Time to update to Adobe Reader 8

On the subject of software for Internet marketers, I would like to mention that it's time to update to Adobe Reader 8 if you haven't done so. This will be free from a security flaw that plagues versions 7 and earlier, as notified in one of the Adobe advisories. However, if your system is too old to update to version 8, Adobe says you should do a full install of the patched version 7.

Adobe says that the flaw let hackers use a technique known as cross-site scripting, in which they blend malicious JavaScript with a link to a PDF file on a Web site to hijack a user's computer.

The problem does not affect PDF documents themselves, and can only be used when someone attempts to retrieve a PDF document by clicking a malicious link, such as one a spammer might embed in unwanted e-mail.

There are no security issues with the actual PDF files but someone could possibly download a PDF, and then upload it to their server and put the nasty code in the link.

So to be on the safe side, don't open email attachments, or PDF files from strangers, or even from people you know, unless you were expecting something, as it's very easy to spoof an email address.

To avoid this, the easiest and safest thing to do, is to upgrade to the latest version, that is Acrobat Reader 8 or Acrobat Professional 8.

Here are the official Adobe Security Bulletins and Advisories:

http://www.adobe.com/support/security/index.html

You can update your Adobe Acrobat Reader here:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Posted by Dale Ng, an Internet entrepreneur enthusiast who shares tips, info, news and articles on Internet marketing. Feel free to visit his website on Internet home business at: http://www.homewebbiz.com/ . You can also visit his other websites at: http://tinyurl.com/jcsqs and http://tinyurl.com/vervd .

Asia Internet intermittently painfully slow

Reports from Hong Kong say Asian companies say they have overcome most of the problems with their communication networks a week after an earthquake off Taiwan damaged undersea fibre-optic cables in Asia’s worst disruption to Internet services.

Last week, companies resorted to faxes and mobile phones after parts of the region lost Internet access. Now, from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, voice and Internet services are almost back to normal. Well, almost.

Indosat, Indonesia’s second largest phone carrier, was running at 80 percent capacity as of New Year’s eve. It rerouted its services to cables connecting Australia, Hong Kong and the US and is providing Internet services at 1.2 gigabytes per second, compared with the normal capacity of 1.5 gigabytes per second.

China Telecom Corp. said at the weekend that Internet service had returned to 70 percent of the company’s normal operation, while voice services to Hong Kong and Macau were back to normal.

From the end user point of view, services would have returned to normal because usage is low at this period of time in the year. However, intermittently, the Internet is still painfully slow and it is a torture trying to do some serious surfing of the Internet.

Apart from rerouting Internet signals to spare lines, ships had been dispatched to the affected areas with the damaged fibre-optic cables and are supposed to have started repair work today. It will take two or three weeks to get the repairs done.

Meanwhile, it this part of the world, Internet will be intermittently very painfully slow if you have to deal with websites hosted in the US, Europe and Australia. Well, let’s hope the repairs are done soonest possible without any delay.

Posted by Dale Ng, an Internet entrepreneur enthusiast who shares tips, info, news and articles on Internet marketing. Feel free to visit his website on Internet home business at: http://www.homewebbiz.com/ . You can also visit his other website at: http://tinyurl.com/jcsqs .

Blogkits for your blog this Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I would like to tell you some good news if you haven’t heard of it yet. Recently, on Monday Dec 11, a wonderful thing happened. Blogkits.com was launched and it promises to be a great thing for the small blogger whose blog does not have so much traffic.

When you do not have much traffic, you won’t earn much with AdSense but it is said that you can earn much more by putting Blogkits ads which are Cost Per Action (CPA) ads. It’s the latest wonderful thing that is happening in blogosphere. Now there is a trend towards CPA in Internet marketing and this couldn’t come at a more opportune time.

Actually, BlogKits was created by Jim Kukral in early 2005 as a solution to help bloggers find new ways to earn a profit with their blogs.

BlogKits was acquired in 2006 by Forge Corporation, a global affiliate marketing firm, and has been transformed into a world-class affiliate marketing tracking network built for bloggers (affiliates) and advertisers. Bloggers, it will pay you to check it out http://www.blogkits.com/ .


I’ll let Jim Kukral do the talking:

BlogKits... In A Nutshell

Our business model is simple...
Help 99% of 50-70 million low-traffic bloggers make a few extra bucks by giving them easy to implement tools and partnerships that lets them keep blogging, instead of trying to be an expert marketer.

We're an alternative to things like Google Adsense. We believe that low-traffic blogs will never make more than a few pennies per day with Adsense, and argue that those bloggers are better served shooting for a CPA return on investment.

Please view our Google Adsense Blog Earnings Calculator Tool to see what we mean.

