How Blackberry BCP-221 Certification Helps the Candidates?

This blackberry BCP-221 certification course is awarded from blackberry and the exam name is supporting blackberry Smartphone in the enterprise environment. This course is designed to the candidates who wish to study for the blackberry Smartphone supporting methods. This certification is intended for the readers with 3 to 9 months of experience supporting with the blackberry enterprise server software, blackberry Smartphone with enterprise environment and blackberry desktop software etc.

Requirements for hardware/ software:

It is always recommended for the candidates who are studying for blackberry BCP 411 TO have a computer/ laptop as well as internet along with you. This will help the candidates to use the additional tools in learning for this course. It is also beneficial to the candidates that if they have access with blackberry enterprise software server service, blackberry desktop software with pack with 4.1 or 5.0 version as well as with the blackberry Smartphone.

Blackberry BCP-221 certification exam objectives:

The following are the exam objectives for blackberry BCP-221 certification and they are:

1) Blackberry features and the Smartphone options
2) Troubleshooting all issues with the blackberry Smartphone
3) Functions of blackberry enterprise server
4) Enterprise activation
5) Securing blackberry enterprise server solution
6) Blackberry desktop manager application management
7) Troubleshooting all issues related with blackberry desktop manager
8) Installation of blackberry software
9) Blackberry web desktop manager
10) Support as well as product documentation

Exam registration:

You can register the blackberry BCP-221 certification examination in online from the prometric website and you can also select your nearest venue. The exam cost is around 150 USD that excludes discounts, tax and other charges etc. Once you pay the fee of 150 USD for the examination, you can able to schedule your exam time and date. Once you successfully complete the exam, you will receive the score card within 8 to 10 weeks.

Author is from SelfTestEngine which is Exam Preparation Tool for IT Certification Exams like BCP-221 practice exams and BCP-221 questions and answers. Visit to download Free SelfTestEngine and Demos for Self Preparation.

Certification Book Studying - Tips to Stay Motivated

You will buy yourself a certification book or two, no doubt to study - as most of us do. And you already know they are so chunky it tries the patience of even the most enthusiastic person at times to get through all the material. How do you stay enthusiastic and motivated to keep at the timeframe you set for yourself to finally get your cert? We do want it as soon as possible, don't we? Having that certification in our hands is the trophy of the hard work we have put in. But having it also means we can now stop studying and enjoy other things!

Recognize reality

Some cert books are easier read than others. Those MS press books are notorious for putting you to sleep but they do contain excellent information (well most of them, sometimes MS press doesn't get it right). Recognize your level of knowledge and how difficult or easy studying for a particular subject will be. When something is harder to study, follow the tips given below more often. Don't feel like you have to just keep reading the certification book if nothing is sinking in.

Don't stop studying - just take a break

When I'm studying for a new certification I set a timeframe for myself when I want to finish it by. Usually 2-3 months of studying (depending of course on the cert and what time I have). I want to finish as soon as possible because I don't want to have it in the back of my mind. After going home from work, the last thing I really want to do is to study. And most professionals are on a tight time frame.

We have 2-3 hours a night to devote to our studies so make all those hours count. Read your book but when you feel your mind wondering, switch to another form of study. Go to youtube.com and watch what you have been studying. That way you are still allowing the information to sip in. Your mind will welcome the change and your motivation will stay with you. Then go hit the books again.

Read, take notes. Read, take notes

Become active in your reading. When we jot notes down, we tend to remember the material better. Write out full long hand notes or even points in bullet form. Mark things with pencil on the certification book even. Do something different so the material you are reading can stick in your mind.

Do hands-on labs

If the material allows it, do some physical work. Either lab work or even simulators on your computer. Learning something and then doing it, is the best form of studying.

Have fun with practice exams

Practice exams, to me, are like games. I love them because not only are they fun but a vital studying aid. They help reinforce the material in your mind. They help see the areas you are weak in. The questions that give you a scenario and ask you to find the solution help you see just how the material you are reading can get applied in a real world solution. Yeap they are great.

Switch books or information

No one source is good to pass your exam. Most professionals combine 2-3 study aids. You may buy two books or a certification book and a CBT or go to a training school but also buy a book, etc. When you get bored with one book or other study aid, then switch. Or even go to the web and see how the information is worded differently (wikipedia.org is great). Getting a new slant on the information helps a great deal in keeping you motivated to progress through the material.

