Ive Got An Article To Submit, Now What Do I Do With It? (6 Tips)

You submit it, that's what you do! And submit it to as many article directories as you can. (More submissions = more exposure) The more directories you submit to, the better your chance of having the right ezine, newsletter, or website publisher reading your article and using it.

If you're not up for submitting your article manually to over 100 sites, you should pick up a copy of ArticleAnnouncer. It will submit your site to a ton of article directories, and you won't have to do much work at all. If you plan on writing articles to increase your traffic, you NEED ArticleAnnouncer.

Or, if you don't want to spend the money, you can submit to the top 5 sites: (I want to stress that you should submit your articles to as many sites as possible in order to get the most traffic and publicity)

http://www.EzineArticles.com http://www.Content-Articles.com http://www.ArticleDepot.co.uk http://www.ArticlesFactory.com http://www.GoArticles.com

If you want to submit by hand, and want to submit to more than the 5 sites listed above, head to http://www.arcanaweb.com/resources/article-directories.html and there's a list of 100 (as of the date this article was submitted). However, not all article sites are created equally. Here are my 6 tips of things to look for when you're choosing which directories to submit to.

Tip #1 ? Make sure the site allows for SEO - Do they allow you to choose your own keywords? If the directory doesn't allow you to choose keywords, you could possibly lose some SE traffic because of untargeted or less-targeted results. Entering your own keywords also helps with searches within the site, if the search operates on keywords.

- Do they put your keywords and article summary into meta tags? Yet again, this ability is great for SEO. It allows the search engines to index your article more effectively, giving you the best traffic you can get to your article.

- Do the major search engines index the site regularly? If a site isn't indexed regularly, your article will take awhile to show up in search results. Not a huge deal, but it could delay some traffic.

Tip #2 ? Make sure the site offers RSS feeds - Do they allow your article's content to be syndicated? RSS Syndication is a big thing right now, because it makes it very easy for another site to feature your article's title, body, and author. If a site doesn't offer RSS, you may not want to waste your time posting there, as you probably won't get as much traffic from them.

- Is syndication by category only, or can more parameters be submitted? Some sites allow the RSS feeds to be customized by category only. Others allow syndication by any combination of category, submission date, and author. This is very beneficial to you, because 1) your article could remain on a syndicated "archives" page, where the site gets the specific date RSS feed, and 2) you can have all of your work syndicated ? sites can choose to be fed only your articles!

Tip #3 ? Make sure the site is easy to use - Can visitors to the site find articles quickly, or do they have to dig around? I'm sure you've been to sites that have horrible navigation. The same is true for some article submission sites. When you get there, make sure the articles are easy to find. If they're not, don't waste your time.

- Does the site have a category list and search function? Make sure the site has both, as some users will want to use the categories, others will search, and still others will do both.

Tip #4 ? Make sure it's easy to submit your article - Can you submit articles quickly and easily? Some require you to login, which is okay, because then you'll probably have an "author page" where you can add a bit more information about yourself, and people can find a list of all of your articles. However, if the site makes you enter very much personal information, confirm more than once (most will require you to confirm your email address) or scan your fingerprint (haha, that'll be the day), you can probably skip them. You don't want to do that every time you want to submit an article, especially if you're submitting to more than 5 directories.

- If they proofread your article, how long does it take? Some sites proof-read your articles, which is okay, as long as it doesn't take more than 24 hours for your article to be approved and made active on their site.

Tip #5 ? Is the site popular? - Have many articles been posted in the past few weeks? If the site hasn't has submissions for a few weeks, or they're trickling in, chances are that's because it's dead. Do keep in mind, though, that submitting to a brand new site is always great, because chances are the owner is promoting it as much as possible, which means great exposure for your articles.

Tip #6 ? Do they offer a large list of categories? - How many categories do they have? Most sites have quite a few categories, or they're targeted to one area (like Internet Marketing). That's perfect. But if you come across a directory that isn't targeted, and doesn't have many categories, skip it. Publishers probably won't pay it much attention because less categories means less targeting, and more articles to sift through to find what they want.

Congratulations you on choosing article writing to boost your online exposure! It's an easy technique that, if done correctly, will more than pay for the time you spent writing the articles. Ok, now go out there and start submitting!

Jason is an Internet marketer and owner of Premier MicroSolutions, LLC. Submit your articles right now to Content-Articles.com - The Free Web Site Content Article Directory

Time Management Basics

"At my back I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying near."

Time management begins with the realization that without some thought and planning, we are likely to waste a great deal of time in the future and have already wasted a huge amount of our life span in the past.

Wasting time is folly since time really does have wings and our lives pass very quickly. By using proven methods we can make the most of whatever time we have.

Billy Connolly, the great Scottish comedian, describes the speed of time in his own vivid way:

"A year in my life goes like this:

'Should auld acquaintance be forgot'

'Happy birthday'

'Jingle bells! Jingle bells!'

He also tells a time related story. I've cleaned the language up a bit:

Two men were standing having a chat. The first man asked the second man:

"What would you do if you knew the world would end in 3 minutes time?"

"I'd have sex with everything that moved," replied the second man and then he added a question: "What would you do?"

"I'd stand perfectly still," said the first man.

This story has a lesson. With 3 minutes to live we will tend to do what we really want to do whether it is having sex (or avoiding it!) or eating chocolate or telling our family and friends that we love them. Yet too many of us spend our lives not doing what we really want to do.

If we imagined the world was about to end soon we might finally be able to discover what we really want to do in life. Of course we still need to have the courage to do it.

