Meet Lisa Sanovski, Web Developer

Lisa Sanovski is a freelancer who does web development work for clients, mostly for small to medium sized businesses. She has been building websites for clients for the last five years or so, mainly on WordPress. Over the years, Lisa has come across a number of web hosts; most have been good but some have been not-so-good. Bluehost is one of the latter. Lisa started websitehostingrating.com as a place to post her reviews of Bluehost.com and other web hosting offerings.

1. When someone who has never built a website before tells you they want to start a website, what's the first thing you tell them?

I usually tell them that their website will be built on WordPress which is the exact same platform that many of the Fortune500 brands like News Corp and Sony Music use to build websites, and the reaction I get is often, "Wow," followed by "Oh, and how much is that going to cost me?"

That's the beauty of building websites using WordPress; it powers more than ¼ of all sites on the Internet; it's secure; and because it's open source, it's 100% free use. There are a bunch more compelling reasons why you should WordPress, nicely compiled here.

2. I used to think of WordPress as being more suited for blogs, but over the years, I've seen it used more and more for websites that are fairly static. What's your advice to people who want a website but don't want to be regularly updating it like a blog?

Yeah that's right: WordPress started out as blogging platform, but today it can be used to do so much more. It can power full blown ecommerce sites and run company intranets, online forums, job boards. And it has loads of more uses. I would say it depends on the industry you are in, whether or not you should regularly update your website with more blog-type content. Most clients I create sites for are more static, set and forget type ones.

3. What's your process like in building websites for clients? Do you mostly get people set up with WordPress, and then they carry on with refining and updating their site?

The thing is, anyone can learn how to use WordPress and update their website's content. I think that is one of the main reasons why I love working with WordPress, and regularly use it to build websites, because it's so easy to master. So once the design is more or less locked in, I do a bit of training with the client, and they will learn how to refine and update their own website.

4. What inspired you to start your website about web hosting?

The main reason why I started my honest Bluehost review site was to provide a more of an honest and unbiased review of Bluehost, based on my own personal experience of using them for clients and personal sites over the years. Because Bluehost has a fairly generous affiliate marketing program, there are loads of review sites out there, sites that are more interested in earning an income from referring signups to Bluehost than to provide people with real honest facts.

5. In the five years that you've been doing web development, what changes have you seen--and are there other changes you think might be on the horizon?

That's a really great question. Gosh, there have been so many changes over the years, from one page layouts, parallax scrolling, flat designs, video backgrounds, just to name a few. Looking into the crystal ball, I think the mobile first approach is here to stay; you know, people and "users" of websites are more and more on their mobile devices and expect websites to load fast and display well no smaller screens, and web developers and designers have to adjust to that.

Thanks, Lisa!

Some Natural Ways To Stop Snoring

A lot of times when we think about how to stop snoring, we think of surgical interventions and expensive medical devices. But there are other options, too, for some of us. Maybe you're one of the lucky people who can find relief from natural methods to stop snoring--and/or maybe your snoring is troublesome to your sleep partner, but your doctor has said your snoring doesn't sound like a major medical issue.

If you're looking for a collection of interesting, non-invasive options to try to see if they help you, check out James' anti-snoring blog. He focuses on affordable, natural methods to help you stop snoring, and he gives detailed overviews and reviews of different products on the market today.

Some of the products featured on the blog include a washable fabric chinstrap that helps keep your mouth and jaw in a comfortable position while you sleep that discourages snoring, an anti-snoring pillow, and an adjustable mouthpiece that helps keep your airway clear while you sleep.

In addition to product reviews, the site contains other resources, such as a Sleep Apnea 101 page that goes over the basics of sleep apnea and discusses various treatment options. What I think is most important about this page is that you really get an idea of the ways that sleep apnea has a negative impact on your health (including increasing your likelihood of developing heart disease!), which is good motivation to address your snoring.

