Covenant Eyes Introduces Family Pricing

Covenant Eyes Internet AccountabilityCovenant Eyes Introduced Family Pricing

Covenant Eyes introduced a big pricing change this week that can save families quite a bit of money. Families can now pay a flat rate of $12.99 which comes with unlimited Covenant Eyes usernames for each of their family members and those they deem appropriate. This is great for those with several children they want to protect (or for families who were trying to save money by sharing usernames!). You can also add filtering to any username at no additional costs.

What is Covenant Eyes?

Covenant Eyes is an excellent internet accountability and filtering solution for any family. Great for both monitoring your children as well as keeping even the adults accountable to what they visit on the always precarious internet and for how long. How does it work? Simple. You install a small program that helps monitor your internet use. You pick your accountability friend(s) (or if you are a parent, you pick yourself on your children’s accounts). Then if you or your children happen to visit a questionable site, it will let the friend you chose know via email. Having that extra layer of protection can be invaluable for many. It is also a great way to curb the dangers of the internet for your children. You can also filter bad sites or if you choose, choose times your children will not be able to access the internet (think past midnight).

For a more extensive review, read our article: Covenant Eyes Internet Protection

Covenant Eyes: Highly Recommended

If you are concerned about your children’s internet use and what they may be exposed to on the internet, I highly recommend you try out this solution.

Check out these sobering stats:

  • Americans spend over 20hrs a week surfing the net.
  • Teens spend over 31hrs per week online
  • The average age of a child’s first internet exposure to pornography is 11yrs old
  • Largest consumers of internet pornography are ages 12-17
  • Over 50% of teens, 30% of children surf without supervision

If you want more information about Covenant Eyes or want to try it for one month FREE, following this link: Covenant Eyes 30 Day Money Back Guarantee

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Basic Human Needs: Shelter, Family & WIFI

Basic Human Needs: Shelter, Family & WIFI

More and more, our Basic Human Needs are looking like this.
Air, Shelter, Water, Food, Friends, family, Self-esteem… but holding it all up is WIFI.

  • Do you agree?
  • Anything else that should part of this list?

Share this hilarious sad picture with others!
(use can use the social buttons on the left)

[poll id=”39″]

Basic Human Needs WIFI

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Children Identity Theft Happens – Online Safety Tips

Child Playing on Ipad Tablet1 out of 40 Deal with Underage Identity Theft

Identity theft is an ever-growing problem as generations grow up with the Internet at their side. This isn’t a crime that only happens to adults, as the Identity Theft Assistance Center reports 1 out of 40 households deal with identity theft of underage members. Thieves target minors for social security numbers not already used to obtain credit and jobs. The Parent Teachers Association and LifeLock have teamed up to help parents and children understand online dangers and how to avoid them so they stay safe.

Interactive Tools to Present Dangers of Identity Theft

The PTA and LifeLock are creating interactive tools and learning kits to present the dangers of identity theft and online activity in a kid-friendly way throughout 2014. The goal is to have engaging tools that teach children to stay safe during online activities. The program also teaches the specific dangers to keep in mind when they use the Internet. The tools target several audiences during the tools development process, with some kits designed to help parents thoroughly explain the issues to their kids, and others designed for classroom use.

Tips for Family Safety Online

First consider an Internet Filter or Monitoring program such as CovenantEyes for your children. It will not only help you keep tabs on what kind of websites they visit, but will allow you to filter dangerous or inappropriate website as well as monitor how often your child is on the internet.

SEE: CovenantEyes Review

Teach your children to only enter personal information on secured Web forms for approved services and websites. Make sure they know “https:” indicates secure webpages, as do common security seals such as McAfee Secure. Point out red flags in phishing emails that mimic a login page of a legitimate service. Often the phishing emails have bad spelling or grammar, use a website address that is close to, but not exactly, the legitimate URL, or send you to a different URL than the link’s anchor text. When your child discovers a phishing email, send it to the company it’s spoofing so they shut down the scammer.

