Category Archives: Internet & Online

New Online Social Network Offers Revolutionary WEsharesTM to its Members

What do you get out of online social networks? Probably nothing more than just that: Online social networking. A multi-billion dollar corporation is allowing you to communicate with others while using all your information to make huge profits. Not only are you helping them make loads of money from advertising, but you are guaranteeing that a few people make a lot of money off your efforts.

ExpatOdyssey.com is a new online social network that goes against this business model. We also want to make a few bucks, but we want you to share in the success. We want to share something sustainable, unique, and revolutionary. ExpatOdyssey wants to give you more than a few pointless prizes or vouchers. Let us help you help yourself!

You’re probably wondering how this works because it sounds a little too good to be true. Simple. You become a member and use ExpatOdyssey to do what you usually do on online social networks. However, this is the point at which ExpatOdyssey.com is completely different. You are also an actual owner. The moment you sign up, you are awardedWEsharesTM. You are contributing to the website by being a member, so you deserve a reward. Every time you upload photographs, invite friends, create forums, or any one of the innumerable things you can do on ExpatOdyssey, you accumulate WEsharesTM. Like shares in a company, they represent what percentage of ExpatOdyssey.com you own.

Carlo Jacobs, Founder of ExpatOdyssey.com comments: “When the Occupy Wall Street movement began, my wife and I decided that the time was finally right for a venture that included and benefitted everyone, the 99% who have been left behind. We decided not to accept venture capitalists to create ExpatOdyssey.com or any large investors and struggled along with some meagre savings. A few friends heard about our novel idea and invested some money so that ExpatOdyssey.com could be shared with everyone out there. From that point onwards, we knew that our decision for all members to have the opportunity to get or earn Free WEsharesTMor invest, was the right one.”

In fact, ExpatOdyssey.com has made investment so accessible to everyone that if they want, members can invest from as little as $5 with WEshares currently priced at only 0.1cents per WEshare. We are all passionate about changing the current status quo, or at least doing our part to make a significant difference and giving everyone the chance to own a piece of the future. Businesses usually offer shares when the price is already unattainable. Instead ExpatOdyssey.com is giving everyone the chance to get a piece of the pie at the beginning when it matters most! What’s more is that because our members are owners, we listen to our members’ suggestions, what they want and need and as a result, over time, ExpatOdyssey.com will end up being the world’s best online social network.

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About ExpatOdyssey
ExpatOdyssey was founded at the end of 2010 with the purpose of creating a platform for Expats and holiday makers to manage work, play and relaxation. It is not only a social network, but also has bloggingcommunity fan pagesbusiness directory pagesonline TVand links to important information in major cities around the world, all contributed by members and businesses that join. We will even have online social shopping, and coming soon, a very unique email system. It is revolutionary and the first website of this kind to emerge. Expatoddyssey consolidates innumerable online application features into one easy-to-use website with a clear focus on the expat per geographical area. Members can also be part owners and attain financial reward with WEsharesTM for the time they would have spent online anyway.

PR Contact:

Sheridene Oersen
Partner
80 Strand, Suite 206, 2nd Floor, 80 Strand Street, Cape Town, 8001
00821047364435
http://expatodyssey.com/

SearchCatalyst Highlights Why Duplicate Web Content is Bad for Small Businesses

Duplicate web page content is bad for any website because it greatly affects SEO, but SearchCatalyst, an SEO agency dealing exclusively in small business Internet marketing, says it is particularly bad news for small businesses.

Aside from negatively impacting on a user’s online experience, duplicate content is particularly disastrous for SEO. It affects the site’s credibility, which is one of the most important ways a site can rank highly, organically, on search engines like Google. Google ranks sites based on several criteria, each of which is built into its complicated search algorithm. Relevancy is the most important – does the site list content relevant to the search query? – but credibility is a close second.

However, this issue affects all businesses, big and small. An issue that is more likely to affect small businesses, or expanding ones in the processes of upgrading their websites and online presence comes down to duplicate content on developer sites. Quite often web developer domains – where developers work on websites – are indexed by Google. Developers can be completely unaware they have created duplicate content but as websites take a few months to develop they can sit on developer domains for a while and the duplicate pages will negatively affect search rankings on Google.

