The Poetry Portal Net

Do you eat fast food? You must. According to the House of Representatives, the fast
food industry is a significant part of our national economy. It did not become that
way be having few customers. Many independent researches have found that fast
food is unhealthy and causes weight gain. This research suggests there is
something “faulty” with fast food. Our nation is becoming more obese by the day
and many obese people are attributing their weight gain to fast food consumption.

In the documentary Super Size Me, it was proved that eating fast food
promotes poor health and weight gaineven without over eating. In response to
this “faulty” product, some are turning to the legal system for justice. However, a
cleverly devised bill was created called the “Personal Responsibility in Food
Consumption Act of 2005.” This bill was sent to the house (H.R. 554) and on
October 21, 2005 is passed by a vote of 306 to 120. The bill is now in front of the
Senate, where it is expected to pass.

The House of Representatives, in this case, found the following:

1. The food and beverage industries are a significant part of our national economy.

2. The activities of the manufacturers and sellers of food and beverages
substantially affect interstate and foreign commerce.

3. A person’s weight gain, obesity or a health condition associated with a
person’s
weight gain or obesity is based on a multitude of factors, including genetic factors
and the lifestyle and physical fitness decisions.

4. Fostering a culture of acceptance of personal responsibility is one of the
most
important ways to promote a healthier society, lawsuits seeking to blame individual
food and beverage providers for a person’s weight gain, obesity or health condition
are legally frivolous and economically damaging.

5. The American food industry is the nation’s leading private sector employer.

If you notice in the above findings, the basis of this soon-to-be law is economically
motivated and not devised for the betterment of a healthier society. In their purpose
and summary statement, the House of Representatives basically said that fast food
establishments should not be held liable for the damage their products cause due to
“over-consumption.” What is interesting is that these fast food companies have
never, to my knowledge, defined what “proper-consumption” is. How can you have
over-consumption when you have not defined what proper-consumption is?

If a typical American simply eats his or her regular three meals a day at a food
establishment and his or her health deteriorates as a result, shouldn’t that establish
be held responsible for serving a “faulty” product? H.R. 554 is an attempt to remove
the liability of food providers and silence the legal resource by consumers. The next
time you walk into a fast food establishment, see if you can located the “proper-
consumption” documentation.

Jason A. Martin is a Journalism Major (Political Science minor) and future law
school student.

His blog deals with Politics, Media and
the Law. You can view it at JasonAMartin.com.

Want to keep up with his latest articles? Subscribe to receive updates!

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »

Microfiber is used in so many ways that we hear the word often when speaking of bedding, apparel, fabrics and furniture.

Microfiber bedding is a newer fabric and is very, very popular these days- but have you every wondered what this microfiber truly is?

To the layman who doesn’t want a bunch of technical data, the fiber is microscopically thin..1/100th the diameter of a human hair.
Microfiber bedding, as a result is wonderfully soft to the touch.

Products made from microfibers like nylon and polyester are created with fibers that are also strong and extremely thin. These fibers are even thinner than the most luxurious than natural fibers, such as silk. And get this- microfiber can even be made to feel like suede, cotton or silk! How cool is that?

Fabric created from microfiber that is then used to create your bedding means that you will have products that are lighter, more comfortable, long lasting, breathable and even easier to clean. And it doesn’t come with a high pricetag either.

Products created from these fibers are also great for allergy sufferers.

Dust mites can live in such places as comforters, pillows and mattresses, microfiber can be woven into dense covers that do not allow the dust mites to escape and bother the allergy sufferer. Microfiber is an invention that has made a big difference in the lives of those with allergies. Zip on pillow covers, quality mattress pads, duvets to cover comforters and even comforters made with microfiber exteriors have reduced the problems for those allergic to dust mites significantly.

But these products are not just for those with allergies.

Let’s look at some of the great bedding you can find made from microfiber:

The Bolder Peak Comforter by Columbia is a great example of the use of microfiber to create practical bedding at low prices.

This reversible comforter has an exterior shell made of 250 thread count microfiber and 100% polyester filling. The comforter is labeled machine washable. Color combinations are navy/camel, black/blue and Berry/China Berry. Practical as bedding choices for dorm rooms, guest rooms, master bedrooms and every bedroom in your house, you’ll love the prices you’ll find on these microfiber comforters by Columbia.

