Ever give much thought to the template you’re using for your PowerPoint presentations? You probably did when you created it, but haven’t thought much about it since. You should, says Mr. Serge Starenko, CEO of PowerpoinTemplates (www.PowerpoinTemplates.com). After all, your slides’ background communicates almost as much about you and your company as the information on the slides. Choosing a background “that does not reflect the mood of the company could easily compromise the audience’s opinion of the presenter,” cautions Starenko. Here are the most common errors Starenko sees presenters make when choosing slide backgrounds, and what he suggests can be done to correct them.
1. Designing a background that doesn’t fit your message.
In other words, don’t select a background with classic cars when you sell financial services. Don’t laugh, says Starenko – it happens all the time. “It is quite common for sales reps to select the design they think is the coolest without taking into account the audience and the purpose of the presentation,” he explains. It is critical that presenters select a design that communicates the overall mood of the company and the products or services they sell. The rep selling financial services, for example, would communicate the message more effectively with a template that uses a graphical portrayal of money. So how do you choose from the hundreds of custom slides out there with that kind of image? Again, it comes back to your message and your audience, says Starenko. What’s the message you’re trying to get across? Are you presenting to a group of high-level executives from a Fortune 500 company or to individual couples nearing retirement? Approaching your search with your audience and presentation goals in mind will help you quickly narrow your template search.
2. Selecting a design that does not match your company’s existing collateral materials.
If your company has branded its logo, brochures and Website in navy blue and red, your template, if possible, should reflect that color scheme, says Starenko. So if you’ve found several possible backgrounds that reflect the mood of your presentation and you can’t decide among them, pick the one that best matches your company’s colors. This kind of cohesiveness will tie everything together for your audience.
3. Using more than one template in the same presentation.
Often, a sales rep will take slides from several previously-designed presentations and merge them into one new presentation. While the text may be spot-on, the look often comes across as a mishmash of slides lacking cohesion, which ultimately undermines the message. It’s fine to slightly modify the background to make room for a large, important chart, for example, by using a small strip of the main graphic along the side. Ultimately, however, the background should have a consistent look and feel throughout the presentation.
4. Sticking with standard PowerPoint backgrounds.
Granted, there is nothing really wrong with using one of the templates included in the PowerPoint program, but you might unconsciously be undermining the message by doing so. “While using something basic such as a standard template might be okay,” says Starenko, “usually salespersons’ goal is to convey that they are better than okay, that they are fabulous. Reps should use every tool available to appropriately communicate that message.” With so many striking backgrounds available for a minimal price – sometimes just $10 or so – Starenko points out that “it’s just not worth taking the chance that audience members will leave thinking been there, done that – all for the sake of saving a few bucks.”
Selasa, 12 Mei 2009
Common Errors Presenters Make When Choosing Slide Backgrounds
Understanding How Spammers Work Can Save You Time And Reduce The Spam You Get
Nobody likes receiving spam and having to spend time dealing with it. Even with sophisticated filtering and avoidance mechanisms discussed in my previous articles entitled "Use A Spam Filtering Tool To Manage Spam And Save Hours Everyday" and "7 Steps To Effectively Take Control Of Your Inbox And Reduce Spam", these unwanted spam messages keep on appearing. By understanding how the system works, we can effectively take steps to significantly reduce the amount of spam that we receive daily.
What we have to understand is that email marketing is by far the most effective way to promote products and services on the internet today. The basis of this system it to collect as many email addresses as you can and repeatedly send email messages out to them. There is a legitimate way to do this and then there is the way spammers do it.
The legitimate way is to collect email addresses only from people who volunteer it to you on a website in return for some information that you offer. In addition to this every email sent out must include a link or instructions on how to unsubscribe. I would take it one step further and say that unsubscription must be instantaneous. Having to wait for a few days is unacceptable with the software tools available today. Following this method, you will only receive email messages that you have opted-in for and as soon as you are not getting any value out of it, you unsubscribe.
The spammers mode of operation is to collect email addresses by any and all means available. This could be by building software spiders to crawl websites 24 hours day looking for email addresses on any page. Usually they search for the HTML tag "mailto:" but as users have stopped hyperlinking in response, the spiders are getting more sophisticated and are putting together text like "john dot smith at domain dot com" into the proper valid email address "john.smith@domain.com". Some websites list all their employees contact emails on one page and is a prime target for spam. Harvesting guestbooks where emails are displayed is also a very common practice.
