Selling through Auction Marketplaces

Nowshade Kabir

Consumers are increasingly feeling more comfortable in buying
products through the Internet. According to a report released
recently by the Department of Commerce first-quarter retail sales
rose 23.8 percent to US$ 19.8 billion in the United States from
US$ 16 billion a year ago. E-commerce sales during the first
quarter of 2005 rose 6.4 percent from the fourth quarter of last
year. Forrester Research estimated that 2005 online retail sales
will increase at a pace of 22 percent. Today, a third of all
households in US make at least one purchase online within a year,
a figure which will grow to almost 40 percent by 2009, predicts
Forrester. As a seller, this strong growth of online sales means
that you have to put considerable stress on your Internet sales
endeavor if you are not doing this as yet.

According to statistics compiled for the Internet Retailer Top
400 Guide, the top retailers in 2004 garnered combined online
sales of more than US$ 51 billion, which accounts for 58.3
percent of all US Internet sales. The growth in online sales is
quite impressive for large retailers. J.C. Penny Co. Inc., for
example, reported a 35 percent year-over-year rise of online
sales in May, 2005. Can new online ventures boast same type of
significant growth? Unfortunately, not!

Each day, there are thousands of new companies are setting up
shops on the Internet trying to sell every conceivable type of
products and services. Most of these websites do not attract
enough visitors to make them profitable. Competition on the
Internet is fierce! Internet marketing campaigns are becoming
increasing expensive. Many small companies can't afford to spend
money required to promote their sites. So, what are the options
available for a small company with modest product range to thrive
on the Internet? One of the best sales channels, in my opinion,
on the Internet by far is auction marketplaces. Of course, no
matter what, you will still need to promote your website with all
the methods you can master. However, selling your products and
services through established auction marketplaces has its own
advantage.

eBay

With 63.8 million unique visitors hitting the auction site only
in April of this year, eBay has established itself as the largest
marketplace on earth. In 2004 alone US$ 34.2 billion worth of
merchandize exchange hands on eBay. Presently, the site has
around 135 million registered users in 32 markets worldwide.

With such a vast community of buyers and sellers, eBay should be
your number one choice for selling your products or services
online. On the eBay you can sell any kind of item. The varieties
of stuffs people are selling through eBay are mind boggling! At
any given time there are over 29 million items displayed on eBay.
The number of new items added each day exceeds 3.5 million.
However, still many offline sellers perceive eBay as an auction
site for mainly collectible items. They can't be more wrong! The
largest selling category on the eBay is, believe it or not,
automobile and accessories, which comprises of almost 22 percent
of all sales. I have, personally, bought three luxury cars over
the course of last two years through eBay and I have nothing to
complain about.

As a seller on the eBay, the biggest advantage that you gain is
the possibility of becoming from a local merchant to an
international player over night. If you are already selling
merchandize to consumers online or offline, eBay gives you an
additional sales channel without any extra cost. If you are
planning to begin selling goods or services through the Internet,
eBay allows you to start your business online quickly and with
minimum expenses.

Yahoo

You may have difficulty in imagining the biggest portal on our
planet as a marketplace, in some countries, like Japan and
Canada, Yahoo auction is, actually, doing better than eBay. In
the US market Yahoo has just announced its intention to eliminate
fees charged for using its auction site. This is a good news for
even many eBay power sellers. Some of them will definitely move
to Yahoo in a bid to save on high fees charged by eBay. The good
thing about Yahoo is slowly it is becoming a major hub for many
small business web stores. As a matter of fact, according to
Yahoo, every eighth online store is now hosted by Yahoo.

Amazon

Amazon, may be is not as popular as eBay or Yahoo as far as
auction marketplace is concerned, however, many auctioneers claim
that some of the products sell better on Amazon than any other
auction marketplace.

Why should you consider selling through auction marketplaces?

Here are some reasons, why auction marketplaces are viable sales
channel for businesses:

�The auction marketplaces are very popular and each of
them has huge community of buyers and sellers.
�There is virtually no start-up cost involved.
�No extra overhead is required.
�You really don't have to set up a website to start
selling.
�Easy to learn.

While determining what to sell through auction marketplaces,
choose your products very carefully. Don't try to sell products
like DVD, cellular phones and similar common items. There are way
too many people are trying to sell those products. Do your
research before jumping into online auctions. Go through the
categories of your choice. See how your competitors are doing.
Check out the listings of sold items. For how much the products
you intend to list are getting sold for? What keywords your
prospective competitors are using to market these products? On
which auction site these products are selling better?

Go with the trend! Travel, cosmetics and jewelry sales are
expected to do better than other categories of e-commerce in
coming years. In every category of goods and services you will
find a niche, which is doing fairly well. All you have to do is
find that niche by making extensive and thorough research!

Selling through auction marketplaces like any other business
process requires sound judgment and careful planning. Be sure to
use them before starting your online sales.

Nowshade Kabir, is the founder, primary developer and present
CEO of Rusbiz.com - a Global B2B Exchange with solutions to
create e-catalog, Web store, business process management and
other features to run a business online. You can read various
articles written by Nowshade Kabir at http://ezine.rusbiz.com .

Buying Pearl Jewelry Without Being Ripped-Off
Sam Serio

Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.

Pearls
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.

Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.

Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre.

A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.

The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.

A Look at Christian Lapel Pins

Dave Lavinsky

Another popular type of lapel pin is one that signifies a person's faith. Today there are many beautiful examples of lapel pins specifically designed for Christians. These pins may be given out by churches, community organizations or as religious gifts. Due to the popularity of Christian lapel pins you can find a large selection of stock lapel pins with Christian symbols such as crosses, angels, doves and fish.

Recently there has been a rise in popularity with Christian jewelry. News stories report on politicians and others wearing their Christian lapel pins with pride. Following on the heels of the popular "WWJD" (what would Jesus do?) jewelry trend amongst teens, there has been a trend for cherub lapel pins as well as fish, Celtic crosses and also Christian quotes and sayings.

A Christian lapel pin is a thoughtful, affordable gift for a first communion, baptism or confirmation. With so many to choose from it is easy to find a beautiful and suitable design. Custom Christian lapel pins can also be created for religious camps, special events and even weddings! As the popularity of lapel pins continues to grow, more religions and groups will find their organizations represented in specialized lapel pins.

Many churches on tight budgets find Christian lapel pins an affordable way to thank the many volunteers and community members who contribute to the work at the church. An example is the Mormon Church who gives all of their missionaries lapel pins which helps identify them and bonds them with their fellow missionaries. Many churches also provide lapel pins to their ushers and altar boys and girls. Christian lapel pins are wonderful gifts for religious get-togethers or gift exchanges. With so many options, a gracious and respectful lapel pin is easy to find. Many church suppliers carry a wide selection of stock Christian lapel pins.

Lapel Pins Info provides detailed information on lapel pins including many lapel pin options such as custom, military, cloisonne, Christian, and patriotic lapel pins. Lapel Pins Info is the sister site of Lanyards Web.


Man Made Diamonds, The Affordable Alternative for Your Wedding Jewelry
Peter Crump

Diamonds may be a woman's best friend, but modern man made diamonds are so good as to be indistinguishable from real diamonds. And when you look at the huge savings on price, man made diamonds may be a woman's best decision.

Increasingly, engaged couples are considering the cost of some wedding jewelry. In today's high pressure high cost lifestyle couples are really wondering whether or not it is appropriate to spend big on, say, a diamond engagement ring.