The time management basic of all this is that life is too short, even when we have 30 more years and not just 3 mins to live, to waste on doing things we do not really want to do.

The number one essential of time management is to discover what we really want to achieve in life and then get on with it.

A second basic is that we don't even have enough time to do all that we really want to do. We have to choose. I found out the hard way that you cannot learn several different musical instruments well unless you are a bit of a genius.

In my twenties, I decided I wanted to learn the bagpipes, the drums, the banjo, the guitar, the blues harp and the tin whistle.

I never got round to the tin whistle and only learned to play the other instruments at a pretty basic level. It is wiser to focus on one key goal at a time in each key area of our lives.

Set goals that are achievable, unlike mine, and then take massive action to attain them. Set SMART Goals - specific, measurable, attainable, results oriented, time based e.g. Do twenty pushups a day for a month. Count the pushups. Do an easy version of them if necessary (i.e. keep your knees on the ground). You feel and look stronger. You do the pushups for one month.

If one of your goals is to learn a skill like copywriting, decide to spend an hour a day for 6 months improving your copy writing. Use a spreadsheet to measure out 180 squares and cross them through after each one hour session. If you wish to learn 3 skills in 6 months, you will obviously need 540 squares.

A third basic of time management is to follow the famous advice which Charles Schwab paid $25,000 for i.e. make a list of about 6 things you want to achieve tomorrow.

Sleep on it overnight and your subconscious will provide you with the drive and the wisdom to make a good stab at achieving those 6 things in the next 24 hours.

In the morning start on the most important of those 6 things and get as far as you can. If you have anything left to do. Put it on your list for tomorrow.

I won't take up any more of your time with this article as you are doubtless keen to make your list of 6 key things to do tomorrow.

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, And Pictures...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles"

The book can be found at this URL

http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories and pictures to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.

You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine or on your website so long as you do not alter it and keep in the words about the author and the 36 Laws.

eStore Advantage ? Extending Microsoft eConnect for MBS Great Plains

eStore Advantage allows front-office applications to communicate with back-office business environments. It has a built-in support for electronic payment processing, and serves as a core integration platform for Nodus Technologies front-to-back office connectivity suites including RMS and CRM Advantage.

eStore Advantage for Microsoft Business Solutions-Great Plains leverages Microsoft eConnect to provide seamless integration into Great Plains back office. Here are some of the highlights of eStore Advantage, and how it extends eConnect's EAI interface to provide a complete end-to-end solution.

Reduced Deployment Time:

Microsoft eConnect is a powerful tool for Great Plains back office integrations. Although it provides a robust XML interface, the system integrators still need to be familiar with MBS Great Plains table structures and field names. eStore Advantage simplifies Microsoft eConnect's XML document interface by providing an easy to use business object layer. Application developers don't have to know about Great Plains or eConnect, they just utilize the provided objects to implement their business logic. All the underlying integration issues are handled by eStore Advantage, thus reducing the deployment time and the learning curve associated with eConnect implementations.

Connected / Disconnected Modes:

The eStore Advantage framework is designed to operate in both disconnected and connected environments. In disconnected mode information is exchanged through Nodus Web Service hosted at the back office, in cases where web service is down or not available, messages are queued at the front office till the communication is restored. In connected mode all the data follows to the back office without being queued, however the web service can still be deployed if deemed necessary.

XML-based Architecture:

Designed for easy maintenance and durability eStore Advantage Business Objects utilize XML for serialization, queuing and data transport between front and back office environments. It not only offers existing storefronts, web solutions, and custom applications the ability to integrate with back office environment, but also provides developers a powerful infrastructure for their electronic commerce and enterprise applications. Customers don't have to worry about different eConnect intrinsic XML documents types and field names. They have the flexibility to define their own fields, and customize how they are mapped to eConnect documents. In addition they have the ability to access custom tables defined within Great Plains or an external database.

Simplified Integration - Helps You Focus on Business Level Issues:

In short eStore Advantage significantly decreases implementation time from months to days, enabling customers to focus on business logic and application development rather than integration issues. eStore Advantage for Great Plains comes pre-packaged with Credit Card Advantage and Microsoft eConnect Runtime providing a complete solution that's both practical and cost effective.

For more information contact Nodus Technologies, Inc.

(909) 482-4701

http://www.nodustech.com

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Does eStore Advantage come with eConnect?

A: Yes. eStore Advantage comes pre-packaged with Microsoft eConnect for ISV.

Q: What documents are supported by eStore Advantage?

A: Current release of eStore Advantage provides objects for SOP, Inventory, Cash Receipts, Purchase Orders and Customer Maintenance.

Q: How can we access information from other modules not supported by eStore Advantage?

A: eStore Business Objects include a DataSet object, which can be configured to access any eConnect XML Document. In addition you can use the same DataSet object to get information from custom tables defined in Great Plains database.

Q: Can I process electronic payment using eStore Advantage?

A: eStore Advantage has a built-in support for processing electronic payments. Using our transaction server you can process credit cards, echecks and ACH transactions through variety of payment gateways. The approved transactions are added as payment lines to new or existing SOP transaction and carried over to Great Plains.

Q: What if we want to pre-authorize credit cards from the web site, and charge them later upon shipment?

A: When processing pre-authorizations through eStore Advantage, the payment information is saved in Nodus-specific tables. No payment lines are created for the associated order or invoice. When shipping department is ready to fulfill the order they use Nodus' Credit Card Advantage to charge the credit card. This automatically creates the payment line and sets the amount received.