Dockers doesn’t just make clothing anymore.

The famous Dockers label can now be found on bedding- including a reversible comforter set that comes with matching bed skirt and shams.

The microfiber polyester outer shell holds 100% polyester filling to create a lightweight but cozy comforter. Stain Defender technology means that spills and stains will be few and easy to remove because they will not bond with the fabric. Amethyst, black, navy and other colors are combined to provide lots of color choices in the reversible comforter. The pillow shams and bed skirt match one side of the comforter and coordinate with the other side. This microfiber choice is a great way to stretch your bedding dollar.

Microsuede and microfiber combine to create a great comforter from the J.C. Penny line of bedding.

One side of the reversible comforter is microfiber polyester, the other side is polyester microsuede, providing variation in textures. The hypoallergenic 100% polyester filling makes this machine washable comforter a great choice. Available with matching cotton/polyester blend pillow shams. Colors are black/tarragon, navy/wedgewood and thyme/tarragon.

If you want a comforter that feels like real down, you’ll want to know about Camden’s Reversible Down-Like Comforter. This bedding is filled with microgel, a down-like product that is allergy resistant and has that luxurious down feel. The outer shell is polyester microfiber and ten reversible color combinations are available. If you love down but don’t love the weight of down, you’ll love this down-like microgel filling inside the lightweight microfiber shell.

If you prefer blankets to comforters, Biederlack has created the Aurora Microfiber Bed Blanket that is light weight yet warm and cozy. The soft feel of the microfiber makes this bedding choice perfect in any and every one of the nine beautiful colors available. All common sizes are also available. You’ll want to add several to your bedding collection because they are reasonably priced yet high quality and fully machine washable.

Remember to read and follow the care labels on your bedding created from microfiber. Most microfiber should not be left in a hot dryer for prolonged periods of time. The material dries quickly because of the tiny fibers in the bedding.

Microfiber- A new favorite in the world of bedding.

Patricia Bowlin informs and entertains you as you shop for home bedding! Find out everything you need to know about chosing the perfect pillows, comforters, and bedding here now.

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »

Do you have all the customers your business can use?

The seemingly simple task of taking phone calls is a hidden liability for not just some, but most businesses. You’ve invested precious dollars in advertising and marketing. You’ve invested time in developing customer relationships. What happens when customers call your business? Many of us would be shocked to find out the truth.

When customers call your business, how are they treated on the phone?

If your business is like most in this country you may have seen to it that your receptionist received some basic training on how your phones should be answered and how calls should be processed. But what about the rest of your staff?

Today in business you know it costs far more to get a new customer than it does to keep an existing customer.

Have you ever called a business only to be treated improperly by whoever answered the company’s telephone? Most of us have had that experience when calling a business and the person answering the telephone just had bad manners.

“Hi XYZ Company” (No Name - Who answered?)

Recently my son went into the service and after not hearing from him for several weeks I placed a call to the recruit training command where he was stationed to ease my concern
about his well being. Here’s a recap of my call:

“Hello Perrttieoficorshweble.”
“Pardon me. Who am I speaking with?” I asked

“Perrttieoficorshweble.”

Since I was concerned about my son’s well being I wanted to be sure I got the name of who ever I was talking with so I asked again.

“I’m sorry I still didn’t catch your name who am I speaking with?”

“This is Perrttieoficorshweble”

Three times I tried to get Petty Officer Schweeble to slow down and enunciate his name. I finally did get it.

Have you ever called a company only to have someone who had NO business answering the phone, doing so? Is that person at your business?

Another time, a client had asked me to call a subcontractor to coordinate a job our company was doing for them. When I called the phone was answered clearly.

“Hello A&A Powerline Contractors.”

“Hello. This is James Bower with ABC Telecom; Mrs. Headrick from the school district asked me call and coordinate your trenching job with your new equipment installation.”

“Oh! Just a minute let me see if the guy you need to speak with is here.”

Immediately I was cast into silence. Was I put on hold or did I get cut off? I couldn’t tell, so in the hopes that I was on hold, I HELD. And I waited. A moment later the gentleman came back on the line. Thank goodness.

“I’m sorry the guy you need to speak with isn’t here. You can call him at 555-1234.”

