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Writing (or ghostwriting) feature articles is one of our specialties, particularly search-engine optimized articles for the web. After discerning the unique selling proposition (USP) of your keywords, we will make sure that your article addresses them as much as possible to create search-engine-friendly content. There are many ways, but one of the most important ones is adding keywords/phrases into the title, subheading, and both first and last paragraphs—where search engine robots check for relevancy. It’s important that the entire theme of your article revolve around these keywords.

We’re always eager to write general and niche articles for print or the web.

Your Legitimate E-Mail Is Getting Trashed

April 07, 2005

By Des Cahill
Habeas Inc.
des@habeas.com

Whether you know it or not, your business has an e-mail reputation. ISPs, spam-filtering companies and a growing number of e-mail watchdog groups catalog data on thousands of high-volume senders and share their findings with each other.

Do you know whether your company’s e-mail reputation is good or bad? You’d better — because if your reputation isn’t good, your e-mail won’t always get delivered. And if your organization relies on e-mail for business purposes, that affects your bottom line.

But, hey, you’re not a spammer. Your company uses e-mail only for legitimate reasons: to communicate with customers, partners and vendors and, in some cases, to send marketing announcements to people who asked to receive them. You’re one of the good guys. This shouldn’t affect you, right? Wrong.

Of the 30 billion e-mail messages bouncing around the Internet every day, most estimates suggest that spam accounts for almost 80 percent of them. That’s a lot of junk in the average person’s inbox. E-mail users and businesses alike have become increasingly demanding that their ISPs and anti-spam software providers block unwanted e-mail. ISPs and other volume e-mail receivers are aggressively filtering e-mail. The result: Even legitimate e-mails are mistakenly undelivered, or delivered to the e-mail graveyard — the “bulk” or “junk mail” folder.

This happens more often than you might think. Our customers often seek us out because their legitimate e-mail, such as monthly statements to customers or opt-in newsletters, is regularly blocked from reaching recipients. ISPs want to be vigilant and protect the integrity of their users’ inboxes. If a word in the subject line of a legitimate message (“mortgage,” “opportunity,” “sale,” etc.) is on the ever-growing list of red-flag terms, an ISP often flags it as spam rather than risk an irate customer.

Another danger to your e-mail reputation are phishers, crooks who highjack your Internet domain and send e-mails using your business’ name to try to steal data or otherwise con recipients. As this practice grows more prevalent, businesses are being victimized and having their e-mail reputation ruined without ever knowing about it.

In the e-mail community, there’s virtually no feedback loop from receivers to senders. This means that if your business engages in an e-mail practice that gets you marked as an unsafe sender by an ISP, or placed on one of the many “blacklists” maintained by watchdog groups, chances are you’ll never be notified. You might notice a growing number of e-mails bouncing back as undeliverable, or you might not. Or you might simply notice your response rate plummeting. But it’s unlikely that the ISPs through which you send your messages will tell you why your e-mail isn’t being delivered.

Here are steps companies that rely on e-mail should take to preserve their good name as trusted e-mail senders.

• Get a full diagnostic of your e-mail reputation and sending practices. Have an impartial third party examine your e-mail streams (marketing, customer service, order confirmations, etc.) to determine any practices that could put you at risk of ending up on someone’s blacklist.

• Get your company on a “safelist” as a good e-mailer. We’re fast approaching the time when there are only two types of e-mail: accredited and non-accredited. If you’re an accredited sender — an organization whose e-mail is recognized as legitimate by the major ISPs and other volume receivers — your e-mail will be less likely to get mistakenly filtered or blocked. Getting on a safelist is a crucial step to take immediately.

• Set up an early warning system for delivery problems. This requires a third-party company that can benchmark your performance within the e-mail community and monitor blacklists to ensure you know right away if you’re marked anywhere as an unsafe sender.

• Get a good third-party expert to represent you in any disputes about your company’s reputation. If you’ve adopted the above steps and stay proactive in your practices, such instances likely will be rare.

But if your good name is called into question by an ISP or blacklister, you’ll need someone in your corner to represent your interests and get your e-mail delivered again at that particular ISP.

Des Cahill is CEO of Habeas Inc., Mountain View, CA. Contact Cahill at des@habeas.com or go to www.habeas.com.

