Internet 101 | Silver Surfers

3 Benefits of Shopping Online

Image representing eBay as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

Shopping online is more popular than ever. This kind of shopping can be beneficial in terms of saving time and money, and ultimately, you’ll get a better result. You can shop online for anything, whether you need a gift or a personal item.

Teenagers especially love shopping online. It makes it easier for them not only to buy things, but to acquire the latest and greatest stuff. Sites such as www.offers.com provide information on sales that are now underway as well as printable coupons and coupon codes that can be used online.

Save Money

By shopping online, you may find the item you need for a fraction of its original price. You can save money through online sales, coupon codes and rewards programs. Websites such as eBay, offer eBay Bucks, a rewards program that gives buyers back a percentage of what they buy during a specific time period. This money can be used for future purchases on the website. Also, you won’t have to buy gas and pay tolls when you make your purchases over the Internet.

Save Time

Shopping online also saves time. It’s very convenient to be able to jump on the Internet and do direct shopping when you have time day or night. By avoiding the traffic, the busy store and long lines, buyers can find what they need very quickly.

Variety of Items Available

Finding obscure or discontinued items is easy online. Whether it’s a tv series that has been cancelled or a fragrance that a company has discontinued, the Internet offers a large variety of items consumers want to buy.

Filed Under: Internet 101, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: Coupon, eBay, Loyalty program

4 Money-Saving Android Apps

One of the coolest things about owning a high-tech gadget like the tablet is the ability to save money with the help of some of the great money-saving apps out there. With just a few touches of the touchscreen you can save hundreds of dollars that you would have otherwise shelled out.

If you want to be like all these high-tech shoppers walking around with Android tablets, here’s a look at the top four money-saving apps that are available.

GasBuddy

With gas prices on the rise and nearing $5 a gallon, you want to make sure you are filling up at the cheapest gas station around. The app GasBuddy it will show you the latest gas prices at all the local gas stations so you can price shop for the cheapest gas.

Pic2Shop

The pic2shop app allows you to take a product in the store and scan the bar code to find the best deals around. This app will compare local stores and online retailers like Amazon so you can purchase the product at the lowest price.

CardStar

Every store is starting to make their own rewards card program and with the CardStar app you no longer have to carry around hundreds of cards. CardStar will scan your card and keep all of them on file so you don’t have to carry them around.

Shopkick

Shopkick will find you the best deals at all your favorite stores. Whether it’s a BOGO offer or a discounted coupon, Shopkick will find it for you.

Using these simple apps will help you save money.

Filed Under: Internet 101, Virtual Protections Tagged With: Android, Filling station, GasBuddy

The Internet Cliff’s Notes: the All-Important CSS Cheatsheet

It’s a lot easier than you think to create a spiffy web page with all the makings of a professional. Of course, if you do have the income for clean-cut business web site development, by all means make the investment. It’s well worth the money. If, however, you don’t have that kind of dough to throw around…. You’ll do well to know this important secret –

Image courtesy: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/2391419837_cb9cb3f609_m.jpg

Believe it or not, web site design isn’t all about HTML. So you know your commands well enough; that’s great. But what really makes a great web site is a little something called a CSS.

The fact is most professional web pages are generally 90% CSS (stands for Cascading Style Sheets) and only 10% HTML language.

You’re probably asking this rather profound question, though: what is a Cascading Style Sheet?

Here’s the answer: don’t worry about it!

To make it incredibly easy for you, what you can do is use a ‘cheatsheet.’ Call it the internet Cliff’s Notes, if you want. But the reality is imitation is the greatest form of flattery, especially if you’re trying to emulate the sense of professionalism existing from the best professional sites out there.

You can download a couple different cheatsheets, such as the IloveJackDaniels.com CSS cheatsheet or Leslie Franke’s CSS Cheatsheet. It makes it pretty easy for you to just model the web site without having to think about it.

There’s nothing wrong with a little cheating, right? At least on this level. Just don’t consider the same process when you’re in school.

Filed Under: Hot Sites, Internet 101 Tagged With: Cascading Style Sheets, HTML, Web page

Your Best Foot Forward: Getting a Professional Web Site

When it comes to internet marketing, knowing what you need to do is crucial; or else your business is doomed to fail. Think of cyberspace as your town. Now picture your town in real life and ask this simple question….

Where Would You Place Your Business?

Good question, right? Would you set it on a street with very little traffic? Let’s say the demographic’s kind of low, right? No, you’d probably put your business right on the main street where all the cars can see your big sign.

Well, internet marketing is very much the same way. You want to be seen — and seen well.

Part of how you do that is getting a web site, and not just any web site — a professional one. Long gone are the days when you could simply sign up for a MySpace and design it the way you want and let it stand as your web site. You may be good with the HTML, but this is internet marketing we’re talking about here. You need a professional.

The Name of the Game is SEO

That means Search Engine Optimization. In the real world, that would be the equivalent of your business being on the main street! Getting your web site professionally done not only presents the image that will contribute to the quality of your service, but it will also help with the marketing and advertising.

You’ll show up more often on web searches. Your name will pop up more often on social sites. You’ll get more noticed.

It’s About the Image

It’s about your best foot forward: the web site. Clear and simple. And professional.

Filed Under: Internet 101, Tips and Tricks, Web Resources Tagged With: Internet marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Website