The person who writes the blogs is known as the Blogger. Bloggers can either post their own views on a particular topic on the blogs created by some other individuals or they can create their own blog on a topic of their choice and ask for the opinion of other Bloggers on the same topic. But there are some tips which the bloggers, especially the first time bloggers, should keep in mind before writing a blog. These tips, if taken care of by the bloggers, can really make their blogs very popular among bloggers’ networks, thereby increasing the readership which is the ultimate aim of any blogger.

The first and foremost thing that should be kept in mind while writing blogs, especially by the first time bloggers, is that writing blogs is not child’s play. Your opinion really counts. Thus, while writing down your thoughts on the blog, do keep in mind that whatever you write should be really informative and well written. Don’t just write for the sake of writing a blog or to brag among your friends that even you write blogs. The writing needs to make sense, only then will you be able to generate traffic to your blog. Writing valuable content helps in building readership whereby, with time, more and more people will visit your blog. These visitors will return only if they will find your blog to be worthwhile.

Also, bloggers should try to avoid the use of slang. This is because slang can make it difficult for the blog’s readers who are from different walks of life to understand the topic or content not specifically related to their area of work. Clarity and simplicity are the two most important aspects of blog writing. They will help readers easily understand the content.

Some other valuable tips for the first time bloggers are:

• Don’t deviate from the main topic. Adhere to the topic and post the information accordingly.
• Use attractive headlines with a focus on the keywords. This helps in grabbing the attention of the readers.
• Finally, before you submit your post, re-read it. This will help in eliminating any inadvertent errors like spelling or grammatical mistakes, etc. that might have been missed.

Write blogs and make your opinion count!

Netsuite is a fairly easy system to train, with intuitive software that is upgraded regularly. It is a particularly good for companies who wish to sell and market physical items and services, as the ecommerce platform is robust. Netsuite is best for larger companies, who deal with a staff of hundreds, however, because smaller companies may have a difficult time taking advantages of some of the accounting and marketing features that it offers.

Critics of Netsuite voice the same general complaints heard by most ERP software systems. While all ERP platforms suffer a bit from lack of customization options, Netsuite is particularly rigid in its ecommerce databases. There are few options for adding variations on products, or for selling multiple quantities of separate variants. Another complaint is that Netsuite’s pricing fluctuates in relatively short periods of time, pricing many users out of its market as it expands. This is why Netsuite is recommended for larger companies, who have slightly more leverage when choosing their software packages.

Net suite is proprietary, and uses its own script for its databases. Suitescript is a language developed by Netsuite, and any adjustments to Netsuite software must generally be outsourced to professionals. Netsuite also offered extender packages called Suite Extenders, for users who seek more functions, or customized options. Suite Extenders continue to work when updates occur, and are installed for the user by a Netsuite consultant. Suite Extenders are licensed annually, just as the main Netsuite software is, so this should be considered when purchasing an Extender package.

For users new to Netsuite, Blue Bridge One is a European implementation partner who will offer customer service, and aid in integrating Netsuite into your daily software use. They offer their own Suite extender packages, and aid in IT training and support for Netsuite users. Netsuite also offers its own customer service, with many avenues of contact and support available.

Netsuite also has several distinct products available, such as Netsuite One World, which connects businesses to their overseas subsidiaries, and Netsuite CRM+ which is especially useful to any user in the service industry, as it offers added functionality for customer management and interaction.

Tomunchi Frozen Yogurt

Specialties : Tomunchi is part of the growing trend of self-serve frozen yogurt chains here in Texas. This trend, born on the west coast has finally come eastward, and yogurt shops like this one are popping up all over Austin. Tomunchi offers self-serve frozen yogurt, in flavors ranging from plain tart, to exotic mango, or decadent French espresso. The yogurt is then accessorized with a variety of toppings such as fresh fruit, mochi, chocolate chips, or flavored syrups.

Where : Tomunchi is located in North Austin, off Parmer lane. Their website offers a map to their location, as well as a menu of yogurt flavors and toppings.

My first impression of Tomunchi was sort of mediocre, considering there was no staff at the front counter to greet us. I love these yogurt places, however, so I knew the drill without being told. I grabbed a cup, and started scanning the flavors of yogurt available from the tiled wall mounted machines. I was a little disappointed to see that the cups were only ordinary Styrofoam. I like little touches like branded cups and plates, so it was a bit of a let-down. The machines were similarly disappointing, with poorly constructed flavor signs. Yogurt Planet, further south on Lamar definitely has Tomunchi beat for style.

