King James Version

The Book of Genesis

1. Categorize
   Divide your products into categories and sub categories. Don't lump all the products together. Imagine a site selling shoes, clothes and jewelry. It would be very difficult to find what you want if the products were all jumbled up. It would be difficult even if there were categories like Tops, Casual Shoes, Casual Dresses, Pendants and they were all mixed up. Imagine a page full of these categories. The best way to go about it would be to have links to three different pages ... one with clothes, one with shoes and the third with jewelry and then have sub categories on each page.
   
2. Products per Category Page
   If you have a lot of products in each category then try not to put all of them on the same page. If you have, say, 50 products, then it is better to break them up into may be 10 - 15 products per page...the break-up really depends on your design and space each product takes.
   
3. Product Pictures
   Always, always have product pictures. This can't be stressed enough. Even if you think what you are selling is generic stuff and people should know what it is like, give a picture. People want to see what they are getting. One thing that is missing on the net is being able to pick up an object, turn it over in your hands and feel it. Pictures are the closest you can get to showing the product to the customer. Don't let go of this opportunity. This is one way to convince the customer ... no one wants to buy what they can't even see ... especially if they are a first time customer.
   
4. Prices
   Try to keep your prices slightly below off-line prices. The reason being that the person who is going to purchase from you is also going to pay shipping cost ... lower prices lets them justify the shipping costs.
   
5. Shipping cost
   Don't state that shipping costs will be added, always give an estimate of the shipping costs. No one wants to order and then have a huge shipping amount charged on their credit cards. You can charge a minimum shipping cost or you can charge according to weight. The former will get you customers with larger orders while the latter will get you customers who are ordering very small quantities as well. Your choice will depend on your handling and packaging cost of each order. The customer will of course prefer to not have a minimum rate. This can really help in getting first time customers. Say, someone orders something for just $1 and is really pleased with your customer service ..they might place a larger order next time. Having a minimum shipping rate may not get you this customer.
   
6. Discounts and Special Offers
   Retaining customers is very important. Give discounts and special offers to old customers. A rewards program can really help repeat purchases. Your customers earn points on every purchase they make ... these points add up and can be redeemed for prizes or discounts at your site. If your customer has the choice to switch to another online store offering the same prices, they may not because they wouldn't want all those points to go to waste. Special Offers for old customers can make them feel welcome and important. They will keep coming back.
   
7. Customer Service
   Always try and answer your customer's queries in time. Within 24 hours constitutes excellent customer service and 24-48 hours is the average time within which you should answer all queries. Go through all the emails first and see of there are any urgent ones that should be answered first. Remember to write a professional reply. Try not to write one liners...if they have ordered something then make sure you tell them it was a pleasure doing business with them and thank them. If you are a home-based business don't give your customer an impression that this is just a side business that you are running to keep you pre-occupied ... give the impression of a professional who is serious about their business. Image is everything!
   
8. Secure Server and Credit Card Processing
   If you have a website and are selling online ... then let it be online. Too many sites open up a website and let people order via email or telephone. True, you will get some customers this way but there are so many potential customers that you will lose as well. Not having a credit card option means there can't be any spontaneous purchases ... people get time to think over things and may decide not to spend that money after all. Not many people will give their credit card information over a non secure server. So always use a secure server to get that information.
   
   You might think that you do not need to do all of this because you are getting some customers from your site ... and if you are getting customers, then why do you need to do anything more? But you must remember the customer who comes to your site and goes away because they do not find it 'customer friendly' are most probably not going to write and tell you about it. In other words you will never know you lost that customer. Making a 'customer friendly' site ensures that a customer will not leave on the account that they are unable to make a purchase due to these reasons.

By Woody Leonhard
It’s maddening. You try to check your e-mail from the road and . . . nada. No dial tone. No Web access. No messages. Don’t panic (yet). Follow these step-by-step troubleshooting tips to find the problem and get yourself reconnected with the world!

1. Talk to Your Modem.
Check that your computer can communicate with your modem. Go to Control Panel, Modems, Diagnostics, select your modem from the list, and click on the More Info button. Windows will send commands to the modem asking for a report on its settings and status. Check your modem setup in Windows, the cable to the modem, and the modem itself. Windows will then display a More Info dialog box with details on the port, interrupt, and address, and AT register settings for the modem.