Q: Is it possible to migrate from Microsoft eCommerce to eStore Advantage?

A: Yes. Microsoft eCommerce uses a disconnected model, where Front and Back Offices are kept in-sync through Business Document Exchange (BDX) messaging. By replacing the BDX components with Nodus Web Service, and modifying Front Office Commerce Server pipeline to use eStore Business Objects, we can provide the same integration using Nodus' eStore Advantage and Microsoft eConnect.

About The Author

Nodus Technologies, Inc. delivers State-of-the-Art Electronic Payment Processing solutions which allows companies to easily and quickly set up and accept electronic payments within Microsoft Business Solutions - Great Plains, Small Business Manager, Retail Management System, CRM, eOrder, and eCommerce. Our Payment Advantage Suite of solutions includes Credit Card Advantage, eStore Advantage, CRM Advantage, and RMS Advantage. For more info visit: http://www.nodustech.com

josh@nodustech.com

Politics and Christianity

Revelation 20:1-20:10

Politics and Christianity - there has been many an article about this past election. Some, praising Christians and some condemning them. As for me being a Minister, I'm disappointed in both sides.

Politics have no place in the Church. Jesus would not have voted for neither. 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Our war is with the spirit and not with the flesh. God ordains the Powers that be. Vote, but don't get involved in all the rhetoric, the damage has been done, its time to repair it.

Our missions as Christians:

1. Worship God.
2. Preach the Gospel.
3. Be instant in season and out of Season
4. Seek out the Lost

If the Church just did as our Lord commanded, it would not have brought this hate toward Christians. Politicians speak of peace in the Middle East, but the Christian community should know better. Look at God's prophecy for the Middle East. Rev 20:1-10

Rev 20:1-10 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were behead-ed for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Let me ask a question now that you've heard these passages from Revelations. Do you really believe that John in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Church is True? How many says yes? Raise your hands. Then how can we believe any politician that says that there is going to be peace in the Middle East? John said in just these few passages that "And I saw", John was stating facts, a future presentation of war and destruction in the Middle East.

1."And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand." 2. "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them." 3. "I saw the souls of them that were be-headed for the witness of Jesus." I had a brother, the other day; tell me that He doesn't read prophecy because He can't do anything about it. This is a common mistake that many Christians make.

Prophecy is as important as the rest of Scripture. Warning after warning from Christ about the impending destruction of the enemies of Israel, and still many want to ignore the facts of the Bible. Many churches will not even acknowledge that the Book of Revelations is for our time. Many clame that the Book of Revelations has been fulfilled. Paul even warned us not to be deceived by any means. 2Th 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. We as Christians from time to time make mistakes and as Paul states many time and even Our Lord Jesus stated, none of us are perfect only God Himself is perfect. Let us learn from our mistakes and go out into the world and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

Time is running out and we all must be about our Fathers business. Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Our Lord commands us, to seek out the Lost for Gods Kingdom, and Brothers and Sisters that is a fulltime job. 2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Let us now all, be about our Fathers business and start repairing the damage that has been done, learn from mistakes, repent, bear the burden and go on.

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Lift up you eyes Children, Our Repentance Draweth nigh. Here is an artical that was posted in a local paper, I thought it reflects the trend among Christians; Politics shouldn't be preached at church.

In response to condolences to Democrats of Nov. 5, 2004, my condolences now go out to your church, or maybe I should say lack of churches.

I have lived a rather long life as men go. I have never heard as much perverted gospel coming from pulpits. Many have taken the grace of God and turned it into a Republican campaign gathering.

When anything is preached other than the gospel from the pulpit, it becomes a cult. When anyone is preached except Jesus Christ, he becomes the anti-Christ. (The word anti in this case means instead of -- in place of.) Read I John 2:18. "To all those prophets of Baal, it will be a terrible day when you stand before the great white throne for judgment."

There is nothing wrong with voting for any candidate of your choice. More than one million American servicemen have died in combat so you could have that privilege.

Jesus Christ died for all. I Timothy 4:10 -- to suggest that God favors the rich over the poor or the whites over the blacks or any other discriminatory idea is pure blasphemy.

If you have heard politics preached from your pulpit, I would strongly advise you to change preachers or churches because that is not a church of the Living God. Read II Corinthians 11:13-15.

Here is a little update; Members of the small Baptist Church say their Pastor led an effort to kick out congregants who didn't support President Bush. Nine members were voted out at a Monday church meeting in this mountain town, about 120 miles west of Charlotte.

"I hate to see the church suffer like that," she said. "God doesn't care whether you're a Republican or a Democrat. It just hurts to see that going on."

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Sermons International
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

How To Talk Your Way To Success

Smart folk have always realised how vital it is to talk positively to themselves as well as to other people. A bit of research will show you how these successful men and women not only visualise their goals but also frame them in words they constantly repeat to themselves.

If it works for them, it will work for you!

How's that?

Simple - wishing or desiring are closely allied to autosuggestion (a form of self hypnosis), a technique that appears to be fairly new, but which was actually known and practised by the ancients.

Autosuggestion means affirmation, a word which indicates the manner in which it is to be used. Autosuggestion is a material act of faith, because a desire must be fortified by the conviction of its realisation.

To give it power it should be expressed affirmatively; in other words, you must affirm to yourself the possession of the things or qualities desired.

For example, say to yourself, "I have," not "I would like to have, a good memory"; or "I have contentment"; or the case of illness, "I am recovering rapidly."