The more spent on wedding jewelry the less available later for the important things in the marriage, like a house. Or the kids when they arrive. Is it responsible to spend so much to buy a diamond engagement ring when these more important things may need to be compromised later?

Especially when you consider that good quality man made diamonds cannot be distinguished from real diamonds, even by jewellers.

Faux diamonds are big business. The pearl jewelry industry was revolutionised by the advent of cultured pearls. Synthetic diamonds are doing the same thing to the wedding jewelry business.

There are a range of ways to produce synthetic diamonds. Modern technology is very adept at making any product which will sell well and faux diamonds are no exception. And the quality is so good that many of the alternatives to diamonds perform exceedingly well when compared to diamond using the common diamond quality tests.

In such tests as hardness, refractive index, fire, brilliance, luster and others the man made diamonds perform admirably. Sometimes even better.

Brilliance is a test of the amount of light which enters the stone and gets reflected back. It is affected by the quality of the cut of the stone.

Fire is the ability of the stone to break light down into it's component colors and is also affected by the cut. "Fire" can be seen as color coming out of the stone.

Luster is the amount of light reflected back from the surface of the stone.

Moissanite, for example, outperforms diamond in brilliance, fire and luster and is only very slightly lower on the hardness scale. In fact a special piece of testing equipment had to be designed so that jewellers could tell moissanite from diamond as so many were unable to.

And, of course, moissanite is much cheaper than diamonds. And if most jewellers cannot tell it apart from diamonds, could you?

There are a range of different processes used to produce a stone which is a good diamond alternative. Most produce fine quality stones which produce stunning quality jewelry which any woman would be proud to wear.

Moissanite is not strictly a man made diamond though, as it is, in fact, naturally occurring. Unfortunately it doesn't occur in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable for mining. But technology has come to the rescue by devising a method of producing high quality crystals.

Our preference for the best alternative to diamonds? Moissanite. A fine jewelry stone which will make a stunning engagement ring, or other jewelry piece. And you can buy moissanite wedding jewelry at a fraction of the price of diamond wedding jewelry.

And when the kids come along, buy them something extra from us from the money you've saved.


Find out more about Moissanite as well as Moissanite engagement rings, moissanite bridal rings and moissanite stones at Peter's website, The Magic of Moissanite.
© 2005 Peter Crump.

The protection of a diving wetsuit

Jakob Jelling

Wetsuits are meant to keep divers warm by giving them thermal protection. There are some important guidelines which a diver should learn regarding the wetsuit he might acquire and use. First of all, it is important to know that they are usually made from neoprene; most of the times open cell neoprene. Besides, when wetsuits have a coating added to the neoprene they are easier to be worn and taken off.

The practice of free diving and scuba diving imply the use of different kinds of wetsuits. While a 5 mm thick wetsuit would be ideal for keeping warm a free diver, a scuba diver would need a 7 mm thick wetsuit to achieve the same results. Besides, while most free diving wetsuits don't have a zipper, most scuba diving wetsuits do come with them.

If you are looking for an open cell neoprene wetsuit, it is important that you have into account the fact that they can be easily damaged. If, for example, you are going to use jewelry under your open cell neoprene wetsuit, this could easily damage it and open it, so you should be very careful with it or try to find another kind of wetsuit instead of it. If you have long finger nails you should be careful as well since you could damage it while putting it on or taking it off.

It is also important to have in mind that free diving wetsuits should fit the diver in order to work well and give him the proper thermal protection. If a free diving wetsuit is loose or too tight it would not give the protection it should and it could even become a problem since it could be an obstacle to the diver's movements.

There also are recommendations on how to maintain and store your wetsuit. In order to store it properly while you are not using it, you should hang your wetsuit up avoiding folding it since that could damage it. Besides this, you should make sure to wash the suit after using it and make sure to wash all salty water off from it.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.divepilot.com. Please visit his website to discover the world of diving!

Versace - Well Recognized For Quality Fashions!
Sher Matsen

Gianni Versace was born in 1946 in Reggio, Calabria, in Southern Italy. Versace received his love of fashion and first lessons on dress-making from his mother. Initially Versace trained as an architect, but soon he followed his mother into the fashion business. Versace worked for a number of top Italian fashion houses, but in 1978 with the help of his brother Santo he launched his own label.
Versace was a great fashion pioneer who combined the worlds of high style and pop culture. He was a charismatic and accomplished designer of clothing and theater costumes. Versace appreciated a range of historic attire which he incorporated into his designs and he was greatly influenced by Andy Warhol and modern abstract art.

Wowzer! Best describes the fashions designed by Gianni Versace. He was notorious for designing garments that would shock and startle our senses. Versace saw his designing as an art form. He initiated clothing that was visually excessive and provocative- fashions that confronted accepted codes of taste, beauty and sexuality. Fashion became entertainment, to be watched and admired - not simply worn. For Versace nothing was too extravagant too crazy or too risque. Yet no matter how extravagant or provocative Versace's clothes were always strikingly well designed garments designed to flatter the body.

Versace was the designer of choice for many of the rich and famous: pop stars such as Elton John, and Madonna; film stars such as Will Smith, and Elizabeth Hurley and even royalty - Princess Diana. The wealthy were drawn to his clothes like magnets, and that enhanced his reputation. However, Vercasse did not design simply for the wealthy his clothes were very much available to the average person.
In 1985 he launched the Istante label in 1985; and after years as Gianni's muse, his sister Donatella became his co-designer and launched the Versace diffusion range, Versus, in 1989. These labels featured clothes within the budgets of many consumers; not only were they priced lower than the custom-made clothes, but they were also aimed at younger markets.
In 1988 Versace received the Cutty Sark Award as "the most innovative and creative designer in the world"; and in 1993 the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded him the American fashion Oscar.
On July 15, 1997 Versace was shot to death outside his South Beach home in Miami, Florida by a crazed gunman name Andrew Cunanan. Since his untimely death in 1997 the Versace fashion house continues to grow under the creative leadership of his sister Donatella and the business acumen of his brother Santo. Donatella's daughter Allegra inherited 50% of the company last summer when she turned 18. However, Donatella is still very much in charge.
The days of the wet-look, shocking pink PVC and as much flash and flesh as a catwalk can take are long gone. The new Versace is growing up. "I'm not blind," says Donatella. "I know that most women don't look like models. We had to start addressing other parts of a woman's life. The fashion business is a very different place from when Gianni started the label." Donatella's mind is very much on the continued success of Versace.
With Donatella at the helm, and Santo and Allegra at her side, they continue to grow and develop the Versace Product Lines with fabulous designs unveiled for the 2005 Spring Season. The proof is in the Versace spring fashion line - Have a look for yourself!
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/fashionshows/05/spring/runway/versace/
http://www.milanfashionshows.com/spring2005/versace/photos.htm
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/S2005RTW/review/VERSACE© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author:
Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals.



© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author:
Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Gem and Crystal Jewelry...the Power to Heal?