If you or one of your loved ones has been snoring, why not read up on different anti-snoring methods and give some natural methods a try to see if they help? You never know: sometimes the easiest answer turns out to be the best one. Or better yet, talk to your doctor about the natural methods you discover through James' blog and go from there. But the first step is always gathering information, and James' anti-snoring blog is a helpful place to start.

A Perspective on Beverly Hills MD Lift and Firm Sculpting Cream

As you know if you're a regular reader of this blog, I generally don't write product reviews but instead do posts that introduce different products, services, companies, etc. There are a lot of other websites out there that review products--and the beauty industry is a great example of an area where you really do want to surf around and check out some reviews before making a purchase, especially since many products are pretty pricey.

This Beverly Hills MD lift and firm sculpting cream review is a great example of a thorough, point-by-point review of a beauty product. I love that the author of the review is 68 years old and is reviewing a product intended for helping you to repair, improve, and protect your skin--it's great to find a reviewer who really is the intended market for a product (and hey, we're not all 22 years old any more!).

The review gives you a lot of detailed information about the product and has a friendly, personal tone. Really it was more like reading about someone's personal experiences and ups and downs with dermatology rather than reading a review. The personal touch definitely makes a difference when it comes to keeping me reading. She found the cream to be helpful and effective, but she also doesn't make miraculous claims for it. She says that it makes her look like she's in her 50s rather than her 60s, and I appreciate the realism in her approach.

The other nice thing about the review was that the author included two different links for purchasing the product: one direct from the manufacturer and another with discounted prices from affiliates who contract with the manufacturer. If you're in the market for a lifting and firming cream, why not check this one out?

Comment on Any Website with Commeta

You might say that the internet is made up of a series of conversations, many of which take place in the comments sections of different websites. However, not all websites allow comments, and sometimes this can be frustrating as comments (like reviews) are one of the ways that we can look at the perspectives of different individuals when reading a text, making a decision about an online purchase, or participating in other activities where we want to consider other people's input.

So here's a cool solution that lets you post and read comments on any website. Commeta is a browser extension that lets you comment anywhere and everywhere online. It works with Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Chrome.

The idea is that you have access to shared and open knowledge by using Commeta. Imagine the times when this could be useful. Maybe you see a job posting on craigslist that seems a bit vague, and you read comments on Commeta that give you more information about the company. Maybe you're looking to buy a house, and you find useful comments on the page with the MLS listing for the property.

Commeta creates a platform to post and read comments in real time. As the name suggests, you have the opportunity to participate in a meta-conversation around the subject of the website with people all over the world.

There are a lot of situations where I happen upon a website or a posting on craigslist and wonder what the real story is, especially with jobs and business opportunities. Sometimes companies don't allow comments or reviews on their sites, and these same companies can be very savvy with SEO, so it can be hard to find information from actual consumers when you use a search engine to try and find outside sources of information. So I welcome Commeta as a way to access another means of finding things out!

To learn more and to download the plugin, check out www.commeta.ca.

Introducing Alarm-Reviews.Net

If you're interested in buying or upgrading a home security system, you're probably eager to read some alarm reviews, and Alarm-Reviews.Net is a website that reviews the major home security companies and their security systems.

As you browse the site, you'll find well-known names such as ADT and Protect America. The reviews include pricing information (installation plus monthly rates) and the features that each system provides as well as the company's customer support practices. The reviews are concise and give you a good overview of each company and what you're getting for your investment.

Alarm-Reviews.Net also includes comparison tools which allow you to line up the features offered by different companies against each other. This can be helpful if you have a couple of companies in mind and want a little help making a decision. Another tool specifically offers an equipment comparison, where you scroll through pictures of all of the different equipment provided by each company--this is a great idea for people who like to see visual representations.

The site is meant to offer an unbiased, third-party perspective on security systems available in the US and Canada. If you're shopping for a home alarm system, it's worth checking out.

