USANA Celebrates Distributor Success in Momentous Philippine Event

Leading global developer and manufacturer of high-quality health and nutrition products USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA) recently held a Filipino Leader and Distributor celebration at the Mall of Asia Arena to give recognition to the best performing distributors for the past year. According to USANA vice president for Pacific Region David Mulham, the regular event is geared towards creating "an opportunity to recognize the people that have been successful, as well as their different experiences. It's also to create an understanding for a lot of new people about what the potential is."

USANA is on its fourth year in the Philippines and now has an estimated 10,000 distributors all over the country. USANA president for Americas, Europe and South Pacific Kevin Guest noted that the business in the Philippines took off rather easily compared to other countries. "I've been to almost all of our country openings, and what was different in the Philippines than most of the other markets is that there were a lot of people just waiting for USANA to come [in]."

USANA was founded by internationally recognized microbiologist and immunologist Dr. Myron Wentz in 1992 and has since then been manufacturing high-quality supplements and personal care, energy and weight-management products. USANA products are grouped into three categories: Health and Wellness, Food and Skincare. The Essentials multivitamin line is the company's bestseller

Photo shows USANA president for Americas, Europe and South Pacific Kevin Guest.

About USANA
Founded in 1992, USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA) is a U.S.-based nutritional company that manufactures high-quality supplements and personal care, energy and weight-management products in its FDA-registered facility in Salt Lake City. USANA's products, tested by NSF International and used by more than 600 professional athletes, are developed by the company's award-winning team of scientists and sold directly to Preferred Customers and Associates in 18 international markets.

Editorial contact:
Aurora Mandanas-Gaston                               Sheila Rada
USANA Health Sciences                                  Dominguez Marketing Communications, Inc.
Aurora.Gaston@ph.usana.com                      sheila.rada@dominguez.com.ph
8584501                                                             +63 918 9020 722 / 897 7088 ext. 103

The 5 Best Video Conferencing Software on the Market

Video conferencing has evolved in recent years. What once required elaborate equipment set ups and expensive service prices can now be accomplished with the common office computer or smartphone and high-speed Internet. The shift from hardware to software-based conferencing solutions have opened up the platform to an increasing number of businesses and organizations. These five video conferencing solutions are the best on the market.

1. InterCall

InterCall has been a major player in the video conferencing industry for years. As the world's largest conferencing provider, they power over 75% of Fortune 1000 companies. Their software supports dedicated conferencing equipment as well as computers, smart phones and other devices for maximum compatibility. Various service tiers offer the perfect way to balance the needs of your business and your budget. Beyond web conferencing, InterCall offers a multitude of other services that can propel your business into areas that were otherwise unobtainable. Services like virtual environments and video bridge services put InterCall in a separate category from their competitors.

2. Adobe Connect

When it comes to sheer number of features, it is hard to beat Adobe Connect. It supports most major operating systems and devices and allows everything from simple text-based chat to full-scale meetings with up to 99 attendees. Other features include collaboration, file sharing, conference archiving and more. From personal use to full enterprise deployment, Adobe Connect has something to offer.

3. Skype

As one of the first video calling software offerings on the scene, Skype has seen plenty of growth since its debut. With the ability to enable free video conferences with up to 5 people simultaneously and include both voice and video attendees, Skype is a great choice for small businesses or others looking to harness the power of video conferencing on a budget. Should you need to include someone on a landline or cell phone in your conference; low per-minute rates apply.

4. GoToMeeting

For a mid-sized solution, GoToMeeting is a great choice. Of all the offerings listed, it is certainly the most easy to use. Unfortunately, it also tops out at just 15 attendees unless you upgrade to the corporate edition. Starting a meeting is as simple launching the software and inviting members. Support for email invitations, smart phone apps and web apps make it simple for others to join. Just click the link and you are placed in the conference and on your way.

5. TokBox Video Conference

TokBox is a video conferencing solution with an emphasis on production and engagement. It features a full command center that allows advanced features, such as picture-in-picture, media sharing, transition effects and more. Pre-recorded video questions can also be submitted and seamlessly integrated into the conference for better flow and engagement. Should you need it, all of this can be delegated to a meeting producer that controls everything throughout the conference. The result is a meeting or presentation with a professional appearance and greater participation. The service supports up to 200 attendees per conference for great flexibility. Additional services are available for a small fee and include conference archiving, collaboration tools, dedicated support and API integration.