Sam Serio

References to the power of crystals and gems and their use in spiritual and healing rituals can be found in the ancient Mayan and Hebrew civilizations. Today the practice of using stones and crystals continues with ordinary people across the world who claim extraordinary results.
By stimulating a person's thought, it is believed that crystals stimulate healing - both physical and non-physical. Stones in the red family -- red, yellow and orange -- are prized for their ability to produce energy. On the other end of the spectrum, blue, violet, and lavender stones have a calming effect. In between are the clear and aquamarine stones that having healing properties.
Many people use and combine crystals to improve a variety of physical, mental, and spiritual conditions based on the healing properties attributed to each stone:
� Amethyst - This "spiritually uplifting" stone can reduce anger, and impatience.
� Aquamarine - This beautiful stone protects your heart and your immune system and aids communications on all levels-especially on the physical and spiritual planes
� Carnelian - The perfect stone for targeting your body's system, carnelian is a "stimulant" for your circulatory system, kidneys, appetite, emotions, and sexuality. It bestows confidence, assertiveness, and an unstoppable drive to succeed.
� Citrine - Citrine can help with acid indigestion, food disorders, and allergies with cleansing powers aimed at your spleen, kidneys, liver, urinary system, and intestines. Mentally, citrine is valuable for emotional clarity, willpower, optimism, and self-discipline.
� Coral - Use coral to strengthen your muscles and spine, and to promote bone and tissue regeneration. When it comes to your feels, coral can enliven and enrich your experience of emotions.
� Diamond - A symbol of prosperity and love, diamonds increase personal clarity, trust, and confidence. They also amplify your thoughts and allow you to expand your strengths and positive attitudes.
� Emerald: You'll breathe easier thanks to the positive effect of emeralds on your respiratory system. Emeralds can also help you get a good night's sleep and are believed to reduce the pain of childbirth.
� Jade: The crystal of choice for courage, knowledge, justice, compassion, emotional balance, humility, generosity, harmony, wealth, and long life.
� Lapis: Anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, shyness, nervous system, speech, hearing, pituitary, inflammation, pain. Mind expansion, intuition, creativity, spiritual connection. Organize, quiet the mind.
� Malachite: Let go with malachite. Use it to release pain, reduce inflammation, and rid yourself of anger and depression.
� Ruby: It seems only natural that the red, red ruby is valuable for blood clots, blood cleansing, menstrual pain, and even impotency. Rubies simulate circulation and "amp up" the pituitary gland.
� Sapphire: Sapphires are used to reduce inflammation, lower fevers, and put an end to nosebleeds. They are also valuable for helping you tap into your intution.


For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Take Your Fashion Statement To The Beach

Sher Matsen

It's that time of year when we pack up our bags and head to the beach for the day to enjoy those warm sunrays and the refreshing sound of the lapping water.

So what constitutes a good beach wardrobe. Well there are certain essentials that none of us forget. On goes the swimsuit and bathing suit cover, flip flops on our feet. Beach bag has been packed with the essentials - sunglasses, floppy hat, towel and a good book. Great - got the basics covered but what about the rest.

So if we are so prepared for a day at the beach, why is it by the time we get home we look pretty worn. Here are some helpful tips to make your day at the beach fun and keep you looking fashion fresh all day and all the way home.

First before you leave home, if you've got long hair pull it into a high pony tail or fun knot. Use some funky hair accessories that will stay in place when you're swimming. Try a fun colored bobble or some firm fastening clips in bright summer colors. If you pull your hair up your neck will stay cool and you'll look fresh all day with your neat hairdo.

Second slather yourself in sunscreen before leaving the house, then toss the sunscreen in your bag so you can reapply after a swim or every few hours. A sunburn is not only unhealthy and painful, it's unattractive, so don't let yourself turn into the lobster of the day. Your sunscreen should be a SPF of 15. It doesn't hurt to use a strong SPF on your face or your entire body if you burn easily.

Your beach bag should be large enough to hold your supplies for the day. Why not get something fun and fashionable to keep you looking fashion fresh. Make sure you've got all the daily essentials in your bag - sunglasses, sunscreen, a good book, a floppy hat, some lip gloss, and any other makeup touch ups you'll want. If you plan to wear eye makeup make sure it's waterproof. Stay away from heavy foundations.

If you must apply something use a bronzer moisturizer. It's also a good idea to bring lip balm with an SPF15 to protect your lips. It never hurts to put some moisturizer in the bag. Include a snack and plenty of fluids. It's important not to get dehydrated.

Okay great we've got the basics covered now what about the wardrobe basics? If you're planning to wear a swimsuit it's usually easiest to put it on at home, that way you're not chasing down change rooms. So great - first on goes the swimsuit. Now what to wear for a cover?

Well you've got plenty of choices. A tank top and shorts, tank and skort, or a nice light cotton dress all work well over top. Choose something that's easy to put on and take off, and choose fabrics that breathe to keep you cool. I also suggest including a long sleeved cotton blouse just incase you start to burn you can protect your shoulders and arms.

If you're planning on heading out later in the day without returning home you might want to toss a pair of jeans or long skirt into your bag. If your outing is going to extend into the evening you'll want to include a sweater for the cooler evening air.

If you're worried about your evening wear getting sandy or wet at the beach, then place them in a separate bag and leave them in the trunk of your car. That way you are guaranteed they'll remain fresh.

My favorite beach look is this. And what's perfect is it keeps me looking fashion fresh throughout the day and takes me right into the evening. First I like a swimsuit that's got lots of support and is bright and cheerful. I throw a fitted tank on top and throw on a loose flouncy long skirt. The long skirt serves me through the evening and also works great to cover up if I'm starting to burn. I choose a lightweight material in a darker color with a pattern that accents the colors in my swimsuit. Flip flops are my footwear.

Depending on where I'm heading after the beach I choose either a basic pair or one of my funky pair with rhinestones or crystals. Easy to walk in, feet breath, and terrific for an evening out. I keep a fitted light weight sweater in my car, and take a long sleeved cotton blouse down to the beach. I usually choose a long sleeved and long length blouse because it's versatile. I can knot it to create a short blouse, wear it long as a beach cover, and put it on if I start to burn on my upper body.

I usually choose white or a soft pastel depending on my other colors. I like white because it's cool to wear and refreshing to look at. Every year I buy a fun new beach tote that's big enough for the beach but not too big as to take it with me for an evening out. I like a fun bag that's full of character.

Since I always feel naked without my jewelry I wear fashion jewelry to the beach. That way should I loose something I won't be out a lot of money and I won't feel so bad. I like to keep the earrings simple and elegant. I may or may not wear a necklace.

Often I'll toss a funky wood necklace in the bag to add to the evening outfit. I like to wear a couple of fashion rings just to add the finishing touches. Now if you're fussy about tan lines you'll probably want to forgo the rings. I toss my watch in the bottom of my bag so I can put it on later.

That's it - simple is the key. Keep your beach wardrobe choices simple but fashionable. Think ahead so you can go from beach to an evening out without hassle. Remember to always make your fashion statement!

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.


© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author:
Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.


Celebrating the ME in MumME
Peggy Porter

Copyright 2005 Peggy Porter

Another Mother's Day is upon us. A day in which our loved ones bestow us with handmade gifts, breakfast in bed, supper out and sometimes even jewelry!!! It is a day for our family to show how much they appreciate the job we do.

I remember after my first child was born, I developed this deep respect for other mothers and immediately felt connected to all of them. I felt a bond that only strengthened the further into motherhood I went.

So on this very special weekend, I want to honor, not only my own mother, but all mothers. You hold a very special place in my heart and I know first hand the challenges and rewards that we experience on a daily basis. Motherhood is several professions rolled up in to one; nurse, teacher, housekeeper, referee, cook, manager and many more. The pay is poor but the benefits are the best.

