capital that I am comfortable investing, assuming that my business will be a loss?
7. Do I easily feel discouraged and then let the business die off naturally?

Well, those are just basic questions. Many people think that doing business, especially an online one, is VERY EASY. Let me tell you, it is harder than going into real world retail. In an online business, you only have pictures and words to capture the attention of your buyers. Your competitor is literally just a click away. How can you hold your buyer's interest day in and day out?

As in real world retail business, online business has its season too. There are good times and there are bad times. Can you weather through the bad times?

Also, as an etrader, let me tell you, you are on your own. If you expect people to help you, you will be disappointed. Ask yourself, can you manage the business alone, doing all the sourcing, advertising, marketing, promotion, sales and shipping while balancing the books ALL ALONE, unless you have a partner?

If you can, then any help that are offered to you is a bonus. But never start out expecting that. Also, business is a long term commitment that needs nurturing. Can you provide your time and energy on your new venture?

I believe if these questions could be answered honestly, you will know if business is really your cup of tea.

Only Accredited Colleges

As someone who spends long hours on the internet, I believe in getting an education online. In fact, I have recommended many of my friends to gain further education via online colleges. It is more convenient, flexible and cheaper too.

I would love to enroll with an online college too because I lack that paper qualification and not because I lack I.Q.

Although I advocate e-learning, I would like to caution that one should always only study with an accredited online college and not just any college or the certificate that shows your qualification would just be a worthless piece of paper.

Not only would you be wasting time and money studying at the wrong college, your new qualification would also not be able to open new opportunities for you.

If you were to study with an accredited online college like Capella University, you are assured of a quality education and improve on your career.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive.

For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Managing My Finances Better

I have a friend who is very careful with his finances. Every time I have a question o personal finance, on whether I should go ahead to purchase something big, I run to him!

Last time, he helped me out when I was selecting credit cards to apply for. There were too many available types of credit cards in the market that I got confused! He told me that I don't really need a credit card given my lifestyle but I insisted on his help in selecting the one that meets my needs the most. He recommended me a card that offers cash back and I have been satisfied with it.

He also helped me decide on opening new overseas checking and savings accounts to facilitate my online business. I needed them so that I could easily accept funds and also make payments to my supplier. To use my local accounts would cost me to lose out on the currency exchange rate.

Now, I am looking for car loans and I will soon be bugging him with more questions. HHmm somehow a better car seems only a little bit more expensive than the one I could afford. I really need his opinion on which to get. He is in risk management and he should know how to help me manage my finances better.

Do You Know What You Are Buying?

Sometimes, I wonder if Buyers know what they will get for their purchase. I recently have cause to wonder because I came across two instances where the Sellers already stipulated what items are included in the sale and after the transactions have been concluded, these Buyers returned, saying that these were not what they wanted.

Now, one wonders why the Buyers did not read the description carefully before BUYING. It is not as if they do not know English. It is not as if they were short-changed though of course they felt so. If they have paid for an orange, then an orange they will get. Why come back and demand for a peach? The peach has another value already, you know?

So my point is, if you have bought something that was CLEARLY stated in the description from the beginning, why gripe about it? Won't you blame your own oversight? I guess not.

If one is unclear about something, he should ASK until all doubts are cleared. A successful transaction only happens when both parties are satisfied with the outcome.

The Importance of Background Checks

You know, when you are doing business online, you expose yourself and come into contact with all sorts of people and companies. Sometimes you would not know if these people are honest or it the companies are legitimate.

That's why I think that the Background Check News blog comes handy when it comes to resources for background checks. It is not that we want to be busy body to check another person or company, but we are forced to do it to protect our own interest. You never know the things that you may find on the internet. It is better to be safe than sorry.

I have come across people who seem pretty normal on the surface but they have a hidden agenda. Oohh that's quite scary, you know, especially if you are a girl!

Anyway, if you are running a background check on someone or an establishment, never let them know! Some people may take offence even if they have a clean record!

A Chance For Self-Exploration

My good friend, Paul, said that every Summer, people all across America will be taking a break from school and work. He said he will be looking forward to a much needed vacation and will pack in some sightseeing. He loves the nature but living in New York City, what he gets is just a concrete jungle.

One of the places that he considered is Yosemite. Just so happens I was told about The Lotus Path Workshops a few months ago, so I told Paul about it. I figured that since he will be in the neighborhood if he does opt for a Yosemite vacation, he would appreciate the experience of attending a spiritual workshop.

According to The Lotus Path website, one of the most sought after workshops is The Traveler Workshop. This could be completed in one day and is only an affordable $40. Isn't this a small price to pay for a guided self-exploration opportunity?

It would be great if Paul could take up my suggestion so that he can tell me all about his experience when he returns!

Victoria's Secret Gift Cards & Coupon Codes

I am sure many of us have received emails that seemingly come from Victoria's Secret. There is either a gift card or a discount code inside. I wonder if these are legitimate emails from Victoria's Secret?

As for me, I receive many of these that all fall into my Spam Mail. They look quite professional but so course, I am too smart *ahem* to click on the links that come in the email but I am very curious if these are valid cards and codes.

