You just need to edit the HTML signature file at C:\Documents & settings\(your username)\Application Data\Microsoft\Signatures

Create a HTML file and simply choose it in Outlook.

Done!

NOTE: If your files are hidden, you will not see Application Data. Unhide the files and folders to . . . → Read More: How to add an HTML signature in Outlook 2007]]> Missing your HTML signature in Outlook 2007? Here’s your simple solution:

You just need to edit the HTML signature file at C:\Documents & settings\(your username)\Application Data\Microsoft\Signatures

Create a HTML file and simply choose it in Outlook.

Done!

NOTE: If your files are hidden, you will not see Application Data. Unhide the files and folders to see this.

ALABAMA AL ALASKA AK AMERICAN SAMOA . . . → Read More: States Listed by Abbreviation]]> State/Possession Abbreviation

ALABAMA AL
ALASKA AK
AMERICAN SAMOA AS
ARIZONA AZ
ARKANSAS AR
CALIFORNIA CA
COLORADO CO
CONNECTICUT CT
DELAWARE DE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA FM
FLORIDA FL

GEORGIA GA
GUAM GU
HAWAII HI
IDAHO ID
ILLINOIS IL
INDIANA IN
IOWA IA
KANSAS KS
KENTUCKY KY
LOUISIANA LA
MAINE ME
MARSHALL ISLANDS MH
MARYLAND MD
MASSACHUSETTS MA
MICHIGAN MI
MINNESOTA MN
MISSISSIPPI MS
MISSOURI MO
MONTANA MT
NEBRASKA NE
NEVADA NV
NEW HAMPSHIRE NH
NEW JERSEY NJ
NEW MEXICO NM
NEW YORK NY
NORTH CAROLINA NC
NORTH DAKOTA ND
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS MP
OHIO OH
OKLAHOMA OK
OREGON OR
PALAU PW
PENNSYLVANIA PA
PUERTO RICO PR
RHODE ISLAND RI
SOUTH CAROLINA SC
SOUTH DAKOTA SD
TENNESSEE TN
TEXAS TX
UTAH UT
VERMONT VT
VIRGIN ISLANDS VI
VIRGINIA VA
WASHINGTON WA
WEST VIRGINIA WV
WISCONSIN WI
WYOMING WY

Military “State” Abbreviation

Armed Forces Africa AE
Armed Forces Americas AA
(except Canada)
Armed Forces Canada AE
Armed Forces Europe AE
Armed Forces Middle East AE
Armed Forces Pacific AP

If you use a bank account to make purchases, get a separate debit card for web use only. This is for ONE-TIME purchases only, not subscriptions.

This way, if you see multiple “same” charges on the account, you know it’s an error or fraud.

Also, cancel this card and get a new one at . . . → Read More: Ways to Protect yourself from Bank or Credit Card Theft Online]]> Here’s one easy suggestion:

If you use a bank account to make purchases, get a separate debit card for web use only. This is for ONE-TIME purchases only, not subscriptions.

This way, if you see multiple “same” charges on the account, you know it’s an error or fraud.

Also, cancel this card and get a new one at least once a year. That way, you’re debit card information is no longer valid in case someone else has it.

Good luck!

I saw a sign the other day at Hooters that said, “Follow us on Facebook and Twitter”.  I thought to myself, . . . → Read More: How to use social networking sites without looking like a narcissist]]> So it seems like everyone these days has an account with Myspace, Facebook or Twitter.  There are also tons of other social networking sites, but these three are the most popular so I’ll stick to them. 

I saw a sign the other day at Hooters that said, “Follow us on Facebook and Twitter”.  I thought to myself, “who would follow this restaurant in the first place? Is it really that important that I am kept up to date with how good their chicken wings are?”. 

It’s kind of ridiculous the way these social networking sites are being utilized.  The sad thing is that a lot of people turn Myspace or Facebook in to their own personal little promotional page, and this is where narcissism screams the loudest.

I understand that you want to put your best face forward..  people put up Myspace pages in a fashion that promotes them in the way they want to be seen.  Here you put up your best pictures, your coolest videos, anything that projects the image you want people to see.