It is most important to understand this difference, and not to say "I wish for such a thing," "I hope to obtain that," for it is only in positive affirmation that the things wished for are realised.

In other words, frame your affirmations in the present tense, to impress upon your subconscious the belief and the feeling that you already have what you desire or have already become what you desire.

Repeat your affirmations with feeling, to reinforce their effect. And it is worth spending time on your phrasing, to make it so each affirmation can be spoken fluently and rhythmically. It's no surprise that some of the most memorable lines are poetic - because they are written with particular attention to rhythm and rhyme. Bear that in mind!

The founding father of modern autosuggestion, Emile Coue, who outlined the amazing principles behind this practice in his classic work, "Self Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion", devised one simple phrase which has helped thousands of people over the years: "Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better." Now, I don't know how it sounds in the original French, but that standard English translation rolls easily off the tongue, is rhythmical and supremely memorable!

Affirm what you want every hour, if possible, or, if your occupation does not permit this, do so when walking about, before each meal, and especially just before going to sleep - the effects will soon be apparent.

This method is so simple that its meaning and its effects are easily misunderstood. Suggestion, even without our knowledge, plays a large part in the life of each one of us.

We receive suggestions from our parents and friends, people in all walks of life, from the fashions of the time, newspapers, tv and adverts; in fact, from almost everything.

To resist these suggestions, which are more or less an attack on our liberty, we must learn to suggest to ourselves, in other words to affirm strongly what we wish to be, or what we wish to have.

This constitutes an important factor in making life a success. If your first efforts are not crowned with success, don't be discouraged; have faith, be patient, and good results will convince you of the power of this practice.

While practising autosuggestion, you must be careful not to allow yourself to be influenced by anyone else, for in doing so you may lose ground which will be difficult to regain. And bear in mind also that to assure the realisation of your desires by these means you must communicate them to nobody.

Ardent and enthusiastic desire is an accumulated force, working intelligently to accomplish its own ends. If you communicate to others your projects and desires you lose the best part of this force, which no longer works for the realisation of your wishes.

There is, of course, a way to use positive, affirmative language to influence others, persuade them of your views and add force to your private strategy, but there's not enough room to outline them in this article.

In the meantime keep your desires and practices secret to increase their power; and impress people only with their amazing results!

About The Author

Michael Blackburn BA MA FRSA, is a professional artist, writer & e-publisher based in the UK where he runs a number of websites, including The Hypnosis Collection: http://www14.brinkster.com/brunswald/

brunswald@excite.com

Prevent Constipation and Other Health Ailments with Papaya

Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through your colon remains too long in your colon before traveling out of the rectum. You become aware that you are constipated if you have difficulty passing motion or take a few days to do one purge.

That said, if you are suffering from constipation, you have been advised to eat more fruits and vegetables to increase your fiber intake.

For fruit, have you considered having papaya as a constipation remedy or including it as part of your regular diet?

As a natural remedy, papaya not only aids digestion but also helps prevent constipation. It provides relief from piles and also has anti-cancer properties. Papaya has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels, prevents the formation of urinary stones, prevents intestinal infection by parasites and aids in the proper functioning of the body's immune system. For lactating mothers, according to traditional beliefs, papaya also helps to stimulate milk production.

Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins (especially food with gluten). Concentrated amounts can especially be found in unripe papaya. This enzyme helps prevent the accumulation of mucoprotein (partially digested protein) in the body and lymphatic system. In fact, papain has been extracted to make dietary supplements for digestion. Thus, the unripe papaya is considered to have more healing powers for constipation than the ripe one.

Papayas are a good source of fiber. Its fiber is able to keep cancer-causing toxins in the colon away from the healthy colon cells. Those who are experiencing constipation or at risk of colon cancer should consider taking more papaya. Papaya's folate, vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carontene and vitamin E have been linked with reduced risk of colon cancer. Additionally, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya have also been proven to reduce muscle inflammation and the healing of burns and wounds.

The papaya fruit is slightly sweet, with a musky smell to it. It is now mainly cultivated in the warm tropical parts of the world but can easily be found in many supermarkets.

To prevent constipation and for all stated health benefits, here are three simple papaya recipes:

1. Papaya Milk Energy drink. Cut papaya and blend with milk in a 50/50 mix. Add honey if desired. Papaya milk is a good energy drink for growing children.

2. Papaya Salad (Thai Style). Shred green papaya and cut some tomatoes. For dressing, add chopped garlic, 2 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon lime juice, cilantro, Thai basil, 1 teaspoon chopped mint, chili padi (optional) and sugar to taste.

3. Unripe papaya juice. Peel off skin and put in blender. This recipe is especially good for the lymphatic system and after a meal that is heavy in gluten.

Including papaya as part of your regular diet is a great idea for a healthy functioning body.

Sandra Kim Leong aims to educate her readers on natural food diet and nutrition remedies for common health ailments. For more information, please vist her site http://www.food-diet-remedy.com

11 Things to Remember in Planning Your Wedding

Every woman dreams of her own wedding. May it be a small gathering in a picturesque orchard, a grand ball in a gigantic castle or a funky wedding along the coastline, she wants it planned and tailored to her wishes. Planning your wedding would take time, effort and energy but it's worth it. For brides out there, here are some things you can't forget to look into.

1. Payments

Of course, planning your wedding will need sufficient amount of cash. Establish who pays for what. This is usually worked out between the couple and their families.

2. Marriage License Requirements

There are different requirements for each state, so be sure to look into yours. Remember that you can't even start planning your wedding without a license so make it high priority.