My wish for all mothers is that you don't wait for the one day of the year before YOU recognize the contribution you make in the lives of others. It is so important to appreciate, on a daily basis, the job you do. We often second guess our mothering ability. We focus on the times we lost patience instead of the times we didn't. We count the times we yelled instead of the times we said I love you. We fixate on the mess of the house instead of recognizing that the time spent reading with the kids was a better decision.

As this Mother's day rolls around, sit back and enjoy every second of the love and appreciation bestowed on you. It is a day to relax and reap all the rewards of motherhood. When this occasion passes however, make a point to keep that appreciation and love flowing from within you. At the end of your day, recognize the contribution you have made. Focus on what you gave to your family, not what you didn't. Value your own self worth as a person and a mother. Honor yourself daily with a few words of encouragement or another act of self-care. Take time for you. Celebrate the ME in MumME because she certainly is someone to celebrate. Cheers!!!


Peggy Porter is a nurse, Wellness Coach, and author of YumME MumME Makeover-How to Balance Womanhood and Motherhood by Nurturing the Me in MumMe. If you are a Mom and want to start creating a healthier balance in your life, go to www.seekingbalance.ca and register for Peggy's free monthly teleclass and Ecourse! For more info you can also email peggy@seekingbalance.ca or call 506-832-0117.

How and Why Reverse Linking Will Help Your Rankinks

Michael A. Domeck

What is "Reverse Linking"? These are links that you set up to other "relevant" web sites. You link to them but they DO NOT link to you. I classify these as my "resource" links!

I set up a separate page on my web site and call it a resource page. This is NOT a links page or a "My Favorite Links" page. This page provides external links to highly relevant resources for my visitors. Think of it as adding "free" content to your website that is contributed by the best websites around.

Who Should You Link Out To? (Reverse Links)

"who should you link to" is a very serious question and one and will have a significant impact on your future search engine placements. When you link to other highly relevant, external, sites, you are telling the Search Engines - "This site has highly appropriate content that compliments my site and it will add to my visitors overall enjoyment."

The potentially positive impact is so great there is a need for a number of
considerations when determining which web site that you should link to. Factors that must be considered in making this determination are:

1) Is the potential site's content related to your sites content? Just like a good incoming link strategy (sites linking to you), the relevance of the content found on both sites must be high. If you put a bunch of links from your site out to other websites which have completely unrelated content, the value of these links will produce negligible results. Actually they will tend to rapidly reduce the perceived value of your own site.

2) Are you trying to link to a competitor? Since we are linking "out" and we are not looking for a linking partner your ultimate interests must be considered. Do you really want to link to a site that provides the same, or very similar, products and/or services as you provide? Unless that site is willing to reciprocate with a link and they have a higher PageRank than you do that is NOT a good idea!

3) What is the PageRank of the other website? The majority of people falsely believe that outbound links hurt your SE placement. Actually the opposite is the truth. Poor link-building is the biggest cause of these misconceptions, not the actual link. Always check the PageRank assigned by Google when you are choosing whether to link to another site. Like the boost a relevant link from a high PageRank site gives to your site in the incoming links it can have a positive effect on your outbound (reverse) links. If all of your outbound links go to highly regarded sites (as seen by the search engines) and their content is complimentary to your site then these links will definitely gain you higher rankings.

Finding the Links

Where is the best place to look for links to boost your search engine placement? The best place to start looking is the search engines themselves. Searching will easily produce hundreds of "potential" links. Actually, if you did the proper initial research for your keyword and niche selection you will already have a lot of this information.

Best Practices for Reverse Linking

Here are some important considerations to make regarding how to organize those new outbound links for maximum benefit. The absolutely most important thing is to create a "Resources Page". Call it a "Resources Page", or "Additional Resources", or something similar, rather than a "Links Page". This is not only for a better consideration by the search engine but also for your visitors.

Placing the majority of these reverse (outbound) links on their own page avoids
affecting the optimization and search engine considerations of the rest of your
website. It also gives you a "page" to place all those new links on as they come in.

Each outbound link should look something like the following example linked from a lighthouse web site: "For the enthusiast this collection of unique nautical gifts is truly in a class by itself. They offer magnificently handcrafted nautical coin jewelry." The link ('Custom Nautical Jewelry') opens in a new window when the visitor clicks on it.

Each link should have a descriptive text within it (not the ambiguous "click here") and there should be a high quality description of the web site just below the link (remember presell'). If you don't know what to include as the description, just ask the site owner, they are often very pleased that you are putting so much care into the a link to their site. If you are lucky the webmaster might even suggest a reciprocal link - but let them suggest it - you do NOT suggest it.

Very Important note- Remember to have these outbound links open in a new window. If you are using the SiteBuildIt format, as opposed to uploading your own pages, then use the traffic link tool and check "Open in an new window". I am appalled at the number of websites that don't do this (Yes, I have messed up and done the same thing without thinking). You must keep the visitor in your site, even if your site is now in a browser beneath the one being viewed. You have a much higher chance, by an overwhelming 100 to 1 that the visitor will actually return to your site this way. If they leave your site, because they have clicked on one of those outbound links, then you probably want get them back since they have completely left your site.

By putting these practices into place you will shorten the time it takes for the major search engines to spider your site. But first you still have to build a content rich site and use SiteBuildIt's Analyze tool to optimize those web pages. The strategy I have provided gives your visitors even more valuable content for the search terms they are entering. Link building is the icing but without the cake 9a content rich. SE friendly site) it amounts to nothing.

Michael Domeck
www.the-best-light-houses.com
www.homefurnishingsforless.com

The author has been working in Communications and Web development for over 15 years. He has purposely stayed away from the fancy graphics, php, cgi and Flash programming methods used on many sites. By keeping his websites simple he has constantly had his, and his clients, websites rated high in the Search Engines using the KISS method.

Getting To Know Google
Dali Singh

Having greatly benefited from my relationship with Google in the past several years, I am dedicating this article to the search engine superstar.

I have to be brutally honest and relay that our friendship hasn't always been rosy. I got to know Google several years back, when it was just a small fish in a big pond. I started to analyze its every move and realized that Google is a fickle, clever and extremely mysterious being. Still, I decided to get more acquainted.
Here are a few things I learned along the way.

When it comes to logic, Google is the queen

In other words, avoid participating in anything that may blacklist you from this search engine, including keyword stuffing, link farms and hosting 50 "sister" sites on the same server. Keyword stuffing doesn't refer merely to the content of your site, but also the alt tags, headers, URLs and any additional areas of your web site.

Google likes to stay focused

When optimizing the individual pages of your Web site, try to hone in on one or two relevant keywords per Web page. Analyze each page and identify which keyword would be most suitable.

If you decide to optimize for two keywords per page, make sure that they are similar in context. For example, if you are optimizing for the key phrase "insurance leads," you may also consider optimizing for "insurance sales leads" within the same page.

Google loves to travel

It is commonly known that Google loves links, both inbound and outbound. When it comes to search engine optimization, lots of research has focused on inbound links, but little has focused on the number of links on an actual page. It appears that Google favors sites that have several internal and outbound links over those that don't have links.

If you have any doubts about this theory, simply do a search on any high-volume keyword or phrase within this search engine and analyze the first few sites that come up. Notice how the majority of them have numerous internal links on the main pages of their Web site.