By Georgina Stath: I am certified and still getting more under my belt. I've dedicated my website to giving you all the information that has helped me. Certification Help & Exam Help - You will find information such as Reviews of books and other products / free practice exams / certification questions and more

Cisco CCNA and CCENT Practice Exam - 10 Questions on Point-To-Point Connections, PPP, and HDLC

Your CCNA and CCENT Cisco certification exams will definitely contain some questions about PPP and HDLC, so here are some practice exam questions to help you prepare for exam success!

1. Identify the correct statements regarding HDLC and PPP running on a point-to-point connection.

A. If HDLC is running on one end, HDLC must be running on the other end as well.

B. If HDLC is running on one end, the other end can run HDLC or PPP.

C. If PPP is running on one end, PPP must be running on the other end as
well.

D. If PPP is running on one end, the other end can run HDLC or PPP.

2. If a point-to-point connection is physically fine but there is a timer or encapsulation mismatch issue, which of the following will appear in the output of show interface serial?

A. Serial0 is up, line protocol is up

B. Serial0 is up, line protocol is down

C. Serial0 is down, line protocol is up

D. Serial0 is down, line protocol is down

3. Which of the following cannot appear in the output of show interface serial?

A. Serial0 is up, line protocol is up

B. Serial0 is up, line protocol is down

C. Serial0 is down, line protocol is up

D. Serial0 is down, line protocol is down

4. Which of the following is offered by PPP but not by HDLC?

A. PAP

B. multilink capabilities

C. dialer callback

D. CHAP

5. Name both debug commands that could produce the following output.

2d04h: Se1 CHAP: O CHALLENGE id 82 len 23 from "R3"

2d04h: Se1 CHAP: I CHALLENGE id 222 len 23 from "R1"

2d04h: Se1 CHAP: O RESPONSE id 222 len 23 from "R3"

2d04h: Se1 CHAP: I RESPONSE id 82 len 23 from "R1"

2d04h: Se1 CHAP: O SUCCESS id 82 len 4

2d04h: Se1 CHAP: I SUCCESS id 222 len 4

6. What is the net result of the following command?

R3(config-if)#ppp authentication chap pap

A. CHAP authentication will be attempted before PAP.

B. CHAP and PAP authentication attempts will be made at the same time.

C. If the CHAP authentication attempt results in a failed authentication, a PAP attempt will be made.

D. If the remote router isn't running CHAP, a PAP authentication attempt will be made.

E. The password for CHAP authentication has been set to "pap".

7. What protocol is sometimes referred to as the manager of a PPP connection?

8. PPP allows you to select one of two compression techniques. What are they?

9. Identify the true statements.

A. PAP sends a clear-text password across the WAN.

B. PAP sends a hash result across the WAN rather than a password.

C. CHAP sends a clear-text password across the WAN.

D. CHAP sends a hash result across the WAN rather than a password.

10. What is the default encapsulation for a Cisco router serial interface?

Here are the answers....

1. (A, C) Whether you're running PPP or HDLC, the encapsulation type must match on both ends of the point-to-point connection.

2. (B) If the connection is physically fine, we'd expect to see Serial0 is up. A timing issue such as a missing clockrate command or a PPP / HDLC mismatch would result in a line protocol is down message.

3. (C) If the interface is physically down, the line protocol cannot be up.

4. (A,B,C,D). PPP has the capability to run PAP and CHAP, can be configured to run PPP Multilink, and PPP does have dialer callback capability. HDLC offers none of these.

5. You would see that output in both the debug ppp negotiation and debug ppp authentication commands. The debug ppp negotiation command will give you much more output, so if you're just beginning troubleshooting on a PPP connection, run debug ppp authentication first - you'll see immediately if there's a problem with the passwords.

6. When you list multiple ppp authentication methods, the methods are tried in the order in which they're listed from left to right. If the remote router isn't running that particular method, the next method is tried. However, if the remote router is running that first method and authentication fails, the second method is not used.

7. The Link Control Protocol (LCP) is the "manager" of PPP connections. PPP gets all the glory, LCP does all the work!

8. PPP allows you to configure stacker or predictor.

9. (A, D). PAP sends the password in clear text, making it easy for anyone intercepting the packets during transmission to read the pw. CHAP runs a hash algorithm against the password, and it's that hash value that is actually sent across the wire.