Meet Cark of HondaNavigationUpdates.com

Cark runs the website www.HondaNavigationUpdates.com, which is a resource for Honda owners who want to learn more about getting the best updates for the GPS navigation systems in their cars.

1. Would you give us a little bit of general information about what the Honda navigation system is?

The Honda Navigation system is an inbuilt GPS system crammed with loads of benefits--only what you could expect from Honda the brand. It's inbuilt to the dashboard and comes built into majority of their new cars produced. A lot of the older models had it as an upgrade available on purchase.

2. How does the Honda system differ from other GPS systems?

The Honda system differs from other because of the amount of additional features. I particularly like the points of interest functionality. The Honda Navigation System has 1000s of pre-programmed points of interest that appear on the maps screen as icons while you're driving. These points include hospitals, schools, gas stations, police stations, local business, and amenities.

3. Why is it important to update your navigation system?

It is really important to update your Honda Navigation System. If you don't, you can be wasting time gas and money while polluting the atmosphere. This is because when the system is not updated, it has no way of picking up the new maps. So when programing your journey, it is not taking advantage of any new routes that should be available to you. Also, by using out of date technology, you are not benefiting from all the new and updated points of interest. Plus, you will not have access to new features such as the electronic toll collection feature which plans routes for you minimizing the amount of money spent on toll collection.

4. When you wanted to update your own system, what issues did you run into that inspired you to start your website?

When I wanted to update my Honda Navigation System, I really struggled to find an informative review completed by a Honda driver who was actually the end consumer of this product. I couldn't find much, apart from press releases and marketing. This is why I created this website, and we have a contact us page where we actively request people to share their feedback about updating their Honda Navigation System--once this is done, we can then upload it to the site. This means the site is ever-evolving by other Honda owners' contributions.

5. What can readers find on your site, and is there other info that you're planning to add in the future?

Readers will find informative reviews and pictures, and they can gain a great understanding of what updating your in-car technology can do for them and their driving experience. The site is ever-evolving but does rely on people getting involved. This allows the site to grow, sticking to the values I have built it on, ensuring that the reader gets information from different people and can see real life reviews from Honda owners and enthusiasts.

Thanks, Cark!

Are You Teaching Your Kids to Sew?

Have you ever thought about teaching your kids to sew? When I was a kid, you had to learn on a big, adult-sized sewing machine. Where's the fun in that?

Today, kids can learn to sew on sewing machines that are specially made for kids. These machines are simple in their appearance and functions. They also are easy to thread with a foot pedal that depresses easily. And of course they are made to withstand the wear and tear that kids tend to inflict on, oh, everything.

There's a very nice-looking line of sewing machines for kids featuring Hello Kitty designs. Click here for more info. The page I've linked to is part of the Best Sewing Machines for Kids site, which is a good all-around resource on kids and sewing. The site includes detailed reviews of four different Hello Kitty kids' sewing machines made by a company called Janome. The different models are designed with kids of different ages in mind. Prices start just under $100.

I was always a bit intimidated by sewing machines as a kid. I have to wonder if I'd be more into sewing today if I'd gotten started with a kid-friendly machine myself!

Meet Aaron Kocourek, Online Reputation Management Expert

Aaron Kocourek is an expert in online reputation management (ORM). When people search your name online, what do they see? Negative content or bad reviews can dramatically impact your personal life or business relationships. Positive search results, on the other hand, allow you to look your very best on the Internet. ORM helps you control how you are viewed online. Through ORM, you proactively build truthful, positive content about yourself or your company in order to dominate the top pages of search results and insulate you from online attacks or bad press.

1. How did you first become interested in working in the area of ORM?

I have an extensive background in eCommerce, and that taught me a lot about how displeased customers interact with online companies. It wasn't uncommon for us to find out about a problem with an order by getting a bad online review. Sometimes the customers wouldn't even contact us first. I saw that this was an issue that most eCommerce companies had. You can't please every single customer every time. Online review sites are an outlet where consumers can express their frustration. This is what spurred my interest in online reputation management.