The yogurt itself was delicious – all these yogurt places seem to use the same brand of yogurt, and they all offer nearly exactly the same flavors, so they’re nothing if not consistant. I was there about two hours before closing, but even so, I noticed that Tomunchi is definitely lacking in the toppings arena. I’ve been to about six similar shops, and so far, Tomunchi had the least to offer in the way of fresh fruits and treats. I missed seeing the usual Japanese and Asian inspired exotics, like red bean, and lychee.

There was only one person on staff, but he was fairly withdrawn. There’s not much service to be expected at a self serve place, but I got no smiles from this guy, and there were a lot of empty topping areas that might have been filled. The yogurt by weight was a bit more expensive than most similar places. I live in North Austin, so it’s closer to me than the other available options, but on the whole, this was more a trip of convenience.

Final thoughts : A firm 5 out of ten. Bit pricey, with mediocre service and options, but not memorable enough to actually be bad. I enjoyed the yogurt I got, I’ve just been a bit spoiled. My advice is to go to Yogurt Planet unless Tomunchi is closer, but you’ll be far happier with Planet’s array of toppings and syrups, friendlier staff, and cheerier atmosphere.

+ Know your demographics Marketing is a prime way to gather information to help you better serve your customers. By sending out mailers, e-mails, and by using word of mouth, you can not only lure people into your store, but you can find out what they need. Keep track of who visits your site, how old they are, what they buy, etc. You’ll be able to stock what they want more easily that way.

+ Specialize Are you the only formal wear store in your town? In plus sizes? Do you offer custom tailoring? Or maybe you’re where all the trendy teens like to shop when they’re not up for a long drive to the nearest mega mall. Play up whatever makes your store special. Have a large selection of it. From Red Hat Society to Prom, be the best in your area.

+ Customer Service This cannot be stressed enough. These days, when a trip to a huge chain is as easy as getting in the car, you have to make your store special not only through great pricing, but through impeccable customer service. Answer questions knowledgably, be extra courteous, and ensure that your staff can do the same when you’re not in. There’s no comparison to great personal service, especially when the alternative is a curt cashier in an enormous chain who doesn’t care about the product or the customer.

+ Unique items When you buy stock, look for items that simply can’t be found in the larger stores in your area. Items with different cuts, or exciting prints. If your customers know that they will get interesting pieces at your store, they’ll bypass the larger one-style-fits-all chains.

Don’t let Overstock take control – women’s apparel has to move, even if you have to write it off, and practically give it away at times. When you let merchandise sit unsold on your shelves for weeks, it sends the message that you’re not doing well, or that you’re not up-to-date. You should be constantly renewing your inventory. If things aren’t selling, put them on sale, pack them up, or open a flea market stall and sell as many as you can there. DON’T let them take up space on your floor. First in, First out.

Bright lights, and wide open spaces – Contrary to common sense, the less stock you have visible on the floor indicates more wealth in a store, not vice-versa. The less you keep on the racks the better. This creates a sense of urgency in the buyer, makes the place a bit more upscale in appearance, and keeps down theft and carelessness in your customers. Just be sure to post a lot of signs that you have things available in more sizes, and people need only ask. When you show customers to the dressing rooms, let them know that if anything doesn’t fit, there may be more of it in the back.

Beat your customers to the punch – if you’re so busy that you don’t have time to pick up after unruly customers, it might be a good time to consider giving your 12 year old niece a temporary after school gig. Pay her in trendy clothes, and she’ll thank you for it. Probably. Anyway, a messy store is one of the number one causes of theft and will turn off your customers right away. Keep a rack handy near the dressing room so they’re not inclined to leave things in there, and offer to hang things up when they’re done fitting. These small gestures mean a lot to them, and go a long way toward keeping things in top shape.

Don’t be afraid to buy small – Sometimes, it’s not always wise to get 144 pieces of a style, so you can fill your T-rack. Sometimes 50 different styles of clothing pre-packs of six can be better. At the very least, if they ever go on sale, there won’t be 20 of the same shirt left over marked down to $10. It’s a dead giveaway that something’s not ‘cool’ anymore, when there are a lot of them on sale. One or two cute tops on sale, though – that’s a bargain!

Actually I don’t think I do. It just makes more sense to agree with her, even though I know I’m smarter, or at least a better at rationalizing things.

I just received my latest new toy – the Amazon Kindle 2.

Although I am not a huge book reader for relaxation, a few a year at best, I do read. Not just the manuals to all the gadgets; I read four or five non fiction books a year, magazines and I’m an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal.