I also would like to know if these are genuine VS email. I think not because I don't think such a large corporation like Victoria's Secret would stoop so low to spam people. I am curious why these spammers would want to advertise Victoria's Secret. If they are genuine, maybe the Victoria's Secret mailing list had been hacked but then I have never bought from Victoria's Secret online before. So where did they get my email address?

So the cycle of questions continue. Firstly, how did they obtain our email address and secondly, why would they want to advertise this particular brand name. Is there a VS affiliate program that I am unaware of?

Writers Collaborative Blogroll

2 Nickels making a Dollar

A Bit of This and That Blog

A Day In The Life Of

A Frog to Kiss

A WAHumorous World

A Writer´s Journey

Accentuate the Positive

Adsense for Idiots

Advertising for Success

Ankit´s Life And Technology Reviews @ NSIT

As the Garden Grows

Aseembehl´ Reviews

Beach House View

Beautiful British Columbia

Behind the Dreams

BenSpark

Blogging 411 - *

By the Sea

CakeSpace

Cass Knits

Celebrity Scoop

Chonk´ Place

Clutzy´ Clutzes

Confessions of an Everyday Housewife

Console Boards

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CoolAdzine for Marketers

Crazy, but that´ how it goes…

Crumleydotorg - *

Daily Dose of Happy

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Eric Cumbee: The Blog

ESL

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First New Zealand Trip

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Getting Out of Debt - *

Gridlock On Rye

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Hippie Spelunker

Home Biz Blogger

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HomeMom3

I can Only Depend on You if You Depend on Me

Internet Marketing Blog

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Journey to Earning Money Online

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Just keep Living

La Vie de Laurie

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Lady Nova´ Other Place

Laurigami.com

Life with Me

Life, Travel, Passion and More…

Little-Nerdling.net

LJ^_~

Mad For Sports

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Maven Mapper´ Information - The Dark

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Your Natural Remedies

Income Through Reseller Programs

As you know, I am an internet marketer and am always on the look out for opportunities to make money online. I have searched through affiliate marketing and reseller programs but it was only yesterday that I came across a reseller program that makes me excited enough to consider joining.

If you have not heard of reselling, well it is something like being an agent of a company and selling their products but as a reseller, you actually have bought the product at a wholesale price and then you get to set the price and determine your profit margin and decide on the way you want to marker your new product, all with the support of your supplier.

So the reseller program that I came across is for domain names and hosting packages. I think these will make great side income for me earning through this reseller program. I will need a website and a blog that people come to buy their domain names and hosting. I think that everyone should have their own domain names. It's like a piece of virtual property. Some people like to have their real name as domain names so the quicker they get it registered, the better.

I really feel that the market potential is great for domain names, even if buyers have no ideas on what to do with their domains. They can always purchase hosting plans later. It would not be difficult to convince people to purchase domain names. All I need is a detailed guide on how to purchase FROM ME, why they should purchase FROM ME and offer great customer service, which I am well known for *ahem* and also provide as many payment options as possible to my Buyers. People will back out from paying if they find that it is difficult to make that payment even if it is only for a few dollars!

All I need is a little more in-depth research and I am all set for my new venture!

AccentCard Visa, Here I Come!

Having received no reply from E*Trade Financial, I think I am going to write it off. Even if they do approve my application, I am not going to utilise the account. I have decided to apply for AccentCard Visa. At least it is not as complicated a process as E*Trade Financial.

In the first place, I did not choose AccentCard Visa because of the previous problem if faced where members had their money locked in their accounts for sometime. They got the problem resolved and even changed the name of the Visa Card. Well, I don't know why they need to do that but all I care is that this card WORKS. That's all we need to know.

I'm rather pissed off that I waited two weeks in vain for ANY news from E*Trade Financial. This has delayed me in applying for a US bank account. I wonder how long it will take to have my Tomato Bank account activated. Will it take more than two weeks? Ugh what a looong messy wait this is.

Look What I Found! Pirate Flag Online Store!

You know how everywhere is abuzz with the new pirate movie now? So I went looking for a competitive priced Jolly Roger Flag for novelty's sake to fly at the top of my house.

I was surprised that there IS actually an online store that caters specifically to flag buyers and pirate flags and other pirate themed items like lapel pin and hand flags are some of their bestsellers.

Are there so many people out there who fantasize being a pirate? Thank god I am not the only one! And I thought I was the weird one!

Besides pirate flags, many other flags, like state flags, are sold too. My friend told me that if I really wanted to buy flags and pirate flags too, which are hard to find elsewhere, I should buy from them as their prices are so much lower yet the quality of their flags are better and hence, last longer.

I just hope that my neighbors would not complain when my pirate flag is hoisted!

No Reply From E*trade Financial

If you have read my blog last week, you would know that I have submitted an application to E*Trade Financial for their Complete Investment Account. Well, I sent in my application package via Registered Airmail to their Hong Kong office on the 7th of May. Unfortunately, until today, which is already two weeks, I still did not hear from them.

I did follow up with an email enquiring if they have received my package and if my forms were filled out completely but they did not reply at all. That's bad. I read that they do email applicants once their application kit is received but I have no news. Is my application going to approve or not? Gee I have wasted two weeks waiting.

And anyway, some people, even when they managed to open an account with E*Trade may only have limited access to their accounts until and unless E*Trade is satisfied that you are really opening an account with them to trade stocks. They sometimes may call you up to ask, "What stocks do you trade?"