2. How important are online reviews when it comes to the reputation of a business, and what should business owners do upon discovering negative reviews?

According to a recent study conducted by Harvard Business School, if a business increases their Yelp star rating by just 1 star, it leads to a 5-9% increase in revenues. Additionally, a study by Cornell University, which examined sites like TripAdvisor and Travelocity, found that a 1 star increase would allow a hotel to charge 11.2% more. The popularity of online review sites is only growing.

It is important for businesses to be proactive and begin building their online reputation and positive reviews now. Don't wait for a negative review to appear. If you start building up positive reviews now, it will help drown out any negative reviews when they get posted. An example of this would be: You are searching for a new business online. You find two: the first has one negative review, and the other has 25 positive reviews and 3 negative. Which would you do business with? When you do get a negative review, it is important to respond to the review, keeping the message short and emotion-free. Try to contact the customer if at all possible because when you resolve a complaint and make the customer happy, it is very common for people to delete their negative review if satisfied. When you do respond to the negative review, do not include your personal name. If you include your personal name, the negative review may start ranking for your name when people Google you, which causes yet another online reputation issue.

3. What can people do if there's negative information about them posted online in such contexts as public records or newspaper articles?

The first thing highly visible people usually do is work to get a positive article with the same paper. This is not advised, as when you get additional media, even if it is positive, most news software platforms perform name-matching, so they usually show a link to the negative article at the bottom of the new article. This is because news sources want to recycle old content and continue earning revenue from it. I have seen this happen more times than I can count. What I advise is to get positive media from a different news source, particularly an online-focused news site.

Whenever negative information is posted as public records or on news sites, it is usually syndicated pretty well, so the challenge went from one listing to multiple, sometimes even hundreds. Government sites and newspaper sites are authoritative in the algorithms of search engines and social media, so they tend to get much higher visibility than normal sites. This presents more of a challenge when you are trying to suppress this information. It is still possible to suppress a negative listing on these types of sites; however, it will require substantially more time and resources.

4. For people who want a DIY approach, what are some things they can do to boost their positive search results for themselves as individuals, or for their businesses?

The first thing is to develop a blog, and write about things you are passionate about--for example, your job, hobbies, or charities you believe in. This is one of the most important things you can do for personal branding and to take control of your online reputation. Write blog articles using keyword phrases that people would type into a search engine when searching for you.

Secondly, do what I am doing right now. Reach out to other blog authors in your vertical that you respect, and offer to write an article for them, or offer an interview. If there are forums in your vertical, make sure you participate in them. Offer free advice and information. You want people to see you as an expert in your field, and the best way to do this is to start out helping others in a public manner. But don't just limit yourself to blogs and forums; participate in groups on social media platforms such as Facebook, Linkedin, and Pinterest.

Businesses should also be active in online review sites in which their customers participate. When a customer leaves you a review, whether positive or negative, take the time out to write a detailed response to each one.

5. As an expert in the field, what are some services you offer that go beyond what most people might readily know about and/or be able to do?

I always recommend that you should first try to develop positive listings yourself. In a small amount of cases, people will be successful and not need a firm like ours. However, in most cases they make a small amount of progress, and then it flatlines. Once a person or a company has begun developing their online reputation, they begin to truly understand how much resources are needed in order to successfully control their online reputation. We have an extensive team of writers that produce content for clients, and teams of link builders which enhance the visibility of listings.

The greatest reason a business or individual should hire an online reputation management firm is that firms like ours have established relationships with media outlets that we can leverage for our clients. In addition to this, we have the resources available in order to create large amounts of high quality content, large teams of link builders which can boost listings on search engine ranking, and webmasters who know how to build or optimize sites, blogs, profiles and other listings which will rank well, and who can execute on a campaign very quickly.

Unfortunately many clients feel hopeless when they call us. They have tried for months or even years to suppress a negative listing with little to no success. We make it clear that there is hope, and we can help them.

