I was getting pissed at WordPress today. That is, until I figured something out I want to share with all of you. If you have Wordpress and want to put Videos from MySpace or YouTube into your blog, don’t mess with plug ins and fancy programming code. All you have to do when you “write” a new post is put the following code directly into the box you’re writing in. Don’t attempt to modify the HTML or input the code below directly into the HTML. Replace the URL in the code below with the video you want to put in your blog. (Note: Remove the spacing before embed and after the 350. I had to add the spacing so a video wouldn’t appear below)

<   embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y_FjWNKulNc" mce_src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y_FjWNKulNc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"  >

The popular satirical newspaper The Onion has launched a clandestine effort to expand into the oh-so-heady world of viral videos, and weeks ago was seeking interns for the initiative on Craig’s List. The requirement? A know of of The Onion’s satirical humor and advanced abilities with internet video editing software.

Apparently, Onion readers are 151 percent more likely to have streamed video in the last 30 days - which makes me wonder what people are doing when they are at work?

Did you know that The Onion started as a satirical newspaper at The University of Wisconsin in 1988? The site rode the popularity of the internet and leveraged its site to gain national readership in the late 90s.  They have recently denied talks that they are contemplating a sale to Viacom. (Add To Del.icio.us)

The brand new hit show Weeds has been advertised in a wide variety of ways. But no one could have expected what happened to a giant billboard in New Zealand. Advertisers there used giant bags of “pot” stapled to the billboard to help grab local stoners attentions for more than a second (if possible). After the first stash attempt The Kingsland Billboard campaign for the TV drama decided to install cameras.

The video above shows local stoner idiots in New Zealand attempting to rip down the giant bag o’ pot without success. Instead, they only wreck it and run off with giant handfuls of ‘grass’. There is now a whopping $420 reward for the missing buds. Knowing stoners and their actions, they might turn themselves in for the reward!ÂÂ

Social meter scans the major social websites to analyze a webpage’s social popularity. Currently we scan Del.icio.us, Digg, Furl, Google, Jots, Linkroll, Netscape, Reddit, Shadows, Spurl, Technorati, and Yahoo My Web. Check it out at SocialMeter.com . How did Caffeine Marketing hold up? Well, the movie box below explains it all.

Looking to optimize your rankings on the search engines with link backs? Try writing articles about the industry you’re in! But where do you submit your articles to? Submit them to the article directories with the highest page rank. Some of them even send out your articles to email subscribers for added exposure. Get the list by reading more!

Site Name / Page Rank:

selfgrowth.com/ 7
weeno.com/ 6
sierratimes.com/ 6
powerhomebiz.com/ 6
searchguild.com/ 6
goarticles.com/ 6
biz-whiz.com/ 6
blogwidow.com 6
articlecity.com 6
articledashboard.com/ 6
articledepot.co.uk 5
articlesexpress.com 5
articlealley.com 5
bharatbhasha.com 5
dime-co.com 5
homebiztools.com 5
hotlib.com/articles/ 5
organic-rankings.com 5
selfseo.com 5
storebuilder.co.uk/ 5
tigrafix.com/ 5
tips.com.my 5
webs-best-directory.com/ 5
webmasterslibrary.com/ 5
workoninternet.com/ 5
uniterra.com/ 4
365articles.com/ 3
writingcareer.com/ 5
webpromotionguru.com/ 5
mailbiz.com/ 5
mainstreetmom.com/ 5
internet-search-engines-faq.com/ 5
internetbasedmoms.com/ 5
howtoadvice.com/ 4
home-business-directory.com/ 3
cyberindian.com/ 5
business-opportunity.biz/ 5
allfreelancework.com/ 6
advisor.com/ 6
digital-women.com 6
noviceinvesting.com/Article 3
article-hangout.com/ 3
about.com / 7
adamginsberg.com/articles 4
webs-best-directory.com/ 5
myfinancedirectory.com 3
article-index.net/ 5
article-submission.biz/ 5
article-submission.us 4
articleinterchange.com 2
articlehopper.com 3
articlerealm.com/ 0
article-directory-central.com
article-database.com 0
articlevillage.com 1
1articleworld.com 2
101articles.com
activearticles.com 3
add-article.com 4
members.article99.com
archivex-ht.com 4
articlecube.com 4
article-den.com 3
article-domain.com 4
articlehub.com 4
articlemill.com 0
articlefusion.com 2
articlegarden.com 3
articlegeek.com 4
articleinn.com 4
articlejoe.com 2
articlenest.com 2
articleoptimizer.com
articles24.com 3
articles411.com 3
articles4business.com 3
articlesbeyondbetter.com 4
article-search-online.com 1
articlesexpress.com 4
articlesfrenzy.com 4
articlesmagazine.com 3
articlesnatch.com 3
articlesphere.com 4
directarticles.com 1
linkgrinder.com 5
jogena.com 5
articlesonline.org 3
articlestack.com 3
freeclassifiedad4u.com 3
articles-submit.com 4
articleteller.com 4
articletime.com 4
articletogo.com 3
articletrader.com 3
article-treasure.com 3
articlevenue.com
article-warehouse.com 2
articlewiz.com 3
articlewow.com 3
authorcontent.com 2
bharatbhasha.com 5
bestrealincome.com/articles/ 3
bestrealincome.com 4
az.co.cz/article-directory 2
bigarticles.com 5
blogwidow.com 6
bigarticledirectory.com/ 3
businesshighlight.org 4
businessknowledgesource.com 4
businesstoolchest.com 4
click-partners.com 3
commandopress.com 3
commonconnections.com 3
content-edge.com 3
dime-co.com 4
articlesnatch.com 4
articlesphere.com 4
bigarticle.com 3
articles-hub.com/Submit 3
e-calc.net/index.php 3
ezinecrow.com 4
free-articles-zone.com 4
free-article-search.com
freezine-articles.com 4
freezinesite.com 4
fresh-articles.com 3
getyourarticles.com 3
hamazines.com 2
hotlib.com 6
mailbiz.com
isnare.com 5
linksnoop.com 4
look-4it.com 3
marketingtroll.co.uk 3
media13.com 4