3. Booking the ceremony and the reception

Choose a place to hold your wedding. It'd be great if both parties talk about it. Also, planning your wedding means planning the reception well so that there won't be wrinkles in your wonderful day.

4. Reception Ideas

Planning your wedding by yourself might become tiring, so set up a brainstorming session with your friends and relatives to work out the details. List the ideas in a piece of paper and deliberate on them carefully. Properly laid out plans are wonderful to work with.

5. Invitations

The invitation should be simple yet elegant. An overly decorated invitation just turns people off. Remember to include all the people involved in the wedding itself and address them properly. Be sure to indicate if you're inviting the children of the family too because most parents don't take them to weddings if their presence is not specifically requested.

6. Catering

Oohh... the success of every party more often than not relies on its food. Make sure that what you serve is of good quality and that they taste good. Go over the menu with the head chef and ask him for suggestions. Not only that this will give you great ideas, it will form a bond between you and the chef. Keep in mind that when planning your wedding, it pays to be in good terms with most of the staff.

7. Photos and Videos

Talk to the personnel and clarify what you want done. Sometimes, they just do things their own way and the couple ends up with really crappy results. Professionals are your best bet and they understand the need of planning your wedding to perfection.

8. Attendants

List all the people you want to have as your attendants and notify them as soon as possible. Just because you're marrying doesn't mean that the world will stop spinning and watch you in all your splendor. Take into consideration that people may have to rearrange their schedules to make it to your big day. Yes, planning your wedding take tremendous effort not only on you but on your attendants too.

9. Showers

No wedding is complete without showers. Since the bride is busy planning her wedding, this duty might fall into the hands of the mothers or the maid of honor.

10. Wedding speeches

In the midst of planning your wedding, take time to stop and list all you want to say on the day of your wedding. An impromptu speech is sincere, yes, but you might feel put out that you neglected to put emphasis on some people that really helped you a lot.

11. Maps

If your venue is in an area that is not so widely known, a map will be very useful. It will lessen the guests' aggravation on not finding the place and asking for directions.

12. Nitty Gritty Details

These are often overlooked in the chaos that is called "Planning your wedding". These are the little things that you might forget like having your gown cleaned and pressed ( if it's an heirloom), wobbling in your high heeled wedding shoes, delivery of gifts, your honeymoon itinerary, gifts and thank you cards. Try listing all of them and have someone look into them for you.

I hope you enjoyed these tips! If you would like a FREE wedding budget planning spreadsheet, please visit www.wedding-budget-planner.com

Are you looking for some help planning your wedding? My Wedding Planning ebook is packed full of tiups and ideas - visit http://www.wedding-budget-planner.com for details. If you would like a FREE wedding budget planning spreadsheet, please visit http://www.wedding-budget-planner.com

Letting Nature Grow Your Garden

It is wisest to let Nature have Her way. Nature has her own agenda, and your life as a gardener will be easier if you bow to Her desires. Better to dance with the fairies than struggle with eliminating "weeds". What herbs already grow around you that you can use as teas and seasonings? Most areas are rich in such plants, both native and introduced. Many of them will be happy to grace your garden with very little effort on your part. Some will appear; others may want to be transplanted. Still others are simply there, waiting for you to notice.

For instance, pine trees. Pine needle vinegar is an exquisite treat that is easy to make. I call it homemade "balsamic" vinegar. Fill a jar with pine needles. (I prefer white pine, and pinyon pine is even better, but the needles of any pine are fine.) Cover needles completely with apple cider vinegar, filling the jar to the top and capping with a plastic lid or a piece of plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band. This vinegar, like most that I make, is ready to use in six weeks. Pine vinegar is rich in flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. It helps keep the immune system strong, and strengthens the lungs as well. I love it on salads.

Your home, like mine in the Catskills, offers rose hips and sumac berries for vitamin-C rich teas; spice bush leaves and berries to suggest the flavors of bay and allspice; and the roots of sweet clover to use as a vanilla substitute.

Grab a local field guide and go looking for all the plants that are native to your area. For example, if you live in the northern states like Minnesota, a great book is "How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine, and Crafts", written in 1926 by Frances Densmore who collected information from the Minnesota Chippewa. There are many similar guides available.

Why use native plants? They are often hardy survivors and naturally adapted to the area, sometimes requiring less watering and care. Whether in the wilds or in your garden, Nature is ever-ready to provide you with all you need with little or no input from you. An abundance of edible and medicinal plants covers every inch of my garden - and I didn't plant any of them. With only a little help from me (I spread compost several inches deep on my gardens spring and fall, and keep them fenced against my goats and the marauding deer), my gardens grow: garlic mustard, chickweed, violets, dandelion, curly dock, nettles, burdock, wild madder, crone(mug)wort, wild chives, poke, catnip, malva, wild mint, bergamot, cleavers, motherwort, chicory, raspberry, goldenrod, creeping jenny, barbara's cress, evening primrose, milk weed.

The next best thing to letting Nature plant your herb garden for you is to put in perennials and let Nature take care of them. You will find the best plants for your area at a plant swap at a local church or school. Nurseries, especially the mail order ones, offer lots of different kinds of plants, but only a few of them will be both productive and carefree.

The most dependable perennial herbs are Echinacea, comfrey, elecampane, wormwood, and thyme, on the hardiest members of the aromatic mint family.