My wife thinks I’m nuts, because I always keep a three foot pile of the Journal in the garage. It’s become my personal library.

I have a fear of running out of reading material, and I often go back to my pile and pull out old papers and read the great articles I missed earlier.

Now enter the Kindle 2. My pile is gone. The Kindle has an enormous memory, and I don’t have to delete anything. Trees are saved, my garage is cleaner, and I don’t have to hear about the “Pile” anymore.

That should be enough, but there’s so much more to recommend the Kindle 2.

Although my wife is an environmentalist and appreciates the trees I am saving, she also worries about money. $359.00 for the Kindle was hard for her to swallow….so here come the numbers.

“My journal subscription is up, and they want $299.00 for the year to renew” I told her.

“That’s $25.00 per month. I can get a subscription from Amazon’s Kindle store for $9.99 a month, saving almost $15.00 per month” You’ve got to admit I’m good at this.

“But” she says, “What about the $359.00 for the Kindle” I pulled out a sheet of paper and drew out this scenario.

The $15.00 a month is $180.00 per year. So in two years the Kindle is paid for.

This doesn’t count the money I save on the books, and magazines I will buy during this two year expression.

She relented. Of course, the Spa gift certificate didn’t hurt either.

Money isn’t everything. There is value in so many of the features.

I think that for Non Fiction books, the Kindle is perfect. You can select text and save it as a note, that is filed away and can be recalled at any time. It’s better than writing notes on a legal pad that can get lost.

Articles that I may want to read but lack the time can be “Clipped” and saved for later. Building a library of them that is both neater, and easier to find than the “Pile” method.

A feature I like and use a lot is the PDF reader. I can email or upload a PDF file to the Kindle and it adds it as a new book.

I load office documents, pdf. e-Books, and other documents that I can read at my leisure and not have to boot up my laptop.

I would think that this would be a great feature for Lawyers, who could send numerous contracts and legal papers to read, without the added weight.

I love the screen, in fact I find it incredible to read in bright light. It’s the opposite of a laptop, or other back lit device.

downloading Samples of a book is nice, and the $9.99 for NY Times best sellers (most, not all) is even better.

I can go on and on, but I think I rationalized this as a winner, oh and she loved the Spa treatment.

Happy gadgeting.

Okay, really, I just wrote that title to score some clicks – but in the end, that’s really what making money with a blog is all about. To have a successful blog, you can do one of two things. You can be an amazingly funny and witty person, with a lot of interesting stories to tell, and a lot of dumb luck…or you can do it the hard way.

It seems that most any strategy for making money involves an easy, dumb luck method, and one that will only give you satisfaction after you pour your heart and soul into it. Well, in case you were holding your breath for dumb luck, let me be the first to tell you that there are no quick answers here.

Now, I’m a firm believer that anyone who intends to market any good or service needs a blog. Even if you don’t have a revenue plan for it, there’s just something very satisfying about having an open forum where you can say whatever you like about yourself, or your business. It’s like having your own rock band poster in words. On the internet. Like a good rock poster, blogs proclaim who you are at high volume, with arresting text and graphics. Even if no one comes to the gig, at least you’ll feel better for having done something to promote yourself.

And that’s where the money comes in. There are a lot of ways to make money with a good blog. You can do it passively, by advertising yourself, and hoping someone reads your sales pitch, and buys what you’re selling. You can also go aggressively after sales dollars. I can’t offer much advice for the passive route, since that’s all down to being as convincing as possible, but I do have a few tips for the people who want to pick up some spare cash by blogging, and don’t want to rely on their rhetoric alone.

Step 1 – Find a good team of copy writers. This is imperative. To make any real money, you’ll need new content all the time, posted in a million places. Unless you’re on 36 hour days, there’s just going to be too much for you to keep up with, even if you go at it full time. Get a team of copy writers who can handle large volumes.

Step 2 – Find some websites with affiliate programs. Sign up for them, and stick the banner on your shiny new blog. Send the product or business you’re affiliated with to your writing team, and let them generate some copy for you. You’ll be busy elsewhere.

Step3 – Using the copy that you have, post your articles in article directories, with links back to your blog. Do this as often as you can stand. Some suggest using software to do it for you, and that’s an option for the tech savvy.

Step4 – Let your writers keep filling your blog with content full of links and backlinks. This will generate some search engine hits, especially if your writers are SEO writers. You may even want multiple blogs at once, that all link back and forth between one another.

Step5 – Just keep plugging away at it. I never said it would be easy! You can also pick up some revenue from google Ad sense, if you’re ranking well enough. Try out a lot of different things!