Other methods are more malicious and involve virus-like or worm software being installed on your computer and feeding the names in the address book back to a spam server that collects them.
Spammers trade email addresses for money. This is why the system is out of hand - it is an income producing activity. Every email address has a value to it and no matter how little the value, putting together a list of 100,000 can provide a neat income for a spammer. Most spammers have spam lists many times larger than this.
Spammers also include the unsubscribe link at the bottom of spam emails. These links when clicked and actioned, tells the spammers that this email address actually got through to a live person and that email address is now moved onto a much higher value list and is traded for more money. Those of us who have actioned these links have found the flood of spam coming in to vastly increase within only days.
So now to the question of how to use this knowledge to reduce the spam you get?
First, understand that everytime you give out your email address to a website, that it can potentally be sold and traded. Therefore, if you are unsure about it, use an email address that is not your primary one. Webmail services like Hotmail and Yahoo Mail are perfect for this. You only get the messages when you want them and log into those services. I've used a Yahoo Mail address for this for years now. Everytime I log in there are more than a thousand messages but the one that I want to look at is at the top. I never have to delete these messages, Yahoo takes care of it automatically. The only requirement is that I log in to the service within a set period usually 90 or 120 days to keep the account active.
Once you are comfortable that the site concerned is legitimate, you can then change your email address to your primary one. On the other hand, if you start getting spammed, then you do nothing, let the spam emails build up and get deleted automatically by the system.
In my article entitled "7 Steps To Effectively Take Control Of Your Inbox And Reduce Spam" I discuss an elegant way to safely give out email addresses and shut them down in case they get spammed. This is by far the most effective method that I have used.
Other things to watch out for?
Spammers are facing tougher times and they are finding it harder to get new email addresses. While this is a good sign that means the general public are getting more educated, it does mean that we have to be careful of where our email addresses are shown or advertised. For example, magazines and newspapers often are great places for a spammer to collect email addresses. This is a much slower method but if we think about it, these email addresses are of much higher value because somebody has paid money to advertise and so it is bound to be a real address. This means that we have to think laterally in order to stay ahead of the spam game.
Last but not least, we can surely help significantly reduce the problem by not responding to any spam email message whether it is by clicking on a link, replying to the email or unsubscribing using a supplied link. If you really must look at the site, just type in the domain name part of it into your browser and leave out everything after the domain name. This will take you to the site without the spammers tracking identification code.
Together we can surely put a dent in this system by understanding it and staying one or a few steps ahead of spammers.
Rabu, 06 Mei 2009
The 10 Easiest Steps You'll Ever Find To Boost Online Security
Online security isn’t just about installing anti-virus, spyware and malware programs anymore. Sure, they help greatly in preventing viruses and other forms of malware from infecting your computer but here are 10 simple steps to further reduce the chances of infection.
1. Manage your passwords
Having trouble remembering all the different passwords you used to register on various websites? No worries. A password manager such as Roboform or Keepass enables you to securely manage your passwords. The benefit? You only need to remember one master password to use the program so these programs give you absolutely no excuses to have the same password for every website you register. What makes a good master password? A password which doesn’t resemble an actual word, contains upper case, lower case letters, numbers, symbols and is longer than 8 letters.
2. Check the authenticity of websites before you visit
Search engines such as Google does a great job in blocking sites which are known to be fraudalent. For further protection, install the web of trust plugin (Internet Explorer or Firefox) which will give you a better idea on whether a site is safe or unsafe.
3. Never run a file directly.
When you download a file, it’ll give you options to either run it directly or save in your harddrive space. Always go for the latter! You don’t possibly know what could be in the file so it is much safer to run a virus scan on the file rather than opening it directly.
4. Switch website browsers
If you are still using old Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer 6 then change it immediately! The latest Internet Explorer (IE8) and Firefox 3 gives you much better protection and security.Once installed, change the privacy and security settings to medium or higher.
5. Don’t click links in mail
Avoid this as much as possible. Only click links if you are 100% sure that it is legitimate and comes from a legitimate organization or person. Always look for signs of fraudent sites such as typos.
6. Switch to plain html mail
Switch to HTML mode can easily hide most of the phishing attempts made by fraudsters. All email services should haev a settings page which allows you to change it.
7. Do not use p2p software
Downloading and sharing files through P2P networks is extremely risky. P2P networks are one of the common ways in which virus spreads from computer to computer so avoid that risk!
