Posts Tagged ‘quick’

SEO Basics: Black Hat SEO

Monday, December 8th, 2008

Black hat SEO is a set of unethical strategies which are used to gain higher positions in search engine rankings. They are called black hat because they are considered to be unethical or plain illegal by most search engines and the SEO community on the whole. These techniques evolved over a period of time as SEO experts were trying to generate faster results. As a matter of fact, most of these strategies were acceptable and ethical at a point of time. But then some people started to go over the board with it and search results started to get affected. So search engines started penalizing websites utilizing these strategies. 

What are black hat SEO strategies and how do we differentiate them from white hat SEO? 

Black hat SEO techniques are used to gain much faster results and may actually work for a short period of time. Some websites have skyrocketed to the top of Google SERPS (Search engine results pages) within as less as a week of using these techniques. But do not be surprised at all if your website is banned for as many as three years by Google if it is detected that you are using these techniques. 

Here are some BLACK hat SEO techniques commonly used by shady SEO experts. 

  • Keyword Stuffing: A huge list of the most searched keywords on a particular subject is created and then the webpage is stuffed with those keywords with not even a comma to separate them. A web user is usually shocked at reaching such a page that is stuffed with keywords and unwanted advertisements. The page is totally irrelevant and contains no useful information that the web user was looking for in the first place.
  • Invisible text: Once again, the keywords are stuffed on the webpage. However, this time the color of the keywords and the page background is matched so that it can be hidden from users but attracts search engine spiders. For example, a webpage with a white background will have keyword phrases in white so that they are invisible.
  • Doorway Pages: This is once again something that the end user will never see. It is a fake page that is created with the sole aim of tricking search engines into listing the website higher.  

I have noticed that the maximum number of webmasters who use black hat SEO or fall prey to unscrupulous SEO experts who promise them instant glory in SERPS, are people who are on a tight budget. However, before you hire any such SEO company, take a moment to think about the risk. Is it worth it? Always make a wise and informed decision.

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Build Muscle fast! 7 to 15 days! Fact or Fiction?

Monday, December 8th, 2008

We love fast results, don’t we? If someone wants to learn the guitar, then he/she wants to do it in a few days. If someone wants to learn how to jive, then 7 days is the maximum time that he/she is willing to spend on it. This one is a dream come true for all the guys who have been yearning for a rock hard physique without spending too much time on it. Imagine muscles ripping through that new t-shirt that simply refused to do anything but hang loose akin a scarecrow’s clothes. 15 days seems like an ideal time to invest in bodybuilding, doesn’t it? Infomercials like these have been floating around in the online world for years now. It is usually accompanied by a couple of before and after pictures (Geez!). The first one (before) usually shows a painfully malnourished guy who looks like he was on a fasting spree for years and the second picture (after) shows the same guy with an absolute ripped lean torso that would put a Greek god to shame. And he has done it in 15 days. So, why cant you? 

Fact or Myth? 

Here comes the big question. Do you believe in this? Can a normal human being turn into a muscled Greek god in as less as 15 days? The answer is …….’NO’. I mean…come on! You can’t fall for that!  It’s sad but true. Keep in mind that this is coming from a guy who has been a 90 pound weakling for the most part of his life. 

Gaining muscle the right way: No amount of heavy lifting, eating or consuming bodybuilding supplements or even anabolic steroids is going to bring about the transformation that you visualize in those ads. The only people gaining anything are the ones who are selling those products to newbies like you. A more realistic look at bodybuilding reveals that if you have a damn good week at the gym and combine it with the right diet and rest, then you can add up to 1 pound of muscle a week. That’s the maximum. Yes, you heard it right. So rather than stacking up on unrealistic goals, set yourself a realistic one and work towards achieving it. 

The workout 

As a beginner, you should always focus on building up strength and muscle definition. So rather than trying to bench 200 pounds in the first week, try to lift weights that you are comfortable with. Stick to free weight exercises rather than specialized machines. 

The diet 

Some smart person once said that muscles are created in the kitchen, not in the gym. It couldn’t have been more precise. You have to eat right to make any sort of muscle gain. And remember to go slow and make gradual increments in the number of calories that you consume each week. If you try to stuff too many things into your system at once, you will end up barfing all over the place. 

Rest 

It is so easy to go over the board when you start your bodybuilding attempts. But you need to understand that your body needs rest to recuperate. Without rest, you are only going to end up straining your muscles and will have no significant gains to show even after months. So if you haven’t been catching those 40 winks, now is the time to do it. 

Put it all together 

Now you have the perfect ensemble for a beginner’s bodybuilding routine. Stick to these three basic techniques and you will be all set to go on to level two in about three months time. And here’s a tiny reminder. The next time someone tries to sell you an e-book or a training guide that promises to help you gain muscle in 7 days or 15 days for that matter, you politely tell them ‘anda a bañarte’ (Spanish for ‘take a hike’)!