“Thank you. And who should I speak with when I call that number?” (You see he hadn’t told me who I was calling for.)

“Oh! His name is Tim.”

After trying to reach Tim at the number I was given and getting no answer I called back to the first guy. When he answered the phone he explained he couldn’t help me, as he was only the janitor. I asked if he could take a message for Tim. He assured me he could. What I should have asked was could he take a message for Tim and see that he would get it. Because two days later I received a panicked call from Tim and Mrs. Headrick, as Tim had no idea what he was supposed to do at the job site. He had never gotten the detailed message I left for him with the janitor.

Although the first gentleman on the phone was pleasant and friendly, he actually wasn’t much help and shouldn’t have been answering the phones without being trained properly. If I had been calling to see if A&A Powerline could do a job for me, do you think they would be getting my business?

“So how can a business protect their most valuable asset;
their customers?”

When it comes to why businesses lose customers, the perception of a staff that doesn’t care ranks as the leading factor is reflected in a study by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Nearly 70 percent of those polled in the SBA study said that the perception of a non-caring staff led them to leave and buy from other businesses. This was by far the strongest response of six factors.

14 percent said product dissatisfaction ranked second. Price ranked third, with 9 percent of customers stating that as the reason they changed businesses. A friend or family member’s recommendation ranked fourth, ahead of moving away, and death. The SBA’s study reinforces that the way we treat our customers is a major contributor to keeping customers from leaving and taking their business to your competitors.

68% leave because of an attitude of indifference toward the customer by the business

14% are dissatisfied with the product

9% leave for competitive reasons

5% develop other friendships

3% move away

1% die

Consider the fact that the typical business only hears from about 4% of its dissatisfied customers. The other 96 percent quietly go away, and 91 percent of those will never come back…. Ever!

Did you know the average dissatisfied customer tells 8-10 others about lousy service. Twenty percent of these dissatisfied customers will tell twenty others. For the average business, it takes six times more $$$$$$ to attract new customers than it does to keep old ones. So doesn’t it make sense to do everything you can to keep the customers you have?

On an average day do you know what percentage of your customers receive service over the telephone? It’s not unusual to have more than 80% of customer contact over the telephone.

Take this simple test:

Do you conduct regular on going telephone training for all your staff?

Have others besides the receptionist been trained on the proper use of the phone?

Do you know where the weak links on the telephone are within your company?

Do your customers who have been handled improperly on the phones call to let you know about it?

Do you regularly call into your office to see how the phones are handled?

If you answered NO to two or more of these questions you might have a telephone etiquette problem.

How do you get these problem areas fixed?

A few simple steps will assist in fixing your staff.

Answering the Telephone has three basic parts.

1. Identify the company that has been reached. “ABC Welding…”

2. Identify the person answering the call. “This is James…”

3. Let the caller know you are there for them “How may I help you?”

I don’t think you should ask “How may I Direct your call.” If the person calling is looking for information; your mailing address, your fax number they now have to stop and correct you. “You can’t direct my call I need your fax number.”

Another key point is to have all the things you might need when answering a call. Have you ever called somewhere and the party you called for wasn’t available so you were asked “Can I take a message for them?” Then as you start to leave your message the other person says ” Oh, just a minute let me get a pen.” or Hey! My pen just ran out of ink.” Why isn’t the person prepared?

Always have 2 pens and a note pad ready incase you need to take a message or notes about a call you’re on. The second pen is for “Hey my pen ran out of ink.” You shouldn’t tell the caller that, just change pens and keep going.

Once you’ve taken the message repeat what you’ve written down to be sure you have it correct. Then assure the caller you’ll get the message to the party they called for.

These are some simple tips on how to make your firm appear more professional on the telephone. The only impression a caller gets of your firm is what they hear come through the receiver.

Remember…

A poorly answered telephone isn’t much better than a phone that isn’t answered at all.

© Bower Income and Profit Systems MMV All Rights Reserved.

James A. Bower is the Co-Founder and President of Bower Income and Profit Systems a company dedicated to enhancing business performance in many areas through tapes books and seminars. His presentations include sales, marketing, telephone skills, motivation, goal setting and achievement, telephone equipment and voice mail design and business organization for efficiency. He is an internationally recognized instructor and is the recipient of many awards in recognition of his successful efforts in assisting businesses create a more efficient environment resulting in maximum profits. He has had the opportunity to speak for groups as a large as 5000 and can get his points across to any size audience.