The problem comes from when people start shifting from reality to fantasy.  It’s okay to display photos or comments from true friends or events.  But when you start portraying a person that is less than 90% of you, then it becomes more of a manipulation or deception.  Why 90%?  Well, I just give 10% as a buffer since most people like to stretch the truth a little bit.  Try asking someone how old they are or how much they weigh

How about Twitter then?  Do I really need to know if my friend shampooed their hair just now?  Or what their thoughts are on the hamburger they just ate?  Sure Twitter can be a useful tool for celebrities with a big fan base or businesses that want to keep in touch.  But when Joe Schmoe uses Twitter to tell the world his mundane daily activities, then it can become a basic waste of Internet bandwidth.  It’s not his/her fault though, only those of the people that choose to “follow” Joe Schmoe’s tweets. 

So there you have it.  Twitter can be used or abused, but I won’t talk down to those who use it.  It’s a free service and a free world, anyone can choose to tweet or to follow a twit that tweets.  Go for it!

As for Myspace/Facebook and the like.. I say that the only problem with it is the abuse of people who live in a fantasy world and use it to stalk/harass/annoy people who live in the real world.  Like the people who ake fake profiles and pretend to be other people.  That to me is the scariest.  What is going through the minds of people who do this?  Do they not understand how weird/strange/scary it is to be like this?  I mean, get a life, a REAL life!  Accept who you are and be happy!  Make the most out of your REAL life, not try to pump up a phony one! 

To use social networking sites to keep in touch with loves ones is fine.  It can also be used for promotional purposes for businesses as well.  And if you are an actor/model/musician, then promote yourself by all means.  Just don’t promote yourself if there’s really nothing to promote.  By that, I mean don’t portray yourself to be anything less than what you truly are.. be  REAL.  Maybe you don’t have to be 100% honest about everything, but let’s aim for above 90%

All of these social networking sites have usefulness to them.  Provided we all try our best to be honest, there should be no problems with using these sites for any endeavor you wish.

83% of all consumers research a product or service online prior to making a “decision”. 79% of all consumers expect that a business will have a website.

If the statistics aren’t enough, ask yourself this…  “Does your business need a sign out front?”  Your likely answer…”Of course. How else will people . . . → Read More: Top 12 Frequently Asked Questions]]> (1) Why does my business need a web page?

83% of all consumers research a product or service online prior to making a “decision”.
79% of all consumers expect that a business will have a website.

If the statistics aren’t enough, ask yourself this… 
“Does your business need a sign out front?”  Your likely answer…”Of course. How else will people know we’re here”.  Well, “driving by” is quickly being replaced with “clicking by”.  And a website can offer far more compelling reasons to use your service (rather than your competitors) than your sign ever could.

If your thinking… “people don’t look for my product or service on the internet.”  that is not true!!!  People shop or research EVERYTHING on the internet,  including local services… and the businesses that take the best advantage of the web, as an advertising tool, will reap the best rewards!
(2) Do I have to know anything about the Worldwide Web and HTML to have a web page?

No. In fact, most of our clients don’t have much Internet experience. We’ll help with as much as you need to know.
(3) What will I need to provide in order to create my website?

Provide us with anything you want displayed on your website, including any photographs, text, and logos.  We can even produce these things for you!
(4) Do you provide domain name registration?

We can setup up your domain name for you, just let us know what name you would like and we’ll take care of the rest.  If you are not sure about a name, we can put together a list of our top five picks (that are available).

(5) Can you host my website or will I need to find another hosting company?

We provide excellent hosting on a nationwide network.
(6) How many e-mail addresses come with my website?

It depends on how large your site is.  Basic sites will typically have more than you would expect….. The average package comes with up to 100 e-mail addresses (ex. president@yourdomain.com).
(7) How much does a website cost?

The cost for building a website depends upon many factors:
How large is the site going to be?
What technologies need to be utilized?
What format (electronic or on paper) is the content provided? Will you provide the content or will we create it?
These are some of the important factors to consider when determining the best and most cost-efficient way to approach your next web project. Contact us or click the “free quote” link in the menu, for a free estimate… Which includes price, timeline, and suggestions for integrating your site with the rest of your organization.

(8) Is there a fee every time I need to change or update my website?

Depending on how often your site will need to be refreshed with new content, we can set you up with a monthly maintenance package at a reasonable price.  (2 hours = $50,  5 hours = $100)
(9) How long does it take to finish my web site?

The average is four to six weeks, depending upon the scope of your project. We are prepared to work at your pace. In fact, we’re equipped to meet even the tightest deadline.
(10) Can I manage my e-commerce site?

Absolutely! Our e-commerce pricing includes customer training. We educate you on updating and managing your store.
(11) What is your opinion on using the latest technology?