How about CHICKEN STOCK?

Related post:
What You Don't Know About E*Trade Financial Complete Investment Account

Aden Made $2500 In Two Weeks!!!

As you know, I have been interested in affiliate marketing but keep getting discouraged what with the lack of information and a good affiliate program to join. That was until read how the guy at AdensBlog.com - Made 2500 In 2 Weeks! I definitely could do with that amount of money in such a short time!

Like Aden Mott, I have been studying affiliate marketing but haven't got my breakthrough. Aden now says that he has discovered the program that brought him $2500. Could this program be for me too?

Aden is pretty confident that this is the program that will let him lead the kind of lifestyle that he wants. Perhaps this will also help me stay away from my office job! Check out Aden's blog if you have been searching for an affiliate marketing program that works. You could be just as lucky as Aden as well!

Unique Selling Points

I read an article that says that since we are selling something, we have to let the world know WHY they should buy from us and not from our competitors.

So the question that we have to ask ourselves is, "What are my unique selling points?"

This article says that if we have an advantage over our competitor, shout it out. Write these points at the back of your business card or wherever you place your advertisement.

Here is what I found to be my own unique selling points:

1. Only branded items
2. Competitive prices
3. Hassle-free payment
4. Fast and discreet shipping
5. Unmatched customer service

Well, all along, I have placed my advertisement all over the internet WITHOUT my unique selling points. That is a big oversight on my part. If I have my unique selling points in my advertisements I am pretty sure more people will be curious to know if I am what I claim to be.

All is not lost though. I am going to make sure that these points are added to my new advertisement placements.

Cheap & Hassle-Free CIS Motor Insurance

I received a tip off on how we can get the cheapest motor insurance. CIS Motor Insurance is a great place to buy your motor insurance from because they offer two different discounts, the No Claim Discount and the Introductory Discount. On top of these, you will receive a further 10% discount when you shop online. All these are meant for you to save as much money as possible. Whoever said that motor insurance is expensive needs to try out CIS Motor Insurance. Shopping at CIS is not only inexpensive but also easy and hassle-free.

However, cheap doesn't mean that service has to be bad. CIS Motor Insurance prides itself on their rapid claims service, where claims are always processed quickly and efficiently.

No wonder CIS Motor Insurance has been on the lips on quite a few of my readers!

Saving On International Shipping

I stumbled upon this website called vPostAsia which is a thrid party online merchant that caters exclusively for HSBC credit card holders.

As most online retailers are based in the United States, shoppers this side of the world have to pay hefty shipping charges that could some out to three figure Ringgit. The previous time I shopped, the courier itself was MYR120, although it would be a lot less now that the Ringgit is stronger.

According to the HSBC website, as I understand it, you shop at US merchants as usual but you will use the local American address given to you by vPost, hence you will only pay for local USA - USA shipping, which in most cases are offered free by merchants.

Once vPost USA receives your item, you will have to pay a shipping charge from vPost USA to your address in Malaysia. According to sources, this can save the shopping some shipping dollars. Unfortunately, this service is open to HSBC credit card holders only.

Holidaying in Orlando, Florida

All my friends who have been to Orlando, Florida on vacation agree that Orlando is one of the best family orientated holiday destinations. They also tell me that a holiday in Orlando is not as expensive as I have thought and strongly encourage me to make that trip out. They guarantee that it would be a vacation I would never forget, thanks to the six major theme parks!

My friends said that despite the glitz and the image that Orlando has, if I were to book my vacation package online with websites like Orlando.com, I would be able to receive some of the most competitive and affordable prices on some of the best Florida hotels.

Besides accommodation, there are also discounted flights and car rentals should I need them throughout greater Orlando. Besides this, I am delighted to note that Orlando.com has plenty to recommend on fine dining, entertainment and Orlando night culture. It's definitely worth booking a vacation through such an experienced company!

Smile's Award Wining Credit Cards

In my previous post, I blogged about credit cards and some readers mailed me to let me know that not all credit cards are evil! One guy asked me to check out the Smile credit card which he said suits me.

Smile has the classic or the gold credit card. For the classic card, we get to earn 0.5% cashback for every penny spent but both carry extremely attractive APR if we have a current account with Smile.

I was surprised to know that Smile's credit card was voted the best credit card for years in a row at the Guardian Consumer Finance Awards from 2002 to 2005.

I must say that low APR of Smile credit cards is a great attraction. Perhaps I have been looking at the wrong cards all along!

The Law of Seven

I came across this marketing law that says a product needs seven exposures before people are willing to make a transaction with you. That's why advertisers continue to expose us to their product or service through newspapers, radio, internet, flyers and any other form of marketing.

I don't know how true this is. There are times when I list my products on eBay or other marketplaces and get a sale in the first round. There are some products that I faithfully list time and again before it managed to be sold. And there are some casualties that never get sold and make me wonder if I should pull them out from the market.

While seven, the magic number, is the MINIMUM number of exposures to result in a positive reaction, I feel some products, while I would not have termed failures, take a longer time to rub off onto people. Like the saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I feel that sometimes, I am running on the Law of Seventy. Thank God it doesn't cost me much money, only a little time.

