Internet Marketing Tips and Freebies

When offering Freebies, I always make sure that what is listed here is safe. However, nothing is 100% safe. I always download my free programs from trusted sites and you should too.

With the instances of malware and sypware and viruses increasing daily in free software, downloading from a trusted source has become even more critical.

I trust downloads.com and majorgeeks.com because they test all the free programs they offer.

I do have two trusted sites I will share with you for testing software that you get from friends. – My thanks to Gizmo Richards (Gizmo’s Support Alert Newsletter) for turning me onto these sites!

1. Jotti’s – This is a malware scanning site that uses a variety of virus scanners to scan any files you have downloaded.

2. Virus Total – This is also a free on line malware and virus scan. Both on line tools use the same technique, which is to run your freebies through a series of virus scan programs. Using these programs does not guarantee that your file is harmless.

Unfortunately, to date, there is no 100 % effective solution to detection of malware or spyware. Using the on line software is far better than crossing your fingers or blind faith. Remember use protection…. and you should remain safe. If you have any suspicion or doubt, abstain from downloading the software.

With summer in full swing, picnics and parties abound. Email invitations are a better alternative to paper invitations for several reasons.

1. Write the invitation once and send it to everyone at the same time.

2. No trees are killed in the process

3. No stamps are needed

4. No paper cuts on you lips from licking envelopes or water on your desk from your sponge bottle.

5. They are FREE and Easy!

So now you’re convinced this is the way to go, where do you find FREE invitations? It just so happens that I have a few sites I can share with you.

Evite – You can create your invitations from hundreds of designs or customize your invitation with your own design.  You can import your contacts from your address book (two steps). Evite sends a link to your invitation to your guests email address and tracks RSVP responses. Your guests can reply to your invitation on the site and view maps and directions. You can even send invitations to a phone. You can ask your guests to bring something to the party, poll your guests and even ask for payment from your guests (if for instance you are hosting a fundraiser). They have a party tips and tools section and even a drink calculator that will tell you how much alcohol you need to purchase for the party. 

American Greetings has a site for sending FREE party invitations. They have dozens of invitations. They don’t offer customization unless you become a member. However, do they offer background music (which you can turn on or off) and the cards are animated and stylish. Memberships are good for one full year.

My Punch bowl Sign up for a free account and you can use the tool to help you pick the best date for you bash and send out a save the date card. Create your invitation and send it to your guests email.  You can use their on-line party checklist to make sure you haven't forgotton anything. They offer RSVP and a Great after Party feature that lets you share your party photos on Flicker and YouTube. If you need a reason to party (your kidding right) they have a list of days like Cousin’s Day, Parent’s Day and my persoanl favorite National Milk Chocolate day!

Sendomatic If you are having a very small party Sendomatic might work for you. You can send up to 4 email addresses for free. They have an easy to use event center that tracks you RSVP’s and let’s your guests send you a response with a message and you can resend an invitation if needed. They charge for invitations in excess of 4. It must be said they do not have any ads.

They have a special section for business use where they provide event planning and management software.  You can easily create your own event website, send the invitations, track the RSVP's and manage your event.  If you are having an event for you clients this might be worth the cost.

So, what are you waiting for get that party started…. and don’t forget to invite me!

Since gardening season is in full swing and I live in the Garden State, I thought it might be fun to share with you some tools that will help you to diagnose your tomato plant ailments.

The inspiration for this post belongs to Michelle Fabio on my favorite gardening blog Tomato Casual.

Michelle’s post discussed a tool developed by the Aggie Horticulture team at Texas A & M. The purpose of this tool is to help you to diagnose and solve your tomato’s ailments using the following diagnostic categories. Green Fruit, Ripe Fruit, Leaf, Stem and Root.

Select the appropriate category. You will see a group of photos that corresponds to your tomato problem. Choose the appropriate group of photos. Select the photo that looks most like your tomato’s ailment from a second group of larger photos and you will be provided with a description of the ailment and instructions on how to control it.

I want to thank Michelle Fabio for this great tool and Reggie Solomon of Tomato Casual for the permission to share it you.

Here are three other FREE on-line veggie diagnostic tools and sites I dug up.:)

Cornell University’s Vegetable MD Online is a good tool for diagnosing most veggie Problems and has a Tomato Diagnostic Tool. To use this tool, select the part of the plant where the ailment exists (click inside the box), then scroll down to the bottom of the page and have a look at the pictures. The disease, symptoms and part of the plant affected is listed. This tool is also available in Spanish.

Not sure what is wrong with your veggie plant? Ask the Plant Doctors at Cornell University.

Washington State University has a diagnostic web site called Hortsense. Select the category vegetables from the menu on the right and then select tomatoes from the next menu. You will be given a choice of diseases or insects. Choose the one you want to know more about. You will learn more about that specific aliment and how to manage it.

If you love Tomatoes, or just enjoy them, I invite you to visit Tomato Casual and spend some time there. If you are an avid Urban Gardner (as I am) their sister site Urban Garden Casual is well worth your time.

 All Photos taken by Caryn Webb in her Urban Garden

Happy Fourth of July!    

Time to celebrate our country's birthday and time for some fun. When the picnic gets a little dull here are some fun activities, games and puzzles for you and the kids.

Fourth of July Coloring Pages for the kids. Here is a link to print out some coloring pages to keep the young ones busy this holiday.

Like puzzles? Have I got a site for you! On this site you can make your own puzzles. They are fun and easy. For example make a word search puzzle. Enter your words and puzzle is created. Print it out and pass it around! You can download a demo but to use it all the time you have to purchase it.

Give it a try it's fun. Below is one I created

Free Flag pictures for download at Comstock.com and Free animated Fireworks gifs

Here is that puzzle I created, this is an image so you can cut and past it. into word to print and play with it.

Find the Following Words in the puzzle below.

Picnic, BBQ, Red. Betsy Ross, Songs, Blue, Sparklers, Fireworks, Stars, Flag, Stripes, Hamburgers, Watermelon, Hot Dogs, White, Music