Thanks, Aaron!

Meet Catalin of Ecommerce Platforms, an Ecommerce Review Site

Ecommerce Platforms is an unbiased review site that shows the good, great, bad, and ugly of online store building software. They strive to provide readers with easy to read (and sometimes fun) and objective reviews that will help people choose which ecommerce platform is right for their individual needs. They invite readers to follow them on Twitter, comment, question, contact, and ENGAGE!

Check out the Ecommerce Platforms comparison chart to look at the different ecommerce platforms and their features.

1. Why did you decide to launch a website with a focus on reviewing ecommerce platforms?

A friend of mine asked for help finding the best ecommerce platform for his new business venture. However, after numerous days spent Googling the right platform, I realized that the information out there about ecommerce platforms really isn't all that good. This was when I decided to create Ecommerce Platforms, because I wanted other people to be able to find comparisons between the different platforms as well as reviews and tutorials.

2. When it comes to choosing an ecommerce platform, how important of a factor is the size of your business? In other words, do smaller businesses have different needs than medium or large businesses?

Yes, smaller companies might not need some of the features offered by the bigger, more expensive platforms. Therefore, smaller companies might consider signing up with a more niche-driven ecommerce platform. While I would recommend that large businesses sign up with companies such as Shopify or Bigcommerce, I would recommend that smaller companies consider a platform such as Big Cartel as they cater directly to smaller companies. This article covers some of these differences.

3. For you personally, what separates a "good" ecommerce platform from a "great" one?

The first word that comes to mind when I think about a great platform is "templates." Really, the one thing that often sets ecommerce platforms apart is the templates they offer. While some companies offer very basic templates, others go the extra mile to offer amazing templates. Secondly, it is very important to look at what kinds of add-ons the site offers, as many sites will offer certain add-ons and plug-ins for free, while other sites might charge for the same features.

4. What are some other topics you cover on your site?

While we do focus on reviewing the different ecommerce platforms, we also spend a lot of time looking for the best plug-ins for the different store sites. Furthermore, we are spending more time now looking at great WordPress plug-ins that can be used to boost sales. We are also working on more tips and tutorials for those who are just getting started in the ecommerce industry.

5. If you were to meet someone who is just getting started with selling products or services online, what would your advice be?

Don't give up! It will be a long process, but in the end it will be a very rewarding process. Secondly, do your research: in other words, do not jump the gun and sign up for the first and cheapest platform you can find. In the end it will come back to haunt you. Once you have completed your store, make sure you market it, everywhere you can possibly think of.

Thanks, Catalin!

Introducing Home Learning Journey, a Site for Reviews of Online Marketing Tools

Do you want to learn more about running a business from home? Home Learning Journey is a website focused on "the ABCs of online marketing." If you're researching different online tools and systems that are being sold to people who want to make money from home, you definitely want to do your research, which means reading up on a variety of websites about the products you're considering for purchase. The idea of Home Learning Journey is to offer a series of reviews to share information about different products.

The reviews break down the aspects of the different programs, tools, and resources by looking at the various elements that each product covers. The reviews focus on telling you just what you're getting for the cost of the tool. You can tell that the reviews are written by people who already have knowledge of and interest in online marketing.

As an example of the site's content, check out the Inbox Blueprint review, which looks at Inbox Blueprint 2.0, a software/training package meant to help people use email marketing effectively when starting a business online. The review shows a first-hand understanding of email marketing. My reading of the review is that if you're looking for the slow dime rather than the fast nickel, you will appreciate Inbox Blueprint because rather than trying to get just 1 or 2% of people to quickly buy something, you instead want to get a larger percentage of people to sign up for your email list, and then you wait until you have a large number of subscribers to make a sales offer.

Home Learning Journey is an interesting site for anyone with an interest in online marketing. It's a good way to learn about strategies for marketing and to find out about some of the products and tools out there today.