Remember, the Law of Seven never mentioned the maximum exposure till the point of overkill, so NEVER GIVE UP!

My Opinion On Credit Cards

Did you notice that when you go shopping, you will be approached by people touting credit card offers? I have had my fair share of declining such offers. The offers, benefits and loyalty programmes are tempting enough and it is very easy to apply for more than one credit card, even with only one pay cheque. However, the problem comes at the end of the month when it is time to settle our credit card bills. That's why I would rather not have too many credit cards.

People who have credit cards should be responsible enough not to misuse it. Spending may be easy but the interest rates are very high and most people may find it hard to pay their credit card debts off. Many people I know are bankrupt from overspending on their credit cards even at a young age. This is like a 21st century social disease.

If I were asked which the best credit card is, I would suggest the secured or pre-paid credit cards. Although interest is higher, but one has better control over his spending which is great.

Oh No, Technorati Headache AGAIN!

Just when I was ecstatic that at least one issue is resolved, with the Technorati spider crawling my sites once again and updating my Pings as they should, a new problem crops up. Well, not exactly new because it is the same problem that has afflicted my other blog, She Rambles On.

For this blog, I have noticed the problem since last year but only decided to do something about it early February, 2007. I wrote in so many times and only finally got it resolved in mid May, 2007. To be frank, I already gave up actually, so it was a surprised to receive a notification from Technorati that my blog is already re-spidered.

Now that the same problem is happening on She Rambles On, I have no idea if I have the energy to follow up on my Support Tickets an at the same time try not to be a pain in the ankle.

I dare not think how long THIS time will take for the issue to be addressed!

Innovative NO-CRANK Hose Reels

I came across a perfect tool for the gardener when I was surfing the web. It is called the no-crank hose reel. I have a large garden too and one of the things I hate is not the watering of plants but the winding and rewinding of the hose! It seems like its more work than watering and maintaining the garden.

The concept of such hose reels look basic enough but it is a wonder why nobody came out with the idea until now. According to Hydro Industries, the power of the water pressure rewinds the hose so we do not have to do it manually. Moreover, there is no need for electricity, batteries, springs and most of all, NO CRANKING, hence its name, NO-CRANK Hose reels. It saves a lot of work of course, and makes gardening all the more enjoyable.

New MLM, Or Old?

I received an invitation to participate in an MLM whereby a new member has to pay USD2 to each member on the up line (there are six members) and also an admin fee of USD0.50

After making the payment, I would be given a personalized homepage with my own referral ID and I am to spread the news of my own homepage and try to recruit as many people as possible to join under me so that my name which is at the bottom, will go up, and I will receive USD2 from each person.

If I participated and do not market my site, then I will forever NOT recover my investment of USD12.50. This MLM group is using E-Gold which I do not have an account with.

Now, the problem is, MLM like this is ILLEGAL. If you were to use PayPal for this purpose, your account would be banned!

So if anyone was ever thinking of getting a quick buck though this, think again. Yes, it is possible to earn money through the internet but this is definitely not the right way. Remember, there is no shortcut way to richness although I am not saying that marketing a homepage is easy but STILL!

Property Investment in Panama

Since last month when Paul told me that he is looking to invest into property overseas, I have helped him to search for reliable sites that list properties for sale.

Coincidentally, I came across a press release on PRWeb about Encuentra24.com, a website that enables people to buy and sell car or real estate property in Panama direct from owner or broker without a middleman.

It is a delight to come across such a refreshing Panama real estate & classified website. Any property owner could register for an account with Encuentra24.com and start listing their properties for sale straightaway for free. Local or international visitors who browse through the website will be able to receive up-to-date information on the Panama real estate market since the Seller has full control over his listing with the ability to publish, edit, delete, upload images and more. As you can see, this is a full featured site and it is free for all.

Apart from real estate, visitors to the website could also find classified listings for automobiles, pets and animals, electronic items, furniture and many more, either new or second hand.

However, for people who are looking for specific property like apartments in Panama, they could access the Power Broker list which is a database of professional licensed brokers who would be more than happy to assist you in searching for your dream property.

If you are too busy to check the website regularly, you could also opt-in to their mailing list to receive an email alert whenever a new listing that meets your search criteria is published.

Encuentra24.com is a very useful website in your quest to invest into Panama real estate. I should tell Paul about this!

The Many Possibilities of Home Construction Loans

I recently stumbled upon a very informative resource site on construction loans and permanent finance on residential properties.

One of the questions that are asked most often is whether now is the right time to build a home. According to the experts, when interest rates go up, real estate transactions go down. With the escalating gas prices, the construction business has slowed, hence builders and contractors are scrambling for business in the ultra competitive market. As a homeowner, it is to our benefit to seize the opportunity.

I find the section with Construction Loan Information most useful. It has articles that every homeowner should read. You can also check how much loan you are qualified for. Te articles in this section will guide you through the entire process of building your own custom made residential property, starting from choosing the right builder until obtaining the certificate of completion. While this many sound daunting, you will be more confident when you have read through the guidelines in simple language.

People who already own a home should know about Remodeling Loan Information. If the information required is not listed on the website, you can always give Construction Loan Center a call. They serve all states across America and you can surely give them a call at your local number or send them an email.