Google is popular and expects you to be, too

The more popular your site is across the Web, the more Google will favor you. Obviously, having several high-quality inbound links to your site is key in achieving higher rankings. When identifying Web sites for inbound links, target the ones that are highly relevant to your site. For example, if you run a jewelry site, look for sites that are purely informational on the topic of jewelry or gemstones. Also, make sure that the sites you decide to partner with have a good PageRank (at least a 5) and online presence.

To save yourself a lot of hassle, conduct a keyword search relevant to your business and target the Web sites that show up on the first and second pages of Google (weeding out the competition, of course); contact the Web masters of those sites and tell them about your company and find useful ways to compensate them for adding your company's information on their site.

If you have an affiliate program, don't be shy to pitch it. If you have an online advertising budget, offer them a pay-per-click deal or monthly advertising fee for promoting your Web site. Note that partnering with these sites or purchasing ads should complement your overall marketing and business development strategy-and not be used merely to get link value.

Google gets bored easily

Regardless of whether your site is informational, e-commerce or just a sophisticated version of a business card, having quality content is crucial for search engine optimization. Adding to that factor is how often you update your site's content.

If you run a site that has new content added on a monthly basis (do not overdo it), then eventually the Google "freshbot" will start visiting your site more often and index your new content into the database. The more content you update, the more Google visits your site and indexes it quicker. Do not refresh your content simply for search engine optimization purposes, but do take the effort to keep interesting articles, blogs and entries to keep your visitors coming back.

If you haven't already noticed, keeping pace with Google is not an easy undertaking. It takes a certain level of knowledge, skill and creativity to truly benefit from this relationship. The rest is up to the stars.


Dali Singh is the Managing Director for Blueliner Marketing, a full service marketing and Internet consultancy. Visit www.bluelinermarketing.com or email her directly at dali @ bluelinermarketing.com.

Know Your Gemstone and Jewelry Terms

Lisa Jay

Beads:
Swarovski Crystal may be the finest crystal beads, due to their clarity, color and variety. Swarovski is an Austrian company that makes high-quality rhinestones, beautiful cut crystals, costume jewelry, and other glass-related items.

Czech Glass Beads have the same vibrancy and shine as the Swarovski crystal, yet are a more cost effective alternative.

Metals:
Bali Beads are handcrafted in Bali, Indonesia and are exceptional in quality and detail. Because these items are individually crafted from silver by many bead artisans, there may be slight variations in bead size, form, hole size, and oxidation. Because of its popularity, more countries are now producing this type of beads. Therefore, the term "Bali beads" is now generally referring to "Bali-style beads". Bali Silver usually has less than 92.5% silver content therefore cannot be identified as sterling. Handmade Bali beads are far more superior in quality, giving more value to your jewelry.

Hill Tribe Silver of Thailand (Thai Silver) are beads and pendants that have been made by the ethnic minorities that live in the mountain regions of northern Thailand.

Rhodium is a white precious metal. Rhodium is often used to plate precious and base metals, giving jewelry a hard, platinum-like sheen.

Sterling silver is becoming one of the most popular metals in the jewelry industry. Most people that have allergic reactions to some metals are able to wear sterling silver. Sterling silver is easy to clean and care for. It will tarnish with time, but a little rubbing with a polishing cloth, and it will look good as new.

14kt gold-filled �or 1/20 gold is created by heating and pressure-bonding a layer of 14kt gold to a brass core. The gold-filled wire is tarnish-resistant and has a much better value than gold-plated because it has an actual layer, not just a minuscule film. The layer of 14kt gold will not rub off like gold-plated metals either.

Gemstones:

Agate comes in many forms and colors. It is a variety of chalcedony that occurs in rocks like volcanic lava. Agate is distinguished from chalcedony by the distinct banding that runs through it. Wearers of agate are guaranteed health, wealth and a long life. I'd better get myself a strand!

Amethyst IS the most valuable form of quartz. It's color ranges from light to dark purple. Amethyst promotes inner peace & spiritual insight. Wow! Works awful hard and just think, all you have to do is wear it!

Aquamarine is excellent for meditation. Gives a sense of peace and serenity.

Aventurine is in the quartz family. It has tiny flecks of mica throughout it. It's color ranges from pale to medium green. Aventurine helps to dissolve unhealthy thoughts, feeling and related physical problems. It assists in keeping one balanced and harmonized.

Black Onyx is not onyx at all. It is chalcedony, which is another variety of quartz, that has been dyed black.

Hematite is a gemstones that are made up of iron oxide and has an opaque and iridescent surface. It's known to calm, soothe, and ease stress. Sounds like a cup of tea, to me!

Bloodstone is a powerful healer and physical cleanser. It purifies bloodstreams and strengthens kidneys, liver and spleen.

Blue Lace Agate clears voice and communications and gives insight into complex problems.

Carnelian grounds and gives focus into the present moment. It also stimulates curiosity and initiative.

Onyx is a semi translucent to opaque quartz that comes in a wide range of colors--reds, apricot, oranges, and browns. It is said to protect the wearer from any negativity.

Pearls are becoming more affordable due to the cultured pearls available from China. It helps the wearer to have self-acceptance and added femininity.

Rhodolite is from the garnet family. One of the reasons that Rhodolite made such a big splash is because of it's brilliant purple coloring, close to the color of grape juice. Rhodolite is a very durable gem stone with a 7.5 on the mohs hardness scale.

Rose Quartz is a type of quartz that ranges in color from pink to deep red.

Smoky Quartz is becoming very popular in jewelry. It's color is pale to a rich smoky brown. It is said to benefit those that are dealing with depression and fatigue.

Turquoise is a stone that comes in a wide range of colors, the finest being an intense blue, with the poorer color tending to be yellowish green. All turquoise will turn colors with aging. It is very important to take good care of your turquoise to minimize discoloration. Turquoise is considered by some to be a lucky stone.

The Mohs Scale is a measurement that tells a substance's hardness. The higher the mohs number (1-10) the more durable the gem stone. Diamonds are 10 on the Mohs scale, while Amethyst is a 7 and Ruby is a 9.

Other:
Mother of Pearl is a more affordable way to acquire the luster of pearl jewelry. It is the lining of the shell that houses the pearl.

Raku is a unique ceramic firing process. Each piece is sealed with a glaze that is high in copper. Each piece is fired in a ceramic kiln until the heat from the piece ignites paper, causing a reaction with the copper in the glaze. The result is a wide range of colors on the surface of the piece full of beautiful colors, luster, and patterns.

Greek Leather is known for its smooth finish and consistent color.

Misnamed Stones:
This is an issue that was discussed on the Jewelry Making forum. The following "stones" are not necessarily even stones.

The Fruit Quartz' - Cherry quartz, blue quartz, strawberry quartz, pineapple quartz are all synthetic beads that are made to look like quartz. They are still a beautiful bead and add beauty to many pieces of jewelry. As long as they are identified as being synthetic, there is not a problem with these "quartz'". There is such a thing as real cherry quartz, but is very rare and extremely expensive.

Amazonite is sometimes just dyed onyx that is being sold as amazonite.

Moonstone is sometimes no more than pressed glass.

Goldstone is a manmade product made out of copper crystals in glass. Goldstone is sometimes sold as a semi-precious gemstone.

Rhodocrosite/Rhodonite are sometimes confused for each other.

Rhodocrosite has white striations and rhodonite is black.

Chalcedony is actually agate. It comes in a variety of colors. Chrysophrase and carnelian are both types of chalcedony.

