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Michael Bloch - EzineArticles.com Expert Author  

Michael Bloch has been working the web as a successful consultant since 1996 and is author and owner of Taming the Beast.net; a very popular web marketing and ecommerce resources site that attracts millions of visits a year. Michael has various qualifications in Business, Training and Assessment which complement his broad Information Technology on online business experience. The articles published by Michael are reproduced in various languages and are referenced by many online business ... [More]

[View Michael Bloch's Extended Author Bio]

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  • Buying a Solar Power System - Avoiding the Tricks and Traps
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] So you're interested in switching on to home solar power? Congratulations, you'll save cash and reduce greenhouse gas emissions! Shopping for a solar power system can be an exciting time for many people, but as with any substantial investment, you'll need to be careful who you deal with. This guide will help you separate the cream from the cons.


  • A Brief Guide to Solar Regulators
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] A solar regulator is a small box consisting of solid state circuitry which is placed between a solar panel and a battery. Its function is to regulate the amount of charge coming from the panel that flows into the deep cycle battery bank in order to avoid the batteries being overcharged.


  • Solar Panel Glass - Tempered Vs Plate
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] When shopping for a solar panel brand, the issues at the forefront of people's minds are usually topics such as efficiency and wattage. An often overlooked issue is glass - and the type of glass used on a solar panel really does matter.


  • Introduction to Battery Chargers
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Battery chargers vary a great deal in intelligence, the types of batteries they can charge, how they maintain batteries, and how long they take to charge. As batteries are such a big investment when it comes to off grid solar power systems, it's important to get the right one for your off grid solar power system.  A general rule of thumb is to charge a battery at about 10% of  its amp hour capacity.


  • Solar Panel Security
    [Home-Improvement:Security] Solar panels are valuable and unfortunately the more unscrupulous in our society are realizing that too. Around the world there's been a marked increase in the theft of solar panels, with people losing up to tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment in single incidents. Here's some handy tips for solar panel security.


  • Wind Vs Solar Power
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] When considering a off grid or grid connect power system; the two main choices for renewable energy equipment are wind turbines and solar panels. So which is the superior, wind energy or solar power?


  • How Solar Hot Water Works
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Aside from cost and greenhouse gas emissions savings, the beauty of a solar hot water system is its relative simplicity and durability! Learn more about how solar hot water systems work.


  • How a Wind Turbine Works
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Wind comes from atmospheric changes; changes in temperature and pressure makes the air move around the surface of the earth; all of which is triggered by the sun. So in a way, wind energy is another form of solar power. A wind turbine captures the wind to produce energy. Learn more about how a wind turbine works.


  • Introduction to Inverters
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] In the context of renewable energy, an inverter is a device that will convert DC battery voltage into mains type AC power. In this article, we look at the basics of inverter operation and different types of inverters.


  • Going Off Grid - Deep Cycle Batteries
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Like the other components of an off grid solar power setup, batteries play a vital role and they need to be a special type. Car batteries can serve for off grid power storage purposes for short term and emergency use, but even then they wear out very quickly - they simply aren't up to the task. What you'll need are deep cycle batteries.


  • Solar Power and Feed in Tariffs
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Did you know that installing a residential solar power system may be able to generate income for your household? Learn more about feed in tariffs and their importance in helping solar power become a primary energy source, stimulating clean tech jobs growth and to assist in lower the initial cost of purchasing renewable energy systems.


  • Under Construction and Coming Soon
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] "You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do". The quote is from Henry Ford and I think he was spot on with that observation in relation to web sites.


  • Running Surveys - Time Vs Incentive
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Paid-Surveys] I'm often asked to participate in surveys from marketing companies relating to marketing or ecommerce issues. Usually I don't participate as the request note fails to provide some important information. If you're contemplating running a survey, here's how to grab the attention of folks like me - and I suspect many other types of people too.


  • Outbound Linking - Don't Lose Your Customers
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Providing links to external sources to either provide further information to your visitors or perhaps to substantiate a claim or testimonial is a great idea - but by remembering this simple guideline, you won't give your traffic and perhaps customers away. People have a tendency to flit around the web - following links here, there and everywhere. Keeping a potential subscriber or customer's attention is no mean feat.


  • Other Greenhouse Gases
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Carbon dioxide gets the most coverage when it comes to climate change; but there's also other gases that contribute to global warming - some of them can trap more for far longer than CO2. What are these gases, what's their impact and what are their sources?