Cuttings of various mints are easy to come by and easier yet to establish. Chocolate mint and red bergamot are two of my favorites, but don't be choosy - accept any and all mint cuttings you are given. Perennial aromatic mints - including lemon balm, lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, pennyroyal, and catnip, as well as spearmint and peppermint - form the "backbone" of most herb gardens. Just grow them in full sun in poor soil and don't overwater.

Anyone who has a comfrey plant will be glad to give you a "start" (a piece of the root). And, once put in, comfrey is a friend for life. Ditto rhubarb, whose root is a formidable herbal medicine.

Magazines offer gardening knowledge in small doses, and at appropriate times, instead of all at once, and this is usually more helpful than a book that tries to cover all seasons and all reasons. These are my current (spring 2002) favorites:

The American Gardener, a publication of the American Horticultural Society. Perhaps it is a bit more formal than I am, but it nonetheless has a down-home charm. Check out www.ahs.org or call 1-800-777-7931. When you join, you get the magazine plus the right to join in their annual seed give-away.

The Garden Gate is very practical and covers a wide range of topics in excellent detail: from plants to planters, to planting your feet so your back stays strong. Every page counts, as there is no advertising. You can subscribe at www.gardengatemagazine.com or call 1-800-341-4769.

The Gardener is another non-advertising production. It is unique in not using photographs. It is illustrated throughout in a variety of stunning styles. They offered me a credit worth $20 for plants or seeds with my subscription. Go to www.thegardenermagazine.com or call them at 1-877-257-5268.

Herbals that include cultural instructions are good additions to your library.

Opening Your Wild Heart to the Healing Herbs by Gail /Faith Edwards is one of my favorites. I love Gail's voice. When I read the book I feel like a wise teacher is sitting next to me telling me how to use and how to grow herbs and trees, medicines and teas. Available from www.ashtreepublishing.com.

Steven Foster's Herbal Bounty is a classic on "The Gentle Art of Herb Culture." Unfortunately, it is now out of print, but you may be able to find one used. (c1984, Peregrine Smith Books). He gives detailed information on the culture, and medicinal uses, of over 100 popular herbs.

Park's Success with Herbs is also out of print but a book that I use constantly. Gertrude Foster and Rosemary Louden fill just under 200 pages with an incredible amount of information on growing and using (lots of recipes) an amazing variety of herbs.

Wild Women's Garden is one of a series of books that tell you how to grow and use herbs. This one focuses on herbs for women. Another, Serenity Garden focuses on herbs that are relaxing. A third, En Garden, is more general. Each book contains a postcard that you send in for free seeds so you can grow the plants in the book. Great info and great fun. The cost of the seeds alone is worth more than the price of the book. Jillian VanNostrand and Christie Sarles are the authors; published by Radical Weeds.

When you try too hard, it doesn't work. We learn to work with the slow interplay of Yin and Yang. We learn to be in harmony with nature's laws. Forcing things to fit or going against the grain is an unskillful way. We learn to be flexible like water. We use our intuition. We hold, energetically, a magical spot of ground and watch what grows. In Taoism they call it "Wu Wei". We walk in the "effortless", we dance with the fairies, moving in joyful flow with the undulating, magical greenery blowing in the breeze.

Wow! You have a garden! With patience, good weather, and the grace of the Goddess, you and Nature will create a thing of beauty.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com

Get Everything Done Quickly Using Your Basic Tools

No one wants to have their house equipment broken. But it might happened your electricity went off or your water system not working etc due of broken installation. You realize it will take a whole day to wait for your electricians or plumbers to come. So, what should you do?

Don't wait until your family cried loud for light or water. You have to make a quick move. You must check the cause of the trouble, so once the electrician or the plumber came they will know the problem quickly. If you can fix it, that's a bonus. But to do so, you have to own a set of basic tools in your place. Make sure you have the basic tools that mostly used by electricians and plumbers such as wire snippers, needle-nose pliers, screwdrivers, stripping tools, tubing cutters, and pliers.

Having basic tools in your house indeed will make your life easier. You can use it to fix not only electricity and water system but also everything broken in your house. The problem is finding a cheap price of tools. You realize collecting tools take some times and also expensive. Where can you find cheap price in a situation where oil price is outrages?oh my...

Don't get upset yet, if you want to stock up your toolbox for a home improvement project you have to be diligent checking the Internet. There are a lot of reputable online tool supply sites which simply lifesavers for busy people like you. There really is no substitute for finding a place that carries every kind of tool you could possibly need.

Another way to find cheap tools is through clearance tools sales at major wholesale distributor. Wholesalers typically have the best prices to begin with, so when you catch that rare sale, you can be assured that there is no better price out there. It takes some searching, but it is well worth the effort if your goal is to build a good set.

Check careful when buying tools, especially when you buy electricity tools. You must find the tools with insulated rubber handle to avoid high voltage that might shock you. This is one of the most important things to look for when investing in these tools. These insulated rubber handle tools help to ensure that electrical currents are grounded and don't pass through your body.

No matter what you fixing, electricity or water system, you must take the proper precautions to do all those fixing. You don't want to get hurt right? One of the best ways to ensure your safety in high voltage conditions, for example, is to have the proper training and the proper tools for the job. Don't mess around with what you doing, you must focus. And other warning when you work with electricity is to turn off the power at the source before you do anything else. Turning off the power reduces the risk of electrocution, electric shock, and fires.

Make your house a best place for you. Collect a set of tools in your house! You definitely need it someday.