Use anti-virus software that includes email and Web protection as part of the package. A typical anti-virus program only scans the files on your computer. Instead, use an anti-virus application that also checks email and websites to protect your children against phishing, malware, and trojans. The scheduling function ensures that your computer gets a full scan every day without fail, helping to minimize potential damage caused by a virus that got through the active protection.

Configure Windows Firewall or a third party firewall software to select which installed programs are permitted to access the Internet. Whitelist programs like Windows or iOS, your anti-virus software, and trusted online games. A whitelisted program always has firewall permission to connect to the Internet, while you get prompted by the firewall to allow other programs access on a case by case basis.

Social networks such as Facebook provide a range of tools to fine tune privacy settings on profiles, statuses, and other content shared on the website. Only allow your children’s Facebook friends or a custom list of friends to see their status updates, pictures, and other social network content. In addition, Facebook allows you to control who sees personal information on a profile, such as phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses.

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Sobering Cyberbulling Statistics [Infographic]

Sobering Cyber Bullying Statistics

1 in 6 teens are cyberbullied.

Teens who are cyberbullied are 3,5x more likely to attempt suicide than those who aren’t bulled.

Cyberbullying is defined as the “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell
phones, and other electronic devices.” Currently 80% of teens are on cell phones and on social media sites giving them the almost unhindered ability to communicate with one another for good or bad. The most sobering of them all is the higher likelihood of suicide from those cyberbullied than those who are not, or even bullied off-line. Check out this cyberbulling infographic below.

cyberbullying online infographic

More Cyberbullying Thoughts

Cyberbullying is a real problem that often goes unnoticed by parents. We all remember our childhood and the cruelty the young are capable of. Just imagine the same thing played out online where users can be anonymous and the stage is not just 1 or 2 kids but the entire school. In previous studies some have shown that 1 in 4 kids have been targets of cyberbullying and 2 of 3 teens have witnessed cruel behavior online. Yet only 10% of parents are aware that their own teens are on the receiving end of these cyberbullying behaviors. This cannot happen.

Cyberbullying Statistics

  • 1 in 6 (16.2%) of teens are cyber bullied [22.1% girls / 10.8% boys]
  • 18.6% of white [25.9% girls / 11.8% boys]
  • 8.9% of blacks [11% girls / 6.9% boys]
  • 13.6% of hispanics [18% girls / 9.5% boys]
  • 15.5% of 9th graders [22.6% girls / 8.9% boys]
  • 18% of 10th graders [24.2% girls / 12.6% boys]
  • 16% of 11th graders [19.8% girls / 12.4% boys]
  • 15% of 12th graders [21.5% girls / 8.8% boys]

Off-line bullying rates

  • 1 in 5 are bullied offline [22% girls / 18% boys]

Top 15 Highest Cyberbullying Rates by State

  1. New Hampshire [21.6%]
  2. Maine [19.7%]
  3. South Dakota [19.6%]
  4. Montana [19.2%]
  5. Indiana [18.7%]
  6. Wyoming [18.7%]
  7. Louisiana [18%]
  8. Michigan [18%]
  9. Kentucky [17.4%],
  10. North Dakota [17.4%]
  11.  Idaho [17%]
  12. Arkansas [16.7%]
  13. Utah [16.6%]
  14. Wisconsin [16.6%],
  15. Iowa [16.8%],

Current Cyberbullying Laws

  • 49/50 states have bullying laws (Montana does not)
  • 47/50 include electronic harassment.
  • 44/50 include school sanctions.
  • 18/50 specifically include “cyberbullying”
  • 12/50 include criminal sanctions.

cyberbullying childCyberbulling and Suicide Correlations

  • Teenagers who are cyberbullied are 3 times more likely to commit suicide.
  • Teenagers who are traditionally bullied are 2 times more likely to commit suicide.

Suicide attempts that require treatment:

  • 1.5% for youths not bullied
  • 2.3% for youths physically bullied
  • 5.4% for youths cyberbullied
  • 6% for youths physically and cyberbullied
  • Only 1/10 victims ask their parents for help.
  • Leaving 9/10 to deal with the abuse alone.