2. Listen In.
Next see if the modem can communicate with the phone network by listening to the modem through its built-in speaker. Set the speaker volume at Control Panel, Modems, then highlight your modem and choose Properties. You’ll find the speaker volume control under the General tab. Now try to connect to your ISP and listen carefully to what happens. You should hear a dial tone, then the modem dialing the number, a ringing tone from the other end, then the ISP answering. Finally you should hear the familiar squealing sounds as the modems work out common speed and protocol settings.

3. Check Your Connection.
Even the experts overlook the easy, obvious things. Are all the necessary cables plugged in? Sure, this sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many times this turns out to be the cause of your problem. So go ahead and check all the cables, modem to phone socket, computer to modem, and power to the modem (the last two for external modems only) to see if they’re all secure. Make sure all the connections are firmly in place and none have worked themselves loose. One other common occurrence to check: Is the modem working? Some external modems have a separate on/off switch, so make sure it’s on.

4. Check the Phone Jack.
If the modem can’t get a dial tone, there may be a problem with your phone jack; unplug the modem and plug in a normal phone instead. If the phone works, there’s a problem with the modem or the cable from the modem to the phone socket. If you hear a modem dial tone but no number being dialed, then check the number the modem is dialing. To do this, return to the Control Panel’s modem settings under Dialing Properties. Also check to make sure the modem is correctly set for tone or pulse dialing (pulse is very rare these days). You should also make sure the option for disabling call waiting is turned on.

If the modem is dialing correctly and you hear a ring at the other end but no answer, also check if you have the right number. If you do, there may be a problem with your ISP.

5. Update Your Driver.
You hear the modem dialing, the ISP answering, some squealing for a while, then suddenly your modem hangs up. This means the two modems (yours and the ISP’s) can’t agree on the speed and standard for communicating. If this handshake fails, it may be a problem with your modem driver. Make sure you have the latest driver by checking the modem maker’s Web site (from another computer) or by calling tech support.

6. Connect to the ISP.
Now you can establish a connection with your ISP, but something’s still not right. At this stage, your computer and the ISP’s computer are exchanging protocols and passwords. These settings vary according to your ISP, but you can go through the setup instructions from your ISP and make sure the settings haven’t changed. (The settings are spread between the Windows Network and those under Dial Up Networking.) If all else fails, make a careful note of any error messages and call your ISP’s tech support.

7. Shift into High Gear.
Congratulations, you’ve finally restored your Net connection! It’s time to crank performance up a notch. If you’re connecting to the Net at less than impressive speeds, try these fixes. First, make sure the maximum speed is set in Windows. In Control Panel, choose Modems, highlight your modem, and choose Properties. The speed should be higher than the top speed of your modem. Set a 28Kbps or 33Kbps modem to 57.6Kbps. A 56K modem should be set to 115.2Kbps. Some ISPs have dedicated phone numbers for special types of modems, especially for 56K modems (K56flex, x2, and v.90). Check with your ISP, then change the phone number.

8. Stop Mysterious Hang-ups.
You’re in the middle of an important download and the phone line disconnects--aarrgh! It could be a glitch in your setup, the phone company, or your ISP. If it happens regularly, then investigate the following things. Do you have call waiting properly switched off? Check in Control Panel, Modems, Dialing Properties. Also, try removing any other phones from a shared phone line (the phone itself may be causing the problem). And make sure you’re not dialing an ISP line that has a time limit for each call.

9. Stalk Your ISP.
Be relentless with your service provider. It may offer new options that’ll give you a better connection. Check its home or member services page regularly for updates. You may find new phone numbers to call, additional services (like Web hosting, extra e-mail accounts) or a proxy server that speeds up your access to popular pages.

• Choose an area in your house that best suits your needs when deciding where to place the office. If you need to work in privacy, look for areas furthest from the traffic flow, such as attics, basements or rooms above the garage. If you need to be in the fray, accepting couriers and meeting clients, a home office on the main floor -- off the kitchen, for example -- is a better idea.
• Carefully measure the area, taking into consideration windows, baseboards and doors that limit the space, and commit those dimensions to paper. This will lessen the opportunity for impulse spending.
• Consider what needs to be accomplished in the office. Many offices are now multifunctional, serving as a place for adults to get organized or pay bills, for kids to do homework, and sometimes even as a getaway. In addition, carefully assess the way you work for a few days: keep track of how much you spread out and where you spend different parts of the day. Use this information to plan how the new space should function.
• To plan for storage, look at what needs to be tucked away now, then add another 25 to 50 per cent to that amount for future storage needs. If extra bookshelves or filing cabinets are not currently needed, make sure you leave room to add them later on. And be sure to allot space for all of your current and, as much as possible, future technology needs, including telephones, computers, TVs, fax machines, printers and scanners, and their hook-ups and wiring, prior to creating the office.
• Set a realistic budget in order to discourage overspending. (Don't forget, you can always add on to the home office at a later date.) One thing you shouldn't scrimp on up-front is good lighting. While it can take months for you to feel the strains of an inappropriate office chair, eyestrain can happen within minutes and can cause fatigue and headaches. A good-quality desk lamp is an important investment. --M.C.