Whether you are looking to stay in touch with friends or pitching a product to attendees from around the world, video conferencing software has a wide range of uses. Best of all, many software choices support virtually any device you might own. These five solutions offer outstanding flexibility, a range of prices, easy to use designs and are the best available on the market.

About the author: Kyle Olson has written for the tech industry for over 15 years and has provided a wealth of knowledge to many audiences over that time. When he's not writing, you can find him refining his golf skills or working on his forth coming novel.

How Location Can Determine Your Retail Sales Goals

If you're searching for effective methods that will help you know how to improve gift shop retails sales, location is another major determining factor that can determine your retail sales goals. In addition to other factors such as maintaining a social media presence, and using custom retail packaging, your shop's location can determine how much profit your business can generate.

Large retailers may be able to deal with a few locations that aren't ideal, small business owners who have only one or two stores can't afford this luxury. Finding the perfect retail location is critical to your business success, here are eight tips on choosing a retail store location in order to maximize your sales potential:

Patience is Essential

If you're just starting out, it's hard to be patient. Opening day can't come soon enough. Don't let impatience cause you to settle for a location that won't serve your needs because this can cost you in the long run. The amount of sales that your business generates is integral to your store's location.

Choose a Suitable Location

You don't want to make your customers travel off the beaten path to find your gift shop. You need your location to be highly visible in order to draw customers in. Your business location should be in an area that has high visibility, great signage, and plenty of foot traffic.

Research Consumer Traffic

Before you decide on a store location you need to take the time to evaluate consumer traffic in the area. You need to know how many people walk by the location during the business day and how much traffic passes by? Can cars easily access the location and is it served by public transportation? These are factors that you need to know.

Check Out Your Neighbors

Some retailers have discovered that being next to a big chain competitor isn't a bad idea. They benefit from the excess foot traffic. Of course, you don't have to look for a location next to a national chain, you should look for an area that is near other shops and businesses that your customers will be interested in as well.

Know Your Neighborhood

You have to find out about the area that you are considering opening shop it. Make sure the area is active and stable and not on its way out as a popular shopping location. Also, you should research the demographics and make sure they match your target market as this will play a huge part in how much sales your shop will be able to generate.

Never Overpay

Another factor that is often overlooked is the difference in price between the best location and the second best location is sometimes greater than the difference in customer traffic. You should not overlook the fact that sometimes a good location may be better than a great one.

Convenient Parking is Essential

Too little parking and non-existent parking can reduce your ability to generate the necessary traffic required to generate adequate sales.

Suitable Space Required

There isn't any point in taking a large location only to pay for space you won't use or taking a smaller location that doesn't allow you to properly display your wares. Additionally, if you want to tempt window shoppers, you'll need a large picture window. You have to take into account your store's needs when you evaluate any location.

Your shop's location will be the driving force behind your sales goals. It won't be realistic to expect or set a large amount of sales to occur if there is little foot traffic in an area. Make sure your location is adequate and that your sales goals fit your location.

About The Author:
Tiffany is a writer by profession. She loves to blog on various topics such as small business tips and tricks. If you want to know How to Improve Gift Shop Retail Sales, a creative idea can give you the success. Retail Packaging is one of that trick.

The Blog Workshop '13 - ONLINE Conference For Bloggers #TBW

The Blog Workshop is an online conference that takes place May 17th - 19th. If you have fallen in love with blogging, as I have, I'm sure that you have at least considered attending a Blog Conference.  I have attended  two blog conferences in the past two years.  I was hoping to make it to at least one conference every year because it really is something that I enjoy doing.  This year will be a tough one.  I honestly didn't think that I would be able to reach my year 3 conference goal.  With conference related costs: registration, travel, lodging, and time away from family and work - it can all add up.  Unless you have secured sponsors, it just not might be feasible.

We do have an option: The Blog Workshop.  The workshop takes place online.  You will not have to make travel arrangements, book a hotel, arrange for childcare, take time off from work, shop for conference attire, or order business cards!  If you are interested in learning more about blogging but feel limited by funds or simply cannot get away to attend a conference because of work or family obligations - this may be the perfect conference for you!  And for my dear blog friends that are not in the U.S. - - - guess what? You can log on from ANYWHERE!  This will be my very first online blogging conference.  I am excited with the opportunity and hope that you will join me!  We can be first-timer's together!

The Blog Workshop Full Admission Registration is $175.  Your registration fee covers you for all 3 days of The Blog Workshop. It includes 6 sessions, resources lists, giveaways, and a conference T-shirt.  10% of your conference ticket purchase will be donated to the following causes: Atlanta Day Shelter For Women & Children, Wellspring Living, and Suicide Prevention.