Lisa Jay is a freelance writer and the jewelry designer behind Lantana Designwear. You can visit her websites at http://www.LantanaDesignwear.com and www.JewelryMakingHQ.com
Be sure to sign up for her newsletter at http://www.LantanaDesignwear.com/signup_newsletter to receive information on jewelry, fashion and womens issues.

Buying Genuine American Indian Jewelry & Crafts
Sam Serio

Buying American Indian jewelry & crafts can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of American Indian jewelry & crafts for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality American Indian jewelry & crafts for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.

Whether you're drawn to the beauty of turquoise and silver jewelry or the earth tones of Indian pottery, some information about American Indian arts and crafts can help you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous retailers are selling imitation American Indian arts and crafts to unwary consumers.

According to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, any item produced after 1935 that is marketed as "Indian," "Native American" or "Alaska Native" must have been made by a member of a state or federally-recognized tribe or a certified Indian artisan. That is a non-member Indian artisan who is certified by the governing body of an Indian tribe.

3 Tips for Buying Genuine American Indian Jewelry & Crafts
1.Buy from an established dealer who gives a written guarantee or written verification of authenticity. Ask if your item comes with a certification tag. Not all authentic Indian arts and crafts carry this tag, but those that do are certified by the Department of the Interior (DOI) to be genuine. This sample tag identifies the artisan as a member of the Oklahoma Indian Arts and Crafts Cooperative. However, you may see a different name and logo appearing in the circle on the item you buy.
2.Get a receipt that includes information about the value of your purchase and any verbal representations by the salesperson. For example, if the salesperson tells you that the piece of jewelry you're buying is sterling silver and natural turquoise and was handmade by an American Indian artisan, make sure this information is documented on your receipt.
3.Before buying American Indian arts and crafts at powwows, annual fairs, juried competitions, and other events, check the event requirements for information about the authenticity of the products for sale. Many events list their requirements in newspaper ads, promotional flyers and printed programs. If the event organizers don't say anything about the authenticity of the American Indian arts and crafts for sale, get written verification for any item you buy that is sold as authentic.


The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.

Diamond Solitaire rings - The Ultimate In Engagement Rings

Peter Leigh

There are no better rings to seal your engagement than diamond solitaire rings. The ultimate in diamond rings, diamond solitaire rings are the only ring for the woman who wants the best in wedding jewelry.

What is a diamond solitaire ring? Simple. A diamond solitaire ring is a ring with one diamond. That's all. Just one diamond. Nothing else to distract from that one magnificent stone.

Why are diamond solitaire engagement rings the best engagement rings? Well firstly because they are a diamond ring. Diamonds are the best of all jewelry stones available to the serious jewelry buyer. And there are a lot of other stones out there. All sorts of colored stones, diamond copies, diamond simulants and so on. Most of them beautiful stones.
But none of them are diamonds.

Why are there so many diamond copies, man made diamonds? Because diamonds are the best, and it is the best that is copied.

Your engagement ring is one of the most important buying decisions you will ever make. Think about it. What else can you buy that will be with you for life?

Your house? No, not really, most people keep a house for a few years and then move on. Your car? Never!

Is there anything? I can't think of anything that is more enduring than a diamond solitaire engagement ring. Nothing else that goes through life with you. So if it's that important then get a good one. Once you've got it then it's too late to change your mind.

And why diamonds? Why not some other type of beautiful jewelry stone?

Diamonds represent the ultimate. The best. There is no better jewelry stone than a diamond, and no more expensive. By buying a diamond you're saying "only the best for us". You're making a commitment that you are prepared to spend some serious money on the one most important and enduring purchase you will ever make. Your diamond solitaire ring.

And why a solitaire ring? There are lots of beautiful rings with diamonds. Thousands of styles, a whole world of choices. Why choose a diamond solitaire ring?

Just because that's what it is. A solitaire. You are getting the biggest diamond for your money. One that stands out. One that people will admire.

There are some beautiful three stone diamond rings. Magnificent rings. But not solitaires. Three small diamonds just don't cut it like one large one.

Diamond engagement rings have a long and proud tradition. The giving a diamond engagement ring to a woman as a symbol of a promise to marry began in 1477 with the engagement of Archduke Maximillian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy. The Archduke selected a diamond engagement ring and his decision has been copied ever since.

It was even said then that cupids arrows were tipped with diamonds which imbued the couple with the magic of love.

Diamond solitaire rings encapsulate that magic of love.

Diamond engagement rings have a symbolism from centuries past. They are the ultimate in engagement rings. And diamond solitaire rings are the ultimate in diamond engagement rings.



Find out more about Diamond Solitaire Rings as well as many other types of Diamond Rings including Diamond Engagement Rings at Peter's website Delectable Diamond Rings. © 2005 Peter Leigh.

I cannot tell a lie - Washington's hair selling on eBay
Keith Watson

Reported in The Enquirer on July 17th BOONEVILLE, KY.

An eastern Kentucky woman hopes to fetch at least $750,000 for a
Revolutionary War map and a few strands of hair that she says
belonged to George Washington.

Christa Allen from Kentucky needs some money right away as her
son has been in the hospital recently, and she doesn't have
medical insurance.

So she decided to put the hair and map on eBay.

Maybe you haven't got the odd strand of Washington's hair kicking
around, but you have probably considered selling that redundant
exercise bike or coronation mug.

This is the way so many people start selling on eBay, casually
selling an item or two freshly dragged from the loft. A goodly
percentage then go on and get the eBay selling bug. Just check
out the success stories on Freeauctionscripts.com for
confirmation.

But beware! There is a world of difference between selling spare
items from the attic and buying and selling profitably as a
business.

For a start it is essential to consider eBay listing fees, eBay
final value fees, PayPal transaction fees, cost of goods,
shipping expenses, refund expenses (damaged/missing shipments),
office expenses and packaging.

The advice from seasoned eBay merchants is well worth examination
if you are considering trading seriously.

Here are the top tips from a variety of eBay Powersellers.

1. Seek advice and learn as much as you can before you
start. Use the eBay Store Sellers Board - a lively forum
where you can pick up tips and ask questions.

2. Find a niche. Sell what you like and can get your hands
on. Keep in mind shipping and the supplies to ship those
items.

3. Keep yourself organized either on paper, online, or with
a spreadsheet.

4. When volume picks up, find ways to decrease your workload
and streamline your business. How about a USPS pickup
instead of a trip to the post office each time?

5. Recognize when you need a solution. As number of products
increase you will need management tools such as
Turbolister or SpareDollar.

6. Make research a part of your daily routine. It's
important to know what changes have been made, get tips
on how to improve your business , and know when there are
problems.

7. Adapt to change. It's a constant fact that things change.
Those that can adapt to changes will survive.

With the right preparation you can certainly enjoy a profitable
and convenient way of life.

As Judith Isaacson of Goldman Jewelry eBay Store concludes in her
success story on Freeauctionscripts.com:

"So here I am in Israel, promoting and selling jewelry that is in
New York, to customers around the world, without leaving the
house. The process of building and handling the internet
extension of our family business, and combining family, home and
business brings me full circle. My cup runneth over."

Keith Watson has been developing websites and advising about
marketing and sales on the Internet since 1992. For further
support if you are looking to seriously trade on eBay go to
http://auctions.go-cbmall.com

Copper Jewelry in Action

Slava Diamy

Copper Jewelry is very nice-looking, but also it’s a very healthy jewelry. Do you know much about how much copper is needed to our bodies? It’s a highly important element for balancing other elements in our body. It keeps our blood vessels elastic. It is really important for bone formation and healing, skin formation and repair.