The More, Official Explanation...
BlogKits is the first, and only affiliate marketing network built for bloggers. It's an alternative monetization method for millions (99% of all blogs) of low-traffic bloggers who aren't expert marketers.

Why Is BlogKits Different Than Say A Normal Affiliate Network?
BlogKits ends the confusion, makes it simple & provides the best options that benefit the blogger. Here's how.

1. When a blogger logs into a typical affiliate network, she sees thousands of programs to choose from. Once she selects a progam to promote, she then sees a large assortment of banners and text links. What does she choose? She's not an expert marketer. Which banner should she use? Where should she place it on here blog? Which product sells best?It shouldn't be so hard, BlogKits makes it easier...


2. When a blogger logs into BlogKits, she has to complete two simple steps. The first is to choose which type/style of advertisement to use. Either a simple text ad, or an understated sidebar banner ad, both built specifically for bloggers.

The second step is for the blogger to decide what type of ads will fit best for her readers. For example: if she has a blog that is read mostly by small businesses, she would simply grab one pre-built piece of tracking code for that category, place it in her blog, and be done.

The BlogKits system will rotate the pre-selected ad units for the blogger. Each time a reader clicks and purchases, the blogger earns a % of that order.

Read the FAQ for more answers.
How can BlogKits help my blog?

1. By adding an additional, non-competitive, revenue generator on your blog that can earn you more money


2. By making your blogging efforts even more worthwhile


3. By giving you an easy to implement method to make money from your blog through trusted merchants and brands

So, there you are. You have a blog and want an honest, easy & effective solution to earn a few bucks. Log in for a 1-minute free signup at http://www.blogkits.com/ and easily put the ad codes on your blog to get started straightaway.

Posted by Dale Ng, an Internet entrepreneur enthusiast who shares tips, info, news and articles on Internet marketing. Feel free to visit his website on Internet home business at: http://www.homewebbiz.com/ . You can also visit his other website at: http://tinyurl.com/jcsqs .

Mistakes and the Internet marketer

As an Internet marketer you should never fear making mistakes in your Internet business, for as George Bernard Shaw said, a life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life doing nothing.

As the year is coming to an end, we should pause a little and scrutinize our mistakes made during the year and learn from them. However, when you make a mistake, don’t look at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.

Also, we must learn from the mistakes of others, for it has been said that wise men profit more from fools than fools from wise men; for the wise men shun the mistakes of fools, but fools do not imitate the successes of the wise.

Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from :-)

There is a wise man in Joel Comm, a top Internet marketer. Here is Joel Comm’s list of BIG mistakes in Internet marketing you should avoid making:

Big Mistake #1--------------NEVER click on your own AdSense ads and don't ever invite anyone to click on your AdSense ads! This is the fastest way to end up without an AdSense account.

Big Mistake #2--------------DON'T become a infoproduct-aholic! There is a lot of fantastic products and services out there to help you with your business, but don't buy so much that you can't usewhat you already have purchased! Stay focused and disciplined, with a plan of action, and you may find that you already have everything you need. Just because I, or another teacher, recommend a product or service doesn't necessarily mean that it is for absolutely everyone.

Big Mistake #3--------------NEVER accept an email list from someone claiming to offer "opt-in" addresses that you can send email to! This is a completely illegitimate way to market and you will officially become a SPAMMER if you use one of these lists to market your site, product or services. I've seen at least one high-profile marketer offering "new opt-in" email lists as bonuses. Avoid these like the PLAGUE unless you want to end your online career early.

Big Mistake #4--------------DON'T invest in products or services for the bonuses offered! There have been some incredibly ridiculous bonuses given away with products recently. Forgive me for saying so, but if you are buying a revenue-generating opportunity because it comes with a scooter or dvd player, you have been totally distracted from the reason you are purchasing the product in the first place and should probably just hang on to your wallet. If a product isn't worth investing in on it's own merits, it probably isn't worth investing in at all.

Big Mistake #5--------------DON'T try to do too many things at once! It is way too easy to spend time learning how to become an HTML expert, graphic designer, copywriters, marketing guru, product creator, and so forth. But none of us are wired to do ALL things. I believe that's why God gave us each other, with each person uniquely wired to do their part. Instead, learn to outsource those things which don't come naturally to you. You'll find that you are far more productive and effective doing the things you ARE good at... and you'll probably enjoy your work more and feel less stressed.

That’s very good advice from Joel Comm, the top AdSense guru. And he’s not top notch for nothing. He’s a prudent, clever and wise man.

However, I will take leave with a parting thought…The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one…

Posted by Dale Ng, an Internet entrepreneur enthusiast who shares tips, info, news and articles on Internet marketing. Feel free to visit his website on Internet home business at: http://www.homewebbiz.com/ . You can also visit his other website at: http://tinyurl.com/jcsqs .

