My 2¢ Worth

 have a free download for you this week. All you have to do is find it. It's hidden somewhere on this page.

he free download is Through Clock which is a small desktop clock with an alarm and many other features. I know you'll enjoy this one!

 am also going to be doing a series of interviews with various Internet marketers and Web site owners. Look for the first interview beginning in two weeks.

'm doing the interviews under the theory that the best way to learn is from those who are already in the trenches. They've been there; done that. Plus it's just plain fun.

 won't tell you who the first interview is going to be with right now. You'll just have to wait and find out. I know — that's cruel of me, isn't it?

Feature Article

Accountability - What happened to it?

by: Gary Knuckles Budgetware, Inc.

Accountability - What happened to it?

It was 11:30 pm when the email arrived. It was from a person I had heard of, and it was promoting this "new" program that would be the next rage on the internet. Anxiously I sped over to the site to checked it out. For some reason once I read the pitch, I just wasn't comfortable with all of the "whys and hows" of the program.

In the coming 2 weeks I watched as the program sped over the internet, everyone was joining. Sadly about 1 week after that, I watched as the many members of the program started to post negative comments and how they were not making any money.

The worst part is, many invested money, time and promotion efforts into a program that "seemed" too good to be true, but yet promised great results and potential profits.

Even more sad is the fact many couldn't afford it.

Why did they join then, when it seemed to good to be true? Because "someone referred" them to the program.

How many times do we see the above scenario happening today?

Look, I'm no guru or well known marketer and maybe have no place to even write this article, however I have made a VERY comfortable living from the Internet for almost four years.

During that time I have only referred a program 2 or 3 times, and fortunately they are still around today generating profits for the owners and members.

My concern is what has happened to good old research and investigating a program before just shooting out emails to all your friends and family?

Why is it so many fall prey to the emotions of "GET IN EARLY" and have all those sign up in your downline or whatever?

Why is it many don't consider the "after math" if their referral turns out to be a bomb instead of a treasure chest?

Now that's not to say they are completely to blame, it goes further than that. It goes to the originators and founders of the program as well.

WHERE is the accountability we once so valued?

What about the trust others put in us and our referrals, words, and examples we set?

Do many people no longer think about the long term effects of their referrals? What about the next time they refer a product or program, do you think the sheep will be as quick to follow? How does this affect you as a long term business person?

What happens the next time these owners or founders attempt to start a new program?

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not targeting any specific program or product of late, hey, there are plenty of great programs, products, newletters, and people that promote them. The Internet has leveled the field of business and commerce and afforded many the ability to make a great living online.

Instead I'm targeting the whole concept of accountability and our responsibilty as marketers, no make that "as people" to those that trust us!

I'm just asking you to think, investigate, ask questions and confirm before shooting out a quick referral from a hot tip.

**************

Written by Gary Knuckles BudgetWare, Inc. Copyright 2002 budgetware.com
Creator of Internet Information Manager software to help you manage all your marketing and internet information.
www.internetinformationmanager.com
Feel free to reprint in your newsletter provided this resource box is included.

Glowing Text Links
(IE only)

This special effect will make your links appear to be glowing. Place the following code in your HTML document where you would like your link to appear.

<span style="position:relative; width:200; height:25; filter:glow(color=#f0701a,strength=4)"><a href="http://www.yourdomain.com">Glowing Text Link Example</a></span>

Change the text indicated in red for customization. All I can say is to play around with these values until you achieve the desired effect. The more you change these values, the better you'll understand what each value does.

This effect works in Internet Explorer only. Netscape will display the link in the blue default color. I suggest that you make limited use of this effect, as it tends to irritate visitors.

Glowing Text Link Example

* Get these syndicated tip feeds for yourweb site, free. *

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ThroughClock

Second Article

So,Are Zips Only Good For Compression?

by: Neil Tarvin ebookgraphics.com

Let's talk about an email I got the other day. I received an email from someone who had visited my site stating the following...

"Its hard to believe that you are an expert in web publishing when you offer your free book in "zipped PDF" check the size, there is no advantage to compressing a PDF.

So now that we both know that we both are newbies..."

Me?? A newbie?? I've been on the Net since the early 90's - when web pages were few - and only contained text! But, let's not argue that point - let's look at the part where he talks about zipping pdf's, because that brings up a point that I feel you could benefit from.

It's a mistake to think that *any* given program - whether it's a zipping program, or graphics program, has only one function.

In the case he mentioned above, I used the zip program to allow easier downloads of the file. This file is linked to a number of other sites - it's simply easier to put it into a zip for downloading, rather than tell people "right-click to download...etc". The default behavior is for people to LEFT-click any downloadable file, but if you do that with a pdf, it will show up in your browser, not on your hard disk. So, I zipped it, simple, huh?

But that's not the only reason to zip a pdf file. Zip programs can also be used as "mini" installers. They can place the file wherever you want it on the reader's computer, create an icon on their desktop, and even start the file for you. They can make sure your ebook gets read!

Here's another example of how a program can be used for something other than what it's intended for. A program called "AutoPlay Menu Studio" was created to help the user create a menu for autoplay CD's - you know, the CD's that start automatically when you put it in the tray. But, if you look at the program, it has all kinds of "actions" that can be defined, so there's no limit to what you can do with it. You could use it to create an ebook, or a presentation that links to other programs or files. You could use it as an installer. You could even use it to write your own programs!

My own program, eBook Librarian, is for keeping track of ebooks. But it works with a database - what else can you use a database for? You could keep track of any downloaded software, or any files at all. You could use it to keep track of interesting articles. One teacher uses it to keep track of her lesson plans. She just changes the categories to suit the subject matter!

The key is to look at what the program does - and how it does it. Now, how can you adapt it to what you want it to do?

**************

Visit my site at www.ebookgraphics.com for information on ebook design using Word templates, "do it yourself" ebook design ebooks, and lots of information on ebooks in general. Don't want to "do it yourself?" I can handle that, too. And, be sure to pick up your FREE eBook Librarian while at the site!

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