The line up of speakers is pretty impressive! I am familiar with Izea/Social Spark and Blogfrog.  I am eager to learn more about the others listed here:

The goal of the conference is to help educate bloggers that want to take their blogs to the next level: "Where Blogging Meets Business".  Bloggers will learn to bridge the gap between bloggers, brands, PR professionals and more.

The Blog Workshop is an informational hub for bloggers and vloggers of all ages, niches and levels of experience. Please take a moment to watch this informational video to learn more:

The Blog Workshop has a rewards program where you can earn perks. Learn more by visiting:  The Indiegogo Campaign.

Register HERE: The Blog Workshop

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I have partnered with The Blog Workshop and will receive admission to the conference.  All opinions are my own.

What Will Social Media Look Like in 2020? (WSJ video)

The end of social networking? "Social, Inc." author Bob Zukis discusses his predictions on what the future holds for social media.

Lessons from 12 Years of Blogging (from woodtang)

Spoken like a true blogger:

"I started this site 12 years ago. That’s longer than my marriage, longer than any job I’ve held, longer than I’ve lived anywhere since I was a kid. Even though I stopped a started blogging here too many times to count, that’s a long time. I feel like that counts for something on the web and I ought to give it some love.

My interest in blogging waned when I started using Twitter, but I’ve always felt something missing when I wanted to write a few paragraphs about something and be done with it."

Read the rest at woodtang.com http://bit.ly/VPuEaP

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary”, said Pablo Picasso. Blogging is similar in a way but it also helps to collect important ideas, archive news items and create an educational portfolio that is easily shareable with students, colleagues and patients.

In my personal experience, blogging fits nicely in what I call the Cycle of Online Information and Physician Education (click here to enlarge the image).





Comments from Twitter:

Heidi Allen @dreamingspires: Lessons from 12 Years of Blogging (from woodtang) casesblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson… impressive - and makes it sound simple

Professional Photos with Instagram

The use of Instagram has skyrocketed in the past few months that this application has become available for both Apple products and those products utilizing the Android software. Everyone who has a smartphone is able to get involved with this social media application and this has made for some great exposure for businesses, as well as allowing many budding photographers to get the word out about their abilities as a photographer. It brings to light several issues with paying a professional photographer versus utilizing this social media application for your picture needs.

Instagram and Professionals

Contrary to what most people believe, the use of Instagram is not frowned upon by many professional photographers in the field. They look at this as a valid way for a person to make a statement or for a business to round up consumers who are interested in what they have to offer. The big difference is that Instagram does not allow the person to take pictures that are considered on the professional level, as most photographers, or at least that is what most people think.

Developing Professional Photos with Instagram

There are several methods in which a person can utilize in order to get their photos to the same quality standards as the photos in which professionals can deliver. There are several things in which can contribute to their photo quality success. The first is the type of phone in which the person is utilizing in order to make these pictures happen. Several smartphones have cameras, which are just as good as some of the lower quality professional cameras on the market. For those who are using an outdated smartphone, their pictures could come across as being blurry and overall poor quality.

Another aspect in which helps a person to achieve professional quality is the number of applications they are using to make this photo special. Several people simply take the photo and post this onto Instagram. However, this is not going to provide the best possible picture. There are several applications which are meant to reduce blurry images, help make colors brighter and even help to give those photos taken a look such as sepia or black and white. These are all ways in which a person can make their photos stand out when compared to the other photos that are appearing on Instagram.

Businesses and Instagram

Those businesses who are using Instagram need not only worry about the quality of their picture, but they should always be worried about their following. For those Buy Instagram Likes, they are going to find they have a greater chance of getting the response they want. They can buy these likes through Buy-instagram.com in order to get the best price and the best period of delivery.

Overall, Instagram has changed the way in which a business or a person can get their message out to the world. Though it is an application, it should still be viewed as a professional means of communication and for that reason all the pictures should be of high quality that someone posts.

By Paul Stretton

The Hot Weather Toolkit for the Car

Summer months are a time when people enjoy the outdoors with their families and friends. The warmer temperatures and the longer hours of daylight mean extra trips to recreational areas and even family vacations. Often wilderness areas are ideal spots for camping and summer family vacations, and necessitate the need for long drives. Although in places like Missouri and Nebraska insurance premiums can be lower for good drivers, the added driving and the warmer weather brings its own share of risks that can create conditions for raised insurance rates, conditions like accidents and bad weather. Simple checklist for a toolkit for the warmer months can help alleviate some of these concerns.