Tips for Parents against Cyberbulling

Tips for Educators against Cyberbulling

  • Teach that cyberbullying is wrong.
  • Listen and respond to all reports of bullying.
  • Have students work on projects against cyberbullying.
  • Have a system for complaints to be documented.
  • Host speakers on the topic of bullying.
  • Ensure that school is a safe place; free from cyberbullying.

Chime In: What Cyberbulling Statistic is the most Sobering to you?

  • Have you or your children ever been targets of cyberbulling?
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Internet Protection & Accountability: Covenant Eyes Review

Covenant Eyes Internet Accountability

The average age of child’s first exposure to internet pornography is 11 years old

Did you know…

  • Americans spend over 20hrs a week surfing the net.
  • Teens spend over 31hrs per week online
  • The average age of a child’s first internet exposure to pornography is 11yrs old
  • The largest consumers of internet pornography are ages 12-17
  • Over 50% of teens, 30% of children surf without supervision
  • 92% of children already have an online presence

Covenant Eyes is an excellent internet accountability & filtering solution. It’s great both for monitoring your children as well as accountability for adults. It’s simple. You can pick accountability partners you trust whether that be a parent, a friend, or a mentor. If you visit a questionable site, it’ll let your friend know. Trust me, it is a really strong and helpful preventive measure that can save you or someone you love from a lot of heartache and shame whether it be with spending too much time on the internet, visiting inappropriate sites or pornography that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth.

Parents! Protect your Children Now!

Parents! It is also a great way to regulate internet use for your kids. Whether on desktops, laptops, iphones or itouches, children and teens now have unfettered access to the internet and we all know how dangerous that could be. Did you know 55% of teens own an iPhone which gives them direct access to the internet. Many who are younger have iTouches. Covenant Eyes has a great filtering program to block bad sites as well as gives parents the ability to limit internet hours. It really is a great peace of mind for the parents as well as can save a child from the numerous dangerous and inappropriate sites on the web. Perhaps it will also get them off the computer and play some sports or actually talk to someone offline.

Covenant Eyes also allows group accounts, so open an account together as a family or with a group of friends to take advantage of the discounted prices. One person can open the account and others can add onto the first account. It’s super cheap too.

If you do not have accountability or filtering solutions, I strongly urge you to give it a go. You can always cancel if it isn’t for you, but why not protect yourself and your family. Some basic details below. Covenant eyes is both an accountability software and a filtering system.

Interested? Use this link to TRY COVENANT EYES

Covenant Eyes Accountability Software

  • Monitors and reports internet use
  • Each site is rated (T for Teen, M for Mature etc)
  • Reports are sent to a person(s) you choose: a parent, friend, mentor, etc
  • Use reports to have conversations about online dangers
  • Available for Windows/Macs, Androids, iPhones, Tablets, iPads etc

Covenant Eyes Filtering Software

  • Blocks inappropriate content
  • customizable block/allow lists
  • Decide the amount of time the web may be accessed
  • Choose the times of day the web may be accessed
  • Available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

Covenant Eyes Internet Accountability

How Does Covenant Eyes Work?

1) Set it up

  • Create a Covenant Eyes account
  • Download the software on devices you want to protect
  • Covenant Eyes will monitor internet use and rates sites that are visited

2) Get accountability reports

  • Covenant Eyes sends reports to your accountability partner you choose (parent, friend etc)
  • Reports will show how you are using the web

3) Be Accountable

  • Any red flags and inappropriate sites will be flagged
  • An accountability partner can keep you accountable with a simple email or quick call.

4) Experience Freedom

  • Remove secrecy and experience freedom.
  • Uphold your values, and be able to resist bad sites or overloading on the web.

So give Covenant Eyes a try. It really may be the best thing you did for yourself and your family. Don’t be naive about what kind of content your children are exposed to. Most children first get exposed to online pornography at the average age of 11. That is the average, meaning many are exposed even younger. The endless inappropriate videos on youtube that go viral grow at an alarming rate. Don’t get caught off guard. It’s a great way to keep them safe as well as yourself.

Interested? Use this link to TRY COVENANT EYES. Nice. Protection & Savings.

  • Are you a Covenant Eyes user? Tell us your experience. How has it been helpful?

Update: Covenant Eyes has introduced family pricing.

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Google Celebrates it’s 15th Birthday with Pinata

Google Celebrates it’s 15th Birthday

15 years ago, two Stanford Grads, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, founded a little company called Google. Google Incorporated was established on September 7th, Google.com domain was registered on September 15th but the official birthday was formalized to September 27th. Don’t ask me why. With the goal of showing the best results through simplicity and speed, Google entered a fragmented market search engine lanscape. Now it owns more than 70% of the search market.

Search Engines in 1998

Quick name as many search engines you know! Are you aware that there are a lot of search engines out there? When Google first entered the market, it wasn’t just a matter of lucky timing, or being the sole engine that dominated the market. There were many Search Engine players at the time. So who were the search engine players in live and about in 1998?

Search Engines – Rest in Peace

  • Megellan (Born 1995 – RIP 2001) – Bought by Excite.
  • Infoseek (Born 1995 – RIP 2001) – Disney took over, became a portal. Still operates powered by Google.
  • Snap (Born 1997 – RIP 2001) – First launched by CNET in 1997. Became owned by NBC. Died as a portal.
  • Direct Hit (Born 1998 – RIP 2002) – Hot search engine. Purchased by Ask Jeeves, neglected and died.

Search Engines – Still Alive but Changed to Something Else

  • Lycos (Born 1994, Changed 1999) – Outsources to Alltheweb.
  • Webcrawler (Born 1994, Changed 2001) – Meta Search Engine. Gathers results from other engines. Purchased by AOL, then Excite.
  • Yahoo (Born 1994, Changed 2002) – Still one of the most popular search engines on the web.
  • Excite (Born 1995, Changed 2001) – Bought Magellan and Webcrawler.
  • HotBot (Born 1996, Changed 2002) – Owned by Inktomi, backed my Wired.
  • Ask Jeeves (Born 1998, Changed 2002) – now Ask.com.

Search Engines – Still Alive and Still a Search Engine

  • Altavista (Born 1995) – Google before Google. My personal engine of choice.
  • LookSmart (Born 1996) – Only search company that relies on humans to gather listings.
  • Overture (Born 1998) – Formerly known as Goto. Powers paid listings for MSN & Yahoo.
  • Alltheweb (Born 1999) – Popular Engine
  • Teoman (Born 2000) – Purchased by Ask Jeeves
  • Wisenut (Born 2001) – Purchased by Looksmart
  • AOL (Born 1997) – Powered by Google
  • MSN (Born 1998) – Powered by LookSmart & Inktomi)
  • Google (Born 1998) – King of Search

 

Google 15th Pinata Game

For a little fun, you can go to Google.com to see their interactive pinata game.
google 15th birthday doodle

Tried out the Pinata thing. High Score of 174. Beat that.
What was your high score?

For a little more geekier fun, type in “Google in 1998” for a little surprise easter egg.

 

Google 1998 Search Homepage

Yes, Google did not have a clean white look until 1999.

Enjoy

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Top 10 Countries with Fastest Internet. United States is #11.

Average Peak Connection Speed by Country

What are the Fastest Countries in the World?

A recent survey by Akamai of the world’s 243 countries found the United States’s Internet speeds were 11th fastest. With U.S. consumers now having access to streaming high-definition video and movies, those speeds are nothing to slouch at. Still, consumers, Internet providers and the countries themselves are always in pursuit of faster Internet speeds that expedite the sharing of information.

Internet speed is a part of national infrastructure that becomes more prominent as online activity becomes a more integral part of daily life, and there are a variety of factors that affect domestic abilities to deliver faster speeds. These speeds are increasing across all major forms of delivery, including cable, satellite internet and DSL. Here’s a quick look at the top five world leaders in Internet speed, and how they’ve managed to achieve this success.

If you are curious, US came in at No. 11 with 36.6 Mbps, double the global average.

Top 10 Fastest Average Peak Connection Speeds by Country

10. Belgium

9. Netherlands

8. Bulgaria

7. Switzerland

6. Singapore

5. Latvia

Latvia may not get many mentions as a world power, but when it comes to quality of Internet connection, it’s right there with the best. Latvia currently has the fifth best Internet speeds of any country in the world, due in large part to the country’s small geographic area. This has made Latvia much easier to cover in high-speed fiber optic cabling, which, consequently, is a roadblock for many larger nations. At a peak average of 44.2 megabits per second, Latvia’s Internet speeds run about 140 percent faster than the global average.

High Broadband Connectivity4. South Korea

Online gaming is huge in South Korea, and a seamless experience requires fast, lag-free Internet connections. The country’s economy is also heavily dependent on technology, with electronics companies Samsung and LG calling it home. While still one of the fastest countries in the world when it comes to Internet speeds, South Korea is the only top performer to actually lose speed from the last time the survey was taken. However South Korea still reigns as #1 when it comes to % of connected users who have connectivity above 10Mbps. An astounding 50% of users are above 10Mbps. Just two years ago, Clean Cut Media posted an article showing South Korea was #1 with 15% of users above 10Mbps. Now it is 50%.

3. Romania

Tiny, Eastern European Romania climbed up from number five to number three, thanks to a nine percent improvement in its Internet speeds. Like Latvia, Romania has a smaller area to cover and a smaller population to serve than some of the world’s larger countries. Its Internet speeds clocked in at 160 percent of the global average.

2. Japan

Along with South Korea, Japan is one of the leaders in Internet speed not just in Asia but around the world. The country benefits from high-speed fiber optic cabling that has been installed throughout the nation. Like South Korea, Japan’s culture is saturated with technology, and its economy is built on electronics and technology manufacturing. From a country that pioneered the bullet train, it’s no surprise speed is a top priority here, where Internet connections run 170 percent faster than the global average.

Internet Speeds1. Hong Kong

Hong Kong has all of the ingredients needed to be the worldwide leader in Internet speed. It is one of the most dense areas in the world, which makes infrastructure much more easy to install. It’s also a wealthy, tech-savvy Chinese region, and like other developed Asian nations, technology plays a large role in the culture here. At 63.6 Mbps, Hong Kong’s Internet speeds are more than three times the global average, and more than 20 percent faster than any other country.

  • How fast is YOUR internet?
  • Do you feel small and insignificant compared to these ridiculous high speeds?
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Are Teenagers bored of Facebook? [Infographic]

Are Teenagers bored of Facebook?

Did you know…

  • Facebook usage among teens in the US has declined 7% in the last 6 months?
  • Facebook users are getting older?
  • Tumblr has become the biggest player in teen usage?
  • Mothers are taking over Facebook!?

Amidst the article after article describing the growth of social media or the ill-effects of Facebook on children, there are some statistics that suggest we are seeing a shift away from a Facebook dominated world. As more mothers come onto Facebook and it becomes more popular among the young, the ever “trendy” teens may be seeking other venues to share their lives. Instagram, SnapChat, and Tumbler are being adopted quickly especially as more and more teens are being granted smartphones and thus constantly connected to the internet.

Enjoy this, bright and slightly nauseating infographic from Right Mix Marketing.

  • What social media app do you use the most?
  •  Have you unfriend your parents before?

Teens Facebook Social Media Use

[poll id=”17″]

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What Happens Online in 60 Seconds [Infographic]

Online in 60 Seconds Infographic

In our hyperconnected world and ever growing presence of social media, the question is asked – what exactly happens online in any given minute? How about…

  • 2 million searches on Google
  • 72 hours of video uploaded on youtube
  • 1.8 million likes on facebook
  • 11,000 searches on linkedin
  • 20 million photo views on flickr
  • 278,000 tweets on twitter
  • 204 Million emails sent
  • $83,000 worth of Sales on Amazon

see what else below!

  • Which online activity statistic do  you contribute to the most?

Online Internet 60 Seconds Infographic
Infographic by Qmee

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Watching Puppy Videos increases Performance! Scientifically Proven?

Welsh Corgi Cute Puppy Pic Video
I feel my productivity rising!