Introducing Grandma Likes to Sew, A Sewing Machine Review Site

I've seen a lot of website with product reviews, but grandmalikestosew.com is one of the best I've ever come across. The content on the site is written by a mom and grandma who has enjoyed sewing and sharing her love of sewing with others for over 50 years. The emphasis on the site is on sewing machines, with special tips for beginners who want advice in buying their first sewing machine.

This is a useful site written by a well-informed author. If you want help in making a purchasing decision, you'll find detailed reviews with lots of information about different machines. As an example, check out the Brother CS-6000i review; this model is an inexpensive computerized machine, and the review gives a solid overview of the features and what you're getting for your money.

You can find reviews about machines with special features like embroidery machines, quilting machines, and heavy duty machines. There are also recommendations for helpful sewing books, plus a growing list of sewing resources online. It will be interesting to see how the site grows over time as the author has more time to share reviews and other content to inspire more people to take up (or continue!) with machine sewing. The site has a clean and easy to navigate layout, and I enjoyed the author's friendly and knowledgeable voice.

Introducing Cloud Storage Top 10

Many of us have used cloud storage in one way or another--maybe to share files with a friend or coworker, or maybe to store our own files as a backup to what's on our computer, and so on. But how do you choose a cloud storage provider? Cloud Storage Top 10 is a small website with just one purpose: to share information about different cloud storage options.

This UK-based site gives reviews of different providers and also lists the costs and features of each service. The reviews emphasize paid services as these offer more storage space and are meant for regular/daily users who need to store lots of files. So if you are in the high megabytes or even pushing a terabyte when it comes to the amount of space you need, this site is going to be useful for you in looking at affordable paid options for cloud storage.

I found the site interesting as the only provider on the top ten list that I was personally familiar with was Dropbox, so I appreciated learning about other options. Six of the top ten currently listed offer unlimited storage, which is pretty cool if you ask me! And the reviews are very thorough in explaining exactly how each site works in terms of upload, storage, dashboard, etc, and what you're getting for your money.

If you are like me and have smaller needs in terms of cloud storage, you might like the article that Cloud Storage Top 10 has posted about free cloud storage options.

Introducing Thingsfolio, a Social Product Review Site

A group of entrepreneurs is just launching a new site called Thingsfolio. The tagline of the site is "The Fun and Easy Way to Shop Socially." The idea is that you can visit Thingsfolio to get friend-sourced product advice; it's a social product review site where you can view recommendations and solicit advice when you are shopping for something.

I've spent a lot of time Googling and scrolling through reviews on sites like Amazon. I've also posted on Facebook to ask friends when I want to make a purchase and am not sure where to start (like when I finally decided to replace my 10+ year-old digital camera!). Thingsfolio allows you to connect to their site with Facebook, and you can easily share information with your Facebook friends through the site. It's pretty cool because basically it allows you and your friends to self-select; if you like sharing information about products, you can use Thingsfolio to connect and share with other friends who like to do the same thing. When you're shopping and want to gather info from your friends, you don't have to use your status updates to ask questions because you can browse, ask, and learn through Thingsfolio instead.

Other features of Thingsfolio include being able to view your Facebook friends' favorites or wishlists, which can be great for birthdays, baby showers, and more. The site has a user-friendly interface with a nice-looking visual component which lets you set up "folios" according to your interests (groups of products you like, stuff you want, etc).

We have seen social product reviews become more and more influential (Amazon, Goodreads, Yelp, and the list goes on), so I think Thingsfolio could be poised for a busy future. Learn more by checking out this video from the company.

Meet Jason Horton of Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement

Jason Horton is a musician and environmentalist with a family background in home construction. Each year he creates a new website based on a home-related health and safety issue where he sees a lot of misinformation floating around the web. He started his Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement website in 2012.