James has been actively addressing business issues and solving business problems for over 30 years. He is available to make presentations to company staff or for individual consultation.

Contact James at 316-773-1994 or jbower1@cox.net

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »

A heart attack is known as a myocardial infarction. This occurs when the heart muscle is damaged or does not receive enough oxygen. Many cardiac related problems occur due to blockages in arteries that carry purified blood away from the heart to different parts of the body. Another cause is the formation of blood clots.

Very often, it is quite difficult to differentiate between a heart attack and heartburn. The common signs of a heart attack are a tightness, pain, or discomfort in the chest. Sweating, nausea, and vomiting that are accompanied by intense pressure in the chest. A radiating and intense pain in the chest that extends from the chest to the left arm. A shortness of breath for more than a few minutes. If you have any of the above you must consult the doctor or go to the emergency rooms.

If you even think you are having a heart attack you must call for a cardiac care ambulance, and put under your tongue a sorbitrate or chew an aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin don’t take one. At the hospital care will include rapid thrombolysis, cardiac catheterization, and angioplasty. They will also administer intravenously clot busting medications.

The risk factors for a heart attack include: smoking, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol, hypertension, family history of heart diseases, atherosclerosis, lack of exercise, obesity, and fast foods.

Reduce the risks of a heart attack by:

1. Quitting smoking.

2. Eating healthy. Avoid fatty foods, excess salt, and red meats.

3. Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes.

4. Ensuring regular exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Walking is most beneficial.

5. Preventing obesity. Doing all you can to maintain weight.

6. Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle.

7. Practicing meditation.

8. Doing regular relaxation and breathing exercises.

9. Undergoing periodic cardiac evaluations.

10. Including foods that are rich in anti-oxidants in your diet.

A killer disease, according to the American Heart Association approximately 58.8 million people in the US suffer from heart diseases. And, about 950,000 Americans die of heart ailments each year. Heart diseases and death from it can be prevented by maintaining your health. Find a balance in life between work and other activities, abandon the couch for the outdoors, don’t watch sports on television play sports instead and you can hope to live a long and fulfilled life.

Be a well informed and caring citizen, read all about heart diseases and preventive care at: University of Maryland Heart Center for Preventive Cardiology –http://www.umm.edu/heart/preventive.html; or the American Heart Association –http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000; or the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion — http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec802720b8/ .

The norm prevention is better than cure could lead a whole nation towards good health and well being.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for www.1888Discuss.com/health/ , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Health Forum including topics on health care, Children’s Health Issues, addiction, Cancer, fitness equipment, Burns & Injuries and more. He also freelances for the premier Web Portal site www.Fafoo.com

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »

I’m of the belief that anything, when done in moderation, is just fine, so long as it does not infringe on the rights of others or hurt other people in any way. This includes poker, especially if it’s being done for charity.

So you can imagine my dismay today when I read a PokerNews brief about some firemen in West Virginia who got in some serious trouble over a few poker fundraisers they held to, well, raise money.

Authorities say the poker tournaments the poker tournaments the Westmorland Seward Volunteer Fire Company organized are illegal, and now the law is coming down on them.

The fine that the West Virginia Attorney General’s office is seeking to impose on the fire house is equal to what the department raised with its charity tournaments: $40,000. The Texas Holdem tournaments were held over the course of the past year. The attorney general said that the tournaments were illegal regardless of what the purpose was, charity or not.

Now, since this was a charity, I’d argue the department wasn’t in this to make any money. It was definitely more for the fun, and the fact that it was a game many people enjoy playing pretty much any time of year, it enticed people to donate who might normally not have done so.

Enjoyment, Gambling Luck, Playing Games | No Comments »

Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Bahadur Sherchan returned a hero to Calgarians. With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Andrew Brash noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. “The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on Chomolungma or Mount Everest. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though Chomolungma is shared by two countries. Bahadur Sherchan and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism.

“Mt Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.