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How payday loans work

Monday, December 8th, 2008

Let’s have a recap first. Payday loans are short term, fast and hassle free loans that are the ideal solution for any unexpected shortage of money that may arise in your life. It can be a medical bill, a credit card bill, a loan installment, money to repair your car, fees payment or just a shopping deal that you cannot afford to lose out on. You can borrow $100 to $1500 via payday loans but it needs to be repaid by the next or subsequent paydays. Payday loans are the second name for convenient lending. So you can apply from just about anywhere. There are thousands of payday loan outlets around America and you can either walk into any one of those or apply online. The online payday loan industry has boomed in the last few years. You can log on to any search engine and choose an online payday loan lender. 

Criteria to be met 

Most lenders have three requirements that will qualify anybody to receive a payday loan or a cash advance. 

  • The person must be a US citizen and over 18 years of age.
  • He/she must be employed and make at least $1000 every month. ($800 every month if he/she receives the income via a government program)
  • Must have an active savings or checking account with an American bank.  

That sums it up. If you satisfy the above mentioned criteria, then you can qualify for a payday loan within minutes. There is no pre-approval verification or unwanted documentation. If you look closely, you will find that there is no credit check either. This is one of the biggest advantages of a payday loan over others forms of loan. It means that you can successfully qualify for a payday loan even if you have bad credit. Once you qualify, you will either receive a check for the amount or it will be credited directly into your checking account.

Repayment

 Borrowing money is always great until you have to repay it. Payday loans have to be repaid by your next payday. Let’s say your payday is on the 10th of every month and you borrow on the 21st of the previous month. Then you have about 19 days to repay the loan plus an interest fee (about $15 on every $100 borrowed). You can arrange for the money to be debited directly from your checking account on the next payday. Or, you can give the lender a post dated check that will be cashed on the payday. If you are unable to make the payment on the next payday, it can be extended to subsequent paydays. But the interest rates will keep mounting and additional late payment charges will also come into the picture. Believe me; you don’t want to do that. Some other repayment options offered by most lenders are 

  1. Repay the loan amount and roll ahead the interest charges to a separate loan.
  2. Repay the interest amount and part of the loan and roll the remaining amount to a separate loan.
  3. Pay only the interest charges and roll the entire loan amount to a separate loan. 

But if you look at all these, you will notice something common. They all require you to borrow another loan. Now, unless you have another emergency requirement for money, why would you want to borrow another loan? So stick to your plan and repay it as soon as possible. Here’s a tip. If you find yourself in financial emergencies more often than not, then you need to go back to the drawing board and review your finances. Do not rely on payday loans as a long term solution for all your financial woes.

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What are payday loans?

Monday, December 8th, 2008

According to me there are two types of people in this world. The first category of people are experts at money management right from the day they start getting their pocket money. They know the precise amount that needs to be saved each month, the right amount to be spent on dates, socializing and booze. These guys always seem to have some hidden resource of money to tap into and for them money is as abundant as pollution on the planet. Then, there are the second category (I belong to this category) of people. These are the guys who spend money faster than they earn it. Saving money is always a pipe dream. Spending money is based more on instinct and impulse rather than planning. They live from one payday to the next. And on more occasions than not, their bank accounts are as barren as a desert by the 25th day of the month, if not earlier.

Now, if you belong to the second category, then there is no room for an emergency crunch situation in your life. What if you have to rush your loved one to the hospital? Where do you arrange the money from? Let’s look are a far milder situation. Let’s say you have to pay your credit card bills (You already have bad credit and you cannot afford another delay). Do you go from door to door asking money from friends? That’s more embarrassing than being caught with your neighbor’s daughter with your pants down. Not everyone has a backup resource to tap into. So, don’t feel distraught if your friends are not able to help you.

I thought we were discussing payday loans 

Relax pardner! We are getting there. The reason I mentioned the two categories of people and the kind of money management problems they might face, is because I myself have been through it. Let’s face it. At some point or the other, we all face an emergency shortage of money. Some can afford the luxury of tapping into their bank accounts or using credit cards to withdraw money. Others have to rely on more conventional methods like loans. But when you need money fast, you really do not have time for credit checks, documentation, verifications etc. And that’s what loans are all about. Do you think you can walk into a Well’s Fargo outlet and walk out with a check in your hand? Nopes. That’s where payday loans differ from the rest. They are fast, easy, short term loans that can bail you out of most emergency money shortages within as less as 24 hours. There are no credit checks, no documentation and no unwanted delays. You simply apply online and watch the money being credited into your bank account.

 Wait, there has to be a catch 

Not really, except for the fact that you have to repay back the loan by your next payday. If you are unable to do it, then the interest rates will mount, late charges might be applicable and the amount might increase faster than the blink of an eye. But isn’t that the same with all forms of loans? Besides, payday loans are all about flexibility. They are most useful when you have a short term requirement for a small amount of money. Do not expect to borrow $10000 via a payday loan. The maximum amount that a payday loan lender can lend you is about $1500. Now, the interest rates for a payday loan can be substantially higher than any conventional loan that you know. The charges usually vary from one lender to the other. But they usually range from $12 to $15 on every hundred dollars borrowed. This means that, if you borrow $500, then you have to repay $575 on the next payday. 

If you consider this to be atrocious, then maybe you can head back to your friends and start looking for alternative methods of money. Think about it. Where else can you get money as fast and easy as payday loans? And when you weigh it against some of the other possible outcomes of not having the money, it seems fair enough.

So you want to know more about Payday loans? Feel free to browse through the rest of my articles on it.

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