About the Author:

Tony Gevano interest in observing people's way in choosing things. You can find his writing in different Website. Visit http://www.my-machine-tools.info; http://www.my-tool-box.info

From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money Selling Info Products

The term "Infopreneur" is a relatively new industry buzz word that is making waves because it opens doors for entrepreneurs to generate new streams of income. Simply put, an infopreneur sells information.

Information products are offered in a variety of formats including books, e-books, special reports, audio formats, videos, workbooks, tips booklets, and virtually any method in which you can deliver information. Many successful entrepreneurs have been doing this for years. Here are some examples:

*Joan Stewart is a publicity expert and operates www.PublicityHound.com. With over 100 special reports and audio recordings of the teleconferences she hosts, Joan is a master infopreneur.

*Dottie Walters is the author of "Speak and Grow Rich" and several other books, and the founder of www.SpeakandGrowRich.com. In addition to her published books, Dottie sells audio programs, subscriptions to "Sharing Ideas," her magazine for speakers, and weekend-long seminars.

*Dan Poynter is the author of "The Self-Publishing Manual" and other books. This savvy infopreneur has built his enterprise based on his expertise in several areas: publishing, parachuting, serving as an expert witness, and cats. Dan sells dozens of special reports and mailing lists through his website: www.parapublishing.com.

Benefits of Info Products

Aside from the additional revenue stream info products generate, there are numerous hidden benefits. For example, many authors treat their books like a business card, using them to open doors to new business opportunities. A book gives you more credibility and makes you more interesting to the media. With the right spin on your topic, media exposure could bring you a windfall of new business. Just look at any author who has made it onto the Today Show or Oprah. Even an article in a local newspaper can prompt hundreds of readers to buy your book.

As you add more info products to your line, you spin a web of opportunity. Each product may appeal to each customer differently. Some may buy one product, others may buy another product, and ideally, most customers will return to purchase multiple products.

Each product provides the opportunity to reach new markets with your advertising efforts. You automatically create a new reason to send a press release when you announce a new product. You can also promote the new product to your newsletter subscribers and to other businesses that compliment yours. These target marketing opportunities could change with each new product introduced since each could appeal to a different audience.

Giveaways are another fantastic use for info products. For example, you could reward new subscribers to your e-zine by giving away a free e-book. Or you could send your e-book to other business owners and allow them to distribute it for free, provided all of your contact information remains intact. This strategy will ultimately bring you new customers and that all important exposure to your audience.

You can also negotiate rights to resell your content. Paulette Ensign creates bound tips booklets and has sold them by the thousands to businesses who use them as giveaways for their own customers and employees. Not only does she make money selling the reprint rights to the booklets, but she reaches thousands of potential new customers.

What to Write About

Everybody is an expert at something. If you run a successful business, that makes you an expert in your industry. Or perhaps you are an expert at a hobby, sport, or other special skill. Here are some tips for coming up with product ideas:

*Conduct a survey with your customers and ask them what information they need or would like to know.

*Teach people how to do something.

*Create a directory. Do you have a list of 50 or more resources that people in your industry need? Sell it!

*Read books from your field of interest. Is there a book that covers an important piece of information in one chapter that deserves to be expanded upon? Could you write a whole book or a special report about that topic?

*Make a list of potential guests that you can interview and host teleseminars. You could charge for the seminars, or offer them for free and sell the recordings.

*Outline some topics and consider teaching at your local adult learning center or become a professional public speaker. You can also sell recordings of your live presentations.

*Produce a video recording of a demonstration, speech, or technique..

*Take an inventory of the people you know. Can you incorporate them into your projects? People like real-world examples and advice from experts. Interview your peers and include excerpts in your print publications or audio products.

Keys to Info Product Success In order to convince customers to get out the credit card and buy from you, your products need to meet the following criteria:

*Credibility: Demonstrate any credentials that you have in your field. This is not the time to be shy. Publicize your education, experience, awards, or achievements in the area that you specialize. Strangers are not going to buy from you unless you can demonstrate your ability to deliver on your promises.

*Quality: There are a lot of information products out there and some are downright lousy. Make sure that whatever you produce is of the highest quality. Written documents should be professionally edited. Audio or video programs should also be edited.

*Value: There is a fine balance when determining the price of products. Too many infopreneurs price their products out of the ballpark. Check to see how your competitors are pricing their products. Some price products higher to demonstrate the extreme value of the information they are selling. If you use this strategy, be sure you are delivering information that is worth its weight at checkout.

*Delivery: With electronic products such as e-books and reports, customers who purchase want instant gratification. Though you can manually e-mail electronic products once a sale is completed, it's best to set up a system to automate the delivery process. An added advantage of automation is that you won't have to constantly check e-mail for sales notifications and you can actually make money and deliver products while you sleep.

If you mail products, be sure to set up a streamlined process for shipping. Compare shipping options with the U.S. post office (www.usps.gov), United Parcel Service (www.ups.com), and Federal Express (www.FedEx.com).

*Marketing: No business can survive without marketing. You need to let people know you are there so you can entice them into buying from you. A solid marketing plan is essential to success with info products.

*Development: All info products should be up to date. At the same time, new products should be in development and should compliment other products you have available. Think about how McDonald's structures its business. The fast food chain relies on a staple of products (Big Macs, French fries, Quarter Pounders) and introduces new products throughout the year. Some products are only available for a limited time-a chance to test the market viability. The products that sell best are added to the permanent menu.

Marketing

If you're going to sell info products, you need a way to promote them. The first place to begin is with a website. A website can reach a potential customer base that spans the globe. Your own website allows you to establish your credibility, build a database of site visitors, and promote and sell your products directly.