8. Create a virtual sandbox
A virtual sandbox enables you to run any program in an isolated and protected space on your hard drive. Any actions or changes you make are discarded once the sandbox is closed. An example of a virtual sandbox would be Sandboxie.
9. Monitor your emails
Most anti-spam monitors only process emails that have already been downloaded from the mail server. Use PopTray to check and preview emails while it’s still on the mail server.
10. Use more than one anti-virus tool
There is not one anti-virus tool out there which is able to detect all the viruses in the universe. Read reviews of different antivirus software programs and have more than one installed so that you have a better chance of catching any form of virus. Note that some programs clash with one another so make sure to read carefully before you buy any security products.
Address the Low Price, Standard Ink Cartridges
Evolution is happening at a constant pace and technology is witnessing advancements and up gradation every single moment. That is the reason for the convenience boost and the performance elevation which is being witnessed in all aspects governed by the most common application of "innovation" across the globe.
Computer technology and related accessories have their own role to play in this regards as they have altogether become the pioneers of the fast pace of progress and development.
As creativity is exploring the new streams of finer quality printers and their performance has elevated to new heights of phenomenal standards, the hardware market and the online purchase platforms offer a huge range of immense varieties to meet all kinds of specifications of work at the professional front.
One of the very proficient services that cater to all sorts of cartridge requirements for printers is that of internet-ink.co.uk which takes care of all sorts of needs and demands pertaining to printers and their functional areas.
The skilled expertise of their performance has not only upgraded the quality parameters to higher platforms but also met a significant proportion of huge demands and requirements of printers in the most versatile and comprehensive fashion.
Since they manufacture cartridges under expert guidance in their own factory outlets therefore great care is taken to meet all the quality norms as efficiently and effectively possible.
To furnish the convenience and comfort they now render their services in aver direct manner helping people to establish an effective purchase directly through their website and online services.
Te intact and excellent services have now escalated to new heights of enhanced performance that is boosting the immense popularity and generating great satisfaction which is transforming slowly and gradually into full fledged customer delight.
At the online portal not only you can make a suitable selection from the vast array of innumerable options that are available such as ink jet cartridges, printer ink, toner cartridges etc. but also at the same time the complete assistance and help provide by guidance and concern of "Support Center" is a great help in helping you purchase what you desire to buy with utmost convenience thought the entire process.
The spectrum of printer cartridges offered by them features cartridges for the printers of recognized brand names such as those of Epson , HP , Dell, Cannon, Samsung, Inkjet etc. In the category of laser toner cartridges both colour as well as the mono types are present to meet the specific requirements as adequately as possible. Along with this there is also availability of Mailroom supplies and other equipments such as franking machines etc. Beyond the spectrum of printer products, services with respect to Photo paper, PC requirements, Fax machines and Mobiles is an added advantage. So check out this outstanding service to serve your needs in the best furnished and quality based style.
Benefits Of Norton Antivirus 2009 and Panda OEM
The internet plays a major role in the spreading of computer viruses, spyware and malware. ‘Malware’ stands for ‘malicious software’ which includes viruses, worms, adware, spyware and of course, the notorious Trojan horses. Spyware functions as a changer of the internet browser settings. Spyware misleads the internet browser to fraudulent sites, wherein huge number of frauds are accommodated and encouraged, which is called ‘phishing’. As a result, the computer starts functioning poorly and slowly.
Viruses damage the computer by deleting files, corrupting programs and applications, or sometimes reformatting the hard drive. Some viruses are self-copied to other drives or accessible disks, affecting the entire system and leading to a crash.
Panda Antivirus is designed to evict any kind of malicious item. It is easy to install, easy to operate and the biggest benefit is that it provides daily web updates. With Panda Antivirus installed in your computer, you can be sure of the fact that the shield is always on. Panda antivirus runs on both ‘windows XP’ and ‘windows Vista’. Added to this, the different virus attempts that hide from the operating system are also got rid of by the Panda OEM.
Even the most sophisticated virus attempts, better known as ‘rootkits’ cannot dodge the Panda OEM. It has a high-end protection system called ‘Mega detection’ which prevents even the slightest hint of any suspicious activity coming from E-mail attachments, or any incoming file.
Norton Internet security 2009 is one of the best antivirus programs of the world. It automatically detects and removes viruses, worms and Trojans from your system.
Norton Antivirus 2009 detects and eradicates malicious softwares of all kinds. It protects your system from unscrupulous files and threats. Unlike other versions of Norton Antivirus.
Norton Antivirus 2009 does not slow down your computer.
