Well after less than a month with iPower I have moved web hosts due to their unreliability. I am sure this isn't the way they are permanently but over the last week my site was down on a number of occasions for hours, and I have lost my confidence. I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused ... grrr. One of the interesting observations is that they weren't prepared to go into detail of what the technical issue was, just each time that "it was a router and it's now fixed". I guess companies do this due to being scared of looking bad, but left with no convincing information I was forced to move To View More >>

In business there are no magic bullets, but this idea is so powerful it certainly feels like magic. I ran into an old friend yesterday, and it reminded me of a series of seminars I ran a few years ago that contained a section on how to increase profits. Especially when times are tough, it's great to be able to break things down into some simple rules that allow you to know where to focus, so I'll share this very simple but powerful idea with you now. Gross Profit is calculated on an "averaged basis" as: (Total number of clients x Average number of visits per year x Average sale x Average margin) To View More >>

I talk with people a lot about website creation, online communities and blogging and I’m constantly surprised at the differing attitudes to what works, what’s trendy and often what’s affordable. On one side of the room, the geeks say Web 2.0 is about the technology; on the other the marketing people and professors reckon it’s about the people. But isn't it about the purpose? Why are we doing this, and who is it for? Restaurants are like this. You can build the most elegant dining room, back it with the best kitchen and staff, invite all the popular people – but they won't come back unless To View More >>

In addition to work, I get hundreds of personal emails a week, and have got myself into a situation again of "email overwhelm" on my personal account and Facebook. Today I decided to catch up, and although I haven't got through the 500 odd emails completely I am stunned by what I have come across so far. - an email from an exchange student that lived with us over 20 years ago. - 2 emails from old friends remaking contact. - an email from an online friend telling me that her husband has passed away. - a tirade of emails ... first saying hello and then a number asking why I haven't replied, escalating To View More >>

I've always loved Body Art (Tattoos). To me they can show a strong sense of confidence while also being a means of self expression ... ... A connection to ones culture ... ... an incredible talent ... ... although not always positive, a strong demonstration of belonging ... ... and sometimes just a means to be a little rebellious! Despite my love of them, I don't have any, I worry what people might think. Does that say more about me, or the people that have them? To View More >>