Small-business owners spend about $10,000 to start their companies, mostly out of their own pockets, study says. Many small-business owners started businesses with their own money, and with relatively small amounts, according to the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index study. Small-business owners spend an average of $10,000 to start their businesses, the study said.

Seventy-three percent of business owners surveyed primarily funded their businesses with their own personal savings, while 37 percent obtained loans and lines of credit.

More than half of those surveyed, or 53 percent, indicated they would have had an easier time had more money been available at the outset. Yet just 31 percent of small-business owners surveyed started with business plans, the study found.

Forty-nine percent say they would have had an easier time had they asked for more advice from experienced business owners, while an additional 39 percent indicated a better understanding of financial management would have been an asset.

“The reality of owning a small business is both exciting and a bit scary,” Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, executive vice president and head of the Small Business Segment for Wells Fargo, said in a statement.

“The survey results provide us with real insight into what it takes to start and run a small business, and what many small business owners wish they had at the onset - more capital and more financial management education.”

The Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index surveyed approximately 600 small-business owners nationwide. Results were based on telephone interviews conducted May 22, 2006 through June 9, 2006. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Fiber network operator Level 3 Communications Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement to transmit Internet content, including video, for the popular social networking site MySpace.com, Level 3 announced Friday.Level 3, which offers Internet capacity in 82 markets, will initially support MySpace in some markets, the company said in a statement.

“We selected Level 3 because of the proven performance of its network and Level 3’s ability to support increasing high bandwidth demand,” Aber Whitcomb, chief technology officer of MySpace, said in a joint statement Read the rest of this entry »

The marketing and advertising for Big Tobacco will be forever changed. A federal court judge today issued the most punishing ruling against the Tobacco Industry which will have significant effect on advertising on the Food, Alcohol, and Tobacco industries. The sale of “light” and “ultralight” cigarettes will be banned and use of corrective advertising of the products will be required.

The 1,742 page ruling including limits on tobacco makers such as:

- The use of the terms “low tar,” “light,” “ultra light,” “mild” and “natural” are banned;
- Each big tobacco company is required to buy one full-page corrective ad in the Sunday editions of more than two dozen major newspapers, with the schedule alternated monthly among the companies;
- Major tobacco makers are ordered to run 15-second corrective TV spots once a week during prime time for a year;
- Packaging and in-store signs must carry new corrective advertising.ÂÂ

It’s about time something happened to the tobacco industry. Sadly, I smoke Marlboro Menthol Lights. The only thing that I’ve noticed between the Lights and the Regulars is that the Lights are much less harsh on my lungs and teeth. Fortunately for myself, I never plan on marketing for Tobacco companies so to all those who do, don’t you understand Tobacco companies do not need advertising besides brand name recognition? (AdAge)

Advertising messages are increasing everyday and young Ad Students are looking for new ways to form company branding in your mind… even in the checkout lane.

According to AdAge.com, “That plain-black conveyor belt at the grocery checkout line is the next stop for ad creep.” Frank Cox, the President-CEO of EnVision Marketing Group in Arkansas has patented this silly system of marketing with “photo quality” images and branding on conveyor belts. The Vice President of the company, Andrew Moreau said that “You can’t promote on it and can only change the message every two weeks. It really only works to raise brand awareness.”

Currently they are testing this new form of advertising in 13 stores. My guess is that the cost is going to be too high, especially for advertisers that I know who have a different message almost every week. The inventors feel this type of advertising will become the norm in retail giants such as Wal-Mart. Capital investment in a printer that can print on the belts can cost upwards of $400,000!

The majority of small business owners rely on only 2-3 marketing strategies for pulling potential customers within their grasp. However, the fact is that “Caffeine Marketing” is about encompassing all possible marketing resources available and gaining a profit from it. Here are a few tactics for gaining more customers and referrals:

1) Referrals: The key to productive referral business is a proactive approach. You cannot sit back with a good image and expect that business will be driven in. Never assume that you current clients or customers will refer you. Ask them for a referral. Send out business gifts and thank you cards to current clients to help smack your companies name back in their mind. People will usually not accept something for free. Especially when they are satisfied customers they are 10x more likely to refer you for being so generous.