10. The default encapsulation for a Cisco router Serial interface is HDLC.

Look for more Cisco certification exam training questions on my website and the local website as well!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free Cisco CCNA, CCENT, and CCNP exam tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

Visit his blog, which is updated several times daily with new Cisco certification articles, free tutorials, and daily CCNA / CCNP exam questions!

A free 7-part course, "How To Pass The CCNA", is also available.

Making a Difference With Online CPR Certification

First aid is one of those we all need but always postpone of either getting for the first aid kit or learn doing. Like enrolling in a first aid class. This is until something happens and eventually regretting not getting either or both. Regrets always happen in the end and never before.

That is why government should be mandate that one person in each family should at least know how to administer CPR. It would not be too much trouble to learn CPR, since classes are available online and the cost for the training would be minimal. Local government can have a problem where they promote the learning of CPR and the rewards that they will be getting from learning it and this does not include CPR Certification. Of course, having this documentation, is a prestige that no one can take away from you.

Aside from that to be able to save a life is one thing that should not be taken lightly. Let us stop depending on others to do things for us. It is time to do things for ourselves and learn cpr and first aid. Survey says that most of the accidents that result in death usually occur at the home. And if only, somebody in the household knew how to administer cpr during the team of the accident, death toll would decrease significantly. Just imagine, somebody at home needs cpr, so instead of waiting for the medical health professionals to come. You will be able to administer it yourself and save a life. Those few seconds of waiting for the ambulance are the most crucial. We should do more because we can.

Cheryl Forbes owns and operates the website www.online-cpr-certification.org

Green Business Certification

When your company is thinking about Going Green, it may be good to think forward about how a decision to seek a Green certification will affect your business. The kind of "Easy Green" now promoted to this Green-driven market brings short-term gain with long term worries. No decision to create an environmentally-friendly business format should compromise the integrity of the company's future. This is a decision worthy of better thought.

Take, for example, the near certainty that some investigative reporter is sure to look into the growing number of website certifications that require only a few hundred dollars of payment and a self-assessment form. The lack of any integrity factors for these kinds of certifications seem to invite abuses. In other words, a less-than-honest firm can earn the same certification as a environmentally-committed company. This glaring invitation for abuse will certainly come back to haunt companies who took the easy route to a world stressing problem. Only a fool could think that these easy-to-cheat systems will become a bastion of integrity.

It has been properly said:"If we cannot measure something, we cannot verify it." The obvious purpose of a Green certification logo is to provide the public with some assurance that the logo means something more than that the applicant paid a fee and filled in a form. These programs promote a fundamental deception because the certification has been designed to convey public confidence in something that has not been verified or even reviewed by an independent professional.

Just ask yourself how you would feel after deciding to do business with another firm that boasts of its Green merit to win your business,and you subsequently discover that any firm with a few hundred dollars could buy the same designation. Would you feel deceived and cheated? This will be the ugly fate of more than a few companies that take the "Easy Green" route of short-circuiting the system rather than making a realistic commitment.

The whole concept of greenwashing has been artificially kept alive because of a business belief that marketing is the bending of perceptions to boost marketshare and profits. Advertising has always provided the latitude to turn negatives into positives, words into realities, and minimums into maximums. So, what happens when the allowances of marketing run into the demands of integrity? In the case of environmentalism, the mongoloid child is called greenwashing.

If the only way to verify Green compliance is by measuring or testing, then the obvious antidote to greenwashing is an audit by a professional who uses an industry standard of compliance, The Green Business League made a commitment years ago to train certifiers (auditors) and provide a standard for a Green business that requires more than good intentions or a token effort. More than 250 Certified Green Consultants provide guidance and audits for businesses willing to prove their Green value.

This standard has been recently affirmed in an executive order by President Obama requiring a sustainability officer who is required to project a variety of Green and sustainable practices for their agency or company. This federal requirement shows that the path forward is not one of self-acclamation, but of proven compliance.

Let us return to the original question. What would be the investigative reporters criticism to find that your company (out of many other Easy Green companies) installed a series of Green practices that had been audited by an independent professional and found to merit a national certification? You would probably feel pretty good about being the one that stood out as the authentically Green business.

Audits prove that you keep honest books. Audits prevent cheating by manufacturers. Audits of inventory stop thievery. No one really wants an audit unless they know that the audit will prove the quality of the work done. Those who desire to cheat the system resist audits. One of the failures of Copenhagen was China's willingness to sign on to all the mandates of the Climate Control Summit as long as China did not have to submit to an audit of the results. What message does that revelation convey to you in clear message. China has no intention to live up to the mandates, although they will put on a show that they are concerned about the environment. This is a classic example of Green washing.