The first thing that a driver should check their vehicle for in the summer months is the exterior. When the weather turns warm, it can be a good idea to give the car a good wash and to provide the car with a good wax protectant. This does a couple of things. For one thing it gives the car added protection from the rain and dust of summer months. It also helps protect the cars paint from damage that occurs from ultraviolet radiation. The paint on a car is meant to protect the metal from exposure to the elements where it can rust and lose its structural integrity. Summers can be extremely hot, and this combination of extreme heat and rain can be especially damaging to a car's exterior.

The driver should then turn their attention to the interior of the car. The summer heat can turn the interior of a car into a furnace. This is not only damaging to upholstery, but electronics and personal items that one leaves inside a vehicle. This is particularly true for black colored vehicles. For protection of the upholstery it is essential that a driver invest in a sunshade for the front windshield. Sunshades offer great protection to a car from both the heat and the damaging effects of heat on sensitive upholstery like leather. They are generally fairly inexpensive, and the driver should consider one with a reflective surface since they radiate heat and light back most effectively.

For roadside emergencies, there are a few items that a driver should consider having in their car for the summer months. Water is an essential addition. Water can mean survival when a driver is stranded in a hot place many miles from roadside assistance, but it can also mean having a necessary item for batteries and coolant systems. Batteries use water, and having water on hand to add to a coolant system that has leaked can mean being able to drive that extra mile to a gas station. Food that has been freeze dried is important to have because it can keep indefinitely and can be on hand in the case of a remote stranding. One should also keep an umbrella, a flashlight, and a basic toolkit for repairs.

The summer months are great for enjoying the outdoors, and the motor vehicle makes it possible to enjoy much of it. If the driver keeps these simple things in their cars, they will be prepared when disaster strikes.

Sally Smith writes for insurance blogs where you can learn more about Cheap Nebraska Car Insurance quotes and compare Missouri auto Insurance rates

LG Display is preparing a line of Ultra HD TV

The company LG Display has announced plans to present at CES 2013 in early January, a lineup of TVs with ultra-high resolution and Ultra HD . Earlier, the South Korean manufacturer has already said that the flagship model with 84-inch screen will be sold for 20 thousand dollars, it will add 55 - and 65-inch versions, more friendly to the pocket. In addition to them, and LG will release a 30-inch computer monitor, also with the matrix Ultra HD .

Resolution Ultra HD , for which now formalize this designation, previously designated as 4K. Under Ultra HD resolution 3840x2160 understood pixels is four times the standard for Blu-ray format Full HD, that is 1920x1080 pixels. The new standard screens for televisions and other systems was reported recently, and manufacturers have started to produce compatible products, development of new niche is going well.

LG Display will delight and its other products, it will be a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1080p, 7-inch "flatbed" panel with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels and 12.9-inch screen with a matrix of 2560x1700 pixels, this is higher than the standard Retina on laptops Apple. An important aspect is the thickness and the frame around the display, LG will provide a 13.3-inch laptop with a 2mm border and a 4.7-inch screen with a frame of 1 mm.

Granted Ultrabook Tablet MSI slidebook S20

Company Micro-Star International introduced a new device - ultrabook tablet MSI Slidebook S20 , which was shown at Computex 2012.

Technical equipment of the gadget can be designated as "advanced", preinstalled OS - Windows 8. MSI is positioned novelty as the perfect solution for business and leisure. In the unfolded state the novelty can be used as a laptop when closed - as a tablet computer.

Specifications MSI Slidebook S20 :

• Processor: Intel Core i5 (third generation);
• OS: Windows 8;
• Memory: RAM - up to 8 GB DDR3 (1333 MHz), built-in - 64 GB or 128 GB, mSATA SSD, you can connect an external 2.5-inch HDD;
• Ports: RJ-45, miniHDMI, two USB 3.0, audio output 3.5 mm;
• Communication: LAN (Gigabit Ethernet), Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n;
• Battery: 3800 mAh 3-cell;
• Dimensions: 300 × 196,5 × 19,8 mm, weight - 1,6 kg.

The #FOAMed revolution (Free Open Access Medical education)

From Mike Cadogan:

"The net effect of #FOAM has taken me quite by surprise (editor's note: #FOAMed is Free Open Access Medical education). Despite a complete lack of evidence, peer review, mission statements OR Big Pharma backing – the FOAMed revolution continues to infiltrate the psyche of the everyday healthcare professional. The ability to intelligently review, discuss and develop hypotheses, guidelines and issues; the sense of community; the sense of rebellious augmented learning and the joy of independence is rife…and contagious.

