Knowledge is Power

Getting your website or blog indexed by Google is a good way to get your new online venture established and receive free traffic in the process. This short article explains how you can do a few simple things which take less than 10 minutes to get your website or blog indexed by Google within 15 minutes or so!

First of all, if you don’t already have a Yahoo account and valid Yahoo email address, then go to www.Yahoo.com and follow the easy instructions that explain how to obtain one.

Next you want create a Yahoo Answers profile. Simply go to http://answers.yahoo.com/ and log into your account and create a Yahoo Answers profile. If you want, you can add details to your profile and add friends and gain fans within the Yahoo Answers community as a member. This of course is not necessary.

Then you will use the search feature to find people’s questions pertaining to your website or blog’s topic. Select “open answers” during the search. This will return questions that are still accepting answers. Selecting recent questions to answer is always the best because open answers get the most traffic and the person asking the question still has yet to read all of the available answers.

Pick one of the questions and answer it with a good, informative and objective answer of at least 2 paragraphs. Give complete thoughts and remember to make it useful to the person who is asking the question. If you post a short one sentence reply, then there is a good chance your post will be deleted and marked as spam. Make sure to include a link to your website IN THE SOURCE BOX, and not in the actual post. By putting your website or blog’s link in the source box, Google has a way to find your site.

Next you will utilize two popular social book marking sites: Digg.com and Mixx.com. First go to http://digg.com/ and create an account if you don’t already have one. Log into your account and click the “Submit New” link. This will allow you to submit your website or blog’s URL. It will include some details about your site and even let you share it with others and make comments about it if you’d like.

Last, do the same thing at http://www.mixx.com/. Submit your web address just like you did on Digg.com. The process is very similar. Both sites are free to join.

Google crawls these sites VERY often and your website or blog’s URL will be registered in Google in about 15 minutes or less! This is a surefire way to get into the search engines quickly.

As a bonus: go to http://autopinger.com/ and submit your URL there as well. This site will send a “ping” to various search engines and directories requesting them to crawl and index your site. Google accepts the pings almost 100% of the time. Do these quick and easy steps and you’re site or blog will be listed in Google and other search engines in a matter of minutes!

I never made a dime online until I found this AMAZING tool: http://MakeMoneyThisEvening.com

Having a good English dictionary is important if you want to learn the language well. In fact, it is probably the most valuable tool you have while taking your ESL classes. As well as a definition, a good dictionary will also show you how to pronounce the word and give examples of ways that the word is commonly used. Unfortunately there are quite a number of dictionaries on the market. So how do you choose a good dictionary? Here are some pointers to consider.

Make certain the dictionary offers some examples sentences so you can see different ways that the word is used. This will not only help you to better understand the meaning of the word, but will provide valuable grammar information as well. Most will identify the word as a noun, verb, adjective etc.

A good dictionary will provide more than one definition for a word whenever it has different meanings. This is a common occurrence in the English language, and knowing the right definition of a word is necessary to learn the language properly.

While not essential, a few little extras that may be included are always helpful. Look for a dictionary that also provides synonyms for words, phonetic pronunciations and even photos. Any items that make learning English more fun will help to keep you motivated.

Try to find a dictionary that is comfortable to use. Find one in a size that can be carried with you but still has print that is easy to read. If you prefer to have both a pocket and a desk dictionary, you should buy the same one for both to avoid confusion.

The last item to consider is price. Dictionaries come in a very wide price range so you will have to look for one that best fits your budget. A good dictionary is something that you will use in your studies for a very long time so it is really an important investment.

While online dictionaries can be a useful tool as well, and can provide a quick definition for most words, they are generally not as complete as a book edition. Software dictionaries that you download to your computer are usually better, but it can still take longer to look up a word in the database than it would to look the word up manually. Learning English can be frustrating enough without the added frustrations of a slow dictionary!

One last pointer: you should stick to English only dictionaries. Your teachers in your ESL classes probably don’t speak your native language in class, and they surely don’t translate words. So why should you get a bilingual dictionary? It certainly helps you understand new vocabulary, but it won’t really improve your English. So, get out there and get yourself a good one! But don’t leave it on a shelf to gather dust. Put it to good use!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

Susan Thomason has written numerous articles for LCI English Center, an ESL school in Denver, Colorado. LCI offers the best English training through experienced teachers and high quality programs. Check out more ESL articles at www.englishlci.com/blog

There is an old expression that says “practice makes perfect.” If you want to perfect a skill of any kind it requires lots of practice and the best way to practice a new language, especially outside of your ESL classes, is to use it as often as possible. Here are 10 of the easiest ways to practice your English reading, speaking and comprehension skills every day.

1. Although it may not blend in with your household decor, a really simple technique for increasing word recognition is to put labels around the rooms of your house. Using sticky notes is an easy way to do this. For example your kitchen can be adorned with multi colored labels that read “cupboard”, “drawer”, “counter”, “table”, “spice rack” etc. Reading the labels on objects you use constantly will reinforce their meaning and get you in the habit of using the correct term for things.

2. Reading daily newspapers, even small local editions or newsletters is another great way to practice the language as it is spoken by the average person. It will also help you understand some of the local terms and expressions from the area you’re in as well.

3. Magazines, like newspapers offer inexpensive and interesting ways to practice reading and comprehension skills while also learning about interesting subject matter. If you have a hobby or interest, you will be even more motivated to read about it and magazines are available on just about every subject imaginable.

4. Everybody has to eat, and if you have the facilities for cooking, reading and following recipes is a super way to study the language. And you get the bonus of some good eating as well!

5. Listen to the radio, especially talk shows or news programs. Listening to others speak the language, is an excellent way to improve pronunciation.

6. Make use of all aspects of the internet. Obviously you will spend a great deal of time reading and writing online during the course of your ESL program, but aside from that, there are also tons of podcasts, videos and audio presentations online that can be both educational and entertaining.

7. Make lists. This is an easy and helpful way to practise spelling and writing. When you have groceries to buy, or errands to run, try writing out a list each time.

8. Do puzzles such as crosswords, word searches, and word match-ups, in your spare time. It will increase your vocabulary as well as help to improve sight recognition of words.

9. Play board games. There are tons of board games that are a lot of fun to play with friends that require reading, writing and listening skills.

10. Try to find some movies in your native language with English subtitles.

These few little tricks will have you reading, speaking and writing English like an expert in no time!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

Susan Thomason has written numerous articles for LCI English Center, an ESL school in Denver, Colorado. LCI offers the best English training through experienced teachers and high quality programs. Check out more ESL articles at www.englishlci.com/blog