This generally impacts small businesses to a greater extent than larger companies because they don’t have the scope and finances to implement new pages quickly.

Google’s algorithms are highly sophisticated and can filter out sites that have duplicate content. Some may be labelled as spam as a result, whilst others will just be listed much lower down on the SERPs. Google has become much better at detecting duplicate content since the Panda algorithm update, which all small businesses and developers should be aware of.

SearchCatalyst offers affordable SEO services to small businesses looking to boost organic search rankings and gain greater online exposure at minimal cost.

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SearchCatalyst contact details:
Brendon Johnson
Level 14, The Broadgate Tower,
Primrose St,
London, EC2A 2EW
www.searchcatalyst.co.uk
contact@searchcatalyst.co.uk
+44 (0)20 3326 1800

The Learning Genome Project unveils a new solution to personalized education through crowd sourcing

Educator Kelly Tenkely invites educators, parents and investors around the world to join in personalizing education.

Due to an increased disenfranchisement with the education system, Colorado educator, Kelly Tenkely, recognized the need for a product that would honor the uniqueness of children by personalizing learning. Kelly created the Learning Genome Project to fulfill this need.

“Every child deserves to be met right where they are in learning, rather than expected to fit a one-size-fits-all solution. In our society, we have managed to customize everything from ringtones to coffee, why should learning be different?” Said the Learning Genome Project creator, Kelly Tenkely.

The Learning Genome makes personalized learning available to children around the world by:
* Gathering information about an individual child including: their unique interests/passions, learning style preferences, multiple intelligence strengths, brain dominance, and maturation level.
* Crowdsourcing the tagging of both free, as well as premium, education resources and curriculum with hundreds of learning attributes (the ‘genes’ of learning).
* Matching resources and curriculum to students, recommending the materials that best meet their needs and creating a custom learning map for each child.
* Utilizing an open API so that schools, parents, and districts can build additional functionality to meet their specific needs.

This is the Learning Genome Project’s free “hub” that makes personalized learning available to every child.

Said Kelly, “Every child, regardless of their economic situation, deserves an education that is tailored to them. Society benefits when we help kids learn how to best utilize their unique gifts and passions.”

Premium features of the Learning Genome Project will include:
* A student information system
* An e-portfolio
* A teacher and student planner
* Blogging tools
* An e-learning center
* An individual learning map for each child

The premium features will work seamlessly with the Learning Genome hub giving students, teachers, and parents a complete solution to personalized learning.

The Learning Genome Project is seeking crowd-sourced funding through Indiegogo and will use the $85,000 raised to begin programming. The project has 45 days to raise the funds and can be found here: http://www.indiegogo.com/thelearninggenomeproject?c=home&a=1232629

In addition to her work on the Learning Genome Project, Kelly Tenkely is an educator, a prolific education blogger, and created a new educational model. This model is put into practice at Anastasis Academy, a school that Kelly co-founded that is just beginning its 2nd year in operation.

Contact Details: Kelly Tenkely
303-807-3012
ktenkely@gmail.com
http://www.indiegogo.com/thelearninggenomeproject?c=home&a=1232629
http://thelearninggenomeproject.com
http://ilearntechnology.com
http://dreamsofeducation.wordpress.com
http://anastasisacademy.us

Equity Release Becoming Popular Retirement Fund Solution for Baby Boomers, say Bower Retirement Services

The total value of equity release advances from April to June 2012 was £224.8 million, reported the Equity Release Council, an increase of 22% on the same period of 2011. Additionally, this amount represents the highest quarterly figure since 2009 (£231.7 million). Furthermore, the real number of plans grew by 16% between Q2 2011 and Q2 2012 showing interest in the market is up, along with actual value.

According to the Equity Release Council’s figures, people are now choosing to take drawdown plans instead of lump sum mortgages. This shows they prefer to spread risk and use equity release as a retirement income. The news comes as its revealed retired homeowners now have a total unmortgaged property wealth of £756.7 billion.

Bower Retirement Services, which offers award-winning specialist equity release advice, says equity release is a simple and effective option for homeowners looking to provide for their retirement and it exploits the property price rises of the last forty to fifty years. Many in the baby boomer generation lost large amounts in pension blunders in the nineties and again in the last recession. However, thousands continue to be locked up in property, potentially providing a retirement income for homeowners.