2) Writing: Industry experts are highly recognized and praised. Article writing and submitting those articles to the masses will help you get recognized in your industry, amongst your competitors as a threat, and increase awareness. The internet is filled with e-zines looking for material to send out to their paid subscribers and customers. I write at least 1-2 articles PER DAY and then take the next day to submit the articles I write Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve created your company identity through a good logo, great! Now it’s time that you’ll have to create a tag line that will seperate your business from all others and resonate in your customers minds.

A tag line should be a 3-7 word phrase that accompanies your logo. The tag line will express your companies most important benefits or services. These will be the words that linger in the minds of the customer throughout the day and whenever they refer your business.

Great tag lines shouldn’t be too complicated. Overly wordy tag lines never succeed. The best tag line in the world is one that is unique and rolls off your tounge. Your tag line should also appeal to your line of business. Some upscale companies such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Swatch, and BMW had to create unique tag lines that show that their products are of superb quality to help reason their high prices. In addition, their tag lines help resonate the human desire for luxury and admiration.

Creating the perfect tag line is critical to creating a brand both online and off. It will help your company get the beach front property in the minds of your customers and leave them only thinking of you.

Author: Mankato Web Design.com

How memorable is your business? It might be your service, your products, or most importantly… your company branding.The elements that go into your company’s logo has a significant effect on how successful your business will be in bringing customers in and keeping them coming back. Company branding is predefining everything you business is about.

It helps to stick your products and services in the minds of potential customers. Lets give an example to make this easier. You wake up and you ready to run errands for the day. It’s a busy Monday afternoon. You know you need to buy groceries, drop the kids off for basketball practice, and pick up the dry cleaning. Around noon you remember you need to get groceries. The thought of food runs through your mind and your empty stomach. Looking for a quick bite to eat, an image of Golden Arches sticks to the back of your mind. McDonalds. Now that’s good company branding.

A good logo design needs to be:

- Attractive and easy to read even from a distance
- Memorable and elict thoughts that relate to your business. McDonalds uses red and yellow which elict hunger responses.
- A great tag line that defines your products or services.

Getting Started: Creating A Superb Logo:

You’ve invested all you could into your company name and building products designed to sell. You’ve even hired the best employees in the community through tough interview processes. Now you need a good logo to wrap it all together in a neat little package in your customer’s minds.

5 Logo Design Tips That Sell:

- Easy to read font style
- Relates to your companies services or products
- Works well with your company name
- Clearly communicates your business
- Strong balanced image with no clutter.

Author: Mankato Web Design .com

For all you DJs, Club Go-ers, and Stoners who like staring at pretty moving colors on your shit I am proud to introduce you to the T-Qualizer shirt.

Remember in the 80s when everyone had those cheesy thermochromatic t-shirts? Yes, you remember. Now a company called CrazyAboutGadgets has developed an equalizer t-shirt that actually works! The T-Qualizer is a shirt with a built in sound sensitive graphic equalizer. The description does not mention iPod Cross Usage but that would be nice.

ÂÂ

You can even make pretty girls appear with your beats!

If you think getting your html/text pages indexed in Google or buying pay per click ads pointing to text-based web pages are the only ways to get found on Google, your competitors could be eating your lunch - or more to the point, serving lunch to customers that could have been yours. What’s up?

Google Coupons:
For starters, Google is now giving local merchants the chance to put coupons online. To do so, you need to first create a free business listing in Google Maps. Once that’s completed, you can click on the Coupons tab to enter the text for your coupon. Coupons will show up when searchers search Google Maps for your products in your location. (ie, restaurant, Manhattan, NY.

Google Video:
Another way to get found: Google Video. That’s taken the place of Froogle (Google’s shopping comparison search) on the Google home page. (Froogle is now found under the “more” link off the home page.)

Google Video gives businesses (entertainers, and others, too) a way to get their videos seen either free, or by selling video content on Google. For information on uploading and selling video content on Google, see the Google Video Help Center.

Google Sitemap:
The nice thing about this type of sitemap is that it can be read by humans AND search engines. Website owners simply use our program to generate an HTML sitemap, upload that file to their server’s root directory (same location as the website’s main page) and place a link to the file in their footer. Get your Free Google Sitemap and save the XML file.

Best selling author and Google Adsense expert Joel Comm has just announced the launch of The AdSense Game. Developed as an educational tool, Mr. Comm hopes his efforts will help webmasters increase their monthly earnings with the contextual based advertising program.

The AdSense Game’s premise is a little like monopoly. Players start with a $500 budget and make a variety of marketing strategies, ad placement, text vs. graphic displays, color selections (blending), and other parameters to maximize a return from their site’s ad capabilities. Players eventually catch on to what works and what doesn’t as their bank account fluctuates.