There are now an amazing 180 emergency medicine and critical care blogs. Bloggers write from 21 different countries. GMEP – ‘the Facebook of Medicine’ has just welcomed it’s 800th new member, 2 weeks after launch." http://buff.ly/12lzWzs

Here is my comment: Congratulations, Mike! These are amazing stats that illustrate an inspiring success! "Facebook of medicine", indeed. Let's keep it growing.

Watch Live Stream Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 - Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez 4

Watch Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 Live:

Weigh-in: Friday, December 7

The absolute for the weigh-in is set at 147 pounds, which should be an advantage to Pacquiao, because he is acclimated to angry at a added weight.

Fight Night: Saturday, December 8 at 9:00 p.m. ET

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.

Pacquiao, who is 54-4-2, defeated Marquez (54-6-1) in their last fight via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 116-112) on Nov. 12, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Their bout Saturday will be contested at welterweight, or no more than 147 pounds.

The two have met three times previously. Their first bout in 2004 ended in a draw with scores of 115-110 Marquez, 115-110 Pacquiao and 113-113. Their second bout in 2008 was also a split decision for Pacquiao with judges' scores of 115-112 Pacquiao, 115-112 Marquez and 114-113 Pacquiao. Their third and final fight in 2011 was a majority decision victory for Pacquiao with judges' scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112.

3 Ways Chatwing Chatroom App Eases Information Relay in Any Website

Information is one of the prime ways why people are creating and visiting websites regularly. In fact, websites fall in thousands of niches each having variations in popularity and purposes. With this important fact, it is right to state that information is crucial to all types of online transactions. If you are considering building a website, bear in mind that you have to speed up any means of information relay. Luckily, as a website owner, you can utilize a chatroom application that can help you achieve your online goals. This chatroom application is provided by Chatwing.com, a company that excels in connecting people from different parts of the world. Listed below are the important ways the Chatwing chatroom can ease up any information relay process.

Diverse Chatroom for Everybody

Installing the Chatwing chat box for any website can guarantee streams of traffic daily. Of course, this depends on the overall content of the website and the niche being discussed. Niche popularities always vary, and they all have different numbers of subscribers. The Chatwing chatroom is useful for any niche and it can also accommodate thousands of visitors. With thousands of people visiting your website, you can expect a significant leap in online presence. As people converge in your Chatwing chat box, they can discuss important topics about your website or its covered niche. You can also share information with them.

Social Media for Communication Success

Through Chatwing tool’s social media integration option, anyone can log in with a Facebook or Twitter account. As a Chatwing admin, you can now regulate the login options. If you want to settle with Facebook only or Twitter, you can set it up in the application dashboard. With social media connectivity, your visitors can now expand their social networks. You can also send them friend requests to know more about your visitors.

Lots of Options for Lively Chat Experience

Chatwing chatroom is a smorgasbord of customization options, functions, and accessibility. In the dashboard, you can try out various colors to find the right theme that will fit to your website or blog. You can also set up an efficient word filter system to protect your chatroom from profanity. In case there are obscene members, you can always ban them from the chatroom and delete their messages. The choice is entirely yours you can now set the mood of the chatroom as often as you want.

The Chatwing tool may be a simple application but it fosters website owners and visitors. It presents a lot of choices and doesn’t hinder a website owner’s imagination. Real-time communication is also emphasized, speeding up the relay of data in any website. This “simply robust” chat application can ensure the success of your website in the long run.

Social media: how can doctors contribute?

"Social media: how doctors can contribute" is a brief but valuable opinion piece in The Lancet, one of the "big five" journals in the medical publishing world. I have suggested some practical examples before (http://goo.gl/eG7M1) and my comments are in the text below.

Most social media guides for doctors emphasize the need to:

- maintain patient confidentiality
- provide accurate information
- treat colleagues with respect
- avoid anonymity online if writing in a professional capacity
- be aware of how content is shared
- review privacy settings and online presence
- declare conflicts of interest
- maintain separate personal and professional profiles

Here are some quotes from The Lancet article:

"Accepting Facebook friend requests from patients is, in general, not advised. But what of situations where doctors and patients are genuine friends? (then it's OK in many cases).

What, too, of the benefits of doctors providing medical information via blogs, Twitter, or Facebook? Current guidance focuses more on the risks than the benefits of doctors' use of social media."