PayPal: You Gotta Be Kidding, Right?

As we enter into the 10th day of being unable to accept our pending payments on PayPal, many of us international etraders are bearing the burnt of it. Not only are we suffering from loss of business, we are losing our hard earned reputation and not forgetting bank interest.

Not every Buyer is understanding or patient. They do not care if the money is cleared or not. They just want their purchase as soon as possible, which is not unreasonable. So what if the money is not in your hands as long as they have already sent it?

Some Sellers have been accused of running away with the money. Most of us caught in a jam are honest traders. We do not run off with people's money because eBaying and etrading are long term businesses. But PayPal's glitch is making us all look bad.

The worse part is that nobody in PayPal or eBay has openly acknowledged this issue. What we are left with are poorly written replies from Customer Service without details as to WHEN this issue will be resolved.

We're trying to be patient, really we are, but try doing that when all the Buyers are pestering you for their items.

Related post:
PayPal, Wait Till When?

Should I Promote With Giant Stickers?

I was actually looking to have stickers printed to promote my online store but I stumbled upon this Giant Sticker website that prints custom stickers and was blown away by the large collection of stickers in its database.

I could not help myself from checking out what are available and I found this gem "Live To Surf"

My friend says it fits me to a T. Now, most people will assume that the SURF here means riding the waves but in this technology age, I have adapted it to mean surfing the internet WHICH I DO A LOT! Well, I have to. It's called "Work" bah!

Being an e-trader selling primarily ladies' lingerie, this sticker made my friends and I laugh like mad!

I feel like buying this and give them away to my Buyers! What a surprise they will receive!

Who NEEDS PosPay?

Usually, I do not bother with online payment processors unless I want to use it then only do research on it but since I already have my payment processor, I have not bothered with the competitors.

Today, I came across PosPay. I have actually heard of PosPay, a subsidiary of Pos Malaysia, but did not look in depth into it. Today, though, I decided to check out the website because I received a leaflet that says that I will be eligible for two times bonus points for my Kad Mesra. My friend told me that bonus points collectors are petty people, but HECK, WHO CARES?

So I went to Pospay.com.my but I don't see that it is anything exceptionally special. Ah, no wonder it did not take off too well. I mean, I could do all the things that it is doing with my Maybank2U account. I prefer to use Maybank2U since my funds are there and I need not even transfer them to Pospay where I will not be given interest on my balance, unlike my Maybank account. Though the interest for savings account is not much, but at least it's SOMETHING, right?

I browsed through the handful of merchants but there isn't one store that I would like to purchase from. So there ......

Auto Insurance Comparison Shopping

When my sister was shopping for her car insurance, she decided to shop online since she is new in town and does not know or trust any insurance agent.

Her colleague told her that she can find the best insurance quotes from Insurance.com since all she has to do is to fill out a short questionnaire and her request will be forwarded to top insurance companies on the database.

When these insurance companies return an offer, she can review and select the best policy she would like to purchase which she can also do online. It is so convenient.

My sister told me that since not everyone is as web savvy as her, Insurance.com has staff manning the telephone support lines to walk people through the process of purchasing their desired policies online.

Shopping online has never been so easy!

Skyhobby - Still Unresolved

When people keep quiet, it does not mean that the matter has resolved. I logged in to Lelong Forum today and there are still people complaining of not getting any refund from Skyhobby. I thought that Lelong has drawn up a repayment schedule for Skyhobby to meet, even if it is less than the stipulated quantum in the Terms of Service?

After almost two years, isn't it high time that Lelong does something? Granted, Lelong does not think that the company should be held responsible for this. However, they took it upon themselves by allowing Skyhobby to continue to trade in the marketplace even when there is a case on. If this is not a sign of telling Skyhobby that all is well and they can continue with their business, then what is?

It is very disappointing to see that NOTHING can be done. Looks like Skyhobby is invincible. I am disappointed, and you can imagine a victim feeling a thousand times worse than me.

No doubt the sum in question per victim is not that much but when the sum is totaled, it came up to over MYR400,000. When a victim reports to Police, the Police will ask, "Apa itu Lelong?" (What is Lelong?) Time for some education, man!

Every time I think of fraud cases like these, where the victims have no recourse at all, I get pissed off because these fraudsters are giving us genuine traders a bad name.

Related posts:

To All Victims of Skyhobby

Skyhobby in the News

In the blink of an eye ....

Online Petition Against Skyhobby

NetSimplicity's Enterprise Asset Management

I just came across this business software called Enterprise Asset Management by NetSimplicity that helps business professionals in simplifying their schedule to increase productivity for all members of the organization.

This software allows you to finally track your equipment, room, catering, staff or just about anything in the organization so that you know where your assets lie and what condition they are in. You can also manage them from most web browsers, scanners or tablet PCs that have asset management software installed.

NetSimplicity also offers on-site consultation, deployment oversight and handoff services. This should be good news for business enterprises because no way can we neglect our tangible and intangible assets!

Covering With Higher Shipping

I don't know about you, but I find that people who sell their items are a low price below cost and then cover their cost with a higher shipping rate very unscrupulous.

