Category Archives: Tips & Guides

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Adobe Photoshop is probably my most used software program on my computer. I use it for work, for editing photos for my blogs, and for images I design for my social media posts. Since I spend a lot of my time using it, like in any other computer programs I use, I want to make sure I’m as efficient as possible, especially when I’m working on my laptop. This is why it’s important for me to know the keyboard shortcuts to various functions and features of Adobe Photoshop CS6 (version I’m using), as shown below.

Photoshop CS6 Shortcut CheatSheet - Tags

I hope you find this list useful. These shortcuts have saved me a ton of time! In fact, I no longer navigate through Adobe Photoshop CS6 with a mouse and I feel so efficient. 😉

Quick Tips on Choosing Your Domain Name

Your domain name is the online version of you, and whether you’re looking to establish an online version of you, your magazine, your non-profit, or your brand, it’s important that you consider a few things when contemplating domain name registrations. Whether you plan to buy a domain at NetworkSolutions.com today, or you’re still in the planning process, the following tips will help you in choosing a domain name and getting it registered and set up on your hosting space:

Domain name

Go for the top three TLDs.

TLD, which is short for top level domain, is in reference to the extension of a domain name – the bit that comes after the domain name and the period. .com, .net, and .org are the top three TLDs, with .com being the most popular, but followed closely by .net and .org. If you’re serious about setting up your brand online, then you’ll want the .com first and foremost, but you’ll also want to register the .net and .org variations, too. By having all three, you’ll not only make certain that visitors will find you, but you’ll rank better in search engine listings, too.

 

Go for short & catchy.

Use as few characters as possible, and whenever possible, avoid articles like “a”, “of”, and “the”. These can be confused for one another or incorrectly swapped for the plural versions, which can lead your visitors nowhere. Try to be concise with your domain name wording. This is especially important if you want to be consistent with names and identities across domains and social networks. jennsellsjugs.com will work nicely as “jennsellsjugs” on Facebook and Twitter, whereas “jennsellshomemadejugs.com” is a little on the lengthy side, and thus might have to be shortened for social media usage.

 

Optimize & Advertise.

Use SEO tools or the skills of an online marketer to make sure your site is up to the standards of Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines. Optimization includes using clean, validated code, implementing relevant keywords and relevant, uniquely written content, and using your content consistently throughout your domain. Advertising can be done in a multitude of ways that include promoting your site on your social media profiles (and vice versa), and spreading the word about it via business cards and even word-of-mouth advertising.

8 Must Have Android Social Media Apps

Social Media Apps for AndroidWorking as a social media manager full-time, I take it upon myself to make sure I’m updated on the latest news and information related to social media, the internet and the world so I can work on strategies and share them with my team. This may prove to be a daunting task with the vast amount of resources we have. Thankfully, there are various Android social media apps for my phone that help me consume contents more efficiently.

Aside from reading up on social media articles, I also make sure that I share articles I find really useful through my various social media accounts. Hopefully, this list will help you.

 

Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and LinkedIn

Of course, you shouldn’t be without these apps developed by the various social media sites themselves. The features you use and love on the Web versions are most likely made available on their mobile apps as well since, well, mobile is the future.

Twitter and Facebook apps for Android

I use my Pinterest app for Android for pinning, liking or even organizing my Pinboards. I use Facebook and Twitter for posting images I find amusing that I’d like to share with my network. I use Instagram for almost exactly the same reason.

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Win FREE Dota 2 Beta Keys!

Defense of the Ancients or Dota all started as a modification (mod) for Warcraft 3 and it has now become one of the most played and anticipated stand-alone games in the world of computer gaming. Though I can’t count myself as an expert, I’ve had countless days of playing Dota and I completely understand why it’s addictive and fun, especially when played with friends in a local area network.

Win FREE Dota 2 beta keys here!