The Chinese were flying their airplanes over Everest and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. Further, he was all too aware of the potential dangers Mount Everest could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused Min Bahadur Sherchan last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”

They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”

The 74-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of the Mount Everest. Min Bahadur Sherchan returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of Mt Everest. Climber from Nepal, 75, oldest person to conquer the summit of Chomolungma Now that Bahadur Sherchan has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Mount Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. Therefore, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Andrew Brash with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey. This year climber Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for Everest after he reached the peak of Kilimanjaro earlier this year.

Sherchan just 5 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.

More than 3186 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.

They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. His first found him within 226 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. One year later, Bahadur Sherchan, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to Chomolungma or Mount Everest to finish what he had started.

Adventures, Universe Of Sports, Hall Of Travel | No Comments »

I have been reading articles on increasing sales using search engine optimisation as well as writing them for a very long time and I have not seen many which point out the best way to increase sales.

The answer is obvious yet often overlooked; you just have to be as good to your customers as you would expect any other site owner to treat you.

The World Wide Web is vast and the choices are many, it doesn’t matter what you want you have probably got a choice of 30,000 to 3,000,000 sites to pick from.
Our customers will become repeat customers if they are provided a personal service that exceeds their expectations.

The Internet has been a boom for many people, businesses have sprung up and their owners have managed to make a living from them, some more than others.

The Internet has also taken away the contact we used to have with shop assistants, we no longer see shopping as a personal experience and I think this is a real shame.
You can’t ask questions, you can’t see the goods you are buying and you don’t get a feel for the person you are dealing with.

It is down to us, the seller, the owner, the customer service manager to provide a personal service to these people who entrust us with their hard earned cash to provide not only value for money but also a service that will leave them with a warm glow in their heart and a need to return to us for further purchases.

We will also get the benefit of the most valued advertising; FREE word of mouth recommendations are invaluable and must never be underestimated.
One person shows off their newly acquired goods and says how fabulous your site is to 2 or 3 people and then those people tell 2 or 3 people so on and on it goes.
Before soon you have loyal customer base.

Remember that it takes a long time to build a solid reputation but only one mistake to destroy it.
It takes a lot of hard work and sometimes you have to swallow your pride and say ” the customer is always right”, we all know that is not always the case but even an awkward customer has mellow moments and friends (well most of them do).

Mark White has worked in I.T. for the last 15 years and currently runs 3 websites.

http://sunspeks.com/

http://tendollardownloads.com/

http://phone-bits.com/

And administrates for http://freetraffictip.com/members

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »

The Department of Justice Federal Trade Commission consumer protection division is proposing new rules to protect consumers from fraudulent business opportunity scam artists. One of the biggest complaints from consumers at the Federal Trade Commission regarding business opportunities is that often the business opportunity practitioner will not refund the money that they guarantee if the buyer is not satisfied.

Often such money back guarantees are listed on brochures, web sites in the general media advertising. To combat this problem the Federal Trade Commission has proposed the following rules to help consumers from being ripped off by on ethical practitioners;

Proposed section 437.5(l): Failure to cancel or make a refund

“Proposed section 437.5(l) would prohibit a seller from failing to cancel a purchase or make a refund when the purchaser has qualified for such relief under the seller’s cancellation or refund policy. As noted above, proposed section 437.5(k) would prohibit a seller from misrepresenting, pre-sale, the seller’s cancellation or refund policy. Proposed section 437.5(l) complements that section and is intended to address sellers’ post-sale conduct, prohibiting the seller from failing to honor cancellation or refund requests when purchasers have satisfied all the terms and conditions disclosed in the seller’s basic disclosure document for obtaining such relief. In our experience, the failure of business opportunities sellers to make promised refunds or to honor cancellation policies ranks high among issues raised by business opportunity purchasers.”

Now mind you that there are many ethical practitioners in the business opportunity sector, however there is also quite a bit of fraud and that hurts the ethical practitioners. We consumers are ripped off, they are very upset, would you be? The Federal Trade Commission hopes to alleviate this problem and make it a crime to unlawfully withhold refunds that were guaranteed in the event of the cancel of the business opportunities sale. I hope you’ll think on this in 2006

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »

When I talked to my physical therapist about possibly getting an electric mobility scooter (I have Periodic Paralysis and too much walking can trigger an attack), she automatically recommended a power wheelchair. “Wheelchairs are much better in-doors,” she said. “You’ll have a place to rest your arms, and all you’ll need to move to control the chair is one little joystick.” She said that most wheelchairs have better seats and are upgradeable. “Insurance will usually only pay for one chair or scooter every five years,” she said, “So you need to consider not just your current needs, but what you might need five years from now.”

