| Everyone knows the internet can be very useful for | | | | It is a good idea to start a blog of your very own, |
| finding information or learning something new. In all | | | | there are numerous free blog host out here, such as: |
| honesty, the internet should be your #1 resource for | | | | journalhome.com, blogger.com, and The blog host |
| finding any remote information. The problem is | | | | makes it easy to begin blogging (the art known as |
| everyone do not know how to use the internet to | | | | authoring a blog). You simply signup for their service, |
| find information or to their advantage. It's simple and | | | | choose your template (design & layout), and |
| I'll give some tips & secrets to successfully using | | | | begin writing your entries. You do not need to know |
| the internet to your advantage. | | | | any programming, but it helps to understand HTML, if |
| Surfing the Web: | | | | you plan to fully customize your template. It does |
| The first thing the internet is ...is "information". Lots of | | | | not matter what you write about, it can be personal, |
| it. Anything you want to know or need to know can | | | | professional, casual, informative, instructional, |
| be found on the internet, but where do you find it? | | | | entertaining, or anything you can muster up. It is your |
| There are so many resources and ways of finding | | | | personal space to author. Even though it is your |
| information. Surfing the web is probably the best | | | | personal space on the web it is strongly |
| way to find non-targeted information and find a new | | | | recommended to limit your personal information on |
| website. When surfing the web you basically, start | | | | the web, when visiting any website, never provide |
| with a common site (or not so common). Begin by | | | | too many details. |
| browsing the content within the site...then you click | | | | Once you have had your blog hosted for some |
| on a link which takes you to another site and you | | | | months/years and it has grown to a respectable |
| browse through its content, click on a link within that | | | | state, then you may decide to host your own blog. |
| site which takes you to another external site...and | | | | The main benefit of hosting your own blog is the |
| you are surfing the web. Browsing through content. | | | | scalability and branding. Though, hosting your own |
| Those few task just mentioned can sometimes be | | | | blog means you will need to spend money, install |
| an hour or two worth of surfing, mostly depending | | | | scripts onto your server, and configure your script |
| on the interest of content. | | | | and server. I recommend using one of the mentioned |
| Searching the Web: | | | | blog host before hosting your own blog, hosting your |
| A more targeted approach is trying to find | | | | own blog without an audience is not wise. Blog host |
| information about a specific product, service, person, | | | | are the best places to start, because it is free, easy, |
| place, or thing. For targeted searches we need a tool, | | | | readily available, and they provide you a community |
| something that will help us find what we are looking | | | | (audience). |
| for. The most common tool is "search engines". | | | | Doing Your Homework: |
| Search engines are designed for this particular task, | | | | Using the mentioned information portals above, you |
| to find information across the web. Search engines | | | | should be resourceful in finding any information you |
| have special digital robots which search through | | | | need on the web. When doing business on the web |
| millions of websites at incredibly rapid speeds, | | | | you should only rely on trusted sources. This comes |
| crawling and digging through tons of websites and | | | | down to doing your homework. If you find a |
| indexing them into its databases for faster retrieval. | | | | company on the web which you wish to do business |
| When you go to a search engine like Google and | | | | with but have never heard of the company, then |
| type in a keyword or phrase then click search you | | | | you should use good judgment. The best way to |
| are presented with URL's which have been indexed | | | | make a good judgment call is to research the |
| within the search engine database and matches the | | | | company and website. If you utilize any of the |
| keyword or phrase which you entered. It cannot be | | | | mentioned above you should be able to find reliable |
| expressed enough to say how well you should | | | | information. Gather information from several different |
| familiarize yourself with using a major search engine. | | | | sources and then compare the results. Basically, does |
| You should be able to use a search engine to find | | | | the good outweigh the bad? You now have a rational |
| just about anything you can think of. | | | | review to use good judgment. Using advanced |
| Forums & Discussion Groups: | | | | technologies is also sometimes necessary such as |
| Forums & Discussion Groups are a great way to | | | | using advance search operators, such as: " " (which |
| find information on the web. Participation and | | | | when quotes surround the keyword will return the |
| contribution is what makes a forum or discussion | | | | exact search phrase) or use of the plus (+) sign |
| group useful, powerful, and successful. These are | | | | (which will return any search which contains |
| ways to help others, communicate with others, share | | | | keywords in your search phrase). A good site that |
| knowledge or experiences with others, or simply chat | | | | makes use of Google operatives is |
| and network with others. Most forums or discussion | | | | Username Stalking: |