  • Fast Water Facts
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Water is something that most of us take for granted. While a human can survive for several weeks without food, we can only go a few days without water. Check out some facts on water and water consumption.


  • Tips For Choosing Solar Panels
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Thinking about utilizing solar energy as a way of greening your life and lightening your environmental footprint? When choosing panels for your solar power system, there are a number of factors worth considering.


  • Solar Heat Pumps Explained
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Usually when you think of solar hot water, solar panels and a collector tank installed on a roof spring to mind - a traditional solar hot water system. A solar heat pump is a different way to use renewable energy to heat water - that doesn't need solar panels and can save a bundle of cash on hot water bills, as they use approximately one third the energy of an electric water heater.


  • Residential Solar Power Basics
    [Home-Improvement:Energy-Efficiency] Many people are a little wary of hooking up a residential solar power system; much of the hesitation due to the jargon involved which can get a little confusing. Terms like "photovoltaic cells", "solar cells" pop up - what's the difference?


  • Carpet - The Silent Killer
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Carpet is one of those trappings of modern life that probably seemed like a good idea at the time. The truth is that carpet is an environmental and health nightmare.


  • Image Based Sites & Search Rankings
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Search-Engine-Marketing] Does your site rely heavily on images? Having trouble gaining a decent search engine ranking or perhaps even properly listed? Here's one of the reasons why this might be occurring and what you can do about it.


  • The Sixth Great Extinction
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Aggressive cancer is mindless - it only consumes, destroys the host and in the process destroys itself. Cancer and humanity have a lot in common when it comes to the way we treat the environment. There have been 5 periods previously in earth's history when massive numbers of species became extinct. We are now in the midst of another such period - the sixth great extinction.


  • Motivating Affiliates - Flexibility
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Affiliate-Revenue] You have a top-notch affiliate program offering high commissions on a solid product; a great site full of interesting and useful content, yet affiliates seem hesitant in promoting your goods or services. What could be the problem? Here's a quick tip.


  • A Call to Action
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] You've probably seen the term "call to action" mentioned frequently in marketing lingo - so what does it mean?


  • Phantom Power Loads and the Environment
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Standby power consumption is estimated to be responsible for about 1% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. Save money and help the environment by address phantom power loads in your home.


  • Deadly Fungus Threatens Frog Extinction
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] The humble frog is a very important part of our ecosystem. A healthy frog population also indicates a healthy waterway. But frogs all over the world are under threat - not just from pollution, global warming and general environmental destruction, but from a mysterious fungus.


  • Long Page Load Times Lose Shoppers
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] You'd think with so many people using broadband now that page load times shouldn't be an issue. Not so; according to many surveys of online shoppers that frequently mention respondent complaints of web sites loading too slowly.


  • Is Your Shampoo Poisoning You and the Environment?
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] What we wash our hair with may be wreaking unknown damage on not only ourselves, but aquatic environments.


  • Preventing Directory Browsing
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Are your visitors seeing more of your web site than perhaps they should? Here's how to check and what you can do to fix the problem


  • Soy and the Amazon
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Deforestation of the Amazon is something most of us are familiar with, but usually in relation to logging and cattle grazing. Did you know that Brazil is now one of the world's largest exporters of soy beans? And guess where most of the crop comes from - the Amazon area.


  • A Face To The Name - Email Marketing
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Email-Marketing] Email marketing can be so impersonal, but here's a simple tip to help put a human touch on your email communications.


  • Disabling AutoComplete On Forms
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] The popular browser "autocomplete" feature - where users can have sensitive information stored in their browser cache in order to speed up completion of forms; is a serious security issue. Here's how to disable autocomplete on your site forms.


  • What is Peak Oil?
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] If you haven't heard the term 'Peak Oil'; brace yourself as you'll be hearing it a lot more in the years to come. Peak Oil is not a matter of if, but when.


  • Free Range Poultry Issues
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] The image we have in mind when we purchase free range chicken and eggs is of happy hens strolling around a lovely field eating to their hearts content without a care in the world. It turns out the the term 'free range' can be rather loosely applied in many countries.


  • File Not Found Equals Visitors Lost
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] We've all experienced the frustration of following a link only to be presented with a '404 - File not found' browser generated error page. A 'File not found' browser message is a sure-fire way of sending potential customers scurrying off your site and to your competition. Here’s some tips for rectifying the problem.