Jason started the site because he discovered that many people who buy carbon monoxide detectors don't know how to install them in the correct locations in their home, which can lead to people being poisoned even though they have a detector or alarm installed. He posts reviews of carbon monoxide detectors as well as information on proper placement.

1. I think a lot of us grew up "before" carbon monoxide detectors, so could you give us a little background on how/why they have come into wide use?

Carbon monoxide poisoning has been a problem for a very long time; in fact it's still the most common cause of accidental poisoning in America today. The reason detectors have become widely used in recent years is two-fold: firstly, the electrochemical sensor technology that modern detectors use has become quite affordable (you can get CO alarms for under $20 these days), and the second reason is that many state governments have created laws requiring their use in homes which have fossil fuel burning appliances.

2. What do people need to know about the proper placement of detectors in their home?

This is the topic I cover in most detail on my website because it's vital to ensuring they work correctly in an emergency. If you put them in the wrong place, the sensors won't be able to detect the build up of CO gas until it's too late, or they won't wake you up at night, or in some places they will give false positives which means people end up turning them off or not taking them seriously when they sound--a bit like the "boy who cried wolf." But as the old saying goes, "the worst place to have them is still in the package they were in when you bought them."

3. How many detectors does an average home need?

This is where it gets a little complicated because it depends on factors like whether or not you have an internally attached garage, where the fossil fuel appliances in your home are, and a few other factors like that. For most homes, one in the basement if you have a furnace or gas powered water heater there, another one 15ft from your gas oven, stove, or fireplace, and one within 15ft of each bedroom is the minimum needed.

4. With smoke alarms, a lot of times they go off when there isn't really a fire but rather some smoke from cooking, etc. Does this happen with carbon monoxide detectors, too? What should you do if yours goes off and you don't think there's a problem?

You will only get false positives if you place a detector too close to a fossil-fuelled appliance. There are always trace amounts of CO gas produced when you're cooking, for example, and these low levels aren't dangerous over short exposure times during cooking--as long as your nearest detector is 15ft away, you won't have a problem unless it malfunctions. Most models run self-tests and have a testing button you can press if you're not sure. If the detectors sound the alarm, and you use the test button and it says it's working properly, then you must evacuate the house immediately and call 911. You must do this even if you don't think it's serious because your judgement is often affected when you're exposed to CO gas.

5. In reviewing detectors for your site, what criteria do you consider in choosing a good product?

I tend to take an epidemiological approach by presenting the models which will produce the greatest net benefit for the greatest numbers of homes, and I base my criteria on that. I also review some models which I recommend against using because I know people are looking for information on them when they visit my website, and if I don't provide them with the facts they need, they may go out and get one which is inappropriate for their circumstances. For example, I strongly recommend against using dual smoke and CO detectors because the sensors for each type of unit need to be in different positions for maximum effectiveness and safety.

Thanks, Jason!

Introducing BigFREEbets

While online gambling isn't legal the US, it is allowed in the UK, and there's a lot of information out there on gambling on football (soccer) matches.

The website BigFREEbet offers a list of the best online bookmakers with information about odds, promotions, and other relevant factors for those in the UK (and elsewhere that online gambling is legal) who wish to look at different venues for placing bets.

For the different betting venues, you'll find reviews of each site, starting with a summary, then giving information on the requirements for joining the site, the design and features offered by the site, and then ending with an overall recommendation.

In the words of BigFREEbet, "As an online bettor, you are trusting these companies with your money so it's important that they are trustworthy and you feel safe while betting with them. After all, betting is meant to be an enjoyable thing!" The reviews are concise and to the point and will tell you about bonuses, ease of use, and other factors that might add to your enjoyment.

Introducing DatingWise

When you first click onto the DatingWise website, you'll see a box to register for free, but you can click around on the website to explore before signing up, which is always a good feature in my opinion. DatingWise offers detailed reviews of a wide variety of dating-related websites. The reviews contain both text and video content, and there are lots of user comments on the reviews which gives you even more of an idea of what you might find on the different dating sites under consideration.