| groups are niche markets and targeted to a particular | | | | Contrary to the name the art of "username stalking" |
| audience. | | | | is considered positive in my form of expression. It is |
| There are a few that are for the general population. | | | | wise to choose a quality username when conducting |
| A very popular forum in the webmaster world is (no | | | | business online. Typically, an active internet user |
| pun intended), their targeted market is webmasters, | | | | should have a different secure username/password |
| online advertisers, search engine optimizers, internet | | | | for conducting professional business and a different |
| engineers, and internet enthusiast. You can find very | | | | username/password for personal and miscellaneous |
| useful information within most forums & | | | | activities, as well as a different email addresses. Note: |
| discussion groups. The proper way to participate | | | | A different secure username/password can also be |
| & contribute to forums & discussion groups | | | | used for any account which stores any financial or |
| is to help others when you genuinely have an | | | | credit card information, you should never use your |
| answer, don't just guess and post...you can make an | | | | personal, miscellaneous, or free account username |
| educated guess and post, but blindly guessing just to | | | | password in relation with your business username |
| raise your rank is childish and unhealthy for the | | | | password or your financial/credit card username and |
| platform. When debating, remain civil and courteous | | | | password. Having more than 3 different username |
| to others. | | | | password combinations can become a bit confusing, |
| When debating, you should have some sense of | | | | just the same as explaining it is. |
| intelligence and knowledge about the topic at hand. | | | | Username stalking is the act of searching the web by |
| Respect others opinions and views. Don't try to | | | | usernames. Usernames and handles when applicable |
| change minds but try to get your point across | | | | are the most visible information about a person on |
| rationally. Never pick a fight or get in between a | | | | the web. Choosing the right username and handle is |
| heated discussion. Keep your username/handle (and | | | | suggested because you do not want to misrepresent |
| real name) respectable. | | | | yourself. E.g. if you never worked on cars you |
| Remember that you cannot hide on the internet any | | | | wouldn't choose a username such as: |
| information you provide or any public information can | | | | TheAutoMechanic, would you? You want to choose |
| come back and bite you....e.g. username stalking, | | | | something that represents you or something which is |
| which I will get into more about later. Stick to those | | | | generic and general. When you are familiar with a |
| guidelines and your forums & discussion group | | | | plentiful of forums, discussion groups, blogs, and |
| experience may be well received. | | | | other communities, you will become exposed to |
| Blogs a.k.a. Weblogs, Online Journals, or Online Diaries: | | | | usernames. These usernames can soon become |
| This is the next generation way of obtaining | | | | handy. |
| information on the web, but gracefully becoming a | | | | If you are on a forum which interest you and after |
| prominent way. Blogs are not only personal entries | | | | looking through the post you find someone who has |
| about a individual life. Blogs are used to convey | | | | your same interest, views, opinions, and |
| information and provide a confident platform for | | | | thoughts...then surely you would be interested in |
| retrieving the latest trends, gossip, news, information, | | | | frequenting his neighborhood. Finding his hangouts can |
| rumors, and hype. This can be accomplished by an | | | | expose you to a new crowd of individuals who you |
| individual, a group, or a company. | | | | relate to. This new world can possibly be more |
| Most blogs allow visitors to leave a comment. | | | | advanced or less advanced than your current internet |
| Familiarizing yourself with a handful of blogs is a | | | | world, but hopefully something new and interesting. |
| perfect way to network and connect yourself with | | | | Do a search on your own username in Google and |
| people who share your interest. Blogs are mainly | | | | see if it gives you results from sites which you are a |
| niche markets, though there are many successful | | | | member or have frequented. This is why it is |
| miscellaneous, personal, and general blogs. Blogs are | | | | recommended to separate business, pleasure, and |
| most successful when updated daily and is | | | | finances on the web. Using different unrelated secure |
| dependent on the social and emotional connection | | | | usernames/passwords is the best way to separate |
| you have with your audience. Blogs are usually | | | | the three. Username stalking is not anything new, but |
| personal thoughts, opinions, views, and experiences | | | | it isn't something publicized because most who use |
| of individuals. Sometimes individuals form a group and | | | | that technique are wrong doers for different |
| author a group blog, providing thoughts, opinions, | | | | purposes. This is a great example of how it can be |
| views, and experiences from each member of the | | | | used wisely and responsibly. Always, remember |
| group, this sometimes makes a more powerful and | | | | usernames and any other information deposited onto |
| interesting blog, a popular blog which utilizes groups is | | | | the internet is not a secret, even if you can't find it. |
| boingboing.net. | | | | |