We encourage our customers to start simple. It depends on your target audience. For some businesses, cutting-edge sites are needed. For others, The use of high technology can slow down low end users causing them to look elsewhere.
(12) Can I be responsible for changing and updating my own website after it has been developed?

Yes! We can create a self-updating, totally dynamic and powerful website that does much more than just provide online-brochure information. Contact us for more information.

above the fold – the section of a Web page that is visible without scrolling.

ad blocking – the blocking of Web advertisements, typically the image in graphical Web advertisements.

ad space – the space on a Web page available for advertisements.

advertising network – a network representing many Web . . . → Read More: Glossary of Common Terms in the Internet and Online Industries]]> Glossary of Common Terms in the Internet and Online Industries

above the fold – the section of a Web page that is visible without scrolling.

ad blocking – the blocking of Web advertisements, typically the image in graphical Web advertisements.

ad space – the space on a Web page available for advertisements.

advertising network – a network representing many Web sites in selling advertising, allowing advertising buyers to reach broad audiences relatively easily through run-of-category and run-of-network buys.

affiliate – the publisher/salesperson in an affiliate marketing relationshi

affiliate directory – a categorized listing of affiliate programs.

affiliate forum – an online community where visitors may read and post topics related to affiliate marketing.

affiliate fraud – bogus activity generated by an affiliate in an attempt to generate illegitimate, unearned revenue.

affiliate marketing – revenue sharing between online advertisers/merchants and online publishers/salespeople, whereby compensation is based on performance measures, typically in the form of sales, clicks, registrations, or a hybrid model.

affiliate merchant – the advertiser in an affiliate marketing relationship.

affiliate network – a value-added intermediary providing services, including aggregation, for affiliate merchants and affiliates.

affiliate software – software that, at a minimum, provides tracking and reporting of commission-triggering actions (sales, registrations, or clicks) from affiliate links.

ALT text – HTML attribute that provides alternative text when non-textual elements, typically images, cannot be displayed.

animated GIF – a graphic in the GIF89a file format that creates the effect of animation by rotating through a series of static images.

anonymous FTP – an option in FTP that allows users to download files without having to establish and account.

Apache – an open source web server software.

application service provider – provider of applications/services that are distributed through a network to many customers in exchange for a stream of smaller payments as opposed to one fixed, upfront price.

ASP Hosting – Web hosting that supports Active Server Pages, a server-side scripting environment from Microsoft.

autoresponder – a program that sends an automatic form response to incoming emails.

B2B – business that sells products or provides services to other businesses.

B2C – business that sells products or provides services to end-user consumers.

bandwidth – how much data can be transmitted in a time period over a communications channel, often expressed in kilobits per second (kbps).

banner ad – a graphical web advertising unit, typically measuring 468 pixels wide and 60 pixels tall (i.e. 468×60).

banner blindness – the tendency of web visitors to ignore banner ads, even when banners contain information visitors are actively looking for.

beyond the banner – online advertising not involving standard GIF and JPEG banner ads.

blog – A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links.

bookmark – a link stored in a Web browser for future reference.

burstable bandwidth – a hosting option that allows sites to use the available network capacity to handle periods of peak usage.

business hosting – Web hosting geared towards the mission-critical functions demanded by business-class customers.

button ad – a graphical advertising unit, smaller than a banner ad.

buzzword – a trendy word or phrase that is used more to impress than explain.

caching – the storage of Web files for later re-use at a point more quickly accessed by the end user.

cascading style sheets (CSS) – a data format used to separate style from structure on Web pages.

click-through – the process of clicking through an online advertisement to the advertiser’s destination.

click-through rate (CTR) – The average number of click-throughs per hundred ad impressions, expressed as a percentage.

ColdFusion hosting – Web hosting that supports ColdFusion, a web application language introduced by Allaire and currently owned by Macromedia.

colocated hosting – hosting option whereby the host provides and is responsible for the equipment, dedicating an entire server to the client’s websites.

conversion rate – the percentage of visitors who take a desired action.

cookie – information stored on a user’s computer by a Web site so preferences are remembered on future requests.

cost-per-action (CPA) – online advertising payment model in which payment is based solely on qualifying actions such as sales or registrations.

cost-per-click (CPC) – the cost or cost-equivalent paid per click-through.

