Most of the personal finance books and blogs talk of saving money by being a smart and frugal shopper by using coupons, buying one get one free, perusing sales circulars or checking in to the merchants phone apps; but I have yet to read any advice on what to actually do with the amount of money that you save.

If I just merely acknowledged that I saved half-off retail price on a pair of sneakers which is about a $40 savings then that’s one thing, but that just keeps the balance on my checking account higher by $40. I would probably just find another item to spend that $40 on since it is technically free right? Get more retail bang for my buck so to speak.

Instead my hack strategy recommendation is to discipline yourself to sweep that $40 you save into your savings account.

Here is an example, I just saved close to $23 on my last trip to the grocery store via coupons, store sales and using the grocery stores club card. The amount that I saved is right on my receipt $22.84. I use my rewards credit card to capitalize on getting some travelers miles which I will pay off as soon as possible when I get home. But while at the grocery store I use my phone to transfer that $22.84 that I would have spent had I paid full retail and that goes fright from my checking account to my savings account.

I make it a habit to earmark these savings whether I save $2.25 or $100+ when it comes to money and savings, small amounts no matter how small you may think will eventually add up to tangible results. This strategy has enabled me to really “beef up” my savings account and it is a painless way to save as well.

To be able to do this you will need

1. A checking account as well as a linked savings account preferably from the same bank or credit union

2. Your bank or credit union must have online banking so you may transfer money from your checking to your savings. Ideally if your bank has a phone app that allows transfers then that is even better. You do not want to wait that long to make your savings transfer; do it while the feeling of victory of saving money is still fresh.

Think of it as a score-card for showing how much you save on purchases.

If you are planning to buy a new car, you can either go to your friends who can recommend a good car company or just do it yourself. Nowadays, there is a new trend with regard to buying cars-and that is buying them online. This is the fastest way of buying a car. You do not need to go to the car stores yourself. Buying online only needs a little time surfing the Internet. Plus, you will not have to leave the comforts of your home.

However, just like any other venture, buying a car online has its advantages and disadvantages. It is important that you be aware with regard to this matter. Having the right knowledge with regard to this will guarantee a quality choice of buying a car.

Advantages of Buying a Car Online

*It saves you time and money

Yes, online buying of cars will save you money. You do not need to go to nearby car outlets. All you need to do is to open your computer and surf the Internet. It requires less time and less effort and means lesser money spent. The lesser the money you spend, the better. You can instead invest you money on some other expenses like the maintenance of your car.

*Wide choice of cars styles

Online purchasing offers you a wide array of options to choose from. Different styles of cars are offered even just on one site. A site contains almost all the new and unique models of the time. It always has the trendiest options. Online purchasing provides you with a wide range of choices with just a click of a button.

Disadvantages of buying car online

*You can’t test drive the car or check its exterior and interior parts

This the major disadvantage of buying a car online. You can’t hold or test the car yourself. Testing is a very important because it will determine if the car is at par with other when it comes to performance. If you cannot test it, how sure are you that it will work well? You also can’t examine by the quality of the car parts firsthand as compared to going to nearby car outlets and examining the car of your choice.

*Risks of not knowing the supplier

This is also one of the dangers of buying a car online. You have to be sure that the company or site isn’t into fraud. Online buying includes widespread swindling that victimizes thousands of people around the world. Check the site for authenticity before buying anything.

*Spending more money in shipping fees

Shipping fees and taxes are sometimes not included in the prices that are posted on the website. This is a risk in buying online. Instead of saving money, you may end up spending more.

Put the aforementioned into consideration before purchasing online and you can be sure to have a well-thought decision.

Golf can and should be affordable to everyone. The personal enjoyment and life lessons golf provides often make it a transformational experience for those who are lucky enough to have the opportunity. It is time to spend less on golf, and open that opportunity to a much wider group of people. In my first article, I will explore ways to do exactly that.

Here are 3 ways to bring the high cost of golf back down to Earth.

