Lights Out on Google
If you visited the Google.com homepage today, you’ll notice that the background is black, as shown in the image to the left.
That’s in recognition of “Earth Hour” and to spread awareness of the event. Created by the World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia in 2007, where 2.2 million people participated; the event has grown into a global movement in 2008.
According to the official “Earth Hour” website, this year “millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver“.
Tonight, to acknowledge their commitment to energy conservation, people around the globe will turn their lights off for one hour - between 8 and 9 pm - in their local time zone.
Although turning off the 2 compact flourescent bulbs that typically light our house at night won’t produce any significant drop at the hydro station - as supporters of any initiative to bring awareness to climate change we’ll be ‘lights out’ here at home at 8 — will you?
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Happy Easter Everyone!
Just a quick note to wish all the NPT readers a very Happy Easter.
Here’s hoping that the Easter bunny was good to you and that you are able to spend the day with family and friends.
Relax and Enjoy.
Cheers,
Ros
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Surgery Update
Ros’ surgery went well and she is on the mend.
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Brian Gardner’s Revolution Affiliate Contest
Brian Gardner, developer of the Revolution themes for Wordpress is holding a contest for his affiliates in March.
If you’re not familiar with Brian’s work, I run his Revolution News theme on my travel blog and it was the theme chosen for a blog coaching club that we’re doing now.
Other themes include the original Revolution, as well as Revolution Pro Business, Magazine, Tech and Sports. Most of the themes sell for between $79.95 for a single user licence and $199.95 for a developer’s license and affiliates earn 25%.
The most expensive product he sells is the Revolution All-Inclusive Developer Package for $399.95. It is for webmasters who want to create sites using any of Brians 6 Revolution themes. You will also receive any future Revolution themes as well. With the purchase of this package, you can use any of the themes as many times as you wish.
The March Revolution Affiliate Contest has some pretty nifty prizes including:
- A 4-night Bahama cruise for two plus $500 cash
- Samsung 19″ Flat-Panel HDTV, Revolution All-Inclusive Package or $500 cash
- $250 cash or a Gift Certificate to your favorite online retailer
The contest began on March 1st and goes until midnight on March 31st. To qualify you must
be one of the top 3 sales generating Revolution affiliates during that timeframe and link to contest details from your blog — which, take note, is a very smart traffic generation strategy on Brian’s part! 
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10 Things to Do During a 504 Gateway Timeout
A 504 error usually means that a server upstream from yours that is acting as a gateway to handle the HTTP request is either down or too slow to fulfil the request.
Unfortunately, there is nothing that you can do to solve a 504 gateway timeout problem. It has to be dealt with by the techies at the ISP that hosts the errant web server.
The following is a list of my recommended responses to such a problem.
- Assess the HTTP error. There’s a good list of HTTP status codes, some with explanations.
- Shut down applicable PPC campaigns. Every click that goes to a site that isn’t online is a waste of money. Refrain from wondering how long your site has been down or thinking about how much money you’ve probably just flushed.
- Contact your webmaster or ISP. Explain the problem CONCISELY. There’s no need to tell them that you were in the middle of enjoying a delicious breakfast of ham and eggs when ESP told you that things with your site were awry.
- Know that ’stuff’ happens and remain calm. The outage may last only a minute or two, so there’s no need to get stressed out. Do your best to avoid visions of bankruptcy court and bag ladies.
- Twiddle your thumbs. Now think of something else to do.
- Post to social networking sites. Release whatever angst you feel by posting about your situation to your Twitter, Facebook and MySpace accounts. Someone may respond with such concern that you feel better for a short while. If not, send out a bunch of friend requests to find better friends.
- Write a few blog entries (using a text editor) to post when your site is again available. If you’re short on ideas or too stressed about the situation to think clearly, see the next list item.
- Buy a PLR package.. I bought Anik Singal’s Valentine / Spring package, dating site was still online, queued up the blog posts for delivery during the month of January.
- Take a break away from your office. If the outage becomes prolonged, use the time to do something really different like refill your shampoo dispenser. Better yet, go outside, get some exercise and see what your town looks like in daylight hours.
- When you return and/or the problem is rectified, check your stats. You might find that you’ve made enough money with free search engine traffic to want to modify that PPC campaign before you turn it back on.
The most important thing to remember - don’t stress! You can still get good work done and/or have fun. Enjoy the break while it lasts.
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Happy 2008 and Happy Anniversary!
Well, here it is, 2008 already.
Although I’m always amazed at how quickly the time flies from one year to the next, I’m particularly amazed that this January 1st, I’m celebrating the 10th anniversary of doing business online.