Companies everywhere should make the commitment to reject Greenwashing by insisting on Green certification earned by Green practices certified by an independent audit. Accepting any Green claim at face value is as foolish as inviting the unscrupulous of the world to pay you in Monopoly money. Why not play golf with someone who feels that adjusting his score is a good way to impress his friends. If it is not measured, it cannot be verified; and if there is no audit of Green practices there can be no certification of a Green business... unless you bought it off the Internet!

Michael Richmond is the director of the Green Clean Institute, and primary trainer for the Certified Sustainability Officer training in-house sustainability officers.

Reverse Osmosis Water Purification - Good Or Bad?

As more people explore ways of purifying their drinking water at home, reverse osmosis often comes into the dialog. Technically speaking, it is not the same as water filtering, but it does accomplish the same goal: cleaner water.

Reverse osmosis has been around for about four decades. It was first developed as a means of taking salt out of seawater. It was actually something of an accident that it was also noticed to be a very good way to remove contaminants from water as well as removing the salt. In-home systems that use reverse osmosis started becoming popular in the mid-1970's. Since then, they have only grown in popularity around the world.

Reverse osmosis may sound like a complicated matter, but it is fairly easy to understand the basic principle behind it. The process starts with a semi-permeable film or membrane; pressurized water is forced through this membrane. It is the opposite of natural osmosis which is the tendency of water to naturally move from a weaker saline solution to a stronger saline solution, resulting in each solution gradually equalizing.

In reverse osmosis, the untreated water is forced to move in the opposite direction, ie; from a stronger saline solution to a weaker solution. It must still travel through the semi-permeable membrane which blocks the passage of many drinking water contaminants. By blocking or trapping these contaminants, ro systems can be used as an effective drinking water purification method.

Reverse osmosis systems is very good option for those who have high mineral content in their water. Most mineral particles found in water are physically larger than water molecules, which makes them easy to catch by the semi-permeable membrane. Some of the more common minerals include salt, lead, manganese, iron, and calcium. In addition, Ro systems can also remove some chemical components often found in drinking water, including fluoride.

It should be noted that reverse osmosis systems do have some drawbacks that may be important to certain people. For instance, reverse osmosis systems cannot remove chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water that is delivered from water treatment plants (ie, municipal water). These contaminants are smaller in size than water which means the semi-permeable membrane cannot trap them or stop them from passing through the membrane.

Reverse osmosis systems can also lead to acidic water. This happens because the process removes any alkaline mineral constituents that may be in the water.

When considering installing a Ro system in your home or office it is always best to consult with an expert first. You can find professional water purification advice easily online, and their advice can help you select the best option for your drinking water and household water needs.

To learn more about contaminants in our drinking water or to purchase a water filter visit our website www.qualitywaterfilters4you.com.

Causes of Food-Borne Illnesses

If you have ever experienced food poisoning in your life, you know what a terrible condition it truly is. You could be sick for hours, days, or even weeks on end as your body tries to eliminate the bacteria, virus or parasite that has entered your digestive system. Common symptoms of this condition include diarrhea and vomiting, as well as abdominal cramps, fatigue, fever, joint pain and nausea. In rare cases, complications can occur due to dehydration or hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure or death.

Food preparation and improper handling are some of the causes that can lead to these kinds of illnesses. If you have experienced food poisoning because of the negligent behavior of others in handling or preparing your meal, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To learn more about your legal options, contact a personal injury lawyer at your soonest convenience.

Common causes of food-borne illnesses include the following:

• Improper refrigeration after food preparation


• Unsanitary conditions in the kitchen or improper sterilization of tools used to the prepare the dish


• Unclean surfaces used to prepare foods


• Contamination of ready-to-eat foods from exposure to raw meat or juices from that meat


• Failure to wash hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper


• Allowing food to marinate in room temperature, rather than in the refrigerator


• Use of unclean dish towels or sponges

If you acquired a food-borne illness at a restaurant, school cafeteria, hotel, or any other establishment in which the food is prepared for you, you may have the ability to bring your case to a court of law and file a claim against the guilty party. To do so, the help of an experienced attorney should be employed for best chances of favorable results.

If you or someone you love has been hurt by food consumed at a public establishment, visit the web site of the Indianapolis personal injury lawyers of the Charles D. Hankey Law Office, P.C. today.