Providing only negative examples of social media use by doctors is like teaching medical students only with "Morbidity and Mortality" conferences. Providing examples of positive outcomes and best practices is essential.

Patients use social networks to research their symptoms, their doctors, their treatments, and to set up support and information groups.

Doctors can use social media to drive awareness, to provide accurate information, and as a portal to communicate with other physicians.

"Much is said about the dangers of social media. Care about posting in a public space is, of course, needed. Doctors, though, should seize the opportunities provided by social networks to improve the health of their patients, and do their utmost to ensure that the highest quality of health information and access to treatment is there for all."

Finally, some common sense thinking about social media use by doctors has made it into a top 5 medical journal.

Cycle of Patient Education (click here to enlarge the image). An editable copy for your presentation is available at Google Drive:



Cycle of Online Information and Physician Education (click here to enlarge the image). An editable copy for your presentation is available at Google Drive:



The two cycles work together as two interlocking cogwheels (TIC). Here is how to facilitate the Rise of the ePhysican who works hand in hand with the ePatient:



Products of the Cycle of Patient Education: EQUALS

- Energy!
- Quality of life is improved
- Understanding of patient condition is improved
- "Affinity" - better physician-patient relationship leads to increased referrals to the practice, e.g. 2-5 new patients per week per physician, increased revenue
- Lower rate of ER visits, hospital admissions, phone calls
- Savings for patient and health system

References:

Social media: how doctors can contribute. The Lancet, Volume 379, Issue 9826, Page 1562, 28 April 2012.
Social media in medicine: How to be a Twitter rockstar and help your patients and your practice 

Related reading:

Howard Luks MD @hjluks: Many MDs and hospitalis are rushing into a So Me with a lack of proper offline preparation, and the lack of understanding buff.ly/LS5WHt

Comments from Twitter:

@mHIMSS: Nice breakdown! [GRAPHIC] How can #physicians contribute to #patient experience w/ #socialmedia? ow.ly/eQW0L via @DrVes

Laika (Jacqueline) @laikas: Social media: how can doctors contribute? j.mp/PD06fe #socialmedia by @DrVes (with nice Patient Education Cycles) HT @DrShock

13-year-old with national following succumbs to rare cancer

A 13-year-old McLean County boy whose fight with a rare cancer gained national attention died last night. The death of Lane Goodwin was announced to 342,000 followers on his "Prayers for Lane" Facebook page, report Rich Suwanski and Megan Harris of the Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro.

"In 2010, Lane was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma Stage IV, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that is only diagnosed in one out of 1 million children," the reporters write. "In 2010, he underwent 54 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. In 2011, 13 tumors were found in his bones. . . . The family regularly updated followers on Facebook with his condition. Almost half a million people worldwide 'liked,' posted words of encouragement or started fundraisers to help the family with medical expenses. Followers included celebrities, college and professional athletes and social media friends who were inspired by his fight against the deadly disease."

His mother, Angela Goodwin, told the newspaper last month, “We never expected this. We knew there was some good support and prayers for Lane the last couple of years, but this has been unbelievable.” (Read more)

How to Check The Discount Coupons On The Website

The shopping styles have changed now and everyone has inclined more towards online shopping rather than going outside. It has increased the confidence for online transactions and it has given rise to share your credit card details over the net that provide convenience for delivering products door to door. Many people use their credit cards very wisely but there are other people who are not aware of the coupon codes and vouchers that online shops provide you to encourage online sales.

The coupon code box is shown over the website when you go to check for buying something. Definitely, if you are not a technical person then you will definitely face a problem while clicking on to the box or it may happen when you will not find the button to enter that box. These codes are simple codes which add value to your money by saving some bucks. These coupons are like money vouchers which you obtain in the supermarket. The amounts mentioned on the codes would be different varying upon the types of discounts and the savings are substantial which can be made easily. The coupon codes savings are often applicable to the buying that we make online. The high streets online shops may not alleviate with the discounts that you could end up paying more than necessary.

Therefore, whenever you decide to buy something online then you must keep some things in mind like you need to do some little research whether the shop is offering the coupon codes or not and it must be accessible to your at the easiest level. The online stores which offer you special discounts and offers are specially placed inside the web. The particular coupons are sometimes are placed somewhere else and when you click on the coupon codes it goes somewhere else. You can search in the search engine to search for these terms e.g. you want to buy something then you can search with "Adidas clothes discount voucher". The search term will definitely bring you with the product along with the discount coupon. Now, check the coupon whether the date limit is over or you are able to make use of that coupon. There are some websites which may show the old coupon vouchers which could be very much frustrating.