I have experienced many times Buyers who do not actually spend time reading descriptions, payment and shipping terms. These people will straightaway bid on the "cheap" item and then get caught in a dilemma when sent a invoice with the high shipping charge.

As a Seller, I feel that if our shipping charge is higher than normal, perhaps due to extra packing material or if it is exceptionally heavy, then we should let potential Buyers know by writing our shipping charge in large, bold text.

If the Seller feels there is a need to hide the charges, then he is not being honest as a Seller.

If I were caught by unexpectedly high shipping charges due to my own carelessness in not reading the terms in detail, I only have myself to blame and I will go through with the transaction. However, I will refrain from ever purchasing from this particular Seller again. As you can see, if this is the way you sell, it is not going to bring you the ever important returning customers.

Import Export Guide

Life as an e-trader is very challenging. Part of my homework is to looking out for the best import export trade leads and searching for the best wholesale products in terms of pricing, quality and support of the supplier.

My latest find is Import Export Guide, a new and exciting B2B marketplace, which looks like a good starting point for me to search for trade leads.

Granted there are also wholesale distributors and suppliers locally but Import Export Guide allows members to contact these wholesalers directly and hence, cutting down on cost.

Navigation of the site is fairly simple because products are neatly categorized. If you have also been looking for wholesale suppliers, perhaps you should check out Import-Export-Guide now. You never know what you will find!

PayPal, Wait Till When?

I got impatient with PayPal this morning and decided to follow up on their reply. I know the issue is not resolved and yet I wrote in wanting to know when we will be able to get on with our PayPal lives as usual.

Hello my name is Annie, I will be happy to assist you with your question regarding your PayPal account.

We apologize for the delay in responding to your service request.

Sorry, it is a system error occurs recently, we are dealing with this issue now, please wait.

Thanks again for contacting us, and thank you for being part of the PayPal community.

Sincerely,
Annie
PayPal Global Services
PayPal, an eBay Company

What I got was a reply asking me to WAIT. Wait till when? No time frame was given. And this doesn't sound good. I believe one should fix a time frame to have something achieved, or there will be no goal.

If you fail to achieve the desired results within a reasonable time frame, then roll back your program!

Shall I wait or jump to the competitor already?

Gourmet Gift Baskets For Father's Day

A couple of my buyers, who are now my friends, called me up asking what the perfect Father's day gift is. Well, since I deal mostly in gifts that are more suitable for ladies, I am not able to give them a definite answer. Besides, there are no "perfect" Fathers Day gifts.

I told them that what they should do is to list out on a piece of paper what their father likes and dislikes. Failing which, a gourmet gift basket will do the trick! They are very popular gifts nowadays and since the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, a gift basket filled with only the best gourmet selection is the way to go.

Some of my other friends told me that my suggestion worked for Mother's Day. So why can't fathers receive a similar gift too, right?

I like the specialty themed gift baskets. I am sure that there will be something suitable that their fathers will like!

Cost & Time Saving Accountants Paperless Office

I was at my accountant's office recently to have some accounts clarified. Wow, you wouldn't believe the paperwork they have. Imagine having to store each and every single account for at least seven years as stipulated by the Inland Revenue Department! While I was there, I noticed that the office boy wastes a lot of time searching through files as the clients come in.

I told my accountant about Flickthru, an Accountants Paperless Office, which is an accountancy document management software especially developed for accountants.

Using Flickthru, he could save storage space, cost and human hours by keeping all his documents neatly filed in an electronic document management system. Whether it is client correspondence or accounts, he could search though the documents as fast as he can click his mouse. No more physical filing, searching through stacks of paper or worse, misplacing THAT important document!

I hope that he will find this software useful and hopefully, he will appreciate it enough to offer a discount off my bill!

What You Don't Know About E*Trade Financial Complete Investment Account

Well, you may already know that I put in an application for E*Trade Financial's Complete Investment Account. I did a semi-extensive research on the internet and every one was saying that it works wonderfully for them for their purpose, which is of course also my purpose but I shall not disclose over here.

Anyway, it is stated in the form that one has to deposit USD1000 in the account but in fact, may people said tat they do not have to do it. Moreover, when thy requested for the Platinum debit card to be shipped via FedEx, they were told that it will cost USD20 but this sum was not deducted from their account. And although it is said t cost MYR10 per withdrawal from the local ATM, this sum is often reimbursed. How true all these are I do not know until my application is actually approved. Do note that they may restrict some accounts, although approved, because they want to make sure that all accounts are genuine.

After I sent in my application, though, I read that E*trade Financial MAY close our accounts if after more than a year they find that we are not using the account to trade in stocks. Oh well, we'll cross that bridge when it comes.

Mortgages In The UK

My cousin, Jacq, and her boyfriend, are thinking of buying a home in London. Everyone knows that homes in London are never cheap and they are worried that they are not able to secure a Mortgage for their dream home.

They scoured the internet for information on all mortgages that are available to them individually and as a couple and even used a mortgage calculator to calculate which mortgage has the lowest interest rates over a period of time.

The told me that of all the websites that they have browsed through, the most comprehensive site is 1MortgagesUK, a website that offers mortgage advice introductory service. Being first time home owners, they managed to get all the information they ever wanted to know about the different types of mortgages, remortgages, loans and also the latest mortgage news.