  • Blogging and Accountability
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] A keyboard, a blog and half a dozen whiskeys. It's a recipe for disaster for many bloggers in relation to their employment and business prospects - and sometimes the whiskey isn't even required. With freedom comes responsibility.


  • Mount Kilimanjaro and Global Warming
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] The ice capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro made famous by writer Ernest Hemingway may disappear within a couple of decades. The culprit is believed by many scientist to be carbon dioxide fueled global warming.


  • Green Choices and Consumption
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Going green isn't just about the choices you make in purchasing - it's about the level of consumption; even in relation to earth friendly products.


  • Grups and Psychographics
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] The term Grup is short for 'grown up', adults who haven’t really grown up in the traditional sense. They are simply very young at heart. Learn more about Grups, psychographics and the relation to Internet marketing.


  • Global Warming Tipping Point
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] You may have heard of the Butterfly Effect - it's a part of chaos theory. The challenges facing mankind in relation to global warming are the result of a mighty big butterfly - mankind itself.


  • The Benefits Of Reading Spam
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Affiliate-Revenue] Believe it or not, there can be some benefits to be had from reading the spam that hits your email inbox; especially if you’re involved in affiliate marketing. Here’s why.


  • Climate and the Environment – What is El Nino?
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] El Nino is a phenomenon in ocean-atmospheric systems in the tropical Pacific, the effects of which have major consequences for weather around the world.


  • Use of the Word Friend in Email Marketing
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Email-Marketing] Do you use the term 'Hello friend' as your opening salutation in your b2b email marketing campaigns? Unless you know the recipients very well, perhaps you shouldn't. This article explains why.


  • Kitchen Sponges And The Environment
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Most of the talk about kitchen sponges is around the amount of bacteria they can harbor. Sure, it's a very good point, but what about the effect of these throwaway items on the environment?


  • Environmentally Friendly Head Lice Treatments
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Head lice are awful parasites; but you don't need to resort to environmentally toxic chemicals to treat them; there are more earth (and human) friendly methods available.


  • Tires, Recycling and Our Planet
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] The tires we put on our cars are made of rubber, a renewable resource, right? Not so; well over 90% of all tires are made from synthetics - and they have certainly proved to be an environmental headache.


  • Recycling Household Waste and Vermicomposting - Starting Your Own Worm Farm
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Worms are amazing creatures - learn more about vermicomposting and worm farms and start recycling your organic waste; it's easy to do!


  • Plastic Bags, The Environment And Alternatives
    [News-and-Society:Environmental] Discarded plastic bags are unsightly, poisonous and will leave a legacy for many generations to come. Learn more about the new generation of environmentally kinder plastic bags and alternatives.


  • Making the Most from Blogging - RSS Feeds are Not Enough
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:RSS] RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds are a great way to keep your visitors up to date with your news and views, what's happening on your site and in your online business - but the use of RSS shouldn't be at the expense of a regular email newsletter.


  • Simple MySQL Connection Testing Script
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Development] Ever been caught between a software vendor and your web host regarding a failed MySQL connection that occurs during the installation of an application? It can be a case of back and forth while the blame game is played by both parties. Here's a simple MySQL connection test you can run that should clarify where the fault lies.


  • Search Engine Optimization - What is Div Spamming?
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Search-Engine-Marketing] The use of hidden div elements as a means of boosting search engine rankings is considered a black hat optimization technique that is frowned upon by search engines. Learn more about div spamming in this article.


  • Online Business Email Etiquette and Anonymity
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Email-Marketing] Attempting anonymity has no place in marketing, pre-sales inquiries and customer communications in an online business. Find out why in this article.


  • Quick PPC Copywriting Tips
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:PPC-Advertising] Copywriting for PPC is particularly challenging, especially for marketers whose previous experience is in print, in those massively long online sales letter sites or who generally have writers diarrhea, like yours truly. Here's a few tips I’ve gleaned over the years that also appear to have general consensus among other marketers.


  • Auction Feedback - Be Wary
    [Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Auctions] Like many others, when purchasing or selling an item in online auctions, I review the feedback ratings of the other party as it's a good way of determining risk in doing business with that party. The higher the number of positive comments, the safer the person is to do business with, right? Unfortunately, with some unscrupulous parties engaging in auction feedback exchange scams, that’s no longer such a foolproof method.




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