Lloyd Hester

Author: lloydh

  • Testing Is The Key Testingalotlloyd

    Testing Is The Key Testingalotlloyd

    Testingalotlloyd What is that all about eh?

    This word only exists in my brain and it is used as a test word to check where my article is found.

    It is important to test everything that you do. For example, if you are writing articles or doing blog posts then you need to know where best to post them.

    Also if you are going to create a number of web 2.0 pages then you also need to know which ones you should spend time on as they should all have unique content on them

    It is not worth spending time to create a web 2.0 page if it is not going to get seen by the search engines.

    IT is not difficult to check this and you do not need fancy or expensive software to do it either.

    All you have to do is to create an article and embed a unique word or phrase into it.

    After a few days then search for the keyword on google, yahoo and msn as well as any others that you want to check.

    This can also be used to check how fast your website is indexed by google or the other search engines. if you make a post on your blog then check the publish time and check every few hours to see if it appears. Easy eh?

    I use special words in my posts and articles and when it is eventually indexed we will see where my post is syndicated. Over time if the word is found in other sites then we know that the article is being used. You can then check it out to see if your content is being plagiarized or the proper links are being displayed.

    Also check out this oil painting of Sharon and Morgan (my wife and one of my daughters)

    http://picasaweb.google.com/lloydhester/BaliFamilyPhotos#

  • Portrait Painting

    Portrait Painting

    Portrait Painting

    Our new website the portrait painting gallery is up at last.

    The quality of the work is incredible, they hand paint in oils from a photograph. They can take several diffrent photos and convert them into one oil painting  even.

    One request we had was for a picture of Michael Jackson next to the client so that it looks like they were together.

    It was not until we started looking into it that we realised just how many styles of painting there are. Some people want a photo realistic painting. Although this seems to defeat the object of having a painting done. You might as well just have a photograph made into a poster size. My favourite is the impressionist where the painter puts his or her own style into the painting. Then there are the characutures where the painter takes prts that really stand out and accentuate them.

    Anyway, the site should be ready to take orders later this week so if you are looking for an unusual gift, if you cannot think of what to get him or her for Christmas then take a look at having a portrait painting done.

    take a look and let me know what you think. All comments and criticism of the site will be greatfully received.

  • Working From Home and Making A Living

    Working From Home and Making A Living

    Following on from my last post, I thought I would show you that I do sometimes practise what I preach.

    I have just setup a new website to sell portrait paintings which are done from photographs of the subject.

    They make ideal gifts and can be posted anywhere worldwide.

    People who want their portrait painted simply upload their photos and then they are passed onto the relevant artist who begins work on the painting.

    Once complete a photo is sent to the client of the work who then approves the painting and pays for it.

    The portrait is then posted out to by recorded delivery.

    All this is done on auto-pilot. All we have to do is match up the custmer with the artist and take our cut.

    The hardest bit is to promote the site and this is the skill that few people have.

    Fortunately for me and not wanting to be big headed, but I am pretty good at it 🙂

    Check out the site www.PortraitPaintingGallery.com and look for Isabellas Portrait. It is Stunning and very reasonably priced too.

    In fact here it is as well as a couple of other recent paintings that they have done.

  • Setting Up Online – What Sort Of Business Is Best

    Setting Up Online – What Sort Of Business Is Best

    When setting up an online business there are a number of things that you need to consider. Most people say that you should setup a website about something that you know about. I disagree, the most important thing in my book is that you can automate everything and that you can run it from anywhere.

    Setting up an online business should give you the freedom to go where you want without affecting your business. If you set up a website to sell the bird cages that you make in your garden shed then in my book you defeat the main objective of running an online business. You are tied to your garden shed!!!

    If you become an agent for a company that manufactures bird cages and you set up a web site to sell their products for a commission then you have a perfect business. You promote the site and pass all the orders and hassle to the manufacturer. Whether you choose to live in Toronto or Tobago, Manchester or Maui you can run your business.

    The same can be said of digital down-loadable products like software or ebooks.

    Also try to make it a business that does not take a lot of technical knowledge that will require you to be spending time on emails and support questions. The more that you can outsource and pass to others the better.

    With e-books the customer comes to your site and buys the product, they pay through paypal and are then taken to the download page. They then download the book and bobs your uncle. They have what they have ordered and you have the money. All sorted while you are asleep in your comfortable bed or swimming with the kids in the Indian Ocean in my case 🙂

    So, bare that in mind, if you want to setup a business that will make you money and enable you to enjoy life to the full. Don’t get involved in a business that is going to take up more of your time than you want to give.

    Morgan playing in the pool at our house in Bali
  • Chilling In Bali -Is there any other way?

    Chilling In Bali -Is there any other way?

    Well we have been in Bali for 3 months now and life is great. When I first came it was work, work, work 6 or 7 days a week and 10 to 12 hour days. With little reward or appreciation and never a thank you!!

    I think I forgot the actual reason we were moving away from the UK and that was to have quality time together with Sharon and the Kids.

    So, now I finally got it and have spent the last week doing very little. We toured the north of the Island and got myself a motorbike (YESSS)

    We have a number of things going on mainly internet based, of course, as we plan to travel around Asia over the next year or so and need to be flexible with our workload 🙂

    We have also had a good response to our sourcing service which has been setup to find products that are made in Asia to send back to spain, the UK and the US.

    We have chosen a range of great products and plan to sell them for a smallish profit to build up a good reputation and still make some money.

    We have met a very experienced export and shipping guy who has been a great help in setting everything up.

    So, at last I realised what I was here for which means we are all a lot happier.

    I cannot belive just how stressed out I had become in Bali… Hard to imagine in theis Island paradise.

    So, take note.. it always pays to take time out to sit back and look at our life and make sure you are really doing what you should be to get the most out of it.