After doing all the calculations, my cousin said that they would have to wait for a couple of years more before they dare to commit themselves to a long term mortgage loan!

The Money Is In The List - Part 2

So, I do not agree with spamming people unnecessarily. However, you still can make money if you own a mailing list.

For one, if you have the product and the list, then you will be gaining directly.

However, if you only have the mailing list, how do you gain from that? By mailing list, I mean lists with at least a thousand names and valid email addresses, ok?

Anyway, the trick to earn money is by selling text links or advertisement banners within your email or ezine to your mailing list subscribers. This is something logical. After all, you do see advertisements in newspapers and magazines, don't you?

Related Post:
The Money Is In The List

Troux Technologies' Actionable Enterprise Architecture

As you already know, my friend, Paul, is an architect cum designer. He told me of the new Actionable Enterprise Architecture solution by Troux which allows architects to manage their different processes, including information gathering, management and analysis.

This is made possible by Troux Technologies, a leading IT Transformation software company with comprehensive solutions to support the growth initiatives for Global 2000 enterprises and government bodies.

Troux Technologies' Standards Management solutions allow companies to create a structured standards management process in a effective and reliable way at a low cost.

Paul said that although this may sound complex, when this is implemented, it is very user-friendly. He told me that this is one of the most exciting developments in the architecture field.

Natural vs. Sponsored Listings

Since I was first introduced to search engine optimization, I have been trying hard to study its intricacies and try my best to implement them on my blogs and online store. Since then, I have had some kicks when I see my listings on the top of Google Search results.

I know that if I were to engage a company that offers search engine positioning services, I would have had better results. If I were a larger company with more budget, I would definitely use such a service because it would be well worth the investment, due to improved visibility on the internet and hence, sales in general.

Studies have shown that two thirds of internet users click on natural listings on search engines rather than paid listings that's why companies like Customer Magnetism strives to place your company as high up in the natural listings as possible.

PayPal - How Ironic!

This morning, I received a slew of reminders from PayPal to pick up my payments. How ironic! Here we are waiting for PayPal to resolve the issue that cropped up after their upgrade on 10th May, 2007, and to receive such reminders is like putting salt into our wounds.

For a large corporation to experience a glitch of such magnitude must be a joke. I am sure they are also losing service charge money when people cannot accept their payments but it has been three days already, for Heaven's sake!

I am in doldrums as I am unable to ship out my packages to Buyers who are waiting. They have been patient but our patience is running thin because the 30-day time frame is ticking away.

Related posts:
PayPal - A Step Backwards
Update On PayPal - Is It “Just” A Technical Glitch?

Make Money Selling Sunglasses!

I am convinced that Sellers of replicas earn more sales than Sellers of expensive brand names. This is because most consumers are unwilling to pay a high price for a fashion that may go out of style the following week. At least this is from my own observation.

If you have bee thinking of selling replica Sunglasses, CTS Wholesale Sunglasses is a wholesaler that you should seriously consider.

When you purchase Wholesale Sunglasses from CTS Wholesale Sunglasses, you are assured of a wide selection of the latest styles from low cost lines to high quality fashion lines. No matter if you are looking for metal or plastic styles, you can be sure to get them from CTS Wholesale Sunglasses with various combinations of lenses. Also, you can be assured that you will only be supplied with fast selling popular range.

Replica sunglasses are great if you are thinking of opening a stall at the flea market, a kiosk at the shopping mall or fairs and even an online store. Because CTS Wholesale Sunglasses are direct importers from manufacturers from around the world, they are able to get good prices that are passed on to their customers.

When you buy low from CTS Wholesale Sunglasses and sell high, you will make much profit just from selling replica sunglasses!

Quality Laptop Cases Online Store

A friend of mine just bought a laptop and since his birthday is coming up, I thought I would buy him a laptop case for his new toy.

I searched on the internet and came across an online store that specializes in quality laptop cases with comprehensive reviews for each laptop case, stating the pros and cons as well.

The Samsonite Ballistic Nylon Wheeled Computer Case looks like just the right case for my friend who travels a lot in the course of work. It has wheels for easy movement and quite a few separate compartments for laptop and documents.

At a price of $119.99 and free shipping, this is a steal!

The Money Is In The List

I have been told by internet marketers that the money is in the list. Well, mailing list, that is. It is said that if you do not own a mailing list, you have no business. It is said that products owners need mailing list owners more than the other way round. How true is this?

I have come across companies that specializes in compiling mailing lists with specific target audience or demography.

I am not sure though. I never believe in bombarding people with information that thy may not want, although I read that out of a million emails sent, a certain percentage of people will surely read it and another percentage of this group of people will actually CLICK on the links provided.

Many people actually treat newsletters as spam, even if they sign up to receive it. People like me willl not bother to unsubscrbe from the list. We never even know if some unscrupulous people wll actually compile anothre mailng list of unsubscribers and sell it to some other marketers. Oh, yes, we do know it happens.

I reckon it is the spam that has caused affiliate marketers the bad rep. What do you think?

Summer In Orlando

My sister tells me that planning for a holiday in Orlando, Florida, one of the most difficult decisions to make is which theme park or attraction to go to and which to forgo. This is especially true for budget travelers.