James Witherspoon

Complete Your SBA 8a Certification In Four Easy Steps

Why have you been putting off getting SBA 8a certification? It is NOT that difficult to get certified if you really want to break into government contracting. And you do NOT have to pay someone else to help you fill out the form. If you can read and follow instructions, you can do it. How do I know? I successfully completed my company SBA 8a certification in 2004. Here's the blueprint... now get it done!

Where do you start?

There is an electronic application form at the SBA website. If you take the time to read the four steps to the Electronic Application Process, you will be prepared to complete it in the least amount of time with the least amount of personal pain. I recommend submitting the electronic application form over the mail-in version because you will receive your results back in days, NOT weeks.

Step One: Get registered with CCR

The first step is to get your company registered at the federal Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database The CCR database is a single point of vendor registration and is key to streamlining the procurement process. Note: It might take 24 - 72 hours to get your CCR profile active in the system. Then you can proceed.

Step Two: Register in the SBA General Login System (GLS)

This system supports all services offered by the SBA. Two key pieces of information you will need to know are your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your Social Security Number. You will also need to register for a Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS). The DUNS is a requirement for all federal contracts as well as many major corporations. Note: You can register for the FREE service and do not have to sign up for any other monthly fee-based D&B services.

Step Three: Download, sign, get notarized and mail-in Signature Authorization card

This is the only "manual" portion of the process. It becomes the trigger for the SBA to begin screening and reviewing your Electronic application. Be sure you send your Signature Authorization card to the appropriate SBA Program Certification & Eligibility address, based upon the state you are doing business.

Step Four: Begin SBA 8a Application Process via the GLS

Using your new GLS user name / password - enter your information into the application online. Note: You do not have to complete the application in one sitting, fill out as much as you can and then save and come back later. How long will it take to complete the application? The more complex the company structure, the longer it takes to fill out the information. For example:a 100% owned sole-proprietorship owned will not take as long as a multi-owner corporation located in a community property state. Note: My application took about two hours total to complete. You will need your tax returns from the past three years and other documents for reference.

The SBA does offer FAQs and an online training course to get you prepared for the application process. Once you have submitted the application, by law, there is a 90 day response time on getting back to you. My application was reviewed in less than 30 days. So if you submit the application online, you will get a much more timely response.

One other note: Caucasian women have more difficulty in getting SBA 8a certified. One extra support document you may be asked to prepare and submit is a disadvantaged social narrative. This is a paper that documents how overcome social, economic and business factors have influenced your inability to succeed to your maximum capability. Can you write this paper without hiring a company to prepare it for you? YES. Learn how I took my experience and now help hundreds of other women to gain confidence to prepare their own narratives. Read more about the toolkit I prepared at my company website.

Ok, now you know the four steps to the SBA 8a process, what is keeping you from starting your application today?

Karen Miller, President of Design2Train an SBA 8a company has created a Narrative Toolkit to assist small business owners. Get a free report at: [http://www.sba8anarrativetoolkit.com]

Ethical Search Engine Optimisation Services: All This Talk about Link Building

These days, trying to improve your website search engine ranking can be a long and frustrating nightmare. Being a search engine optimisation specialist and having established my own business, many clients seem to be confused about the long process of how to build website presence in the search engines. Having built my own site from scratch and having struggled to get the desired ranks, one thing is for sure, it does take time.

Many seem to believe that link building will get you the desired ranks in no time. That is quiet wrong. Whilst there is a lot of talk about link building, many seem to forget the basics of website optimisation (content, coding and tags). Search engines like Yahoo! place strong emphasis on these basics whilst Google may favor factors outside our control such as link popularity. So how do we satisfy all search engines?

Notes are as follows:

1. Focus on the things that can be done at your end. This includes:

- Writing efficient code with as much scripting placed into external files.

- Select targeted keywords that do not have a large number or competing pages so that you have more chance to win position for them.

- Write keyword rich content.

- Have Title and Meta tags that are keyword rich and reflect what is written for a page.

2. Directory submissions are a key factor. Some may charge a price for inclusion whilst others may not. It is highly recommended that directory submissions are made simply because a human editor will look at your site, which in turn gives you more points with the search engines.

3. One of the most difficult points to fulfill is link building. If you have a site that offers useful information and services, in time it will generate the required links. There are other ways to speed the process such as writing articles and posting them on certain websites. However, the key factor to link building is not to obtain irrelevant links. This will simply be regarded as spamming and could result in negative consequences.

