(www.buzztoolbox.com/google/yellowsearch.shtml).

Extended Googling

Google offers several services that give you a head start in focusing your search. Google Groups

(http://groups.google.com)

Indexes literally millions of messages from decades of discussion on Usenet. Google even helps you with your shopping via two tools: Froogle

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(http://froogle.google.com),

Which indexes products from online stores, and Google Catalogs

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(http://catalogs.google.com),

Which features products from more 6,000 paper catalogs in a searchable index. And this only scratches the surface. You can get a complete list of Google’s tools and services at

www.google.com/options/index.html

You’re probably used to using Google in your browser. But have you ever thought of using Google outside your browser?

Google Alert

(www.googlealert.com)

Monitors your search terms and e-mails you information about new additions to Google’s Web index. (Google Alert is not affiliated with Google; it uses Google’s Web services API to perform its searches.) If you’re more interested in news stories than general Web content, check out the beta version of Google News Alerts

(www.google.com/newsalerts).

This service (which is affiliated with Google) will monitor up to 50 news queries per e-mail address and send you information about news stories that match your query. (Hint: Use the intitle: and source: syntax elements with Google News to limit the number of alerts you get.)

Google on the telephone? Yup. This service is brought to you by the folks at Google Labs

(http://labs.google.com),

A place for experimental Google ideas and features (which may come and go, so what’s there at this writing might not be there when you decide to check it out). With Google Voice Search

(http://labs1.google.com/gvs.html),

You dial the Voice Search phone number, speak your keywords, and then click on the indicated link. Every time you say a new search term, the results page will refresh with your new query (you must have JavaScript enabled for this to work). Remember, this service is still in an experimental phase, so don’t expect 100 percent success.

In 2002, Google released the Google API (application programming interface), a way for programmers to access Google’s search engine results without violating the Google Terms of Service. A lot of people have created useful (and occasionally not-so-useful but interesting) applications not available from Google itself, such as Google Alert. For many applications, you’ll need an API key, which is available free from

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www.google.com/apis

. See the figures for two more examples, and visit

www.pcmag.com/solutions

for more.

Thanks to its many different search properties, Google goes far beyond a regular search engine. Give the tricks in this article a try. You’ll be amazed at how many different ways Google can improve your Internet searching.

What Would Google Do?

If you are web designer or developer and you currently do not offer web hosting as part of your services, you are missing out on a great source of revenue. Becoming a reseller is easier than you think and you can be up and running in four steps.

Step one:

Research your web host
With dozens of web hosting reseller companies to choose from it is well worth putting time aside to research which host provides the product, features, pricing, and support that you need. You should look into whether the host has any limitations on the amount of web space, traffic, emails and databases you can resell, do they offer both Linux and Windows accounts and which programs do they provide for you to offer your clients (eg one-click install WordPress)?
Always check whether the hosting is being offered as completely white label (also known as private label). This will allow you to tailor every component to your own requirements/brand so that client need never know their website is hosted with anyone else. When it comes to deciding to use a host in the UK or the USA your decision should be based around technical considerations, eg whether you get access to free support during UK business hours.
Step two:

Create a product set
Once you have set up your own account the next step is to start creating products to offer your clients. A popular approach among web hosts is to offer tiered packages covering customer’s various specification and budgetary requirements. To get an idea on how to structure your packages and what to charge take a look at existing web host’s competitor comparison’ charts, they have practically done your market research for you. With this data you can choose to match or even beat their specs. If you create multiple products make sure the very top one is still value for money so people feel it is worth spending a little bit extra to get the benefits.
Step three

Integrate hosting into your existing services
Being able to buy everything from one place is always an attractive proposition to clients who don’t want to have to shop around. If your core product is providing web services for small sites such as banners, logos, HTML, emails and so on you can easily integrate hosting. Always keep an eye out for opportunities that may arise from any offhand comments a client may make about needing work in a particular area.
Up-selling and cross-selling are not about the hard sell or getting someone to buy something they don’t really need or want. When done properly the process should almost feel like a service in its own right. One of the best examples online of up-selling and cross-selling is Amazon. Put an item in your basket and you are presented with “Customers who bought this also bought…” with the majority of the suggestions being more expensive items. If you go back to the home page it will have changed to show you items they feel are associated with that item, would prompt the site to show jewellery , skater trainers and related accessories.
Step four

Communicate the service to your clients
If you already have a client base, first step is to tell them about the range of services you can do for them. Phone or email your clients with details about your hosting service and why they should sign up. Getting you foot under the table is always the hardest part. To reduce the client’s perceived risk offer them something for free such as a scaled down version of your service so you can demonstrate your value. A lot of the application developers for the iPhone and IPode touch offer a ‘Lite’ version of the application to get people hooked and wanting more( which they have to pay for). If a customer doesn’t bite straight away or you want to run a promotional campaign, offer the bundled services at separately. To create a sense of urgency and prompt a quick response, run it for a limited time only.

http://www.hostgator.com/