However, my sister is quite an old hand when it comes to getting the best deals for her Orlando vacations. She said that with the low-priced discounted tickets offered by OrlandoFunTickets.com, she could practically enjoy any and all the attractions that Orlando has to offer.

My sister has already booked a pair of Universal Studios Tickets for her impending Summer vacation, which she will once again spend in Orlando. She says that there are so many new things to do and see each time she is there, Orlando is definitely a place where one is guaranteed not to get bored in.

Website Promotion

A blog reader asked me how I managed to maintain so many websites and bring in traffic and gain a respectable page rank. Basically, he wanted to know the kind of Website promotion I do.

When I first started, I only have my base of Buyers to visit my blog. They come for the latest news of my webstore and the promotions that I run. They come to see if I have new stocks on the way and what freebies I am giving away.

As time goes by, I started to exchange links with other bloggers, I leave my URL in my signature of forums and my social pages. I joined activities organized by the local senior bloggers. And how could I forget submitting my URL in blog directories until the wee hours of the morning.

Blogging does not involve writing only but also blog visiting and leaving comments on other blogs, hoping they will do the same. This is a form of virtual socializing.

Building, maintaining, promoting and keeping the traffic flowing is are all very tough. All these can be done by ManhattanService for a nominal fee.

"Believe To Achieve"

I recently came across this motto "Believe to achieve" when I was surfing the internet randomly. I surf so much daily that I have forgotten where I read that from. If you are the one who coined it, then please leave me a comment and I will acknowledge you in my post.

I find this motto really refreshing and it does give people a much needed psychological push.

Sometimes, people may feel demotivated when things aren't going as expected or when we don't see the results as fast as we had hoped. Maybe sometimes the money aren't coming in and the family is waiting for us to put food on the table. Times like these are when we need a mental boost. Believe to achieve is very apt, especially when we are trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I like this motto so much, I am thinking of printing it out and sticking it on the top of my monitor. What say you?

Yellow Assistance

I came across this website of YellowAssistance.com at http://www.yellowassistance.com/ that allows independent phone book publishers to easily publish a phone book Yellow Pages style. By doing so, these publishers incur little cost or none at all and at the same time gain immediate online access.

Online Yellow Pages such as these allows for business listings and the ability for reverse look up of numbers. Advertisers also get to gain online presence at a very low cost or even free.

If you are an independent phone book publisher or an advertiser, do check out Yellow Assistance now!

Yellow Assistance, a nationwide provider of local Web-based yellow page business listings, announced today the release of YAP3, its Publisher Partner Program, designed specifically for independent phone book publishers looking to bring their business advertisers online. With YAP3, independent phone book publishers can offer their local business advertisers a robust online presence without the expense of creating or managing an Internet Yellow Page (IYP) site, using the industry's most user-relevant search engine.

YAP3's Private Label Program provides independent phone book publishers with a private-labeled IYP site using the domain name of their choice.
YAP3's Yellow Assistance Direct Program enables publishers to place their local business advertisers on one of the industry's most popular yellow pages sites, www.yellowassistance.com. Both programs enable publishers to upload all of their advertisers in less than 30 minutes at no charge. The Yellow Assistance Ad Network provides business advertisers with additional exposure by placing them on multiple Yellow Assistance partner sites. Business advertiser listings are free of charge for one year.

"In such a crowded yellow pages market, YAP3 truly offers a win-win-win solution for independent phone book publishers, their business advertisers, and Web users," said Julia Ross, media relations director for Yellow Assistance. "Our search engine is geared to produce the most relevant results for users and gives local businesses advertising with Yellow Assistance a real advantage over advertisers on other yellow page sites."

About Yellowassistance.com
With a database housing more than 15 million business listings, www.yellowassistance.com distinguishes itself by using unique algorithms to deliver the most relevant searched-for content based on the user's location and the site's dynamic tagging capability. The site also employs Web 2.0 technology to encourage user interaction with business advertisers, drive user traffic, and create user loyalty.
"Our ability to generate the most relevant content for our users has made yellowassistance.com one of the fastest growing business-advertiser Web sites on the Internet," Ross said. "For example, if I'm living in a town that's 40 miles outside of Chicago and I need a plumber, I want to find one that's close to my house or business -- not one that's 40 miles away. By using yellowassistance.com, I can get a listing of plumbers closest to my home or business."

The use of Web 2.0 technology provides a number of unique advantages for business advertisers and users alike, specifically the ability to create loyal user traffic. Advertisers can edit and update their business profiles as needed and respond to user ratings. The site's dynamic query feature produces search results based on relevant tags and weighted profiles. Users enjoy a dynamic rating system that enables them to rate their experiences with local business advertisers; share their experiences by forwarding comments online; or text their searches, ratings or comments about business advertisers to handheld mobile devices. A My Place feature allows users to organize and manage frequently used business advertiser
phone numbers, and a dynamic home page offers local weather conditions and top news headlines.

About Yellow Assistance
Yellow Assistance is a nationwide provider of Web-based yellow page business listings via its Internet site, www.yellowassistance.com.
Yellowassistance.com is the only yellow page site to offer relevant tagging results and provides the industry's most user-relevant search results. The site employs Web 2.0 technology, a dynamic query system, and a rating system that fuels word-of-mouth advertising.