Bower Retirement Services offers advice on all types of equity release, from lump sum lifetime mortgages to home reversion plans, and its equity release calculator is designed to help homeowners accurately gauge how much cash they can expect to release on each type of plan.

There are four types of equity release plan, but drawdown plans now the most popular, accounting for 68% of the value of the entire equity release market. Bower Retirement Services says these types of mortgage are most suitable to homeowners looking to provide themselves with an income during retirement. The lender loans the homeowners a percentage of the property’s value and also agrees to pay a regular cash sum, or ‘drawdown’ on the mortgage value. Interest is accrued, but it is not charged until the homeowners die or move into long term care. Homeowners choose the term and value of the drawdowns, offering more flexibility than a standard remortgage plan.

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Press Contact:
Address: Essex Technology & Innovation Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0GA
Phone No: 01277 262724
Email: info@brsequity.co.uk 
Website: www.brsequity.co.uk

Premier League Betting makes Football more Exciting and Suspenseful

Do you Premier League betting on William Hill Sports for a safe, secure, enjoyable punting experience. Get great odds and super support on William Hill.

Premier League Betting is a Good Bet with William Hill

The 2012-2013 Barclays Premier League football season has gotten off to a roaring start, which augers well for the continuation of the season; and so has Premier League betting at William Hill. The current season began on 18 August 2012, and it is scheduled to wrap up on 19 May 2013, with full coverage available at William Hill.

The Long Football Season Means More Premier League Betting

The Premier League (also known as Barclays Premier League since the world-famous bank took over sponsorship) is England’s main professional football league, with hoards of loyal fans attending games, rooting for their teams and betting on their favourite sides along the way. (The league has thousands of fans outside of England, as well, where it is known as the English Premier League, or EPL.) During the long and arduous 2012-2-13 season, the 20 teams will each play 38 games, giving punters ample opportunity to place bets on a range of markets, such as high scorer, first scorer, and winning side.

Of the 20 teams competing this season, 17 are making repeat appearances, having played in the 2011-2012 Premier League. In addition, three new teams have joined, after being promoted from the Football League Championship. These newcomers are Reading, Southampton and West Ham United, and they’ve replaced the Bolton Wanderers, the Blackburn Rovers and the Wolverhamptom Wanderers. The point system in the Premier League is easy to follow – no changes this season where scoring is concerned. Teams are awarded three points for a win and one point for a draw; the side with the most points at the end of the season takes home the coveted Cup.

William Hill is a Pro at Premier League Betting

Manchester City entered the 2012-2013 season as the the reigning champion, having won the title last season. However, as every football fan knows, anything can happen in the Premier League. The odds on William Hill Sports reflect each team’s chances (longer odds mean a weaker team; stronger odds are given to better teams). UK punters know that William Hill gives the best odds on the Net, which is why so many seasoned punters do their Premier League betting on William Hill. The site’s reputation as professional and reliable is unparalleled.

About William Hill

Since its founding in 1934, William Hill has been synonymous with the best in betting. As one of the industry’s most trusted names, William Hill offers punters a variety of betting options – from sportsbook to online casino gaming and bingo – which are available on the Internet, in shops and via mobile. No matter which football team ultimately takes the title, Premier League betting at William Hill will be a good bet.

Contact Details: The registered office of William Hill is at 6/1 Waterport Place, Gibraltar.

Latest Leighmans.com Research Shows Companies Spending More on Corporate Gifts

A new poll conducted by Leighmans.com – one of the UK’s leading suppliers of corporate gift and incentive products – has revealed that companies are now spending more than ever on corporate and personalised gifts. The company’s poll found that 75 percent of UK businesses are – even in the difficult financial climate – investing more in hospitality and gifts.

The Leighmans.com survey polled in excess of 1,000 people and discovered that six in ten companies currently spend more on incentives and gifts for clients and staff. Of this group 40 percent said that their expenditure has recently increased by over one fifth.

The poll found that personalised gifts are more popular than ever too, with 45 percent of respondents saying that they prefer customised gifts to standard ones. Leighmans.com reports that items like their printed Shanghai pen range and personalised custom 15mmlanyards are proving particularly popular.