• Hosters
• Lillies
• Irises
• Marsh Marigolds
• Primulas
• Ferns
• A range of Grasses

• Spade
• Garden Fork
• Rake
• Scissors
• Sheet of high density polythene 3.5m x 3.5m
• 8 x 25kg bags of 10mm shingle

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• Alphabet Refrigerator Magnets -- you may remember these from your own childhood! Still effective and fun, these are a great way to teach letter names and symbols -- especially for tactile, hands-on learners. Available at http://www.fridgedoor.com.
• Board Books -- a comfortable and fun introduction to reading and there are books to suit every child's interests from trucks to ballet. Children can look at pictures on their own or follow along while a parent reads aloud. Great for children who learn best by listening and seeing. A wide selection is available at www.amazon.com

  Search: All Products Books Magazines Popular Music Classical Music Video DVD Toys & Games Baby Computer & Video Games Electronics Software Tools & Hardware Outdoor Living Kitchen & Housewares Camera & Photo Wireless Phones Keywords:

• MagnaPhonics(TM) -- this electronic learn-to-read toy by Neurosmith combines the best of hundreds of toys in the ELA category. It uses silly songs, interactive games, and a magic, magnetic wand to teach letter names, sounds, word building, and spelling. Best of all, this toy sounds out any combination of letters phonetically -- the same way kids will learn in school. Perfect for all learning styles, it incorporates verbal instructions, physical activities, interactive play, and solo exploration. Also a great travel toy, since all the pieces are trapped. Available at http://www.neurosmith.com.

• Read to children every day. Share the stories and poems that children will come to love and remember for a lifetime.
• Play with language. Focus on beginning sounds: Look, milk starts with M just like Mommy and Michael and McDonalds. Build on rhymes: This is red. Red rhymes with bed. Can you think of another word that rhymes with red and bed? Change words by changing letters and sounds: If I took away the J in JUMP and put a P in its place, what new word would I get?
• Make reading a way of life. When you sit down with the evening paper, make sure your child has picture books, board books, and other books for reading. Exchange notes with your child. Have your child help you as you make out the grocery list, look up telephone numbers, and engage in other reading and writing activities around the house.
• Take advantage of time spent in transit. As you drive to the store, play rhyming games and alphabet games like "I Spy" -- I spy something that starts with M. As you walk through the mall, find letters and words -- I see a C for Carlos and a B for Betsy. On longer trips, be sure to bring plenty of board books, taped books, and reading toys.
• Take it slow. Be sure to start with the basics and watch your child for cues that you're moving too slowly or too quickly.
• Make it fun. Teach children about letter names and sounds by singing silly songs and playing rhyming games. Children are more likely to remember what they learn when learning is fun.

Vegetarian Times
March, 1996

Increasing your retention of information with the aid of scent is easy. Tuck a fragrant herb into your notebook when you write down important information, or dab a drop of essential oil on your calendar when making a date you don't want to forget. You'll be amazed how quickly smelling that aroma again will trigger your memory.

You can easily create your own brain stimulating massage and body oil; rub some on or even just take a sniff when you need a lift. To make, add 20 drops lemon essential oil and 5 drops rosemary essential oil to 4 ounces sweet almond oil or other light vegetable oil, such as apricot kernel or grapeseed. To perk it up even more, add I drop peppermint essential oil. You can also make a brain-boosting tea with half a teaspoon each of dried or fresh rosemary and peppermint leaves by following the instructions for the four Gs.

As you explore the use of brain boosting herbs, keep in mind that stress, anxiety and lack of sleep all can contribute to memory problems at any age. If any of these are an issue for you, the herbs in this article may help temporarily, but for lasting improvement you should address the source of the problem. Just be sure to do it soon--before you forget.

KATHI KEVILLE is the author of three herb books, president of the American Herb Association and editor of the AMERICAN HERB ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY.