Learnign about internet marketing

Internet marketing: Tips and Tricks!
Well, it’s the truth! The world has become a really small place. With the advent of the internet, it’s now possible for suppliers and wholesalers in China to sell their cheap quality wares to countries half-way across the world simply with the click of a button. And that’s the wonder of internet marketing!

There are a lot of ways by which small businesses can sell their goods online. But no matter what you’re selling, learning how to use internet marketing to sell your wares is an essential skill!

For example, if you have a website selling handbags, with internet marketing you can make sure that your website pops up first in the search engine. In order for that to happen, the content on your site should be SEO optimized and focuses on the keywords that potential buyers would use to search for handbag dealers like “cheap handbags’ “quality handbags” ‘handbags’ etc. The greater the percentage of the words you use in the article, the higher your website comes in the search engine results. And that means a larger numbers of customers are likely to click on the link sending them to your website. Getting your website SEO optimized is just one internet marketing of getting higher visitors and sales.

You can also try promoting your goods with reciprocal blogs posting. At present, there are sites like SOCIAL SPARKS, and PAYPERPOST etc, where you pay a nominal amount of about $5 for every person who writes about your product on their blog. These internet marketing sites are great to promote your goods on popular blogs which are read by thousands of reader’s everyday. Its instant recognition for your product and your company at a nominal price!

Who knew, right?

BlackBerry Storm: what it means for you!

Ah well, who didn’t love the BlackBerry when it first came out! The phone was the first of its kind to have an integrated phone and internet browse which actually worked inside it. And it was on the envy list of nearly every executive in the world. But then came the iPhone: and it became the giant killer! The touch screen phone left nearly every other phone behind in it innovations, sheer design and tweaks. It became the darling of millions leaving the blackberry languishing in the wake.

But the Blackberry design team has risen to the challenge. The BlackBerry Storm is now here to say with better and newer tweaks into the system that could make it come storming back full-fledged into the fray. You’ve got to admit the persistence of the company. But why don’t you judge for yourself!

Out of the dark comes the BlackBerry Storm and it’s the first touch screen phone to be presented by the Research In Motion (RIM) company who first presented the world with the Blackberry. Frankly, we anticipate a thunderous fight to come in the future between the iPhone and the Blackberry fans. The BlackBerry Storm will stick to all of its original attractions while still taking in all of the tweaks of the Apple. They have the touch screen feature for all who want it plus a whole slew of newer and sleeker features. The BlackBerry Storm supports cut and paste features which the iPhone does not have! And the BlackBerry Storm is really compatible with email, mobile integration software and every security features which the other phones don’t have.

For the design freaks, who love the sleek and ergonomic design of the iPhone, The BlackBerry Storm is really hip and happening with a sleek silver makeover and a whole slew of additional features that will want iPhone fans just wait to turn to the BlackBerry Storm. It has the mandatory 5 pixel camera although Samsung is offering much better clarity with its eight pixel cameras. Frankly, the other features of the BlackBerry Storm fare much better in comparison! The camera has video recording, variable zoom, auto focus, and flash as compared to the iPhone which has none of the above or maybe one or two!

On the off side-
Well, every good thing comes to an end and unfortunately, the reviews of the phone have not been good. Patrons and customers have been endlessly irritated by the tiny screen, user unfriendliness, constant crashing, and sluggish speed. Shutter delays with the camera, delayed flash and a host of other problems seem to be the main complaints of public forums about the phone. Although the customers have been raging away in public forums, company execs have not muttered a peep! Of course, it does not help that the customers who are complaining are die-hard fans of the Blackberry and they are not likely to complain about tiny things! And that’s not enough customer service for buyers who have shelled out about $199.99 and almost Rs 10,000. Not a small amount when you think about it!

Be the eco-chic fashionista with Samsung's Blue Earth?

Do you want to look responsible and like a person who actually cares about the environment? And of course, still look trendy at the same time? You would, wouldn’t you? For all the eco-chi fashionista with the Samsung's Blue Earth!

What makes the Samsung's Blue Earth so desirable to the masses?
This little phone takes the idea of eco-chic to the limit by being totally made from recyclable material. Is that another word for second-hand? NO, people this is where you go wrong.
1. The Samsung's Blue Earth is a great little phone designed from recycled plastics got from water bottles. You know the clear water bottles you get to store water in! And the Samsung's Blue Earth is a pretty sky silver blue in color with a wide screen you can easily use to check out options for.
2. I don’t really like the tiny models which were the fad a few years back. There’s only so much you can do on those tiny screens when you have big fingers like me! The phone is comfortably set in between big and small sizes so that everyone is satisfied.
3. It also has a pedometer inside it so that you can measure how much you are walking the day through. Really great if you are looking to lose weight!
4. The phone has a thick solar panel on the back to recharge with. This option I really liked. Imagine the damage to the environment caused by alkaline mobile batteries; if even one manufacturer does away with the battery system it just saves so much more. And despite the solar panels on the backside the phone is really elegant and easy to handle. I would think that this phone will be the first choice for all outdoorsy types of people who work in locations where electricity cannot be relied on.
5. The phone has a great eco-mode where all functions go into protective and minimum usage to conserve vital battery energy. How cool is that?
6. The outside is somewhat similar to the Moto- Pebble but I like this one better. The photos out on the internet just show a navy blue smoothly rounded case which seems easy to handle. But I would really prefer to wait till the mobile comes out at the World Mobile Conference to get an idea of how much it costs and where it can be used.
7. There is special software built into the phone to optimize the eco-friendly attitude that the phone is promoting. Although we know its there, we still don’t know what it is. The company has the phone under wraps till the conference.

I know, I’m raving about this phone but it’s true. It’s just so difficult to get great phones like these nowadays. There are several eco-friendly models in the market with Motorola and its RENEW, and Sony Ericsson and its bio-degradable phone available in the market. But I have a feeling that this one is going to be really popular. Let’s wait and watch!

Get the latest on the Samsung S7350

If I may say it, the Samsung design team is in SHEER OVERDRIVE MODE! I mean I know they design great phones but this is getting ridiculous! Hardly does one phone come out in the market that another much better one is out in the market in an instant. But no matter what other phones are there in the market, this one is great. The Samsung S7350 is a great little phone and it will be bout at the World Mobile Conference scheduled to start this month. And what a phone! Of all the mobiles expected to create a splash at this conference, the Samsung S7350 is one of the most eagerly awaited. A few of the better design features are-

Design features of the Samsung S7350-

Well it seems to be the time of the touch screen and the sliders. Almost every mobile scheduled to be released at the World Mobile Conference has a touch screen and a camera and a nifty little slider in really attractive colors. But this one stands out a little! Some smart Russian managed to get his paws on the phone and there is a complete review out on Youtube albeit in Russian. This should get you more information and in detail about what you can expect from the Samsung S7350.
1. The Samsung S7350 does not have a slider but it does have a lot of similarities to existing popular models of mobiles are present. The phone has a 2.6-inch 240 x 320 QVGA LCD TFT display and that is pretty adequate. When you look at the photos of the phone on the net, it does seem that the phone is a little small. But those photos are not official releases, we will have to wait for the company to release specific pictures
2. It has a five mega pixel camera with flash and an additional VGA quality camera for conference calls. Now that may seem like overkill, but several people do use conference calls frequently while traveling. And having the camera inside your phone sure beats hauling your laptop and setting it up each time you want to make a call. But the five mega pixel camera on the back of the phone may seem too little: the reason being that other companies are offering an eight mega pixel camera on nearly every cell. But I guess two cameras make up for the deficit.
3. Samsung always had their won operating system but now it’s been upgraded! You will see a custom menu. This means you just add whatever applications you frequently use into a special menu which you will be using only for yourself. No need to sift through a whole host of applications to find a single thing.
4. The phone has a micro USB port and an 850 mAh battery. This will get you about 350 hours of stand along time and about 4 hours of talk time


At present, no word on availability and pricing either! But as soon as the phone hits the market be ready to empty that piggy bank, Guys!

Learning about the Sony Ericsson C903

We all know about Sony and now the company is out to empty your pockets! You heard me right there! The new Sony Ericsson C903 is a really great little phone that I personally liked. Sony is a great company and almost all of its mobile models are worth the tag price. They last for a long time, have really great batteries and great reception and service. It might be because I like slider phones but this Sony Ericsson C903 is a really great model from the Sony design team.

What you should know about the Sony Ericsson C903!
It’s a slider phone and it comes in three pretty colors. I loved the color schemes of Glamour Red, Lacquer Black and Techno White. The phone is really well designed with a five mega pixel camera but quite a few reviewers have panned this addition. When you compare the 8 mega pixel camera found in most Samsung brands, this seems like a comedown- but the pictures are great and no one is complaining about the picture quality yet. A few more of the additional that are present on the phone are

1. There is a quad band of GSM/GPRS/EDGE and there is a selective connectivity you can choose on your Sony Ericsson C903
2. The phone has UMTS/HSPA connectivity and even a tri-band connection to make your internet connectivity as fast as possible
3. The Sony Ericsson C903 has 2.4 inch QVGA display. Although that has been panned to be not as good as the LG Arena's WVGA of 800 x 480 pixels and a 3-inch display
4. Global positioning system which is state-of-the art
5. A revolutionary NetFront Web browser for secure and unlimited browsing
6. The Sony Ericsson C903 has a slide out numeric T9 touch pad. But it is time that Sony start experimenting with other variants like an all-touch form factor
7. Don’t forget that the phone has about 105MB of internal memory; more than enough to store nearly everything you need in one place.
8. The mobile also has face detection technology that focuses on the persons face and gets you nice and clear photos of the person you have selected.
9. Do try out the Wayfinder Navigator on the Sony Ericsson C903 which is simple awesome. With this system on your phone there is no need to worry about asking for directions to your chosen location. The Navigator software provided turn by turn information, online travel booking information and downloadable maps to help you through. Really great, right?
10. Geo-tagging- I didn’t know about this but it’s just so cute. If you will be traveling and are clicking away with this little camera; no need to remember exactly where you clicked what! With geo-tagging, the information is printed on to photos permanently.
But even though the Sony Ericsson C903 has a host of innovative features and the buzz about the phone is endless, Sony is no hurry to release the phone yet! According to industry sources, the phone may be released in at the World Mobile Conference later this year. And it will be available in store maybe six months after that! But that’s just not confirmed yet. Let’s wait and watch!

The latest details about the Samsung M7600

Everyone recognizes the brand name “Samsung.” It’s that popular and well-known. The company makes great phones and electrical appliances which are used all over the world. But the latest phone coming out of the Samsung stable is going to knock you off your feet. The Samsung M7600 is brand new and something to watch out for! There have a large amount of media reports that the phone, Samsung M7600 will offer stiff competition to all the existing touch-screen mobiles in the market at present. Do check out the designs and photos on the web at present for a quick idea of what the Samsung M7600 is offering.

Design specification of the Samsung M7600
At present, the mobile is still under tight wraps by the company. But recently a few leaked photos have managed to reach the media and they are worth taking a look at. The photos show a sleek metallic design. The phone case is oval and the touch screen is well designed. The rumor about the phone is that Samsung has collaborated with speaker manufacturers Bang & Olufson to create mind-blowing audio on the speakers. There is even a hint that you could have a DJ scratching disc on the phone. Although, I am a little surprised at where they are going to fit the whole DJ table into the tiny little thing. But hey, I am willing to be surprised!

The lowdown on the Samsung M7600!
1. A DJ scratching additional feature which should really spice up your evenings
2. A HSDPA phone with a 3-mega pixel camera for those who really want a camera and cannot live without it
3. A Bang & Olufsen amplifier to make your listening experience a treasure
4. Global positioning system
5. The touch screen option of the mobile is really nifty. As such the information on the Samsung M7600 is a little shaky but it seems that the M7600 has a revolutionary 2.8-inch AMOLED screen display. And although, it is surprising the screen is supposed to be super rich in color and extremely discerning in shades of black and grey.
6. The Samsung M7600phone is also supposed to have the latest version of the DivX video codec. But to tell you the truth we are still not sure of what the phone has. The company is tight-lipped till the expected release of the phone later this year. It does have revolutionary photo and video recording but I still am not sure at what level.
7. Quite a few of the design features are common to the Helio Ocean 2 made by the Korean company Pantech. But that’s it!

Hopefully, the Samsung M7600 is going to be premiered in grand style at the World Mobile Conference this year. We are not really sure when and where the company is planning to ship the phone but at present it is not going to be compatible with American services. I don’t really know about India. The company has not really decided on a price and there are vague rumors that the phone will ship in May. But that’s not confirmed yet.

Watch out for the Sharp 931SH!

It’s such a swanky looking phone! In layman’s terms, it’s pretty and ergonomic and handy and does everything it’s supposed to do! What more could you ask for in a phone? Well the Sharp 931SH is offering the world and a half, in the form of design tweaks and features which will blow your mind. Do check out the phone for all its features.

Design features of the Sharp 931SH
It’s simple and trendy. A touch screen is just the thing to have when you are tying to look trendy and with it. But touch screens are expensive. At present, the Sharp 931SH is a little on the steep side. The company has not yet released the costing of the Sharp 931SH but the prices will be out shortly at the release of the phone. The Sharp 931SH has great VGA touch screen modules and if you are lucky enough to get this phone as soon as it’s out; rest assured you are at the top of the envy list.

The gossip list of the Sharp 931SH!
Softbank tied up with Sharp to create the latest Sharp 931SH touch screen handset which has the biggest screen till date compared with any other screen on any mobile. That’s right; the screen has a width of 3.8-inches and a 1024 x 480 display! It’s really sleek with a great new color scheme and screen design. Do check out the color of the cases for fresh new colors, pixel density and lots of color saturation on the screen which makes you drool with envy! The phone has a great slider and great color combinations in case designs. At present, the phone will be available only in Japan, so wish away. And if you have anyone coming over from there its time, to get the phone delivered and worry about the price later.

What the Sharp 931SH is offering!
The Softbank’s and Sharp collaboration effort has resulted in a new range of mobiles called as AQUOS. The most recent addition is called the FullTouch 931SH handset. The best feature that I have noticed till date is the wide screen and the amazing resolution that the screen boasts, way better than any other touch screen I’ve seen till date.
There are a huge number of pixel-counts on that nifty little mobile and Softbank has reassured buyers that you will get screen resolution almost equivalent to that of a laptop PC which is really something. Of course as the screen resolution is so great, no matter what type of photos you take with the inbuilt 5.2 mega-pixel camera look mighty fine.
Along with the great resolution you get great additional features like the latest in Bluetooth, a state-of-the-art media player, and a micro-SD card slot,
There is a great web browser also attached to the touch screen mobile is great too.

The phone has something for everyone. This mobiles is compatible with all UMTS software and there is a hope that eventually it can be used all over the world

Learning about the LG Arena KM900!

Wow! Mobiles are great, aren’t they! And this one is a real humdinger of a mobile. It’s just so pretty. I’m one of those people who aren’t really that much into phones. I mean as long as it makes a call and it works; what more could you ask for? But not this little baby! It’s just so pretty! I know I’m repeating myself but unless you check out this phone before you buy anything else; you are getting cheated. Take a look at the design specifications that the LG Arena KM900 baby sports!

Design specifications of the LG Arena KM900
Well, frankly it’s new and there is not much that anyone knows about the LG Arena KM900 phone but the company has released teaser photos. And of course there was huge hullabaloo a few months ago when someone put up unauthorized photos of the LG Arena KM900 phone. The company was prompt in stating that this was not authorized and they released their own photos. I might be wrong here but am I the only one who thinks that this one phone is just like the leader in touch screen mobiles which came out a year back? Am I wrong?

Well, design features aside: It is a fully loaded phone bursting with multimedia and of course, LG’s got it loaded with a lot more design tweaks which are top secret at present. It does have the trademark 3D S-Class User Interface. The company is planning a huge media release of the LG Arena KM900 at the 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and till that time everything is hush-hush!

A few of the more attractive features are the pretty modern-art cubism inspiration to the LG Arena KM900 layout. You can see and use four adjustable home screens. These screens allow for a direct touch access to all the phones features. You can see movies, read e-books and watch movies without any additional tweaks to the phone. It’s that easy.

Another really attractive addition is a plus tri-band GSM/UMTS/HSDPA 7.2Mbps connectivity. Now I really did love the design but the fact that this little thingy has such a super fast connection swayed my decision on the spot. I usually need a very fast internet connection to correspond with my office and the present system is really a drag. But if the LG Arena KM900 can do it faster then it’s the phone for me!

Of course the phone does have the usual collection of WiFi, a great, great little 1000 mAh battery which can provide you with 230 minutes of talk time and of course, 300 hours of working time. The LG Arena KM900 has the mandatory Dolby as well as DivX technologies, so your movie watching experience is not affected. You can’t really have it all so the color is affected a little but there are better alternatives to watch a movie on; so I don’t really think this little drawback will concern anyone. And hey! It’s a great phone for a great price of Rs 35,000 to Rs 45,000 in India and a price tag of US$540!

Making money online!

To tell you the truth, I must be slightly paranoid! I've been hearing voices all my life! But with a little self control, I managed to make sure that those voices remained inside my head! Sarcastic , imaginative and purely crazy: those interesting voices were good company during those times that I was lonely.

And then I became a doctor.....Hm, its not really a good idea to tell your professors and patients that you've been hearing voices in your head for almost all of your life! That's an instant invitation to the cuckoo house( for a lifetime free membership)! But when I became a writer,(purely accidental by the way)I was finally able to give voice to those crazy voices and it worked!The quirky, the weird and the wonderful all come pouring out on paper; happy to be finally free of the fetters of a fervent mind!

It works for me when I write: I am finally who I am on the inside while I write! and the best part was that people paid me to listen to those weird voices inside my head! What a wonderful way to make money? I didn't have to do anything except log on and check out my topics and let loose the inner demons! Making money online has never been so easy!

I hope I'm not being too quirky here but that's just those inner voices:)

On the outside, I'm a staid little dentist and my patients adore me!

Writer warnings!

After having been cheated out of approximately $89, I am now spitting mad! I reiterate that these articles on this blog are SOLELY MY PROPERTY IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO GAVE THEM TO YOU! I have not been paid for them and till that time they belong to me.
I got the inspiration of writing this blog post from this

http://writersweekly.com/whispers_and_warnings/005187_02042009.html
http://writertowriterwarnings.blogspot.com/

Kudos guys someone has to show these cheats we mean business.

Writing tips-

1. Formatting-Stick to a single format for all your articles. Preferably TIMES NEW ROMAN not 11 or 12.Heading can be font no 14.

2. How to check for key word in your article- To do the verification of Key words I use the CNTL F search function to find the terms I’m looking for within the text. To do so is simple. I highlight and copy the term. Do the CNTL F command. Up pops the search box. I paste the term I’m looking for into the Find What box. And search clicking on the Find Next button. In this case I’d be using the search function to find the word “treatments” within the text. You should generally find most keywords within the text highlight it or put in italics as requested by the client. If so simply move on to the next one. If not you’ll want to work the one that’s missing into the text. Remember too that sometimes an awkward term may have been “tweaked” so you may try searching for part of the term if you don’t find it as one text string. Doing so will turn up that part of the awkward term revealing the tweak and the rest of it. Usually I go to the bottom of the text to search and search UP? And if the search brings me to the term itself in the list of key words as in this example I’ll know right away it wasn’t included.

3. Free content- Free content is just that free but it comes with certain rules. You have to replace the article exactly as it was given and you have to put in the original writers name at the bottom of the free content. So this means you have already to give credit to the original writer and you didn’t do anything for it. As a result you don’t get paid!

4. Plagiarism checkers- Run all your work through the plagiarism checker called as duplichecker before submission. Please do remember that we have to make a name for ourselves as good writers for better jobs and if you want to be good you have to be original and plagiarism is not original. And you don’t get paid for it!

5. At the bottom of every word document left hand side you will make out four tabs called as normal view, web layout view, print layout view, and outline view. Please put all document in the print layout view which arrange your document to look like I have.

6. For most web documents and articles- avoid long paragraphs bigger than five lines. Don’t make two line paragraphs. Always run spell check and grammar check before sending. Always read through your document before sending no matter how tired you are; it always catches silly mistakes and errors.

7. Make a detailed list- of headings, beginnings and endings you can use when you are in a hurry and keep updating as required and when you have time. This comes very useful for emergencies.

8. Brush up regularly on the use of punctuation marks (American and British varieties), Clients can be very particular and irritable on wrong punctuation marks.

9. When you agree to work on a project you will be forwarded a brief which will include as much information as possible to help you produce relevant high quality copy for the client. All briefs will include a word quantity requirement which should be regarded as a minimum figure. Please do not regard the figure as a target but as a guide. You may feel as you are writing that more information is required to fulfil the brief to your satisfaction than the word count might allow. Do not be concerned, if you feel that a few extra sentences are required to produce a good product then put them in. But please remember that you are not writing a novel, as soon as the brief is fulfilled to your satisfaction move on and start your next article. Productivity is important to maximise your earnings so do not spend longer on an article than is absolutely necessary. Obviously the range of subjects you may be asked to write about will be quite diverse and each brief will be as specific as possible.

10. Please do not use words that would have most people reaching for a dictionary unless of course they are of a medical or technical nature.

11. Avoid hyperbole (intentional exaggeration.)

12. Do not use street or slang words. Do not overuse commas.

13. Do not give distances to or from unless relevant, e.g. a traveller might find it helpful to know the distance from an airport to a city centre. Avoid being too exact with such information, state an approximate figure.

14. Do not give population figures of towns or cities unless that information is relevant to the brief and would be useful to the reader. Do not name individual establishments such as bars, hotels, etc unless specifically asked to do so. Don’t guess at anything. If you can’t substantiate information do not use it.

15. If you are working on news related articles it may be useful to utilize Google’s news email service. On the search engine page above the search box you will see the word ‘news.’ Click there and a new window will open. On the left hand side of the window you will see ‘News Alerts,’ click there and in the next window you can enter the news topic in which you are interested. Enter your email address and any relevant news will be sent to you at a frequency that you may choose.

16. Don’t use “so” and “ well “ in all your articles.



17. If you’ve been given a topic like”reflecting telescopes” which you don’t really understand and don’t know how to search out in. Then use these simple tricks-

a. Add the word tips and tricks after the word you will be researching like “reflecting telescopes tips and tricks”
b. Add the word articles after the key word
c. Add the word hints after the key word
d. Add the words how to after the key word.
e. Search through the news section of google.

The Insiders “Key” to Vehicle Tracking!

Copy writing for beginners!

Want to be a copywriter do you? Do you think it’s easy? Just put down the thousands of weird voices in your head on a piece of paper and you’re done? Will someone actually pay you for the stuff you’ve written down? It’s really not as easy as it sounds.

Online copy writing!
I thought I was a good copywriter, or just a good writer, anyway people told me I was good and they kept hiring me. But the real world came knocking with the advent of the Internet, when I had to submit a VIRAL article. Ignorant fool that I was at that time, I proudly submitted an article on Viruses and the diseases they cause on the human body. You can laugh all you want but the Internet woke me up to the low down of interesting writing. The main point being KISS (KEEP it SHORT and SWEET.)

So here are a few tips for beginners learnt the hard way,
1. Write for the people who will be reading the site. Most people have a short attention span and just skim copy, picking up important points and letting the remaining just swim past. Catch their attention with a good idea or tip.
2. One or two people who surf the net will be really methodical. They’ll ask questions and know the site probably better than you. For such people write a detailed copy but with lists, numberings and easy references for the information.
3. Some people love testimonials so keep a few ready for credibility. Don’t over hype products to the extent of brainwashing.
4. Focus on the consumer. You are trying to give him something either knowledge or information about a new product or anything but try to keep it interesting and don’t bore him to death.
5. Identify keywords and key phrases and include them in your copy. Ok key word optimizations is a little difficult to the beginner but suffice to say if you want to promote a special product then make sure the word is repeated sufficiently in the copy so as to catch the search engines attention.
6. And remember the more original the copy the better the hits on you content, at your site. Cut, paste, copy is useless, uninformative and liable to prosecution as plagiarism. Write your own ideas or don’t write at all!

Copy writing for beginners!

Copy writing for beginners!

Want to be a copywriter do you? Do you think it’s easy? Just put down the thousands of weird voices in your head on a piece of paper and you’re done? Will someone actually pay you for the stuff you’ve written down? It’s really not as easy as it sounds.

Online copy writing!

I thought I was a good copywriter, or just a good writer, anyway people told me I was good and they kept hiring me. But the real world came knocking with the advent of the Internet, when I had to submit a VIRAL article. Ignorant fool that I was at that time, I proudly submitted an article on Viruses and the diseases they cause on the human body. You can laugh all you want but the Internet woke me up to the low down of interesting writing. The main point being KISS (KEEP it SHORT and SWEET.)

So here are a few tips for beginners learnt the hard way,

1. Write for the people who will be reading the site. Most people have a short attention span and just skim copy, picking up important points and letting the remaining just swim past. Catch their attention with a good idea or tip.
2. One or two people who surf the net will be really methodical. They’ll ask questions and know the site probably better than you. For such people write a detailed copy but with lists, numberings and easy references for the information.
3. Some people love testimonials so keep a few ready for credibility. Don’t over hype products to the extent of brainwashing.
4. Focus on the consumer. You are trying to give him something either knowledge or information about a new product or anything but try to keep it interesting and don’t bore him to death.
5. Identify keywords and key phrases and include them in your copy. Ok key word optimizations is a little difficult to the beginner but suffice to say if you want to promote a special product then make sure the word is repeated sufficiently in the copy so as to catch the search engines attention.
6. And remember the more original the copy the better the hits on you content, at your site. Cut, paste, copy is useless, uninformative and liable to prosecution as plagiarism. Write your own ideas or don’t write at all!

Get the inside story on a first time gyno and uro check up

When I was asked to write a short article on Gynecology and Urology I was kind of surprised. What can you write about two of the most invasive but really embarrassing fields ever invented by any one? One is designed to look up female Yoo-Hoos and the other is designed to check male and female irrigation systems!

Potentially embarrassing? Why definitely, that’s a given!

But jokes aside, Gynecology is an extremely essential field which deals with doctors who charitably dedicated their lives to the repairs of female crotches. Sometimes they also deliver babies, and then they are generously called as obstetricians as well. But Urology is a medical specialty which deals with health problems related to the male reproductive as well as liquid waste plumbing system.

