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Facebook unveils timeline

 

 

Using Trends to Increase Web Traffic

Trends are helpful sources of what people are interested in right now. In Twitter, the top trending topics are displayed in the homepage. You can search for the top trending topics worldwide or you may search for a local trend instead to make your traffic more targeted. Google also has a trends section where you can see the top searches. It is also a very popular tool for SEO experts. You can see how frequently a particular topic appeared on Google and what other topics internet users are searching and viewing on the web. By tweeting or blogging about the top trends, you can catch media interest as well as attract more viewers to your blog and gain new subscribers.

Trends with the use of low density keywords and the right SEO strategy can drive more traffic to your website as well as increase your page rank.

Acer Releases Its Own Tablet

iPad and Galaxy Tab found a new rival in the form of the Acer Iconia Tab 1500, the newest Android 3.0 tablet in the market today. The Acer Iconia Tab 1500 impresses us with a USB port and a microSD card slot which are not supported in most of its available contemporaries today. It also supports Dolby Mobile audio and  with its custom screen widgets, users may organize their applications easily.

 

The Iconia Tab measures 10.2 by 7.0 by 0.5 inches. It is bulkier than most tablets in the market but at 1.69 pounds feels good and light in your hands. It looks stylish with its two-tone color, black zebel, rounded silver edges and the backing which is made of brushed aluminum. The volume and rotation locks button are placed on the right edge near the top and comes in handy. There’s also a flap that you can pull out at the right side where the microSDHC slot can be found. 

The Iconia Tab runs a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 250 dual-core processor and has 1 GB of RAM. Its 10.1 inch, 1280x800 pixel display is perfect for watching high definition movies. It also boosts of 80 degrees angle view. It has 16GB of internal eMMC storage plus the microSDHC that can support up to 32GB. The Iconia Tab also has an accelerometer, a gyroscope, GPS, as well as a compass. It supports Bluetooth 2.1 and 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity. The Iconia Tab features a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera that comes with a flash and another 2-megapixel front-facing camera suitable for video chat.

The Iconia Tablet is the first of its kind to feature speakers with Dolby Mobile audio. The tablet is powered by two 3260mAh Li-polymer batteries and this boasts almost 8 hours of game-play and movie marathons. It can last up to 10 hours for web browsing and being the cheapest tablet in the market today, it can definitely be considered one of the tablets to own. 

Easy Sharing With Dropbox

One of the common concerns in the freelancing world is transferring and sharing bigger file sizes for free. There used to be very limited ways to do this but the arrival of free services such as Dropbox made sharing online pretty much easier.

 

Dropbox can be compared to a virtual hard drive where you can store and share all your photos, documents and videos. Even without an internet connection, you may browse, read and save files. Once you go online, stored data are synced to all computers and even phones that are linked to your Dropbox account. Files can also be accessed by logging on to Dropbox’s website with your secured username and password.

Installing Dropbox is really quick and simple. Just go to their website, download and run the program. Start enjoying its features right away! You have the option to set folders as Private or Public. You can also add users by entering their email addresses. Once done, new users will receive an email notification right away.

One of the many plus points of Dropbox is sharing bigger files. Email attachments usually have file size limits and often take a long time to send. The free version of Dropbox allows you to use 2GB of storage and this is pretty much enough for most users. Each account will also get additional 250MB of space for every referral. Share referral links with friends for additional free space up to 8GB.  Changes in your Dropbox account can be easily tracked in the Sharing tab of Dropbox’s site.

Bookmarked sites can be stored in Favorites folder and may be accessed from any computer. Dropbox also features a built-in photo gallery which is great for storing pictures of your best memories.

All in all, Dropbox is indeed a very useful media storage tool. When it comes to file saving and sharing, think out of the box or rather about the box, Dropbox.

3 Simple SEO Tips for Higher Page Rank

A website’s page rank determines its importance in the internet and is an effective tool in making sure that your site appears in relevant searches.  Here are three simple search engine optimization tips you can easily implement on your site to achieve a higher page rank.

 

 

Site Map

The more pages a website has, the more it needs a site map with every page linking to the site. This is made so that search engine robots like Google find every link with just a few clicks. Instead of a mini site map for small websites, you may also use a navigation bar.

Multiple Domains

If your website supports several niches, then multiple domains will work best since search engines list only a single domain page for every search made. Also, most directories accept only home pages for their listings so the more domains you have, the more directory links you will get.