CPM – cost per thousand impressions.

customer acquisition cost – the cost associated with acquiring a new customer.

data transfer – The total amount of outbound traffic from a website*, typically measured in gigabytes (Gb).

dedicated hosting – hosting option whereby the host provides and is responsible for the equipment, dedicating an entire server to the client’s websites.

dedicated IP – an IP address dedicated to a single website.

deep linking – linking to a web page other than a site’s home page.

description tag – an HTML tag used by Web page authors to provide a description for search engine listings.

disintermediation – the elimination of intermediaries in the supply chain, also referred to as “cutting out the middlemen.”

domain name – location of an entity on the Internet.

doorway domain – a domain used specifically to rank well in search engines for particular keywords, serving as an entry point through which visitors pass to the main domain.

doorway page – a page made specifically to rank well in search engines for particular keywords, serving as an entry point through which visitors pass to the main content.

email – the transmission of computer-based messages over telecommunication technology.

email marketing – the promotion of products or services via email.

email spam – unwanted, unsolicited email.

exclusivity – contract term in which one party grants another party sole rights with regard to a particular business function.

ezine – an electronic magazine, whether delivered via a Web site or an email newsletter.

ezine directory – directory of electronic magazines, typically of the email variety.

favicon – a small icon that is used by some browsers to identify a bookmarked Web site.

FFA – free-for-all links list, where there are no qualifications for adding a link.

first-mover advantage – a sometimes insurmountable advantage gained by the first significant company to move into a new market.

Flash – multimedia technology developed by Macromedia to allow much interactivity to fit in a relatively small file size.

forum – an online community where visitors may read and post topics of common interest.

frames – a structure that allows for the dividing of a Web page into two or more independent parts.

free – without monetary cost.

frequency cap – restriction on the amount of times a specific visitor is shown a particular advertisement.

guerilla marketing – unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources.

hit – request of a file from a Web server.

home page – the main page of a Web site.

house ad – self-promotional ad a company runs on its media outlets to put unsold inventory to use.

HTML banner – a banner ad using HTML elements, often including interactive forms, instead of (or in addition to) standard graphical elements.

HTML email – email that is formatted using Hypertext Markup Language, as opposed to plain text email.

hybrid model – a combination of two or more online marketing payment models.

impression – a single instance of an online advertisement being displayed.*Impression data may or may not be accurate at times due to things such as someone hitting the Back button on their browser causing multiple impressions, although they will be to the same user on the same session. Also, a search engine may or may not recognize the multiple impressions due to things such as cookies, or the last webpage being saved in order to make browsing faster (the previous page will not need to re-load, it will simply put the saved page back up).

inbound link – a link from a site outside of your site.

incentivized traffic – visitors who have received some form of compensation for visiting a site.

interactive agency – an agency offering a mix of Web design/development, Internet advertising/marketing, or E-Business/E-Commerce consulting.

interstitial – an advertisement that loads between two content pages.

invisible Web – the portion of the Web not accessible through Web search engines.

JavaScript – a scripting language developed by Netscape and used to create interactive Web sites.

keyword – a word used in a performing a search.

keyword density – keywords as a percentage of indexable text words.

keyword marketing – putting your message in front of people who are searching using particular keywords and keyphrases.

keyword research – the search for keywords related to your Web site, and the analysis of which ones yield the highest return on investment (ROI).

keywords tag – META tag used to help define the primary keywords of a Web page.

link checker – tool used to check for broken hyperlinks.

link popularity – a measure of the quantity and quality of sites that link to your site.

link text – the text contained in (and sometimes near) a hyperlink.

linkrot – when Web pages previously accessible at a particular URL are no longer reachable at that URL due to movement or deletion of the pages.

log file – file that records the activity on a Web server.

long domain name – domain names longer than the original 26 characters, up to a theoretical limit of 67 characters (including the extension, such as .com).

manual submission – adding a URL to the search engines individually by hand.

marketing – the total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.

marketing plan – the part of the business plan outlining the marketing strategy for a product or service.

meta tag generator – tool that will output META tags based on input page information.

meta tags – tags to describe various aspects about a Web page.

moderator – at a forum, someone entrusted by the administrator to help discussions stay productive and within the guidelines.

mousetrapping – the use of browser tricks in an effort to keep a visitor captive at a site, often by disabling the “Back” button or generated repeated pop-up windows.

navigation – that which facilitates movement from one Web page to another Web page.

netiquette – short for network etiquette, the code of conduct regarding acceptable online behavior.