A little bit of poetry

A little bit of poetry

To add a little culture here at my blog, I shall digress a little and indulge in savouring a couple of beautiful poems written by Robert Louise Stevenson for children and those young at heart :-)

See how simple the words he used, the turn of phrase and how effectively and harmoniously he constructed the verses to rhyme. I’m sure you’ll find it a pleasure to read.


Where Go the Boats?

Dark brown is the river,
Golden is the sand.
It flows along for ever,
With trees on either hand.

Green leaves a-floating,
Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating--
Where will all come home?

On goes the river
And out past the mill,
Away down the valley,
Away down the hill.

Away down the river,
A hundred miles or more,
Other little children
Shall bring my boats ashore.
Robert Louise Stevenson



Bed in Summer

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
Robert Louis Stevenson

Does AdSense Make Sense?

Does AdSense Make Sense?
For many people, being able to put Google AdSense ads on their websites to earn money is a very welcome thing. But it’s a different matter to some other people. Like with 54-year-old Australian, Graham Hunt, the idea is against his principles.

In his article which appeared in EzineArticles.com he says AdSense makes no sense to him. It is an interesting point of view and it is worthwhile reading the article which I reproduce as follows:

Adsense Makes No Sense To Me
By Graham Hunt

You won’t find any Adsense ads on my website.

Yes, I’ve read about the apparent “death of Adsense” and my inbox has been stuffed with claims and counter claims about the value of this product or that strategy. But that is not the reason.

You see, I am a writer. I love nothing more than to research and write material on the area of my passion. In fact I have devoted my life to that very thing. Other than a bit of housework and meal preparation in support of my hardworking life- partner, my time is spent online researching and writing my own material. I am very proud of the material I have produced and offer in the form of articles and e-books on my website.

Once I have attracted a visitor to my site, why on earth would I want them to suddenly leave and go who knows where? At least if they clicked on an affiliate link I have something of an advantage for two reasons: (a) I have chosen where the visitor will go when they leave my site and (b) I could receive some income if they purchase the product or service on the site to which I am an affiliate.

With Adsense, the most likely place my hard-earned visitor would end up would be my direct competitor! That’s like owning a Pizza restaurant and advertising the local Chicken Take-Away in my establishment. Yet, that is in effect, the type of thing I would be doing if I displayed Adsense on my site.

Yes, it might make sense to Google to provide contextual advertising. It would probably even make sense to the advertiser (otherwise why would they do it). But it makes no sense to me.

I write because I believe I have something worthwhile to say. I believe, in all honesty, there are a lot of people who would benefit from hearing what I have to say. I also believe that laborers are worthy of their hire, so yes, I offer some of my material for sale.

I put my material before people. If they like what they see, if it fills a need in their life at that particular moment in time, they may buy. If they don’t like what they see, that’s okay. But the last thing I want is for them to rush in and out of my ‘store’ because their attention has been grabbed by my competitor who I allow to stand in the entrance to my place of business for the purpose of diverting my customers across to his ‘store’. Will they come back to me? I don’t really know, but I sure as heck would rather it didn’t happen in the first place.

On the other hand, I recognize that I am something of a crusader. My site is not there specifically for me to make money, although the income is appreciated. If I was only interested in making money (and it seems, if you believe everything you read you either make millions or you make zero when you are in business on the Internet. There is, apparently, no middle ground) then I could provide the mega-store approach and offer you anything and everything your heart desires.

I heard recently of one entrepreneur who has 75,000 websites! Apparently the content on those sites is so unappealing that he makes tens of thousands of dollars each month from Adsense alone.

To that I say “Great. I trust he enjoys his money.” I choose to journey along a road apparently less travelled. What I lose out on in the area of financial gain, I certainly make up for in satisfaction of achieving my life’s goal and a career path that I honestly love. There’s not much more I could ask for.

About the author
Graham Hunt is the Founder and Thinker-in-Residence of The Ultimate Success Center, the website of which can be found at http://www.the-ultimate-success-site.com. Graham has also started an interactive blog on Aglet Marketing. An aglet is the small metal tip on a shoestring. Aglet Marketing, therefore seeks ways to promote your website on the tip of a shoestring. The blog can be found at http://www.aglet-marketing.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Graham_Hunt


Well, so you’ve read what Graham Hunt has to say about not putting AdSense ads on his website. Don’t you think that’s an interesting point of view?

Posted by Dale Ng, an Internet entrepreneur enthusiast who shares tips, info, news and articles on Internet marketing. Feel free to visit his website on Internet home business at: http://www.homewebbiz.com/ . You can also visit his other website at: http://tinyurl.com/jcsqs .