Many girls and women are worried about going to a gynecologist for their first time (every first time is kinda scary!) but it’s absolutely essential to get yourself checked at the first period and then every year to rule out any potential problems. Yes it does sound nasty but here’s a rundown of what is expected during a routine gynecology and urology check up.

• It’s best to get to know your gynecologist before your check up to know what you’ll be going through. Most first exams have a breast exam, urine test, pelvic exam and a detailed medical history.
• If your doctor is a male ask for a female nurse to stay in the room with you; its routine policy. Most doctors will not confide anything you ask for to your parents or any one else so it’s safe to clear all your doubts regarding contraception and sex with him. The doctor may also ask a whole lot of questions about your medical and sexual history; be as honest as possible as medical histories are confidential and this helps the doctor make an accurate assessment of your health.
• Next comes the pelvic exam. Relax! The doctor sees thousands of vulvas every day; day in and day out; its routine for him .You’ll be asked to change to a white examination gown and sit in an upside down saddle position. Kinda like sitting on a horse but this one is on your back with your legs raised.
• The breast exam is even simpler where the doctor gently palpates your breast to check for lumps .Breast cancer appears as a small painless lump and is the foremost killer of women world wide. So allow the doctor to do a good job. Do tell the doctor if you have a family history of breast cancer.
• Some doctors also insert a large spoon into your vagina to scrape your uterine neck. Relax! The process is entirely safe and is called as a PAP smear .Its designed to check for uterine neck abnormalities or cervical cancer. This is an entirely treat able cancer if detected early.



SO you’re done with your first gyno check up. Now’s the time for a urology check up.
Most urologists have a routine of first getting a detailed medical examination and history, and although they do deal with females they have a larger range of male patients who have to get their testicles checked for Testicular cancer, prostate checked for Benign prostatic hyperplasia as well as all other their male reproductive organs which include testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis.

For a first time urology check up I would advise the following,

• Most doctors prefer to start off with a detailed medical examination and history which is really useful to clear any doubts regarding health of the male reproductive system as well as to catch disease early on.
• Just like a gynecology exam, urologists will also do a rectal examination to palpate the prostate gland, a general examination as well as an abdominal examination to rule out any abnormalities.
• I would recommend a yearly examination for all males over the age of 20 irrespective of what the doctors say .Its better to be safe rather than sorry right! After all you don’t want to lose a testicle to testicular cancer, do you?


Ok I’ve really finished scaring you with the facts of a gynecology check up as well as a urology check up.

But seriously .Its better to get yourself checked as regularly as possible to avoid dangerous and untreatable conditions especially if you have an active sexual life.

Be aware and remain healthy!

Tiling courses: top four questions you should ask before you sign up!

If you are looking for tiling courses, then you have to remember that not all tiling courses online are accepted by employers. A few employers are not that particular about your tiling courses but they are particular about how much experience you have gained over the years in the tiling profession. As a result, you might do tiling courses which do not really add any value to your professional experience! Then what’s the use of spending so much time and effort on unverified tiling courses? Be cautious and before you actually sign up with any tiling courses: ask yourself a few questions like-

1. Are these tiling courses adding anything to my existing knowledge? Sign up for tiling courses only if you feel that you are gaining valuable experience and theoretical knowledge from the course. The tiling courses you sign up for should prepare you for NVQ certification as well as the CSCS card which are extremely essential for better pay grades in the construction industry. Your tiling courses should provide you with sufficient practical knowledge and the books you require for study. They should also have a placement agency which allows them to get tiling jobs for you in the industry when you pass out.
2. Does your tiling courses company teach many courses apart from tiling courses? This is really important as there is a severe shortage of tiling professionals in the industry and if your tiling courses school also teaches plastering and plumbing courses, then there is a good chance that your instructor may not be that familiar with the intricacies of the tiling trade. The school may be making do with just one instructor who may be the “Jack of all trades but the master of none!” This means that you lose out on essential tips which you could have got from trained tiling courses professionals.
3. Is feedback about tiling courses important? Yes, it is. No matter what tiling courses you choose, remember that you should find out what previous students think about the course. Just Google the name of the course and add the word ‘review’ after it. You will get a whole list of feedback from previous students who are a part of the course. You will get good and bad feedback about the tiling courses you choose but be careful. Tiling courses are part time courses where you have to study on your own. There are chances that the students did not apply themselves to the course and this has caused those bad comments. If you still feel that the tiling courses are worth it, then go for it. Ultimately, the decision is yours.
4. Choose courses which are industry associated! That’s right! Find out whether the tiling courses you have selected are industry approved. Most tiling courses which are industry approved are more than happy to demonstrate the fact by putting the words “industry- approved” in the brochure or the website. This also means that you will be selected for tiling jobs in the industry much faster as your tiling course is recognized and approved.

Tiling courses: What not to do!

With the boom in the construction business, there has been a sharp increase in the demand for trained tradespeople like plumbers and tilers. For people who are already in the construction business, taking up an additional skill like tiling can work out really well. They already have the contact in the industry and they are familiar with skilled handwork. For them, picking up additional skills in tiling with tiling courses becomes really easy.

Even if you aren’t already working in the tiling industry, tiling courses can teach you about 70% of the skill in a few months. But you will have to pick up the remaining 30% by working on the job. But if you choose your tiling courses well, you should be totally trained in tiling in a few months. How do you know which tiling courses teach you the perfect balance between practical and theoretical knowledge? Are there specific things that you should watch out for? Let’s find out!

 Check the feedback on the tiling courses you have selected- Disgruntled students are more than likely to vent their spleen on shoddy courses online. Just Google the course and then add the word “review” after it. You should get a mix of bad and good reviews about nearly every type of tiling courses on the internet. Do be warned though that not all reviews can be taken for face value. Remember that continuing education courses like tiling courses require you to study independently and a few students cannot manage that well. Take the reviews with a pinch of salt and make your own decision.
 Check the qualifications of the staff associated with tiling courses- teaching staff at tiling courses should have NVQ qualifications and a lot of exacting knowledge about their profession. Ask for credentials and check them. A few courses sometime ask the same instructor to teach plumbing, carpentry and tiling courses in an effort to save money. This is of no use to you, as you cannot learn the hidden tricks of the trade from an inexperienced person.
 Choose industry affiliated courses- That’s right! Industry affiliated means that the course teaches a curriculum that is accepted by working organizations. Students who pass out from these courses are given first preferences for jobs and projects. The employer knows that he is getting trained professionals and you know you are getting a good deal. Just check the prospectus for details about “industry affiliation” and ask for more details to confirm that it’s just not a blind advertisement. The main accepted standard for “Industry Accreditation” is The Tile Association.
 Don’t be fooled by the promises of placement cells- Most tiling courses have a placement cell associated with them. These placement cells place novice tilers with construction agencies to learn tiling as apprentices. Now this should be optional for all students who take up tiling courses. It is not compulsory and neither should the course charge you for the placement cell services.

Whatever tiling courses you choose remember that: ultimately, it’s a self-study routine. If you work hard you will succeed, if not then you are wasting your own money.

Tiling courses: the basics!

Are you aware of the basic requirements of enrolling in tiling courses? Most tiling courses require that you have passed your basic degree or diploma. A few take on student’s right from high school as apprentices. There are no set criteria, but to avoid getting confused, here are a few basic requirements that you should watch-out for if you are planning to take up tiling courses.

 Learning about equipment and materials- Tiling courses should teach you about the equipment and materials commonly used in tiling. There are a wide range of hand-held equipment and rotary tools which are commonly used in tiling. In order to be really proficient with the tackle, your tiling courses need to have an attached practical studio. Check for that before you sign on. If a practical training studio is not available, then the tiling course should offer you a placement cell or an apprenticeship program. There should be some option to have practical experience while studying or you are not likely to get any practical experience at all.
 The City Guilds accreditation course- No matter what tiling courses you choose to learn about tiling you will have to get National Vocational Qualifications after you’ve passed out of your course. The NVQ qualification is done at a practical center run by the City Guild. Then an accredited instructor of the Construction Skills / City & Guilds practical centre will test you in the subject matter you have learnt in your tiling courses. Do not be fooled or lured by tiling courses who say they can help you in your NVQ. You will have to pass through your NVQ by yourself by learning the practical and theory and give the test yourself; no one can help you there. But if you have more than three years experience working as a tiler then instead of the NVQ you can try other tests which your tiling courses can tell you about.
 Do not be swayed by tiling courses who promise to help you set up your own business. That is just not ethical. Most tiling courses have placement cells and industry contacts where you can be placed. But they cannot help you set up your business. For that you will have to talk to banks and financiers on your own. Don’t waste money to meet bank representatives and financiers at your tiling courses institute to talk about starting your own business. When they know you want money, bankers and their representative will line up before your home! Before you start any your tiling business, it’s very essential that you get atleast a year or more of experience working under a seasoned pro in the tiling field. That’s the only way you will learn the tricks of the tiling trade and learn how to deal with emergencies and problems.