1) Buy used equipment. Equipment is very important in golf so if your budget is small, please don’t go out and purchase off-brand clubs just because they’re shiny and new. You’re almost always sacrificing quality when you’re buying cheap new clubs. Trust me your game will suffer for it. You’ll be much better off waiting for the right deal on a used set. There are classic designs like the old Ping i2 irons that will surely outperform cheap new starter sets. Golfsmith pre-owned, Craigslist, eBay, and your local pro-shop are some good places to start when looking for affordable used clubs. I recommend going in to a golfsmith or equivalent (TGW etc.) so that you can narrow your search by hitting clubs in person. They generally have good used deals but you will usually get a better value in a non-retail environment like eBay, Craigslist, or your local golf course. When I first started, I was using some dirty old 1970s blades (blades is a generous term), with an old-school red plaid bag that resembled something more like an arrow quiver made from a red Scottish kilt. At the time, I had no idea why I was getting so many comments and jokes from random people at the course; then again I had no idea the difference between a 5 iron and a 9 iron. Luckily, I ran into the PGA Golf Pro who helped straighten me out after having a good chuckle at my “equipment”. He ended up being very helpful and just happened to have a $50 set of irons that he was selling for one of his clients. The client had recently upgraded and left his old clubs for the Pro to sell in the pro shop. This is not uncommon; sort of like a mechanic helping to sell a client’s car. So get out there and find a great set of used golf clubs at your local course, golf retailers, or on the internet. Golfsmith is still one of the best places to test a variety of used clubs.

2) Hit thrift stores to save money on attire. You may be surprised, but literally EVERY thrift store I’ve ever been to has $30 – $80 golf shirts for $3-$6. Think about it, a relatively high percentage of golfers have a lot of money. What do rich people do with their lightly used stuff? Give to Charity. The great thing is, there’s not a lot of competition at these places for golf attire. Golfers just don’t shop at thrift stores and non-golfers don’t know that some of these shirts retail for $80 bucks. So, here’s what you do:

a. Go to your local thrift store

b. Hit the racks that have polos and slacks and search one by one for the highest material quality and best brands. You’ll find a lot more put-backs than keepers, but there will be gems in there if you can spot them.

c. Make sure you wash the clothes well before wearing.

d. Now it’s time to step on the course looking like a million bucks. Remember, no one knows it’s second hand; they just know you have good taste when it comes to golf clothes.

Saturdays are often good days to go thrifting and will usually have strong potential for sales. Thrifting is all about having fun and searching for things that are undervalued. Be prepared to leave empty-handed; there aren’t amazing finds every time. If you get skunked, don’t let that discourage you – just check back after they get a couple of new shipments in. Trust me, you’ll save money, look great, and have fun doing it.

3) Get creative with your rounds and your practice – it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money every time. When you want to play the course, play twighlight golf in the evening. Most golf courses charge significantly less in the evening. Many courses also will let twighlighters play until dark – so if you move quickly, you can get extra holes in. Cheaper rates for extra holes? Now that’s making your dollar stretch.

When it comes to practice, spend time going to the course to work on just chipping and putting. This is absolutely FREE and essential to become a better golfer. It will help your scores improve, increase your enjoyment, and ultimately save you money. When you’re at the driving range, take your time and make each ball count because you’re paying roughly 5-10 cents for each one (usually $3-$4 for a bucket of 30-50 balls depending on location). To get the most out of every ball, make sure to take several practice swings and visualize hitting the ball on each of these. The goal is to get the same feedback from your practice swings as you do from actually hitting. This can essentially give you 2-3 times more impact from your practice, without spending more money. Practice smart to become a better golfer and save money doing it.

Until next time, stay thrifty my friends —

The Thrifty Golfer

After moving into my new house, I decided that my days of living without furniture are over and I need to invest in some beautiful furniture. But since I want something that suits my budget, big brands were out of the question.

So, to fill my needs for buying more beautiful with my stubbornness for getting good discounts, I decided to do some online shopping and save money. This strategy offers me with a wide range of options, it has saved me thousands of dollars, reduced my stress level and also allowed me to furnish my house with great stuff yet close ones.

It does take some time in finding good quality furniture for the best prices online, but these tricks can assist you with some decent buying decisions.