Thankfully, Valve Corporation developed this mod into a stand-alone game known as Dota 2 as it’s been a very successful game for quite a long time now. Gamers who play at home don’t have to go through Garena anymore to play Dota 2. Oh, and did I mention the amazing graphics in Dota 2? I LOVE IT! 🙂

Having an internet café / computer shop business here in the Philippines, I knew players here will demand that I install and give them access to play. After checking ways to gain beta keys, I was surprised to learn that Dota 2 Philippines was generous enough to give me Dota 2 beta keys for my computer shop AND 20 more to give away. Thank you! 🙂

Do you own a computer shop? You want to know how you can get your FREE Dota 2 beta keys for your business? Click here.


Dota 2 by Valve Corporation

 

Free Dota 2 Beta Key Giveaway

Without further ado, here’s your chance to win FREE DOTA 2 BETA KEYS! The mechanics are pretty easy, so just follow the steps below and good luck!

NOTE: Please wait for the Rafflecopter widget to load.

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5 Black Friday Tips for Gadget Shoppers

Black Friday gadget shopping tips

One of the most anticipated shopping day of the year is coming – Black Friday 2012 is on November 23rd, a day after Thanksgiving! This is the BEST time to shop for those highly coveted gadgets like laptops, desktop computers, gadgets and other electronic devices.

With that said, I’m sharing some very useful tips for all of you who are planning on some Black Friday gadget shopping this year:

 

Black Friday Gadget Shopping Tips

 

1. Research for the best Black Friday deals and compare prices!

This is one of those days when retail stores mark down their items, even their most popular products, at surprisingly low prices. With that said, however, it is important that you do your research on the best deals you can find so you can maximize your shopping budget.

Also, it’s important to compare prices. This way, you can focus on that store with the best prices.

 

2. Know the store policies on returns and warranties.

For gadget shoppers, this is the most important tip of all. Make sure you’ve done your research. Most stores set a shorter period for return deadlines, so avoid the hassles by finding out about their return policy beforehand.

For warranties, don’t forget to check or ask. You might be rejoicing about a purchase that saved you a significant amount of money without knowing that the warranty policy is different from the regular priced ones. Well, this doesn’t really apply with popular gadgets, but just to be sure, ask.

 

3. Is it worth the hassle?

After comparing prices, it’s also important to know if the regular prices of the items you want are remarkably higher than the Black Friday prices the stores are offering. If it’s just a few bucks of savings, think about the hassle of waking up early, lining up and bracing the Black Friday crowds. Is it all worth it?

 

4. Look for early bird shopper discounts.

There are many stores that offer early bird shopping discounts as early as the week of Thanksgiving. Some offer early discounts online. Again, remember the importance of doing your research.

For Black Friday 2012, here are some of the popular retail stores that are offering early bird shopping deals:

  • Walmart starts their first Black Friday Sale at 8pm on Thanksgiving. They also announced a 10pm sale on electronics and another sale by 5am the next day.
    Walmart also made an announcement that those who are in line by 10pm and 11pm on Thanksgiving Day will get their most popular items:
    Apple iPad 2 for with Wi-Fi plus a $75 Wal-Mart gift card for $399
    Emerson 32-inch LCD TV for $148
    LG Blu-ray player for $38
  • Sears stores will open at 8pm on Thanksgiving and will stay open until 10pm on Black Friday. Additionally, those who are members of Sears loyalty club Shop Your Way can avail of the early bird specials online as early as November 18, 2012!
  • Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Best Buy will open at 12 midnight after Thanksgiving.
  • Lord & Taylor will be opening at 10am on Thanksgiving.
  • Kohl’s announced that online shoppers will be able to buy all early morning specials on November 21, 2012 and all day on Thanksgiving.

 

5. Shop online.

Some stores like Apple have been known to give out the best deals on their products at their online stores than retail stores or official distributors. So, again, do your research and compare prices in-store and online. If the price difference is not significantly high, then why bother waking up early and lining up, right?

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Have fun shopping! I’m planning on buying a new laptop this year. How about you?

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