And, of course, it’s much better to make silly mistakes when there is someone to help you out, rather than infuriating customers who are paying you good money! There is a lot of time to start your own business after you finish the tiling courses and your apprenticeship. Take it slow and steady and you will succeed.

Get the inside story on tiling courses!

Working as a tiler can definitely supplement your income, big-time! Most employers are more than willing to teach novices while on the job. You can join a construction company right after college or high school and you will get the necessary experience in tiling without attending any tiling courses.

But that’s not enough!

Getting additional qualifications in the form of tiling courses adds to your resume and can also get you a higher salary. But how do you choose tiling courses which factor your practical experience into the course while teaching you? Let’s find out!

Part time courses are the best option for tilers who already have quite a few years of experience in the tiling industry. Most part-time tiling courses offer you an hours study in the form of lecturer’s everyday followed by practical training and you are then free to continue your day job. Once you finish your course, then you can apply for a National Vocational Qualification certificate where a certified assessor will come to check out your qualifications and your work. This assessment will take place only when you are already working with a firm and on a project. It is a practical exam where you will be tested while working for a paid project.

Other than that you can also apply for an Accreditation of Prior Learning Certificate to show examiners that you are already familiar with the intricacies of tiling. This course will entail the following-

1) There will be an initial interview with an accredited tiling courses instructor-
The tiling courses instructor will check to confirm that you can be added into the 6129 scheme. According to this scheme, you should have already worked as a tiling professional with a construction company and you already have completed a few tiling courses because of which you are automatically become eligible for the City and Guilds 6129 certification

2) City & Guilds certification requires that you will have to follow a few simple college courses. The dates of these courses will be communicated to you and your employer so that you have those days free. The certification process also involves a practical assessment where you will be judged on quite a few practical aspects of tiling, as taught to you in tiling courses. You will have to finish the practical without any assistance from your employers or instructors to show that you are familiar with the different aspects of tiling.

4) There will also be a theory test where you will be tested on the theoretical knowledge you have picked up from tiling courses. The most common modules you will be tested on are-
• Health and Safety
• Water and sanitation systems
• Sanitation Systems
• Heating and lighting systems

Almost all tiling courses will prepare you for this rigorous examination. Please remember that only practical experience is not enough: to pass the test, you have to back up your technical knowledge with lots of theoretical study. Its hard work, but once you do clear your test and get accredited through your tiling courses; rest assured that you do have a brighter future.

Tiling courses: a quick checklist!

What exactly are the requirements for joining tiling courses? Can you join directly after college or do you need to start tiling courses as soon as you join high school? If you are confused about how to learn to be a tiler, then this is the article for you.

Let’s take a look at what you need to be a professional tiler before applying for tiling courses.

Skill sets required for tiling courses-
1. No matter how you look at it; it’s a hands-on job. You have to work with hard and soft materials to attach tiles to prepared surfaces and the entire system is really complex. A small amount of hand working skills are really necessary before you contemplate taking up tiling courses.
2. You will need to have knowledge of construction drawings and designs. This is because most architects or interior designers jot down their design ideas in the form of construction drawings which every person who works in the construction industry can understand. You can either take up this option in your undergraduate studies in high school or take up construction electives in your college studies; both will help while applying for tiling courses.
3. Basic math is another skill you will have to learn while in high school. This is because most tiling projects will require you to accurately calculate the surface area in the scheme, and the raw materials required to complete the job. You will have to calculate surface areas, liters of adhesives and grouting materials, square feet of tiles etc required to finish the job. Almost every tiling does teach basic math as well as how to co-relate materials and square feet to judge the amount of raw materials required.
4. Accuracy and attention to detail is very essential in tiling jobs. The tiles have to be laid level and in proper joints to prevent leakage and to avoid a host of other problems. Instructors at tiling courses will supervise pilot projects to help you learn how to be accurate and meticulous while working on tiling jobs.
5. Planning designs in tiling is really essential. The tiling industry produces newer and better tiles with varied designs which change nearly every season. You should be up-to-date with the latest in designs and patterns which are used in designer kitchens and bathrooms to produce innovative and attractive designs and patterns. There are also special projects and heritage restorations which require an in-depth knowledge of tiling techniques over the centuries. No matter what type of tiling courses you select, do make sure that you are taught the different methods of tiling which evolved over the centuries and the latest in design patterns for modern tiling. There should be a separate section in your tiling courses which deals exclusively with modern design techniques in tiling like mosaic work etc.

I hope this article has taught you a lot about the skill sets you require if you sign up for tiling courses. Even if you do not have the skill, you can learn it; your tiling courses will teach you the basics and all you have to do is practice, practice and practice.

Tiling courses: learning the basics!

If you are already are working as a handyman, then learning how to do tiling is a really great additional skill you can acquire. Tiling courses are easy to come by on the internet but you do have to choose the best tiling courses that suit your individual needs. You cannot really take a month or a year off from your work to learn tiling through full time tiling courses! It’s just not worth it! But there are several ways that you can learn tiling through tiling courses while still continuing with your daily profession. For example,

1. Online tiling courses- There are several varieties of online tiling courses available on the internet. It’s easy to choose one and just pay the money online and then do the tiling courses at your leisure. But you should also know that tiling is a hands-on job! Just learning the theory is not going to help you actually deal with on-the-job problems. Try to choose or shortlist tiling courses which are attached to a local vocational course schools. Or find out if the tiling courses you have short listed have a practical training session. If they do, the tiling courses you have chosen are well worth the money you will pay for them.
2. Part- time tiling courses- Frankly, I would prefer that everyone who wants to take up tiling courses choose something part-time. This works out best in terms of payment for the course, working hours and of course, work-experience. You can choose to apprentice with a tiling company while studying part-time or better still you can ask them to sponsor your tiling courses. This way, you not only get part-time experience but also a paid semi-permanent job. The only drawback you might experience is that you might have to sign a contract with your employer giving him a few years on the job. But think of this positively as a semi-permanent job and frankly, it’s a win-win situation!
3. Full time tiling courses- For student’s right out of school and looking forward to a full time career in tiling, a fulltime tiling courses program works out really great all round. You might have to take up a few electives to prepare you for the tiling courses. Find out the specifics at your local vocational colleges and you should get the details readily. After you’ve short listed the tiling courses, do remember that you might have to apprentice with a tiling firm to get practical experience.

No matter what type of tiling courses you take remember that you have to have practical experience. Most employers are not really interested in what type of tiling courses you are taking, but they are really interested and particular about the experience you have. Theoretical education is fine but you should remember that any theory has to be backed with solid hands-on working knowledge. You should know how to lay tiles, measure spaces, cut tiles and apply adhesive or cement as required to the undersurface of tiles, grouting and polishing. It is a labor–intensive job and you should be committed to it.

Tiling courses: the lowdown!

Most tiling courses are really easy to find but do these tiling courses really help you out. Or are you just paying good money for book knowledge that anyone can pick up? Let’s find out!

The reality of students who are enrolling in tiling courses- With the economic slowdown, thousands of workers all over the country have lost the jobs. And most of the jobs are in the lower economic category where you will find factory workers, construction workers etc. Basically people who work with their hands! For them, shifting to another job like tiling is a no-brainer simply because they already have a working knowledge of the trade and they are good with their hands. So they have the manual dexterity and tiling courses take up the slack of teaching them the basics of carrying out tiling. For such people, tiling courses work out really well. The time they require for learning tiling is considerably less and they can finish the course faster.

The statistics of enrolments at tiling courses- The reality is that even though we are facing a severe economic slowdown, people will still need to build houses to stay in. And with new houses come in new jobs for tiling! At present, there is a severe shortage of electricians, plumbers and tradespeople in the market to carry out the basics of construction. The recent statistics state that there is a severe shortage of about a 1000 tile layers per state to carry out tiling work. As a result, the number of students enrolling in tiling courses has exponentially increased in the last few years and will continue to do so to fill in the shortfall of workers.

The advantages of completing tiling courses- Truthfully, the advantages are as good as the disadvantages are bad. You are your own master. After finishing your tiling courses, you are free to do freelancing or you can work with a tiling contractor. You can sign up with tiling suppliers to work with a salary as the tiling supplier provides your services free with the supplies. You can start your own tiling firm with a few compatriots. You can start an apprenticeship while still studying your tiling courses. It’s an endless list but the choices are unlimited.

The disadvantages of working as a tiler after finishing your tiling courses- The main disadvantage is that you work independently. You cannot be assured of a permanent job and a permanent monthly income. There may be times when you are out of work and there may be times when you have more work than you can handle. It’s a lonely profession if you freelance and if you are working with a team, you may have to compete for higher-paying jobs.

Don’t get disappointed! Tiling and tiling courses can prepare you for a good job in the future and in this shaky job market, any job which pays well is fine. If you are a good worker you will get tiling jobs, just make sure you check with the availability of the local market for the demand of tilers.