4. Lastly, the most important point, PATIENCE.

To recap, provided you follow the basic steps and have the patience, your site will climb up the ranks steadily. Link building will help improve your ranks but be careful because it can also harm your visibility if used in the wrong way i.e. obtaining too many links from non-related websites.

About the Author: David Touri is a search engine optimisation specialist working for SEO Sydney [http://www.seosydney.com.au/about_seo_sydney.html]. He has worked on many projects and offers ethical search engine optimisation services [http://www.seosydney.com.au/ethical_search_engine_optimisation_services.html] to companies in Australia. For further information, please visit http://www.seosydney.com.au

Organic SEO - Boosting Your Ranking For Long Term Success

Organic SEO refers to search engine optimization techniques. This form of SEO is widely utilized and highly effective. It is an intricate process, which optimizes websites without paid campaigning. It is one of the best ways to generate web traffic to your website or forum. The process refrains from tricks to entice potential visitors. These tricks include keyword stuffing or spamming. This is when a keyword, or series of keywords, is intentionally repeated to draw in visitors. This practice is highly discouraged, yet remains a part of many web-marketing programs. This can result in search engines denying or removing websites from their list. Organic SEO is an ethical way of establishing a good web presence, while targeting potential customers and prospects. Over 80% of Internet search queries rely on these types of listings. They help to direct users to the information they seek, without spamming them with unnecessary or out dated links. Most web content and website companies utilize this fantastic service. By creating multiple sets of keywords, they can effectively market any website's product or services. It also allows existing sites to attain higher search engine rankings. This is great for new on-line endeavors, which want to attract as many visitors as possible.

Organic SEO techniques also promote long-term strategies. This service looks at the bigger picture, and implements intricate tools to facilitate a favorable outcome. This for of SEO is also referred to as natural search engine optimization. They do not rely on specific paid campaigns to generate leads, website hits, or revenue. Instead, they base their search results strictly on what users are looking for. Search engine marketing, however, relied on paid inclusion to increase web traffic. The un-paid technique, concentrates on a variety of search features. Depending on a user's search entry, it offers instant access to local, image, video, or vertical search engines. The ability to scan results is also essential. This is created by web content specialists or developers, and allows a preview of any website before accessing it. This is a true Internet marketing strategy, which connects users to a wide array of engines and search results. Best of all, it is an inexpensive way of driving traffic to your website, blog, on-line store, or forum. This form of SEO also improves the volume of visitors, by specifically connecting their needs to providers and service specialists. From Internet services to sports equipment, organic SEO is the best way to build a strong web foundation.

Organic SEO is a premier mode of Internet marketing. It is part of every website, web hosting, and web content company in the world. The ability to index search queries into categories is a huge benefit. This allows saving time on multiple, familiar, or even exact search requests. The indexes also concentrate on specific website content and coding capacities. The result is a precise and clear connection between the user and your website. It also eliminates out dated search inquiries, off-line websites, and practically anything that is no longer active on the web. This process is truly search engine friendly, and really helps to advertise a website without unethical practices.

Organi SEO information can be found all over the internet. Organic SEO techniques are simple and easy ways to effectively use internet marketing.

10 SEO Certification Tips - Finding the Value in Your Certification

Search engine optimization goes beyond just making a Web site search engine friendly. Understanding how the search engines work and how all the different relevancy factors can affect your optimization efforts. As well as how you can communicate your skills as a search engine optimizer to your potential clients. This is really what your SEO Certification is all about.

As a SEO Instructor I am often ask by my students; "How can I take what I've learned in your workshop and apply it to my business, plus find a real value in offering search engine optimization to my clients?"

My answer to this question is always the same:

* First you need to be confident in your SEO skills.
* Second you need to be able to show your customers examples of your ranking results.
* Third you need to be honest and not play up on any industry hype to sell your client on search engine optimization.

If you follow those 3 simple step rules you will not need to prove anything to your clients you will earn their respect instantly and they will want to use your professional services.

Let's take a closer look into how you can find value in your SEO Certification.

1. Education - Laying the foundation to a career as a Professional SEO is the same as any other job skill you want to acquire. Finding an institution or training facility that offers what you're looking for is half the battle. There are many different organizations that offer training in search engine optimization your job, in the research phase, is to find a program that is backed by a good solid reputation of industry standards.

a. Is the program backed by any education institutions?

b. Are the instructors SEO Experts themselves?

c. Is the material updated consistently with industry changes?