Up to date discount coupons are also displayed at times. Therefore, when you find such website then it is better to bookmark the website. The bookmarked sites can be checked later once you are free to buy things online. It is worth making purchase and it make you pay for little. A 10
% of discount voucher can help you somewhere and you will be able to save 10 pounds of you buck s at least. When you find even 10%, 20% discount coupons, in the end you will get to know that you will make a big list of savings when you take care of all the premises. It is said that you take care of the premises, they will take care of the pounds themselves.

Author Bio: Anna is a person with a passion for writing. She has written many articles on various topics as Kupongkode, for more information you can check her other blogs.

By Anna Cleanthous

Outgoing IABC Executive Chair Talks Future of Communications Profession

Adrian Cropley, ABC. Photo: Leland Holder

Adrian Cropley, ABC, fresh from serving the past year as chair of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) executive board, talked trends and the future of the communication profession during a special appearance with IABC's Atlanta chapter on Tuesday.

“The landscape is changing quite rapidly for us,” says the former food-chef-turned-communicator.
Cropley began his career in internal communications at Ericsson 20 years ago, when the CEO challenged him to improve communication with employees.

“I became hooked ever since,” says Cropley, whose career has included working with Unilever, Ernst & Young, Shell, NAB, ANZ, National Foods and Kraft, as well as various government organizations. Today, Cropley runs Cropley Communications, a global internal communications training firm based in Melbourne.

Cropley with members of IABC Atlanta's board. Photo: Leland Holder

He observes that communications professionals are starting to take on more roles that encompass
engagement and culture – functions historically belonging to the HR organization – as well as embracing digital platforms for their communication messages. 

“In this day of communications, it’s not just about internal communications that drive engagement; it’s internal and external because the boundaries have completely blurred. We’re crossing over boundaries and we’re seeing this happen globally,” he says.

While communications is going to get bigger on the agenda, we as professionals “could face an identity crisis if we don’t clearly outline our value to the organization and continue to make ourselves relevant,” he cautions.

One area we can’t take control of is the message with citizen journalism and social media today.  He referenced Kevin Thomson’s book, Emotional Capital, which contends that organizations have two types of capital – intellectual capital that firms harness, and emotional capital, or the will of people in an organization to put their knowledge and abilities to the betterment of the organization.   
An interesting insight is that the value of both of these to the organization is “identical.”

“Today we are looking today that this blurring of the boundaries between on internal and external means we really need to focus on things like engagement no matter who the organization is – it’s all about that emotional message- how do I engage people in a very honest, open way?”

In the future, we are all about multi-disciplinary communication globally because that’s where the landscape is eventually going.”  That’s the beauty of IABC, he adds, given IABC’s multi-disciplinary focus.


Why should companies care about engagement? Communicating and connecting with employees can have a major impact on organization productivity, he says, citing the Towers-Watson Change and Communication  ROI Study Report, which found that companies that are highly effective at communicating are 1.7 times likely to outperform their peers. He also quoted a study that found engaged employees in the UK take significantly less sick leave than those who are disengaged. 

Three findings from the Towers-Watson report are that sustainable business performance depends upon:

• Clarity – having a clear direction for everyone
• Competence – competence in leadership and in organizations
• Community – it’s all about giving everyone a shared experience

He cited the 2011 European Communications Monitor study that tracks the evolving role of the communications profession in Europe and where the field is headed. The report pointed to the changing perception of PR globally and whether “PR” as a title creates a negative connotation in the market. To illustrate his point, Cropley shared a press article in New Zealand that complained that the government employed too many “spin doctors.”

“We have to reposition communications to make it very clear that it is a business value to organizations: What is our scope? What is it that we deliver?” Cropley says. “We have to start to clearly brand ourselves and what we do for the organization, then we’ve got to measure the tangible of what we do.”

Cropley contends that communicators are at a key moment in their profession where they can play influential roles. What do we need to do today as communicators to thrive in the future?

• Understand the cultural context in the global business world.
• Understand that our audience is different and it is we who must adapt our approach based on the audience – with honesty and a desire to build a relationship with our audience.
•  Broaden our skills as we converge – understanding the path for communications is knowing a lot of different disciplines.
• Meet our audience where they are.
• Don’t drop the tactics, including core skills like writing– “find the sweet spot between tactics and strategy,” he advises.

Facebook for iOS updated and optimized for speed

Facebook has answered the pleas of millions of mobile users with the release of a new application for iOS. The social network has finally addressed the most glaring issue of the company's iPhone and iPad applications: speed.