Norton Internet security 2009 is a full-proof protection system. It offers a protection suite for your computer that even the most dangerous viruses, malware, spyware, or adware cannot damage.
There’s one thing you should know about antiviruses that all of them are not capable of removing malicious items from your computer. When it comes to antiviruses, all of them don’t work in the same way to ward-off threats. Some of them even increase the risk of getting threats in your computer. So you need to be very careful when choosing an antivirus for your computer. There are quite a number of factors that you need to take into account before buying an anti-virus software.
The number one factor is that the anti-virus system should have a feature to scan the computer every time you turn it on.
Secondly, think about the usage of your computer. How you use the computer and internet is a major important thing to consider because the antivirus should be bought depending on the usage.
Third, do a survey. Go through the reviews of different antivirus programs, especially newly launched ones.
Speed Up Software Development with Stock Application Icons
Attractive user interface is an important part of any software product. Creating numerous buttons, icons, toolbars and other icons used in wizards and dialogs is an extremely time and money-consuming task. The endeavor, however, can be easily avoided if you are prepared to make small sacrifices in order to obtain a large gain by using ready-made application icons.
What sacrifices? If you are about to use ready-made application icons, you sacrifice the unique looks your product mightрve otherwise had. Everything else you gain: the faster design, the wide variety, and the price. With ready-made application icons, you can choose between hundreds of offerings. By paying a very affordable price, you are getting usually dozens, if not hundreds, of application or toolbar icons. You can download a ready-made icon library the very moment after placing your order. And of course, you can fully preview the entire icon library before committing to buy!
Application Toolbar Icons by http://www.toolbar-icons.com/ are a collection of ready-made toolbar icons. The icon collection includes over 50 unique icons commonly found in software applications. The collection contains GIF, PNG, and BMP icons for easy integration with online projects, and Windows ICO icons for embedding the icon collection into Windows applications.
There are several different styles of icons, including normal, highlighted and disabled. The entire icon collection is available in 256 colors and True Color, with the exception of GIF icons that are 8-bit only. Resolutions include 16x16, 24x24, 32x32, and 48x48 pixels.
Aside from the technical specifications, Application Toolbar Icons contain everything you need to create a nice-looking application. The icon collection includes over a hundred icons, and contains images for actions, objects and symbols such as Open, Create, Save and Save All, Print Preview,Cut, Copy and Paste, Preview, Edit, Close Document, About, Import and Export, Support, Mail, Find and Search, Options, Help, Warning and Hint, Alarm, Undo and Redo, Left and Right, Up and Down, Run, Back, and many, many more. Priced under $100, Application Toolbar Icons are effectively less than 50 cents per image, making the icon collection a real bargain.
Preview Application Toolbar Icons, order and download application icons at http://www.toolbar-icons.com/stock-icons/application-toolbar-icons.htm
Convert All Common Video & Audio Formats
Tanbee Video Converter for Mac is an excellent Mac video converter software which can convert video formats from one to another with perfect output quality and high conversion speed for Mac OS X users. It supports all popular video formats including FLV, MKV, MOD, WMV, ASF, MPEG1, MPEG2, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, MOV, AVI, TOD, TS/TP (for HD Video), MP3, AMR and AC3.
The output videos and audios can be put on PSP, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, Blackberry, Zune, Creative Zen, iRiver, mobile phone or other popular digital devices for your enjoyment. Furthermore, you can merge/clip/split/crop videos, apply artistic effect, etc. to perfect output files. Just get video converted in your way with Tanbee Video Converter for Mac.
This Mac video converter software lets you set video brightness, contrast, saturation, crop video, trim video/audio and even merge multiple files into one file. Batch conversion is also supported by this powerful Mac video converter. Convert videos on Mac OS X with Tanbee Video Converter for Mac and enjoy your colorful digital life!
Key Features
* Support all common video&audio formats
* Support Batch Conversion
Convert multiple video files at one time, making your conversion much easier.
* Powerful Video editing function
This Video Converter has powerful video editing function, supporting movie trimming, cropping and effect adjustment. You can set brightness, contrast, saturation and choose the suitable resolution for your players.
* Customize video converting
Various video and audio settings for you tweak together.
* Support various video aspect ratios such as 16:9, 4:3 and full screen.
* Support video capture and save your favorite movie pictures on your computer as jpeg, png or bmp files.
* Intuitive guide user-interface.
* Fast conversion process with no loss quality.
* Free e-mail technical support, provide the best service for you.