Social Media Widgets

Most websites are now turning to the power of social media not just for branding but also to increase a website’s search engine value.  This makes it easier for readers to “like” or “tweet” content and share it with their network. This will serve as a free advertisement for your business.

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Finding Your Next Virtual Employee

 

In today’s changing workplace, customers are constantly increasing their demands not just for quality service but also for efficient response. To meet these demands and keep the customers coming back, you need to hire qualified employees who can be as committed to your business as you are.

With the growing number of freelancers from different parts of the world, finding the right candidates for the job may seem to be a challenge, especially when you know you’ll never be in the same room as your next employees. Luckily, our technology offers various solutions in finding your next hire a whole lot easier.

Know Exactly Who You Want

While other candidates have a wide range of skills, don’t expect your next hire to be an all-rounder. Be upfront with your expectations. Outline duties and responsibilities you anticipate for the position. Make a list of must-have skills as well as “extras” that you may need from time to time.

Advertise

Spread the word out and advertise in different channels. Freelance sites such as Freelance.com offer free listings for online jobs. Some positions such as data entry operators are easier to promote than more specialized skills, so make sure to consider targeted categories and include relevant keywords in your ads. And don’t overlook referrals from friends and current employees.  

Make it Worth it

Always remember that you’re paying for a person’s time and skills. Don’t be overly generous or limiting. While you may consider candidate location, it is best that you determine appropriate wages and benefits by the prevailing rate. You may also scan comparable jobs. Include it in your job postings as this is one of the main things freelancers consider when applying for a job.

Interview and Qualify

Write down your questions and have a clear sense of direction for the interview flow. Make a note of key points and comments you have for the candidates. While you can do an interview over the phone, keep in mind that a video chat over programs such as Skype can give a more personal feel. Check for feedback scores as well as online reviews from previous employees.

Be a Keeper

Now that you’ve found them, be sure to keep them by offering relevant trainings and room for professional growth.

With these tips in mind, you'll be saying "You're Hired!" to your next virtual employee in no time.

 

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Age of Social Media Revolution

The social media revolution - make sure you are a part of it.

 

Words of Wisdom from Internet VIPs

What better way to start the week than receiving golden nuggets of wisdom from some of the Internet's most important people. Here are bits and pieces of advice from dealing with customers to making sure you are always ahead of your emails.

“You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new.”

Steve Jobs, CEO Apple Computers

"We came up with the notion that not all web pages are created equal. People are — but not web pages."

Sergey Brin, Google Co-Founder

“We’re trying hard to find user needs that aren’t being met at all.”

Larry Page, Google Co-Founder

“We can believe that we know where the world should go. But unless we're in touch with our customers, our model of the world can diverge from reality. There's no substitute for innovation, of course, but innovation is no substitute for being in touch, either.”

Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft Corporation

“You know in today’s business world, if you get behind in your e-mail, you fall out of touch very quickly.”

Michael Dell, Founder and Chairman of Dell Computers

“Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.”

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Cofounder

“We have technology, finally, that for the first time in human history allows people to really maintain rich connections with much larger numbers of people.”

Pierre Omidyar,eBay Founder

“There's no genius behind it. It's persistence and listening to people.”

Craig Newmark, Craigslist Founder

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

Bill Gates, Microsoft Founder

Top 5 Social Networking Sites Every Freelancer Should Know

Gone were the days when social media sites are created just for personal use. According to a recent survey, 80% of companies use social networks for recruitment and with the increasing popularity of social networking with businesses and professionals alike, social networks have also become a great resource not just in building relationships with colleagues but also in finding your next online work.

Popular companies and even small businesses are using social media sites like Twitter to reach out to their target markets, sell goods and promote their brands. As a freelancer, you can also make use of social networks to market your services online.

Here is a list of social media sites every freelancer should check out:

Facebook. It’s not just for keeping up with your friends and tending virtual farms. You can also start a fan page to market your services as well as join relevant groups and be updated with upcoming webinars and online events.

Twitter.  This popular microblogging site not only makes it easier to follow “key people” in your area of expertise but also increases your chances in spreading the word out for your next sales pitch. Make use of trending topics and hashtags to increase your chances of getting more followers.

Linkedin. Join various groups, discuss ideas and answer questions to showcase your skills without promoting yourself. Update your status with examples of recent work and you’ll be sure to get noticed in no time.

Meetup. This social networking portal facilitates group meetings in local areas. You can join groups according to careers, hobbies or interest.

Xing. Stay in touch with business contacts, experts and colleagues that may help grow your professional network, offer jobs and share ideas.