Tiling courses: what are the requirements to become a good tiler?

Tiling is a hands-on profession: we all know that! No matter what you learn as a student at tiling courses, you have to remember that the actual hands-on experience is what really counts. Most employers don’t really care where you did your tiling courses from but they do care whether you have practical experience or not. Just theoretical knowledge is not going to help you in out in technical details of the materials you will be handling. For that you need at least a year’s experience before you will be allowed to work on any tiling courses irrespective of the tiling courses you have taken or not.

You will have to learn details about the tiling profession in your tiling courses like-
 Hand work specifics like-
a. Measuring out areas to find out how much adhesive and how many tiles you will need to cover a given service area.
b. How to remove old tiles and then prepare the surface area for tiling with new files.
c. How to use special appliances like machines and hand cutters to prepare the tiles to fit into special nooks and crannies.
d. You might be also required to cut tiles to fit mosaic or decorative designs on to the prepared surfaces.
e. Cutting tiles to specific shapes.
f. Preparing special surfaces primed with cement, sand and plaster to take up the tiles.
g. Attaching tiles to the prepared surfaces
h. Restoring heritage projects which have antique tiling designs without damaging the original patterns.
i. Fixing battens
 The equipment which will be used in the tiling profession like laser levels, tile cutters, tile snippers, parrot snappers, tile saws, hand saws, tile rubbing stones, tile cutters and shapers, miters and a whole range of powered machines to cut the tiles should be taught in tiling courses. After you finish any tiling courses you should be able to recognize and be completely familiar with these tools. Once you are completely familiar with the tools you are also taught how to use powered machines to ease the process along.
 A few tiling courses are such that they have tiling studios where you can learn how to attach tiles to the walls for practical sessions. You should also be taught how to use tiling materials, how to mix them and how to choose tiles to fit into specific places.
 When you finish your tiling courses you should be awarded a basic NVQ grade1 certification. After you finish your first grade, you are then tested in NVQ grades 2 and 3 which are on-the-job testing certifications. An independent assessor will come to check out your work while you are working your apprenticeship job. Your tiling courses should also help you to get a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

If you are serious about your profession and being a full-time tiler then you should remember that it a hard job and the tiling courses take hard work to complete.

Learning about tiling courses!

Are you a trained tiler with several years of tiling experience under your belt? There are several senior workers in the tiling industry that leaned the tricks of the trade while working on the job. But with increasing age, it’s difficult to keep up with the demands of working as a full time tiler. The job requires a lot of skills and hard work. You have to stay away from your family for long periods of time depending on the projects you take up. You have to work in wet conditions and dusty conditions attaching tiles to the walls and floors: and that takes it tolls on a person’s health and body.

But if you still want to stay in close touch with your profession then being a trainer and teaching tiling courses is the best for you. You can transfer your knowledge and your technical skills to novices in the trade with professional tiling courses. The tiling courses keep you touch with your profession while still protecting you from the hard toil required in project work.
A few more skills required to teach tiling courses are-
 Tiling courses will require you to be a professional who has atleast three years technical project experience. It is very necessary that you have practical training on the job as you have to teach students how to handle the adhesive and the tiles. Tiling courses do have tiling studios attached to the course classes where you will have to take practical tiling courses.
 Having finished professional tiling courses is extremely essential. Even if you have more than 4 years experience, having a diploma in tiling courses is much better as its add credibility to your resume.
 Teaching tiling courses sets you an established time period where you have to attend tiling courses for teaching classes. You don’t have to worry about overtime and the deadlines which are associated with project work.
 You should have got the National Vocational Qualifications in 1, 2, and 3. This enables you to teach students how to prepare for the NVQs which are assessed in a practical setting on-the-job.
 You should be able to prepare and guide students in the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) of the tiling courses. This course teaches workers how to follow safety standards on the project. Once students are taught this module they are awarded the CSCS card after a practical NVQ assessment and a health and safety module.
 You are provided with a lot of perks like insurance, medical coverage, a set salary per month, pensions etc which you don’t get when you are freelancing or working in a tiling firm.
 Even if you have not done any tiling courses and cannot apply for an NVQ assessment, there is no need to worry. You can apply and sit for On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) practical and/ or the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) practical. In these assessments, the courses just judge your knowledge and if you pass you get the NVQ certification to enable you to apply for a tiling instructor for tiling courses.

If you meet these basic requirements, then almost all tiling courses present in the country will require your talents to teach their tiling courses.

Tiling courses: find out skill sets required!

Tiling is a hard job with a large amount of physical skill. You should be able to work with your hands to attach the tiles to a surface and judge accurately how much material you will need to the job. If you are planning to take up tiling courses, how do you know if the tiling courses are the best ones for you? Do you have the necessary skill sets? Or will you lose interest after a few years? Let’s just find out exactly what skills are required from you before you join tiling courses

 It stands to reason that you should be able to work well with your hands. A small amount of practical hand working skill is extremely necessary. You will become proficient with time if your tiling courses have an attached practical studio. But it is necessary that you have a few basic skills already. Try to take up woodworking or construction related courses in your high school as this prepares you for working with your hands.
 If you already have an apprenticeship with a tiling firm then you should be careful about the tiling courses you are applying for to be a tiler. Most tiling courses require that you prepare for them by taking GCSE’s (A-C) preparatory exams in the subjects of Math, Design and technical applications, and construction courses. This is because you will have to understand how to read design specifications created by architects to create projects and drawings
 Students can also prepare for the tiling courses by taking additional optional courses like the BTEC Introductory Certificate and a basic undergraduate diploma in construction design and tiling applications to be able to accurately judge how much material is required to finish a job within budget
 Even if you do not have an apprenciticeship you can apply with the local firms to act as a volunteer who will work with the firm till your tiling courses are complete. It’s extremely essential that you have such an option lined up as you get the practical experience of tiling as well as the theoretical knowledge via tiling courses.
 If you missed out on the high school preparatory courses, and you still want to be a tiler; then you can still prepare for the tiling courses with an Intermediate Construction Award in tiling at college. This is an equally great way of getting tiling experience and knowledge while still preparing for the tiling courses. Please remember that no matter what course you chose you should get sufficient practical experience to recognize materials and methods. Or it’s just a silly waste money.
 You may have to wear a lot of protective clothing, as the job requires working with dangerous chemicals and hard materials. You should have a basic understanding of safety standards.
 You will also have to work long periods of time standing or squatting. It requires a lot of hard work and you should be physically prepared to take up the load of working nearly 18 hours everyday to finish tiling work within deadlines.

Plastering courses: learning the basics!

Plasterers are responsible for coating the external and internal surface of all constructions surfaces with a thin coating of plaster. The plaster is responsible for smoothing rough surfaces and providing a smooth water and weather resistant coat on building surfaces. Learning to be a plasterer is a great way to be a part of the construction trade and there are a whole lot of career alternative as you can choose. But first you have to start off by taking plastering courses to learn the basics of the trade.

Selecting plastering courses and the work you will have to learn-
Plastering is a highly skilled job that only expert plastering courses can teach you. No matter which plastering courses you shortlist, remember that you should be taught the following tricks of the trade.
 You should learn how to replace the existing plaster by chipping it off and then preparing the surface to receive a new layer of plaster. Attaching metal rivets to surfaces to fix plaster chipboards and preparing the chipboards for attachment.
 Learning the exact quantity of dry plaster which will be required to cover specific areas by calculating surface areas and amounts in basic math.
 And then the proper proportioning of water and dry plaster which has to be mixed to be the proper consistency. The quantity of water in the mix determines the porosity of the plaster mix and its strength. Plastering courses can teach this skill only through extensive practical training. Plastering courses have instructors who will teach you how to mix and apply the semi-liquid mix to prepared wall surfaces with the tools of the trade.
 Recognizing and basic proficiency with the tools of the trade like trowels and hawks. Preparing first and second coats of plaster and then scoring the first layer to provide mechanical retention for the second layer of plaster. Each plaster layer is applied in sections as the mix dries fast. Learning how to apply skim layers on top of the first two layers of plaster. Most plastering courses will teach you also how to apply fibrous backings to plaster moulds to make stronger castings.
 The average salary for a plasterer can range anywhere from $39,190 to about $ 40,000 and that was in the year 2007. The surveys were carried out by the U.S. Department of Labor but future statistics are optimistic about job prospects stating that there are more than 2000 vacancies available for trained plasterers who have completed professional plastering courses..
Most plastering courses are designed to teach you the basics of plaster work with a basic proficiency in wet work. But along with the skills and knowledge you will also have to work with a good construction company to get more hands-on experience. A few construction companies take on employees who have finished studying plastering courses and keep them on apprentices for three years. When you are an apprentice you get paid half the salary. Once your apprenticeship is over, you can work as a professional plasterer with full salary.