Cutest Baby Puppy Videos on Youtube

It’s the justification you have been waiting for. You don’t have to feel guilty about watching puppy & kitten youtube videos anymore, because they make you better at your job. Dog lovers have always had a hunch this was true, but now science can officially back it up.

What if you could reap the benefits of dog or puppy ownership without all the hassle? Although spending Saturday morning on yard duty and shopping at Petco or Petsafe isn’t so bad, there are alternative ways to get your puppy fix without spending the time and money. Pets have been linked to increased health and happiness for years, but new data suggests that the mere act of looking at baby animals can give us an edge-up in life.

The Cute Animal Video Study

The Power of Kawaii (kawaii means cute in Japanese), a study by the University of Hiroshima, set out to analyze the effects of cute images on your brain. 132 university students were divided into three groups and given different tasks. The groups were asked to perform three sets of tasks: a game similar to Operation, a mathematical exercise with number sequences and exercises that determine one’s ability and willingness to work with others. Three separate studies showed that looking at cute baby animals causes your brain to concentrate better. One portion of the study determined whether participants were more mindful of others, and another tested their ability to think, concentrate and complete tasks. The group that looked at cute pictures of puppies and kittens showed a 44 percent improvement in performance and 13% improved accuracy in the numerical sequence exercise over those who looked at pictures of cats and dogs. Not only was the cute pictures group able to complete tasks more effectively and attentively, they completed focused tasks more quickly. Ipso facto, it is in your best interest to watch these videos of puppies playing. Your boss will thank you.

(Watch videos at your own risk! We hold no liability if you choose to watch videos at work and get in trouble!)

Below are videos for your enjoyment productivity.

  • Share your favorite cute animal videos in the comments!

Bath Time For Baby Pugs Video

The pug might be the most ridiculous-looking dog around, which makes for even more ridiculous puppies. The pug has dominated the pages of Buzzfeed and made many a cameo in blockbuster films, and it’s easy to see why.

Corgi Puppies Playing Video

There is nothing like watching a disproportionate puppy try to find its way in the world. A Corgi makes an excellent family pet, but they may try and herd you and your family. As you can see in the puppy video, they thrive on farms, but can adapt to just about any setting as long as they’re exercised.

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Three Easy Ways to Protect Your Child on Facebook

Kids Social Network Facebook Connections

The Parent-Kid Cyber-Safety: Facebook Edition

From the bus stop to the home computer, kids are vulnerable little creatures. Even in the comfort of home sitting right beside you on the couch, your child is essentially exposed to online predators and Internet dangers while playing on a laptop. And the moment they log onto Facebook, they’re open to whole new world that, without boundaries and limitations, threatens their safety. While accepting your child’s plea to join Facebook, keep the following in mind:

Familiar Friend Requests

As part of your child’s Facebook privileges, explain that every friend request will be run by you. Kids should treat social interactions on Facebook just like they do in real life, which is why enforcing the “stranger danger” rule for Facebook is a good approach. Communication can only move forward if the child knows and trusts the person with your approval. After a quick friend request, kids can become targets of stalkers, sexual predators, a phishing scam and identity theft. Know your child’s Facebook login and password and regularly monitor their account. You can also manage your child’s social media habits by keeping the computer in an open space in your home. Permit them to log on for a certain amount of time during a particular time of day.

Cyberbullying Online

No longer is bullying restricted to buses, playgrounds, cafeterias and beneath football stadium bleachers. Adolescents, tweens and teens are cyberbullied or cyberbullies themselves — and Facebook becomes the weapon of choice. Insulting status updates and photos can create serious personal anguish, resulting in low self-esteem and anti-social behavior. Cyerbullying can be so detrimental that school authorities and police officials become involved. Earlier this year, a 15-year-old boy in Colorado cyberbullied another student using the photo-sharing app Instagram. Photos were captioned with “derogatory or sexual comments,” explains CBSNews.com.

Create an open forum about malicious communication on Facebook and the topic of bullying on the Internet, whether you suspect that your child’s a victim of bullying or bullying others. Foster a relationship with your child so that they feel comfortable coming to you to handle a cyberbullying scenario.