Dr Ashley Weinberg, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Salford, commented: “In sales ‘we buy from people we like’ and so, at a very basic level, some potential consumers may well feel a little emotional boost from an organisation offering them something without charge.”

“Even for those who decline the offer of a gift or hospitality, there is some perception that the organisation who offered it is one that we’re likely to be more open to in future.”

“In this case, we have created our own unwritten understanding – or psychological contract – that raises our expectations of the organisation and means we may be more positively disposed to them.”

The Leighmans.com poll sought to established buying patterns and psychologies in the corporate gifts sector at present. Leighmans.com offers customers a wide range of goods such as sponsored Rainham conference bags with logos on the inside. The survey also found that UK companies spent more money on gifts and incentives in 2012 than in all of 2011.

Leighmans.com founder, Darren Leigh, commented: “Far from the pre-conceived notion that marketing and entertainment are the first things to be cut when the going gets tough, it actually appears businesses are investing more into the development and maintenance of relationships through entertainment and effective promotions.”

“Building business relationships is vital. It can be done through meetings and entertaining and also through carefully selected gifts to existing or potential new business leads. It’s appreciated because it not only represents a financial investment, but also shows empathy and the fact you have invested time into trying to get into the other person’s head to give them something they want. That helps to create and build relationships, which are vital for ongoing business.”

Speaking of human behaviour, Dr Weinberg said: “Perhaps somewhere in between feeling really positive and just as negative, is the vague notion that we might feel indebted, as this organisation has already given us something which is of value. It is not quite an obligation, but it can certainly affect that psychological contract when we come to deciding where to buy from.”

Bury-based Leighmans.com helps customers to choose from a huge range of high-quality, promotional gifts and its customer base includes major blue-chip companies such as Deutsche Bank.

For further information, please visit www.leighmans.com.
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Media contact:
Lucy Wray or Ellie O’Connell at Peppermint PR
T: 0161 941 4252
E: lucy@peppermintpr.com or ellie@peppermintpr.com

Notes to editors:
• Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Leighmans.com was established by Darren Leigh, a serial entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in business.
• Leighmans has worked with a range of clients, from major blue-chip companies including Deutsche Bank, to household names.
• Product lines include wireless laptop mice, 3D paperweights, clothing, speakers, headphones, portable chargers and many more.

Contact Details: Darren Leigh
sales@leighmans.com
Leighmans.com
http://www.leighmans.com
0161 763 2690

Payday-loansuk.org.uk Reveal New Mascot – Jackson the Dog

Payday loans, the often derided side to personal finance, have been gaining in popularity for quite some time in the UK.

What was once a small, niche related business, has now become a multi-million pound industry. The demand for the product seemingly growing thanks to the lending patterns of major lenders and banks.

Established within that market is the company Payday Loans UK. Formed by two ex-bankers, the firm base it’s ethos on delivering cash advances to those refused elsewhere.

In keeping with this innovative spirit they have revealed a new mascot to go along with the usual payday loans product.

The aim of this ‘talisman’ is more of a symbol than a novelty as Nick Cox from the company explains;

“We came up with the concept of Jackson as more of a multi-functional device then an un-purposeful icon.”

“Our initial aim for Jackson is to have him implemented as an online helper on our website. He will be on-hand if the customer runs into trouble with any detail. There will be a knowledge base attached to the interface and an online operator for 2nd level queries.”

“After that the sky’s the limit really, we could have him as the spearhead for ad campaigns or even as acting CEO for the day!”

The company hopes that Jackson will bring some much needed cheer into what can be an often depressing situation.

Cox is under no illusion as to how customers feel when accessing his site;

Payday loans suck. Let’s face it. Nobody wants to take out a loan and when they do they’re not going to be happy about it. Hopefully this will put a smile on their face.”

The company’s aims for Jackson the dog are still be sketched out and he has not yet been implemented into the user experience on the website payday-loansuk.org.uk.

The whole process is being strategically mastered as if re-homing a pet. Payday Loans UK expect the first wave of Jackson mania to start at the end of this month.