Strategies for Promoting Info Products

*Host a website that specializes in topics related to your info products. Provide free information as a sample of what you have to offer. If you offer free information that is useful, you can eventually convert many of those free users into real buyers.

*Conduct public speaking engagements (including workshops, seminars, and classes). Seminar speaking experience helps you earn credibility while gaining valuable exposure and experience.

*Hold teleconferences to share information. Ask peers to announce your events in their e-zines or on their website. Even if you aren't selling your product up front, you are exposing people to your products.

*Distribute a newsletter or e-zine. This is an inexpensive yet valuable way to market to your customers.

*Up-sell and promote additional products when someone makes a purchase. Include a brochure about your other products when you ship an item or offer the buyer a special discount on a related product at the time of purchase.

*Establish yourself as an expert in your field by being seen and heard everywhere. Participate in interviews, publish articles in print and online, and seize every possible opportunity to get your name out there.

*Take advantage of media exposure. Radio is an inexpensive way to reach a lot of people in a short amount of time. Many talk radio programs accept experts through call-in format. If your topic is interesting enough to reach a broad range of listeners, you could go on a radio tour right from the comfort of your own home. Print publicity is also beneficial. Find news angles for your topic and contact newspaper, magazine, and TV reporters.

*Create an affiliate program. Offer other businesses the opportunity to sell your products and pay them a percentage of each sale.

*Swap advertising with websites and e-zines that reach your target market.

As you develop a plan to generate and sell your own info products, take notice of how others are doing it. You may even want to purchase some info products from business owners that you admire so you can evaluate the content. Learn from those who are already successful so you can emulate their success. Soon you could be generating income while you sleep.

For additional resources on developing an infopreneur business, visit www.BusinessInfoGuide.com/infopreneur.htm.

About the Author:
Stephanie Chandler is the author of "The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide: Seize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!" and founder of http://www.BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs. Subscribe to the newsletter for hot tips and small business tools.

Writing Great Website Sales Copy

Many small businesses fail because their owners don't pay enough attention to marketing and sales. Part of the effectiveness of a marketing effort is directly related to the sales copy you produce. This is especially true on websites. Sales copy is the words you use to convince prospective customers to buy from you.

If you want plenty of ongoing, loyal visitors, and consistent income, learn to write great marketing copy for your website. Think of your website. Ask yourself these questions:

-"What does my Web site say about me? Is it formal or informal? Is it friendly or fact-oriented? Is it professional or amateurish?"

-"Do my words take readers by the collar and convince them to read more? Do my words inspire my readers to take action?"

-"Will prospects learn what they need to know in order to arrive at an informed decision to buy on my website? Is my copy written about their concerns and the benefits of my product to them?"

-"Will they be eager to contact me? Is there a time-based incentive (like a limited time offer) to convince them to do something NOW?"

Here are things to consider when composing your sales copy for your website:

Use headlines. These headlines should be so powerful and convincing they force your client to read further. Don't start with "Welcome to my site. My bio is... or "click here" to subscribe to my ezine?" Blah, blah, blah. Boring!

Describe benefits your potential customer can see, hear, or feel if they use your product. Make certain they know you understand their issues and how your product addresses those issues. Write every bit of sales copy from the buyer's perspective. If you are providing a solution to a problem they have, you will make a sale.

Model your website after other successful sites. If you know something works for your competitor or other successful businessperson, why re-invent the wheel? Visit other websites and critically observe what they do well and what they do poorly. Then, compare these analyses to your own website and make changes.

Avoid looking like a company brochure. Your site shouldn't just be a virtual brochure of your products and qualifications. Ask a few questions from your reader's point of view that lead them to your product or service as the answer. The cold, hard truth is people don't care about you; they want solutions for their challenges. Write your sales copy that way.

Use testimonials. People don't know you from Adam or any scam site on the Internet. You must convince them you are who you say you are. Use happy customer's statements about your service or product. This will go a long way toward convincing prospects you can be trusted.

Provide quality content. Give people more than a sales pitch. Provide them with other resources, like articles, to inform and entertain them regarding your product. Provide links to relevant product reviews or survey results so they have all the facts to make an informed decision.

Make it easy for your website's visitors to buy. Many people like the luxury of using a credit card online. Make certain you offer that option. There are many credit card processing options, like Paypal, that do not require a merchant account. On the other hand, some people hate to buy online. They fear for the security of their credit card information. Give them several options, including an order form they can print and mail or fax to you.

Realize the power of the written word. If your website has been up more than a few months without sales, consider reconstructing it. Have a clear picture of your prospective customer in mind. Make certain your sales copy addresses their problems, concerns, and values.

Once you understand your audience, list at least ten benefits provided by your product or service. What are the best five benefits? Then, create a variety of headlines that have marketing and sales in mind. The headlines can be in the form of a question, a command, or a shocking statement, but they should all be full of specific benefits.

People buy for their reasons not yours. Make certain you give them compelling reasons to buy from you.

Michele Schermerhorn calls herself a "Corporate Freedom Fighter" dedicated to freeing cubicle prisoners to experience their own successful online business. She has over 30 years experience in the business world and over 12 years running her own successful online businesses. She is President of Online Business Institute Inc. (http://www.obinstitute.com), authors a sassy marketing blog (http://www.imarketblog.com), and regularly conducts free online seminars. Online Business Institute Inc. exists to "Create Successful Online Business Owners One Person At A Time".