If you suspect that your child’s the bully, the first step is to avoid denial. No parent wants to admit that their kid is causing harm to others. Do your best to not turn a blind eye to your child’s behavior. The consequences of cyberbullying are far-reaching and can even become fatal. A decisive lack of attention and responsibility for bullying behavior is practically advocating verbal violence and psychological harm among your child and peers. Avoid avoidance.

Facebook Friend Your Kids

Becoming friends with your child on Facebook invites you into their social network. Your child may even feel more protected and secure having you on their side. As mentioned by SociallyActive.com, the most harm children experience on Facebook isn’t caused by their own actions but rather the actions of their connections. Even if children don’t act like it, adolescents and teens actually need and want structure and boundaries set before them. During such impressionable ages, children feel safer and more in control with parental guidance. A presence in your child’s digital life, whether you’re initiating open conversations or installing online controls to safeguard information, creates a harmonious relationship between the Internet and your family.

 

  • What are some other great ways to protect your children online? Please share!

 

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How to use Content Marketing to Grow your Business

What is Content Marketing? How do I use it?

How do attract a steady stream of new users on my site?

How do I go about creating the kind of content that will attract users?

How do I use podcasts and videos to attract users?

Whether you are a big business owner, a start-up or an owner of blog you are trying to get off the ground, consider Content Marketing. As a personal owner of the site Clean Cut Media and a lover small business marketing tactics, I wanted to share a bit about Content Marketing.

This article below will help explain what content marketing is and how it could be a great strategy to grow your user base. It will also give a little preview of a new content marketing summit that is conveniently all-online and very cheap to attend. Let’s dig in.

Good Content will attract the users you want:

Today, businesses of all sizes are using content marketing to slay the competition, attract large followings of loyal customers and explode their business’ growth.

But when tiny Magnolia Hi-Fi started using content, the Internet wasn’t even around. Did that stop them? Heck no!

Magnolia used content marketing to grow from a small audio store to an $87 million brand.

Back then, they had just transitioned from a neighborhood greeting card and photography store to an audio specialty store. Competition was fierce and they didn’t even have a marketing plan. So they hired a salesman (who knew a lot about educating prospects with great information) to develop a solid profitable marketing plan.

The plan was to give prospective buyers something to focus on other than price – content.

They created a series of stereo buyer’s guides, which offered educational content that answered prospects’ questions about buying audio equipment. These were distributed as newspaper inserts (remember there was no Internet at the time!).

But the guides were quarterly and Magnolia needed to nurture their audience by keeping the story alive throughout the year. So they invested in weekly distribution channels and different content formats. As resources grew, they scaled content velocity to achieve broader distribution and broadcast frequency.

Within 18 months, the small, out-of-the-way store was joined by a huge store in Seattle’s high-traffic University District, followed by two more stores and finally expanding to Washington, Oregon and California.

In 2000, the father-son business sold to Best Buy for $87 million! Today, there are over 350 Magnolia Home Theater Locations in Best Buy stores throughout the U.S.

Here’s a question for you. You have all the advantages of the Internet, right? What’s stopping you from growing your business?

Content marketing is simply creating and sharing information that solves buyers’ problems or makes their lives easier. The result is that you build a platform that draws in ideal customers, increases your exposure and achieves sales growth for your business.

Content Marketing Statistics

Want to know how successful B2B marketers are using content marketing?

Here’s some research from Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs with the latest findings:

  • 91% of B2B marketers are now using content marketing
  • 79% use content marketing for brand awareness, 74% for customer acquisition and 71% for lead generation
  • On average, B2B marketers are spending 33% of their marketing budgets on content marketing, which is up from 26% last year
  • 54% plan to increase their content marketing spending in 2013
  • Large companies use an average of 18 content marketing tactics while small companies use an average of 11 tactics

These numbers demonstrate the huge investment marketers are making in content marketing.

Don’t you think you should invest a little to learn more about content marketing this coming year?

Are you interested in learning how to create awesome blogs, podcasts, video, webinars and other forms of content to keep customers focused on your brand?