Copper Jewelry is very good to wear with autumn-colored clothes. Yellow, beige colors are signs of soon to come winter, which always brings spring after it. Try also wearing copper beads with black t-shirt or any other dark top.



Since the dawn of civilization people used copper because of its unusual strengths. Wise people engraved prayers on copper stones or copper plates to deliver a strong message to other worlds. Is it believed that copper stimulates energy flow to itself, so when copper jewellry is on body – it helps to accumulate more energy. It also seem to help with avoiding lethargic tendencies and as a result of wearing it you may feel re-vitalized and stronger. It helps you to concentrate your thoughts.



As you might have already read – copper is absorbed through skin and has pain-relief effect, that’s why copper bracelets are so popular. It’s not an urban legend – this has medical background and some proofs from Eastern countries, where people know many things from past. Knowledge slowly fades away in nowadays if it has no big commercial value, but Eastern countries cherish comprehensive historical facts. So in a talk with a lady from East – there was a confirmation that copper jewellery has strong effect on people suffering with arthritis. Copper (especially magnetic jewelry) is known to increase blood circulation and reduce pain in muscles. Many people suffering with arthritis will not leave home without a bracelet.



Besides copper bracelets you can find some copper beads, strings, and earrings. Most of them are amazingly beautiful and not expensive, since copper isn’t a precious metal. Despite it’s dollar value – it’s very precious to our health.



Wearing copper jewelery you might notice green stains on your skin under the place of contact with copper. Don’t panic. It’s all right, it will come off in a day or two – it’s just copper entering your body. It usually happens in warm days. If you want to avoid it – paint inside of a bracelet with a transparent nail polish, but as you might figure out – it prevents health benefits of copper too. These stains aren’t known to do any harm for you. There are recommendations to wear copper jewelry while you are sleeping, which is time for our body to rest and to restore, that way you can wash it’s traces in morning.



Copperjewelry, like many other metals is known to tarnish over time. To clean jewelery, made from copper – just put it in a small solution of lemon or limejuice with a dash of salt, it will shine as new. Alternatively you can keep it in copper jewelry box, preventing from continuous air exposure, which causes copper jewelry to tarnish.



If you are still not convinced that copper bracelets are a great way to help your health – well – go to the nearest pharmacy and continue to buy pills helping pharmaceutical industry to grow and sell you even more.



After all – it’s not always about how it works – sometimes it’s about how it looks – and copper jewelry is sometimes amazingly beautiful. Try to find some and you’ll be amazed too!

Slava Diamy is an author of Diamy.Com - Jewelry Blog, where you can join us for a discussion of "Copper Jewelry" article and subscribe to receive new articles.

Questions to Ask a Credit Counseling Service about Debt Relief
Tim Gorman

Debt relief is a topic on a lot of consumers' minds these days, and with good reason. American credit card debt in 2001 was $692 billion, triple the amount from 1989. In that same time period, the average credit card increase for a middle-class family was 75%. The amounts were even higher for low-income families and senior citizens. At one time, such a high amount of credit card debt would seem frivolous as buyers spent money they didn't have on luxury items such as electronics or jewelry. Today, however, in less stable economic times and a poor job market, more people are turning to credit cards as a way to extend their income. More and more debt is being rung up for everyday items such as groceries and medical bills. How can people get real help with debt relief?

Credit counseling services were originally established by credit card companies who wanted to get at least some of their money back before a client decided to declare bankruptcy. While that may seem shady to some people, for others it is a legitimate way to pay the debt they owe.

When seeking debt relief, however, be wary and be an informed consumer. Do your research before signing on with any one service. Here are some questions to ask:

* How much does it cost? Many less-than-reputable services charge hundreds of dollars to start up, money that doesn't go to any of your creditors.

* Does the service notify credit bureaus about your enrollment in their program? Some do and some don't. Creditors may still elect to put a bad mark on your credit report, but the agency you are looking at for debt relief shouldn't.

* What services are offered? Do they offer a range of solutions from trouble-shooting before finances are a big problem to debt management. Beware of companies promising too quick a solution or promising to "fix" your credit report.

* What are the benefits of belonging to one particular group over another? For example, some services offer newsletters and budgeting tips, all to help you become more stable when your debt is paid off.

* Are they a member of the Better Business Bureau? If that is not advertised, check them out with BBB first.

With time, patience and diligence, you can become debt free.


Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Debt-Relief-Solutions.com. He provides more debt relief, consolidation and free debt consolidation information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

"Don't Sell Grandma's Jewelry at a Yard Sale...What's It Worth?"

JoAnna Gilford

IDENTIFICATION
Before you can find out what a piece of jewelry is worth, you need to find out what it is. This can be as simple as turning it over and finding a maker's mark or complicated as in "hours of research". First thing first: Examine your jewelry for a maker's mark. Look on the back or on the clasp. Thoroughly examine every inch of the piece. If you see a maker's mark, start your research! Not finding a maker's mark doesn't mean it's not valuable, on the contrary; many fine pieces of jewelry were never marked. It does mean you will need to put in a little more effort in research.

If you received your jewelry from a family member, ask them about it's history. Did your grandfather give it to your grandmother right before he went off to war? Was it handed down from her mother? Answers to these questions will give you a general idea of how old it is.
Look at the style of the piece. Although many styles come back into fashion after a time, it is still possible to ID an older piece by the style and material.
Does it appear to have gemstones? Determine it they are real gemstones. You will need some sort of strong magnifying glass or ideally, a jeweler's loupe. A loupe is a small magnifying glass in various degrees of magnification. A 10X loupe should be all you need and they are relatively inexpensive. Craft and hobby stores usually sell them. Go to a well lighted place and look at the stone through the loupe. Do you see tiny bubbles in the stone? Tiny air bubbles mean it is made from glass or plastic. It's not a real gemstone. Is it open backed? Can you see the back of the stone when you turn the piece over? Does the back of the stone look shiny as in gold or silver colored foil? These are foil back rhinestones and not real gems. Foil was often added to reflect the light and create a better sparkle. Most real gems contain some type of natural inclusion. Unless you are familiar with gems and diamonds, your best bet is to take it to a jeweler or appraiser if you think it is real.
Look at the construction of the piece. This can be extremely helpful in dating a piece! Look at the clasp or pin. Are the stones individually riveted on? Is the clasp rather ornate? Does it have a layered look? What type of style is it? Does it remind you of old black and white movies? Perhaps Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn? Does it look Victorian?
By now, you should have a general idea of age and you are ready to start your research in earnest!

RESEARCH
Head for your local library or heat up an Internet search engine! I can spend hours in my local library poring over books and books and more books. There are plenty of good jewelry reference books. Stop by your library or bookstore and check them out before buying. No sense in buying a book you will hardly use! If you choose the library, bring your jewelry with you. You can also make copies of any pages you wish to take or check out the book and bring it home. As with other research, libraries are extremely helpful. Searching on the Internet is also a quick and easy way to get fast information. Some search terms to try are:

maker's mark
vintage jewelry
the name of the maker's mark you found on your piece
the decade i.e. "1930's jewelry"
antique jewelry
collectible costume jewelry

This will give you hours of research and hundreds of pages to sort. Look at anything relevant, look for similar pieces or styles. Visit online vintage jewelry shops. Look for forums where you may be able to post a picture and ask for identification help.