Facebook 5.0 for iOS dropped on the App Store today, and the new version amounts to a complete do-over. The application looks essentially the same, but it's now twice as fast in three areas: launching the app, scrolling through the News Feed, and opening photos in feed.

"As you scroll down your news feed, all your friends' stories appear faster than ever. A banner lets you know when new stories come in, and you can tap once to immediately see the latest updates," iOS product manager Mick Johnson said in a blog post on the update.

The photo opening experience has been transformed from painfully slow to nearly instantaneous. Users can now tap a photo to open it right away and pull down to close the photo just as quickly. Notifications should now also load just as swiftly.

Perhaps now the Facebook experience on iOS devices won't be an exercise in patience. Should that prove to be the case, the social network will have a far better opportunity to monetize its mobile service, as members would be more likely to engage with Sponsored Stories and application ads.

By Jennifer Van Grove

Throwing a Star Trek Party

Star Trek isn't everyone's cup of tea. However, there are millions of people who adore Star Trek. It's something that spans generations, can be cerebral, exciting and even "cool." Whatever you thought of the latest incarnation of the franchise, it did bring the Star Trek even more into the mainstream, and made it much more acceptable to throw a star trek party!

Star Trek parties are great because there are all sorts of Star Trek props and products out there. It's never been easier to furnish your home with a wide range of Star Trek related goodies. Whether it's a mock up of the holodeck or a couple of fasers dotted around the room.

Star Trek has inspired lots of music over time. William Shatner leant his voice (ahem) to various covers of some classic tracks, and songs like Star Trekkin' are guaranteed to get the party started. If you want to broaden your theme, then you could of course use anything related to space.

Finally of course, you've got the costumes. There's something that really appeals about a Star Trek costume, and the sixties version can even be a little racy. Again, these costumes are very available online, and are great fun to wear.

Similarly, you can find all sorts of movie props and props related to the Star Trek franchise by looking online.

Bio: This guest blog post is written by Webmaster of keeleyhire.co.uk, offering Star trek props and movie props services!

Urban Decay Turn To Animal Testing

Since its launch in 1998, Urban Beauty has been a brand that is 100 per cent ethical. This means the company uses vegetarian or vegan ingredients wherever possible and is opposed to animal testing.

The Urban Beauty brand famously refused to make fashion show appearances due to real fur being worn on the catwalk; indeed, Urban Beauty's animal testing policy states that it "will not allow third parties to test on animals on their behalf, except when it is required by law".

Each product on the company's website is clearly marked as being animal-friendly, with the packaging plainly displaying the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics' (CCIC) Leaping Bunny logo: the guarantee of a cruelty-free product.

Breaking into China
However, the company has recently decided to try to break into the cosmetics market in China, a country in which animal testing on cosmetic products is required by law. Within Europe, there are a number of laws that prohibit certain types of animal testing, giving animals more protection than in some other parts of the world, such as China.

Chinese law states that, before cosmetic products are licensed to go on sale to the public or to beauty suppliers for salons, they must be tested on animals. These laws apply not just to Chinese brands, but to any overseas countries that want to enter the Chinese market.

Recently, a number of former cruelty-free brands, namely Avon, MAC and Estee Lauder, have made a U-turn on their policies and given up their cruelty-free views in order to begin selling their products to the Chinese market. It seems that Urban Decay will be the latest brand to join this ever-growing list of companies. This doesn't necessarily mean that the products sold in the UK have been tested on animals, but by giving the Chinese permission to test on their behalf, the brands are effectively forfeiting their ethos on animal cruelty.

Urban Decay's Public Statement
Announcing its decision to sell cosmetic products in China, Urban Decay explained that it remains opposed to animal testing. According to the company, its position on the issue has not changed in sixteen years and, despite entering the Chinese market, the firm will continue to support "women's rights and the fight against animal testing". Urban Decay described the decision to enter China as a "thoughtful one".

Since the company's announcement back in June this year, it has incurred a backlash from some of its fans, many of whom are fervent animal lovers and even animal rights activists. Social media was used by many fans, with over a thousand comments being left on the company's Facebook page and a similarly huge reaction on Twitter.

Following Urban Decay's announcement and the reaction from its users, the company's Leaping Bunny Logo has been withdrawn by the CCIC. It remains to be seen whether Urban Decay will go ahead with its plans and indeed the effect that moving into China will have on its business across the world.

For more interesting fashion and beauty tips

By Sophie Banat