Payday Loans UK are a fast online payday loans service aimed at those refused elsewhere. Loans are approved instantly and deposits can be as fast as 15-minutes straight to customers’ UK bank accounts.

Contact Details: 66 De Beauvoir Road
London
N1 4LN

0871 919 0140

http://www.payday-loansuk.org.uk/

24 USA States & 29 USA Cities Score New Traditional Country Star Search Auditions

The next Traditional Country Music Star will be found when “The Hillbilly Factor” auditions visit one of the 29 USA cities on the tour schedule.

The new online Traditional Country music hub, HillbilliesVille, dedicated to furthering the traditional country music genre, has launched “The Hillbilly Factor” the new annual star search.

“The Hillbilly Factor” is looking to find up to ten new amazing, vocalists who will be future stars of the genre, charged with keeping the country sound real & alive.

The “Hillbilly Factor” auditions will be conducted across the USA to select the talent for the search finals that will debut at the second annual HillbilliesVille Country FEST celebration of traditional country music – Nashville, Tennessee. June 2013.

“Traditional country music needs new stars and we believe they are out there here is America waiting for this opportunity, there is a modern day Merle Haggard, George Jones, Loretta Lynn and even 2013’s Hank Williams” said Star Search Organizer Kevin Kiepe.

“We are finishing in Nashville, but this is about Traditional Country Music, and we are literally searching the entire country, no matter where you live you can get to one of our 29 Auditions”.

The auditions will be streamed live, video streamed to the online global HillbilliesVille audience from each audition city.

The “Hillbilly Factor” auditions will take place across 24 states and will visit 29 cities starting in Texas and visiting: Houston-Fort Worth-Amarillo New Mexico AlbuquerqueArizona Tucson California Bakersfield-Sacramento Oregon Portland Idaho Boise UtahSalt Lake City Wyoming Cheyenne Colorado Denver Nebraska Omaha Kansas Kansas City Missouri St Louis Kentucky Louisville Illinois Chicago Ohio Cleveland PennsylvaniaPittsburgh New York Saratoga Springs-Manhattan Virginia Richmond North CarolinaGreensboro Georgia Atlanta Florida Jacksonville Alabama Montgomery Mississippi JacksonArkansas Little Rock Tennessee Nashville

The “Hillbilly Factor” auditions will be held to select Finalists who will be invited to take a place in “The Hillbilly Factor” finals to be held from June 5-10, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.

“This is search is way overdue and a turning point, we will find new stars that sing Traditional Country just like the record companies and Hollywood film producers who launched nationwide searches for marketable country singing stars back in mid to late 1920’s did, ” said HillbilliesVille founder, Kevin Kiepe.

“Every fan remembers the first time they heard their favorite artist on the radio, it was special and this will be, only it won’t be on the radio, it will be live video to the world,” added Kiepe.

“If you are aged 13 plus and think you have the ‘Hillbilly Factor’ then we want to hear you sing.” The search is open to any vocalist, vocal group or duo 13 years of age and over who has never had Billboard top 40 charting and wants a career in Traditional Country Music. ”

“The Hillbilly Factor” will select up to ten winning artists who will receive a live performance contract as host of their own LIVE Country music reality channel on the HillbilliesVille platform, and other career development, including a 12 month public relations service agreement, recording time and associated career support.

Judging will be by combination of the public – everyday country music fans and a judging panel of traditional country music industry achievers.

Mr. Kiepe said, “The dates and venues for each audition city will be announced in October & November during a 29 city promotional tour for “The Hillbilly Factor”.

All other details will be published at www.hillbilliesville.com prior to the commencement of The Hillbilly Factor promotional tour during October 2012. Interested artists can join “The Hillbilly Factor Entrants Group” on Facebook now.https://www.facebook.com/groups/165977476870789/

 

HillbilliesVille is an emerging Traditional Country Music force and online social community that will officially launch in early 2013. HillbilliesVille will meets the unmet needs of international traditional country music fans through daily live streaming of events performed exclusively for members at the still to be constructed HillbilliesVille Venue in Nashville Tennessee .

There will be special live events streamed between now and the official launch from special locations around the USA including the 29 city audition tour for “The Hillbilly Factor”.