If you love to research like I do, this is right up your alley! It can take hours, days sometimes weeks to find out about a certain piece. As you go, you will gain more knowledge about old jewelry and hopefully you will be as enchanted as many other collectors and dealers. It's a fascinating world of "junky jewelry"!

We are always here to help you with your pieces, so feel free to send us an email if you have questions.



Junky Jewelry buys, sells and offers consignment options for vintage, antique and collectible costume jewelry. All their licenses are current in the state of FL. Receive Junky Jewelry updates and articles in their free newsletter by visiting www.junkyjewelry.com.



Buying Genuine American Indian Jewelry & Crafts
Sam Serio

Buying American Indian jewelry & crafts can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of American Indian jewelry & crafts for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality American Indian jewelry & crafts for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.

Whether you're drawn to the beauty of turquoise and silver jewelry or the earth tones of Indian pottery, some information about American Indian arts and crafts can help you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous retailers are selling imitation American Indian arts and crafts to unwary consumers.

According to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, any item produced after 1935 that is marketed as "Indian," "Native American" or "Alaska Native" must have been made by a member of a state or federally-recognized tribe or a certified Indian artisan. That is a non-member Indian artisan who is certified by the governing body of an Indian tribe.

3 Tips for Buying Genuine American Indian Jewelry & Crafts
1.Buy from an established dealer who gives a written guarantee or written verification of authenticity. Ask if your item comes with a certification tag. Not all authentic Indian arts and crafts carry this tag, but those that do are certified by the Department of the Interior (DOI) to be genuine. This sample tag identifies the artisan as a member of the Oklahoma Indian Arts and Crafts Cooperative. However, you may see a different name and logo appearing in the circle on the item you buy.
2.Get a receipt that includes information about the value of your purchase and any verbal representations by the salesperson. For example, if the salesperson tells you that the piece of jewelry you're buying is sterling silver and natural turquoise and was handmade by an American Indian artisan, make sure this information is documented on your receipt.
3.Before buying American Indian arts and crafts at powwows, annual fairs, juried competitions, and other events, check the event requirements for information about the authenticity of the products for sale. Many events list their requirements in newspaper ads, promotional flyers and printed programs. If the event organizers don't say anything about the authenticity of the American Indian arts and crafts for sale, get written verification for any item you buy that is sold as authentic.


The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.

Simple Joint Ventures Make Small Niche Sites big bucks!

Jeff Lugeanbeal

My friend has a website that has been online for 3 years, and each year he nets six figures.

His site is a niche site selling mostly collectible christmas ornaments. His site shows up number one at google, msn, yahoo, and a few smaller search engines for some specific keywords.

Yet his site gets very little traffic from the search engines. Why? Because there isn't much demand for his keywords on google or the other SE's even though he is number one.

So how does he get traffic and earn money?

Simple: He maintains his site for the few that find it with the search engines, making him a few hundred bucks a month, but the rest of his traffic comes from offline promotion.

His simple offline promotions are mailing a nice color catalog to his online customers.

His other potential customers come from a joint venture with a couple of jewelry stores. He simply obtains customer addresses from a few jewelry store owners and mails the catalog out. In return, the jewelry store owners get mentioned in his catalog and their websites are listed. No revenue is shared.

So you can see that the majority of his traffic and sales are from simple offline marketing because there aren't many people searching for his product directly from their computers. He has to place a catalog in their hands to get customers.

It's really that simple for him. Just imagine if you have a #1 listing in google for a high demand keyword. Tons of traffic to your site, and your simple job is to presell the customer and close the sale!


Jeff Lugeanbeal- Sought after Health and fitness professional, motivational and nutritional coach, is a recognized authority On the subject of weight loss. His Web site, www.worldwideweightloss.com provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you'd ever need to know about permanent, natural fat loss and will help you achieve the body you've always wanted.

Learn How To Be A Successful eBay Seller
Lewis Leake

Anyone can sell anything on eBay. Open an account, list your product, and wait for the bids to start coming in. While it is true that anyone can sell, to be successful, you need to know the inside secrets.

One woman made over $250,000 last year on items sold on eBay. She is just one out of thousands and thousands of people that make a ton of money just selling merchandise.

Are you ready to learn how to be an eBay seller? You will find it to be easy, fun, and exciting. Here are some of the things that you need to know to get started.

Just eBay

Although there are several other quality auction websites, eBay is by far the most popular and most successful. Although you could start using all the other sites, by spreading yourself out too thin you take the risk of getting things mixed up. In reality, it is better to use eBay and focus your attention and efforts on this one site. You will not be disappointed.

Look Around

Navigate through each section to familiarize yourself with all the different pages. You will find a site map and help tab, which are very useful tools. It will take a little time to get used to the site but start by looking. As you start selling, navigating will become much easier.

Terms & Conditions

You will run into all types of buyers that try to move past the terms and conditions provided by eBay. Know the Terms & Conditions inside and out and if you have problems, contact eBay immediately. A few examples of the insider secrets are listed below:

* Bid Shielding - Two buyers work together. One person bids high to protect a low bid place by the other person. Right before the auction closes, the high bidder cancels, meaning the low bidder gets your items for a huge bargain.

* Bid Shilling - This is where the seller actually uses a separate ID set up to inflate the number and price of the bid.

* Deadbeat Bidder - The deadbeat bidder bids on your auction and then simply fails to pay.

* Sniping - A "sniper" is a bidder that waits until there are only minutes or seconds left on an item and then quickly bids just a little higher to get the items. Although not against the T&C's, it is considered unprofessional and limits competing bidders from driving a high price.

Excluded Items

Although eBay accepts just about every type of item, there are a few exclusions such as explosions, corrosive material, etc. Before you go through the entire process of listing your items, make sure you are not listing something forbidden by checking out the do's and don'ts listed on eBay.

Competitor Analysis

Just like any other business, you need to know what your competitors are doing. This will help you make the best possible decision when it comes to your own auction. Before listing your items, do a search for the same type items to see what their descriptions looks like. Find different aspects from different sellers and use them to form one comprehensive site for yourself.

Community Boards

Pay attention to the community boards provided by eBay. They offer valuable information and helpful tips that can ultimately save you time and effort.

Category Guide

Use eBay's Category Guide, which is a helpful tool to ensure you place your auction items in the appropriate category.

When to List

The time of day you list your auction is important. The start time will be the same as the end time, which is why it is so important. If you want your auction to end at 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, you need to have the auction start at 10:00 p.m. For this reason, be sure to set the start time accordingly.

Do your Homework

In addition to researching what other people are selling similar items for, you need to conduct your own research outside of eBay as well to determine the going rate for your items. As an example, if you are selling artwork, jewelry, or collectibles, you need to state in your description the going price. Although you may or may not get that price from the buyer, it shows buyers that you have done your homework and will stand a little more firm in your price. It also tells buyers that they are getting quality for a good price.

When it comes to selling on eBay, the door of opportunity stands wide open. Opportunity is what you decide to make of it. As mentioned in the beginning, people literally buy and sell just about everything on eBay. For this reason, do not think that items you have would not be of interest to anyone because more than likely, they will be.


Lewis Leake is the webmaster of GrowNetProfits.com - subscribe to his GrowNetProfits Newsletter and get Work From Home Tools, Articles, Tips and Resources delivered to you twice a month. http://www.grownetprofits.com -- Also get access to his new Subscriber's Membership Site.