ANTI-AGING INGREDIENTS: A PRIMER

"Aging gracefully" is a laudable ambition, and the good news is that today's new dermatologic advances make that goal more achievable than ever before. As we age, our skin care needs change, as do the products we use on a daily basis. In this article, you'll find useful information on some of the most popular ingredients used in the anti-aging creams and lotions found in the marketplace. With a better understanding of how these ingredients work, you can make a more informed decision when it comes to fighting the war against aging.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid
One of the very first anti-aging ingredients to hit the market was AHA, or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. At the time, it seemed like a radical approach to what is truly a simple idea, exfoliation. Every day our skin regenerates itself; dead skin cells rise to the surface where they begin to collect. When these dead skin cells are not exfoliated, the skin takes on a dull, dreary appearance. Exfoliation is the act of removing dead skin cells, leaving the skin healthy and glowing. Recommended AHA products include Betaplex Line Smoother by Cellex-C and Dermologica's incredible Skin Renewal Booster both which will help to regenerate and revive your skin.

The benefits of using products with Alpha Hydroxy Acids are similar to those of microdermabrasion - erasing fine lines and giving the skin a smoother, more youthful appearance. Keep in mind, however, that AHA products should be used sparingly. The high concentration of acids could eventually dry and irritate your skin if used too frequently.

CoEnzyme Q10
Not until a few years ago, the term CoEnzyme Q10 sounded like something out of a chemistry book. However, since its introduction into the skin care market, it has become an extremely popular Anti-Aging ingredient. Q10 is a Coenzyme that is found naturally in the skin to help defend it against aging. As we age, the level of natural Q10 begins to decrease and your skin loses the ability to naturally regain its elasticity and firmness. Coenzyme Q10 enhances the skin's unique ability to minimize the impacts of aging, making your skin firmer, smoother, and toned.

In addition, Q10 contains a time-release formula, so that your skin is constantly being renewed after applying it. Look for this powerful ingredient in Q10 Plus Wrinkle Control Day Crème by Nivea, which also contains Biotin, a natural ingredient. Biotin helps to strengthen your epidermis, leaving you with a firmer, softer, and smoother look. You might also try Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Lotion SPF 15 by Eucerin. which is fragrance free for those with sensitive skin. Even better, the SPF 15 element of this formula helps to protect your skin from the aging rays of the sun.

Retinol
Another high profile Anti-Aging solution is topical Retinol, which is Vitamin A in its purest form. Using Vitamin A topically has been suggested to help build collagen fibers within the skin in addition to its powerful exfoliating property. Retinol Complex by SkinMedica is a highly regarded dermatological choice as an Anti-Aging cream. It has been shown to increase both collagen and elastin, and even provides antioxidant defense. MD Forte's Skin Rejuvenation Eye Cream is another excellent Retinol product, specifically designed for the highly sensitive area around your eyes. Both of these products have been tested and approved by top dermatologists and ophthalmologists.

Antioxidants
The aging process is a constant in our lives, but with the addition of antioxidants in your skin care regimen, it can be slowed down considerably. Antioxidants are vital, and naturally occurring nutrients that help maintain one's health by slowing down the aging process of cellular molecules in the skin and body.

Antioxidants are found naturally in the body and in plants such as fruits and vegetables. Common antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and certain compounds called carotenoids (e.g. lutein and beta-carotene). Antioxidants help prevent the destruction of cells by bonding with free radicals. Free radicals are products of our environment, often caused by pollution and smoking and are all around us. These free radicals bond with healthy skin cells and immediately begin to destroy them. By introducing powerful antioxidants into your daily regimen, you should quickly notice improvement in the appearance of your skin, from the brightness to the texture. Try Cellex-C's Advanced-C Neck Firming Cream. This gentle solution contains a patented formula that combines with two powerful antioxidants: resveratrol and L-ergothioneine. Another highly recommended product designed to target the delicate eye area is Cellex-C's Advanced-C Eye-Firming Cream, an advanced moisturizing formula that contains antioxidants and Cellex-C's patented complex.

Ongoing Care
Regardless of which product you decide to try, remember that it took many years for your skin to reach its current state. Although it takes considerably less time for the products listed above to improve the quality and appearance of your skin, it's essential to be diligent when using them. Be sure to read the directions on the product packaging carefully, and use them according to those guidelines. It is always recommended to see your dermatologist when looking for answers to a problem area.
Copyright © 1999-2005 DermStore.com, Inc., All rights reserved.