Read the About Us Page

Start your examination by perusing the organisation’s about page. The better online retailers give insights about their organisations, including history and data about their client administration and fulfilment ensures. The website about page ought to likewise incorporate a telephone number or address. Respectable organisations dependably give approaches to organisations to get in touch with them disconnected.

Search For Store Reviews

A few sites enable clients to post surveys for Internet retailers. While you can chalk maybe a couple of awful studies up to one of a kind terrible encounters, a few appalling audits or a low positioning may show issues with the organisation.

Discover A Store That Matches Your Style

Some online retailers, similar to Amazon, offer numerous items from various traders that cover the full range of finishing styles. In any case, most online stores convey things that mirror the site’s responsibility regarding a specific manner.

For instance, a few stores represent considerable authority in current, green-accommodating furniture. These stores convey sleeker furniture with insignificant plan components and contemporary looking home stylistic theme pieces. Different stores carry more conventional or exemplary parts and have item contributions that talk more to the purchaser with a familiar feeling of style.

Take A Gander At The Photos

Numerous online stores post different photographs of furniture, and you should look painstakingly through every one. Regularly, the store displays a picture of the outfitting in a designed room that complements the furniture. The site at that point offers connects to side edges, and to add photos with no props used to influence the furniture to look all the more engaging.

Read The Description

I’m blameworthy of merely examining the depictions, yet don’t commit my error; read portrayals entirely on the off chance that you need to purchase. Remember that furniture organisations pick their wording deliberately. For instance, facade or composite woods originate from a wood mash or manufactured material, and furniture produced using these materials will be brought down quality than decorations made with durable wood.

Look At Prices

Not very many Internet retailers offer unique things. You can discover most furniture, particularly the kind you gather yourself, on many destinations. Complete a little examination shopping before you purchase by searching for three to five stores that offer the furniture you need. Note the cost of the things, shipping costs, any assessment charges, and if the store charges for return transportation or re-stocking.

Amazon is a multinational electronic commerce corporation, but you probably know it as a giant bookstore on the Internet. Selling lots of stuff besides books, but most people know Amazon best as a book retailer.

Amazon.com is America’s largest and most successful online retailer. Amazon does three times as much business as their closest competitor in terms of online retail business, Staples. Amazon (which can be found online at the URL Amazon.com) sells everything from books and music to movies, eBook readers, clothes, furniture, toys, and even food items.

History of Amazon

Businessman Jeff Bezos founded of the company in 1994–when dinosaurs roamed the Internet. When Bezos created the company it was called Cadabra–the latter half of the classic magic word “Abra-cadabra.” Bezos quickly realized that people thought the business was called “cadaver” (another word for “dead body”) and he soon changed it to Amazon.

Why did Bezos pick the name “Amazon?”

A few different reasons. First of all, Amazon starts with “A”, placing it near the beginning of any alphabetical list. Another reason Bezos chose “Amazon” for his online retailer is because the Amazon river is the largest in the world. Lending Bezos’ company a very “big” sound.

Amazon started out as a small online bookstore. Bezos eventually diversified Amazon to include music downloads, eBooks, and the entire product line you find today at Amazon.com. Amazon now operates all over the world, with companion websites dotted across Europe and Asia. Amazon is now the most popular music and book retailer in the UK, and ranks third in Asia as well.

Amazon Coupons

The best thing about buying books and stuff from Amazon is the big variety of coupons available online. Even though Amazon’s regular prices are competitive with other book retailers, using any of the massive number of Amazon coupons to be found on the Web drops the price even more.

There’s always a free shipping coupon or discount code available with a simple Google search. If you want to dig a little deeper, check out TechBargains.com or the classic third party coupon site RetailMeNot.com. TechBargains has over two dozen different coupons for Amazon.com at any given time, including free “super saver” shipping (on your order over $25) and large “percent off” deals on select items and brands. RetailMeNot tends to have more specialized Amazon coupons than TechBargains, so if you’re in the market for a particular book or CD, check them out first.

According to their website, Amazon’s vision is “to be earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” As Amazon’s product line swells and they corner more markets around the world, they are coming closer and closer to reaching that goal.