HillbilleisVille has completed trial operations since early 2011 and currently has over 23,000 Facebook fans and a weekly online reach of over 170,000 unique individuals. The HillbilliesVille website is currently undergoing the last stages of upgrade ahead of the Official Launch.

When completed, the HillbilliesVille Venue will stream live audio and video 24/7. More details will be released soon about the Venue.

HillbilliesVille members will also have access to an exclusive video channel, news and online forums and the social media network through Facebook and Twitter.

Registration is free and will open in October 2012 www.hillbilliesville.com

Kevin Kiepe
Global Village Entertainment, Inc.
Lebanon , Tennessee
+1 615 448 7934
kevin.kiepe@gve1.com 
Hillbilliesville.com
Facebook.com/HillbilliesVille

LondonTown.com Helps Keep BBC Proms in the Park Affordable to All with Discounted London Hotel Room Rates

BBC Proms in the Park is part of the BBC Proms, the biggest and best classic music festival in the world. This open air spectacular in Hyde Park on 8 September brings classical music to the masses combining pop talents such as Kylie with outstanding musical displays from the Royal Choral Society and BBC Concert Orchestra.

For £35, visitors will be lavished with four hours of music and entertainment from Il Divo, tenor Alfie Boe, Kylie and London Community Gospel Choir among others. There’s a show-stopping firework finale and a family feel to this informal event. People usually bring picnics and blankets and get themselves comfortable for an evening of outstanding entertainment fusing pop and classical music.

LondonTown.com has helped keep this event affordable to all by offering exclusive discounts at a range of hotels in London, including several around Hyde Park . Two of its top picks are the Thistle Marble Arch Hotel and the Lancaster London Hotel. The former has had room rates reduced by 91% and the latter by 70%.

The Thistle Marble Arch Hotel, now available from £90 per room, per night, is a four-star Art Deco property with bags of character and style. This hotel offers 24-hour room service, cribs for babies and children, a fitness centre and local parking from £40.

The four-star Lancaster London Hotel is available from £119 per room, per night and the extra spend goes a long way. With breathtaking views over Hyde Park in a contemporary setting this hotel has much to offer guests and attendees of BBC Proms in the Park.

Hotel discounts aren’t the only reasons to book with LondonTown.com, the number one Internet site for London . With every online booking LondonTown.com throws in £250 worth of extras in the form of two-for-one entry, attraction and experience discounts, walking tours, audio guides, a personalised event guide, free Fitness First gym passes and free spa treatment at Spa Illuminata.

Give Commuting a Try with the Mayor of London’s Sky Ride 2012

Owing to London’s extraordinarily busy summer this year, the annual Sky Ride City event is not taking place in its usual form. Instead of following Cardiff and Edinburgh with a big city centre ride, the capital is hosting smaller, weekly Sky Rides in 14 boroughs, all of them free to join. There will be over 200 different bike rides.

As with all Sky Ride events, cyclists are separated in to groups according to ability level, ranging from beginner to experienced. All the routes are safe and suitable for children.

Although central London is not closing it’s streets to motorists for this year’s ride, there are still plenty of opportunities to ride past some of the capital’s most iconic sights, in places as diverse as Croydon, Wandsworth and Kensington and Chelsea.

The latter is hosting a ‘Give Commuting a Try’ ride on September 1 st . Designed to encourage drivers away from their cars, the route is led by trained British Cycling Ride Leaders, on hand to give new cyclists route-planning advice and tips on how to ride safely in busy traffic. It takes riders on a typical commuter route from the outer boroughs into the heart of London’s city centre.

This particular ‘Give Commuting a Try’ route runs from Putney Bridge to Westminster Abbey. Helping cycle enthusiasts save even more money is the capital’s premier booking and information website LondonTown.com. They are offering a number of cheap London hotels across the city for the weekend of 1-2 September.

Among the deals on offer, the modest Kensington West Hotel London is already a good budget option for this part of the city. With the 54% discount currently being offered by LondonTown.com, the cost of a night’s stay is only £79 per night.

Even better is the 75% discount currently offered by the Berjaya Eden Park London Hotelin Bayswater. The discount brings the nightly rate down to just £82. Both offers area available exclusively through LondonTown.com. Visit the website for more cheap London hotels, and to find more information on this year’s Sky Ride event.