Web Content

by Taylor Grant

According to urban legend, an internet savvy individual long ago stated that, "No one reads on the Web." This unfounded piece of conventional wisdom made its way into the collective consciousness and became accepted as fact. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Numerous studies have proven that well-written copy remains the single greatest factor in translating interest into action on the Web. Profitable web companies discovered long ago that "content is king," and that the success of their website is a direct result of the success of their content.

To attract, inform, and retain users on a regular basis, it is critical that your website contains quality content--not propaganda. Today's savvy web users can smell hyperbole from a mile away. Relevant, updated content is the key to making your site a valuable resource that visitors return to on a regular basis.

Website content should be unique, high quality and unduplicated. When users visit your website, they're seeking a distinctive viewpoint. Whether your website promotes or informs about electronics, healthy lifestyles, or the stock market, the information should be presented in a unique way that separates you from the rest of the pack.

Content Equals Traffic.
To drive continual traffic to your site, web content must do two things: appeal to your audience and appeal to search engines. Users are drawn by true value and relevance, while search engine rankings are increased by providing unique, keyword-rich content. That's why it's a good idea to have a professional copywriter or content provider develop it for you. Understanding how to strategically integrate keyword density while maintaining readability is a valuable skill and well worth the investment. Good content can increase profit margins by drawing new and loyal customers, cut costs in the customer service department by providing all the essential information in the content, and create long term brand awareness.

Keep in mind that if you're planning on building your web presence over time, it's important that the size you choose matches your resources. A common mistake is creating a site that's too large, becoming unwieldy to maintain. Web users tend to be unforgiving of outdated information, and may doubt the accuracy and legitimacy of your website if they discover obsolete content.

If content is only needed for a limited number of pages, it can generally be done internally. However, long term content development over numerous site pages is time-consuming and will take planning and strong management; usually enough to require a full-time person or content management resource. Outsourcing to companies that specialize in providing optimized web content can often provide good ROI, particularly if you choose those that provide lower rates for mass production.

The bottom line, however, is that if you're going to all of the trouble of building a content-rich website, you should do it well. Make sure to consider your audience and envision your content from their perspective: what can you do for me? Users have short attention spans and generally scan pages looking for something specific to their immediate needs. Get to the point right away. Whatever you do, don't waste their time.

The right words will drive users to action, while the wrong words will drive them to distraction. Always remember that the main goal of content is to reveal value and articulate it in a way that truly matters to the person reading it.

The Metrosexual Man

If you haven't heard the term yet, one of the hottest buzzwords in the media today is "metrosexual."

Arnold Schwarznegger is a metrosexual-as is Brad Pitt, WWE wrestler The Rock, and soccer superstar David Beckham. And some social observers believe it's just a matter of time until "metrosexual" becomes part of the English vocabulary -- and perhaps one day a description of the average urban male's lifestyle.

But what exactly is a metrosexual?

Well, the most widely accepted definition is the following: an urban male with a strong aesthetic sense, who spends a great deal of time and money on his appearance and lifestyle.

Proponents might describe them as "heterosexual males, who are secure in their masculinity-and take personal responsibility for their appearance." While critics might call them "self-obsessed men who will go to any lengths in the name of vanity."

While this is a debate that will undoubtedly continue for many years to come, it brings to light an issue that clearly needs to be addressed in this age of changing views on masculinity.

For example, while no one blinks an eye when a woman watches her weight, buys designer clothes, or takes care of her skin-it can be perceived as a negative thing for a man; as if somehow less masculine.

Meanwhile, stylish, bronzed, Adonis-like men adorn the covers of our national magazines, and men like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp continually top lists of the world's sexiest men.

If a man were to try and accommodate both sides of the fence, that is, emulate the idealized men in the media, while avoiding any time spent on his appearance (to prove his masculinity), he'd soon realize it was a no-win situation.

So, how does the average male discern what's acceptable amidst the mixed signals of our culture?

The answer lies within each man's comfort zone-and how willing he is to stretch beyond it.

The harsh reality is that looking healthy and attractive in this day and age is something that impacts the lives of each and every one of us. While this may not seem fair to some, the truth is that looking good affects how others perceive us, how we perceive ourselves, and can have a strong influence on every facet of our lives.

Of course, there is a big difference between having pride in our appearance and becoming obsessed with it. But just because a man wears fashionable clothes and uses skin care products doesn't mean he's obsessed. If that were the litmus test, then nearly every woman on the planet could be called obsessive.

What men must come to terms with is that it is impossible to maintain a healthy, attractive appearance without spending some time managing and maintaining it. Fortunately, times are changing and many men are embracing personal pride in their appearance-breaking free of the outdated traditions that claim men aren't supposed to care how they look.

The beauty industry is well aware of this-thus every year we see the continued growth of grooming products for specific male needs. No longer do men have to settle for the antiquated, generic soaps, shaving creams, shampoos, and other grooming products of their father's. For example, men now have a multitude of shaving cream choices, with many products containing skin conditioners, emollients, lubricants-even vitamins.

For instance, "Serious Shave Cream" by Glytone is a terrific shaving cream that softens and conditions the skin while delivering a close shave. And "Professional Shave" by Dermalogica is another excellent cream that helps reduce irritation. The cost difference between quality products like these and many low-grade drug store brands is negligible when you consider the long-term benefits.

While some men may still wash their hair and skin with a cheap bar of soap, they might regret that "manly" decision in later years when their more enlightened peers look ten or more years their junior. Using quality skin care products, like cleansers, exfoliators, and moisturizers isn't something solely for women or gay men anymore, as the hugely successful "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" TV series has proven. There are masses of straight males that would like to look and feel their best, and yet don't have the first idea where to start.

Well, a good place to begin is with a healthy skin care regimen. If you're new to the idea of skin care or if you're buying a gift for a man who wants a simple regimen, you might try the "Body Care Basics Kit" by MD Formulations, or the "Enhanced Vitalize Skin Care System" by Skin Medica.

Instead of relying on generic shampoos filled with harsh detergents and chemical foaming agents, why not try "Herbal Treatment Shampoo" by Burt's Bees or if you have problem hair or scalp conditions, try "Phacid Shampoo" by Baker Cummins. Both fall within the price range of standard drug store shampoos but might actually help you maintain the health of your hair.

While the average male may never fully embrace the term "metrosexual," more and more of them are embracing the ideal. Men are finally discovering what women have known for centuries; that taking care of yourself is not only essential to maintain an attractive appearance, but that a bit of pampering can be quite enjoyable too.
Copyright © 1999-2005 DermStore.com, Inc., All rights reserved.

Cutting the Engineer's Discovery Phase

Neven Karlovac, Ph.D.
EEdesign.com
(02/26/2001 6:10 PM EST)

It's a frustrating paradox hardware engineers constantly face. You're tasked with designing an innovative product using the latest in component technology. And, although the discovery phase is time-consuming and complicated — requiring you to investigate the latest chips and algorithms, and research prior art and patent issues — you're also asked to deliver your design quickly in your company's hurry to "bring it to market soon, make it profitable fast and . . ." yada, yada, yada.

Under these conditions, you must gather as much information as you can in as short a time as possible. Problem is, there is no comprehensive repository of the type of information engineers need in the discovery phase — component information and specifications, reference designs, compatibility issues, proprietary issues, etc. Engineers, therefore, are forced to rely on visits from distributors and sales representatives, trips to libraries and calls to professional associations for the information they need. And, as engineers know, obtaining information this way can drain weeks of precious discovery time. Here's where the Internet should come into play, which brings us to the second problem.

Engineers should be able to conduct searches for the discovery-phase information they need on the Net quickly and easily. After all, search engines work perfectly well for the average Net user. If he wants an online travel agency, the typical Net-savvy individual simply types in "online travel agency," and he's off and running. And herein lies the problem: Most of today's search engines are keyword-based, and engineers require much more sophisticated search capabilities — the ability to find relationships between objects, search for specific attributes, drill-up/drill-down, etc. An engineer might need a frequency synthesizer for a receiver in a given frequency band. (Try typing that word string into a search engine; you might actually hear your computer laughing.) Engineers need to be able to conduct iterative searches for the information they need, searches in which they can specify a series of complex parameters and mathematical relationships-"if/then," "at least," "must have," "maximum," etc. — and alter those search parameters on the fly.

None of the standard search engines meet the requirements of engineers' searches. Most are unstructured and keyword-based. Thus, an engineer searching for microprocessors who enters the keyword "microprocessor" into a typical search engine will receive hundreds of thousands of results, most of which will be completely useless to the engineer.

Search engines with Boolean operators offer a slightly more effective alternative for engineers. Boolean operators are search elements that allow the user to input relational, comparison or conditional expressions in a search command — such as "true/false," "greater than/less than," and "and," "or" and "not"— for more accurate results. An engineer could, for example, enter the command "chip not potato" into a Boolean-equipped search engine and filter out thousands of inappropriate results. Similarly, an engineer looking for a utopia microprocessor could enter "microprocessor and utopia" into an engine with Boolean operators for more accurate results.

However, even these more sophisticated engines, which offer advanced keyword searches with Boolean operators, fail for several reasons: First, they still return far too many or too few results. Even a Boolean search for chips that rules out potatoes may well return hundreds of thousands of Web pages completely useless to the engineer. Second, Boolean operators fail to enable engineers to conduct parametric- and rule-based searches for voltage requirements, compatibility and packaging. This information is built into a chipmaker's PDF datasheets, but standard search engines will not search these PDF documents. Even in the case of sites that have searchable databases, the standard search engines cannot extract the data from those databases and return them in keyword searches. An engineer who conducts a search for a chip with a given frequency that is "greater than x" will not likely find any direct matches, because the engine will not be able to search the datasheet that contains that information. Thus, even with Boolean operators, the engineer's task of scouring the Web for the best possible components is only slightly improved.

If forced to use a standard search engine to conduct early-phase component research for a new product, an engineer's best bet is to find an engine that allows Boolean expressions, and input as many of the desired elements (e.g., "microprocessor and DSP and...") as the search will support. Of course, this is only a first step in narrowing the vast amount of information on the Web and will not likely result in an exact match.

With product lifecycles shortening and manufacturers in an ever-increasing hurry to bring new products to market, engineers need the proper tools — intelligent search technology tailored specifically to their unique needs, one-stop access to the vast sea of information necessary to absorb during the discovery phase, and the ability to create diagrams and test component compatibility-to navigate through the complex discovery process and design a state-of-the-art, competitive product.

The engineering community needs tools, accessible from the Web, that will speed up and improve design-discovery time — and we need them soon.

Neven Karlovac Ph.D is the chief technology officer for Aprisa, Inc. Karlovac is a senior member of IEEE and a member of the Executive Advisory Council of the International Engineering Council. The company's CircuitNet — a Web-based design tool — was designed to improve engineers' discovery work through a search engine with parametric and rule-based search capabilities, a database of active components, and online tools that let engineers build virtual block diagrams, test component compatibility on the fly, and generate Hardware Reference Documents. The tool is scheduled for release in early 2001 at www.theCubicle.com.

Living Fit

Keep your immune system in fighting shape this winter

Dr. Luigi Gratton, M.D.
Senior Vice President of Education and Medical Affairs for Herbalife International

Winter is a tough season for your immune system. During these months, your body’s natural defenses are put on, well, the defensive–forced to work overtime against all sorts of health risks in places like crowded environments. As any athlete or sports fan knows, the best defense is a good offense. So this winter, let’s go on the offensive and take a few steps to give your immune system a competitive edge:

1. Have a glass of water
Actually, have eight every day. Your body needs water for almost all its functions–including carrying nutrients to the cells and removing toxins. One of water’s most valuable functions is its effectiveness as an overall immune-system booster. So when you’re thirsty, drink water.

2. Eat right
That means a diet that’s high in fiber and low in fat, contains the right amount of high-quality protein and is rich in fruits and vegetables. A proper diet will provide your body with disease-protective phytonutrients and other antioxidants, and support your immune system’s ability to perform its best. And keep in mind, being overweight can weaken immune functioning–which is why eating right and exercising are important for a healthy immune system.

3. Relax
The science of how stress affects immune functioning is complicated, so just remember this: stress can weaken your natural defenses. It can inhibit ordinary immune functioning and create or aggravate disorders that attack the immune system. Managing stress should be a top priority. That means relaxing more, exercising (which is proven to reduce stress), and putting more fun into your life.