So, after all that, why did I buy a scooter? My disease varies from day to day, but is not especially progressive. I need a scooter that can be with me (in the trunk of my car) at all times, rather than a chair that might one day need enough power to run a breathing machine. Since there was a good chance insurance would refuse to pay for my chair, I also need mobility equipment I could afford on my own.

At the same time, my physical therapist was absolutely right about a joystick being easier to control than handlebars, but I’m doing okay with a tiller. She was also right that wheelchairs are better than scooters for tight in-home conditions. However, since I will mostly use my scooter to avoid long walks at stores, malls and parks, in-home use isn’t a big issue for me.

My choice was a scooter. What’s the best choice for you? It depends on you, your needs, your prognosis and your budget. You need to take your time, try both and consider not just the technology, but how you are going to fit it into your lifestyle; then you’ll make the right choice for you.

About the Author
Rodney Robbins uses his little Shoprider scooter frequently. “I have to tell you,” says Rodney, “my wife isn’t too happy about having a scooter in the trunk. You see, now I can shop longer, but we don’t have anyplace to put all those packages.” To help others find the mobility products they need, without wasting their hard earned money, Rodney set up a special web site at http://wheelchairdeals.eza.biz Visitors can find deals like used lift vans for the price of a new power chair, manual chairs at half price and scooters for hundreds below suggested retail. “Click through and see for yourself,” says Rodney. “Your wallet might bite you in the seat if you don’t at least register to bid.”

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »

Online articles may be the single best way to get traffic to your web site. Writing articles and submitting them to free article directories is certainly one of the least expensive ways. To make it work, though, you have to be persuasive.

Maybe you wonder what persuasive writing has to do with articles. You’re not exactly selling something with an informative article, are you? Actually, you are. First, you have to persuade the reader to keep reading until he gets to your link at the bottom. Then you have to give the reader a reason to click through to your site. Use the following tips to get more traffic by writing persuasively.

Persuasive Online Articles

1. Keyword optimized headlines. “How Much Can You Make This Year?” will get more readers than “Make More Money,” but only if people find the article first. “Get Rich Writing Simple Articles,” might have been a more attention grabbing headline, but I used “Online Articles” because that is a keyword phrase that people are actually searching. Of course, if you can use good keywords AND eye-catching headlines, it is even better.

Another way to have the best of both, is to write the article twice. Firt write it with a good keyword-optimized title, and then re-write it and submit it again with a more catchy title. Paint a picture in seven words or less, if you can. “A Thousand Dollars Fell Off My Table,” might lure them in. Titles with,”10 Ways To…” or “Avoid These Six Mistakes…” or “How To…” in them, are popular too.

2. The article description. Many article directories require a description. This lets the reader know what the article is about, and hopefully convinces them to read it. Hinting at things and leaving the reader wanting more can help: “If you’re making these errors, you’re losing money every day. Learn to avoid the most common optimization mistakes.”

3. The article body. You should write in your natural style, or, if you haven’t yet developed one, stick to easy “top 10″ types of articles. Keep paragraphs short, or readers will lose interest. Hinting at incompleteness can also help to get readers to visit your site. Instaed of, “Here’s how to write articles.” Say, “Here are a few of the techniques I use to easily write new articles.” You want them looking for the other techniques - on your site.

4. Use subtitles. The use of subtitles and headings breaks up an article, making it easier to read. Subtitles also help to optimize an article for search engines, if they contain good keywords. You’ll notice I often use subtitles, like the one coming up…

Online Articles - The Resource Box

You write online articles to get traffic, which you get from the link in the author’s resource box - if the reader clicks on it. Invite them to do so, and never just put your name, acheievements, and a link. At the very least say “To learn more, visit…” or something similar.

My most successful resource box is for my real estate site. It reads, “Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com” The resource box is what online articles are all about. Below, you’ll find an another one that has worked well for me.

Steve Gillman didn’t even know what HTML was when he registered his first domain name. Soon afterwards, he was making a good living online. To learn how you can do the same, visit www.TenMoney.com

Hard Cash Poetry Contest | No Comments »