Plastering courses: Learning the trade

Plastering courses are a dime a dozen on the internet and you can pick and choose what you want. But most of the time, you aren’t really sure what these courses entail. Unless you have researched the field completely, you get cheated on the course and that can make you lose your money. A few tips on how to choose plastering courses are-

Length of the plastering courses- Plastering courses can be anywhere from one month to six months to one year. No matter what the length of the course, you should be able to get sufficient practical experience which will teach you the intricacies of dealing with the material. Try part time plastering courses or courses which are attached to a construction company, as you are more likely to get practical training during the plastering courses.

Curriculum of plastering courses- The curriculum of plastering courses should include the following-
1. Learning about the physical properties of plaster and its derivatives like gypsum.
2. Learning the history of plastering
3. Learning how the percentage of water in the plaster water ratio affects the strength of the mix. You should also learn how to manipulate the plaster water mix to get optimum strength.
4. Getting practical training in how to handle the material.
5. Learning how to design and cast moldings for specific locations. That requires basic math knowledge and carpentry design drawing familiarity. This will also help you to judge accurately how much material will be required to fabricate specific moldings and the amount of plaster required to cover specific surface areas.
6. Learning specific techniques like screeding, beading, layering, skim layers etc which are essential to prepare a great treated surfaces.
7. Learning the newer and most modern techniques in plastering which are used to create internal and external special effects on walls and ceilings
8. Learning to attach chipboard after making the metallic framework for false ceilings.
Once you finish your basic course, you will be awarded your NVQ grade 1 certification. But with more technical qualifications you can apply for NVQ 2 and 3 grades which are better to get higher paying jobs in the construction industry. These grades also make you eligible for teaching positions in plastering courses. The NVQ's or National Vocational Qualifications are not easy to get. The only way that you can get assessed is when you join work with a company and after a set period of time; an independent assessor will come to the place you are working to check out your work. The assessment is done on the job by a certified City and Guilds Examiner and they check for the following-
 The quality of internal and external finishes
 The application and fixing of chip boards
 The quality of produced casting
 The process of fixing and repairing fibrous castings

After finishing plastering courses- once you’ve finished your plastering courses, you are free to work with construction companies as apprentices. You can check online for companies who are hiring plastering apprentices and put in your resume there. Most institutes offering plastering courses have their own apprentice-department where you can get an apprentice position as soon as you pass out.

Plastering courses: Professional careers in the construction business!

Plasterers work with plaster to cover internal and external surfaces of constructions. But before you can be considered a professional plasterer you have to finish plastering courses where you learn the tricks of the trade. It takes several years to become a trained professional. If you are one of those professionals who already have several years of experience in the plastering trade, then you can try an alternate profession of teaching plastering courses. Teaching plastering courses is a niche profession which you can take up full time or part time. But the job pays well and has definite timings.

Taking up teaching in professional plastering courses- In order to be a professional lecturer in plastering courses, you will require several basic qualifications like

1. Atleast four years of experience in the industry after finishing plastering courses- The reasoning for this is that practical experience is very essential to any type of teaching. Industry experience teaches an individual several tricks of the trade which book learning cannot impart. The latest advances in techniques are used in industry before they become available in books for learning. Professionals who have worked in niche fields like Molding Design, Heritage Restorations, Mold Making etc are very familiar with the industry norms of working and they can impart this valuable education to students through professional plastering courses.
2. Teaching experience- Most construction companies take on apprentices who learn under veterans of the plastering trade. As a result most professionals who have been in the industry are already accustomed to teaching novices the trade. Teaching experience comes naturally to them and teaching plastering courses is relatively easier for them to manage. Practical classes are also an integral part of all plastering courses. With industry experience you can teach all novices how to manipulate the material and calculate water measurements for the mix of water and plaster.
3. Industry related degree- If you have completed professional plastering courses yourself before starting work with a construction company; then you are more likely to be picked up for a teaching position. If you do not have a degree or diplomas then do take a part-time course which will make you eligible for teaching posts along with your industry experience. For teaching you should have NVQ 1, 2 and 3 grades certification along with a Site safety card.

Advantages of being a lecturer in plastering courses-
1. Job security- Plastering courses offer job security for lecturers along with medical insurance. This works out great in the long run as you get a permanent job with chances of monthly salary along with benefits.
2. Set times- Plastering courses offer a set time for everyone to work. Most colleges follow a part time arrangement with the rest of the day being free for you to do what you want. You can choose the time you want to teach and that works out great. Most batches have ten to twelve 15-16 year old students. The students will learn theoretical and practical handling of the material along with any other knowledge you can impart.
3. College atmosphere- Working as a plasterer is a physical profession and you have to be reasonably fit for it. If for some medical reason you cannot continue with the physical nature of a plasterer, then teaching plastering courses keeps you in touch with your chosen career while still getting you much needed rest.

Plastering courses: learning it the easy way!

There are a large variety of plastering courses present on the internet. You can pick and choose any variety that you find suitable to your unique situation and skills. But out of the huge options you have to specialize in; there is a niche area in plastering courses where you work with heritage decorations on restoration projects. The work is interesting and unique and you have to have special skills to be considered a heritage craftsman. The work pays well and it requires you to work as a team with historians and architects who work at restoring legendary buildings. If you are interested in history and have an artistic bent then this is the niche profession in which you can excel in. Let’s find out the exact requirements of becoming a heritage craftsman plasterer.

Plastering courses to become a heritage craftsman: What do you actually do?
As plaster ages, there are chances that with fire or water damage, the plaster will crack and break. On heritage buildings this can damage the delicate architecture and painting done on interior and exterior surfaces. Several artists of the renaissance period also did paintings on tiny sections of wet plaster. But with age the plaster loses it property to remain stable and it can fall off, or the pigment on the plaster fades.

Specialized plastering courses can teach a novice plasterer how to repair plasterwork in heritage homes, public buildings, churches etc. It takes a lot of time and effort to learn how to repair the delicate aged plaster and get it back to its ancient splendor. Plasterers are taught tricks of the trade in heritage plastering courses like the use of special mixtures of special sand lime and horsehair. This method is not used in modern times but was commonly used in Roman times. The exact method of mixing plaster so that it imitates ancient plaster is a skill which takes a lot of time and effort to learn. This special mixing technique is taught in very select plastering courses and it is used because it allows the easy passage of moisture. The plaster can breathe and although it takes a longer time to dry; it remains stable for a longer period of time.

Where can I learn these specialized plastering courses?
Specialized plastering courses which teach heritage restorations are taught only with select government and private organizations. If you Google it, you will get thousands of options all of which teach several varieties of heritage plastering courses. There are several points you should consider before you sign on for any of these plastering courses and they are-
1. You should be taught the history of plastering and how different techniques were used over the ages.
2. The difference techniques which are used in modern plastering to create decorative effects
3. Preserving ancient plaster while still repairing it to its former glory.
4. Mechanics and constructions details of ancient plastering.
Please remember that along with specialized plastering courses you will also need years of experience before you will be allowed to work on National Treasures in the form of heritage buildings.

Plastering courses: The details

Most plastering courses teach the basics on how to handle the material and then apply it to modern constructions to create water and weather resistant coatings. But do you really know what the future holds for you after finishing the plastering courses you have enrolled in? Most employers prefer plasterer who have atleast a year or so of practical experience. As a result before you actually join plastering courses to take up plastering as a full-time profession, there are several details you should be familiar with.

Timings of your profession- As with every other profession, plasterers have to work the time set for them according to the construction company. Plastering is a five day a week job and most of the time you will have to work on internal surfaces and walls of homes and residences. But the work depends on the project. If you are contracted to work on large buildings and towers, then you might have to work on high-altitude projects in cold, drafty locations. There might be construction deadlines to adhere to and that means that you will have to work overtime. But most of the time the overtime is paid.

Plastering projects you will be assigned to- The projects you choose depends on what plastering courses you have taken in your basic training. For example, heritage plasterers learn how to work with a specific mix of plaster. This mix is the same one used since ancient times. These plastering courses teach a higher degree of skill and technical knowledge before plasterers are allowed to work on heritage constructions. Sometimes plasterers are contracted to prepare special moldings and designs that are prepared in workshops and then asked to assemble them in buildings. There are specialized plastering courses that teach how to prepare fibrous moldings used to make false ceilings and wall moldings.

Locations of projects- Most projects are located far away in up-coming residential areas. They will require you to travel a lot and to far-flung areas. That means it’s better if you have a vehicle of your own and you will be away from your home for long periods of time.

Skills required before enrolling in plastering courses- There are a large range of skills which you will have to learn before you become a skilled plasterer. Plastering courses require patience as for a majority of the time you will have to work with a wet clammy material. The material sets fast and it requires skill to handle. The material has to be applied in thin layers to surfaces and plastering courses will teach you to handle trowels and hawks to apply the plaster. You will also learn to make moldings, sheets and false ceilings with plaster. Basic skills in woodworking and math are very essential, as designing moldings and measuring the amount of plaster required to make them are very essential.