Yes, it was 10 years ago today, during a very early morning chat room session, that I decided to start my dating service review site, Sage-Hearts.com, which was supposed to make the Internet a better, more enjoyable place for singles looking for partners online.
I registered the domain name on January 7th, 1998 and received my first affiliate commission check for $10.99 early in February 1998. Talk about excited… I could barely contain my glee when that check arrived in the mail.
Alot of checks have since arrived and although I may no longer jump for joy when they come in, the game of making money online is still as much fun as it ever was — especially when I’m in the process of spending the proceeds while travelling and then making even more when I’m travel blogging. Who woulda thunk it, eh?
My greatest enjoyment however, has always come from helping others… whether it be in their pursuit of a partner, online business building, or other interests that we share. No check will ever compare with receiving an email or card that says ‘Thank You! You changed my life!’. That’s the truly fun and rewarding part of this business… big checks are just a very nice byproduct.
So, which business anniversary will you be celebrating in 2008?
Are you having fun doing business online and which aspects do you specifically enjoy? Do you like the day-to-day processes of the business itself, getting the checks in the mail or is it what you do with those checks that gives you the most pleasure?
Please share your experience to inspire others who may just be starting out or haven’t yet discovered the joys of Internet and Affiliate marketing.
Happy New Year!
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Beth is our Lightbulb Joke Contest Winner
I totally made a mess of trying to tell a lightbulb joke from the stage at PPC Classroom in Vegas two weekends ago… ugh.
Duh me.
I should have used one of the 37 contest entries submitted for our “Lightbulb Joke Contest“…
… especially the one submitted by Beth (pictured here to the left).
It goes like this…
Q. How many Internet Marketers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A. None, he outsources it.
Note: Although others posted similar responses, Beth was the first to submit the entry on November 29th, 2007 at 18:22 pm, so she wins the “The Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet - Version 2007” package ($197 value).
Congratulations, Beth! Enjoy your course!
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Contest Winner: The Bear Gets a Name
A month ago, on November 15th, I asked NPT readers to help me rename my office bear for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate .
Of the 142 entries posted many were serious contenders, including Chunky, Woodrow and Woody.
However, the name that spoke to me loudest was Chipper, submitted by Josh Dockery. This was just perfect considering Chipper is a wood chainsaw sculpture with a very happy face.
Congratulations, Josh! You get the prize!
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Lightbulb Joke Contest: Win a Copy of “Insider Secrets To Marketing Your Business On The Internet”
Here’s your chance to win a copy of the Internet Marketing Center’s “The Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet - Version 2007” ($197 value). The course contains TWO 8″ x 11″ full-color three ring binders containing 800+ pages, broken down into 64 easy-to-follow lessons about everything from traffic generation, email marketing and Google Adsense.
This is the course that every new Internet marketer should have in their office… regardless of whether you plan to become an affiliate, merchant or online auction seller.
So… to put it on YOUR desk… we’re gonna have some fun with lightbulb jokes.
And just in case you’ve never heard a lightbulb joke, they go like this:
- How many bureaucrats does it take to screw in a lightbulb ?
Two. One to screw it in and one to screw it up. - How many cops does it take to screw n a lightbulb ?
None. It turned itself in. - How many Psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb ?
Just one. But the bulb has to really WANT to change.
So, let’s get started…
In the comments section below, post your answer to the question:
“How many Internet Marketers does it take to screw in a lightbulb ?”
Please note…
- ONE entry/joke per comment only, please… In the event that multiple jokes are posted in a comment, the comment will be moderated so that only the first will show up.
- If two identical comments are posted for the winning entry, the first commenter will be deemed the winner.
- Contest entry must be made on or before December 15th, 2007.
- The winner will be announced on December 16th, 2007.
Have FUN!!
internet marketing course,joke,contest
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Rename the Office Bear: Win a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
I’ve always been really bad at naming things.
When I was a kid I had 3 dogs, a cat and a couple of fish. The dogs were named Lucky, Snoopy and Rover and the cat’s name was Morris. I called my goldfish Flipper and the ugly bug-eyed black fish never even got a name.
Ugh. I obviously had no parental guidance in the ‘imaginative naming’ department and despite the fact that my skill hasn’t improved much in subsequent years, I still persist in giving everything from trucks to trinkets a name.
But my failing becomes your opportunity.
Simply come up with another name for “Happy” (a.k.a. “Howdy”), the wood sculpture bear that graces my office (shown left) and also seen in my home office video tour.
Post a name in the Comments below before Decebmer 15th, 2007 and the person that supplies the chosen name will win a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate.
(Note: ONE name per comment only, please… and in the event that multiple submissions are made for the winning name, the first person to post that name will win the certificate.) 
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