2. Job Opportunities - At the time of this article there where over 12 pages of companies looking to hire SEO Consultants and Internet Marketers on CareerBuilder.com. Most of these companies where looking for individuals who understood search engine optimization and marketing and could implement the latest techniques and strategies into an existing web site. Now SEO Professionals are being taken seriously. Companies are seeing a real need for certified employees.

3. Spreading the Word - A large part of the world still does not even know what engine optimization is all about or how it applies to them. One of the first things you can do as a new SEO firm is to provide valuable information, on your site about optimization and the benefits it can hold for your customers on the Web. Become the industry expert to your customers.

4. Industry Recognition - Businesses are becoming more aware of the top training facilities across the country. SEO Firms that advertise they are SEO Certified and can back those certifications by proven results are sought after daily. Post your credentials where they can be found, they do hold value.

5. Understand the Art & Science of SEO - There is definitely a difference between the art and science of SEO. Are you using both factors? Can you explain both to your customers? Everyone can logically perform the science of SEO (title tags, body text, link text etc.) but very few SEO's know and understand the art of SEO. Be creative with each Website you work on. All sites are different and there are different factors on each site that can and should be explored. Show your customers that you can think more laterally (outside the box) when it comes to their online presence. One small thing like setting up a blog and showing them how to use it (a factor in the art of seo) can set your company apart from the rest.

6. Choosing the Right Clients - Research, research and research some more. I can not stress enough just how important this is in choosing the right clients. You want customers you can make a true difference with. Those clients that give you limited access, or are set on using the keyword list they provide you are not the customers you really have the option to make a difference with. You need to find customers that allow you to research and implement their customers search behaviors. Are you only optimizing for the keyword phrases your customer provided you or are you looking more closely and trying to determine search behaviors? If you take into account behaviors of the searchers you will find a true value in your SEO skills.

7. Long Term Business Relationships - Word of mouth and return customers are the best way you as a business owner can validate your profession. Resist from making promises you can not back up and remember the best plan of attack is to under promise and over deliver. Set your goals realistic. For example: You know with your research you should easily be able to achieve a first page ranking in less than 6 weeks. Tell your customer you anticipate seeing results in 3 months and that you are hoping for a page 2 or 3 result. (If their current results are no where to be found this will be a huge result for them.) When the results happen quicker and a much higher ranking your customer will be ecstatic and will be anxious to share the news with all of their friends. Viral marketing has just been put in place and you are long on the way to keeping that valuable customer.

8. Results over Certification - Even though the Certification that hangs on your wall will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to perform your internet marketing services it is in no comparison to the actual result you can share with someone. Customers like to see proof. They want to see that you have been able to make a top ranking with another company. Show them ranking results. Record all of your efforts. Run before and after ranking reports. These reports are valuable when meeting with a new client.

9. Re-Certification - The Internet world changes on a daily bases. What may have worked this year may not be the same techniques that will work next year. There are strategies that some SEO's may have put in place that are now considered spam so it is vital that your certificate be kept current. Check with your training provider and be certain that they keep advice you on any changes that may take place. Ask if they offer re-certification or additional training modules to keep your skills up to date. Nothing looks worse and is detrimental to your image then advertising an out of date certificate. Let your customers know that you are dedicated to keeping their Web site ranking in the search engines by continuing your search engine optimization and marketing education.

10. Setting Standards - As a SEO Specialist you are setting a personal standard for yourself. Your certified credentials prove that you have the skills necessary to achieve results. You are showing that you have been trained in the latest techniques and strategies used today. Keep your entire methods completely white hat. Never result to black hat techniques and continue to build your SEO skills in the utmost professional manner.

In conclusion only you can find the true value in your certification. It all depends on how much time and energy you want to put into building a solid SEO business? Take time to gain confidence in your skills as an optimizer, spend energy in providing outstanding customer support and leave all the industry hype to the others.

One last tip... The most important tip I can give you is to build your ranking examples and remember to combine the Art & Science of SEO. Concentrate on these two elements and you will find a great deal of value in your SEO Certification and so will your customers.

Author – Tracy Fredrychowski – SEO Instructor
Search Engine Academy of SC
Looking for local Search Engine Marketing and Optimization training in South Carolina? The Search Engine Academy of SC holds workshops in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston. Check and see when we will be bringing our 5 Day SEO Hands on Workshop to your area.

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