For the average Joe, a close look at a PC reveals a frightingly complex string circuitry, wires and computer chips. But Chad Rushka of TSG Computer Services, says: “You need not be scared anymore.”

To help you overcome your fear of looking a little closer at your PC, and perhaps getting your hands a little dirty, Rushka offers the following advice and guidelines:

Your computer is running really slow and taking forever to start, or open programs.

Your first steps should be to take care of the obvious.
(The steps outlined below are for Windows XP)

Take a look at your system tray, which is located at the bottom-right hand corner of your screen with all the icons in it. The icons showing in the system tray represent all the third-party programs running in the background. These programs are using precious system resources that would otherwise be available for other applications.
Browse through these icons, and determine which programs are necessary and which ones are not.

Continue reading →

To ensure the world doesn’t miss out on awe-inspiring or useful words, writers should always jot down ideas as they surface.

Inspired by lyrics? Someone said something captivating? Capture it! I recall an interview with Radiohead, where the band explained how a mutual friend said: “The best you can is good enough.” They were moved by the phrase, and eventually worked it into their lyrics for the tune Optimistic.

Sure, there are the BlackBerry, iPhone and generic microrecorder routes, but old school notebooks can be practical and fulfilling. In the cold digital age, tradition can be enchanting. In fact, you should check out MOLESKINE, which offers simple, legendary notebooks that have retained the thoughts of creative heavyweights like Van Gogh, Picasso and Hemingway.

Too much noise in your life? Pick a time of day when you can write without disruptions, and make it a habit. When you’re enjoying your morning latte? Late in bed? Whatever works for you. Find your time and try sticking with it.

Can’t seem to get inspired? Just dive in! Grab a blank sheet or screen and just start writing. If ideas or leads don’t emerge, try something different, like playing around with contradictory headlines. Try seeing things in a different perception.

Don’t let a brilliant thought get lost. Document your ideas.

It’s the Web, right? So it’s supposed to be sticky. Fortunately, there are simple ways to ensure visitors “stick around” your website.

Even avoiding pricey add-ons such as corporate videos, your web copy alone — if done right — can make your website more attractive to users. Here’s how:

1. Inject Some Personality, but Watch the Humour

Speak directly to your visitors in a personal, authentic voice. Most web users don’t want to be entertained; instead, they’re looking for specific information. Your web copy should direct them with a few choice, friendly words.

Continue reading →

For more than a decade, sales strategists have been advising businesses to take their marketing online. Forward-looking companies have heeded this message.

However, many businesses still prefer traditional media such as TV, radio and newsprint. So while typical consumers might spend 25% of their media time surfing the Web, these companies might only be investing 5% or so of their marketing budgets on websites and other online promotions.

These businesses need to get with the times and accelerate their investments on the Internet, especially during the downturn. Here are a few good reasons why.

Continue reading →

Soovle, a customizable engine that lets you tap into Google, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Answers.com, Ask.com, YouTube, and Amazon with efficiency and ease, is entering the mainstream.

Despite common beliefs, the suggestion site doesn’t actually crawl the Web. When you start typing a search term, Soovle immediately offers suggestions for related terms. When you want to hook up with Soovle’s suggestions, just click on the result and the innovative site will take you there.

It makes for a neat search tool, and is packed with features. Surf Soovle now!

Your shiny new website copy is finally in place, and is starting to bring in business. Great!

But before you amortize your investment, consider how those carefully crafted words can work for your business in other places.

Repurposing your website marketing copy will:

• Reinforce your brand identity
• Establish consistent messaging
• Increase customer recognition

It will also give you more than your money’s worth.

Explore 10 ways to repurpose your website copy so it works overtime for your company, online and offline.

During a recent web writing class, I was surprised to learn several participants felt websites in general have only one main purpose: to sell products or services.

In the business realm, promoting products and services is common. However, there are many other types of websites, including:

• Personal or biographic websites, a.k.a. blogs
• News websites, which can complement newspapers
• Informational websites, designed to share information on specific topics or hobbies
• Instructional websites, ready to educate you, often cost-effectively and around the clock
• Community websites, or social websites, Web 2.0 sites…call them what you will
• And entertainment websites, made to distract or amuse you

If you’re looking to launch a new website, be sure to answer a few key questions before you employ a web designer, web writer or any one else. It’ll save you much money and time, and help you succeed.

Typesett offers readers a simple, clever feature that compares websites of rival companies.

When you review the website comparisons, notice the ones that have more impact and promote better usability are amazingly clean. The web designers, developers and copywriters made the effort and took the time to define and effectively convey key messages. They strived for a simple website, and they succeeded.

It brings to mind the words of French aviator and writer Antoine de Saint Exupery: “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

Kudos to Apple and Gibson in particular. They made every word and image count. Adidas, Fender and Microsoft should take note.

See Comparing websites of rival companies.

With Internet-connected television heating up, Yahoo!, Intel, and Samsung are taking a page from Apple’s design book as they aim to bring Internet to a television near you.

A key element entails widgets; small software applications that offer tailored, pared-down versions of sites found online. Using the regular TV remote and clicking at a normal-looking TV, you can access the Web via a wireless or broadband connection.

Just four widgets are currently available: Yahoo’s news; weather; finance; and Flickr photo-sharing. Future partners include MySpace, Netflix, Amazon.com, Joost and Twitter.

While the initial TV sets are expensive — $1,800 and up for Samsung’s versions — prices are expected to fall sharply, and more firms (including cable companies and pay-TV operators) may soon jump in.

Read: Business Week’s Can Widgets Save the Television Industry?