Are you ready to take off for a vacation? Or at least looking into a vacation package or cruise? Thanks to online travel deals, it’s easy for the ordinary traveler to find the best airline prices. There is no need to go through a travel agent these days. The tools for finding cheap airfare and hotels are right at your fingertips. In addition to search tools, there are plenty of resources available to help you get started.

Here are a few tips for getting the best deal on airfare:

Consider the season

Most locations have an on or off season. Even if it’s not a popular tourist spot, there are certain times of the year when it’s a bit more affordable to fly to that particular city. A few factors that play a role in airfare affordability to any given destination include weather, special events, business conventions, time of day and week, and the airlines themselves. Do research on the destination to find out when the prices tend to be lowest.

Just compare deals

It’s really that simple. All you have to do is enter the destination city and travel dates at an online booking site and you will be presented with airfare options from several different airlines. Use the “filter results” function to view the prices in either ascending or descending order. Don’t like any of the results? Try different dates.

Look for coupons and promo codes

Sometimes the best airline prices can be obtained with the use of a promo code that can be redeemed at a particular travel site. You can sign up to receive newsletters that center around budget travel. There are “deal alert” apps as well. Some newsletters and apps will allow you to configure the settings so that you receive alerts only when cheap flights from your nearest airport(s) are available.

Always keep timing in mind

No matter where you want to go, timing is (just about) everything. While last minute deals are sometimes available, your options will be very limited. There are always risks involved with waiting for a last minute deal. Experts always recommend booking airfare in the range of 40 – 60 days in advance. If you absolutely must travel sooner than that and there isn’t much room for flexibility, at least try to leave on either a Tuesday or a Thursday since prices tend to be a bit less when departing on these days.

Keep an eye on small print

Sometimes the best airline prices aren’t always the cheapest. There are sometimes additional fees for things like baggage and cancellation. Depending on the airline, you might not even get free drinks and snacks. You’ll especially want to read the fine print to learn about the cancellation policy. If there is no penalty for cancelling, keep monitoring ticket prices to see if you really can grab a better, last minute deal.

Where can you get all the wonderful travel deals? Where can you find the best airline prices? It’s always a good idea to start online; discounts at travel sites are some of the biggest. You’ll also get all of the search tools you need for planning your own trip (and saving money in the process!)

Consumers always want to get the cheapest and the best deal which ever product they go for and flight tickets are no different, finding extremely cheap last minute flights is not all that difficult as long as you are willing look for them patiently and also wiling to make a few sacrifices on your preferences. Chances are that you might not be getting your preferred seat in the plane and also you might be required to make a few changes in the plane. As long as you are dedicated for the cause of getting extremely cheap last minute flights you should not be a huge problem as some people think.

Following are the some of the things you can do to get extremely cheap last minute flights:

1. One of the usual way or basic way is to call the airline which you are planning to fly as the operator or the help desk agent would you the very latest updated information on the seats that are vacant and also the cancellations. The chances of you finding the best possible seat and the best possible conditions are very less as you step on to that plane. Having come at the very last moment you will have to make some sacrifices on your preferences to get extremely cheap last minute flights.

2. Make sure that you search across the net to get the best deal. You must go through all the airlines websites and also the various sites which offer flight tickets thoroughly and patiently to get extremely cheap last minute flights. It never hurts to spend some time and look for a good deal as at most times internet will fetch you good deals. The best practice after you find a good deal and you book the online ticket is to take a print out of the ticket. This is precisely to avoid any sort of confusion when you get in to ticketing in the airport and the print out will be the proof for your booking as there are bound to confusing some times during last minute booking before you board the flight.

3. You should be completely ready to leave at any moment, all packed and fit, as soon as you find a good deal. If you are looking to get extremely cheap last minute flights can be too finicky about the departure timings you want. If you do get a departure according to your preference its great but you must prepared to flexible and be ready to board the plane at nay moment. You can not afford let a golden opportunity of getting any one of the extremely cheap last minute flights which come your way to slip off.

4. Important thing which would help you to get any of the extremely cheap last minute flights would be awareness and vigilance. You eyes should be wide open looking constantly for any window of opportunity for any kind of extremely cheap last minute flights. The moment it comes your way be ready to grab and fly off even in a matter of minutes.

If you follow this step there is no reason why you would not be successful in finding extremely cheap last minute flight.

Planning a trip does not have to be a difficult or exhausting process. It can be fairly easy and even affordable. If you have a Travelocity promotion code, you’re off to a good start. Just apply it to the booking form when you are reserving your airfare or vacation package.

To receive additional discounts and coupons, it’s recommended that you sign up to receive emails and newsletters from Travelocity. There is also an app you might want to install on your phone.

This company provides a selection of nearly 150,000 hotels and 130+ airlines all across the world. It doesn’t matter where you plan to go, if you plan to go alone or with family, or when you want to go, there is usually some type of discount travel package available. The overall costs associated with economy airfare and standard hotel rates have gone down considerably over the past few decades.

You can book everything separately or together – Travelocity makes it easy to do it all. There is flexibility in how you book your next trip. Do you want to book airfare and a hotel room together? You will likely be eligible for a discount. However, depending on the destination, airline, and time of year, it might be cheaper to book each one individually. Consider looking for a Travelocity promotion code to help you save on car rental as well, as the company is partners with dozens of rental companies in thousands of offices around the world.

What Else Can You Use a Travelocity Promotion Code For?

Travel isn’t just about flying and staying in a hotel room. There are cruise fares, train rides, adventure tours, steamboat river cruises, skiing, and a lot more. How would you like to spend a weekend at an amusement park this summer with the kids? Or go on a romantic getaway at a mountain retreat? How does a Hawaiian cruise or Mexican Riviera cruise sound? The great thing about Travelocity is that it offers deals on all of these trips.

There are different types of promo codes and coupons. As with any coupon offer, it’s important to read the details to make sure you can actually use it. If the Travelocity promotion code you enter into the booking form doesn’t seem to work, just try another one. Keep trying discount offers until one really does reduce the cost of your trip.

Some offer might only be good for a particular destination or car rental with a specific agency, like Hertz, Dollar, Alamo, Avis, etc. Others are more general and can be used to help you save n a variety of travel expenses. Since a Travelocity promotion code doesn’t last forever, use one while it’s available. If you are unable to use it in time, don’t worry – new ones pop up all the time!

What kinds of Travelocity promo code offers are available right now? Will you be able to use any of them? Just read over the offers to learn what all you can use them for and how you can save on your next vacation or business trip.

Will it fit right? Will it get here in time? How much will I have to pay? Those are just a few of the questions that run through people’s minds when they considering buying swimwear online. Luckily, it’s not as hard of a task as many people make it out to be.

One of the main reasons people buy swimwear online is because of the convenience. For whatever reason, some people can’t get to swimwear stores or department stores that carry swimwear. There might not be one in the area, for example. When shopping online for swimwear, you have access to every store. You can browse for as long as you want, and when you decide on a swimsuit, it gets delivered right to your door. Some women feel uncomfortable shopping for swimsuits in public, so buying swimwear online is a great option for them.

Another good thing about buying swimwear online is the variety and selection. In a store, you can only purchase what’s currently in stock. Compared to the number of swimsuits in the world, the amount in one store is very, very small. If you buy swimwear online, you can see and potentially purchase every swimsuit for sale on the whole Internet. That’s a lot of swimwear, and a lot of chances to find something perfect for you.

Buying swimwear online also allows you to make custom orders. In stores, it’s hard to special order something to the exact color, size, or style you want if they don’t already have it in stock. Online, most stores will work with you to get you the product you want.

It’s often cheaper to buy swimwear online as opposed to buying it in a store, even with the added cost of shipping. You can compare prices more easily online, which is a big opportunity to save money. Online swimwear stores usually have frequent sales as well. Shop around to find the best price and you’ll see how much money buying swimwear online can save you.

One thing a lot of people are afraid of when buying swimwear online is whether or not the swimsuit will fit properly. For the convenience of customers, most online swimwear stores have accurate size charts. If you take careful measurements of yourself and follow the size chart exactly, you should have no problems.

Buying swimwear online can be a fun, entertaining experience if you let it. It doesn’t have to be complicated like many people try to make it sound. If you’ve never bought swimwear online before, try it out today and see how well it works for you.

Free online book marketing for authors complements print book marketing and places your name, books, products and services in front of millions of customers, clients and web browsers to increase your income and save you money.

Millions of people browse the web and shop online to make purchases. Why not create web content promotion and purchasing links that point to you, your books, services and products? Changes in the publishing industry, like digital formats and reading devices, have caused publishers to scramble for survival in the digital age, leaving authors the responsibility of book marketing–print and eBooks.

A solid publisher’s book marketing campaign may only consist of traditional methods–newspapers, magazines, book reviews, trade articles, literary journal excerpts, publishing industry listings, library recommendations, book signings, public speaking engagements, television and radio interviews, and personal appearances. Although your publisher may also sell your book online, it may be a good idea for you to encourage your publisher to create Internet buzz that will increase your book sales, literary credibility and income opportunities.

However, publishers’ book promotion budgets are so tight and getting tighter that you can bet you will not be able to ask for and receive a more extensive marketing program than the one your publisher offers other authors. With this in mind, investigate the idea of doing your own Internet book marketing to augment your publisher’s efforts. There are several ways to make and save money using free web resources to create web presence, Internet buzz and a free book marketing campaign.

Web Content as a Way to Increase Book Sales

To increase your Internet visibility, arrange a free web presence campaign to complement the book marketing campaign that your publisher conducts or an independent book marketing campaign if you are self-published. Write and distribute free online press releases and articles to increase interest in you and your book. In these web distributions, include links to:

• Reviews of Your Book
• Excerpts from Your Book
• Your Author Biography
• Book Ordering Information
• Literary Contributions
• Publication List
• News Coverage
• Speeches You Have Made
• Public Service

To entice web news services to pick up your story for their target audience, keep your web content newsworthy and lively, and not reading like promotional material. Following news guidelines, you may be quoted by news services. Being quoted increases your chances for subscriptions or syndication.By keeping the writing fresh–meaning not copied directly or duplications of other writing you have already placed on the web in previous articles or press releases–your stories will continue to receive search engine attention.

When you recycle web content from articles and press releases you have written for submission in locations around the web, be sure to thoroughly re-write and edit the copy, adding new text, links, videos and photographs (if the service allows images and videos). By the way, before you chose a submission service, free or paid, note what features they have available for you to upload images and video, and add URL links.

If you are not an author, but intend to use your web presence campaign to secure public speaking engagements to increase product sales or promote your business, your Internet press releases and articles can cover new product descriptions, announce personnel promotions or publicize where you have spoken in public or will be speaking in the future. Be sure to include in your promotional materials as many live links to your relevant websites, blogs, contact page, ordering information and catalogues as the free press release and article submission service will allow. And explore several services to maximize your reach.

Compile a list of free internet press release and article submission services that you can regularly use on a periodic basis to file items. Then, use the same Internet promotion tools to market yourself, not only as an author, but also as a public speaker, editor, editorial consultant, ghostwriter, professional writing coach, scriptwriter, speech writer, producer or whatever your specialty may be.

Another method to make browsing searches easier for prospective customers to purchase your book and clients to contract your services is to build free websites, free blogs, free video channels and social media networks. Cross promote all of the Internet media for your web presence campaign by using URL and blog directories, social network bookmarking, Internet conversational groups, free search engine submissions, forums, virtual communities and the cloud. For example, write search engine optimized Internet press releases, articles, blog text, website copy and comments on blogs, in which you may include active links that point to contact and ordering information for your books and digital products.

A Pocketful of Internet Savings Coupons

Free web content to establish and manage your online presence are like savings coupons and they are all over the web. Using free resources, you can literally turn the contents of your computer, bookshelves, forgotten boxes under beds, file drawers and storage units into cash! There are great ideas hidden under that junk! Don’t let these writing ideas turn into dust! You can use them to market your books and products. Re-write and sell yourself with what was once useless stuff taking up precious space in your house and expensive space in commercial storage lockers.

Being a writer may mean that producing copy is easy for you. However, simply being able to produce copy is not enough. Even copy considered good for print media may not be such good copy for the Internet. One must either learn to search engine optimize Internet copy to take full advantage of technology or hire a reputable professional to write credible copy and provide search engine optimization (SEO) for maximum free internet exposure. But remember, you can’t fool the search engines, which are being updated constantly to catch your clever tricks.

The only way to win the search engine optimization game is to provide lots and lots of original, well-written copy on a regular basis that appeals to a wide audience. Many website masters and designers are learning the hard way that they still must also appeal to the human reader. The copy must satisfy two audiences–search engines and people–each of which has a different set of needs. The only trick in the search engine optimization game is to strike a balance between technology and humanity. And the balance is weighed by the use of appropriate words for each in the same copy, without overuse or under-use of words for human readers or keywords that lead a human reader to a search engine result.

Creating Web Content & Free Internet Buzz

Internet press releases, social media networking, Internet articles, blogs, websites, forums, virtual communities and the cloud, not only can create free web presence, but also can enhance brand equity and sell books, public speaking engagements, writing proposals, consulting contracts, editorial services, products and digital media. Free web tools can be useful in today’s competitive market, but one of the first places to concentrate is your website. To produce a free website:

• Find attractive free hosting service
• Write website copy
• Edit website pictures
• Format web pages
• Produce & upload videos
• Publish the website
• Promote the website

Hundreds of services host free websites and blogs on which to create web content. Many professionals are chosing to use the blog to publicize and promote their products and services. Blogs are proving to be more effective in getting search engine attention because they are updated regularly–some on a daily basis–with fresh web content for search engines to crawl. However, blogs require constant upkeep and will be forgotten by browsers if they are not updated in a timely manner with fresh text.

Traditional websites can lose their appeal when copy is static. Increasingly, free website hosts are offering free blogs as part of the package. In these packages, you have a website with a built-in blog that you can update periodically to keep the website fresh for search engines. Think about an information or news blog to add value to the needs of your readers, customers and clients.

Don’t just use your free web space to try to sell things to your target audience. If all you do is try hard to sell, people won’t like it and will not return to your website or share your link with their friends and connections on social media networking sites. It is a good idea to give them something in return for their loyalty. Give away information they can use and, as a side offer, tell them about something you have to sell that may be useful to them or help them in their businesses or creative endeavors.

Key free blog hosting service into your search engine. Hundreds of services will appear. Be careful when you chose a free service. Like free press release and article submission services discussed above, some free blog and web hosting services offer limited tools for free. Once you have signed up to join the service, you find out they want payment for additional services that are required to make your efforts worthwhile.

In addition, some free hosting services are not built to upload images and video. Some free hosting services can only insert images and videos from other locations around the internet, via a URL. Some free hosting services do not allow you to include your existing URLs from other web locations where you may already have press releases or advertisements. Others do not have URL-text anchor capabilities. Many free hosting services will not allow you to sell your own products on their free site and saddle your free site with awkward ads and pop-ups that will annoy and discourage a visitor to the site. Here are a few questions to answer before you commit to a free service:

• URL Inclusion?
• Image Upload?
• Video Upload?
• Selling Your Products?
• Pop-ups & Unrelated Third-Party Ads?
• Good Design Tools?

Some free website and blog hosting services offer fixed designing tools that cannot be formatted with the precision that many developers desire. Some sites are not at all friendly to novices who want design to be as easy as possible. There are a few hosting services that will let you try their tools before you commit. Remember, if the service advertises itself as free, do not leave credit card information. You may be sorry you did. Be wary of trial offers that can expire and end up charging your card without notification. If that happens, you probably will not get your money back. The fine print, you know. Be sure to read Terms & Agreement.

Headlines go a long way in getting what you write noticed on the Internet. The first words search engines find in their crawl on the web are headlines. You can write a great article that will be ignored altogether if the headline is poorly crafted, giving no clue as to the web content you are promoting. Learn some tips on how to Write Amazing Headlines for your free online press releases and articles.

In today’s competitive employment and contracting market, a professional needs every advantage available.Once you have created the website or blog, the promotion of the site–free or paid–is the next most important step in utilizing free internet publicity. Without promotion of the website or blog, no one will know about your site or be able to click to find you. Be sure to also consider a video promotion to include in your internet promotional package.