network effect – the phenomenon whereby a service becomes more valuable as more people use it, thereby encouraging ever-increasing numbers of adopters.

opt-in email – email that is explicitly requested by the recipient.

opt-out – (1) type of program that assumes inclusion unless stated otherwise. (2) to remove oneself from an opt-out program.

outbound link – a link to a site outside of your site.

page view – request to load a single HTML page.

pagejacking – theft of a page from the original site and publication of a copy (or near-copy) at another site.

pass-along rate – the percentage of people who pass on a message or file.

pay per click (PPC) – online advertising payment model in which payment is based solely on qualifying click-thrus.

pay per click search engine – search engine where results are ranked according to the bid amount, and advertisers are charged when a searcher clicks on the search listing.

pay per lead (PPL) – online advertising payment model in which payment is based solely based on qualifying leads.

pay per sale (PPS) – online advertising payment model in which payment is based solely based on qualifying sales.

payment threshold – the minimum accumulated commission an affiliate must earn to trigger payment from an affiliate program.

permission marketing – marketing centered around obtaining customer consent to receive information from a company.

pop-under ad – an ad that displays in a new browser window behind the current browser window.

pop-up ad – an ad that displays in a new browser window.

rate card – document detailing prices for various ad placement options.

reciprocal links – links between two sites, often based on an agreement by the site owners to exchange links.

rectangle ad – any one of the large, rectangular banner sizes suggested by the IAB.

rep firm – ad sales partner specializing primarily in single-site sales.

return days – the number of days an affiliate can earn commission on a conversion (sale or lead) by a referred visitor.

rich media – new media that offers an enhanced experience relative to older, mainstream formats.

run-of-network (RON) – ad buying option in which ad placements may appear on any pages on sites within an ad network.

run-of-site (ROS) – ad buying option in which ad placements may appear on any pages on sites within an ad network.

search engine optimization – the process of choosing targeted keyword phrases related to a site, and ensuring that the site places well when those keyword phrases are part of a Web search.

search engine spam – excessive manipulation to influence search engine rankings, often for pages which contain little or no relevant content.

search engine submission – the act of supplying a URL to a search engine in an attempt to make a search engine aware of a site or page.

search spy – a perpetually refreshing page that provides a real-time view of actual Web searches.

self-serve advertising – advertising that can be purchased without the assistance of a sales representative.

shopping cart – software used to make a site’s product catalogue available for online ordering, whereby visitors may select, view, add/delete, and purchase merchandise.

sig file – a short block of text at the end of a message identifying the sender and providing additional information about them.

site search – search functionality specific to one site.

site stickiness – the amount of time spent at a site over a given time period.

skyscraper ad – an online ad significantly taller than the 120×240 vertical banner.

spam – inappropriate commercial message of extremely low value.

splash page – a branding page before the home page of a Web site.

sponsorship – advertising that seeks to establish a deeper association and integration between an advertiser and a publisher, often involving coordinated beyond-the-banner placements.

super affiliate – an affiliate capable of generating a significant percentage of an affiliate program’s activity.

surround session – advertising sequence in which a visitor receives ads from one advertiser throughout an entire site visit.

text ad – advertisement using text-based hyperlinks.

title tag – HTML tag used to define the text in the top line of a Web browser, also used by many search engines as the title of search listings.

top 10 – the top ten search engine results for a particular search term.

trick banner – a banner ad that attempts to trick people into clicking, often by imitating an operating system message.

two-tier affiliate program – affiliate program structure whereby affiliates earn commissions on their conversions as well as conversions of webmasters they refer to the program.

underdelivery – delivery of less impressions, visitors, or conversions than contracted for a specified period of time.

unique visitors – individuals who have visited a Web site (or network) at least once in a fixed time frame, typically a 30 day period.

URL – location of a resource on the Internet.

vertical banner – a banner ad measuring 120 pixels wide and 240 pixels tall.

viral marketing – marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message.

volunteer directory – a Web directory staffed primarily by unpaid volunteer editors.

Web browser – a software application that allows for the browsing of the World Wide Web.

Web design – the selection and coordination of available components to create the layout and structure of a Web page.

web hosting – the business of providing the storage, connectivity, and services necessary to serve files for a website.

Web site traffic – the amount of visitors and visits a Web site receives.

Web site usability – The ease with which visitors are able to use a Web site.

whois – a utility that returns ownership information about second-level domains.