Email Use and Security [Infographic]

Almost every day we use our email addresses. We use them to communicate with others, to send and receive files and to sign-up/login on other sites and services, like social networks. Because they are linked to so many different accounts. and it's normally needed to login, some would even say an email address is an access gateway to the internet.

Stephanie Garcia of simpleemails.org has pieced together this cool infographic about email use from around the world and uploaded in to the gallery on Visual.ly.

 

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Mailbox: a Better Gmail Client for iPhone Review

I have been looking for ages for an app that actually managed my Gmail in an effective way. I have not had an iPhone for long, but already this app for it has made the process easier than on any other smartphone, Andoid model included.

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How To: Receive Review Products

Like many aspiring technology reviewers on YouTube, I am always trying to find a nice product to review for my channel. I'm always contacting companies to try and obtain sample or review products. What person would not want a free product in return for a review video or blog post? 

To many, it sounds much easier than it is. In order to try and receive these products, you have to build up a channel of quality, professionalism, and mature manners. As a YouTuber with a fair amount of subscribers, wide range of viewers, and high amounts of feedback, one might think that getting review products is as easy as snapping your fingers. That's where many reviewers go wrong. In this post I will try and explain helpful tips to bringing more viewers and more products into your room or office through this post.

First of all, build up you content. Post videos on a regular schedule, advertise your work (but don't spam!), do your research. More than likely, companies will over look a blunt and boring channel with content found in a million other places. Think of it this way: you are contacting a company for a reason, obviously in hopes of receiving review products, and you have to believe thousands of other reviewers are doing the same thing as you. That's why you have to be better. Above the crowd. Stand out. It might take a bit of time to get strong amounts of views and hits, but in the end, it will make that much of a difference. This might mean spending your allowance or baby-sitting money on a camcorder that records high quality video, or even spending a few dollars a month on advertisements, such as the ones found on this blog. You don't have to go crazy, a nice set-up can be had for under $100. Quality is key.

Secondly, write to companies in a mature manner. Address them formally in an email, with key points about your channel, and you goals with a product they might have. Use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You wouldn't write poorly to your teacher or boss, so why write like that to a company? I always tell my viewers to give the company a brief description of your channel or blog, an explanation or reasoning that you are contacting them, and a paragraph explaining what could benefit their company. It's nice to let them feel confident and comfortable with your review. Although this isn't mandatory, I always explain to a company that I could send the product back after full review purposes. They almost never require that to be done, but it's nice to let the company know you care more about the review than the product.

Lastly, and most importantly, keep doing what you do. Build on your success. Show your viewers that you care about them by answering questions, helping them build a better channel, giving advice. Don't feel discouraged if a company doesn't respond to you, or isn't interested in sending products. You learn from your mistakes. A closed door doesn't mean a new door can't open. 

I hope this blog post has helped you understand the measures it takes to receive products to review. I would also like to say that I love the new changes to the Social Blog, and I hope TekSocial will just rise with more amazing posts. 

-Brandon Goldman (iTalkTech)

YouTube

Posterous: A Simple Blogging Platform

Everyone now a days has a blog. A portal in which to vent your personal and professional opinions. Now in most cases, this costs money. There are cheap options out there, but if you want an easy-to-use no nonsense blogging platform, check out Posterous. Posterous is a simple blogging platform with a very simple way to upload content. When you create a Posterous account, you get a personalized email address in which to email uploads to. So you don’t have to worry about advanced online editors, just email you uploads to Posterous. This of course can be configured to auto-post to Twitter, Facebook and a plethora of other social networks. The interface is very simple, which makes it easy to viewers to view your content. Not only can you post pictures, you can post video, voice recording, MP3’s or just plain old text. The iPhone has an app called “PicPosterous” which allows on the go email uploads.

Next time you’re looking for a blogging platform, check out Posterous. It’s the easiest way to post your content online using simple email. 

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