Career path- You can work as a freelancer for a few years or choose to do an apprenticeship with a construction company to get practical experience. Both options are fine.

Are you searching for professional plastering courses?

If you are working on site with plastering company and you want to get a degree or diploma to add to your resume; then professional plastering courses are the best option. I agree that trying to go back to studying after working for a living can be very difficult. But there are a lot of options available as part time plastering courses for almost all novice plasterers.

Study options for plastering courses-
1. Full time study- You can prepare for a full time course by joining plastering courses right after high school. You will need to take electives like math, construction drawing and woodworking to prepare your skills for professional plastering courses, as most of the work requires handiwork skills.
2. Online courses- There are several plastering courses online where you will be taught the theoretical aspects of plastering. But be advised that most employers prefer to see on-site experience rather than theoretical knowledge.
3. Part time study- for most working plasterers this works out the best. You can continue with an apprenticeship at the company you are working with at present and still get an educational diploma which adds value to your work experience. There are several part time courses which you can find in your own locality with the help of the internet.
Fees and scholarships for plastering courses-
As such there are no scholarships available for plastering courses but you can try your luck with search engines. But a much better option is to ask your employer to fund a part of plastering courses while you are working for them as a professional plasterer. That works out better for the both of you in the long run. You might be expected to sign on for a longer contract period to help your employer recover his investment but think of it as a long time permanent job rather than a disadvantage.

What are the hours and working conditions?
Most of the times plastering jobs run on tight deadlines! You will have to work at least 40 hours a week all through the week with Sundays off. But again it depends on how fast the work needs to be completed. You might need to work indoors on indoor residential renovations or even outdoors in cold draughty buildings. If you are a fiber plasterer you will have to work in large workshops building the moulds and castings that different design jobs need. You will also have to visit sites to make sure that the moldings and castings you make are accurate and fit according to the architects design. If the job demands it you will also have to work on high scaffoldings attaching ceilings and cornices to the walls and ceiling. Freelancers may have long periods of time when they are out of work or are on call. The job also involves traveling to far off locations to build buildings which take several months to complete.

Plastering courses can prepare you for all these requirements if you work hard.

Learning about plastering through plastering courses!

Plastering courses are a dime a dozen on the internet. But how do you choose the perfect course for your needs? Are there any specific criteria the employers look for while going through resumes for plasterers? Let find out!

Plasterers are an integral part of the construction industry. They are responsible for covering external and internal constructions surfaces with a thick and water resistant coat of plaster. But the main problem with plaster is that it sets very fast. Plasterers have to learn to judge accurately exactly how to mix the material and how. The material once mixed has to be applied surfaces in a limited period of time or it simple sets like marble. As you must have realized by now, plasterers require a whole lot of technical experience along with pure skill. And that’s what plastering courses can teach you.

Requirements-
 When you are working with a wet and plastic material like plaster, speed and accuracy becomes essential. You will have to have basic skills in wet working and how to use tools like the trowel and the hawk. The process looks easy but it’s not as easy as it seems. Most professional plastering courses have practical sessions where you learn how to mix and use the material and apply it with the necessary equipment.
 There are special techniques like beading, plastering etc which are explained in theoretical classes and then demonstrated in practical sessions. You may need to get additional hands on experience which will be judged by assessors. Short plastering courses of only one to six weeks are not enough to get the experience required in handling the material.
 Choose plastering courses which are atleast six to seven weeks long as that’s the only way you get the best out of it. At the end of the course you should be getting National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and or the Intermediate Construction Award (ICA) for having finished the course. The NVQ is however not really assessed till you enter your workplace so you get trained in the course and learn the basics. The ICA is really great if you get it and is a tremendous plus point in your resume.
 Your chosen plastering courses should teach you the basics in health and safety at the workplace as this contributes to a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. Every employer requires that you be aware of workplace safety and if you have the card ready then it instantly readies you for a job at a construction site.
 Additional skills in decorating and plastering become very necessary, as you get skilled in your job. Plastering courses which teach additional tweaks like plasterwork decorating are great and you should try them out.
 After you have sufficient experience, you have to register with the Construction Skills Register (CSR) where you are kept on the books for future jobs. As you progress with your skills then you also simultaneously progress through the accreditation levels of NVQ level 2 and 3. Eventually you are assigned a Skills Card and then a Craft Card

Make sure you check for all these requirements before you choose any of the plastering courses which are there on the internet or in your locality and you should do fine.

Plastering courses: a good career option?

Are you contemplating a career change is these shaky financial times? Or are you just wondering whether having a professional qualification in plastering may get you a more secure job? Well working as a plasterer is a great option for anyone who has the time to take up plastering courses.

Plastering courses will teach you to handle and work with plaster which is used to cover internal and external surfaces of almost every type of construction. Most employers are not that particular about what type of plastering courses you may have done. But they are meticulous about your on-site experience. If you are already working as an apprentice plasterer with a construction company, then taking up professional plastering courses makes you a better option to be hired anywhere. You will have the experience as well as the professional degree or diploma to back you up.

What do plastering courses teach?
Plaster sets very fast. Plasterers have to learn how to manipulate the material with the required tools to create a durable and permanent coat on the walls that they are covering. And that takes a lot of practical skill. Online plastering courses are fine but they cannot teach you how the material handles, how to mix the material with the proper water content for optimum strength, its setting time manipulation and mixing and how to adjust water content to change the amount of time required for the material to set. This requires a lot of practical experience and you will get it only with hands on training. Try to choose plastering courses which offer an apprenticeship program with the diploma.

Are there any specific government-approved plastering courses which I can choose?
Not really. But almost all plastering courses are designed to get you the maximum amount of practical experience with the material. You can start preparing for your plastering career in high school by short listing plastering courses which are close by and offer the appropriate hands-on experience. You might have to take up optional classed in mathematics, general shop technique, math and construction drawing to get the best out of your plastering courses.

Are there any special skills I would need before enrolling in plastering courses?
Plastering courses involve extensive work to be done by hand and it requires a lot of manual and technical skills. A few more skills which may be required are
 Extensive technical knowledge about the material and the surfaces you will be working on
 The skill of working with fast setting materials
 Basic computation in math to understand and calculate the surface area to be covered in plaster and the material quality which will be required for it.
 Be able to work constructively in a team of workers and take orders from a superior
 Be relatively fit, as most of the work requires a large amount of hard physical exertion.
 Have a little physical dexterity to manage graceful designs which may have to be sculpted in plaster
 Be aware of health and safety issues

Plastering courses: becoming a plasterer!

Are you thinking of becoming a plasterer by enrolling in plastering courses? Plasterers work with plaster to create durable smooth coatings on surfaces of new constructions. They also apply resilient coats of sand and lime or cement, as well as decorative effects of pebble-dash and stone-effect materials to protect external surfaces from the elements. Most plasterers learn their trade through on-site experience but having done certified plastering courses just adds to your resume and gives you a better chance of being hired.

The demand for new plasterers after finishing plastering courses- Newer and better constructions are always going to be around and that’s where a good plasterer can get a lot of jobs. It is expected that in the nest two years there will be a demand for more than 2, 500 plasterers state-wise to keep up with the construction boom.

Job opportunities after finishing plastering courses- For plasterers there are several job opportunities that they can apply for. For example,
1. Specialist firms which deal with heritage projects
2. Working as a part of a team of building contractors,
3. Sub-contracting to local establishments, local authorities and social organizations
4. Handing a team as Foreman of a plastering firm which specializes in plastering, tiling, grouting etc
5. Freelancing as a contractor who works with building material suppliers for small plastering jobs
6. Site management
7. Supervisors

What do professional Plastering courses teach?
Plastering courses teach the basics of how to handle plaster and work with it to create a resistant and durable exterior and interior finish. You will also be taught safety standards, equipment used in the process of plastering and different materials used to create external stone finishes. You will be expected to work in the following areas as a team or as an individual.
1. Solid plastering – The wall surface is prepared and then different types of wet finishes are applied to surfaces. On external surfaces, different types of protective and decorative coatings are put up like pebbling, stone finishes, bricking, pebble-dashing and layering
2. Fibrous plastering – This involves the process of creating specially designed plasterwork which is commonly used in false ceilings with cornices, ceiling roses and architraves. The plaster is reinforced with fiber to create a much stronger mix and it’s poured into moulds and casts to get a definite shape.
3. Dry lining- Plastering courses teach how to fix plaster board or prepared fiber board onto prepared metal mounts made on walls and ceilings.

How much will be my earnings after finishing an apprenticeship and training with good plastering courses?
According to a government survey carried out in 2008, average earnings of a plasterer are about £14,000 to £17,000 a year. And that is just for beginners.
Trained plasterers are paid about £17,500 and £22,000 depending on expertise and additional experience. Plasterers who have several years of experience can earn over £26,000 or more. Overtime is paid more and shift allowances are extra. Freelancers can negotiate their own rate for their work. But with a degree or a diploma from professional plastering courses, there are chances that you will get paid more.