Another nice feature is that the dating sites are categorized by location and other features that specific sites emphasize (such as sites focusing on making matches between people who share a religion). If you're looking for a particular type of dating site, odds are you'll find it on DatingWise.

There's also a page on the site called Deals which gives you links to introductory/discount packages with various personals websites, so if you find a service you want to try while browsing DatingWise, you might just find a coupon to get started!

Casino Reviews at Casino Poker Guide

Casino Poker Guide is a website with the tagline, "your guide for online casinos," and provides readers with a variety of casino reviews. More specifically, the site focuses on providing information about UK casinos that offer online gaming.

People who enjoy playing poker online want casinos that are both safe and entertaining. Rather than just randomly clicking onto a site and starting to play, most card players want to do a bit of research about their options. Casino Poker Guide gives details about payouts, bonuses, and available games. Also, different casinos work for different platforms, so check out the site to learn which casinos are best for Macs, PCs, and mobile devices.

As I mentioned in a previous post about casino apps, there are a lot of options out there for gaming, so it really is essential to get reviews from several sources. The reviews on Casino Poker Guide are given in a clear and concise format, making the site a good starting point to get information about online gaming options in the UK.

In addition to offering reviews, Casino Poker Guide shares promotional offers with readers when available.

Introducing Viyae's Positively Focused Blog

Viyae has labeled her personal/professional blog with the title, "positively focused in a world of negative distractions." She posts about topics related to positive thinking, the law of attraction, manifesting money, and other topics related to harnessing your personal thoughts and emotions to achieve what you want to achieve.

The blog is part of the Empower Network, an online marketing system. I've read other EN blogs, and the interesting aspect about them is that each has the particular personality of the individual blogger. What sets Viyae's blog apart is that in addition to curating content she finds online such as useful videos and links, she shares a lot of her personal experiences with learning to think more positively, move past conflicts and other difficulties, and focus on the good things in her life.

Many of her posts and long and thoroughly developed, and she includes detailed reviews of books she's read on a variety of topics related to business, finance, and personal growth. Viyae is an insightful and unique blogger, and I think we'll be seeing a lot more of her work as she continues to share her ideas online.

An Introduction to Casino Apps, A Review Website

For those who enjoy playing casino games on their smartphones and tablets, there are a wide variety of casino game apps in the iTunes and Google Play store. But how do you choose which ones to play? There's a website called Casino Apps which offers reviews and screenshots to help you sort through the many options.

The Casino Apps site is divided into several sections for different types of games, including bingo, slots, roulette, poker, and even solitaire. As an example of one of the site's popular bingo app reviews, the review of Bingo Party emphasizes both the social and single-player aspects of the free app, which allows users to connect with friends via Facebook to play as well as to play offline by yourself.

The site is a good place to find out what different apps provide in terms of a user experience--and to make your best judgments in terms of which apps you want to try given their potential costs. While most of the sites are free and involve playing for credits rather than real money, there are some sites which involve real money, so play at your own risk!

In short, this is a useful site for getting an idea of some of the casino apps out there: it's a nice starting place that puts several things all in one place so that you can save yourself some Googling and clicking through search results.

Introducing Staycations in Singapore

Who doesn't like a staycation? Here's a clever website built around the idea of taking a short holiday: find Singapore staycation ideas, with reviews of hotels for all budgets posted by locals.

The purpose of the site is twofold as it provides Singaporeans with ideas for quick trips to nearby destinations, and it gives tourists to Singapore useful information on hotels in the area.

I always look at websites for reviews when I'm going to book lodging somewhere, and the nice bonus with this particular site is the advantage of information from locals. If someone is willing to pay for a staycation in one of the hotels on the site rather than just have a staycation at home, that's great information to have. The site also includes lots of pictures and videos to give you a clearer impression of each hotel.

Keep up with the latest updates from the site by following Singapore Staycations on Facebook.