Social Media Examiner’s Content Success Summit 2013

Content Marketing Conference 2013One of the biggest challenges marketers face is not knowing if their tactics are effective (according to Content Marketing Institute).

In response to this challenge, Social Media Examiner is bringing together 22 of the world’s leading content marketing experts to present at the first-annual online Content Success Summit 2013.

It’s an online conference spread over an entire month to meet your busy schedule.

This conference is designed to help you build your own platformmarket your products and grow your business.

Content is what makes social work, and it is at the core of all that we do here at Social Media Examiner,” says Michael Stelzner, CEO and founder of Social Media Examiner. “We have one of the largest business blogs in the world and a successful podcast. This summit is about teaching people how to do exactly what Social Media Examiner has always been doing.”

Why a Content Marketing Summit Conference?

Content Success Summit is the first virtual conference created to help marketers figure out exactly how to build their platform. By attending this conference you will:

  • See how successful content producers operate and how you can achieve similar results
  • Learn how to grow a loyal following via blogging, video, podcasting, email marketing and webinars
  • Discover how to sell your products and services using content
  • Gain a leg up on your competitors, helping you stand out
  • Pick up new content marketing strategies that will bring you more exposure
  • Download the Content Marketing Summit 2013 Schedule

Designed to accommodate your schedule, the conference will be conveniently spread over a four-week period starting February 5, 2013.

You will receive recordings and transcripts of all live sessions. And because it is fully online, you can attend right from your home or office, thus eliminating long-distance travel expenses and hotel bills.

Content Marketing Presenters

Content Marketing Conference Speakers
I know, I know. Most of you are thinking, who in the world are these people! HA! They are awesome marketing professionals. Just trust me.

Our first Content Success Summit features the most experienced leaders in the industry. Many of them have written a book about content marketing or are founders of successful businesses fueled by content. Among them are:

  • Joe Pulizzi – founder of Content Marketing Institute and co-author of Get Content Get Customers
  • Ann Handley – chief content officer of MarketingProfs and co-author of Content Rules
  • Michael Hyatt – chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers and author of Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World
  • Michael Stelzner – founder of Social Media Examiner and author of Launch
  • Amy Porterfield – co-author ofFacebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies
  • David Siteman Garland – founder of Rise to the Top and author of Smarter, Faster, Cheaper
  • Gini Dietrich – co-author of Marketing in the Round
  • Heidi Cohen – president of Riverside Marketing Strategies
  • Pat Flynn – founder of Smart Passive Income
  • Marcus Sheridan – founder of the popular blog, The Sales Lion
  • Mark Schaefer – author of Return on Influence
  • And many others!

Is This Content Conference Right for You?

Perhaps you’ve been focusing a lot on social media, but not much on content marketing. You’re wondering if you could learn something new that might be a game-changer for your business. Ask yourself the following:

  • Do I have a content marketing plan for 2013?
  • Are there some content tactics that I’m not aware of that could be useful for my business?
  • Could I use some advice to build my platform, market my products and grow my business using content?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, then sign up and learn from the leading content marketing authorities in the industry.

Content Marketing Seminars & Workshops Samples:

  • How to Create Social Videos that drive Traffic & Leads
  • 5 Tips for Creating Epic Content that Breaks through the Noise
  • Turning your Passions into Profits: How to Create Quality Courses that Sell
  • How to Grow a Loyal Audience of Listeners
  • How to Create Compelling Content with Expert Interviews
  • How to Start and Grow a Successful Podcast Show
  • 13 Insider Tips to Get Your Blog on Track to Succeed

Want to Save Money?

If you reserve your spot right now, you will save 50% ($300). Click here for details.
Also there is a 100% Money Back Guarantee so there is no risk. Awesome. Very important.

Content Marketing Summit 2013 Conference
Click on the Image Above to Get the Details. 100% Money Back Guarantee so no risk.

Over to You. Are you interested in learning how to create a content platform that will successfully grow your business? Please share your thoughts and comments in the box below.

UPDATE: HA! forgot to mention. Use this CONTENT MARKETING SUMMIT LINK and get $300 off. $297 for the entire summit! All that raving and no link!

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